Trade barriers can affect employment outcomes of men and women differently, particularly in countries where working men and women are concentrated in different sectors. A new World Bank study from…

Gayatri Koolwal, Bernard Haven |

While MENA has made strides in improving women and girls’ health, much more needs to be done. Understanding the impact of conflict on women and girls is critical for designing both preventive…

Fadia Saadah, Sameera Al Tuwaijri |

A look back at South Asia’s year in 10 blogs. These blogs spotlight stories of resilience and innovation, and explore issues critical to the region such as air pollution, climate change, women’s…

Adnan Siddiqi, Trishna Thapa |

Since COP27 in Egypt last year, the World Bank has been working hard to implement recommendations in our flagship Country Climate and Development Reports (CCDR).

Meskerem Brhane |

In Bangladesh, the Health and Gender Support Project for Cox’s Bazar district (HGSP) has had an immense impact on islands such as Kutubdia, by removing barriers to high-quality and cost-effective…

Md Rafi Hossain, Bushra Binte Alam |

According to WHO, the rate of road traffic fatalities in Bangladesh is 15.3 per 100,000 people. A number that can be significantly reduced through the appropriate use of trauma registries and…

Suresh Kunhi Mohammed, Md Rafi Hossain, Ramim Ahmed |

Our common future depends on water. We need water to eradicate poverty, promote green growth, and build more equitable societies. But climate change is exacerbating water scarcity and pollution,…

Saroj Kumar Jha |

People have been traveling from present-day Mozambique to work in neighboring South Africa’s mines for over 150 years. While conditions for workers have improved since the early days when such…

Kavita Watsa, Humberto Cossa, Ivan Nicolai Alfredo Manhiça, Lilly Smines |

South Asia continues to experience rising temperatures, with record-breaking heat waves that are longer, hotter, and more frequent. Heat not only causes deaths and lowers productivity, but also…

Ella Kim, Sebastian Forsch, Leon Glicksman |

For South Asia, the Indian Ocean serves as a critical geographic connection, having significant geopolitical, economic, and environmental impacts on the region. It is a source of food and…

Sachiko Kondo, Christophe Crepin, Poonam Rohatgi |