Last month, the World Bank issued a five-year outcome bond that aims to provide clean drinking water to around two million school children in Vietnam. A lack of clean drinking water causes an…

David Malpass |

Natural capital - nature’s bounty - is the wealth of the poor. Its degradation and loss are their burden to carry. Degradation of nature could cause the poorest countries to lose 10% of their GDP…

Valerie Hickey |

In advance of the next meeting of the Sovereign Debt Roundtable on April 12, I want to provide a quick update on recent developments and reiterate my call for prompt action toward debt…

David Malpass |

Our upcoming Spring Meetings will focus on Reshaping Development for a New Era – this is an excellent opportunity to take stock of progress being made to tackle the many challenges facing global…

Axel van Trotsenburg |

We know that when used wisely and transparently, debt is important to finance development. Prudent debt can power economies and pave the way for a resilient future—allowing countries to focus on…

Dirk Reinermann |

Addressing critical gender gaps, including female labor force participation, offers an opportunity to boost incomes and stimulate growth. Research from the World Bank has repeatedly made clear…

David Malpass |

A lack of practical knowledge around inclusion of women with disabilities, as well as data gaps are factors that impede effective interventions. Women with disabilities are largely absent from…

Louise Cord |

. Pandemics, economic slumps and extreme weather events were once tail-end risks, but all three have hit South Asia in rapid succession since 2020. COVID-19 alone put millions of lives and…

Martin Raiser |

The financial services industry around the world has been transformed by technology-enabled financial services—known as fintech. This disruptive technology is reshaping financial products,…

Mari Elka Pangestu |

Empowering women helps countries overcome crises, unleash trillions of dollars in economic potential, and improve community wellbeing. Yet, globally, the advancement in women’s education has not…

Hana Brixi |