Partnering on legal & regulatory reforms to drive economic growth and jobs Christopher Stephens May 04, 2026 This page in: English © 2026 The World Bank Group,

https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/voices/partnering-on-legal-and-regulatory-reforms-to-drive-economic-growth-and-jobs Investors don't walk away from opportunity. They walk away from uncertainty. In many developing economies, unclear regulations, unpredictable enforcement, and legal risk can stop investment before it starts — and when investment stalls, so do jobs. Jobs are the surest path out of poverty, which is why job creation is the centerpiece of the World Bank Group’s development strategy. © 2026 The World Bank Group,

The Atlas of Global Development 2026 shows the world at a critical moment: it is developing at its slowest pace Haishan FuUmar SerajuddinDivyanshi WadhwaDaniel Gerszon MahlerAna Florina PirleaMaarten Lambrechts May 05, 2026 This page in: English © 2026 The World Bank Group,

https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/opendata/the-atlas-of-global-development-2026-shows-the-world-at-a-critic At the heart of development knowledge lies data — and the new Atlas of Global Development 2026 puts that data front and center. Through immersive data stories and state-of-the-art visualizations, the Atlas transforms data into something far more powerful: the insights and knowledge needed to improve people’s lives. © 2026 The World Bank Group,

Middle East War to Spark Biggest Energy Price Surge in Four Years © 2026 The World Bank Group, This page in:English Français العربية Русский 中文 Português

Commodity prices forecast to rise by 16% this year, fueling inflation and slowing growth WASHINGTON, April 28, 2026—Energy prices are projected to surge by 24% this year to their highest level since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, as the war in the Middle East sends a severe shock through global commodity markets, according to the World Bank Group's latest Commodity Markets Outlook. Overall commodity prices are forecast to rise 16% in 2026, driven by soaring energy and fertilizer prices and record-high prices for several key metals. https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2026/04/28/commodity-markets-outlook-april-2026-press-release © 2026 The World Bank Group,

From Survival to Stability How IFC’s Luna LOG Program Transformed Pastoral Livelihoods in Ethiopia © 2026 The World Bank Group,

https://www.ifc.org/en/stories/2026/from-survival-to-stability Ethiopia’s livestock population, the largest in Africa, is an immense national asset that has long sustained rural families and powered local economies. In the lowlands of southern Ethiopia goats represent savings, school fees, and emergency reserves. Yet for many small-scale farmers, limited markets, environmental shocks, and animal disease undercut the livelihoods they could derive from livestock. © 2026 The World Bank Group,

Financing Firm Growth The Role of Capital Markets in Low- and Middle-Income Countries © 2026 The World Bank Group,

https://www.ifc.org/en/insights-reports/2025/financing-firm-growth New research highlights how equity and bond markets foster growth in developing economies, contributing $4 trillion in capital and generating 5 percent more jobs over three decades. Deeper capital markets channel more investment toward productive firms, helping them expand and fueling development. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/entities/publication/d109c573-99a2-4215-9561-ced423fcb60c Abstract Well-functioning capital markets can foster economic growth and allocate resources efficiently. Firms can tap into a broader funding base by issuing debt and equity in capital markets, often at cheaper rates and longer tenors than through other sources of external finance, such as banks. However, capital markets in low- and middle-income countries have lagged those in high-income countries. Accordingly, the firms in those countries have more often relied on bank financing or retained earnings to fund investment and expansion, and they have experienced greater financial constraints than their counterparts in high-income countries. © 2026 The World Bank Group,

Innovation in Green Technologies © 2026 The World Bank Group,

https://www.ifc.org/en/insights-reports/2025/innovation-in-green-technologies Emerging market economies are claiming a rising share of trade in products associated with the new technologies that help reduce pollution, limit greenhouse gas emissions, and help mitigate the impact of extreme weather. Indeed, technological advances and falling costs in areas such as renewable energy, are helping developing economies close in on high-income countries’ dominance of the sector, new research from IFC shows. To continue to capitalize on opportunities in this area, low- and middle-income countries will need the help of sound policy making and increased investment in research, presenting a key opportunity to international investors. https://www.ifc.org/content/dam/ifc/doc/2025/innovation-in-green-tech.pdf © 2026 The World Bank Group,

Latin America and the Caribbean © 2026 The World Bank Group,

Income inequality in Latin America and the Caribbean remains high, despite significant progress the region has made in reducing poverty over the past few years. IFC works to foster inclusive growth, boost innovation, and strengthen regional integration. https://www.ifc.org/en/where-we-work/latin-america-and-the-caribbean © 2026 The World Bank Group,