Better Data for Better Lives: Innovations in Survey Measurement in the Age of AI Date & Time December 08 - 09, 2026 ET

Better Data for Better Lives: Innovations in Survey Measurement in the Age of AI Join this conference to learn about advances in survey methods that can deliver cost-effective and high-quality data collection Date & Time December 08 - 09, 2026 ET https://www.worldbank.org/en/events/2026/12/08/better-data-for-better-lives-innovations-in-survey-measurement-in-the-age-of-ai Household surveys remain indispensable tools for generating representative and comprehensive insights on living conditions, livelihoods, and well-being in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), at a time when AI, machine learning, and expanding alternative data sources are reshaping what is possible in measurement and data collection. Yet there is persistent room to improve the quality, timeliness, and policy relevance of surveys, and technology is creating new opportunities to do so at lower cost and greater scale. Better survey methods can address such criticisms of surveys and guide more effective policies and interventions. At the same time, translating methodological innovation into operational practice, rigorously tested and scaled in LMIC contexts, remains a central challenge facing the survey methods community.

Global AI and Digital Summit Date & Time October 19 - 22, 2026 ET

Global AI and Digital Summit The Summit brings together global leaders to explore how digital technologies and AI can accelerate development. Date & Time October 19 - 22, 2026 ET The world is changing at extraordinary speed, and AI and digital technologies are reshaping economies, industries, and the future of work. The Global AI & Digital Summit comes at a pivotal moment, as countries seek not only to keep pace with technological change, but to turn it into more and better jobs, higher productivity, and broader opportunity. With 1.2 billion young people entering the workforce in developing countries over the next 10-15 years, how AI and digital technologies drive growth and expand access to jobs is a defining challenge of our era. https://www.worldbank.org/en/events/2026/10/19/global-ai-and-digital-summit-2026

Civil Society Policy Forum: Annual Meetings 2026 Date & Time October 13 - 16, 2026 ET

Civil Society Policy Forum: Annual Meetings 2026 Civil Society Policy Forum at the 2026 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group Date & Time October 13 - 16, 2026 ET https://www.worldbank.org/en/events/2026/10/13/civil-society-policy-forum-annual-meetings-2026 The Civil Society Policy Forum (CSPF) is a flagship engagement platform held twice a year during the World Bank Group and IMF Spring Meetings in April and Annual Meetings in October. Each year, it brings together more than 2,000 civil society representatives from around the world for a weeklong forum to exchange views and engage in open dialogue with WBG and IMF staff, peer organizations, government delegations, and other stakeholders. As a robust and well-established platform, the CSPF provides an important space for civil society voices to contribute to discussions on global development priorities.

World Bank Group Young Professional Program: Information Session 1 Date & Time September 01, 2026 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM ET +++

World Bank Group Young Professional Program: Information Session 1 Date & Time September 01, 2026 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM ET https://www.worldbank.org/en/events/2026/09/01/world-bank-group-young-professional-program-information-session-1 Understand what sets successful candidates apart and learn what the World Bank Group looks for in Young Professionals and how you can prepare a competitive application. Join us to discover the World Bank Group's Young Professionals Program—our flagship leadership development programme for exceptional talent committed to tackling global challenges. You'll get an inside look at how the programme works, from the competitive selection process and international rotations to the training, mentorship and career opportunities available across the World Bank, IFC and MIGA. We'll also share what we look for in successful candidates, what to expect throughout the application process, and how the programme can help you build a meaningful global career. World Bank Group Young Professional Program: Information Session 2 Understand what sets successful candidates apart and learn what the World Bank Group looks for in Young Professionals and how you can prepare a competitive application. Date & Time September 16, 2026 09:00 PM - 10:00 PM ET https://www.worldbank.org/en/events/2026/07/29/world-bank-group-young-professional-program-information-session-2 Join us to discover the World Bank Group's Young Professionals Program—our flagship leadership development programme for exceptional talent committed to tackling global challenges. You'll get an inside look at how the programme works, from the competitive selection process and international rotations to the training, mentorship and career opportunities available across the World Bank, IFC and MIGA. We'll also share what we look for in successful candidates, what to expect throughout the application process, and how the programme can help you build a meaningful global career. World Bank Group Young Professional Program: Information Session 3 Understand what sets successful candidates apart and learn what the World Bank Group looks for in Young Professionals and how you can prepare a competitive application. Date & Time September 24, 2026 08:00 AM - 09:00 AM ET Join us to discover the World Bank Group's Young Professionals Program—our flagship leadership development programme for exceptional talent committed to tackling global challenges. You'll get an inside look at how the programme works, from the competitive selection process and international rotations to the training, mentorship and career opportunities available across the World Bank, IFC and MIGA. We'll also share what we look for in successful candidates, what to expect throughout the application process, and how the programme can help you build a meaningful global career. https://www.worldbank.org/en/events/2026/07/29/world-bank-group-young-professional-program-information-session-3

Webinar on Digital Procurement Opportunities Date & Time September 02, 2026 08:00 AM - 08:30 AM ET 12pm-1:30pm GMT

Webinar on Digital Procurement Opportunities A dedicated session to help industry suppliers tap into new Multilateral Development Bank digital opportunities https://www.worldbank.org/en/events/2026/09/02/webinar-on-digital-procurement-opportunities Description: This is a dedicated session to help industry suppliers tap into new Multilateral Development Bank (MDB)-financed opportunities in the digital sector.

Building on Success: How Korea's Real Estate Expertise Is Driving Development

https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2026/07/15/building-on-success-how-korea-s-real-estate-expertise-is-driving-development Building on Success: How Korea's Real Estate Expertise Is Driving Development Korea's transformation from aid recipient to one of the World Bank's key donors within a single generation stands as one of the most inspiring models for development and strengthening this association is the Korea–World Bank Partnership Facility (KWPF). It is a trust fund managed by the World Bank and is the largest the Government of Korea has with any Multilateral Development Bank (MDB). KWPF was established with the objective to support low- and middle-income countries adapt and apply Korea's development experience and technical expertise to achieve inclusive and sustainable growth.

From potential to skills and real jobs: how young women are powering change in Western and Central Africa

https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2026/03/24/from-potential-to-skills-and-real-jobs-how-young-women-are-powering-change-in-western-and-central-africa STORY HIGHLIGHTS Young women are acquiring practical skills and transitioning into stable employment, with more than 255,000 individuals participating in SWEDD/SWEDD+ training and economic empowerment programmes. Examples from Benin to Chad demonstrate that newly acquired competencies, such as solar installation and midwifery, enable young women to generate income and contribute to their communities. With nearly 3 million women and girls reached since 2015, SWEDD/SWEDD+ demonstrates that investment in women's education and workforce participation fosters local economic development and strengthens families and communities.

A Market-Based Approach to Scaling Clean Cooking in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2026/07/24/a-market-based-approach-to-scaling-clean-cooking-in-drc In the DRC, the World Bank-supported FOREST Program is scaling clean cooking through results-based financing for local enterprises. Backed by IDA and ESMAP, the effort aims to equip 500,000 households with cleaner, more affordable stoves, while creating jobs, reducing deforestation, and improving health.

Jobs at the Center

https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2026/07/23/jobs-at-the-center-operationalizing-the-wbg-job-creation-agenda Over the next 10–15 years, more than 1 billion young people in developing countries will reach working age. Job creation is central to our mission and is now a goal of every World Bank Group project. Jobs foster dignity, self-reliance, safety, stability, and greater opportunities.

Corridor to Trade, Jobs, and Services

https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2026/07/23/corridor-to-trade-jobs-and-services Building trade links across three countries and bringing job opportunities and public services across northern Laos Project upgrades a main regional highway and connecting secondary roads for faster trade and better access to markets, education and health Roads will be safer, more climate resilient and serve communities across northern Laos, an area with traditionally challenging transport options Complementing this hardware investment, work is ongoing to streamline border procedures and upgrade Laos’ export capacity so that local farmers and businesses can better compete

In the World’s Youngest Nation, How Do You Prove You Exist?

https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2026/07/22/in-the-worlds-youngest-nation-how-do-you-prove-you-exist Nearly 90% of people in South Sudan lack government-recognized ID, limiting access to jobs, aid, finance, and services. The World Bank’s new ID4D diagnostic shows how stronger civil registration and digital ID systems could expand inclusion, protect vulnerable groups, and support economic opportunity.

In India’s Northeast, a Hilly State Connects Students to Better Jobs Through Improved Education

https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2026/07/22/in-india-s-northeast-a-hilly-state-connects-students-to-better-jobs-through-improv Story Highlights Students in Nagaland would face several challenges in government schools which had limited access to amenities like science laboratories or sports complexes. Adequate teaching materials or qualified instruction was also missing. In 2020, the government partnered with the World Bank for the Nagaland: Enhancing Classroom Teaching and Resources (NECTAR) Project, the Bank’s first education initiative in the underserved northeast region. Nagaland's Grade 10 completion rate jumped from 34% to 47% in three years — a 13-percentage-point improvement by 2024-25. With language and math scores also on the rise, young people across the state are increasingly aspiring to better and quality jobs.

Powering Bangladesh’s Future with Renewable Energy

https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2026/07/22/powering-bangladesh-s-future-with-renewable-energy The Scaling Up Renewable Energy Project has added 338 megawatts of clean electricity to Bangladesh’s national grid. The project mobilized financing through public-private partnership and contributed to reducing 377,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions every year. Beyond the economy-wide job creation driven by reliable and affordable electricity, the project also directly generated jobs in construction, operations, and maintenance of the solar power plants.

Building South Sudan’s Homegrown Seed Industry is Creating Local Opportunities

https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2026/07/29/building-south-sudans-homegrown-seed-industry-is-creating-local-opportunities The South Sudan Resilient Agricultural Livelihoods Project (RALP) is helping build a nationally owned seed system by strengthening local seed production, certification, and storage to improve agricultural productivity, incomes, and food and nutrition security. The project has established and trained 13 County Seed Quality Control Boards, addressing critical gaps in seed quality assurance and regulatory oversight. It is also successfully crowding in private sector investment, with companies supporting foundation seed production and purchasing seed from farmer groups for wider distribution. RALP is promoting inclusive growth, with women holding 45% of leadership positions in seed producer groups.

In Kosovo, Childcare Vouchers Help Kids Learn and Mothers Work

https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2026/07/30/in-kosovo-childcare-vouchers-help-kids-learn-and-mothers-work

Maritime Transport Can Drive Jobs and Economic Growth in East Asia and Pacific

https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2026/07/27/maritime-transport-can-drive-jobs-and-economic-growth-in-east-asia-and-the-pacific?cid=ECR_E_NewsletterWeekly_EN_EXT&deliveryName=DM286533 WASHINGTON, July 27, 2026 – A new World Bank report released today highlights the critical role of the maritime sector in driving economic growth and employment across East Asia and Pacific (EAP), and calls for urgent action to improve efficiency, strengthen safety, and support energy security.

Who moves up and why? A closer look at the 2026-2027 release of the World Bank Group Country Income Classifications Eric MetreauKathryn Elizabeth YoungShwetha Grace Eapen July 01, 2026 This page in: English Français Español 中文 日本語

https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/opendata/who-moves-up-and-why--a-closer-look-at-the-new-world-bank-group-?cid=ECR_E_NewsletterWeekly_EN_EXT&deliveryName=DM286533

A Future with Quality Jobs and Less Poverty in Panama

https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2026/01/23/por-un-futuro-con-empleo-de-calidad-y-menos-pobreza-en-panama?cid=ECR_E_NewsletterWeekly_EN_EXT&deliveryName=DM286533 Civil Society and Private Sector representatives share their perspectives on the challenges and opportunities to promote better jobs in Panama, highlighting the urgency of education reform and strengthening human capital.

Where resilience is a way of life and means progress: Ethiopia's Somali Region Maryam Salim April 30, 2026 This page in: English

https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/nasikiliza/where-resilience-is-a-way-of-life-and-means-progress-ethiopias-somali-region?cid=ECR_E_NewsletterWeekly_EN_EXT&deliveryName=DM286533 As our plane descended toward Jigjiga, the regional capital of Ethiopia's Somali Region, I felt a wave of excitement. I had heard so much about the Somali Region: its proud pastoral heritage, the security challenges it has faced and overcome, and its journey toward stability. During my stay, I engaged with regional leadership and gained insight into the current direction of the Region. What stood out most was the sense of clarity and ownership they have around the region’s future and their emphasis on sustaining the peace achieved after years of instability. The region has lived through fighting, displacement, and uncertainty. That chapter is giving way to something far more hopeful – progress. In this blog, I’m sharing the progress I saw.

#ClearHerPath: More women who are blazing a trail in South Asia

https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2026/02/10/clearherpath-more-women-who-are-blazing-a-trail-in-south-asia?cid=ECR_E_NewsletterWeekly_EN_EXT&deliveryName=DM286533 When a woman is empowered economically, the possibilities are endless. She can build businesses, create jobs, strengthen communities, improve a family’s prospects and drive real economic progress. That’s why the World Bank Group is working with countries and partners to prioritize actions that break down barriers and create opportunities for women to reach their potential.

Social Development

Building Livelihoods and Trust in Uganda’s Refugee-Hosting Communities The World Bank helps install climate-resilient infrastructure, expand access to basic services, and create new job opportunities for 3 million people. https://www.worldbank.org/ext/en/topic/social-development Today’s development landscape is marked by converging crises. Conflict and violence are rising, and by 2030 up to two-thirds of the world’s extreme poor may live in FCV-affected settings. Climate change is accelerating poverty and instability, with as many as 132 million people projected to be pushed into extreme poverty by 2030. Persistent gender gaps further undermine progress: globally, women still have only 64 percent of the legal protections afforded to men. These challenges reinforce one another: conflict magnifies vulnerability to climate shocks, while exclusion drives instability, and gender inequality erodes resilience. Evidence shows that social cohesion—trust, shared purpose, and collective action—and inclusive institutions are central to navigating these pressures and achieving sustainable development. Social development is about ensuring people from all groups feel included and see lasting economic and social opportunities while contributing to their country’s growth. Social development reflects the World Bank’s commitment to addressing longstanding barriers to development, strengthening the focus on people who have been excluded from economic and social opportunities, and increasing investment in inclusive growth. We support our client countries to build socially sustainable communities and societies that are able to work together to overcome challenges, deliver public goods, and allocate scarce resources in a manner perceived as legitimate and fair by all, so that all people may thrive over time.

Sustainable Infrastructure Finance

https://www.worldbank.org/ext/en/topic/sustainable-infrastructure-finance Infrastructure Finance Forum: Europe 2026 Infrastructure Finance Forum: Europe 2026 brings together investors, lenders, and developers to explore regulation, risk, financing structures, and opportunities across Europe’s infrastructure and energy markets. Infrastructure enables quality of life in every economy by creating jobs, enabling access to healthcare and education, and connecting markets and consumers. Public budgets and support from multilateral development banks are not sufficient to eliminate poverty on a livable planet. Partnership between governments, philanthropies, donors and the private sector is necessary to ensure basic services for the millions of households left behind. The World Bank Group is responding to the global call to scale up future-fit resilient quality infrastructure investment needed to accomplish our mission. We leverage the full suite of WB/IFC/MIGA financing instruments to facilitate private sector investment in sustainable quality infrastructure.

Resilience and Disaster Management

https://www.worldbank.org/ext/en/topic/resilience-and-disaster-management Natural Hazards Cost the World 90 Million Jobs Every Year A new global study covering 132 countries, Worldwide Job Losses Due to Natural Hazards, finds that each year, disasters and extreme heat are associated with the loss of around 90 million full‑time job equivalents worldwide. Disasters are no longer rare, isolated shocks. They are an escalating development challenge. In 2024, global economic losses from disasters reached record levels, with the poorest countries hit hardest. Beyond the destruction they cause, disasters disrupt growth and jobs, strain public finances, erode infrastructure, and push vulnerable households deeper into poverty. For the World Bank, disaster risk management is core to development: vital to growth, fiscal stability, and poverty reduction. Disasters can undo years of progress in moments. Investments in preparedness and resilience safeguard those development gains, protect lives and jobs, and create conditions for sustainable growth on a livable planet.

Governance

From climate ambition to action: Strengthening institutions for effective implementation of climate commitments Georgia provides a compelling case study of how governments can tackle the growing gap where technology outpaces institutions. With the support of the World Bank, Georgia is developing a structured modernization roadmap. https://www.worldbank.org/ext/en/topic/governance Governments are facing ongoing, overlapping crises and tightening fiscal space, which are challenging their ability to respond effectively in unprecedented ways. Citizens’ trust in public institutions continues to erode, highlighting the urgent need to renew the current social contract in countries around the world.

Gender

Unlocking Women’s Economic Potential Women’s economic lives look different from place to place. But when women earn, build businesses, and step into leadership, the effects extend beyond individual households, into their communities and beyond. https://www.worldbank.org/ext/en/topic/gender Unlocking the full potential of women and girls is a priority for the World Bank Group. Evidence shows that their full participation in society drives economic productivity, reduces poverty, strengthens social cohesion, and improves wellbeing across generations. While women and girls have made major strides in education and health, these gains have not fully translated into economic opportunities. Women’s human capital remains underutilized, as barriers such as unpaid care responsibilities, restrictive social norms, and limited access to finance and digital tools continue to constrain their participation in the workforce and broader economy. Globally, women’s labor force participation has remained stagnant at 53% since 1990—compared to 80% for men. More than 710 million women are kept out of the labor market due to family care duties, and millions more face exclusion from financial and digital services. The World Bank Group is working to close this gap by helping translate women’s human capital into meaningful employment, entrepreneurship, and income-generating opportunities. Removing these barriers not only empowers women—it boosts productivity, innovation, and job creation. In India alone, eliminating obstacles to female entrepreneurship could create 25 million new jobs and significantly accelerate GDP growth. Guided by our 2024–2030 Gender Strategy, we are connecting evidence to action to ensure that women’s human capital translates into more and better jobs. We invest in foundational enablers like education, health, safety, legal and digital inclusion and social protection. We also support legal and regulatory reforms that expand women’s access to jobs, capital and entrepreneurship—addressing constraints such as labor laws, tax systems, and social protection policies that can limit women’s economic opportunities. And we are sharing cutting-edge research, scalable solutions and hands-on support with governments and the private sector.

Fragility, Conflict and Violence

https://www.worldbank.org/ext/en/topic/fragility-conflict-and-violence Success in fragile, conflict and violent (FCV) contexts has become mission-critical for the World Band Group (WBG) because poverty is increasingly concentrated in countries classified as fragile and conflict-affected situations (FCS): An estimated 400 million of the extreme poor will be living in fragile countries in the next 10 years. Fragility interacts with other threats like food insecurity, climate change and macroeconomic challenges, posing a critical risk to development outcomes.

Hooked on Subsidies: The Case for Reform

https://www.worldbank.org/en/publication/hooked-on-subsidies The report Hooked on Subsidies: The Case for Reform examines how subsidies in emerging market and developing economies can either strengthen growth and resilience or entrench inefficiency and inequality. It provides evidence-based analysis and practical guidance to improve transparency, design, and implementation so that subsidies better support fiscal sustainability, productivity, poverty reduction, and job creation.

Country Growth and Jobs Report

https://www.worldbank.org/en/publication/country-growth-and-jobs-report Over the next decade, 1.2 billion young people in developing countries will reach working age, but under the current trajectory, only a fraction are expected to be employed—leaving millions neither in education nor employment. To leverage the demographic dividend of young nations and meet the aspirations of their youth, countries must unlock economic growth that creates more jobs. And to achieve that, countries need high-quality data and analysis that can inform more effective policies. The Country Growth and Jobs Report aims to help meet this challenge. A World Bank core diagnostics tool launched in early 2025, the Report puts jobs at the center of country-specific analyses and recommendations that can be used by governments to identify constraints not only to faster growth but also—and more importantly—pinpoint what can drive employment and quality of jobs. Findings from the Country Growth and Jobs Report also inform World Bank Group’s engagements with client countries and ensure that our broader portfolio is aligned and mobilized to create jobs at scale.

Fiscal Policy and Growth

https://www.worldbank.org/ext/en/topic/fiscal-policy-and-growth How Somalia turned a page amid a global debt crisis Meet Hersio Siad, a Somali mother of 14 who transformed her street stall into a thriving fruit and vegetable business. Recent economic reforms and debt relief in Somalia give her renewed hope for the future. Sound economic policies and reforms lay the groundwork for lasting, inclusive, and resilient development. They shape how a country uses resources, manages risks, and creates opportunities for people and businesses. When policies are well designed and coordinated, they help countries navigate shocks, build confidence among citizens and investors, and turn economic stability into real improvements in living standards.

Financial Services Sector

https://www.worldbank.org/ext/en/topic/financial-sector Innovative data-driven approaches for more proactive market conduct supervision Complaints and claims offer valuable market intelligence, but supervisory authorities often receive this data too late. AI and SupTech solutions are enabling proactive, real-time supervision — as demonstrated by World Bank Group work in Egypt, Ecuador, and Peru. Sound financial systems underpin economic growth and are crucial to the World Bank Group’s mission of eradicating poverty. Deep, liquid capital markets fund the investment required to support economic expansion, jobs, human capital, and infrastructure.

Farming and Agribusiness

https://www.worldbank.org/ext/en/topic/farming-and-agribusiness AgriConnect Africa's $1 trillion food market is a jobs opportunity. See how AgriConnect is turning agribusiness into an engine of growth across Eastern and Southern Africa. Farming and agribusiness do more than just feed people. They power economic growth and reduce poverty. The food sector supports millions of jobs on the farm and has the potential to create many more across the supply chain, from production and processing to transport, trade and retail.

Environment

https://www.worldbank.org/ext/en/topic/environment Nature isn't the alternative to modern technology. It is technology. Nature is an enabling technology for job creation and value chains. Learn how it provides the foundational infrastructure to grow jobs and businesses. Nature provides jobs directly for hundreds of millions of people, and sustains billions more. When well-managed, nature is the foundation for sustained growth, food security, poverty reduction, and human health. Today, nature loss, pollution, and degraded lands and seas are beginning to reverse decades of development progress. Halting this environmental degradation is essential to a world free of poverty on a livable planet. Nature is also key to ensuring that people can lead healthy and productive lives, and that public and private resources can be invested in advancing development outcomes. The world’s ecosystems regulate the air, water, and soil on which humanity depends, and form a unique and cost-effective buffer against extreme weather events. Investing in nature is smart development. Nature underpins people’s health, prosperity, and productivity, giving countries a powerful opportunity to drive growth and employment, develop the private sector, and empower local communities.

Energy

Tracking SDG7: The Energy Progress Report The Energy Progress Report aims to provide the international community with a global dashboard to register progress on energy access, energy efficiency, renewable energy and international cooperation to advance SDG7. https://www.worldbank.org/ext/en/topic/energy Energy is the lifeline of a modern economy and a foundation for jobs, productivity, and economic growth. Without energy, hospitals can’t operate, businesses can’t grow, and students can’t study after dark. Expanding access to reliable and affordable energy can raise living standards, safeguard essential services, create jobs, drive digitalization, and propel growth. But 655 million people are without electricity, and millions more have unreliable power; two billion people, mostly in Sub-Saharan Africa, still rely on polluting fuels for cooking. That means they don’t have adequate, reliable, and affordable energy for lighting, cooking, heating, and other daily activities. Most of them lack an electrical connection, and millions more suffer frequent power outages, equipment malfunctions, or gaps in their distribution network. The consequences are severe: When people lack access to energy, they are less healthy and are denied opportunities to improve their lives and lift themselves out of poverty; they are also less able to cope with climate change, natural disasters, and extreme weather events.

Education and Skills

https://www.worldbank.org/ext/en/topic/education Education is the foundation to skills development and jobs, and the surest way out of poverty, empowering generations to earn an income and drive economic growth. For individuals, education promotes employment, earnings, health, and poverty reduction. Globally, there is a 9% increase in hourly earnings for every extra year of schooling. For societies, it drives long-term economic growth, spurs innovation, strengthens institutions, and fosters social cohesion and stability. Developing countries have made tremendous progress in getting children into the classroom, but investments remain inadequate and learning is not guaranteed. Seven in 10 children in low- and middle-income countries cannot read or understand a simple paragraph by the age of 10. Prolonged school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the learning crisis. If a child cannot read with comprehension by age 10, they are unlikely to become fluent readers. They will fail to thrive in school and will be unable to develop the skills needed to power their careers and economies once they leave school. Investments in high-quality early childhood development, including basic numeracy, literacy, and socioeconomic skills, are critical to helping today’s children become tomorrow’s workers, entrepreneurs, and leaders. These skills help people become lifelong learners and maintain productivity over their lifetime. Digital skills are also increasingly essential for students to thrive at school and work. Initial teacher training, partnerships with the private sector, and innovative financing will also be essential to helping countries reach their education goals.

Digital and AI

Digitalization is one of the most powerful development opportunities of our time. Connectivity, data, and digital tools are now essential to how hospitals deliver care, how farmers access markets, how teachers reach students, and how governments serve their citizens. With the right foundations—affordable internet, trusted data systems, and secure digital platforms—developing countries can unlock faster, more inclusive growth. Artificial intelligence and the broader data revolution are accelerating this shift. They are expanding what institutions can do, improving service delivery, and opening new economic pathways. Yet not everyone is benefiting equally. As of 2024, 2.6 billion people—about one-third of the world’s population—remain offline, and internet use ranges from over 90% in high-income countries to just 27% in low-income countries. Meanwhile, 800 million people still lack official ID, limiting access to digital public services, finance, and healthcare. https://www.worldbank.org/ext/en/topic/digital-and-ai

Competitiveness

What the numbers reveal about women’s entrepreneurship New data from the World Bank's 8th Entrepreneurship Database, covering 117 economies from 2014–2024, reveals growing opportunities for women in business, with countries like Rwanda, Jamaica, and Thailand demonstrating that closing the gender entrepreneurship gap is achievable. https://www.worldbank.org/ext/en/topic/competitiveness Over the next decade, 1.2 billion young people in emerging and developing economies will become working-age adults, making job creation an urgent priority. Competitive countries—those with transparent and predictable regulations, skilled labor, stable financial systems and potential for development of local suppliers to global companies—have the edge in attracting investment. Those with competitive, efficient markets can foster economic growth, create jobs, and drive productivity gains which can lead to higher incomes and lower poverty.

Climate Change

https://www.worldbank.org/ext/en/topic/climate-change Building Resilience That Lasts: Game Changers for a Livable Planet Learn how the World Bank Group is supporting smart development solutions through adaptation, working to boost the resilience of nearly 425 million people whose lives are impacted by climate change. Countries are working to grow their economies, lift people out of poverty, and create jobs, while confronting droughts, storms, and floods that are hitting harder and more often. The fast-approaching demographic surge in emerging markets presents a challenge and an opportunity as we work to create enough jobs for the young people who need them. Meeting it will require countries to invest in the foundational infrastructure—roads, power, digital access, nature, education, clean air and water, and health systems—that connects people to opportunity. It will also demand policy and regulatory reforms that make economies more competitive and transparent, and financing that mobilizes private capital at scale.

Effective Reading Instruction in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: What the Evidence Shows [ French | Hindi | Spanish | Urdu ] [PDF]

https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/education/brief/global-education-evidence-advisory-panel The Global Education Evidence Advisory Panel (GEEAP) is an independent body of renowned researchers who strengthen evidence-informed policymaking in education. The Panel is co-convened by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the World Bank to fill a need in the education sector.

A Generation that does not understand what it reads: Evidence and solutions for Latin America and the Caribbean Launch of the report "Effective Reading Instruction in Low- and Middle-Income Countries", followed by a conversation with the authors and international experts.

A Generation that does not understand what it reads: Evidence and solutions for Latin America and the Caribbean Launch of the report "Effective Reading Instruction in Low- and Middle-Income Countries", followed by a conversation with the authors and international experts. https://www.worldbank.org/en/events/2026/06/03/una-generacion-que-no-entiende-lo-que-lee-america-latina-educacion Knowing how to read is the foundation of everything a person can learn, achieve, and become. Without that skill, the doors to education, work, and a fulfilling life close early. In Latin America and the Caribbean, 7 out of 10 students finish primary school without reaching the minimum level of reading comprehension. The causes are many, but one is rarely named: in many classrooms, reading is not taught using the right method.

Small AI, big bets: How the world's most impactful AI startups will be built in emerging markets Sangbu KimJonathan Nagao July 06, 2026 This page in: English Français Español العربية

https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/voices/small-ai--big-bets--how-the-world-s-most-impactful-ai-startups-w Walk into a hospital in Nigeria, where one doctor serves every 9,000 patients--fifteen times the WHO-recommended ratio. Every minute that a doctor spends on administrative work is a minute taken from a patient who may have waited hours to be seen.

Invertir en quienes cuidan y salvan vidas: la urgencia de fortalecer el personal de salud en América Latina y el Caribe

https://www.bancomundial.org/es/news/feature/2026/02/10/invertir-en-quienes-cuidan-y-salvan-vidas-la-urgencia-de-fortalecer-el-personal-de-salud-en-am-rica-latina-y-el-caribe?cid=ECR_E_NewsletterWeekly_ES_EXT&deliveryName=DM286907 La Alianza por la Atención Primaria de Salud en las Américas celebró sus primeros dos años y formalmente incorporó a Bolivia y Uruguay, que se suman a Chile, República Dominicana, El Salvador, Panamá y Paraguay. En cada rincón de América Latina y el Caribe, desde hospitales rurales hasta centros urbanos y puestos comunitarios, el sistema sanitario late gracias a quienes trabajan al límite. Médicas, enfermeros, técnicos y promotores de salud muchas veces enfrentan jornadas extenuantes y recursos escasos, cumpliendo una misión esencial: prevenir enfermedades y brindar la atención que realmente salva vidas.

When agri-food prices rise, who bears the cost? Elena Mora LopezViviana PeregoEmiliano MagriniValentina Pernechele January 07, 2026 This page in: English Español

https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/latinamerica/when-agri-food-prices-rise-who-bears-the-cost- During a visit to El Salvador, we met María Alexandra Tamanique, a maize farmer in La Libertad. She told us about the difficult decision she had to make during the fertilizer price increase in 2022–2023: to reduce fertilizer use and accept lower crop yields. “My maize yields fell sharply,” she told us, as poor road conditions and high transportation costs made it difficult to access mills further away.

Who is raising our children? Screens, baby shark, and the impact on early childhood Jaime SaavedraEzequiel MolinaCristóbal Cobo February 11, 2026 This page in: English Español العربية

https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/latinamerica/impact-screen-time-in-early-childhood Sixteen billion. That’s how many times the popular children’s song Baby Shark has been viewed on YouTube. That’s more than twice the world’s population—and here’s what’s truly striking: 5 of the 10 most-viewed videos in YouTube’s history are content for young children. Not Bad Bunny. Not Taylor Swift. But baby sharks and buses with spinning wheels. These numbers reveal something important: early childhood is being reshaped by screens, long before Instagram or TikTok enter the picture.

Beyond just IT: cybersecurity as a foundation for economic growth Enric Vall Garcia January 06, 2026 This page in: English Français Español

https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/latinamerica/beyond-just-it--cybersecurity-as-a-foundation-for-economic-growt A cyberattack against Morocco’s National Social Security Fund, which resulted in the leakage of the personal and financial details of nearly two million people; a cyber heist of US$ 1.5 billion in Ethereum, from the Dubai-based cryptocurrency exchange ByBit; a cyberattack targeting Italian government websites, including ministries, public policies and transportation platforms in Rome… These are all examples of the 21 significant cyber incidents reported by the Center for Strategic & International Studies, just for 2025.

How to create jobs for the world's 1.2 billion new workers Ajay Banga February 18, 2026 This page in: English Français Español العربية Русский 中文 日本語

https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/voices/how-to-create-jobs-for-the-world-s-1-2-billion-new-workers The world moves on different wavelengths. Some are high-frequency shocks—wars, emerging technologies, market panics—that spike quickly and dominate our attention. Others are low-frequency forces that move slowly but relentlessly: demographics, globalization, water and food scarcity.