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.