On Our Final "Virtual Route 66" For 2023: Some Random Thoughts Courtesy the World Bank

 

As we bid farewell to 2023, our team chose this courtesy the team at the World Bank to think about the possibilities and "Hope" as we look forward to the privilege of service in 2024:

IDA – the World Bank’s fund for the poorest -- Midterm Review Update The IDA Midterm Review, which brings together more than 100 donor and recipient governments to take stock of progress, discuss challenges, and plan for the future, took place in Zanzibar from December 6-8. World Bank President Ajay Banga launched the campaign for what he aims to make the largest IDA replenishment ever. In his remarks, followed by a livestreamed conversation, Ajay detailed his ambitious vision for the future of IDA, discussed new ways to deploy these crucial resources, and spoke about the World Bank’s plan to bring electricity to 100 million Africans by 2030 using IDA. Learn more.

World Bank Doubling Down on Climate Action  With an ambitious financing package announced at COP28, the World Bank Group is helping people in developing countries better withstand the devastation of climate change and create a better future for coming generations by devoting 45 percent of its annual financing to climate-related projects for the next fiscal year. The Bank is also launching a new program to protect millions from rising climate-related death and illness, extending a new lifeline for countries hit by natural disasters, providing support to boost high-integrity global carbon markets, and stepping up efforts to address methane emissions. Learn more about the World Bank at COP28.

World Bank and Global Fund: Stronger Collaboration to Tackle the Impact of Climate Change on Health The World Bank and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (the Global Fund) have signed a new memorandum of understanding outlining how the two organizations will work together to strengthen health systems in countries of the global south. The goal is to support more efficient, effective, and sustainable financing to improve health outcomes in the face of climate change. Specifically, the two organizations will work together on climate and health priorities to reduce the burden of malaria, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis through stronger health systems Learn more.

BLOGS, PUBLICATIONS, & REPORTS  Here’s how we can turn this learning crisis around A new blog coauthored by the CEO of Pratham Education Foundation and the World Bank VP of Human Development argues that there is not enough urgent action across countries to address the crisis in foundational learning. They outline ways governments can turn the learning crisis around with quick, cost-effective, and scalable solutions that have already been shown to work to address gaps in foundational learning. Learn more. Partner voices: Gwen Hines, Chief Executive Officer, Save the Children UK Save the Children is working with the World Bank to help children and their communities caught up in fragile states amidst conflict and violence. Gwen Hines, Chief Executive of Save the Children UK talks about the power of social protection systems, and how working with the World Bank has helped to scale up important programs to protect children. Read more. Inclusion of sexual and gender minorities is critical for overcoming gender barriers Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) people often find themselves subjected to the harsh realities of violence, stigmatization, and discrimination for not complying with conventional gender norms. In parallel to the exclusion of women, eliminating the social barriers that LGBTI people face promises to unlock economic prosperity and growth. Learn more. Building support for energy subsidy reform: what will it take? A new study by the World Bank suggests that public support for energy subsidy reform could be significantly increased by packaging it with compensatory policies. The study draws on survey data from 37,000 respondents in 12 middle-income countries that collectively provided over $200 billion in explicit fossil fuel subsidies in 2022. Read more. Translating CCDR recommendations on water scarcity into action in MENA Since COP27 in Egypt last year, the World Bank has been working hard to implement recommendations in our flagship Country Climate and Development Reports (CCDRs). Read how the recommendations were operationalized to increase water security in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.  IDA – the World Bank’s Fund for the Poorest: A Catalyst for Development This immersive story spotlights IDA recipient countries who have graduated and returned as donors, a milestone in the fight against poverty. Read inspirational stories from South Korea, Bolivia, India, Indonesia, China, as well as Bosnia and Herzegovina. To understand IDA numbers through investments and financing cycles, visit this interactive map.  To read more blogs, click here.

DEVELOPMENT PODCAST Tackling the Climate Crisis This episode marks the launch of the World Bank’s new limited series on how to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet. Listen here. Annual Meetings 2023: A New Vision for Challenging Times This special edition episode draws on some of the highlights from the IMF-World Bank Group Annual Meetings week and shares more about the institution’s new mission and vision. Listen here. To listen to more podcasts, click here.