This page explores education and development through various events. Whether you're interested in the impact of technology in accelerating access to education, teacher training, or global education systems, our live-streamed events provide insights and engagement opportunities. Explore key issues like government investment in education, the use of digital tools, and the influence of socio-economic factors on learning.

Why is Education Important?
Education is a human right, a powerful driver of development, and one of the strongest instruments for reducing poverty and improving health, gender equality, peace, and stability. Making smart and effective investments in people’s education is critical for developing the human capital that will end extreme poverty. Investing in education systems delivers large, consistent returns in terms of income, and is the most crucial factor to ensure equity and inclusion. 

When governments invest in quality education, people can take on the jobs of today, create employment opportunities of the future, and devise innovative solutions to global issues like climate change and food scarcity. Investing in people’s skills, technical and vocational training, and knowledge – their human capital – can create an agile workforce that can adapt to global shifts like technological transformation and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

How is the World Bank Addressing the Global Learning Crisis?
The effects of COVID-19 school closures are expected to be long-lasting. Education statistics and data have revealed deep losses, with international reading scores declining from 2016 to 2021 by more than a year of schooling. These losses may translate to a 0.68 percentage point in global GDP (Gross Domestic Product) growth. This generation of children could lose a combined total of US$21 trillion in lifetime earnings in present value or the equivalent of 17% of today’s global GDP. 

The World Bank’s global education strategy is centered on ensuring learning happens – for everyone, everywhere. Everyone should have educational opportunities to achieve her or his full potential with access to a quality education and lifelong learning. The World Bank, IDA, IFC, and MIGA are helping countries build strong education systems so that young children gain foundational skills like literacy, numeracy, and social emotional learning (SEL) – the building blocks for all other learning. From early childhood to tertiary education and beyond – children and youth must acquire the skills they need to thrive in school, the labor market and throughout their lives. Girls’ education, inclusion of all, and education in fragile contexts is also a priority for the World Bank. 

Governments can meet the ambitions of SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) 4 by partnering with the World Bank Group to implement Learning Acceleration Programs to get children back to school, recover lost learning, and build equitable and resilient education systems. 

Why should governments prioritize investments in education?
Recovering from the learning crisis must be a political priority, backed with adequate financing and educational policy reforms. Domestic financing for education over the last two years has not kept pace with the need to recover and accelerate learning. Across low- and lower-middle-income countries, the average share of education in government budgets fell during the pandemic, and in 2022 it remained below 2019 levels.

In a time of fiscal pressure, protecting spending that yields long-run gains – like spending on education – will maximize impact. Closing the learning gap will require increasing the level, efficiency, and equity of education spending—spending smarter is an imperative. Edtech can be a powerful tool to implement these actions by supporting teachers, children, principals, and parents; expanding accessible digital learning platforms, including radio, TV, online learning resources; and using data to identify and help at-risk children, personalize learning, and improve service delivery.

Watch live events to answer questions like: 
How can we improve learning outcomes? How can teacher training impact learning outcomes? How can countries ensure children are learning how to read and acquiring foundational learning skills? How can education systems prepare people with the skills and vocational training they need for the jobs of the future? How should governments invest in education? How can governments prioritize education financing? What learning standards should schools and students meet? How can teacher training impact learning outcomes? How can educational technology and digital tools be used in classrooms? What is the role of ICT and technology in schools? How can Artificial Intelligence (AI) support teachers? How does poverty affect education? How can we mainstream climate education and invest in green skills? How can education support refugees and prevent violent conflict? Which are the best countries in terms of education? Which country has the best university? Which country has the best education system? 

Engage with Subject Matter Experts 
Our livestreamed education events provide the opportunity to engage with global leaders and experts from governments, UN system, MDBs (Multilateral Development Banks), the public and private sectors, foundations, philanthropies, academia, think-tanks, CSOs (civil society organizations), NGOs, youth organizations, parent teacher associations (PTAs), the media, and influencers  as they discuss education policies, reforms, best practices, and solutions to help countries meet their sustainable development objectives and end learning poverty. 

Find More Resources 
Learn more at worldbank.org/education and follow @WBG_Education.

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Upcoming events

Africa's Pulse: Transforming Education for Inclusive Growth

Join us for the Global Launch of the October 2024 Regional Economic Update to discover the latest findings and insights from our biannual research.

President Ajay Banga’s Annual Meetings Townhall with Civil Society

The Civil Society Townhall with the World Bank President is a key event during the Annual Meetings. It provides an opportunity for civil society representatives to dialogue with the President on shared development priorities.

Past Events

Choosing our Future: Education for Climate Action

Watch the replay of the panel discussion on how governments can harness education for climate impact, presented during the launch of the “Choosing Our Future: Education for Climate Action” report.

How to Accelerate Student Learning: Lessons From 60 Countries

The COVID-19 pandemic created the worst shock to education on record and led to large learning losses that disproportionately affected children from low-income populations. A new World Bank report takes stock of countries’ efforts to overcome the pandemic’s impacts on students and build more resilient education systems. Learning Recovery to Acceleration: A Global Update on Country Efforts examines what countries are doing to recover and accelerate learning, and how they are doing it, studying over 60 education systems. To celebrate the report’s launch, this World Bank Live event will share some of the report’s major findings, and engage in a live discussion with high-level education leaders on lessons from the past three years and a path forward for improving learning outcomes worldwide. 

How COVID-19 Eroded Human Capital and What to Do About It

This event explores the specific impacts of COVID on individuals in each life stage, the related risks to their futures, and policy options countries can consider to help address the challenges.

Harnessing Education for Effective Climate Action

Education systems around the world face significant climate risks. At the same time, education is a hugely powerful but significantly under-utilized instrument to promote climate action. Three young activists, from Nigeria, Pakistan, and Peru, will deliver condensed TED-style talks, sharing their personal experience of how climate change is affecting education and how education can and must be a key part of the solution. 

Investing in Education for Our Children and Youth

How should countries #EndLearningPoverty and prioritize investment decisions to ensure the pandemic does not permanently set back education and employment outcomes, and rebuild human capital losses? Join the discussion on Oct. 12.

Investing in Quality Early Learning to Combat the Global Learning Crisis

This virtual event, convened by the World Bank, launched the Quality Early Learning: Nurturing Children’s Potential volume to highlight the importance of investing in quality early childhood education (ECE).

Human Capital at the Crossroads

Putting people first through investing in human capital – the knowledge, skills, and health that people need to achieve their potential – is critical for sustainable, inclusive growth and poverty reduction.

Prioritizing Learning During COVID-19

The new Global Education Evidence Advisory Panel (GEEAP) offers guidance on how education systems in low- and middle-income countries can respond to the damage caused by the pandemic and make sure that learning needs for all students, especially the most marginalized, are addressed.

Teach Children in a Language They Use and Understand

The World Bank’s focus on foundational skills requires that issues of language and Language of Instruction be brought to the forefront of education policy discussions. Poor Language of Instruction policies harm learning, access, equity, cost-effectiveness, and inclusion. Yet, inappropriate Language of Instruction policies affect too many students in low- and middle-income countries.

The Africa Human Capital Plan

In Sub-Saharan Africa, evidence shows that investing in women’s and girls’ education, health and economic opportunities is fundamental to realizing the continent’s human capital potential and spurring sustainable economic growth. Over the past few decades, countries in the region have made considerable progress addressing a range of outcomes that are critical for women’s and girls’ empowerment, including legal reforms on the age of marriage and gender-based violence. However, women and girls remain particularly vulnerable by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has exacerbated existing gender gaps and inequalities. The COVID-19 response must therefore be centered on protecting, preserving and sustaining financial and social investments in women and girls. As part of the Human Capital Project Global Forum, which brings together government focal points from around the world, this event will highlight testimonies from voices with first-hand experience and expertise on why protecting and advancing women’s and girls’ social and economic empowerment in the immediate and ...

Re-Imagining Post-Pandemic Education

What impact has the second wave of COVID-19 had on learning, especially in developing countries? What has been the impact on schooling in Sierra Leone? What opportunities are there to build more inclusive/resilient schooling? In decades to come, will the pandemic mark a major setback or a leap forward for education for the poorest? These are some of the questions we'll ask education experts, Jaime Saavedra, Director of Education at the World Bank, and David Moinina Sengeh, Education Minister, Sierra Leone. 

“Smart Buys” to Improve Global Learning Levels

Launched in July 2020, Global Education Evidence Advisory Panel (GEEAP) is an independent, cross-disciplinary body composed of leading education experts with a mandate to provide succinct, usable, and policy-focused recommendations to support decision-making on education. It is convened jointly by the UK FCDO and World Bank and is hosted by Building Evidence in Education (BE2).

How Do We Educate Children During a Crisis?

#Coronavirus has had a devastating impact on #education. Around 80% of the world’s students are now out of school. Watch a discussion of some of the possible solutions with Jaime Saavedra, Global Director of Education, World Bank. Related Links: Covid-19 (Coronavirus): Live Interview and Panel Series COVID-19 landing page

Equality for Education

For International Women's Day 2020, Rotary International and the Global Partnership for Education organize an event titled "Equality in Education" in Washington, DC.  GPE and Rotary will highlight their support and investment in girls’ education. GPE works across almost 70 developing partner countries and promotes gender equality in and through education. Rotary will present the basic education and literacy projects of women Rotary members, who have long been leaders and change agents in countless communities across the globe. 

The Power of Teachers in Tackling the Global Learning Crisis

The event will explore how to best support teachers and drive the change needed to tackle the global learning crisis and eliminate learning poverty. Panelists will focus on the global learning crisis and the efforts to tackle it by increasing the quality of investments in people, with a special focus on the role that education, particularly investments in teachers, can play in these efforts.

Building Human Capital in Africa: The Future of a Generation

Young people are the drivers of Africa’s economy and future. With eleven million youth expected to enter Africa’s labor market every year for the next decade, now is the time for urgent action to build and nurture the region’s human capital.  The event focused on the future of Africa’s youth through the lens of inspirational youth leaders, policy makers, and civil society to collectively highlight the challenges, aspirations, and actions taken to help build the human capital of the next generation. It kicked off with a presentation of the “The Future is Me” video showcasing Africa’s youth and the future of the continent, followed by World Bank Vice President for Africa Hafez Ghanem’s announcement of the launch of the ambitious Human Capital Plan for Africa. His Majesty King Letsie III of Lesotho in the keynote address stressed why investments in human capital are essential for long term, sustainable economic growth, and urged everyone to ...

Successful Teachers, Successful Students: The World Bank’s Approach to Teachers

Teachers are the single most important driver of how much students learn. They have the responsibility to ensure that all children—each with their own challenges and potential—can learn effectively and have an enriching experience in school. The World Bank is working with countries to ensure that every classroom has a competent, empowered and motivated teacher. Join us for the unveiling of the first-ever open source classroom observation tool, and a discussion on the best ways to attract, prepare, engage, and support teachers to ensure learning for all.

Spring Meetings 2018 Global Voices: A conversation with Julia Gillard and Mark Dybul

This is a Facebook Live interview. Watch the replay! Tune in for a conversation about investing in school-based health interventions with Julia Gillard, Board Chair of the Global Partnership for Education and former Prime Minister of Australia and Mark Dybul, Co-Director of the Center Global Health and Quality at Georgetown University Medical Center and former Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. 

Accountability in Education: The Role of Citizens in Accelerating Learning for All

The last 50 years have seen a great expansion of schooling in many developing countries, but education outcomes are lagging behind. As countries have committed to ensuring inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning (Sustainable Development Goal 4), the World Development Report 2018 (WDR 2018) – LEARNING to Realize Education’s Promise – warns that there is a “learning crisis”. Please join the World Bank’s Global Partnership for Social Accountability’s (GPSA) together with the World Bank’s Global Practice on Governance, Global Practice on Education, Basic Education Coalition and members of the GPSA’s Steering Committee for a Round Table discussion about the contribution that collaborative social accountability can make in the education sector in general and specifically towards addressing the learning crisis. The GPSA works with over 50 governments and more than 260 civil society and private sector partners towards solving governance challenges around the world. The GPSA portfolio has a set of projects where promising examples of civil society, governments and ...

The State of the Africa Region

As the region’s premier event during the World Bank-IMF Annual and Spring Meetings, the State of the Africa Region seminar provides an opportunity to reflect on the main trends shaping economic development on the continent. Attended by the region's leading thinkers and policy makers, the seminar will discuss key challenges and opportunities facing Africa amid a weak and volatile regional and global economic environment. This year’s seminar will have a special focus on meeting the skills challenge of 21st century Africa, exploring how Sub-Saharan African countries can enact system-wide change that will ensure greater efficiency of investments in skills-building and better outcomes for the region’s rapidly growing working-age population.

Supporting Working Parents: Tackling Childcare

IFC hosted the Supporting Working Parents: Tackling Childcare event at the 2017 WBG-IMF Annual Meetings to draw attention to the growing need for childcare options for working parents. Businesses, economies, and workers and their children all benefit when companies offer childcare options to employees. Nena Stoiljkovic, Vice President of Blended Finance and Partnerships, IFC, highlighted the key findings from the recently released Tackling Childcare: The Business Case for Employer-Supported Childcare report, noting that no country, community, or economy can meet the challenges of the 21st century without addressing the childcare needs of employees. Panelists Ram Kumar Gupta, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment, India; Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director, UN Women; Farhan A. Ifram, CEO, MAS Kreeda Al Safi; and Stephen Kramer, President, Bright Horizons Family Solutions, discussed industry best practices and explored new approaches to address childcare. Gillian Tett, U.S. Managing Editor, the Financial Times, moderated the dialogue. The speakers emphasized that if the world were to achieve UN ...

Pass or Fail: Are Countries Doing Their Education Homework?

Policy makers, global education experts and civil society leader gathered today to shine the spotlight on education and the learning crisis as part of a conversation on concrete actions that countries can take to break the vicious cycle of low investment and poor results in education. The event aimed to mobilize everyone who has a stake in learning so that all children, regardless of where they are born, can realize the promise of education. Farah Mohamed, the CEO of the Malala Fund, who moderated the event and introduced the panel, and said that the good news was that there are many who are concerned about the learning crisis. The World Bank’s CEO Kristalina Georgieva called for a greater focus on education access and quality, because as she noted, schooling is not the same as learning—and millions of children spend several years in school without learning basic reading or math skills.  Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Indonesia’s Minister of Finance, ...

Education Reimagined - Featuring Salman Khan

Salman "Sal" Khan will talk about how he founded the not-for-profit Khan Academy and how the organization is educating millions of people worldwide. Sal will also share his thoughts on what education reimagined could look like and how his dream of "providing a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere" could become a reality.

Early Childhood Development: A Smart Beginning for Economies on the Rise

Investing in young children is one of the smartest investments a country can make to break the cycle of poverty, address inequality at the root, and boost productivity later in life. The benefits of early childhood development programs that integrate health, nutrition, education and social protection components are particularly strong for poor and disadvantaged children. Recent scientific and economic studies show irrefutably that early childhood experiences have a profound impact on brain development and on subsequent learning, health, and adult earnings. Smart investments in young children improve prospects for communities and can yield dramatic economic gains for countries. As we work to meet the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals related to early childhood development, join World Bank Group President Jim Kim, UNICEF Executive Director Tony Lake, and a panel of experts LIVE at 4:30 PM ET on Thursday, April 14 to launch a global movement to ensure that children everywhere can thrive. Related Links: Early childhood development: A smart investment for life Measurement matters ...

Let Girls Learn, Featuring Michelle Obama

U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama brought her passion for girls’ education and a powerful message to a packed World Bank atrium just ahead of Spring Meetings: Support education for adolescent girls, because it’s one of the smartest investments any country can make. She was talking to the right audience — finance and development ministers entrusted with crucial spending decisions, development experts, and leaders from civil society, the private sector, and the media. World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim praised Obama as a “tremendous champion for the rights of girls and women.” He announced that the Bank Group would invest $2.5 billion over five years in education projects directly benefiting adolescent girls. Obama welcomed the news as a “truly amazing. This isn’t just a breathtaking investment of resources, it’s also a powerful statement of mission.” “It’s an expression of our belief in the power of education to transform the lives and prospects of millions of girls worldwide — ...

Reimagining Learning with the Open Learning Campus

The Open Learning Campus is an online destination for development learning that will build the leadership and technical capabilities of all development stakeholders—partners, practitioners, policy makers, staff and the public. With the OLC you can access development lessons captured in easy to understand and versatile formats - from bite-sized lessons to full-length courses, and MOOCs to peer learning conversations. With these tools you can access the information you need to better help you understand disaster risk management, health policy reform or any of your other learning needs as a development professional. The OLC will be launched at an event discussing the future of development learning. This conversation will be moderated by NY Times columnist Thomas Friedman, and panelists include World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim and edX CEO Anant Agarwal. The panel discussion will be followed by a series of lightning talks by three young innovators who have changed the landscape in this field.

Quality Education for Equitable Growth

Education is a critical step on the path toward new opportunities for both people and nations. But in a world where children are not getting the skills they need to live productive lives—250 million children cannot read or write, despite many having been to school—something clearly needs to change to fulfill this historic promise. Tune in to a high-stakes discussion between Finance Ministers, civil society representatives, private employers and development partners as they explore how all stakeholders can work together to make smarter, more results-oriented investments that deliver quality education for all children and youth. The payoff? Young people who are equipped with skills for jobs, and sustained economic gains that will contribute to peace, stability, and equitable growth

Stepping up Early Childhood Development: An Investment for Life

A child’s earliest years present the best window of opportunity to ensure good outcomes later in life. Early childhood development programs that include education, health, nutrition and social protection components have proven to be effective in several countries, but despite this growing evidence, more than 200 million children in developing countries under the age of 5 will not reach their development potential. The panel discussed how to use the evidence to influence policy makers and scale up investments moving forward to ensure that children not only survive their early years, but also thrive during this period. This event was convened by the World Bank Group and co-hosted by the Global Partnership for Education.

Innovation in Korean Education for a Creative Economy

World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim will deliver the keynote address at this symposium co-hosted by the World Bank Group and the Korean Educational Development Institute (KEDI) in Seoul, Korea

Open Access Week 2014 Kick Off Event: “Generation Open”

Join and the World Bank and SPARC (The Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition) for the 2014 International Open Access Week Kickoff Event on Monday, October 20th in Washington, DC. The event will focus on this year’s theme of “Generation Open.”  It aims to provide a forum for students and early career researchers to have a lively conversation with an expert panel representing research funders, university administrators, and scholarly societies, exploring how the transition to Open Access affects scholars and researchers at different stages of their careers. The panel will also discuss the role that institutions central to a career in research can play in supporting—and rewarding—early career researchers in making their articles and underlying data openly accessible.

About World Bank Live

Since 2011, the World Bank Live platform has been a hub for high-level conversations on international development. Hosting over 650 events in English, with more than 200 also available in FrenchSpanish, and/or Arabic, it serves as a gateway to both upcoming and past events. The platform aims to help spark innovative ideas and translate them into actionable solutions, with a focus on ending poverty and boosting prosperity on a livable planet. Each event delves into critical economic issues aligned with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with topics ranging from healthcare and pandemic preparedness to climate action and building sustainable communities. Read more >