Poverty & Inequality

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. 

High inflation and rising food prices pose a challenge to economies across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), where growth is expected to slow in the coming year. Join this World Bank Live event and hear from the World Bank’s Chief Economist in MENA about the region’s economic prospects and the impact of rising food prices. The latest MENA Economic Update looks in depth at how even temporary increases in the price of food can have lasting impacts across generations in terms of education, health and future income prospects.

World Bank Group President David Malpass and President of Queens' College, Cambridge University, Mohamed El-Erian had a conversation about global macroeconomic trends and their effects on development.

Join us in a conversation with William Maloney, Chief Economist for Latin America and the Caribbean, and high-level experts, as we explore new growth opportunities emerging in the global economy and how the region can actively engage to drive inclusive and sustainable development. 

What are the latest economic developments and growth prospects in South Asia? What opportunities does a stabilizing global economy create for the region? What challenges remain as countries still feel the impacts of major global and regional shocks? How can South Asia ensure more equitable growth? The latest edition of the World Bank’s South Asia Economic Focus explores the current economic landscape and provides growth projections for the region, with a focus on inequality of opportunity and intergenerational mobility in South Asia. Join experts from the region for a live discussion on how South Asian economies can expand opportunities and unlock progress.

The State of the Africa Region event will take stock of global headwinds affecting the region and provide a timely overview of macro-economic trends, given the slowing GDP, high debt, and historically high food and energy prices. The discussion will specifically focus on measures that can deliver big wins for food security on the continent, such as better targeted public spending, investments in food transformation and resilient food systems, and stronger intra-regional trade.

Overlapping global crises have stalled progress in eliminating poverty and clouded the outlook for growth. Watch a discussion exploring economic policy actions that can support inclusive growth and get poverty reduction goals back on track. 

A new World Bank publication, “Revisiting Targeting in Social Assistance: A New Look at Old Dilemmas,” aims to refresh and update the current discussions about the benefits and costs of social protection targeting as well as pros and cons of various targeting methods. It also sheds light on the valuable role of targeted social protection interventions in helping achieve Universal Social Protection. Join us for the live launch of this report.

Join World Bank Managing Director Mari Pangestu and a distinguished panel of experts as they discuss the latest findings on inequality from the January 2022 Global Economic Prospects report, and implications for countries and the global community.

Join us for a discussion on solutions from the ground—and how IDA, the World Bank’s fund for the poorest countries, is driving innovation and outcomes.

As countries rebuild their economies after COVID-19, it is fundamental that they see this as a unique opportunity to lay the foundation for a green, resilient, and inclusive future. These efforts were the theme of the event kicking off the Spring Meetings on Tuesday, Economic Recovery: Toward a Green, Resilient, and Inclusive Future.

(Read the event transcript in English, Arabic, Chinese, French, Japanese, Russian, and Spanish) 'We have to help countries improve their readiness for future pandemics.' World Bank Group President David Malpass called on the world to move urgently toward opportunities and solutions that achieve a green, resilient, and inclusive recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic in a speech today that advances the World Bank-IMF Spring Meetings. “Our collective responses to poverty, climate change, and inequality will be the defining choices of our age.” Mr. Malpass delivered the speech virtually at the London School of Economics; it was followed by a discussion with students, moderated by Baroness Minouche Shafik, Director of the London School of Economics.   See the list of Speakers   As we work toward a #ResilientRecovery, our collective responses to poverty, climate change, & inequality will be the defining choices of our age. My thanks to Baroness Shafik & @LSEnews for their hospitality.#LSECOVID19 Read my full remarks here: https://t.co/K4...

World Development Report 2021: Data for Better Lives – the first WDR focused solely on the role of data for development – comes at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic is wreaking havoc on the global economy, bringing to the fore global data inequalities. How do we tap the full value of data, ensuring equitable access for poor people? What reforms are needed in data governance to protect individuals, businesses, and societies from harm? As we chart a course for a resilient recovery, World Bank Group President David Malpass, Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid, Microsoft President Brad Smith, and WTO Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala will discuss data’s tremendous potential to improve lives. Join us for the live conversation on March 24th. Be sure to sign up for an email reminder! See the list of speakers

COVID-19 has laid bare the long-standing inequities faced by people around the world – especially those with limited access to health care, infrastructure and other essential services. In cities, home to over half of the world’s population, such chasms have been deepened by the pandemic. Although urbanization has been accompanied by lower poverty, job creation and growth, distribution of such urban gains has been uneven, often marked by striking spatial, social and economic inequalities within cities. In reimagining the post-COVID-19 future, policy makers, international agencies, and other non-state actors are all concerned with getting it right. It has become evident that without addressing inequities that have left many behind, it is impossible to build inclusive cities that are livable and prosperous for all. How can we introduce new ways of (re)building cities from an equity perspective, prioritize the poor and vulnerable in decision-making, and enhance overall the resilience of cities? This World Bank Live session engages with a rich ...

COVID-19 has been called the "Inequality Pandemic", meaning that existing gaps have been exacerbated by the crisis. Now more than ever there is a need for inclusive economic development. But just what does that mean, and how do we go about achieving it?  Join us Wednesday, January 27th at 9am as we discuss some of these questions with Colin Andrews, Program Manager with the Social Protection & Jobs Global Practice at the World Bank. Meanwhile... Download the report The State of Economic Inclusion Report 2021: The Potential to Scale Watch the previous episode of the Resilient Recovery Series: Re-Imagining Post-Pandemic Education The Resilient Recovery Series includes in-depth interviews with the Bank’s leading experts focused on health, social, and economic responses, as well as policies, institutions, and investments that will be critical to resilient, inclusive, and sustainable recovery. Check out the previous episodes!         View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by World Bank (@worldbank)

The poor are suffering disproportionately, and Pakistan is expanding social protection programs to help them, said Dr. Sania Nishtar, that country’s Federal Minister, Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Ministry. A diverse group of speakers from countries including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cameroon, the United Kingdom, and Yemen shared their views on how to urgently tackle COVID-19, conflict, and climate change to halt this reversal of fortunes.

The World Bank, in partnership with UNDP, UN Women, and the Wharton School Zicklin Center, will hold a virtual award event on September 30, 2020, on the margins of the 75th session of the UNGA, to recognize seven woman entrepreneurs. These inspirational women were selected from a pool of 2,400 applicants from around the world that competed in the 2020 SDGs and Her competition. This year’s winners are using their entrepreneurial skills to not only support ...

Why is addressing fragility and conflict critical for meeting poverty goals? Join us to discuss the new global report that presents new estimates of economic welfare in fragile and conflict-affected situations and analyzes the multidimensional nature of poverty in these settings. After a brief presentation of the report’s findings by the lead author, the high-level panel will discuss implications for the fight against poverty. Read the report here: https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/poverty/publication/fragility-conflict-on-the-front-lines-fight-against-poverty

David R. Malpass will have a conversation with the Center for Global Development (CGD) President Masood Ahmed and set out his vision for the World Bank Group’s work in development. CGD is a nonprofit think tank based in Washington, D.C. and London that focuses on international development.

The State of the Africa Region event attempted to answer this age-old question and put some answers into practice. The discussion, moderated by Julie Gichuru, did not disappoint in terms of diversity, passion, and humor, with Africa Region Vice President Hafez Ghanem in his opening remarks declaring himself a newborn feminist in his “old age”, and Chief Economist Albert Zeufack linking gender inequality to slower-than-expected growth of just 2.6 percent for 2019.   An animated group of panelists talked through practical ways to close the gap between men and women in Africa. While there was consensus on areas like access to health, education, empowerment, and changing social norms, entrepreneur Ciiru Waithaka highlighted the need to move beyond gathering data and use what we know to drive tangible results. As a doctor working in fragile environment, Christabel Ngwashi outlined the important role of women in health care at all levels (policy, community, individual), and urged women not to rely on entitlement, but to earn ...

Learning poverty—the percentage of children unable to read by the age of 10—is at the heart of global poverty. Tackling all the fundamental steps that are needed to deliver the outcome of a child who can read by their first decade of life requires action across multiple arenas. To learn, children must first survive and thrive; families must have access to quality services; girls must have the same opportunities as boys; parents must have economic opportunities and countries must have policy approaches that allow all of this to flourish. Learning poverty is inextricably linked to global poverty. Join us to hear from speakers, who will highlight the actions being taken to tackle this fundamental shift to achieving stronger country outcomes. 

Agenda: Opening Session: 9:00-10:15 am ET”People, Markets and Cities” Keynote Session: 1:00-2:15 pm ETKeynote address: “Moving to Opportunity in the Developing World” Debate: “Regional Perspectives on Migration and Location Issues” Cities are engines of growth, which create jobs, agglomerate economics and diffuse knowledge. By the middle of the century, two-thirds of the population will live in cities. 90 percent of the urban growth will be in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Cities in developing countries lack efficient structure and have poor spatial connectivity, which prevents workers from accessing opportunities and marginalizes vulnerable and low-income groups. A large percentage of workers are unskilled, underemployed and poor. What is the role for urban and national governments to create opportunities for all, and facilitate human capital accumulation, improve spatial connectivity, and address the socio-economic segregation? The 6th Urbanization and Poverty Reduction Conference will bring together academics and development practitioners to discuss effective land, housing, transport and local labor market policies, and their implications for ...

We did it! 24 hours of non-stop discussions on development economics. Thanks for watching and engaging! Want to learn more about the economics behind international development? How can we stimulate economic growth, reduce poverty and help people in developing countries?  We went live for a 24-hour “Econothon” where experts from the World Bank Group and beyond engaged a global audience on the development challenges facing the world today. Economic growth, jobs, inequality climate change -- these development issues never sleep. Click here to watch all the replays  

Leaders grapple with how to make growth work for the poor Mexico’s finance secretary and experts from the private sector, academia, and the World Bank Group held a lively discussion Thursday on Making Growth Work for the Poor. Moderator Melinda Crane, chief political correspondent at Deutsche Welle, asked the panelists to consider questions such as whether there is a tradeoff between boosting growth and reducing poverty and inequality. MIT Professor Esther Duflo responded that we don’t actually know how to make economies grow in a consistent way. World Bank Group Chief Economist Pinelopi Goldberg pointed out that while growth drove China’s immense reduction in poverty, that country also deliberately pursued growth as a means to poverty reduction, and achieved it through careful experimentation. Mexican Finance Secretary Carlos Urzúa highlighted the way different regions of a country can diverge, citing disparities between northern and southern Mexico. Goldberg echoed those concerns, saying that we need to think more ...

World Bank Group President David Malpass will address the press during the World Bank Group/International Monetary Fund 2019 Spring Meetings. The Spring Meetings are attended by approximately 2,800 delegates from our member countries, 350 observer organization representatives and 800 members of the press. Approximately 550 accredited civil society members also participate in the Meetings.  The Meetings and related ancillary events will be held from April 9 - 14, 2019 in Washington, D.C. The meetings are comprised of events open to all attendees, ministerial-level invitation-only sessions, closed bilateral meetings, and events open only to the Press. 

Since the 2016 World Humanitarian Summit, what has the international community achieved to bridge the humanitarian-development divide? In this keynote session of the Law, Justice and Development Week 2018, guest speakers from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the World Bank Group will discuss the importance of utilizing the comparative advantages of each organization to contribute towards development in a complementary manner, particularly in relation to this year’s theme of Rights, Protection and Development.

End Poverty Day is an important moment for the world to engage on the progress made and actions needed to end poverty. Join leading voices on global poverty for a lively conversation that will highlight the issues raised by the World Bank’s Poverty and Shared Prosperity Report 2018: Piecing Together the Poverty Puzzle. The World Bank Group’s core measure continues to be anchored on the $1.90 international poverty line. But to make poverty history, we cannot rely solely on historical ways of measuring it. The Bank is going beyond extreme income poverty to look at poverty in all its forms everywhere. The new measures allow us to better monitor poverty in all countries, in multiple aspects of life, and for all individuals in every household.

Public debt is rising in both emerging markets and low income developing countries to levels not seen since the early 1980s. Forty percent of low income developing countries are now either in debt distress or at high risk of default. At the same time, corporate debt in emerging markets is also exceeding historical levels. This situation calls for new efforts within developing countries and the international community to contain vulnerabilities rising from these increasing levels of debt. Taking on debt is one of the ways in which countries can finance much needed investments in infrastructure, human capital, or public works. Good debt management is critical for these investments to be successful. At the event Debt: Challenges Ahead, panelists will discuss the complexities of global public debt, assess how debt is being managed in developing countries, and offer ideas as to how countries can cope with changes in the global economy. Join live to pose your questions as they discuss at ...

2018 Annual Meetings Opening Press Conference: World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim

East Asia’s renaissance has continued. East Asian countries have progressed from low-income to middle-income status in the past half century. The scale of this success has been called the ‘East Asian Miracle’ because of the sheer pace of transformation. Yet, East Asia’s resurgence remains incomplete. Despite its success, developing East Asia’s continued resurgence will depend on its ability to navigate the currents of a changing region, and most importantly, a changing world. This event looks at the challenges and new opportunities that can help countries in this region make the transition successfully from middle- to high-income status.

Finding solutions to some of our biggest problems, especially those of health and education, with the help of innovative finance and technology was the crux of President Jim Yong Kim’s recent talk at Stanford University. His speech, delivered ahead of the World Bank-IMF Annual Meetings, was an important moment to highlight how we can help end poverty by sustainable and equitable economic growth, fostering resilience to climate change and pandemics, and above all investing in people to better prepare ourselves for an uncertain future. The speech was followed by a lively discussion moderated by Dr. Condoleezza Rice, 66th U.S. Secretary of State.

Climate action requires a shared responsibility and cooperation between governments, leaders from the public and private sectors and civil society. In a continued effort to spur global leaders on the next steps necessary to avert climate disruptions, the One Planet event 2018 will take place on the afternoon of the Sep. 26, 2018 in New York City, alongside the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly. Follow the live stream, which will feature a major World Bank Group announcement.

The Annual Bank Conference on Development Economics (ABCDE), organized by the World Bank Development Economics (DEC) Vice Presidency, is one of the world's best known series of conferences for the presentation and discussion of new knowledge on development. The conference aims to promote the exchange of cutting-edge research among researchers, policymakers, and development practitioners. The next conference will take place on June 25-26, 2018 at the World Bank in Washington, D.C. The theme of the conference will be "Political Incentives and Development Outcomes."   Livestream Agenda  June 25, 2018 - 09:15-10:15 AM ET Keynote Address 1: Political Obstacles to DevelopmentSpeakers: - Chair: Asli Demirgüc-Kunt (Director, Development Research Group, World Bank) - Luigi Zingales (University of Chicago, United States)   June 25, 2018 - 14:00-15:00 PM ET Keynote Address 2: “The Narrow Corridor to Liberty: The Red Queen and the Struggle of State Versus Society"Speakers:  -Chair: Deborah Wetzel (Senior Director, Governance Global Practice, World Bank) -Daron Acemoglu (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, United States)    June 26, 2018 - 12:30-14:00 PM ...

This is a Facebook Live interview. Watch the replay! As part of our Spring Meetings 2018 Interview Series, we will be talking with Amina Mohammed, United Nations Deputy Secretary General, about ways to help countries and the world achieve the the Sustainable Development Goals.  This is a replay of a Facebook Live with UN Deputy Secretary General Amina Mohamed that was filmed during the 2017 World Bank/IMF Spring Meetings. She was interviewed by World Bank Colleague Phil Hay who sadly passed away in early April, leaving an indelible mark on the World Bank and development.

For the first time in history we are seeing the emergence of vast cities in places that are both poor and, sadly, often also poorly governed. These megacities offer both tremendous possibilities of economic prosperity, growth, and development, but also enormous challenges including the spread of contagious disease, traffic congestion, and violent crime. Getting these cities right may be the most important challenge of the 21st century. The city’s land is the starting point—and the critical thing for land is creating a system of formal titles. If you are ever going to fund a city, you need property ownership to get property taxes. If you are going to have regulations that require people to use sanitary facilities, you need to have ownership as well. And if you’re going to empower ordinary citizens to change their city, they need to have a sense of owning it. Formal title is critical to housing and infrastructure, firm growth and employment, ...

Over 65 million people are currently forcibly displaced worldwide.  22 million are officially recognized refugees outside of their home country. New drivers of displacement such as climate change mean this record number is likely to grow. And yet, as the refugee crises of 2015 showed, the current international system is ill-equipped to deal with the challenge. People seeking protection beyond their own borders, are increasingly stuck in protracted or situations while seeking increasingly dangerous routes. Anti-migrant sentiments in many societies are rising. Changes are needed on the international level to resolve this growing crisis. What role will resettlement, external processing, or special economic zones play? And how can the private sector and civil society be engaged in new and more productive ways? What can be done in conflict countries to prevent further mass migration?

Please join President of the World Bank Group Jim Yong Kim and Princeton University Economist Alan Blinder for a conversation on how to promote sustainable, inclusive economic growth, including the Bank Group’s newest initiative, the Human Capital Project, and how investing in people is imperative to maintaining stability and building equality of opportunity.  

World Bank Group President Dr. Jim Yong Kim will join CGD President Masood Ahmed to discuss the future of multilateralism, the Bank’s efforts to maximize resources for development, and the critical importance of investing in people to meet tomorrow’s challenges.

The World Bank Group (WBG) will mark International Anticorruption Day with a program of events that includes several panels and a 60-minute live conversation with WBG President Kim and former WBG President Wolfensohn. This event will be co-moderated by Pascale Hélène Dubois, Vice President of Integrity, and Deborah Wetzel, Senior Director, World Bank Governance Global Practice.

Established in 2013, the Youth Summit is an annual event that serves as a platform for conversation and action to make the World Bank Group more relevant to the global youth and to better involve young people in the work of the World Bank Group. The Youth Summit Organizing Committee is comprised of young World Bank Group employees and is supported by World Bank Group senior management. The first Youth Summit was held in October 2013 and emphasized youth leadership, revitalizing a new chapter of World Bank Group involvement and engagement with a dynamic generation of young leaders, activists, development professionals, and others interested in global youth-related issues. The 2014 Youth Summit focused on Governance, leveraging the experiences and expertise of participants to offer workshops highlighting the work of youth globally to increase transparency, accountability and collaboration in the context of participatory government. In its third edition, the 2015 Youth Summit made a global call to crowd-source solutions for climate change, held right before ...

In nearly every country, those born into poor families are likely to stay poor. To end poverty, we must break down the barriers that are preventing many from moving up the economic ladder. Join us on End Poverty Day as we take stock of the world's progress on poverty reduction, and look ahead at the challenges the world faces on the road to 2030. This interactive discussion will center on some of the early findings from an upcoming report Fair Progress: Educational Mobility Around the World, which looks at economic mobility across generations and why that matters for improving lives, reducing inequality, and promoting growth. A panel of experts will share their viewpoints and ideas around the mission that unites us - ending poverty and creating opportunity for all. 

Follow us live for a conversation about the importance of strengthening women's power to reduce inequality and end extreme poverty. With the Canadian Minister for international development and la francophonie, Marie-Claude Bibeau. Ask your questions in the comments!

As part of our Annual Meetings 2017 Interview Series, we will be talking with Joe Gebbia Co-founder of Airbnb about the new digital economy and its impact on development. Join us live on October 12 at 12:45 p.m. Have a question for Joe? Leave it in the comments!

World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim will address the press during the World Bank Group/International Monetary Fund 2017 Annual Meetings.

Is it possible to #EndPoverty in an inclusive way? As part of our Annual Meetings 2017 Interview Series, we will be meeting with Amanda Farnan, GenUN Georgetown Campus Leader, and Mac Darrow, Representative, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, to discuss Inclusive Action: Creating a Better World for Us All. Join us live on Wednesday, October 11th, 4:30 pm. Leave your questions in the comments below.

As part of our Annual Meetings 2017 Interview Series, we will be speaking with World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim about what countries need to do to prepare for the future. Join us live on Wednesday, October 11 at 2:15 PM. Have a question for Jim Kim? Ask in the comments!

This event looked at how policymakers must go beyond GDP to get the whole picture of the economic health and sustainability of a country. The event kicked off with opening comments by Laura Tuck, Vice President of Sustainable Development at the World Bank. In her brief remarks, she shared details of an upcoming report called “The Changing Wealth of Nations” which will be released in December. This report looks at natural, produced, and human capital in addition to net financial assets in 141 countries over a time span of 20 years. Oxford University Professor Paul Collier gave a keynote address in which he spoke of the “fiction” of flow data and called for a change in how total wealth is estimated. Moderated by the Financial Times Africa Editor, David Pilling, a panel then delved deeper into the issue. The panel comprised Chola Chabala, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Planning in Zambia; David McCauley, VP of the World Wildlife Foundation and Roberta ...

Have globalization and rapid technological development given developing countries unprecedented opportunities to improve the lives of their citizens, or have they instead just led to an inexorable rise in income and wealth inequality? The East Asia and Pacific Region has come to symbolize how rapid, broadly shared, growth can improve the lives of millions. Yet past successes also mean that expectations are running high that growth will continue to deliver significant improvements in welfare in an increasingly challenging global environment. Concerns have also been raised about a possible growing divide between the prospering middle-class and pockets of the poor and vulnerable left behind. This panel discussion brings together senior policymakers and policy analysts from East Asia and beyond to talk about their countries’ recent experiences and lessons learned in this area.

As part of our Annual Meetings 2017 Interview Series, Kathy Calvin, President and CEO of United Nations Foundation will be speaking with World Bank CEO Kristalina Georgieva to discuss how working with partners can help build resilience and #EndPoverty by 2030. Join us live on Wednesday, October 11 at 10:45AM. Have a question for Kristalina? Ask in the comments!

As part of the series of interviews during the 2017 Annual Meetings, we will meet with the mayors of the millennium, founder and president of council, to discuss how entrepreneurs can be engines of development in difficult environments. Join us directly on Wednesday, 11 October, at 08:00 a.m. Washington time. Leave your questions in the comments below.

In a speech at Columbia University, World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim will introduce the Human Capital Project, an accelerated effort to encourage investment in people as a critical step to boosting inclusive economic growth and ending extreme poverty. The speech is the 2017 Gabriel Silver Memorial Lecture, a tradition established in 1950 to foster international understanding and world peace, and is part of the World Leaders Forum to advance dialogue on the economic, political and social questions of our time.  The event is sponsored by Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs

With the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), global development has entered a new stage. This unprecedented consensus sets out a critical role for the World Bank Group (WBG) to reinforce its leadership in support of the SDGs and the 2030 Agenda. We must expand funding in fragile and conflict-affected states for both the public and private sectors, enhance support to low- and middle-income countries, and further integrate global public goods into our business model. This means that the WBG will need to scale up its financing mobilization efforts from both public and private sources, expand sources of partner funding, and help countries better use their resources, including curbing illicit financial flows. In July 2017, 43 countries will present their plans during the second UN High Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development in New York, organized under the overarching theme of “Eradicating Poverty and Promoting Prosperity in a Changing World”.  The event will highlight actions and implementation plans on the SDGs -- which are ...

The World Bank/IMF Spring Meetings Human Capital Flagship event will provide a platform for unparalleled global influencer voices to come together to highlight how integrated, high-impact investments across health, nutrition, education, skills and social protection can transform the life trajectory for young people living in poverty and put countries on stronger paths toward inclusive, sustainable growth and resilience.  The panelists will make the case that investments today--in vulnerable adolescents in particular--can serve as a force multiplier, accelerating progress across a range of development challenges. The discussion will highlight critical investments needed in adolescents and draw broader lessons for countries to realize the promise of inclusive economic growth.   Check out the key takeaways from this event: Today at the Spring Meetings, a panel of ministers, Bank leaders and advocates, including Melinda Gates of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, discussed how investing in adolescents is key to improving the future of developing countries. Ninety percent of today’s 1.2 billion adolescents worldwide ...

World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim will address the press during the World Bank’s 2017 Spring Meetings.

Globalization and innovation forces have helped increase returns for superstar entrepreneurs and corporations by boosting demand for their services. Over the last two decades, these forces have also increased inequality in high income countries. Professor Slaughter has been studying these trends and will look at the phenomenon of real income declines over the past two decades. His future research will explore the globalization experience of the United States and other developed and developing countries.

The high-level flagship event "One Year of the Sustainable Development Goals" brings together global leaders to highlight country actions on the Sustainable Development Goals. This is a key moment to build on this momentum and share country experiences in this ambitious and critical endeavor. This effectively address national development challenges, as well as establishes global public goods to address threats like climate change, pandemics, or pollution.

At a time when other regions are looking inward, this event will highlight the way in which Latin America, and particularly Argentina and Pacific Alliance countries, are taking steps to better integrate with the rest of the world, to boost growth and tackle their development challenges. The Pacific Alliance is a regional integration initiative comprised by Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru, some of the most dynamic economies in LAC. It seeks to be a new generation agreement, with a strong outward-looking focus and a platform for common approaches to issues such as poverty reduction, competitiveness, protecting the environment and cultural promotion.

Join World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim and International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde as they engage with representatives from Global Civil Society Organizations in an interactive townhall event. The heads of the two institutions will discuss with civil society a wide range of development topics that highlight efforts to reduce poverty, boost shared prosperity, secure financial stability, and promote high employment and sustainable economic growth around the world.

With global economic growth expected to slow in the years to come, it will be ever more important for countries to make a concerted effort to reach the least well-off with policies and programs that can help them move upward. This event will take an in-depth look at the findings and recommendations of the WBG's new flagship report on Poverty and Shared Prosperity, which this year has a special focus on inequality. The discussion in this event will help to further the institution's agenda in these core areas, strengthen the WBG’s voice in the global discussion about inequality, hear from partners on how we can all work together to encourage progress, and bring to light some of the persistent challenges that countries face in improving the lives of their poorest citizens.

Ahead of the WBG/IMF Annual Meetings being held in Washington, DC from October 7-9, World Bank President Jim Yong Kim will set out his vision for ending extreme poverty by 2030 and boosting shared prosperity. He will speak about the links between growth, poverty and inequality, the changing face of poverty, and the role the World Bank Group can play in continuing the remarkable story of progress in global development. He will address the global challenges that threaten to derail this progress, and the path to achieving the scale of change necessary to achieve the organization’s twin goals in a sustainable way. Following an introduction by Brookings President Strobe Talbot, Jim Yong Kim will deliver his speech, then will engage in a conversation with Kemal Derviş, Vice President and Director for the Global Economy and Development Program at Brookings. Questions and answers will be fielded at the conclusion.

Join us to discuss global efforts to combat early childhood malnutrition, the link to ending extreme poverty, and why it’s imperative that we invest in the early years.

Despite some progress in the past two decades, the situation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people around the world remains challenging. The rights of LGBTI people are not fully respected, protected or realized due to punitive laws and policies, stigma, discrimination, and violence. More than 70 countries still criminalize homosexuality while, in a handful of countries, homosexuality is punishable by death. While robust data are scarce, existing evidence indicates that LGBTI people have lower educational outcomes, higher unemployment rates, as well as inadequate access to health, housing, and financial services. On May 17, the World Bank Group will observe the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, now celebrated in more than 130 countries. This year’s IDAHOT will bring together policymakers, civil society, the private sector, and development partners to discuss the linkages between social inclusion and good development outcomes. Related Links: Feature Story: To Fight Poverty, We Need to Fight Homophobia and Transphobia

Last year world leaders adopted a bold set of global goals to end extreme poverty and create a more sustainable, prosperous world. But what will it take to achieve them and where will the resources be found? Our development structures and their financial supports are under increasing pressure and facing strong headwinds in the shape of a challenging global economy, rising inequality, conflict and fragility as well as natural disasters and pandemics. How can we continue to build on the progress we have made and ensure it is not eroded away by our current challenges? Join a conversation with top development and finance leaders on the trends that are reshaping the development landscape and a vision for delivering a world free of extreme poverty where there is opportunity for all. Related Links: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation GatesNotes: The blog of Bill Gates

This seminar will discuss key challenges facing Africa amid a weak and volatile global economic environment, including the implications of the region’s continuing dependence on oil and other commodities. But the current environment also presents an opportunity to move forward on the economic diversification and transformation that the region needs to achieve sustained growth and development.

Despite low interest rates, global growth has remained low driven by a simultaneous slowdown in most emerging markets, falling commodity prices, and flagging trade and capital flows. Join ministers from resource rich as well as importing countries and others as they discuss the challenges and opportunities to promote inclusive growth under a low interest rate and commodity prices scenario. The panel will address questions related to low global growth and commodity prices including why has global growth remained so low? How are countries weathering the global slowdown? Is this a transitional situation, where commodity importers are slowly reacting to the lower prices, while commodity exporters are struggling to adjust to the downturn? Or is low growth/low commodity prices/low interest rates, the new normal? What reforms are needed to reignite inclusive growth? Is there a need for greater collective action? Related Links: World Bank and Macroeconomics and Fiscal Management IEG Report: World Bank Group Engagement in Resource-Rich Countries

Emerging markets and the developing world are at the center of the current slowdown in global growth. How are low commodity prices and slowing trade affecting countries and the effort to reduce poverty? Join us as the World Bank’s chief economists describe current conditions and the outlook for each developing region.

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 — ...

The World Bank’s Global Partnership for Social Accountability (GPSA) convenes 47 governments and more than 260 civil society and private sector partners to solve governance challenges around the world.  Today, the GPSA seeks to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by helping citizens and governments to address what Amina Mohamed, the UN Secretary-General's Special Adviser on the SDGs, has called “the one knot we haven’t tied”: Accountability.

World Bank researchers have been trying to assess the extent of extreme poverty in the world since 1979. Two ingredients have been key: an international absolute poverty line and purchasing power parity (PPP) exchange rates. The latest PPP update led to a substantial re-assessment of relative purchasing powers around the world, and hence to a large nominal change in the poverty line: from $1.25 to $1.90/day. Join us for this month’s Policy Research Talk as Francisco Ferreira reviews the principles, practices, and pitfalls involved in the latest update, and then discusses some of the ideas being floated for the future of global poverty measurement.

Climate change is an acute threat to poverty reduction. This new World Bank Group Report "Shock Waves: Managing the Impacts of Climate Change on Poverty" finds that without rapid, inclusive and climate-smart development, there could be more than 100 million additional people in poverty by 2030.  At the same time, immediate emission reduction efforts and pro-poor climate mitigation policies are needed to prevent even worse long-term impacts. This event will present the results of this report and discuss its implications heading towards the international climate conference in Paris.

"Today to 2030" brings together a cross section of global leaders and influencers to look at the partnerships, financing, creativity and citizen action needed to end extreme poverty, boost shared prosperity and address climate change. This event comes at a critical time for our people and the planet, falling less than two weeks after the UN Global Goals are ratified and shortly before the COP climate negotiations in Paris. It will be a key moment to build momentum and energize the global community to take the actions needed over the next 15 years to meet these ambitious goals.

World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim, President Ollanta Humala of Peru, and Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund Christine Lagarde speak at the October 9 plenary session of the Annual Meetings in Lima, Peru.

A sweeping, definitive review of what works and what doesn’t in reducing inequality and boosting the incomes of the poorest in developing countries, drawing on evidence of a half-century of work by the World Bank Group. It will include our first-ever numbers on how 89 countries are faring in boosting the prosperity of the poorest 40 percent. The speech also will highlight what specific programs opened the way for the bottom 40 percent to have more economic opportunity and narrow the income gap with the wealthiest – lessons that could apply to all countries battling inequalities, both rich and poor.

At a public event at the University of Indonesia in Jakarta, World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim will outline the opportunities and challenges facing the economic development of Indonesia and East Asia, and how the World Bank Group can help end extreme poverty and share prosperity more widely in the region.

Citizens across the world are calling for greater citizen-state engagement and accountability. But how and when does social accountability work? This book provides a framework on how to assess the contextual drivers of social accountability effectiveness, by providing an understanding of how and under what circumstances various processes of social accountability lead to positive development outcomes. The event will present the framework and some findings for “challenging contexts” and seek feedback from practitioners based on their views and experiences.

How has America become the most unequal advanced country in the world, and what can we do about it? In The Great Divide, Stiglitz, argues that inequality is a choice—the cumulative result of unjust policies and misguided priorities. From Reagan-era policies to the Great Recession, Stiglitz delves into the irresponsible policies—deregulation, tax cuts, and tax breaks for the 1 percent—that are turning the American dream into an ever more unachievable myth. Drawing lessons from Scandinavia, Singapore, and Japan, he urges to embrace real solutions: increasing taxes on corporations and the wealthy; offering more help to the children of the poor; investing in education, science, and infrastructure; helping out homeowners instead of banks; and, most importantly, doing more to restore the economy to full employment. His is a call to confront America's economic inequality as the political and moral issue that it is. If we reinvest in people and pursue the other policies that he describes, America can live ...

2015 is a landmark year that will define the global development agenda for the next 15 years. Join us for a high-energy mix of advocacy voices and musical performances in support of ambitious global action to end poverty and protect our planet. Featured voices include: Jim Yong Kim, President World Bank Group Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General, United Nations Michael Elliott, CEO, The ONE Campaign Justin Forsyth, CEO, Save the Children UK Julie Gichuru, Journalist and Anchor, Citizen TV (Emcee) And many other special guests to be announced

World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim will address the press during the World Bank’s 2015 Spring Meetings.

Can people of faith help build a movement to end extreme poverty? Can they seize this opportunity at a time of conflict in some regions -- some of it driven by groups claiming religious justification? Why are faith leaders and the World Bank Group joining forces to fight poverty? A high-level panel featuring prominent faith-based organizations and religious leaders and World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim will discuss the role of faith in combatting poverty, particularly in light of the recent launch by faith-based organizations and religious leaders of “The Moral and Spiritual Imperative to End Extreme Poverty.”

CSIS is pleased to host World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim for a public address on what can be done to end extreme poverty by the year 2030 and key lessons from the last half century.

In this major new work, Jeffrey D. Sachs presents a compelling and practical framework for how global citizens can take a holistic pathway forward to address the seemingly intractable worldwide problems of persistent extreme poverty, environmental degradation, and political-economic injustice: sustainable development. Sachs offers readers, students, activists, environmentalists, and policy makers the tools, metrics, and practical pathways they need to achieve Sustainable Development Goals. The Age of Sustainable Development is a landmark publication and clarion call for all who care about our planet and global justice.  

In The Upside of Your Dark Side, two pioneering researchers in the field of psychology show that while mindfulness, kindness, and positivity can take us far, they cannot take us all the way. Emotions such as anger, anxiety, guilt, and sadness might feel uncomfortable, but can also be useful. For instance anger fuels creativity, selfishness increases courage and self-doubt enhances performance.  The key lies in what the authors call “emotional, social, and mental agility,” the ability to access our entire psychological toolkit—not just the “good” ones—which allows us to climb the highest peaks and handle the deepest valleys.

Chief Economist and Senior Vice President of the World Bank, Dr. Kaushik Basu, will give two lectures at Georgetown University as part of a semester-long conversation on “The Global Future for Development.” The first lecture will outline the challenge of economic development in today’s world, drawing on long-term trends and contemporary risks, ranging from the Eurozone to BRICS. The lecture will include a statement of the World Bank’s two mission goals of ending poverty and promoting shared prosperity and will analyze some of the trends from the perspective of these two goals.

Climate change and development are tightly interconnected. In this event, Keywan Riahi, who was involved in creating the development-energy-environment scenarios used by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, talks with World Bank Chief Economist for Climate Change Marianne Fay and colleagues about the ways development and greenhouse gas emissions interact and how different development patterns can lead to different environmental outcomes.  Riahi's work has explored ways of eradicating poverty without increasing greenhouse gas emissions, showing that poverty eradication and universal energy access is compatible with the internationally agreed upon target of keeping global warming under 2°C.

The World Bank Group will host the third Biennial Meeting of the International Corruption Hunters Alliance (ICHA 2014) between December 8- 10, 2014 at its headquarters in Washington, D.C. As part of his work as United for Wildlife President, the Duke of Cambridge will join World Bank Group President, Jim Yong Kim at the opening session to address more than 300 corruption experts, heads and senior members of anti-corruption and prosecuting agencies; and representatives of international organizations from more than 120 countries.

The joint World Bank-IMF Development Committee will address the media at the close of the 2014 Annual Meetings.

This event will focus on the links between economic growth, structural transformation and poverty reduction in Africa. Rapid growth in Africa since 1995 has largely been driven by the natural resources and services sectors, whereas the share of agriculture and manufacturing in GDP have fallen. What does this imply for the “quality” of Africa's growth? In particular, what can the data tell us about how growth in different sectors of the economy translates into poverty reduction? Are there implications for growth-promoting policies?

This livestreamed discussion will share perspectives on why civil registries and national identification systems are smart public investments. 

World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim reports on the Bank Group’s progress and plans for next year during the October 10 plenary session of the Annual Meetings in Washington DC.

How can economic growth benefit more people? Why and how should the public and private sectors work more closely together to create the conditions for inclusive growth? Join UK Secretary of State for International Development Justine Greening, World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim, and other speakers from the private sector and national governments for a live-streamed discussion of transforming economies to benefit the poor. Participants will talk about their experiences in hugely varying country contexts and identify common factors for success.

Fifty years have passed since the Nobel laureate poet- turned- plenipotentiary, Octavio Paz, saw India, where he was Mexico’s ambassador, as “a land of extremes”. The poet’s muse was his encounter with the profusion of sights and sounds, colors and smells, people and animals that greeted him during his travels in the subcontinent. It included what he described as “the incredible opulence” of the maharajahs surrounded by what he saw as “equally unbelievable” poverty. But is that still the case today? From what perspectives? Does the region stand out, by international standards? And if so, what lies behind it? What should be done (and not done) about it? Join us as the authors of Addressing Inequality in South Asia and other experts discuss dynamics and drivers of inequality in South Asia and how to potentially address inequality for better socioeconomic development in the region.

Measurement challenges related to poverty, inequality and shared prosperity are the subject of fervent debate among development economists and data experts. This event will launch the 2014 Policy Research Report: A Measured Approach to Ending Poverty and Boosting Shared Prosperity, explaining the options for most accurately measuring progress on the World Bank Group’s twin goals. The report’s findings will be highlighted and several top experts will debate the issues.

World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim will address the press during the World Bank’s 2014 Annual Meetings.

Join International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde and World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim as they engage with representatives from global Civil Society Organizations in an interactive town hall event. The heads of the two institutions will discuss with civil society the major economic and development challenges facing the global community, and how the institutions are working to end extreme poverty, promote economic stability, and boost jobs and growth.

Join a discussion on channeling revenues from extractive industries—oil, gas and mining—to end poverty through diversified growth and development. If managed well, revenue from resources such as oil and gas in Tanzania and Mozambique, iron ore in Guinea, copper in Mongolia, gas and gold in Latin America, oil, gas, bauxite and gold in Central Asia, can contribute to sustainable development. When poorly handled they can present long-term challenges for governments, communities and the environment. How can governments capture and channel natural resource revenues into smart investments? How can they unlock this wealth to make it work for the poor? What can we learn from past experience?

Over the next decade, one billion people will enter the job market --the global economy will need to create 5 million jobs each month simply to keep employment rates constant. Securing good jobs for youth is a global priority. This event will unveil a global initiative that addresses the pervasive challenge of youth employment and underemployment. It is closely associated with the World Bank Group’s ambitious goal: to eliminate extreme poverty and to boost shared prosperity for the bottom 40 percent by 2030. For the first time, this partnership will link the relevant actors from different spheres—governments, corporate actors, international organizations and civil society—to generate and share learning about what works, and to leverage this shared understanding through increased investments in proven solutions.

More than 1 billion people still live in poverty and the gap between ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’ is growing in many developing nations. Join Chinese talk show host Yang Lan for a conversation on the issue with World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim and World Bank Chief Economist Kaushik Basu. The live-streamed session will explore why promoting shared prosperity matters and how inequality hinders opportunities for poor people in developing countries.

Latin America: Will Slower Growth Increase Inequality?

Join World Bank President Jim Yong Kim and Japanese entrepreneurs for a dialogue on the challenges and solutions for scaling-up social enterprises.

What will it take to boost income growth among the bottom 40 percent of people in developing countries and ensure prosperity is more widely shared? This event will discuss policies that could help achieve the goal of shared prosperity. It will also explore the role of aid in promoting inclusive growth and ending poverty.

Tune in to watch this call to action event live from the World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington DC focusing on the millennial generation taking on the vision to end extreme poverty by 2030, and the Zero Poverty 2030 campaign.

Over 2.5 billion adults do not have access to quality, affordable financial services, using instead informal methods to save, borrow, and secure their assets. Access to finance also remains a considerable obstacle for small and medium size enterprises, as financial systems remain too underdeveloped to serve their needs. Challenges remain toward building a more inclusive financial sector that can spur economic growth and reduce poverty levels. Join World Bank Group President Kim, H.M. Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, UN Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development, Honorary Patron of the G20 GPFI, government ministers, and banking CEOs for a panel on how broader financial inclusion can be achieved through the use of multi-stakeholder partnerships and technology to enable business model innovation. In partnership with the World Economic Forum.