Jobs & Development

Join our high-level speakers to discuss how to advance the business case for gender inclusion and equality.

Headlined by the Honorable Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Nobel Laureate and former President of Liberia, this hour-long panel discussion will feature women leaders from across the globe and across generations to reflect on the importance of accelerating gender equality and empowerment; explore the power of collective action to accelerate change; and discuss how the private sector, philanthropic, and community leaders can play the role of changemakers and, together, accelerate equality. 

What can be done to improve economic opportunities for women and empower them at work and at home? Join the live launch of the World Bank's Women, Business and the Law 2023 study.

Watch a conversation about the Young Professionals Program (WBG YPP), which seeks to recruit the future leaders of the World Bank Group.

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.

Joins us to discuss how nature loss is an economic and development issue, and how it is linked to climate change, as well as pathways to undertake both nature and climate-smart development in the future, including through expanding our economic toolkit beyond GDP to account for the wealth provided by nature.

This event will provide an update on the macroeconomic situation in African countries and investigate the central question that many are currently facing: How to keep ensuring a growth and jobs focus in the context of climate change adaptation in Africa? 

A panel of high-level experts explores actionable policy insights to support inclusive growth in developing economies.

In emerging markets and developing economies, large numbers of people work outside the legal and regulatory framework: they account for 70 percent of employment and about a third of GDP. These “informal” workers were more likely to lose their jobs or suffer severe income losses during COVID-19 lockdowns—and they tend to be largely excluded from social safety nets. Against this backdrop, this event will explore the findings of the first comprehensive study of the extent of informality and its implications for a sustainable and inclusive recovery going forward. Ceyla Pazarbasioglu, Director of the Strategy, Policy, and Review Department, IMF Brahima Coulibaly, Vice President, Global Economy & Development, Brookings Institution Ferid Belhaj, Vice President, Middle East and North Africa, World Bank Group Mari Pangestu, Managing Director, Development Policy and Partnerships, World Bank Join us for the live conversation on May 11th. Be sure to sign up for an email reminder! Learn more by downloading the report The Long Shadow of Informality: Challenges ...

While the World Bank Group may not be the first organization that comes to mind when thinking innovative technology, the complexity of our work and the need to adapt quickly to global challenges requires the brightest minds. For IT professionals seeking a place that will nurture their development, this is the place to be. If you’re an IT professional looking for a place to develop your skills and have a fulfilling career, you cannot miss our next episode of Behind the Mission: Working at the World Bank Group. Join the conversation with Denis Robitaille, World Bank Group Vice President, Information and Technology Solutions, and WBG Chief Information Officer, who will share his insights and advice on finding a fulfilling career at the World Bank Group. Join us for the live conversation on April 20th. Be sure to sign up for an email reminder! About Behind the Mission: Working at the World Bank Group: Who are we? Where do we ...

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of digital technologies in African countries, and the latest Africa’s Pulse provides new evidence on how digital is enhancing the productivity of existing jobs and creating new jobs, for people of all skill levels and backgrounds. This is particularly important as the region looks toward economic recovery post-pandemic, and many Sub-Saharan African countries are making tremendous investments to advance digital adoption and build skills. Against the backdrop of a COVID-19 induced recession, African countries are weathering the economic storm better than expected and are poised for recovery, but the strength of this recovery depends on the reforms, policies, and investments that countries make now.   Hosted by Georja Calvin-Smith of France 24, join a panel of Africa’s distinguished ministers, entrepreneurs, and leaders in the digital space to discuss the future of work in Africa. They will touch on how governments can support digital transformation, discuss the macroeconomic outlook for the region and how ...

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)

What’s it like to work at the World Bank Group, and how can you go about getting a job here? Are most candidates locally or internationally recruited, and are there desired skillsets that will make you stand out for the job? For this episode of our Behind the Mission series, we go straight to the source to answer your questions as we meet four recruiters who work at the World Bank Group. They’ll be sharing their tips and insights directly on our LinkedIn Page for navigating careers within the World Bank and International Finance Corporation (IFC), whether you’re just starting out, or are a mid-career professional. They will also debunk some common myths about finding a job here.

Tune in for a behind-the-scenes discussion with World Bank Group’s HR Vice President Annette Dixon. She’ll share her insights and advice on how to not only start a career in development, but how to make it a fulfilling one. She’ll also debunk a few myths and answer questions from our LinkedIn audience. To join in the conversation and ask questions, just go to #BehindtheMissionWBG, and feel free to post ahead of the show.

On June 1st, join us for a conversation with the Young Professionals Program (WBG YPP) – now representing the IFC, World Bank and MIGA. If you are 32 or younger, have graduate level education and a passion for international development, join us right here on June 1, 11am EST to participate in the discussion, and ask for tips on applying for the Young Professionals Program. You can submit your comments and questions now. To apply for the program, please visit www.worldbank.org/ypp. The application date ends on June 30.

The economic impact of #COVID19 will hit developing countries hard. What can be done to support companies and preserve jobs? Join IFC's Chief Operating Officer, Stephanie von Friedeburg, for discussion on the topic.  Ask questions now! The event will also stream on the World Bank's YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin. Related Links: Covid-19 (Coronavirus): Live Interview and Panel Series COVID-19 landing page

What role can cash transfers and other forms of social protection schemes play in the pandemic response? And how can we help businesses and sustain employment? We'll be asking Michal Rutkowski, the World Bank's Global Director of Social Protection and Jobs. Related Links: Covid-19 (Coronavirus): Live Interview and Panel Series COVID-19 landing page

Remittances are expected to fall as a result of COVID-19 (coronavirus). What can be done to help the poorest and most vulnerable who rely on these payments? Join the World Bank's Lead Economist on Migration and Remittances, Dilip Ratha, for a discussion on the latest data and research.  Related Links: Covid-19 (Coronavirus): Live Interview and Panel Series COVID-19 landing page

Welcome to Behind the Mission, the World Bank Group’s new series on LinkedIn where we discuss current career opportunities and hear from staff about their experiences. In this eposide of Behind the Mission, we discuss careers at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the skills we’re looking for, and what working for the private sector arm of the World Bank Group is like.  We went live with Rudy Perecin Mareno, Talent Attraction Officer at the IFC and Mahima Khanna, Upstream Officer and Economist at the IFC. They answered questions about these job openings and told us what it’s like to work at the IFC. For more information: https://lnkd.in/esemMAd 

Robots, AI and other technological advances are partly responsible for the loss of manufacturing jobs in advanced countries.  Many more types of jobs are expected to be affected in the future.  What can workers in developing countries expect?  So far, new technologies have facilitated offshoring of jobs to follower countries.  However, as robots become cheaper, will they begin to compete with workers in these countries?  What skills will developing country workers need to participate in the 21st century economy?  FULL AGENDA */ 10:00am Setting the Stage: Workplace Automation   Keynote Speech: Ceyla Pazarbasioglu, Vice President, EFI, World Bank Group 10:10am - 10:35am Are Robots Replacing Workers? 10:10am Lighting Talk: Bill Maloney, Chief Economist, EFI, World Bank 10:15am Lighting Talk: Mary Hallward-Driemeier, Senior Economic Advisor, EFI, World Bank 10:20am Panel Discussion: Bill Maloney, Mary Hallward-Driemeier, Aart Kraay 10:35am - 11:07am Does Automation in Rich Countries Hurt Developing Ones? 10:37am Lighting Talk: Bob Rijkers, Senior Economist, World Bank 10:42am Lighting Talk: Hernan Winkler, Senior ...

Welcome to Behind the Mission, the World Bank Group’s new series on LinkedIn where we discuss current career opportunities and hear from staff about their experiences. The Bank aims to scale up its presence in Fragile, Conflict and Violence (FCV) settings, filling over 100 positions this year. We went live with Geremie Sawadogo, Recruitment Manager from Human Resources at the World Bank Group, and Rebekka Grunn, Senior Economist for Social Protection and Labor in Africa at the World Bank. They answered  questions about these job openings and told us what it’s like to work in FCV settings. Please follow this link to learn more about our recruitment campaign to support countries facing Fragility, Conflict and Violence: https://lnkd.in/dbPZJB7

Jobs do far more than help people in developing countries earn a living. They contribute to stability, broad economic growth, and the promise of a brighter future. Tune in and join the discussion as government representatives, CEOs and entrepreneurs from Africa and the Middle East share stories of how they generated jobs and contributed to economic transformation in their countries. Follow the conversation: #jobs4growth

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 ...

Marking an unprecedented moment in history during which both Bretton Woods institutions are being led by women, as well as International Women’s Day (March 8), Managing Director and Chairwoman of the IMF Christine Lagarde and Interim WBG President Kristalina Georgieva will engage in a fireside conversation on their pioneering leadership and challenges they and other women have faced, the economic issues they’re dealing with and how they prioritize gender both through operations and in walking the talk within the IMF and WBG.

The Trade & Competitiveness Global Practice hosted an event on October 12 that focused on the ways technology is affecting how and where goods are made. Panelists at the event included Mary Hallward-Driemeier, Senior Economic Adviser in the Trade & Competitiveness Global Practice at the World Bank Group; Raj Batra, President of Digital Factory at Siemens; Raj Rao, CEO of Ford Smart Mobility; and Li Yong, Director General of UNIDO. Shawn Donnan, World Trade Editor for the Financial Times, moderated the discussion. The panelists agreed that there are opportunities in manufacturing for developing countries.  Looking ahead, localization and customization of production will offer openings for growth and employment, as will services, which are increasingly becoming embedded in manufacturing. But in order to create the jobs of tomorrow, developing countries need to focus on policies that build an enabling environment, consisting of the “3 Cs” – connectivity, connectedness, and capabilities.  Building human capital is critical for developing countries, particularly if they want to adopt new technologies.  ...

Would you like to have a real impact on poverty reduction, have a global career and a global reach, work with a truly diverse group, work in teams to bring sustainable solutions to our clients, and work in a place of excellence? If so, consider joining the World Bank Group through the Young Professionals Program (YPP). This program is a starting point for an exciting career at the World Bank Group. On June 22nd, we hosted a Facebook Live with World Bank Group representatives from Human Resources as well as Young Professionals in the program who took your questions live. About the program For more than 53 years, the Young Professionals Program has been the preeminent program preparing global development leaders. It is a unique opportunity for younger talent who have both a passion for international development and the leadership potential to grow in fascinating top technical and managerial roles in the World Bank Group. To be competitive for this highly ...

Global events over the past year have exposed an increasingly divided society in countries across the world. Even in more mature democracies their citizens have become more partisans on key issues faced by their country. However the nature of the challenges is complexly multi-sectoral, and requires actors across multiple sections of society to come together to solve. In such a situation, collaborative leadership can play a major role in bringing together relevant actors and help generate inclusive solutions. The theme of the 2017 Global Leadership Forum is “Building Leadership for Reform in Divided Societies.” This event will bring about 200 partners, leaders and practitioners from government, academia, civil society, other international development organizations working in areas of collaborative leadership. Through interactions and sharing of experiences, the Forum seeks to surface leadership approaches to bring together diverse stakeholders to achieve results in divided societies. It will also award the recipients of the 2016 Jose Edgardo Campos Collaborative Leadership Awards. This Forum is the second ...

Jobs are critical to building stability in fragile states, and the private sector plays a key role in providing opportunities. However, fragility poses many challenges to private sector job creation. The high level panel will examine these challenges, and what the priorities should be when creating new initiatives in advancing jobs in fragile and conflict-affected settings. Some of the issues they will discuss include: Can a focus on jobs outcomes help shape better macro-fiscal policy decisions for shared growth? What are the ways to seize opportunities for both the displaced and host communities in countries affected by the refugee crisis? Can countries foster domestic investment in limited regions or sectors, even as longer-term capacity building proceeds?

The Global Youth Forum 2016 aims to move the youth agenda forward by building a sustainable Global Partnership for Youth in Development, comprising entrepreneurs, business leaders, policymakers, and civil society organizations who understand that young people are central to the development process. This Partnership will be the source for evidence, diagnostic and analytical tools for effective program design, and cutting-edge research required to understand how to overcome the enormously complex constraints and problems facing young people today.

East Asia Pacific is home to the world’s largest and fastest growing internet user base. Digital technologies are transforming how firms conduct business, workers perform jobs, and citizens interact with governments. Yet, there are still questions as to what the spread of these technologies means for the development trajectory of countries in the region and their abilities to address the challenges they face. Panelists from government, business and civil society in the region will discuss how East Asia and Pacific countries can take advantage of the opportunities – and offset the risks – of the digital economy.

Companies and governments without child- and elder-care strategies and policies cannot attract and retain talent, nor can they achieve their full productivity and growth potential. The private sector and governments must partner to address the care crisis. How can we rethink the organization of affordable and accessible care for our families and businesses, knowing that solving this issue can contribute to retaining gender-diverse talent as well as increasing competitiveness and productivity? Join us with your spouses/partners to begin a fresh conversation about why we should all care about care—employees, employers and governments alike. Related Links: World Bank Group Gender Strategy (FY 2016–2023) Putting Gender-Smart Commitments Into Practice Child care is an investment — not an expense Child Care & Parent Productivity: Making the Business Case [PDF] Maternity and paternity at work: Law and practice across the world [PDF] What’s Next for Gender Equality? A New Strategy to Address Gender Inequality Investing In Women's Employment [PDF] Gender at Work: A Companion ...

Greek mythology refers to a time of peace, harmony, stability and prosperity where humans lived to a very old age – “The Golden Age.” Today, across Europe and Central Asia, societies are aging, but people are not necessarily living longer. This demographic trend – caused by a decrease in fertility rates rather than improved longevity – presents both challenges and opportunities for governments, the private sector and individuals alike. As populations age, public discourse ranges from concerns about the fiscal sustainability of pensions and health systems to optimism about potential opportunities for healthier and more productive aging.   Join us on 17 June to hear our distinguished panel share views on how current demographic trends will impact economic growth, fiscal balances, health and long-term care systems, pensions, social welfare and labor markets in countries across Europe and Central Asia. They will discuss how policy makers can not only meet the challenges of aging – but also seize the opportunities.

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 ...

African economies are experiencing a range of unprecedented challenges to their growth, competitiveness and opportunities for investment. Led by Africa Investor CEO Hubert Danso, a panel of global experts will explore how African companies and banks can work with governments, the World Bank and international companies to attract investment and mobilize capital in order to build African brands capable of creating jobs and increasing the continent’s role and influence on the global economic stage.

The Global Human Resources Forum is a non-profit foundation best known for its annual international conference in Seoul, South Korea, which brings together opinion leaders, business executives, policy makers, intellectuals and journalists to discuss pressing issues facing the world, especially education, human resources development and talent management. The theme of this year's forum is “Human Resources for Trust and Integration”. The event will open with a live interview with Jim Yong Kim, World Bank Group President, conducted by Sung-Mo Steve Kang, President of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology; followed by a keynote speech by John Gottman.

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.

High unemployment in the Middle East & North Africa region, especially among young people and women, has been largely due to the lack of private-sector jobs. Yet, almost every country has pursued policies ostensibly aimed at stimulating the private sector and creating jobs. Recent research shows, however, that economic policies in MENA countries often limited competition and instead created monopoly rents to politically-connected firms. Join us on October 10th 2014 for a lively debate with policymakers, researchers, business people and civil society members to discuss both the implications of the research and the way forward in addressing MENA's unemployment problems.

This event will focus on avenues African policymakers can pursue to increase the benefits of economic growth for broad segments of their societies. Challenges to be discussed include the share of manufacturing in GDP, lower rates of employment creation, rapid urbanization of the continent, and difficulties in generating new sources of growth The event is co-sponsored by the Growth Dialogue and the World Bank Africa Region and will feature high-level policymakers engaging in a rich exchange of ideas and concrete policy options.

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.

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.