Social Protection & Inclusion

Catch the replay with experts from the region discussing how South Asian economies can unlock their untapped potential and boost opportunities for women.

Catch the replay of the Regional Economic Update for the latest insights from the World Bank's biannual research on Sub-Saharan Africa.

Global aging is a triumph of development. This event spotlighted the World Bank’s Healthy Longevity Initiative. Panelists explored policies, lessons, and strategies to capitalize on this opportunity for individuals and societies.

Global aging is a triumph of development. Replay this event spotlighting the World Bank’s Healthy Longevity Initiative. Panelists explore policies, lessons, and strategies to capitalize on this opportunity for individuals and societies.

Watch a 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.

Tune in to hear from leaders and changemakers at the third IDA21 Replenishment Meeting in Kathmandu, Nepal.

On May 13th, the World Bank launched its 2024 Land Conference. Join us to explore how better land management can help meet climate goals and other sustainability targets.

On April 29, 2024, African governments, civil society, and youth came together to voice their ambitions and call for even greater support from IDA, to translate visions into action on the continent.

How can we help ensure that more people across the world have greater access to high quality and affordable health care?

Join us at the 68th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women as we discuss how to engage women as leaders to end poverty on a livable planet.

On March 5, 2024, the World Bank Group launched the Women, Business and the Law 2024 report: "Breaking Down Barriers to Achieve Gender Equality." The report finds that women enjoy only two-thirds of the legal rights that men do and that the gender gap is wider than laws on the books might suggest due to insufficient legal implementation.

Watch a panel of experts laying out their vision for a future rich in jobs, where more people can reach their potential. Strong human capital—investing in health, education, and skills training—is crucial for creating jobs.

The 2023 Atlas of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is a visual resource showcasing progress and setbacks in achieving the SDGs through interactive storytelling and data visualization. It provides decision-makers, the development community, academics, journalists, and the public with data insights for each of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and introduces concepts about how some SDGs are measured. At the midpoint of the 2030 Agenda, the insights of the Atlas reinforce the importance of strengthening global partnerships to tackle the formidable development challenges that lie ahead, and supplement efforts by partners.

The closing session will explore potential solutions to these challenges and will also summarize key discussions and outcomes from the previous sessions.

Learn how the World Bank Group can support gender equality and LGBTI+ inclusion.

Migration has become an urgent global development challenge, as diverging demographic trends and the growing impact of climate change compounds trends arising from welfare gaps and conflict and violence. As governments continue efforts towards achieving sustainable and inclusive growth amid multiple crises, migration, if managed well, can be a positive force for development, bringing benefits for migrants as well as origin and destination countries. Join us for the global launch of the World Development Report 2023: Migrants, Refugees and Societies.

Investing in human capital creates healthy and well-educated populations – education being the greatest predicator of climate-friendly behavior.

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

Join a prestigious panel of speakers to explore central questions around what it will take to address some of the most critical issues of our time including climate change, food insecurity, pandemics, and increasing fragility and poverty reduction. 

President David Malpass takes questions from international media representatives covering the 2023 Spring Meetings.

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. 

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.

Join the World Bank, UNHCR, and UK Government for the global launch of a report that synthesizes findings from a joint series of 26 working papers on forced displacement and social cohesion. 

From the floor of Palais des congrès de Montréal at COP15, where global leaders convene to discuss the biodiversity imperative.

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. 

Human capital is essential for meeting the objectives of addressing climate change and fostering development. Without focused investments in people, climate change will accelerate global poverty, exacerbate inequities, and will itself continue unabated. Climate-smart human capital can alleviate the worst impacts of climate change on people and can also empower people to drive the green transition. Join us to discuss how putting human capital at the heart of climate policies can deliver good outcomes for both people and for the planet. 

This event will highlight key takeaways from the closed-door Human Capital Ministerial Conclave with focus on how countries can invest in social protection, productive inclusion, and nutrition-sensitive policies to not only avert setbacks to human capital but also to strengthen these critical outcomes for long term growth and productivity.

In this time of strained resources and overlapping crises, how can countries get the financing they need to tackle climate change? The event Investing in People and Planet explored this question in three conversations -- on the potential of carbon markets to mobilize finance; what it will take to bring private sector finance into low-carbon transitions; and the financing needed to achieve net zero.

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.

As the world grapples with multiple crises, how can we ensure prioritization of shared development goals for a resilient recovery? Watch the conversation with World Bank Group President David Malpass and Bank leadership. 

Even if advanced economies stabilize, conditions for developing countries risk going from bad to worse. Watch World Bank Group President David Malpass deliver remarks, live from Stanford University.

This World Bank event brings together a diverse panel of experts to discuss lessons from previous energy price shocks, prospects for energy and metal markets, and policy options to accelerate transition away from fossil fuels while shielding vulnerable groups from damaging disruptions.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the need to deliver climate change commitments, and the rise in conflicts have amplified the need for a more effective government from the central to the local level.

On June 21st,  2022, David Malpass and USAID Administrator Samantha Power held a conversation about the impact of the current overlapping global crises on the poorest and most vulnerable.

This year’s theme is “Unlocking the Power of Inclusion for Equitable Growth”. Get ready for a two-day experience including pitch competition, case challenge, keynotes and plenaries, music, art and more!

On May 18th, the World Bank commemorated IDAHOTB, convening a panel of government, civil society, and other partners on the importance of laws in advancing the rights of sexual and gender minorities globally.

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).

The event will provide an opportunity to review the macro-economic situation in the Africa region, given the recent fluctuations in commodity and food prices, and focus on social protection strategies that can help build resilience in African economies and create jobs, as they recover from multiple shocks in current troubled times. 

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.

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.

Race is a key component to the diversity, equity, and inclusion agenda at the World Bank Group. As February is Black History Month in the U.S., this episode of Behind the Mission is about Race and Inclusion at the World Bank Group. During this show, we talk with two leaders from the World Bank, Daryl Lucas and Nadine Chapman, who will share their stories, insights and the work that the Bank is doing to address racism and create opportunities for racial minorities, including African Americans. They’ll also share some helpful tips on navigating a successful career at the World Bank Group. Join us on Feb. 8 at 11am EST to listen to the conversation. Please submit your questions now, and live experts will answer your questions during the show. 

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.

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.

In commemoration of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, join the World Bank and a panel of experts for a discussion on “Resilience and Inclusive Recovery Across Families and Communities.” 

For this episode of Behind the Mission, we talk to two staffers, who have flourished in their careers at the World Bank Group. They share their insights and offer tips and advice on careers.

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.

In the first virtual Civil Society Townhall held on October 12, World Bank Group President David Malpass discussed he Bank’s efforts to protect human capital, address countries’ excessive debt burdens, and facilitate an inclusive, resilient recovery from COVID-19.

Our 7th #OneSouthAsia Conversation will focus on these potentials and challenges of leveraging technologies to build human capital and help South Asia manage risks and shocks: how can it overcome regional barriers, promote cross-country collaboration to support recovery from COVID and other shocks, and build human capital and adaptable resilience in the region.

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 primary goals of the Youth Summit are to:  Empower youth to explore innovative ideas to tackle development challenges​ Provide youth with the tools to build and engage in impactful projects​ Promote dialogue between youth, the WBG, and other key stakeholders globally The theme for the 2021 Summit is Resilent Recovery for People and Planet.

Watch the launch of World Bank's report “The Distributional Impacts of Trade: Empirical Innovations, Analytical Tools and Policy Responses”, which provides knowledge, data, tools, and a policy framework with the aim to spread the gains from trade and make it more inclusive. 

As a global organization that has embraced the twin goals of ending extreme poverty and boosting shared prosperity, the World Bank Group is committed to fostering and strengthening diversity and inclusion in both its work and workplace. We are committed to a workplace where everyone is valued, where differences are respected and celebrated, and where opportunity and equitable treatment is afforded to all.  For our next episode of Behind the Mission: Working at the World Bank Group, which is on the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOT), we delve into LGBT+ issues at the World Bank Group. How has the diversity and inclusion agenda improved over the years? How does our institution ensure that LGBT+ rights are protected and LGBT+ staff are empowered and nurtured? Why should LGBT+ community consider a career in international development, especially at the WBG? Join the discussion with three staff members, who will share their insights and experiences about how the World Bank ...

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 ...

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.

Tune in to hear Sandie Okoro's insights on the intersectionality of race and gender, as well as her experiences and advice on having a career in international development. 

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 ...

Join our next #OneSouthAsia live conversation to hear how three women entrepreneurs are navigating the pandemic and tapping regional opportunities to create jobs, contribute to economic growth, and reduce gender gaps. South Asia has the world’s lowest rate of women entrepreneurs, with just 18% of small, medium and large businesses principally owned by a woman. Few engage in trade. As South Asia rebuilds after COVID-19, the region needs more women entrepreneurs to help drive innovations in services and products. Entrepreneurs Maheen Adamjee of Pakistan, Sairee Chahal of India, and Ayanthi Gurusinghe of Sri Lanka will share their experiences growing their businesses domestically and regionally, accessing finance, and using digital technology. Former banker Anshula Kant, now chief financial officer of the World Bank Group, will offer insights about the World Bank’s support to women entrepreneurs globally and in South Asia. Cecile Fruman, the World Bank’s direction of regional integration and engagement in South Asia, will lead the conversation. No ...

The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened awareness of the need for better data to inform response and recovery efforts, leveraging the complementarity of public and private sources. Following the recent launch of the World Bank’s SDG Atlas, this event will convene partners to discuss how we can improve data literacy, and call attention to the urgent need to address data gaps especially in the developing world as we work to get the Sustainable Development Goals back on track as part of a resilient recovery. The Atlas of Sustainable Development Goals 2020 presents interactive storytelling and data visualizations about the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. It highlights trends for selected targets within each goal and introduces concepts about how some SDGs are measured. Where data is available, it also highlights the emerging impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the SDGs. In this World Bank Live event, we will introduce the the Atlas of the SDGs 2020 and discuss with data partners the role of data ...

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)

As COVID-19 continues to have wide-reaching impacts, one question looms large: how we can address the long-standing systemic inequalities that it has laid bare?

For this episode of Behind the Mission, we talk to three staff members, each of whom have not only overcome their disabilities, but have flourished in their careers at the World Bank Group. They share their insights and offer tips and advice on careers at the WBG. To post a question or comment, go to the chat box on the right. 

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.

Bringing the focus to gender, Melinda Gates, Co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, explains how women and girls are disproportionately affected, suffering from “shadow” pandemics and Mirai Chatterjee, Director of Social Security at the Self-Employed Women's Association in India, highlights the need to invest in frontline health workers, particularly women.

How is the World Bank Group focusing on resilient recovery in the post-pandemic era? In the first virtual Civil Society Townhall held on October 13, World Bank Group President David Malpass discussed the Bank’s efforts to protect human capital, address countries’ excessive debt burdens, and facilitate an inclusive, resilient recovery from COVID-19.

Among the world’s developing regions, South Asia has the highest share of informal employment. More than 80 percent of workers in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan are informal. These workers are excluded from labor laws and social protection schemes that apply to organized labor and the specific risks associated with COVID-19 exacerbate their situation. Informal workers are particularly vulnerable to shocks as they tend to have less cash on hand and more limited access to credit. They are also more likely to lose their jobs and face extreme poverty and food insecurity as the pandemic intensifies across the region. This webinar brings together academics, policy advisors, health policy experts, and civil society leaders to discuss the impacts of COVID-19 on South Asia’s most vulnerable people.

The world is faced with a global education emergency of unprecedented scale. According to estimates by the World Bank, the COVID-19 pandemic, at its peak, caused more than 180 countries to mandate temporary school closures, leaving 85 percent of the world’s learners out of school. Children with disabilities and their families, especially those living in poverty, face significant multiple vulnerabilities during this pandemic, including education, health, and social protection. The World Bank's Inclusive Education Iniative (IEI) invites you to participate in a Gloal Seminar to discuss our latest Issues Paper, 'Pivoting to Inclusion: Leveraging Lessons from the COVID-19 Crisis for Learners with Disabilities.' The live event will feature experts and thought leaders who will provide reflections on the paper, based on their unique perspectives on education, remote learning, and social inclusion and protection.

In this 90-minute session, government leaders, NGO partners, and innovators will deliver a series of stimulating talks. Drawing on their unique experiences, they will showcase examples of policy actions and both public and private sector-led responses—across education, health, food security, digital connectivity, and social protection. World Bank Managing Director, Mari Pangestu will kick off this event and share key findings from the recently published report, Protecting People and Economies: Integrated Policy Responses to COVID-19. Related links: Report: Protecting People and Economies: Integrated Policy Responses to COVID-19 Website: Human Capital Project

Locust swarms are ravaging crops and pastureland, destroying food and vegetation and jeopardizing food security across Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and parts of South Asia. Without action, the locust population could grow 400 times larger by June 2020 and spread to new areas, disrupting food supply, upending livelihoods and requiring substantial resources to address. The World Bank estimates that in Africa alone, more than 90 million hectares of cropland and pasture are at risk and damages and losses could amount to as much as US$9 billion in coming years.  Join us as we discuss this important issue with two World Bank staff: Melissa Williams, Senior Rural Development Specialist & Afrah Alawi Al-Ahmadi, Senior Social Protection Specialist. Ask your questions now!  Related Links:  Locust Crisis World Bank Response Blog: The Locust Plague: Fighting a Crisis within a Crisis Website: Food Security at the World Bank Group  

For the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOTB) 2020 commemoration, the World Bank (WB), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) will collaborate on a virtual program of events from May 18-22 that will focus on research and data for “breaking the silence,” this year’s IDAHOTB theme. The events will highlight the important role the MDBs are called to play in closing the SOGI data gap and will discuss ongoing and potential innovative approaches to data generation and evidence-based policymaking in their client countries. By virtually bringing together key SOGI research experts, policymakers, development professionals, and LGBTI civil society organizations, the joint IDAHOTB commemoration will draw attention to the discrimination, exclusion, and violence LGBTI people face globally and provide a platform to highlight successful examples of SOGI-inclusive data generation. On May 18, we invite you to join the very first live discussion to kick off the week, ...

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

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

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. 

Join World Bank Group President David Malpass as he engages with representatives of Civil Society Organizations from around the world in an interactive townhall event. He will discuss with civil society a wide range of development topics that highlight the Bank’s work to reduce poverty, boost shared prosperity, secure financial stability, and promote sustainable economic growth.  

SDGs in Action: Integrating the SDGs into National Budgets April 12, 2019   A collaboration between the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Equitable Growth, Finance and Institutions Global Practice (EFI) and the World Bank Group Senior Vice Presidency for the 2030 Development Agenda, UN Relations and Partnerships - SDGs in Action: Integrating the SDGs into National Budgets - underscored the fact that the SDGs set an ambitious path to 2030 that will require investments of all kinds – both public and private. The seminar shone light on a key area in need of attention - how to translate the SDGs into national budgets. It explored how countries can cost out gaps to achieve the SDGs and seek to fill those gaps by mobilizing resources and budgeting for SDG activities to be translated into tangible policy and implementation at the country level. Panelists comprising of country leaders and policy makers, discussed avenues to tackle fiscal and planning challenges to budget for, and build, successful outcomes for the ...

Globally, 151 million children are stunted. Millions of children are in school but not learning. There is an urgent human capital crisis – in South Africa, across the continent, and around the world. There is no way to achieve our goals of ending extreme poverty and boosting shared prosperity unless we help countries invest more – and more effectively – in their people. In a speech at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim will discuss the state of the world’s human capital and what must happen now to enable young people – and countries – to compete in the economy of the future.

A key determinant of a country’s competitiveness is its human talent—the skills, knowledge, and experience of its population, better known as “human capital.” Disparities in productivity begin in the earliest stages of life and continue to be exacerbated throughout an individual’s life, impacted by a variety of factors including health, nutrition, and education. Recently, innovation has ushered in a new future where technology and uniquely human characteristics are leveraged in equal measure. This year’s Youth Summit will seek to provide youth with a forum to share their ideas and learn from one another, encouraging the creation of innovative and equitable initiatives and the development of capabilities required in our ever-evolving future. View the agenda here!

Investing in people’s nutrition, health care, quality education, and skills is crucial to developing a productive society. Join us for a discussion on the urgency of addressing the human capital gap and how collaborative social accountability can help governments and civil society implement innovative and effective solutions to promote investments in human capital. This session is part of the Global Partnership for Social Accountability (GPSA) Global Partners Forum, which brings together more than 300 practitioners and thought-leaders from civil society organizations, governments, academia, foundations and businesses, to provide a unique space to reflect on social accountability. The 2018 Forum, titled “Money Matters: Public Finance and Social Accountability for Human Capital”, seeks to specifically build awareness of the Human Capital Project and explore the potential contributions of social accountability towards the project’s success. To learn more and view the agenda, visit: http://bit.ly/GPSAForum18

The event builds on the forthcoming Africa’s Pulse report’s special theme: The role of human capital in boosting productivity. A highly skilled, healthy labor force plays an important role in driving economic growth. It facilitates the adoption of rapidly changing technologies and enhances the ability to develop new technologies. How can Africa capitalize on its human capital to ramp up productivity and close large and persistent gaps in income per capita relative to advanced countries?

Please join us for a livestreamed Long Conversation with The Smithsonian during IFC’s annual Sustainability Exchange event in Washington DC. This innovative session will include visionaries from the worlds of energy, healthcare, politics, transport, mining, textiles, and technology in a relay of two-person dialogues focused on the drivers of change in emerging markets. Learn about the best ideas on the horizon in 15-minute rolling conversations between experts from all walks of life.

Months after World Bank President Jim Kim announced the Human Capital Project, global leaders gathered in Washington to discuss the urgent and critical importance of investing in people to prepare countries for the economy of the future. In a lively discussion moderated by Ali Velshi of NBC News and MSNBC, Dr. Kim joined Bill Gates, principal founder of Microsoft and co-chair of the Gates Foundation; and Penny Mordaunt, the UK’s secretary of state for international development, to make the case for investing in people. Against the backdrop of rapid technological and labor market changes, the speakers had one overpowering message: investing in people—through education, health, nutrition, social protection and jobs—is the sturdiest way forward.   From why the world needs a Human Capital Index to link key investments in people to economic growth, to how to finance high-impact investments in people, speakers provided unique perspectives. They concluded that building human capital is indeed a project for the world, ...

This is a Facebook Live interview. Watch the Replay! As part of our Spring Meetings 2018 Interview Series, we will be talking with William L. Swing, Director General of the International Organization for Migration, to discuss how to encourage actions on migration at the global level and urban displacement. 

This is a Facebook Live interview. Watch the replay! As part of our Spring Meetings 2018 Interview Series, we will be talking with Lady Lynn Forester de Rothschild, Founder and CEO, Coalition for Inclusive Capitalism, to discuss how innovative partnerships between the World Bank Group, investors, and governments can lead to win-win financial solutions that help countries meet 21st century aspirations and support sustainable and inclusive growth, while offering investors sound returns.  

Big data is drastically improving our ability to understand the world around us. This event will showcase how big data and new technologies allow cities and local communities to seize new opportunities for jobs and manufacturing; deliver effective and inclusive transport and energy services; prepare for disasters; and target assistance to those who need it most. Join us to discuss how the public and private sectors can partner to unlock big data’s potential.

This is a Facebook Live interview.  As part of our Spring Meetings 2018 Interview Series, we will be talking with Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank Group, to discuss the urgent and critical importance of investing more and more efficiently in people to prepare countries for the economy of the future.  Watch the replay!

This is a Facebook Live interview. As part of our Spring Meetings 2018 Interview Series, we will be talking with Kristalina Georgieva, CEO of the World Bank, and Philippe H. Le Houerou, CEO of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to reflect on the 2018 spring meetings and collaboration with civil society organizations. Watch the replay!

Join with government officials, policymakers, civil society representatives, and others for a discussion on the latest findings from the Open Budget Survey 2017 on the state of government budget transparency and accountability in 115 countries around the world. Which countries have made progress and which have regressed? What drives improvements and regressions in budget transparency, participation, and accountability? What can reformers both in and outside government do to encourage and sustain more open and accountable budgets? In the current context of growing distrust in democratic institutions, shrinking civic space, and retreating democratic engagement, we will examine how improving countries’ public finance systems and practices can be an important step in bridging the gap between citizens and their governments.

Today’s environment is palpably different from that which inspired the creation of major social accountability and open government initiatives, such as the GPSA, the Open Government Partnership and Making All Voices Count. Both the priorities and policy environments in donor countries as well as the realities on the ground in which these initiatives are implemented have changed, posing new challenges for the implementation of openness and accountability interventions. On the other hand, the new Sustainable Development Goals provide a framework and a rationale for increasing participation and engagement of citizens, as a goal in itself, and as a means to achieve all other development goals. This session brings together leaders in the field – all deeply engaged as practitioners – to share their thoughts and experiences of navigating changing times and ensuring the continued relevance of open governance and social accountability initiatives for the foreseeable future. This session is part of the Global Partnership for Social Accountability (GPSA) Global Partners Forum, ...

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. 

World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim opened this action-oriented Summit with a strong investment case for human capital, which is a critical development priority for the world. A World Bank Annual Meetings Flagship event, the Human Capital Summit provided a platform for world leaders to make commitments and share the actions they are taking to invest in people in their respective countries and/or globally. There is new evidence today that human capital is a clear path to ending extreme poverty and boosting national wealth and economic growth. In fact, the World Bank Group's Human Capital project, announced by President Kim at Columbia University last week is an accelerated effort to encourage investment in people. The Summit today focused specifically on several key themes: the early years, nutrition, universal health coverage (UHC), quality of education, skills and jobs, youth, and women and girls.  President Kim was joined by H.E. Paul Kagame, President, Republic of Rwanda; Luis Caputo, Minister ...

The Civil Society Town Hall with Jim Yong Kim and Christine Lagarde, the flagship event of the Civil Society Policy Forum, took place on Wednesday, October 11 from 5:30 – 6:30pm. Abdel-Rahman El Mahdi, founder and President of the Sudanese Development Initiative, moderated the event. The Town Hall was held in the Preston Auditorium to accommodate the increasing number of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) that attend the World Bank and IMF Annual Meetings, which is indicative of the increasing engagement between the Bank and CSOs. Around 350 CSOs attended in person, with more viewing the event via livestream in English, Spanish, and French. More than 200 people engaged in those three languages on social media during the livestream.   Each year at the Annual Meetings, the Civil Society Town Hall provides an opportunity for President Kim and Managing Director Lagarde to discuss common areas of interest with members of civil society. The event on Wednesday kicked off with questions on the role of civil society in ...

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.

Watch live as Philanthropist Michael Milken and World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim discuss how to expand opportunity for prosperity to everyone in a one-on-one conversation at the Milken Institute Global Conference, "Building Meaningful Lives."    Related Links:Milken Institute Global ConferenceConference Video

Investing in the early years is one of the smartest investments a country can make to break the cycle of poverty, address inequality, and boost productivity later in life. Today, millions of young children are not reaching their full potential because of inadequate nutrition, lack of early stimulation and learning, and exposure to stress. Investments in the physical, mental, and emotional development of children -- from before birth until they enter primary school – are critical for the future productivity of individuals and for the economic competitiveness of nations. Join us as country leaders make commitments to reduce chronic malnutrition in children and expand access to early childhood development services by 2020 to ensure that children everywhere can thrive.

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.

A conversation with Sri Mulyani Indriwati (broadcast in Bahasa Indonesia)

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

Join Dr. Jim Yong Kim and Professor Michael Porter for an examination of the global context for private sector engagement in helping achieve development outcomes through shared value. This unique conversation will glean insights from Dr. Kim’s visionary leadership of the World Bank and will illuminate the role that the public sector and multilateral donors can play in advancing shared value, as well as opportunities for public-private collaboration. Submit questions for Professor Porter and Dr. Kim using Pigeonhole with the event passcode: SVLEADERS About the Shared Value Leadership Summit The 2016 Shared Value Leadership Summit will feature a series of exciting plenary and lab sessions designed to share insights, celebrate successes and challenge the business community to see the strategic advantage in tackling the world’s most pressing problems. Headline speakers include Jim Kim, President of the World Bank Group; Barbara Bush, CEO and Co-Founder of Global Health Corps and Alan Murray, Managing Editor of Fortune. Related Links: 2016 Shared Value ...

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 ...

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.

How do we measure development? The Social Progress Index (SPI) was launched in 2013 as a holistic approach to benchmarking countries’ social performance, independent of economic measures. The SPI has been widely taken up on a global basis in evaluating national performance, and sub-national indices are proliferating at the regional and city level. In this lecture, Professor Porter will describe the insights that the SPI provides about the relationship between economic development and social progress, along with exploring the implications for development thinking and how the World Bank can best deliver on its “shared prosperity” goal.

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.

The GPSA Partners Forum 2015 brings together civil society organizations, academia, businesses, and governments from all around the globe, to provide an important and unique space to reflect on social accountability theory and practice, and define together the future social accountability agenda. The Forum will focus on the shifting paradigm in social accountability towards a citizen-centric governance approach. We will explore how the emerging concept of strategic social accountability will play an important role in how citizen-centered governance is realized. Tune in May 13 at 9:00 a.m ET for a live streamed discussion with World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim - "Social Accountability for Citizen-Centric Governance: A Changing Paradigm."

The Arab Spring was driven by young people demanding jobs and protesting the regimes in power.  While the leaders fell in four of the five countries, the aftermath of the Arab Spring has been characterized by civil war, sectarian violence, political turmoil and, in some cases, the return of a strong state to restore peace and stability.  Economic growth has slowed and unemployment has increased.  What can be done now to meet the aspirations of the young men and women who marched in the streets in 2010-11 demanding “bread, freedom and dignity?” Join us live on November 19, 2014 with professor Juan Cole for a panel discussion chaired by World Bank Vice President for MENA Inger Anderson, on his new book : “The New Arabs:  How the Millennial Generation is Changing the Middle East”

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.

How can a city become a place where people are empowered, opportunities exist for all, and policies promote the well-being of its citizens? Can new technologies make governments more accountable to citizens? In this event, development leaders will discuss the transformative power of inclusive institutions and citizen engagement for enhancing accountability and improving public services for the poor. The panel will address the relationship between key elements of inclusiveness – institutions, governance, and citizen engagement – against the backdrop of rapid urbanization and social change, growing inequality, and rising crime and violence.

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.

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.