The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement stands to connect 1.3 billion people across 55 countries, making it the largest free trade area in the world by membership. The pact has the potential to lift 30 million people out of extreme poverty, increase workers’ wages and generate gains for women. But achieving its full potential will depend on putting in place significant policy reforms and trade facilitation measures. The creation of the AfCFTA regional market is a major opportunity to help African countries diversity their exports and accelerate growth. This is especially important in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has disrupted trade and triggered up to $79 billion in output losses during 2020 in Africa alone. This event will introduce the new World Bank Group report The African Continental Free Trade Area: Economic and Distributional Effects. The report is designed to help countries implement policies that can maximize the agreement’s potential gains while minimizing risks. Through a discussion moderated by Albert ...
Covid-19 has caused widespread economic damage, with long-term implications for global supply chains, productivity growth, and sovereign debt. What does the post-pandemic future look like? Join this conversation between World Bank group Vice President Ceyla Pazarbasioglu and Financial Times Chief Economics Commentator Martin Wolf.
Debt service suspension for the poorest countries could mean billions more to fight and recover from #COVID19. Global Director @MarcelloEstevao explains how this initiative could help low-income countries. 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!
The COVID-19 pandemic is reshaping the world’s financial system and having a huge impact on companies and employment. As many countries begin to look to recovery, investment in climate-friendly strategies carries the potential to boost growth and create new jobs. How can we place sustainability at the heart of investment and business strategies and support a low-carbon future? It’s a business plan that’s not only positive for the environment, but also good for people and profitability. Peer Stein, Senior Advisor for Climate Finance at the International Finance Corporation joins World Bank Live to discuss the role of investors, businesses and financial institutions in building a new, more sustainable economic model. 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!
How can we help the weakest countries and those affected by violence and conflict respond to the #Coronavirus pandemic? Economic growth, stronger institutions and social cohesion will be vital in helping the weakest regions recover from #Coronavirus. Join our Senior Director Franck Bousquet as he discusses the challenges.
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.
Part of ‘Kickstarting a Sustainable Recovery’, the Climate Group’s Sustainable Recovery Series, in partnership with Innovate4Climate. Monumental efforts are underway to help governments respond to the crisis triggered by COVID-19. As countries look ahead on how to build back better, carbon pricing policies are in the spotlight. The Carbon Pricing Leadership Coalition, in partnership with the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action, is convening thought leaders for a dialogue exploring how the public and private sector can realize the full potential of carbon pricing as part of a sustainable recovery process. Agenda Introductory remarks: Mari Elka Pangestu, Managing Director of Development, Policy and Partnerships, World Bank High level comments: Tao Zhang, Deputy Managing Director, IMF José Ángel Gurría Treviño, Secretary General, OECD Juan Carlos Jobet, Minister of Energy, Chile Leadership Panel 1Moderated by Bernice Van Bronkhorst, Global Director, Climate Change, World Bank How can we achieve a sustainable recovery process in the face of climate ...
In this new series on World Bank Live we focus on the ideas and actions that will help countries as they look beyond the pandemic. Recovery from COVID-19 will be an opportunity for countries to build resilience, improve inclusion and ensure economic growth. We will be joined by David Malpass, President of the World Bank Group, Henrietta Fore, Executive Director of UNICEF and African Union Commissioner Josefa Sacko to discuss how Food Security has been impacted by COVID-19. The World Food Programme estimates the number of people facing acute food insecurity could double by the end of 2020 due to job and remittance losses. At the same time, farmers face depressed prices for their unsold farm produce, a reduced ability to finance food production in the next season, and massive locust waves in parts of East Africa, the Middle East and South Asia. Related Links: Brief: Food Security and COVID-19: The World Bank and the Locust crisis Blog: Three imperatives to ...
The COVID-19 pandemic has delivered a global economic shock of enormous magnitude, leading to steep recessions that will leave lasting scars in many developing countries. What are the likely long-term consequences? What can policymakers in these countries do mitigate the risks? What can they do to ensure that countries emerge in better shape than they went in? This panel discussion brings together some of the world’s leading experts to assess the long-term challenges and potential solutions for developing countries, building upon the findings of the World Bank Group’s latest Global Economic Prospects report.
The Fragility Forum 2020 Seminar Series is a virtual and interactive series of events organized by the World Bank to share practical solutions and explore innovative ways of responding to the most challenging FCV issues of our times. As we formally close this year’s Fragility Forum, we will reflect on key takeaways relevant to future engagements in fragile contexts and the importance of sharing lessons learned to foster sustainable change. We will also advocate in favor of stronger partnerships across humanitarian, development and peace actors to respond to the impacts of COVID19, and for increased support to low- and middle-income countries exposed to fragilities to boost resilience and to lead more potent and adapted strategies in preventing conflict and mitigating its impacts. Welcome to the Fragility Forum View the Fragility Forum 2020 Kickoff Session from June 9 2020 View the Fragility Forum 2020 Session from June 23 2020 View the Fragility Forum 2020 Session | Afghanistan Crossroads: Troop Withdrawals, Taliban Expansion and Declining Foreign Assistance from July 21 2020 View ...
