Mon, 16 Jan 2023 15:17:25 +0000Captivate.fmListen to the latest newshttps://artwork.captivate.fm/58d19a1d-27d2-4e36-a2c0-5c7760e3342f/avatars-000149424631-inbnog-original.pngListen to the latest newsListen to the latest newsFighting poverty with passion and professionalism for lasting results. http://www.worldbank.org/ The World Bank is one of the world's largest sources of development assistance. Our mission is to fight poverty with passion and professionalism for lasting results. We are not a bank in the common sense; we aim to help people help themselves and their environment by sharing knowledge and providing financial and technical assistance. Conceived in 1944 to reconstruct war-torn Europe, we work in more than 100 developing countries. http://www.worldbank.org/noepisodichttps://feeds.captivate.fm/world-bank-podcasts/Machine Learning Joins the Housing Revolutiontag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/721859485Mon, 02 Dec 2019 23:02:34 -050022:48nofullThis podcast explores the concepts and realities surrounding resilient housing. Through interviews, sound bites, and trips to countries where resilient housing is underway, we will share with you the World Bank’s new effort to support building homes better before a disaster strikes. From structural engineers to government officials, you will hear from a wide variety of professionals working to strengthen the homes we live in. Leveraging technologies, such as drones, street cameras, and machine learning, and pairing them with low cost, life-saving construction methods, the Global Program for Resilient Housing aims to strengthen retrofitting measures. Understanding which homes put families at risk and where they are located are vital components to successfully prioritize investments. From complex algorithms to simple construction design, you will learn what it takes to make homes safer and more resilient to natural disasters and climate change.Listen to the latest newsAFRONOMICS: What will it take to accelerate poverty reduction in Africa?tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/712960555Thu, 14 Nov 2019 22:45:16 -050025:45nofullDespite the incredible progress that so many African countries have made, poverty remains a defining part of the narrative around Africa. While the share of people living in extreme poverty has come down in the last decades, the number of people has gone up, due to rapid population growth during the same period, to reach nearly 416 million people. If left unchecked, extreme poverty in the world will become almost exclusively an African issue by 2030, in just ten years. In this episode of Afronomics, Albert Zeufack welcomes Kathleen Beegle and Luc Christiaensen, the main authors of a new World Bank study on Accelerating Poverty Reduction in Africa, to discuss what needs to be done differently to fight poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa. For more information, access the full study here: https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/32354Listen to the latest newsAFRONOMICS: The Future of Work in Africa, Part 2: The Role of Social Protectiontag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/690715723Thu, 03 Oct 2019 23:28:00 -050015:00nofullThe 2019 World Development Report focused on the Future of Work on a global scale, highlighting the real tension between job losses in “old” manufacturing sectors that are susceptible to automation, and potential job gains driven by innovation in “new” sectors. Our Africa-focused companion report, released in July 2019, finds that Africa has a chance to take a different path – if governments and businesses can take advantage of digital technologies, and if the right policies and investments are in place.   Part two of this two-part podcast examines the role of social protection in helping workers, especially the most vulnerable, transition into the jobs and technologies of the future. Host Albert Zeufack welcomes Zainab Usman, Social Scientist in the Office of the Chief Economist for Africa at the World Bank, and co-author of the World Bank’s recent Future of Work in Africa report.Listen to the latest newsAFRONOMICS: The Future of Work in Africa, Part 1: Can digital technologies really work for all?tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/690519796Thu, 03 Oct 2019 15:46:09 -050017:23nofullThe 2019 World Development Report focused on the Future of Work on a global scale, highlighting the real tension between job losses in “old” manufacturing sectors that are susceptible to automation, and potential job gains driven by innovation in “new” sectors. Our Africa-focused companion report, released in July 2019, finds that Africa has a chance to take a different path – if governments and businesses can take advantage of digital technologies, and if the right policies and investments are in place.   Part one of this two-part podcast looks at what’s different about the future of work in Africa compared to the rest of the world, and digs in to the potential of digital technologies to improve livelihoods and create jobs for all kinds of workers. Host Albert Zeufack welcomes Mark Dutz, Lead Economist in the Office of the Chief Economist for Africa at the World Bank, and co-author of the World Bank’s recent Future of Work in Africa report.Listen to the latest newsSmarter Subsidiestag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/666296621Wed, 28 Aug 2019 12:45:12 -050005:32nofullDoing More With Less – Smarter Subsidies for Water Supply and Sanitation shows that most existing water supply and sanitation subsidies are pervasive, expensive, poorly-targeted, non-transparent and distortionary. Yet if designed in smart and targeted ways and implemented effectively, subsidies can be powerful and progressive tools that help ensure all people benefit from water supply and sanitation services.Listen to the latest newsFrom Unknown To Urgencytag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/665706008Tue, 20 Aug 2019 20:00:05 -050005:24nofullQuality: Unknown — The Invisible Water Crisis presents new evidence and data that call urgent attention to the hidden dangers lying beneath the water’s surface. This podcast explains how poor water quality stalls economic progress, stymies human potential, and reduces food production.Listen to the latest newsAFRONOMICS: Analyzing Inequality in Africatag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/629015217Thu, 30 May 2019 16:41:51 -050027:50nofullDiscussions on Sub-Saharan Africa often center on extreme poverty: the subcontinent is home to half of the world’s extreme poor, and the number of people living in extreme poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa keeps going up even though the rates of extreme poverty have declined. At the same time, on a continent as economically diverse as Sub-Saharan Africa, the issue of inequality cannot be ignored. Eight of the ten most unequal countries in the world, when looking at the Gini coefficient, are in Sub-Saharan Africa, and gaps persist when digging deeper into wage inequality, inequality of opportunity, and other areas where the playing field is far from level. There are no easy answers to reducing inequality, but several countries have taken positive steps to make their societies and economies more equitable. In this episode of Afronomics, Albert welcomes Haroon Bhorat, Professor of Economics and Director of the Development Policy Research Unit at the University of Cape Town in South Africa, and a Non-resident Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution in the Global Economy and Development Program and the Africa Growth Initiative. His research focuses on labor economics, poverty, and income distribution, and this episode of Afronomics takes a closer look at his recent work on wage inequality in South Africa as part of the broader discussion on inequality in Africa.Listen to the latest newsThere's No Place Like Home! Resilient Housingtag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/606895512Tue, 16 Apr 2019 16:25:09 -050018:20nofullThis podcast explores the concepts and realities surrounding resilient housing. Through interviews, sound bites, and trips to countries where resilient housing is underway, our host, David Cavell, will teach you about the World Bank’s new effort to support building homes better before a disaster strikes. From structural engineers to government officials, you will hear from a wide variety of professionals working to strengthen the homes we live in. Leveraging technologies, such as drones, street cameras, and machine learning, and pairing them with low cost, life-saving construction methods, the Global Program for Resilient Housing aims to strengthen retrofitting measures. Understanding which homes are at high risk and where they are located are vital components to successfully prioritize investments and distribute subsidies. From complex algorithms to simple construction design, you will learn what it takes to make homes safer and more resilient to natural disasters and climate change.Listen to the latest newsAFRONOMICS: M-Pesa and the rise of digital financial services in Africatag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/596899476Wed, 27 Mar 2019 19:35:31 -050034:15nofullSub-Saharan Africa is the only region where the share of adults with a mobile money account now exceeds 10 percent. That mobile revolution began in Kenya. In this episode of Afronomics, World Bank Chief Economist for Africa, Albert Zeufack, speaks with Professor Njuguna Ndung’u who is currently the Executive Director of the African Economic Research Consortium and was the Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya from 2007 to 2015. During Prof. Ndung’u’s tenure as Central Bank governor, Kenya stepped up as a global leader in financial inclusion. This was driven by the path-breaking M-Pesa program, which made mobile payments and mobile banking the norm for Kenyans everywhere.Listen to the latest newsPutting Nature to Worktag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/588945780Thu, 21 Mar 2019 14:05:09 -050004:43nofullThis podcast explains how a new generation of infrastructure projects that harness the power of nature can help achieve development goals, including water security and climate resilience. In a new report from the World Bank and World Resources Institute, both organizations are calling for green infrastructure, such as mangroves and wetlands, to play a bigger role in traditional infrastructure planning.Listen to the latest newsRising To The Challenge Of A Changing Worldtag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/535741056Mon, 26 Nov 2018 16:04:26 -050004:26nofullIn 2017, the World Bank with its partners launched a new initiative for a water-secure world, the Global Water Security & Sanitation Partnership (GWSP), housed within the World Bank’s Water Global Practice. This podcast provides a snapshot of its first year of delivery. It shows how by bringing innovation, new knowledge and evidence, and flexibility to World Bank lending operations, the GWSP helps clients achieve even more significant and more sustainable results.Listen to the latest newsAFRONOMICS : le Rwanda, en tête du classement CPIAtag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/509531214Thu, 04 Oct 2018 17:21:19 -050000:12nofullEn 2017, près du tiers des 38 pays africains bénéficiant du guichet concessionnel IDA ont renforcé la qualité de leur politiques et institutions publiques par rapport à 2016. C’est l’une des conclusions de la dernière évaluation des politiques et des institutions en Afrique (CPIA) publiée chaque année par le bureau de l’économiste en chef de la Banque mondiale pour l’Afrique. Elle mesure les progrès réalisés par les pays d’Afrique subsaharienne pour améliorer la qualité de leurs politiques et institutions publiques, leur capacité à soutenir une croissance durable et à réduire la pauvreté. Il s’agit d’un outil essentiel pour les pays puisque la Banque mondiale utilise les notes obtenues pour déterminer le volume des prêts concessionnels et des dons que la Banque mondiale accorde aux pays à faible revenu. Dans ce nouvel épisode du podcast Afronomics, Albert Zeufack, économiste en chef pour l’Afrique à la Banque mondiale, s'entretient avec Gérard Kambou qui a contribué à la rédaction du dernier CPIA.Listen to the latest newsAFRONOMICS: Rwanda tops Africa in CPIA ratingstag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/509522604Thu, 04 Oct 2018 17:01:58 -050031:28nofullIn 2017, nearly third of the 38 African countries that receive the IDA concessional window, strengthened their policy and institutional quality compared to 2016. This is one of the findings of the World Bank’s Country Policy and Institutional Assessment. The CPIA, as it is called, is an annual assessment by the World Bank of the quality and institutional framework of African countries and their ability to support sustainable growth and poverty reduction. CPIA scores are composed of development indicators in four areas: economic management; structural policies; social inclusion and equity and public-sector management and institutions. Scores are used to determine the allocation of zero finance grants from IDA, so a better score indicator has an implication for more funding under better terms the countries can use for development. In this Afronomics, Chief Economist of the World Bank’s Africa Region, Albert Zeufack, speaks with report author, Punam Chuhan-Pole about policy improvements; policy declines and the African countries that are global examples of effective policy reform that enables positive growth and development.Listen to the latest newsAFRONOMICS: protéger les économies côtières d’Afrique de l’Ouesttag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/488739171Tue, 21 Aug 2018 20:29:03 -050016:12nofullAujourd'hui, environ 120 millions de personnes vivent le long des côtes ouest-africaines et sont menacées quotidiennement par l'érosion côtière et les inondations. De grandes portions de littoral ont disparu, emportant avec elles des maisons, des usines et des routes. Les pertes économiques sont colossales pour ce territoire qui génère 42 % du PIB de l'Afrique de l'Ouest. Préserver et protéger ces habitats fragiles apparaît donc comme un investissement rentable et rationnel. Pour en savoir plus, consultez : www.worldbank.org/waca www.worldbank.org/afrceListen to the latest newsAFRONOMICS: Protecting West Africa’s Coastal Economiestag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/488735871Tue, 21 Aug 2018 20:20:53 -050021:26nofullToday, there are about 120 million people living along the coast of West Africa who are threatened by coastal erosion and flooding on a daily basis. Large areas of coast line have disappeared, and with them houses, factories and roads. The economic losses are staggering. About 42% of West Africa’s GDP is generated along these same coastal areas. Preserving and protecting these fragile habitats makes dollars… and sense. To learn more, please visit: www.worldbank.org/waca www.worldbank.org/afrceListen to the latest newsFrom Water Scarce Cities to Water Secure Citiestag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/457896090Wed, 13 Jun 2018 18:19:10 -050007:15nofullPopulation growth, economic expansion and climate change are increasing the pressures on limited water supplies in cities around the world. A holistic approach is needed to help water scarce cities develop resilient strategies for long-term water security. That’s why the World Bank’s Water Scarce Cities initiative is collaborating with urban water practitioners, global thought leaders, and institutions in over 20 water scarce cities to document and share innovative strategies.Listen to the latest newsLet Everyone Reap the Benefits of Watertag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/442072893Thu, 10 May 2018 13:28:57 -050007:29nofullWater belongs to everyone and yet many are excluded from its benefits and often from ownership and control of this critical resource. Inclusion – ensuring everyone reaps the benefits of water – is central to achieving universal access to water and sanitation and the way the World Bank thinks about policy and programs, because prosperity is best when shared. Water World is a new podcast series brought to you by the World Bank’s Water Global Practice and the Global Water Security & Sanitation Partnership (GWSP). It explores the issues that are crucial to delivering a water-secure and healthy world for all. Join us every two weeks to learn more!Listen to the latest newsAFRONOMICS: Africa’s Pulse Spring Edition Part 2: Access to Energy in Africatag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/432077373Thu, 26 Apr 2018 20:46:57 -050020:20nofullPart Two of our discussion on Africa’s Pulse focusses on how African countries can improve access to electricity to accelerate progress in development outcomes, jobs and prosperity. We’re speaking with special topic author, Mike Toman, and member of the core team of economists who crafted the report, Moussa Blimpo. Technical innovations, especially in solar power, provide the possibility for faster progress in electricity provision by complementing grid expansion with mini-grids and home-scale systems. However, in sorting through various possibilities for accelerated electrification, it is important to keep in mind that national electrification strategies generally seek to address several development objectives. These include facilitating accelerated income growth and job creation, and improving lives and livelihoods in more remote areas, as well as limiting environmental and health damages from providing electricity. On the one hand, to accomplish this range of objectives, given the changes in generation technology and the expectation of rapid future growth in electricity demand, the evolution of electricity systems in Sub-Saharan Africa will need to involve more than one national grid. The path to universal electrification also will incorporate interconnected or stand-alone “mini-grids” and “micro-grids” serving small concentrations of electricity users, and off-grid home-scale systems. On the other hand, as rural populations continue to migrate to rapidly growing urban areas in Sub-Saharan Africa, economies of scale and density will lower the costs of grid-supplied power in urban and peri-urban areas.Listen to the latest newsResilience To Survive and Thrivetag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/434639088Tue, 24 Apr 2018 20:59:39 -050004:54nofullWhat does resilience mean when it comes to water? Is it really that important? Experts explain in this podcast. Water World is a new podcast series brought to you by the World Bank’s Water Global Practice and the Global Water Security & Sanitation Partnership (GWSP). It explores the issues that are crucial to delivering a water-secure and healthy world for all. Join us every two weeks to learn more!Listen to the latest newsAFRONOMICS: Africas Pulse Spring Edition Part 1tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/431605830Wed, 18 Apr 2018 15:01:26 -050013:19nofullAFRONOMICS: Africas Pulse Spring Edition Part 1 by Listen to the latest news, insights, and development highlights from the World Bank.Listen to the latest newsThe Role of Development in Preventing Extremismtag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/425788851Fri, 06 Apr 2018 17:36:52 -050032:49nofullAchim Steiner, Administrator of the UN Development Program (UNDP), talks about how preventing violent extremism can help us reach the goal to end poverty.Listen to the latest newsFixing The Institutions That Fix The Pipestag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/425760879Fri, 06 Apr 2018 16:31:42 -050005:31nofullWaterWorld is a new podcast series brought to you by the World Bank’s Water Global Practice and the Global Water Security & Sanitation Partnership (GWSP). It explores the issues that are crucial to delivering a water-secure and healthy world for all. Join us every two weeks to learn more!Listen to the latest newsPoland: A Development Success Storytag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/422017134Thu, 29 Mar 2018 20:55:33 -050016:23nofullPoland moved from middle-income to high-income status in less than 15 years. How did the country do this? Mateusz Morawiecki, Prime Minister of Poland, discusses Poland’s economic development. (This was recorded during the World Bank Annual Meetings in 2017. Mateusz Morawiecki, was Deputy Prime Minister of Poland then.) More on Poland’s journey to high-income status can be found in our report: Lessons for Poland, Insights from Poland.Listen to the latest newsDesigning Better Solutions for Developmenttag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/417175881Wed, 21 Mar 2018 18:36:42 -050013:37nofullJoe Gebbia, Co-founder of Airbnb, talks about the new digital economy and its impact on development.Listen to the latest newsWater Flows Through the SDGstag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/416694546Tue, 20 Mar 2018 20:03:56 -050006:15nofullWaterWorld is a new podcast series brought to you by the World Bank’s Water Global Practice and the Global Water Security & Sanitation Partnership (GWSP). It explores the issues that are crucial to delivering a water-secure and healthy world for all. Join us every two weeks to learn more!Listen to the latest newsEnergy Resilience: Improving the Grid with Off-Grid Solutions.tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/410783646Thu, 08 Mar 2018 22:58:22 -050017:52nofullRachel Kyte, CEO and Special Representative of the UN-Secretary General for Sustainable Energy for All, talks climate change, private sector investment, and global access to energy services.Listen to the latest newsCaribbean Islands: The Frontline of the War Against Climate Change?tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/407179128Thu, 01 Mar 2018 19:43:16 -050011:27nofullTimothy Antoine, Governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, talks about resilience and sustainability in a hurricane-prone region.Listen to the latest newsFrom SDGs to Business: Partnership for Global Developmenttag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/403518597Thu, 22 Feb 2018 15:32:30 -050020:22nofullWhy are partnerships crucial to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? Jeremy Oppenheim, Program Director, Business and Sustainable Development Commission, and Steve Waygood, Chief Responsible Investment Officer of Aviva Investors, discuss in this interview during the 2017 World Bank Annual Meetings.Listen to the latest newsWomen Entrepreneurs Take Businesses to the Next Leveltag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/400279110Thu, 15 Feb 2018 23:31:43 -050012:54nofullAnta Babakar, Executive Director of Sedima, and Nour Al Hassan, Founder and CEO of Tarjama, discuss how women entrepreneurs play a critical role in economic development.Listen to the latest newsUniversality: The Path to Reaching the Global Agenda for Sustainable Developmenttag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/396581517Thu, 08 Feb 2018 22:15:42 -050016:39nofullAmanda Farnan, GenUN Georgetown Campus Leader, and Mac Darrow, Representative, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights discuss how zero tolerance and global mobilization today is imperative in reaching the sustainable development goals of tomorrow.Listen to the latest newsDriving Into Sustainabilitytag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/392980443Thu, 01 Feb 2018 16:42:44 -050009:08nofullRaj Rao, Chief Executive Officer of Ford Smart Mobility, discusses transport mobility with Josh Slusher, Director of Global Entrepreneurs Council, United Nations Foundation.Listen to the latest newsTechnology: A Leap Ahead for the Poortag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/388972479Thu, 25 Jan 2018 16:47:41 -050005:41nofullMary Snapp, Vice President of Microsoft Philanthropies, talks about how technology is the vehicle to a better future for the less fortunate during the 2017 World Bank Group Annual Meetings.Listen to the latest newsFarming to the Top: How Young Entrepreneurs Are Innovating Agriculturetag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/385491083Thu, 18 Jan 2018 15:20:45 -050013:07nofullGet inspired by Katrina Sasse, farmer at Leichhardt Fields, Australia, and Brian Ndyaguma, Project Manager and Entrepreneur, Uganda, as they talk about technologies in farming, how youth can help revive the agriculture sector and growing your own food.Listen to the latest newsTackling Global Poverty: Jim Yong Kim on Maximizing Resources and Building Resiliencetag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/382088735Thu, 11 Jan 2018 16:51:31 -050016:40nofullWorld Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim talks about the important connection between investing in human capital and economic growth.Listen to the latest newsAlliances and Collaboration: The Answer to Ending Extreme Povertytag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/378694484Thu, 04 Jan 2018 15:51:12 -050009:41nofullKristalina Georgieva, World Bank CEO, and Kathy Calvin, President and CEO of United Nations Foundation, discuss how working with partners can help build resilience and end extreme poverty by 2030.Listen to the latest newsEntering Uncharted Waterstag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/348378043Tue, 24 Oct 2017 16:00:24 -050004:10nofullNew World Bank report Uncharted Waters presents new evidence on how increasingly erratic rainfall impacts farms, firms and families. It also shows that although floods and storm surges pose major threats, droughts are “misery in slow motion,” with impacts deeper and longer lasting than previously believed. The report proposes solutions to avoid a parched path and help chart a new course. In this podcast, one of the report’s authors Richard Damania discusses its findings with Communications Officer Martin Hall. To learn more, go to: www.worldbank.org/unchartedwatersListen to the latest newsAFRONOMICS on Africa's Pulse: A moderate recovery and the skills of the futuretag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/346307228Tue, 10 Oct 2017 21:09:57 -050020:49nofullJoin World Bank Chief Economist for Africa Albert Zeufack for a discussion with lead economists Punam Chuhan-Pole, David Evans, and Cesar Calderon on the most recent economic trends that are impacting growth and development on the continent. Together they review the latest findings of the region’s flagship report, Africa's Pulse. This issue includes a special focus on Africa’s skills agenda and takes an in-depth look at the progress made so far and what more can be done by countries and development organizations to ensure African citizens have the skills for the jobs of the future.Listen to the latest newsAFRONOMICS: Africa Leapfrogging through a Growth Mindsettag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/345567192Fri, 06 Oct 2017 01:33:23 -050014:56nofullIn this edition of Afronomics, World Bank Africa Region Chief Economist, Albert Zeufack, speaks with Dr. Zaki Khoury of Microsoft at the Investing in Africa Forum in Dakar, Senegal. Dr. Zaki Khoury leads Microsoft with International, Multi-lateral, and Bi-lateral Organizations, across Middle East and Africa.Listen to the latest newsFostering More Resilient Cities in Somaliatag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/340836996Wed, 06 Sep 2017 14:59:49 -050006:09nofullAcross Africa and around the world, the urban poor, especially those in informal settlements, are increasingly faced with risks to their lives, health and livelihoods. In Somalia’s urban centers, the situation is particularly challenging. Cities that are already fragile and struggling with resources are seeing an influx of migrants coming from rural areas as well as people fleeing conflict. In order to address these challenges, the World Bank is working with the Somali government and development partners through the Somalia Multi-Partner Fund (MPF), to try and strengthen the resilience of Somalia’s urban centers. This means supporting the inclusion of vulnerable populations through improvement of infrastructure, service delivery and livelihood opportunities in targeted cities.Listen to the latest newsAFRONOMICS: ITechpreneurship in Africatag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/330421696Thu, 29 Jun 2017 20:07:27 -050023:33nofullChief Economist of the World Bank's Africa Region, Albert Zeufack, chats with Silicon Valley’s Kamran Elahian about the power of disruptive technologies when it comes to development in Africa. For Elahian, disruptive technologies coupled with ramped up broadband and electricity access opens up the democratizing force of the internet to men and women equally, empowering them to come up with the solutions of the future.Listen to the latest newsBetween 2 Geeks: Episode 7 - The Future of Data? (Cape Town Edition)tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/323074307Wed, 17 May 2017 16:10:23 -050014:18nofullEarlier this year, hundreds of geeks gathered in South Africa for the first ever World Data Forum. Among them, was Tariq Khokhar. In a special edition marking the end of the first series of “Between 2 Geeks”, he reports on innovations in how data are being produced, with discussions featuring Amazon, Facebook and The World Pop Project. He also speaks with Anna Rosling Rönnlund of Gapminder, and explores new ideas for how data can be used to promote a “fact based view of the world”Listen to the latest newsBangladesh’s Farmers, Small Business Owners Prosper with Solar Powertag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/322726637Mon, 15 May 2017 14:22:15 -050003:40nofullSolar power is changing lives in Bangladesh and has helped the South Asian country leapfrog into an era of using renewable energy to light up homes – and quickly going a step further. Clusters of solar panels in remote islands like Monpura and villages such as Saidpur are helping small business owners and farmers access affordable and reliable electricity to improve productivity and climb the rungs of economic prosperity.Listen to the latest newsBetween 2 Geeks: Episode 6: Collecting Data With Surveys is Easy, Right?tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/322102843Thu, 11 May 2017 13:59:29 -050014:56nofullGlobally, 77 countries still don’t have the data they need to adequately track and measure poverty. These data come from household surveys, but how exactly are these surveys designed, tested and run? Presenters Raka Banerjee and Tariq Khokhar speak with Diane Steele - an expert in the World Bank’s Living Standards Measurement Study team, and discover that collecting data from surveys may be more complicated than you think.Listen to the latest newsPabsyLive: Real Queen of Katwe Strategizes to Empower Youthtag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/320944596Thu, 04 May 2017 14:23:03 -050004:24nofullPhiona Mutesi, the Ugandan chess champion who inspired the movie Queen of Katwe, shares with communications officer Pabsy Pabalan Mariano her strategies for advancing her own life through education, and empowering youth through her support of a foundation. Mutesi and her coach Robert Katende sat down with Pabsy during the World Bank Group-IMF Spring Meetings 2017.Listen to the latest newsBetween 2 Geeks: Episode 5: A Renewable Energy Tipping Point?tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/320495438Tue, 02 May 2017 13:31:33 -050015:09nofullHas renewable energy reached the stage where it’s cheaper than fossil fuels? Presenters Tariq Khokhar and Raka Banerjee talk to Mafalda Duarte, head of the Climate Investment Funds, about the data behind renewables, and if we’re reaching a ‘tipping point’ in them becoming the preferred energy source for countries around the world. To read more, visit: http://blogs.worldbank.org/opendata/between-2-geeks-episode-5-renewable-energy-tipping-pointListen to the latest newsBetween 2 Geeks: Episode 4: What Can You Measure with Cell Phone Metadata?tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/319398926Tue, 25 Apr 2017 13:28:00 -050014:49nofullWhat do our cell phones reveal about society’s poverty or prosperity? This week’s edition of 'Between 2 Geeks’ looks at the way that metadata from our phones paints a picture of our collective behavior. Presenters Tariq Khokhar and Andrew Whitby talk to Professor Joshua Blumenstock, from the University of California, on this innovation in data analysis and what it means for development.Listen to the latest newsAFRONOMICS on Africa’s Pulse: Focus on Closing the Infrastructure Gap to Increase Growthtag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/318353634Wed, 19 Apr 2017 13:56:25 -050023:58nofullWorld Bank Africa Region Chief Economist, Albert Zeufack and Africa’s Pulse Lead author, Punam Chuhan Pole discuss the most recent Africa’ Pulse report. In this issue the Pulse tackles Sub-Saharan Africa’s projected moderate growth of 2.6 percent, which should strengthen somewhat in 2018, helped by improvements in commodity prices, a pickup in global growth, and domestic conditions. However, there is a need to spur investment in infrastructure, energy production and roads, without losing the hard won battle against debt in poor countries. Albert and Punam discuss the ways that countries can increase investment to achieve their goals and reduce poverty.Listen to the latest newsBetween 2 Geeks: Episode 3: Getting an Education on Educationtag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/318274503Tue, 18 Apr 2017 12:44:25 -050014:48nofullTesting helps evaluate the performance and progress of pupils in the classroom. But what is the best way to judge the effectiveness of an educational system as a whole? In this week’s edition of ‘Between 2 Geeks, Presenters Tariq Khokhar and Raka Banerjee talk to Dr. Husein Abdul Hamid, a Senior World Bank Education Specialist, to understand the value of testing and how to measure what really works in the classroom.Listen to the latest newsBetween 2 Geeks: Episode 2: Climate Change, Anomalies, and the New Normaltag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/317186005Tue, 11 Apr 2017 13:51:49 -050014:50nofullWhat’s the connection between dice and climate change? Find out in this week’s edition of ‘Between 2 Geeks’ - the World Bank’s podcast that looks at the data behind international development. Presenters Tariq Khokhar and Andrew Whitby talk to Dr. Ana Bucher, a climate change specialist with the World Bank, to find out what the data are saying about our changing world, and what needs to be done to address it. Read more on The Data Blog: http://blogs.worldbank.org/opendata/between-2-geeks-episode-2-climate-change-anomalies-and-new-normalListen to the latest newsBetween 2 Geeks: Episode 1: The Ups and Downs of Demographytag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/316049463Tue, 04 Apr 2017 13:13:19 -050014:53nofullWhere in the world is the population growing, where is it shrinking, and why are there such variations? The first episode of Between 2 Geeks looks at the data behind demography. Presenters Tariq Khokhar and Raka Banerjee are joined by Dr. John May – a demographer and population policy expert with the Population Reference Bureau. They discuss the factors that shape population change, and what it means for the future of our world. Read more on The Data Blog: https://blogs.worldbank.org/opendata/between-2-geeks-ups-and-downs-demographyListen to the latest newsBetween 2 Geeks: A New Podcast About Data and Developmenttag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/315461637Fri, 31 Mar 2017 21:20:48 -050000:48nofullHear about the World Bank’s new podcast series ‘Between Two Geeks,’ which delves into the numerical side of life around the world. In the first episode, presenters Tariq Khokhar and Raka Banerjee look into the data behind demography with help from one of the world’s leading population experts. Future episodes will follow every Tuesday over the course of the next two months.Listen to the latest newsIn Nigeria, Changing Behavior Through Entertainment Televisiontag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/309178120Thu, 23 Feb 2017 15:24:48 -050007:15nofullCan a soap opera change lives? In Nigeria, the MTV drama, Shuga, is encouraging young people to get HIV-tested and reduce risk-taking, according to a new study by economists Abhijit Banerjee, Eliana La Ferrara and Victor Hugo Orozco-Olvera. In this podcast, Banerjee and Orozco explain why “edutainment” – the combination of entertainment and education - may be the best way to motivate people to change their behavior and to tackle development problems, such as HIV/AIDS.Listen to the latest newsSpotlight: Trade Portal to Help Nepalese Exporters Thrivetag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/303140871Tue, 17 Jan 2017 14:28:22 -050003:06nofullFashionable clothes. Fun felt toys. Tasty tea. Organic Ginger. Nepal has plenty of goods to export across the globe - and that will be easier with the launch of a new Trade Information Portal, financed under the Nepal-India Regional Trade and Transport Project. The portal provides pretty much all of the information traders need to import and export goods, including information on permits, laws and taxes. Listen to how two innovative entrepreneurs plan to make the portal work for them. And to learn more about Nepal transport and trade issues, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMEtNb8GqgsListen to the latest newsIDA 101: World Bank’s Fund for the Poorest Takes on Issues for the Global Goodtag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/296863245Thu, 08 Dec 2016 18:06:12 -050011:28nofullIDA, the World Bank’s fund for the poorest, is the largest source of concessional finance for the world’s poorest countries. As the fund prepares for its triennial replenishment, to be held Dec. 14-15, 2016, in Indonesia, we talk with IDA Director Lisa Finneran about the fund’s impact on ending poverty, boosting prosperity and responding to crisis. In the next IDA funding cycle (IDA18), a new financing model is expected to bring greater investment on issues including fragility and conflict, climate change, gender, governance, and jobs. For more, visit http://ida.worldbank.org/ and follow us on Twitter: @WBG_Fin4Dev. Join the conversation with #IDAWorks.Listen to the latest newsHigher Revenue, Easier Filing: How Armenia Improved the Way its Citizens Pay Taxestag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/296324416Mon, 05 Dec 2016 15:11:35 -050005:37nofullArmenia was faced with a slowing economy, sinking remittances, and inefficient tax administration. At the same time, ordinary taxpayers had to navigate arduous processes when paying taxes. The Armenian government was eager to reform its tax administration, and with the World Bank’s support, was successful in creating a more service-oriented and efficient tax administration. Reforms helped the country build a fairer tax code and collect more public revenues. Photo courtesy of: Dmitry Karyshev https://www.flickr.com/photos/bims2008/28079708852/in/photolist-JMiRaf-6cG1bP-644bjw-re7yDN-7ZZxwM-amz1Kp-bmqbNw-69djyF-4i5qt7-4i1miD-8Gae4d-c789GS-8F94mE-8ETTTo-8EQJZ8-8EQz1x-813GaC-ah24fX-8EQN32-LJVBLu-69djdV-69dkbB-6zqdyy-6ynQhz-oT2JdE-6Lt215-wCZ89p-45pomB-anbfHg-wHwXeq-afYvkj-6LoTe8-JLArLH-5nJPi8-4i1kZZ-4i5qX9-JZzaDr-JffM6L-6hcmHM-ov9Ls-5nA9dK-Fhzd4Z-J17Hwn-HncKud-4i1mpn-s32atL-644819-J15Wqo-6fPbVG-4i1muFListen to the latest newsNews Highlights: The Central African Republic: Finding Peace and Prosperity after Conflicttag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/295352400Tue, 29 Nov 2016 19:38:42 -050004:17nofullIn the Central African Republic, recovery and reconstruction after its most recent civil war will take time, political will, courage and perseverance. But there is hope. After three years of unprecedented violence and civil strife, the recent presidential elections have opened the door for a fragile peace brokering process. Now, for the first time; citizens have a democratically elected president and parliament. A 12,000 armed strong peacekeeping mission is deployed on the entire territory that is able to contain the armed groups scattered throughout the territory. Professor Faustin Archange Touadéra, President of the Central African Republic, says, "Accordingly, we plan to launch immediately a program for disarmament, demobilization, rehabilitation and repatriation of former combatants." Despite its entrenched poverty, and frail economic and social climate, the CAR’s public finances are no longer in acute crisis. Regionally, there are signs of a rebound in confidence, with the resumption of international flights to Kenya and the reopening of the road corridor to Douala . All these signs point to a “Turn-Around” situation. And with this headwind, the people of the CAR, their leaders and development partners can make real progress toward the kind of positive change that can make a real difference in the lives of citizens that have been hardest hit by violence and civil strife. Consider this: about 2.3 million people, around half of the country’s population, are still in urgent need of humanitarian assistance But it will take commitment from the international community: commitment that goes beyond stabilization efforts and humanitarian aid. Professor Faustin Archange Touadéra, President of the Central African Republic, says, "Fortunately, the international community, at the peak of this crisis, stood at our side; and now, as we endeavor to emerge from that situation, the international community continues to lend us support. We wish to show our commitment. We wish to show that we are determined to leave that situation behind, with the help of resolute reforms." The country is rich in natural resources. With plenty of water and arable land, these citizens can rebuild their lives and become food secure. By working to diversify the extractives industry and developing its agriculture sector, the CAR could drive its economy. The World Bank is working with partners to ensure that this fragile and hard won stability is lasting. Accessing the turn-around facility under IDA17 will allow for the allocation of resources to support the CAR and her new leaders. So that work can begin to provide employment to citizens. So that emergency public services can be restored, hospitals and schools can be rebuilt. So that essential electricity and water services can reach citizens of the communities most affected by the crisis. So that the 380,000 internally displaced people, now hosted in makeshift camps, can safely return home. So that former combatants are reinserted into society and provided with job opportunities as part of the reconciliation effort. It’ll take continued effort to ensure peace and stability, but it is worth it. Faustin Archange Touadéra, President of the Central African Republic, says, "Currently, our main support is the will of the people of the country to turn the back on the aforesaid situation. They made that plain in the elections. They want to get out of that situation, with its endless conflicts."Listen to the latest newsActualités : Le combat de la Centrafrique pour la paix et la prospéritétag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/295350217Tue, 29 Nov 2016 19:25:13 -050003:47nofullFaustin Touadéra, le président de la République centrafricaine, s’est donné pour priorité de remettre les agriculteurs au travail, de consolider la paix, de désarmer et réinsérer les anciens combattants dans la société alors que le pays se relève à peine de trois années de conflits. La communauté internationale est aux côtés des Centrafricains et soutient les efforts du nouveau gouvernement.Listen to the latest newsSpotlight: Kenya Cooks with Improved Stovestag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/293343561Wed, 16 Nov 2016 18:22:35 -050003:35nofullGone are the days when women used dangerous and smoky stoves. Now, they’re entrepreneurs and promoters of improved stoves that save money. This is one of several case studies in the upcoming State of Energy Access Report, supported by the World Bank’s Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP). The simple, new stoves use less firewood and help women in rural Kenya cook meals faster, save money, and reduce the impact on their health. To learn more about Kenya's energy projects, visit: http://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/energy https://www.esmap.org/Listen to the latest newsPabsyLive: Free Digital Identification Brings Services to the Poortag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/288881126Tue, 18 Oct 2016 20:51:15 -050003:08nofullA free digital ID system in India is bringing financial services such as bank accounts and insurance to millions of people for the first time. World Bank's Pabsy Pabalan speaks with Dr. Ajay Bhushan Pandey to learn how a new, verifiable ID can improve lives. *** Watch the full event: Identification for Development: Harnessing the Power of Digital Solutions http://live.worldbank.org/identification-for-dev Event details: One-and-a-half billion people around the world can’t prove who they are. Without an ID, they face barriers doing everyday tasks such as opening a bank account, accessing social benefits, and getting health insurance. New technologies can help countries build robust and inclusive identification systems. Join the World Bank’s Chief Economist and panelists from governments and the private sector as they discuss how countries have developed identification systems to enable a range of key development outcomes. #ID4D *** ABOUT PABSYLIVE A young professional and a native of the Philippines, Pabsy has become our star reporter and a trusted voice with young people. Her interviews capture a wide range of World Bank Group issues: agriculture and sustainability, food and water security, childhood development, forced marriage, climate change, microfinance, transportation, labor issues and regulations, and digital dividends. To listen to other episodes, visit: https://soundcloud.com/worldbank/sets/pabsyliveListen to the latest newsBookmark: Global Trade as Child’s Playtag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/285858696Mon, 03 Oct 2016 16:07:11 -050007:59nofullAs Treasurer of the World Bank, Gene Rotberg was at the front line in contending with complicated global economic issues. Despite retiring from the post almost three decades ago, he maintained an interest and passion in explaining the matters that occupied him during his years at the Bank. In particular he sought to make them comprehensible to those not normally exposed to international economics – children. As a result, Gene Rotberg along with his wife Iris, who is a Professor of Education, wrote a book ‘‘How Emma Stopped the World’ playfully explaining global trade. It was inspired by a question from one of their grandchildren, and it uses their professional backgrounds to enlighten and entertain. Bookmark explores the creative literary works of World Bank Group staff members. To listen to others episodes of the series, visit: soundcloud.com/worldbank/sets/bookmarkListen to the latest newsBookmark: Fictional Mystery, Real Life Tragedy in Somaliatag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/284763494Mon, 26 Sep 2016 18:08:34 -050007:47nofullVeronica Li’s experience as a World Bank loans officer in Somalia over twenty years, gave birth to her literary alter-ego – a highly trained intelligence officer who uses her mind and her physical prowess to uncover intrigue, murder, and murky goings-on. Her novel, ‘Nightfall in Mogadishu’, takes place in Somalia in 1990 as the country is on the very brink of political collapse and violence. It is high action murder/mystery set against the backdrop of the real-life tragedy of Somalia that has dragged on for decades and resulted in wide scale death and destruction. In the book, Veronica Li recalls some of her own experiences witnessing events in Somalia, while also summoning up her skills as a writer, to create a page-turning novel. Bookmark explores the creative literary works of World Bank Group staff members. To listen to others episodes of the series, visit: soundcloud.com/worldbank/sets/bookmarkListen to the latest newsBookmark: A Dickensian Literary Curiosity from a Former Head Researchertag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/283661804Mon, 19 Sep 2016 19:22:13 -050007:22nofullLyn Squire was once head of research for the World Bank Group. But the qualities that he possessed in his career have not left him, even if he has retired from the institution. In his first novel, ‘The Last Chapter, he combines his inquisitive nature, research skills and love of the English novelist Charles Dickens, to write a murder mystery novel. Lyn Squire’s book looks at the fate of Dickens and his final unfinished novel ‘The Mystery of Edwin Drood’. Speaking on ‘Bookmark’, Lyn Squire relates how he used both fictional and real characters from Charles Dickens’ lifetime, to answer mysteries – literary and otherwise - stretching back almost one hundred and fifty years. Bookmark explores the creative literary works of World Bank Group staff members. To listen to others episodes of the series, visit: https://soundcloud.com/worldbank/sets/bookmarkListen to the latest newsBookmark: An Unburdening and Insider’s View of Modern Irantag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/282739034Tue, 13 Sep 2016 17:03:33 -050007:30nofullNazila Fathi was a little girl when the Iranian Revolution took place, and she grew up in the shadows of the upheaval and changes wrought by the new regime. She went on to become an accomplished journalist in her home country writing for a number foreign publications – most notably ‘The New York Times’. In what she describes as her historical memoir, ‘The Lonely War: One Woman's Account of the Struggle for Modern Iran’, Nazila Fathi relates her personal experiences and thoughts of reporting and witnessing events over the course of more than two decades. Now living in the United States and working for the World Bank Group, she reflects in ‘Bookmark’ upon her experiences as an Iranian, a woman and a journalist. She talks of how events in her home country both touched her personally, and also affected people throughout Iranian society. Bookmark explores the creative literary works of World Bank Group staff members. To listen to others episodes of the series, visit: http://www.soundcloud.com/worldbank/sets/bookmarkListen to the latest newsBookmark: Food as Medicine to Heal Cambodia’s Woundstag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/281590687Tue, 06 Sep 2016 04:53:25 -050007:13nofullNarin Seng Jamison was born and brought up in Cambodia, but despite living for most of her life outside her home country, it remains very much with her. Her book ‘Cooking the Cambodian Way: The Intertwined Story of Cooking and Culture in Cambodia’ is not just about recipes it also concerns recovering and preserving a culinary culture as a response to the horrors of the Khmer Rouge. Narin – who worked for decades for the World Bank sees food as sustenance not just for the body but also for the soul of her country. Bookmark explores the creative literary works of World Bank Group staff members. To listen to others episodes of the series, visit: soundcloud.com/worldbank/sets/bookmarkListen to the latest newsBookmark: Adventures in Dystopia - A Novel View of the Modern World?tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/280469168Mon, 29 Aug 2016 19:04:42 -050007:39nofullDaniel Sellen has worked in almost thirty countries around the globe for the World Bank. He’s now dedicated to ensuring the well-being of the employees as chair of the Staff Association. His experience in DC and far beyond is the basis for his novel spread across differing continents and countries that tells a story of six intertwined individuals. Daniel brings his insights to present the differing perspectives of those from developing countries and those in one way or another who are attempting to help. Bookmark explores the creative literary works of World Bank Group staff members. To listen to others episodes of the series, visit: soundcloud.com/worldbank/sets/bookmarkListen to the latest newsBookmark: A Cheetah's Tale for Children - An Ecologist's Story from the Plains of Africatag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/279415235Mon, 22 Aug 2016 19:32:10 -050007:07nofullAgi Kiss is an ecologist with a passion for Africa. Having spent a number of years working for the World Bank in Kenya she was inspired by what she saw of the wildlife to write a story for children. Her book tells the story of a cheetah and her brood of cubs in particular the youngest and most mischievous. The book demonstrates Agi Kiss’s love for the animals and nature of East Africa while also highlighting the responsibility of humans to respect and understand the environment. Bookmark explores the creative literary works of World Bank Group staff members. To listen to others episodes of the series, visit: https://soundcloud.com/worldbank/sets/bookmarkListen to the latest newsA Greener World Through Cinema: Connect4Climate at World Premieres Film Festivaltag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/278362103Mon, 15 Aug 2016 15:50:55 -050002:36nofullLights, camera, #climateaction! Connect4Climate partnered with the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) to present the Cine Verde section at the World Premieres Film Festival in Manila. It showcased film producers that use the power of film to encourage more debate on environmental and climate issues. #PabsyLive takes us behind-the-scenes and meets with film executives on sustainable filmmaking and climate-related themes. The global video competition, #Film4Climate, was also announced during the festival. For more information visit: https://www.connect4climate.org/ Enter the #Film4Climate Competition: https://www.film4climate.netListen to the latest newsPabsyLive: Procuring the Futuretag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/275610301Wed, 27 Jul 2016 14:28:12 -050003:30nofullThe World Bank is adopting a new policy governing procurement in projects financed by the Bank. Join communications officer Pabsy Pabalan and Robert Hunja, World Bank Director for Solutions and Innovations in Procurement, as they delve into the new system. *** ABOUT PABSYLIVE A young professional and a native of the Philippines, Pabsy has become our star reporter and a trusted voice with young people. Her interviews capture a wide range of World Bank Group issues: agriculture and sustainability, food and water security, childhood development, forced marriage, climate change, microfinance, transportation, labor issues and regulations, and digital dividends. Read more: blogs.worldbank.org/voices/pabsyliv…prings-meetingsListen to the latest newsSpotlight: Improving Sustainable Forest Management in Brazil and Mozambiquetag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/274385491Tue, 19 Jul 2016 14:24:03 -050003:39nofullBrazil and Mozambique are both countries under the Forest Investment Program. They share similar types of forests – the Miombo in Mozambique and the Cerrado in Brazil – and a common challenge: how to ensure forests contribute to rural livelihoods. Specialists from both countries met to exchange knowledge, ideas and best practices in sustainable forest management and to learn how to empower forest communities in the Cerrado and Miombo forests.Listen to the latest newsPabsyLive Star Wars Edition: Lessons From A Galaxy Far, Far Awaytag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/273311476Tue, 12 Jul 2016 13:27:29 -050004:10nofullAuthor Cass Sunstein has just released a book titled "The World According to Star Wars", a look at what lessons Star Wars can teach us. Join Pabsy Pabalan as she speaks to the author to learn how Star Wars applies to the conflicts and challenges of today's world. #starwars #PabsyLive *** ABOUT PABSYLIVE A young professional and a native of the Philippines, Pabsy has become our star reporter and a trusted voice with young people. Her interviews capture a wide range of World Bank Group issues: agriculture and sustainability, food and water security, childhood development, forced marriage, climate change, microfinance, transportation, labor issues and regulations, and digital dividends. Read more: http://blogs.worldbank.org/voices/pabsylive-springs-meetingsListen to the latest newsIdeas Unbound: WDR 2012 and the World Bank Group Gender Strategytag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/271235708Tue, 28 Jun 2016 14:23:45 -050013:11nofullNearly five years after its publication, Ana Revenga and Sudhir Shetty, the Co-Directors of the World Development Report 2012 on “Gender Equality and Development,” look back on the report’s impact, and Caren Grown, Senior Director of the gender group at the World Bank Group, discusses how the organization’s new Gender Strategy was built on the lessons from the WDR 2012. To download the report, visit: https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/4391 To learn more on the World Bank Group’s work on Gender, visit: http://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/genderListen to the latest newsHow to Support Displaced Populations and Refugees in Urban Areastag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/270017978Mon, 20 Jun 2016 14:26:23 -050003:30nofullHalf of internally displaced people and 60% of refugees globally now live in towns and cities, where many of them live in rapidly growing informal settlements, lacking access to basic services, and often in dangerous areas. Those populations may be displaced for years or decades. What can we do to help refugees and displaced persons living in towns and cities that are themselves struggling for financial resources, over the long term? World Bank Senior Director Ede Ijjasz-Vásquez talks about how we need to think in new ways about sustainable solutions. Listen to the latest newsSpotlight: Sourcebook Shows How School Feeding Can Work for Communitiestag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/267972497Tue, 07 Jun 2016 14:24:57 -050005:57nofullChildhood hunger is an issue that many countries are already addressing, often with school feeding programs aimed at getting kids to school, and keeping them there. Data show that successful school feeding programs can increase enrollment and reduce absenteeism. Once children are in the classroom, these programs can contribute to their learning while improving their health, and their ability to lead happy, healthy and successful lives. Most countries already recognize the need for strong, sustainable programs to supplement their existing social safety nets. The Global School Feeding Sourcebook: Lessons from 14 countries, includes case studies compiled in partnership with government teams from 14 countries – Botswana, Brazil, Cape Verde, Chile, Cote D’Ivoire, Ecuador, Ghana, India, Kenya, Mali, Mexico, Namibia, Nigeria and South Africa. Nine of the fourteen sample countries in the report are in Sub-Saharan Africa.Listen to the latest newsForced Displacement: A Global Development Challengetag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/265708921Tue, 24 May 2016 17:22:55 -050005:18nofullThe number of displaced worldwide, has reached a historic high. To cope with this situation, the World Bank Group with the United Nations and other partners held a discussion during the 2016 IMF/World Bank Group Spring Meetings to explore what can be done to help the refugees and the countries that are sheltering them. To understand the tribulation of a displaced family, watch “Struggles of a Syrian Refugee Family in Lebanon" on the World Bank Group's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3nhFpkaTmMListen to the latest newsJournalists Building a Bridge Over Troubled Waterstag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/264899061Thu, 19 May 2016 14:24:34 -050007:36nofull140 journalists from over 40 African countries attended a workshop in Elmina, Ghana, designed to give them a better understanding of the consequences of climate change on fisheries, the effects of illegal fishing and overfishing, and their impact on the fishers' communities around Africa. "Journalists Building a Bridge Over Troubled Waters!" opens a window on fisheries issues and the engagement of these African journalists to rescue the fisheries of the continent.Listen to the latest newsIdeas Unbound: Shock Waves (Part 2)tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/262300895Tue, 03 May 2016 15:17:17 -050012:26nofullThis episode concludes a discussion with Stephane Hallegatte and Mook Bangalore, two of the authors of the report “Shock Waves: Managing the Impacts of Climate Change on Poverty.” The authors discuss how simultaneously working to mitigate climate change and reduce extreme poverty can produce a lot of “win-win” outcomes. Listen to Part 1: https://soundcloud.com/worldbank/ideas-unbound-shock-waves-part-1 To download the report, visit: https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/22787Listen to the latest newsPabsyLive: Why Forests Mattertag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/261339785Thu, 28 Apr 2016 15:18:15 -050002:37nofullDr. Myrna Cunningham, from the indigenous Miskito community in Nicaragua, knows a lot about indigenous peoples, forests, and climate change. Join Pabsy Pabalan as she uncovers some fascinating lore about the importance of forests. Watch Myrna and other experts in a spirited discussion about exciting initiatives benefiting forests and the people who depend on them: http://live.worldbank.org/think-forests-why-investing-in-forests-is-the-next-big-thing *** ABOUT PABSYLIVE A young professional and a native of the Philippines, Pabsy has become our star reporter and a trusted voice with young people. Her interviews capture a wide range of World Bank Group issues: agriculture and sustainability, food and water security, childhood development, forced marriage, climate change, microfinance, transportation, labor issues and regulations, and digital dividends. To read more: http://blogs.worldbank.org/voices/pabsylive-springs-meetingsListen to the latest newsPabsyLive: Innovative Ways to Stop Gender-Based Violencetag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/260837972Mon, 25 Apr 2016 18:28:57 -050002:45nofullThis year the World Bank is awarding nine programs from around the world that are working to end gender-based violence, especially against the poor and vulnerable. Join Pabsy Pabalan as she finds out more about one program in Thailand that is helping sex workers stay safe. To learn more, visit: http://worldbank.org/gender To know more about Service Workers IN Group Foundation (SWING), visit: http://www.nswp.org/featured/service-workers-group-swing *** ABOUT PABSYLIVE A young professional and a native of the Philippines, Pabsy has become the World Bank Group's star reporter and a trusted voice with young people. Her interviews capture a wide range of World Bank Group issues: agriculture and sustainability, food and water security, childhood development, forced marriage, climate change, microfinance, transportation, labor issues and regulations, and digital dividends. To read more, visit: http://blogs.worldbank.org/voices/pabsylive-springs-meetingsListen to the latest newsGirl’s Powertag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/260185419Thu, 21 Apr 2016 14:05:22 -050005:32nofullDuring the 2016 IMF/World Bank Group’s Spring Meetings in Washington, the World Bank Group has announced that it will invest $2.5 billion in education projects targeting adolescent girls. It will help millions of girls particularly in Africa and Asia, enroll and stay in school. Michelle Obama, First Lady of the United States of America, is ecstatic about it, in this edition of Girl’s Power. To watch a replay of the event, go to: http://live.worldbank.org/let-girls-learn-featuring-michelle-obamaListen to the latest newsIdeas Unbound: Shock Waves (Part 1)tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/259838760Tue, 19 Apr 2016 13:34:50 -050012:10nofullIn this episode – the first of two parts – Dan and Andres talk with Stephane Hallegatte and Mook Bangalore, two of the authors of the report “Shock Waves: Managing the Impacts of Climate Change on Poverty.” The report finds that, without action, the effects of climate change could push more than 100 million people into poverty by 2030. But, as the authors explain, there’s good news, too. Listen to Part 2: https://soundcloud.com/worldbank/ideas-unbound-shock-waves-part-2 To download the report, visit: https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/22787Listen to the latest newsIdeas Unbound: Water, Sanitation, Hygiene, and Nutrition in Bangladeshtag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/257798055Thu, 07 Apr 2016 15:08:24 -050006:35nofullIn this episode, Jewel and Andres talk to Iffat Mahmud, one of the authors of the book Water, Sanitation, Hygiene, and Nutrition in Bangladesh: Can Building Toilets Affect Children’s Growth? This book presents the evidence on the relationship between water and sanitation and nutrition. To learn more, visit: https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/22800Listen to the latest newsSpotlight: Baby Gets a Nice Welcome in Kenyatag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/252169763Wed, 16 Mar 2016 15:26:16 -050003:41nofullIn rural Kenya, giving birth at home can be risky, and thousands of mothers die each year from complications. Now, more women are delivering at health facilities, due to innovative programs that reward both moms and healthcare workers. The result is better care for mothers and their babies, both before and after they’re born.Listen to the latest newsBringing Lake Victoria Back to Lifetag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/249477696Mon, 29 Feb 2016 15:03:53 -050007:37nofullStephen Ling, natural resources specialist with the World Bank takes us on a journey to save the largest freshwater lake in Africa - Lake Victoria. It involves governments of five countries but at the heart of the effort, is the involvement of the community that depends on the lake for their very existence.Listen to the latest newsClean Electricity for Africatag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/248860815Thu, 25 Feb 2016 16:36:01 -050004:08nofullA lack of electricity is keeping millions of African communities and businesses in the dark. The Climate Investment Funds are working with many countries across the continent to help them spark an energy revolution and transform their economies. To learn more please follow @CIF_Action or go to http://www.climateinvestmentfunds.orgListen to the latest newsSpotlight: Collaboration Brings ‘Amazing’ Achievements in West African Agriculturetag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/246575159Thu, 11 Feb 2016 19:44:46 -050006:26nofullWest Africa’s agricultural sector is collaborating like never before on innovative ways to feed the region—and the results are ‘amazing’. The World Bank’s Abdoulaye Toure says that West Africa’s food system can reach its full potential when countries work together. To view videos on WAAPP, click on the following links: https://youtu.be/GJn8BS-QFNs https://youtu.be/J2n82lN_x8k https://youtu.be/U6Thzt6w3JAListen to the latest newsCreating a Solar Superpowertag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/245406958Thu, 04 Feb 2016 14:06:50 -050004:14nofullConcentrated Solar Power, or CSP, holds vast potential due to its ability to provide reliable, large-scale power even when the sun is not shining. Morocco has just launched the first phase of the largest concentrated solar power (CSP) plant in the world, which includes funding from the Climate Investment Funds and the World Bank. When fully operational, the plant will produce enough energy for more than one million Moroccans. To learn more please follow @CIF_Action or go to http://www.climateinvestmentfunds.orgListen to the latest newsPabsyLive: If You Can Read This Headline, You Have Access Others May Lacktag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/244886052Mon, 01 Feb 2016 14:23:49 -050002:30nofullA new report shows that the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots’ extend to the digital world. World Bank Communications Officer Pabsy Pabalan asks report author Indhira Santos to explain how to go from digital divides to digital dividends. Learn more about how digital technologies are affecting development in the 2016 World Development Report: Digital Dividends: http://www.worldbank.org/en/publication/wdr2016Listen to the latest newsPabsyLive: Transporting a World Out of Povertytag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/242901446Wed, 20 Jan 2016 15:15:24 -050003:52nofullHow to get to our goal of ending extreme poverty by 2030? How about we ride a bike – or take the bus? Transportation expert José Viegas explains to World Bank communications officer Pabsy Pabalan why sustainable transportation is an important part of the global effort to end poverty and create opportunity. To learn more, visit: http://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/transport Event: Transforming Transportation 2016 http://www.transformingtransportation.org/Listen to the latest newsIdeas Unbound: Women, Business and the Lawtag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/241672499Tue, 12 Jan 2016 22:32:43 -050005:05nofullBy measuring where the law treats men and women differently, Women, Business and the Law 2016 shines a light on how women's incentives or capacity to work are affected by the legal environment and provides a basis for improving regulation. The report's quantitative indicators are intended to inform research and policy discussions on how to improve women's economic opportunities and outcomes.Listen to the latest newsWhen the Emperor Reaches Out to the Citizen: Pakistan Launches Anti-Corruption Campaigntag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/241597635Tue, 12 Jan 2016 14:07:54 -050005:09nofullAs in many countries, obtaining a passport in Pakistan can be arduous. Lines are long, and unscrupulous people often ask for bribes to speed up applications. In an effort to solve this problem, Pakistan’s government now sends this simple text message to each applicant: “Did you face any problem or did someone ask you for money?” And the responses are flowing in. Learn more about how digital technologies are affecting development in the 2016 World Development Report: Digital Dividends: http://www.worldbank.org/en/publication/wdr2016 Learn more about the World Bank’s governance work at: worldbank.org/governance Follow us on Twitter: @wbg_gov #WDR2016 #goodgov Photo Credit: Adeel Anwer, Flickr creative commons license: https://flic.kr/p/c9MfJLListen to the latest newsSpotlight: How Getting Paid on Time Leads to Better Healthcare Deliverytag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/239421041Mon, 28 Dec 2015 15:49:33 -050004:44nofullIt’s fascinating how one small change in payments processing can create a ripple effect that changes worlds. In Bihar, India, women are now receiving timely incentive payments, which means better healthcare for their babies and means new access to financial services. Listen to this positive chain reaction and if you like what we’re doing, like us on Facebook.Listen to the latest newsNews Highlights: Central African Republic Voters Brave Violence to Leave their Marktag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/237967514Thu, 17 Dec 2015 13:17:10 -050004:37nofullDespite the threat of violence, outbreaks of gunfire and delays at polling stations, citizens of the Central African Republic turned out for the December 13th referendum on a new constitution. The referendum on the constitution is part of the electoral process that could help stabilize the Central African Republic amid sectarian conflicts that plagued the country for decades. There are still serious problems in parts of the country, where warring factions are intent on retaining control and declaring self-rule. National elections are planned for December 27, however violence has displaced most of the population. United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Central Africa Republic, Abdoulaye Bathily says the renewed electoral process is critical to restoring peace in the country. “The Bangui forum held last May clearly indicated the ways out of the crisis. This country doesn’t lack in human or natural resources. There’s just a need for leadership and accountability on the political level. To me, this is fundamental, and it is essential that these elections take place in the established timeframe, which means before the end of the year. We have almost 11 million voters registered, which is practically the same level as before the crisis. Previous elections did not have as many registered voters. This means that the population has enthusiastically welcomed these elections.” Despite its significant mineral deposits and other resources, the Central African Republic is among the ten poorest countries in the world, and has the lowest level of human development, ranking 187th out of 187 countries. Listen to the latest newsGoing Universal: How 24 Developing Countries Are Implementing Universal Health Coverage Reformstag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/236649554Tue, 08 Dec 2015 17:16:19 -050008:24nofullDan: Hey, Paschal. Take a moment to think about your health. Breathe in; breathe out. How do you feel today? Good? Paschal: Pretty Good. Dan: Great. We all know that good health is an important part of day-to-day life. If you are not feeling well, you are not going to be as productive as you typically would be. And when we scale that same concept out to an entire country, it still applies. The healthier a population is, the more productive it is likely to be. Paschal: But we’ll all face illness at some point. So, what do you do if you are poor and living in a country in which health services are expensive or are hard to access? Seeking health treatment might be incredibly difficult. Dan: It’s a complex challenge, one facing many countries: How to ensure that all people have access to the health care they need without suffering financial hardship? In this episode, we’re looking at how developing countries around the world are working toward meeting the goal of universal health coverage. Paschal: Universal health coverage—making quality, affordable health care available to everyone—is seen by many as one element of building healthier, more-equitable, and inclusive societies. It is even a target that was recently adopted as part of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals. So, here we are—the moment is now—everyone can start working toward this goal! Right? Dan: Actually, you might be surprised—and happily so—to learn that many developing countries have already taken up the challenge of providing universal health coverage. I wanted to find out more about this, and why it’s important that such efforts focus specifically on the poor, so I reached out to Daniel Cotlear. Daniel is the lead author of the new report titled Going Universal: How 24 Developing Countries Are Implementing Universal Health Coverage Reforms from the Bottom Up. Daniel Cotlear: “There’s now plenty of evidence showing that unless a very special effort is made to protect the poor, then health programs tend to be very pro-rich. The better off populations tend to have better contacts, better access because of where geographically they are in relation to the hospitals and clinics." Paschal: Starting with a focus on the poor sounds like an appropriate, but daunting challenge. How will countries achieve it? Dan: Well, the authors were careful not to offer prescriptions or recipes for implementing universal health coverage – this report is no roadmap. But they did note the different kinds of approaches countries were taking. Daniel Cotlear: “Some countries use what we call a “supply-side approach.” One where programs are developed that are trying to take more doctors, more health teams, better equipment into areas where the supply did not exist before. Others take what we call a “demand-side approach,” which is some way of making care more affordable" Paschal: It sounds as though a big part of the transition to universal health coverage is figuring out what approach works best for a given economy. Dan: Exactly. A lot of factors have to be taken into account when building a system for universal health coverage. Along the way each country needs to address its own unique circumstances and challenges. Daniel explained this as well. Daniel Cotlear: “So, countries are different in many dimensions. Two that are particularly relevant have to do with where they are in terms of development. Some of the countries that we studied across the 24 have relatively low income per capita. These countries also tend to have a larger proportion of the population in poverty and a very large proportion of the population in the informal sector. India is an example of that." The authors hope that the people working to implement universal health coverage can use this research to make better decisions.Listen to the latest newsL’agriculture climato-intelligente : une aubaine pour les fermiers sénégalaistag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/235965541Thu, 03 Dec 2015 22:42:35 -050005:36nofullAu Sénégal, les petits producteurs récoltent les bénéfices de pratiques agricoles climato-intelligentes. Grâce aux semences certifiées et aux nouvelles technologies, ils produisent davantage de vivres pour leurs familles, font mieux face aux effets du changement climatique et réduisent leur impact sur l’environnement. #AfricaFeedsAfricaListen to the latest newsSpotlight: Senegal's Farmers Reap Rewards of Climate-Smart Agriculturetag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/235933890Thu, 03 Dec 2015 19:09:23 -050005:59nofullNarrator: There’s a line out the door at the Sope Nabi Bakery in Thies, Senegal. The bread that’s sold here is delicious, but it’s special for another reason. It’s made of a composite flour that uses local climate-smart crop varieties. The World Bank-funded West Africa Agriculture Productivity Program or WAAPP is providing more bakers with this flour as it builds a climate-smart food system. Aifa Ndoye: “We are developing the value chain around the composite flour. We are doing it for millet and maize with an incorporation rate of 15% for bread and 50% for cake and this can help farmers get income with dry cereal. This project will also help to reduce the import of wheat because all the bread before was made by wheat 100%. Narrator: That’s Aifa Ndoye, Senior Agricultural Economist at the World Bank. She co-leads the WAAPP program in Senegal. The program develops climate-smart crop varieties—like the millet and maize that’s being used in the bread. WAAPP has delivered 160 climate-smart crop varieties, technologies and training to 5.7 million farmers across West Africa. This has been important in Senegal. Aifa: Last year…the rainy season was very delayed. Instead of starting in mid-June, it started in August. In Senegal like in other Sub Saharan African countries, the rainy season is becoming very short. Narrator: Erratic rainfall has slashed harvests and caused hunger for many farmers. WAAPP’s climate-smart agriculture interventions are helping to turn things around. WAAPP varieties developed in Senegal are yielding bigger harvests. Aifa: “We have generated 7 new varieties characterized by their high productivity, moving from 1 ton per hectare to 2 to 3 tons per hectare for dry cereal like millet, sorghum and maize. In total we’ll have 14 new varieties, drought resistant, with high yield and early maturing varieties because sorghum we move from 120 days to about 100 days and cowpea, we are having varieties that move from 3 months to like 1.5 months. So in terms of reducing the production cycle it fits the rainy season. And these varieties, like the sorghum varieties, are very drought resistant because they can stay 2-3 weeks without having rain.” Narrator: WAAPP also helps farmers get access to climate-smart technologies. Aifa: In terms of planting we are using SRI, the intensive rice production system, a system that can help farmers save more seed. Instead of using 60 kg per hectare they are using 20 kg of seed per hectare. It is a way to have high outcome over the limited cropped area. In addition to these varieties, we are supporting a project on sustainable land management that enable farmers to use agroforestry to regreen their field and to use organic material in order to limit the use of mineral fertilizer in the plot without dampening the level of yield. So WAAPP is transferring a package of technology that can reduce in some way the greenhouse gas emissions. Listen to the latest newsAfrica’s Demographic Transition: Dividend or Disaster?tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/233529238Thu, 03 Dec 2015 18:47:33 -050005:10nofullSub-Saharan Africa has some of the world’s highest fertility rates, a young population, and a significant number of dependent youths. This demographic composition could be leveraged for greater prosperity, or lead to challenges that increase poverty. This episode looks at what policy makers could do to make the most of the region’s population trends.Listen to the latest newsActualités : Makhtar Diop à propos du nouveau Business plan pour le climat en Afriquetag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/234526407Tue, 24 Nov 2015 18:15:30 -050002:20nofullFace à un changement et une variabilité climatiques entravant le développement de l’Afrique subsaharienne, un nouveau plan de la Banque mondiale présente les actions nécessaires à mener pour améliorer la résilience face au climat et promouvoir un développement à faibles émissions de carbone afin de préserver la croissance future et maintenir les objectifs de réduction de la pauvreté. Considérant que le changement climatique est la cause de la plupart des chocs maintenant ou plongeant les foyers africains dans la pauvreté, Accélérer un développement résilient au changement climatique et à faibles émissions de carbone : le Business plan pour le climat en Afrique vise à la fois à sensibiliser et à accélérer la mobilisation des ressources en faveur des initiatives prioritaires en matière de résilience au climat et de faibles émissions dans la région. Listen to the latest newsNews Highlights: Makhtar Diop on the new Africa Climate Business Plantag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/234526418Tue, 24 Nov 2015 18:15:22 -050002:32nofullThe World Bank Group today unveiled a new plan that calls for $16 billion in funding to help African people and countries adapt to climate change and build up the continent’s resilience to climate shocks. Titled Accelerating Climate-Resilient and Low-Carbon Development, the Africa Climate Business Plan will be presented at COP21, the global climate talks in Paris, on November 30. It lays out measures to boost the resilience of the continent’s assets – its people, land, water, and cities - as well as other moves including boosting renewable energy and strengthening early warning systems. Listen to the latest news#Music4Dev Catches Dengue Fevertag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/233628405Wed, 18 Nov 2015 16:07:43 -050007:39nofullThe Los Angeles-based band shares their twist on Cambodian ‘60s rock, a musical style that was nearly wiped out during the Khmer Rouge era, and talks about Cambodian Living Arts, a non-profit that pairs traditional artists with young people as a means of cultural preservation. To watch the musical performance, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhEWRSgS1FQListen to the latest newsMy Favorite Number: 77 Reasons We Need Poverty Datatag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/232431202Tue, 10 Nov 2015 14:34:52 -050005:03nofullFor an engaging pair of digit-loving World Bank economists, Nobuo Yoshida and Umar Serajuddin, the number 77 brings up mixed emotions. That’s how many countries lack data on those living in poverty. Watch our intrepid economists explain why that’s bad news, and share their ideas on how to decrease the number 77 down to, oh say zero?Listen to the latest newsCommunity Resilience: What It Takes To Curb Violence in Citiestag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/230784664Fri, 30 Oct 2015 14:01:28 -050009:39nofullThe world is urbanizing at staggering, unprecedented rates. With rapid urbanization, fragile cities can emerge with “differently” governed spaces and subsequently, rising levels of crime and violence. Affecting more acutely the poorest and most marginalized populations, crime and violence needs to be a part of our broader development strategy at the Bank. Listen to what the Social and Urban Development Teams are doing to address this challenge! Read more @WBG_Cities on Twitter! Listen to the latest newsClimate Services - Knowledge is Powertag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/230521309Wed, 28 Oct 2015 20:03:34 -050004:32nofullIf knowledge is power, then few tools are as powerful as climate services. The Climate Investment Funds is helping communities and countries hit by changing weather not just survive but thrive by getting the right information to the right people at the right time. To learn more, please follow https://twitter.com/CIF_Action or go to http://www.climateinvestmentfunds.orgListen to the latest newsCivil Society Townhall: Democracy at Worktag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/230161814Mon, 26 Oct 2015 15:36:26 -050006:52nofullGoing to an event at the 2015 World Bank Group-International Monetary Fund Annual Meetings in Lima, Peru can be a daunting exercise. There are meetings at all hours of the day. Several meetings that you would have wanted to go to are running conjointly or are only attended by professionals. Not so with the Civil Society Townhall. Anyone and everyone with ideas or just recriminations can address their complaints or queries directly to the President of the World Bank Group, Jim Yong Kim, or the Managing Director of the IMF, Christine Lagarde. It’s democracy at work. To watch a replay of the Townhall event, visit: http://live.worldbank.org/civil-society-townhall-2015Listen to the latest newsSpotlight: Uganda Economic Update 6: Better land management can support economic growthtag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/229434114Wed, 21 Oct 2015 16:40:56 -050006:51nofullThroughout the last 20 years, Uganda’s population density has been growing rapidly, placing significant pressure on the use of land. If managed properly, this increase can support economic growth, but the right systems must be in place to promote efficient land use, according to a new World Bank economic update. The update, Searching for the Grail – Can Uganda’s Land Support its Prosperity Drive?, evaluates the complex challenges associated with better land management in Uganda, which can support the processes of agricultural transformation and urbanization, and enable the country to raise its level of productive and achieve economic transformation.Listen to the latest newsFood Powertag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/229291144Tue, 20 Oct 2015 18:31:51 -050009:14nofullWith its large number of participants, important seminars and meetings held in conjunction with the 2015 World Bank Group/IMF Annual Meetings in Lima, Peru, it was particularly difficult to choose which event to focus on. However, in this city, known around the world for its culinary excellence, one meeting in particular attracted the attention of many participants. Food power. To watch a replay of the event, visit: http://live.worldbank.org/future-of-food-climate-smart-food-systemListen to the latest newsPeru, Becomes Economic Capital of the World for a Weektag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/229150381Mon, 19 Oct 2015 20:41:22 -050007:02nofullThe 2015 World Bank Group-International Monetary Fund Annual Meetings took place in Lima, Peru, from October 9-11, bringing together 16,000 participants from 188 countries. This major event featured seminars, regional briefings and press conferences, focused on global economy, international development, and the world's financial markets. It is designed to foster creative dialogues among the private sector, government delegates, and World Bank Group and IMF officials. Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank Group, gave a press conference at the opening of the event to highlight the mission of the World Bank Group and the aim of the Annual Meetings. To watch a replay of the event, visit: http://live.worldbank.org/annual-meetings-2015-opening-press-conferenceListen to the latest newsSpotlight: Guinea Fowl Could Hatch Thousands of Jobs in Ghanatag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/228047661Mon, 12 Oct 2015 13:52:29 -050004:37nofullThe livestock market in Garu Tempane is buzzing with activity as buyers and sellers rush to make a deal before closing time. There are vendors selling chickens and goats but guinea fowl seems to be an especially big draw. This is because in Ghana, guinea fowl is one of the most popular sources of animal protein . The bird is native to West Africa and has long been a part of the region’s cuisine and history. The high nutritional content of guinea fowl makes it an important contribution to a food system that can feed every Ghanaian. Today, demand for guinea fowl is outpacing supply. In order to meet this demand, the World Bank-funded West Africa Agricultural Productivity Program, or WAAPP, is working with farmers in Ghana to increase production. With knowledge and the right equipment, guinea fowl can be a low-maintenance livestock to raise. Yeboah: “Guinea fowl, naturally they are heartier and they can also subsist even on vegetation. As they go around, they pick grains and insects. It is easier to manage them and less expensive to also maintain.” That’s Franklin Yeboah. He’s the assistant director with Ghana’s Ministry of Agriculture and he directs the livestock component of the WAAPP. The program has provided supplies and support to guinea fowl farmers who are just starting out. Yeboah: “We have selected 40 districts in these 3 regions and we’ve selected 2 farmers per district. And each farmer –40 of the farmers have been supported with incubator and generator sets.” “We are also giving eggs – that’s 500 eggs each. We are giving feed, and we also are giving vaccines.” As with all types of farming, there are challenges to raising guinea fowl. Yeboah: “When you take guinea fowls, for instance, hatchability is a problem. It’s very low. You have people hatching maybe 20-30% when they set eggs and they normally use the hens to hatch the eggs. “You also have high mortality because you are not able to maintain the kids. That’s when they have the kids following the hens, you have hawks and other predators also attacking the kids.” But the incubators provided by the WAAPP help the farmers achieve a higher hatchability of eggs. And with training and support, the farmers are able to raise the young guinea fowl to mature levels at which they are no longer threatened by predators. The program has been quite successful, creating jobs in rural Ghana where unemployment is high, particularly for young people. And with the constant demand for guinea fowl, the growth potential of this industry to contribute to the economy and alleviate poverty is strong. Yeboah: “The high level goal is to the reduce poverty and to increase wealth. And also to support animal protein intake.” Beneficiary farmers have experienced a large jump in their incomes, but they’re not the only ones who have profited from the program. Other farmers in the communities have been able to use the incubators for their own eggs. Now that everyone has access to the tools, more and more farmers are able to raise healthy flocks, putting them on the path to productive livelihoods. Yeboah: “It’s a source for raising extra income. Most of the farmers in Ghana do crop farming. And yet, they also do some use of subsistence livestock farming. “Now the livestock serves as a bank of wealth. So whenever they need money to do anything, they sell their animals, raise money and use the money to do whatever they need to do.”Listen to the latest newsPabsyLive: How to Feed the World Sustainablytag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/227203912Tue, 06 Oct 2015 18:34:37 -050003:32nofullWe want to create a system that feeds every person, everywhere, every day. It sounds like a dream, but it could be a reality. Especially if we take steps to make agriculture climate-smart -- more productive, more resilient and less harmful to the environment. Join Pabsy Pabalan for this fascinating interview with Ethel Sennhauser, Director of Agriculture Global Practice at the World Bank Group, in advance of the World Bank-International Monetary Fund Annual Meetings in Peru. To learn more: http://live.worldbank.org/future-of-food-climate-smart-food-system http://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/agricultureListen to the latest newsPabsyLive: Jim Kim Has a Youthful Outlooktag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/227040858Mon, 05 Oct 2015 18:31:34 -050002:25nofullOpen a business. Find a passion. Start a movement. World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim tells Pabsy Pabalan that young people have the power to make a lasting impact on the movement to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity. The two caught up at the Young Dialogues event in Washington, D.C., on the eve of the Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund in Lima, Peru. No matter your age, take a listen! #PabsyLive Listen to the latest newsActualités : Le ralentissement de la croissance: une opportunité pour l’Afrique ?tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/226988844Mon, 05 Oct 2015 11:40:13 -050005:55nofullSelon Makhtar Diop, vice-président de la Banque mondiale pour l’Afrique, le ralentissement de la croissance représente une opportunité pour les pays africains de changer la structure de leurs économies. Éditions précédentes d'Africa's Pulse Avril 2015 : http://www.banquemondiale.org/fr/news/press-release/2015/04/13/africa-end-of-the-commodity-super-cycle-weighs-on-growthListen to the latest newsNews Highlights: Growth Slows in Sub-Saharan Africatag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/226950874Mon, 05 Oct 2015 03:02:59 -050005:19nofullWorld Bank Vice President for Africa, Makhtar Diop, discusses the regions slowing growth amid weak global financial conditions. Africa's slowing growth is one of the findings of the Fall 2015 Africa's Pulse Report, a biannual publication of The World Bank that analyses issues shaping Africa's economic future. Listen to the latest newsSpotlight: Helping Small Traders in Africa's Great Lakes Region Get Their Goods to Markettag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/225568177Fri, 25 Sep 2015 19:08:06 -050003:15nofullA new initiative launched by the World Bank and the governments of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Uganda aims to address the daily hazards faced by small scale traders and at the same time boost a vital part of the region’s growing economy. Implemented in cooperation with the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa or COMESA, the Great Lakes Trade Facilitation Project aims to clear logistical and administrative logjams at busy border crossings, reduce corruption and the harassment of traders—particularly women—boost local and regional economies, and alleviate poverty.Listen to the latest news#Music4Dev Guest Drew Holcomb: Ending Poverty Means Beginning Opportunitytag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/224283064Thu, 17 Sep 2015 13:29:54 -050012:52nofullThe Nashville singer/songwriter stopped by World Bank to share some of his music and talk about his work with charitable organizations like One Egg and Blood: Water. He also urges fans to do their part to end poverty. To watch the interview and concert, visit our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8Ck9c3w4XwListen to the latest newsRachel Kyte on Why We Need a Strong Climate Dealtag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/223810538Mon, 14 Sep 2015 13:53:48 -050004:33nofullThree months from now, negotiators from around the globe will be in Paris to finalize an accord to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and begin slowing the impacts of climate change. Rachel Kyte, World Bank Group Vice President and Special Envoy for Climate Change, sits down with Pabsy Pabalan to discuss what we should be looking for in a climate deal and how we can get to a zero-carbon future. #PabsyLive #ClimateAction Watch the full replay of Climate Action Event here: http://live.worldbank.org/Climate-Action-ParisListen to the latest newsGeothermal: From Promise to Powertag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/222920975Tue, 08 Sep 2015 15:45:53 -050006:37nofullAs the world strives to curb greenhouse gas emissions and scale up low carbon energy solutions, geothermal power holds tremendous promise as one of the most plentiful and cheapest renewable energy options available. The Climate Investment Funds delivering geothermal investments at scale to empower climate-smart transformation.Listen to the latest newsWhat Makes for a Game-Changing Investment to Secure Ghana’s Energy Futuretag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/222185696Thu, 03 Sep 2015 15:25:38 -050004:26nofullIn recent years, Ghana has suffered serious energy shortages that have affected the poor the most. The World Bank Group’s one-of-a-kind $700 million in guarantees for the “Sankofa Gas Project” aims to change that. Listen to the World Bank’s Anita Marangoly George and Pankaj Gupta talk about why this project is a “game changer” and how it aims to make reliable, clean and affordable electricity accessible for Ghana’s people. Learn more: http://www.worldbank.org/en/country/ghana/brief/what-is-the-sankofa-gas-projectListen to the latest newsSpotlight: Using Empirical Evidence to Improve Public Policytag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/221882447Tue, 01 Sep 2015 17:06:00 -050003:16nofullMost government policies have the potential to broaden equality and bring positive change to the lives of individuals and communities. However, even well-designed policies can have unintended negatives consequences on certain groups of the population. In an effort to improve the ability of countries to use evidence to assess the potential social and economic impacts of policy reforms, The World Bank has created a series of learning events to bring together policymakers, development practitioners, academics, members from civil society, and international organizations, to share their insights and lessons learned in their countries. The most recent of these Poverty and Social Impact Analysis or PSIA learning events was a collaborative effort between The Bank and one of Africa’s most highly regarded academic institutions, The University of Cape Town. About 20 African countries were represented at the workshop in Cape Town, South Africa, as well as thought leaders and policy makers from India. World Bank acting Chief Economist for the Africa Region, Punam Chuhan-Pole. “PSIA helps policy makers and helps stakeholders understand what would would be the appropriate policies for addressing issues.” One of the aims of the workshop is to prove to policy makers that more research may in fact pay off down the line, while also keeping the varied needs of constituents at the forefront of policy decisions. Dr. Shrikant Baldi is Additional Chief Secretary for finance & Planning in the Government of Himachal Pradesh in India. He says policy discussions usually happen after implementation, which leads to a waste of resources, if these interventions have not been successful. “Generally what happens is that a policy at the state level – you have some stakeholders that suggest something and then it is implemented, good or bad. If it has been implemented badly, then resources have gone. So if we have a concurrent PSIA study, that tells us what is going to be the impact, specially on deserving section, we can make a better policy based on evidence.” Oxford University Professor of Public Policy, Mthuli Ncube, says objectively measuring impacts allows for greater accountability through the policy making system. “The PSIA is very helpful in trying to get African policy makers and citizens to understand how policy can change things for the better. We are all worrying about where the poverty trends are headed for 2030 and the SDG’s are headed for 2030, and this Poverty and Social Impact Analysis really gives us insight into which policies will make the biggest positive impact on poverty reduction. For more information on the World Bank’s work in Africa, visit WorldBank.org/Africa. Listen to the latest newsSpotlight: Kenya’s medical supply agency transforms to improve service delivery, and save livestag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/221700316Mon, 31 Aug 2015 14:33:57 -050006:09nofullIt is a large warehouse, with racks up to the ceiling. It is big, bright and humming with activity. Workers in white coats are going through purchase orders, using hand held scanners to pick items off the shelves: bottles of cough syrup, inhalers, syringes, antibiotics. We are in Nairobi, at the warehouse of the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority also known by its acronym - KEMSA. It is a state owned company with the mandate to procure, warehouse and distribute healthcare commodities to public health facilities across the country. Dr. John Munyu, chief executive officer at KEMSA: “With the coming of the devolved system of government in the year 2013, the health system underwent a paradigm shift. Previously health was centrally controlled by the central government from Nairobi, but with the adoption of the devolved system of government, the 47 counties are now responsible for health services management in their own counties. Therefore, KEMSA had to change its business model, we had to look at our architecture and reconfigure our business model to be able to serve the counties.” Changing its business model meant that KEMSA had to become much more demand driven. The World Bank, through the Kenya Health Sector Support Project put forward the necessary funds in order to stock KEMSA’s warehouse and provide it with a working capital. This enabled the agency to build a self-sustaining business model: since KEMSA now has its own funds, it can assess the needs of its customers, purchase commodities, process the county’s orders, get paid, and then use the money to replenish stocks and pay suppliers. Dr. Ramana Gandham, lead health specialist with the World Bank based in Nairobi: “The capitalization of KEMSA has really helped them along with the new supply chain management. Earlier, it used to be a much more bureaucratic organization depending on funding from the ministry of health, and there were always delays in cash flow, and as a result supplier payments could not be made in time. The Kenya medical supplies authority is now much more responsive and its model is much more demand driven, responding to the requests made by the county governments.” So how does this new model exactly work? In the past, purchase orders from the counties were sent via mail or courier. Many would end up getting lost and mistakes were made when trying to read someone’s handwriting. Now, health facilities can make their purchases directly through KEMSA’s online ordering portal. Back at the KEMSA warehouse, shopkeepers go through the purchase order, pick the requested items and prepare shipments. Packages are sent directly to the health facility’s doorstep using outsourced transport. Each vehicle is equipped with a GPS that allows KEMSA to track it in real time and make sure there are no delays and every shipment is accounted for. Dr. Irene Muchoki is the chief pharmacist at Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital in Nairobi. Being a public hospital, Mama Lucy procures most of medical supplies from KEMSA. “I have been around during the whole change in KEMSA. I would say the situation is way better compared to before when the lead times were just really bad so that you find you have run out of drugs completely. Right now there is a big change. We still have a few gaps, there is no system that is 100%, but compared to before, this is awesome, it’s good, it’s much better. For instance if we order today, at most it takes 2 days and drugs will be here.” To learn more about the work of the World Bank in Kenya, please visit www.worldbank.org/kenya.Listen to the latest newsPabsyLive: Tennis Star Djokovic Teams Up With World Banktag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/221697844Mon, 31 Aug 2015 14:14:03 -050003:47nofullNovak Djokovic may be known as the number one tennis player in the world, but his not-so-secret passion is helping children. The World Bank Group's Pabsy Pabalan catches up with Novak and World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim at UNICEF headquarters in New York, where they’ve announced a unique and far-reaching partnership to support early childhood development. Watch what they have to say – because it matters. #PabsyLiveListen to the latest news#Music4Dev: Oakland Musician Fantastic Negrito on Cultural Preservationtag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/221168229Thu, 27 Aug 2015 18:36:24 -050010:13nofullFantastic Negrito celebrates and preserves African-American culture through music. For more information visit: http://wrld.bg/R9QEd Questions asked in this interview: 00:34 You’ve switched to the name Fantastic Negrito, can you tell me what’s behind it? You play a lot of black roots music in Delta? 01:14 So it’s really important for you to preserve that musical cultural heritage? 01:21 You have a real great rags-to-riches story. You were a street musician at one time and now you’re? 02:22 Can you tell me more a little bit about your back story, and how you arrive to this point, to making this collective?Listen to the latest news#Music4Dev Guest Star Nneka to Women: “Don’t let anyone intimidate you”tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/218590613Mon, 10 Aug 2015 13:36:34 -050008:55nofullNigerian star Nneka stops by World Bank headquarters to share her music and talk about women’s rights. For more information go to: http://wrld.bg/PmaXN At 03:49, Nneka performs her song "My Home"Listen to the latest newsActualités : Lever les obstacles au commerce régional pour nourrir l’Afrique de l’Ouesttag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/217929611Wed, 05 Aug 2015 17:59:06 -050004:07nofullLever les obstacles au commerce régional pour nourrir l’Afrique de l’Ouest L'insécurité alimentaire, le manque de productivité agricole et les obstacles au commerce en Afrique de l'Ouest, sont des problèmes bien connus. Dans cette région où vivent 300 millions de personnes (soit un tiers de la population du continent), l’agriculture emploie 60 % de la population active Un nouveau rapport de la Banque mondiale, intitulé «Connecter les marchés des produits alimentaires de base et les marchés des intrants en Afrique de l'Ouest », analyse la manière dont les États pourraient développer un marché régional, améliorer la sécurité alimentaire et multiplier les débouchés pour les agriculteurs. Jean Christophe Maur, économiste en chef à la Banque mondiale, est l’un des auteurs de ce rapport : Le rapport est motivé par le fait que lorsqu’on regarde les économies d’Afrique et d’Afrique de l’Ouest en particulier, le secteur agricole est particulièrement important ; je dirais en particulier pour les gens les plus pauvres. Et le problème de l’agriculture en Afrique de l’Ouest, et que l’on voit depuis plusieurs années, est le fait que la productivité n’augmente pas, les agriculteurs sont exposés à divers chocs qui créent une insécurité alimentaire. Et en parallèle de cela, on voit des politiques de gouvernements qui bloquent les échanges de produits alimentaires, qui distordent les marchés et donc qui empêchent les agriculteurs d’avoir un meilleur accès au marché et d’avoir des opportunités qui leur permettraient d’accroître leurs revenus, de les sécuriser, d’ avoir accès à des intrants qui leur permettraient d’augmenter leur production. Le rapport note que malgré leurs engagements en faveur de l’intégration régionale, la plupart des pays de la région continuent pourtant d’appliquer des politiques en faveur de l’autosuffisance nationale, y compris en interdisant les importations de denrées de base provenant des pays voisins. Le riz, le maïs et le manioc constituent la principale source de calories dans les pays côtiers d'Afrique de l'Ouest, tandis que le millet et le sorgho sont d'importantes ressources alimentaires dans les pays du Sahel. Pourtant, selon Jean Christophe Maur, en l’absence de politiques formalisant les échanges intra-régionaux, le commerce de ces produits est essentiellement informel, un fait non sans conséquences Par exemple, ce que l’on a constaté dans le rapport, c’est que le commerce le long des frontières est particulièrement important, même là ou souvent les statistiques officielles ou les études ignorent l’existence de ces flux. Ces échanges sont également ignorés lorsque les politiques agricoles sont discutées et ne sont pas pris en compte. Faute de politiques commerciales régionales adaptées, les agriculteurs d’Afrique de l’Ouest sont donc pénalisés par l’inefficacité des services de transport et d’entreposage, le manque de financement et la fragmentation des chaines logistiques. Le rapport formule des recommandations et constate que la région est idéalement placée pour faciliter et coordonner la mise en œuvre d’un marché régional de denrées de base. Pour lire le rapport et en savoir plus sur l'action de la Banque mondiale en Afrique, rendez-vous à l'adresse www.banquemondiale.org/fr/region/afr Listen to the latest news#Music4Dev with D’Banj: Ending Poverty One Song at a Timetag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/217584974Mon, 03 Aug 2015 13:32:07 -050006:59nofullThe Nigerian superstar shows his support for gender equality with his new single, ExtraOrdinary.Listen to the latest newsNews Highlights: Strengthening Ghana's Energy Futuretag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/216914244Thu, 30 Jul 2015 17:03:24 -050001:39nofullWorld Bank Vice President for Africa, Makhtar Diop, discusses the importance of The Bank's support for the development of Ghana's SANKOFA Gas Project.Listen to the latest newsSpotlight: Win-Win Solutions for Food Staple Trade in West Africatag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/216712771Tue, 28 Jul 2015 13:30:48 -050005:00nofullFood insecurity caused by fragility, lack of agricultural progress and trade barriers in West Africa is a well-documented concern. A 2012 World Bank report, Africa Can Help Feed Africa showed that increasing the supply of food staples could be improved by better connecting African markets to each other. That report called for a stronger focus on removing trade barriers and building on the forces of regional integration. Now, World Bank Analysts have taken those concepts further. A new report, Connecting Food Staples and Input Markets in West Africa: A Regional Trade Agenda for ECOWAS Countries explores how West African governments can build an integrated, regional trade market for food staples. World Bank Senior economist, and author of the Report, Jean Christophe Maur: “There is actually very active trade in most products, whereas people often tend to focus only on a subset of products. Trade along borders is particularly important for instance. West Africa’s 2011 population of 342 million is expected to increase to 516 million by 2030 and to 815 million by 2050. The region is already home to a third of the African continents population and to some of its most vulnerable countries. World Bank Senior Economist and co-author, John Keyser: “Crop yields in West Africa are some of the lowest in the world. West Africa has a very quick – rapidly growing population, particularly in the urban areas, and it is not able to feed itself. It is heavily dependent on food imports. With greater productivity of the farmland, West Africa could certainly do a better job of feeding itself and through regional trade and trade with neighbours.” Michigan State University Professor Emeritus, John Staatz, an Agricultural Economist and African Studies expert, says it’s important for West African governments to think about how to make the whole region competitive to take advantage of the growth potential. “You’re not just dealing with a small local market. West Africa now part of a global economy, it has to deal with global competition. For example, there are imports of chicken coming in from Brazil, the other big global players. And to be globally competitive, you need to get these kinds of efficiencies that allow that huge market in West Africa to be accessed by all the farmers and actors in West Africa. There are great growth potentials for agriculture in West Africa, but achieving them is going to require greater regional integration.” Staple foods are the main source of calories in Sub-Saharan Africa, and in West Africa. In West Africa, staple foods like rice maize and cassava, provide the main source of calories in coastal countries, with millet and sorghum being an important source of food in Sahelian countries. However, trade in these foods is informal and therefore more fragile. Ben Shepard, co-author of the report: “A lot of the distribution happens very locally, so it’s not just people going into grocery stores as people going to local markets and things like that. And definitely, they would expect to see a difference if the sorts of policies that we look at in the book are implemented. We see a lot of scope in the book for win-win solutions, so what we call a win-win is where both producers and consumers win from a particular reform. So just to think of one example, improving post-harvest treatment, is a way in which to reduce losses. So that’s good for producers, in that they are getting more of their products to market and obviously getting better income. It is also good for consumers, because it reduces the gap between the farm gate price and the price that they pay in their market. So it means that you can have these kinds of scenarios where both sets of people stand to gain from a particular policy reform. Same thing with access to finance that can help improve efficiency in the value chain and that can be beneficial for producers and consumers.” Listen to the latest newsGrameen Bank Founder Has Tips for Entrepreneurstag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/216597407Mon, 27 Jul 2015 19:05:51 -050005:16nofullMuhammad Yunus (Organization Leader),Microfinance (Industry),World Bank Group (Organization),Nobel Prize (Award),Nobel Peace Prize (Award Category),social business,Social Enterprise (Organization Type),access to finance,finance,financial inclusion In the world of microfinance, Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus is a rock star. He was the founder of the Grameen Bank that provides small, low-cost loans to people seeking to pull themselves out of poverty. Join the World Bank Group's Pabsy Pabalan and get his insight into what it takes to succeed. #PabsyLive THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS WERE ANSWERED AND DISCUSSED: 00:19 What gave you the idea to start Grameen Bank? 02:02: So you mentioned that you approached banks. What did they tell you? I mean what reason did they give that they don’t lend money to the poor? 02:35 Let's imagine that I was one of Grameen Bank’s clients and I have a loan. What mindset do I need for myself to succeed? 03:41 You talked about young people being job creators instead of being job seekers. I grew up thinking that’s easier said than done and I am sure I am not the only one. What can we do to change this kind of thinking?Listen to the latest newsSaving Coffee: Combating Coffee Rust in Central Americatag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/214679122Tue, 14 Jul 2015 14:26:10 -050003:28nofullhttp://wrld.bg/OOeEo: The coffee rust fungus, also known as “La Roya,” is destroying coffee farms across Central America. How is this affecting farmers? What are the ways large global coffee buyers are adapting to changes in their supply chains? Pabsy Pabalan speaks to Craig Russell, Starbucks Executive Vice President for Global Coffee, and Amy Obregon, a Nicaraguan coffee farmer. The International Finance Corporation, Ecom, Starbucks, and Inter-American Development Bank are coming together to help Nicaraguan farmers combat coffee rust disease. For more information on the La Roya Coffee Project visit http://wrld.bg/OOeEoListen to the latest newsLearning from Poland’s Development Experiencetag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/214520119Mon, 13 Jul 2015 14:32:00 -050004:30nofullPoland’s development experience over the past few decades can provide many lessons for countries seeking to determine their own transition paths. On 22-23 June, 2015, development professionals from Poland and the Eastern Partnership countries got together in Tbilisi, Georgia to exchange ideas, knowledge and experiences. Anna Kowalczyk asks attendees what they think countries can learn from Poland.Listen to the latest newsThe Golden Aging of Europe and Central Asiatag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/213643988Tue, 07 Jul 2015 14:11:31 -050002:35nofullA new report shows that populations across Europe and Central Asia are aging, but people are not living longer. What does that mean for health, education, and pension systems? And what are the opportunities of aging societies? Pabsy Pabalan finds some answers in an interview with Hans Timmer, World Bank Chief Economist for Europe and Central Asia. #PabsyLiveListen to the latest newsHans Rosling’s Favorite Number? Zero!tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/212681337Tue, 30 Jun 2015 18:59:02 -050004:07nofullCelebrated Swedish statistician Hans Rosling visits the World Bank and tells Pabsy Pabalan that he supports the Bank’s open data policy; believes statistics represent stories about people and that his favorite number is zero. Then he pulls out some dollar bills and things get even more interesting. #PabsyLiveListen to the latest newsSpotlight: Pollution Chokes African Lives, Livelihoodstag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/210597547Tue, 16 Jun 2015 15:36:26 -050004:31nofullDid you know that in the next decade many of the world’s largest cities will be in Africa? But water, air and indoor pollution are killing urban residents, and the poor suffer most. Watch what’s happening in Lagos, Nigeria and how life could be changed for the better.Listen to the latest newsSpotlight: Improving the Livelihoods of Sahel Pastoral Communities.tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/207872212Fri, 29 May 2015 20:10:43 -050004:29nofullSub-Saharan Africa is home to over 50 million pastoralists. Helping pastoralists and agro-pastoralists by increasing access to productive assets, services and markets is key to ending poverty and boosting shared prosperity. The Regional Sahel Pastoralism Support Project – or PRAPS - has been designed to address the development needs of pastoralists across the Sahel in Sub-Saharan Africa. It aims to tackle the most important challenges faced by pastoralists: drought, animal diseases, climate change, conflicts and dwindling access to land and water resources. The PRAPS project is a collaboration between six Sahelian countries: Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Senegal under the regional coordinating umbrella of the CILSS -the permanent Interstate Committee for Drought control in the Sahel- and overall political guidance from ECOWAS and WAEMU. Aminata Mbengue Ndiaye, Minister of Agriculture and Animal Health, Senegal: "The regional pastoralism support project is an initiative that grew out of a high-level meeting held on pastoralism in the Sahel, in Nouakchott; I think it was in October 2013. And it was a meeting chaired by President Abdel Aziz of Mauritania with the President of Chad, Mr. Idriss Déby and myself; I represented the head of State of Senegal, President Macky Sall. Therefore it was really a meeting which has allowed us to examine the details of pastoralism in the Sahel with all the problems it entails, such as the impact on the lives of pastoralists, on the herd, but also on all the environment; in any case, to the lives of pastoralists." The hallmark of PRAPS is its innovative, multi-sectoral, holistic approach to implementing solutions benefiting pastoralists, including pastoral crisis management. It brings together the private sector, pastoral organizations, national stakeholders, regional and international institutions, advanced research institutes and other development partners. Dr Djimé ADOUM Executive Secretary, CILSS: "What is happening with pastoralism for the longest time, is that it really lacks resources, access to markets, support services, so with the advent of the PRAPS, which will open up opportunities to get a lot more partners involved in this, we should be able to implement and expand on the initial projects to cover a wide area in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly ECOWAS region and linking it back to the Nouakchott Declaration, improving the revenue of the Pastoralists by 30 percent in five years should be an achievable goal." Aminata Mbengue Ndiaye, Minister of Agriculture and Animal Health, Senegal: "This project will have a major impact on people's lives because if already in the field, for example , if I take animal health, if it allows them to keep their livestock , livestock will no longer die because he has not been vaccinated. From the point of view of nutrition also, the improvement of nutrition for children, pregnant women, nursing women, also there the project will play an important role with the milk that will be produced , with equally the surplus production of meat and all that in any case, constitute the major themes that are essential for the population. I believe that if the project did not come, people will continue to live the same life conditions but I think with the training that will be given, the income will be improved, it is a fundamental change that we will observed in these areas and I think it's not very far." The fresh approach is also about generating consistent data, expanding knowledge-sharing and engaging with communities for achieving maximum development impact in the Sahel.Listen to the latest newsCoup de projecteur : Améliorer les conditions de vie des communautés pastorales au Sahel> La grande caractéristique du PRAPS est de promouvoir une réponse novatrice, multisectorielle et globale aux problèmes du pastoralisme, qui porte notamment sur la gestion des crises. Le projet rassemble le secteur privé, les organisations pastorales et les parties prenantes nationales, ainsi que des institutions régionales et internationales, des centres de recherche et d’autres partenaires de développement. Djimé ADOUM secrétaire exécutif du CILSS << Le pastoralisme souffre, depuis bien longtemps, d’un manque de ressources, d’accès aux marchés et de services d’appui. Grâce au PRAPS, qui permettra de mobiliser un nombre bien plus grand de partenaires, nous devrions être en mesure de développer les projets initiaux pour couvrir un vaste territoire en Afrique subsaharienne, en particulier la CEDEAO, et, conformément à la déclaration de Nouakchott, de parvenir à augmenter les revenus des pasteurs de 30 % en cinq ans. >> Avec cette nouvelle approche, il s’agit aussi de produire des données cohérentes, de développer le partage des connaissances et d’agir auprès des communautés afin d’avoir une incidence maximale sur le développement au Sahel. ]]>> La grande caractéristique du PRAPS est de promouvoir une réponse novatrice, multisectorielle et globale aux problèmes du pastoralisme, qui porte notamment sur la gestion des crises. Le projet rassemble le secteur privé, les organisations pastorales et les parties prenantes nationales, ainsi que des institutions régionales et internationales, des centres de recherche et d’autres partenaires de développement. Djimé ADOUM secrétaire exécutif du CILSS << Le pastoralisme souffre, depuis bien longtemps, d’un manque de ressources, d’accès aux marchés et de services d’appui. Grâce au PRAPS, qui permettra de mobiliser un nombre bien plus grand de partenaires, nous devrions être en mesure de développer les projets initiaux pour couvrir un vaste territoire en Afrique subsaharienne, en particulier la CEDEAO, et, conformément à la déclaration de Nouakchott, de parvenir à augmenter les revenus des pasteurs de 30 % en cinq ans. >> Avec cette nouvelle approche, il s’agit aussi de produire des données cohérentes, de développer le partage des connaissances et d’agir auprès des communautés afin d’avoir une incidence maximale sur le développement au Sahel. ]]>tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/207861569Fri, 29 May 2015 18:58:51 -050004:27nofullL’Afrique subsaharienne abrite plus de 50 millions d’éleveurs nomades. Pour pouvoir mettre fin à la pauvreté et promouvoir une prospérité partagée, il est donc essentiel de venir en aide à ces pasteurs, en élargissant leur accès à des biens productifs et aux marchés.Le Projet régional d’appui au pastoralisme au Sahel, ou PRAPS, a précisément été conçu pour répondre aux besoins de développement des pasteurs du Sahel. Il vise à remédier aux principales difficultés que rencontrent ces éleveurs : la sècheresse, les maladies animales, le changement climatique, les conflits, l’amenuisement des pâturages et des sources d’eau. Le PRAPS associe six pays du Sahel : le Burkina Faso, le Mali, la Mauritanie, le Niger, le Sénégal et le Tchad. Il est coordonné à l’échelle régionale par le CILSS, le Comité permanent inter-États de lutte contre la sécheresse dans le Sahel, sous la direction politique de la CEDEAO et de l’UEMOA. S. E. Madame Aminata Mbengue Ndiaye Ministre de l’Elevage et des Productions Animales << Le projet régional d'appui au pastoralisme est une initiative qui est née d'une réunion de haut niveau qui s'est tenue sur le pastoralisme au Sahel, à Nouakchott, je crois que c'était au mois d'octobre 2013. Et c'était une réunion présidée par le président Abdel Aziz de Mauritanie en présence du président du Tchad, monsieur Idriss Déby et moi, je représentais le chef de l'Etat du Sénégal, le président Macky Sall. >> La grande caractéristique du PRAPS est de promouvoir une réponse novatrice, multisectorielle et globale aux problèmes du pastoralisme, qui porte notamment sur la gestion des crises. Le projet rassemble le secteur privé, les organisations pastorales et les parties prenantes nationales, ainsi que des institutions régionales et internationales, des centres de recherche et d’autres partenaires de développement. Djimé ADOUM secrétaire exécutif du CILSS << Le pastoralisme souffre, depuis bien longtemps, d’un manque de ressources, d’accès aux marchés et de services d’appui. Grâce au PRAPS, qui permettra de mobiliser un nombre bien plus grand de partenaires, nous devrions être en mesure de développer les projets initiaux pour couvrir un vaste territoire en Afrique subsaharienne, en particulier la CEDEAO, et, conformément à la déclaration de Nouakchott, de parvenir à augmenter les revenus des pasteurs de 30 % en cinq ans. >> Avec cette nouvelle approche, il s’agit aussi de produire des données cohérentes, de développer le partage des connaissances et d’agir auprès des communautés afin d’avoir une incidence maximale sur le développement au Sahel. Listen to the latest newsSpotlight: A Cleaned Up Tale of Two Citiestag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/206047572Mon, 18 May 2015 15:25:32 -050004:38nofullPensri sells food on the side of the road in Bangkok, and Francesca is a nurse in Santiago. A generation ago both women were suffering from pollution-related illnesses, but now they’re healthy thanks in part to bold moves to clean up their cities. Listen how Thailand and Chile are leading the way in pollution abatement, improving lives and economies. Other large cities are being urged to adopt some of the same methods. For more information visit: http://www.worldbank.org/pollutionListen to the latest newsActualités : Une nouvelle ère de développement pour le Tchadtag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/205322487Wed, 13 May 2015 18:39:46 -050002:44nofullLe Tchad vient d’atteindre le point d'achèvement de l'initiative en faveur des pays pauvres très endettés (initiative PPTE), mécanisme international d'allégement de la dette ciblant les pays les plus pauvres. En conséquence, le FMI et la Banque mondiale ont annoncé un allégement de la dette de 1,1 milliard de dollars en faveur du Tchad. Le Tchad est le 36e pays à atteindre le point d’achèvement de l’initiative PPTE, initiative lancée en 1996 par l’IMF et la Banque mondiale dans le but de ramener l'endettement des pays pauvres à un niveau considéré comme soutenable. En atteignant le point d’achèvement de l’initiative PPTE, le Tchad entre dans une nouvelle ère de développement. Kordjé Bedoumra, le ministre tchadien des finances et du budget, nous explique pourquoi.Listen to the latest newsNews Highlights: Chad Reaches HIPC Initiative Completiontag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/205319939Wed, 13 May 2015 18:22:34 -050002:22nofullChad, Africa’s fifth largest country, has reached the completion point of the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative, an international debt relief mechanism that provides special assistance to the world's poorest countries. As a result, the IMF and the World Bank have decided to support $1.1 billion in debt relief for Chad. First launched in 1996 by the World Bank and the IMF, the HIPC initiative’s aim is to ensure that no poor country faces a debt burden it cannot manage. Chad is the 36th country to reach the completion point under the HIPC Initiative Kordjé Bedoumra, Chad’s Minister of Finance and Budget, explains why reaching the HIPC completion point is such an important milestone for his country. World Bank, Africa, Chad, Highly indebted, HIPC, poverty, growth, debt reflief, devleopmentListen to the latest newsSpotlight: Unlocking the Potential of the Tourism Industry for Tanzanianstag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/204066628Tue, 05 May 2015 19:22:24 -050003:18nofullWith popular attractions such as Mount Kilimanjaro and the archipelago of Zanzibar, Tanzania is home to some of Africa’s most popular tourist destinations. Tourism is the main foreign exchange earner for the Tanzanian economy; an estimated 2 million visitors contribute 2 billion dollars to the country’s coffers each year. The sector is also one of the fastest growing industries in Tanzania. A new report by The World Bank Group finds that a greater emphasis on diversifying tourist destinations, a stronger focus on community integration, and a more transparent governance approach could yield an even greater economic dividend in the coming years. Jacques Morriset, a lead economist at The World Bank Group in Tanzania, authored the Tanzania Economic Update 6, titled, “The Elephant in the Room, Unlocking the Potential of the Tourism Industry in Tanzania.” “You need to diversify in terms of what tourists are likely to see in Tanzania. Right now, all the tourists are coming to two locations – Zanzibar, and the National Park surrounding Arusha in the north of the country.” After scrutinizing Tanzania’s tourism industry data, Morisset contends that the country could easily expand to offer more than just the beautiful National Parks or beaches for tourists. “Most of the tourists are very high hand tourists, in that they are ready to spend quite a lot of money to go to National Parks. We believe that Tanzania is so big, that you can do different kind of tourism in different kind of locations.” Diversification within the sector has other positive impacts for the local community. The report finds that local inclusion could enhance the historical and cultural tourism. The Hotel Association of Tanzania, which was established in 2008, is a non-profit working to enhance tourism in the country. Board member Jeroen Hardewijk: “You have to make strategic decisions on how you position the destination. Mass tourism has a bad connotation for most of us, and you want to be a bit careful going entirely that route. However, having said that, having a well-positioned, diverse product offering in your destination would be a good thing for the operator definitely as well.” While branding is vital, Hardewijk says physical infrastructure and also attracting international airlines are both vital for growth. Currently some of the neighboring countries, most notably Kenya, attract a lot of the intercontinental flights. Improving that would be really helpful.” Lathifa Sykes, who is Chief Executive Officer of the Hotel Association, makes some strong claims about tourism growth with support from the private sector. “Tanzania private sector believes that we can double the growth rate of Tanzania tourism by 2025. Tanzania is one of the most reserves of fresh water, one of the largest wild life numbers and a good track record in quality tourism.”Listen to the latest newsNews Highlights: Faith Leaders Endorse World Bank Group Poverty Goalstag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/201296822Fri, 17 Apr 2015 20:49:43 -050002:15nofullOver 30 leaders from major world religions and heads of global faith-based organizations today launched a call to action to end extreme poverty by 2030, a goal shared by the World Bank Group. Listen to World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim outline the new initiative.Listen to the latest newsNews Highlights: World Bank Group Outlines Plan to End Hungertag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/201296998Fri, 17 Apr 2015 20:49:27 -050001:21nofullEven with 800 million people going to bed hungry every night, countries can end hunger by 2030 if they create systems that raise agricultural productivity in rural areas, improve nutritional outcomes, and invest in more climate-smart agriculture that can withstand a warmer planet, according to a World Bank Group report released today on the future of food.Listen to the latest newsAfrica's Pulse Spring 2015tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/200642557Mon, 13 Apr 2015 18:44:50 -050003:38nofullFalling commodity prices, including tumbling oil prices, have slowed Sub-Saharan Africa’s growth this year. The World Bank Group reports that growth in the region has dropped to 4.0 percent in 2015, from 4.5 percent in 2014. The downturn largely reflects the fall in the prices of oil and other commodities, according to Africa’s Pulse, a twice-yearly World Bank Group analysis of the issues shaping Africa’s economic prospects. The 2015 forecast is below the 4.4 percent average annual growth rate of the past two decades, and well short of Africa’s peak growth rates of 6.4 percent in 2002-08. Excluding South Africa, the average growth for the rest of Sub-Saharan Africa is forecast to be around 4.7 percent.Listen to the latest newsSpotlight: Health Workers on Ebola Frontlinestag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/199567491Mon, 06 Apr 2015 21:34:33 -050004:27nofullMohammed Sidie Sheriff (or Sidie as he is known) is one of nearly 900 health workers who have been infected during the current outbreak of Ebola. The lab technician at Maculey Street Government Hospital in Freetown, Sierra Leone completed as many as 100 blood tests on suspected Ebola patients before falling victim to the hemorrhagic fever himself. He believes he contracted the disease while taking a blood sample from a 4-year-old boy, who was infected with Ebola, and later died. He was wearing full protective gear, when he believes a single drop of blood breached his defenses. Within a week, he started to show symptoms. We met him at his work in the lab at the Maculey Street Government Hospital where he told the story of the day he believes he became infected. SOUNDBITE: “I went into the holding center with the necessary precautions. And I went there purposefully to get this child’s blood. So I went to the mother, and I asked her, I said to her, Madame, please help me I have come to take the blood of this child. I called her more than 5 times, becoming quite annoyed…. Not knowing that this young lady… is dead.” Faced with a traumatized child, Sidie told jokes, and tried to calm the little boy down before drawing the sample. SOUNDBITE: “I saw a tiny vein, I went into the vein, but the child was crying, shouting. I managed to get 3ml’s, then, this child drew his hand away from me, so the blood sprayed up.” When he started showing symptoms, Sidie immediately feared the worst. SOUNDBITE: “I called these people, I said, look, please give me the result of that child. Well they said that child died of Ebola. I said, “Oh, I am gone.” I told me wife, I said, “Please call me 117.” So she called 117. Within 20 minutes, 117 came. That was a horrible thing for me, because as soon as 117 was coming to my area, everybody was running helter skelter to see which house this 117 ambulance was going.. When I came out, I saw people lining up. I saw…. (crying) That is the most emotional to me, whenever I think of that, because my wife crying… everybody crying. Sidie lost 3 of his colleagues to Ebola during the outbreak. But, he is now Ebola free, and has resumed the work that he is passionate about. He says the mistakes of the past have helped him and medical workers like him, reduce the spread of Ebola. SOUNDBITE: “The hospital now, the staff, the nurses, the doctors, we who are working in the holding center, have already learned more new things, and this has reduced the death rate of patients being admitted for Ebola.” For more information about The World Bank’s Ebola response, visit worldbank.org/ebola.Listen to the latest newsLearning From Japan: How to Prepare for Natural Disasterstag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/196489212Wed, 18 Mar 2015 15:24:32 -050002:35nofullEarthquakes, tsunamis, storms: Being well prepared for natural disasters is key to overcoming their impact on people and economies. Learning from the Japanese model of disaster preparedness is on top of the agenda for World Bank Group President, Jim Yong Kim. Kim is attending the third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Sendai, Japan. A cyclone that destroyed wide parts of the island nation of Vanuatu shortly before the start of the conference added ever more urgency to the discussion of disaster preparedness.Listen to the latest newsMy Favorite Number: 6.4 Trillion Reasons to Fight Climate Changetag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/196308718Tue, 17 Mar 2015 13:25:24 -050004:36nofullWho wants to be a trillionaire? Well in developing countries, the clean technology market is estimated to be worth a staggering 6.4 trillion (with a T) dollars over the next decade. Michael Ehst, from the World Bank Group’s infoDev program, is excited about the massive growth of technologies that will help mitigate climate change. And he explains exactly how many zeros we’re talking about here. For more information visit http://www.infoDev.org/climate 'My Favorite Number' is a series: When economists get excited, it’s usually for a good reason.Listen to the latest newsLighting Up Thailandtag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/195506420Thu, 12 Mar 2015 13:25:21 -050006:18nofullhttps://www.climateinvestmentfunds.org/cif/ - One of the winners of 2014’s UN Momentum for Change awards, Wandee Khunchornyakong, has been transforming Thailand’s renewable energy capacity with utility-scale solar farms. To get finance flowing for what was then a new industry in the country, she worked with the World Bank Group's International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Climate Investment Funds to access blended finance. The project is increasing clean energy capacity while helping drive economic growth in one of Thailand’s most impoverished regions.Listen to the latest newsHaïti - sur la voie difficile de la reconstructiontag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/195210062Tue, 10 Mar 2015 18:18:43 -050007:41nofullVan Anh Vu Hong est arrivée en Haïti en 2010 peu après le tremblement de terre pour travailler sur des projets de secours d'urgence, y compris un projet de nettoyage des canaux d'eaux usées qui risquaient de propager des maladies. Cinq ans plus tard, dit-elle, de nombreux défis demeurent. L’un d’eux est la decentralisation de l'économie de la capitale Port-au-Prince vers les aux autres régions, afin de créer plus d'opportunités d'emploi pour la population croissante de Haïti.Listen to the latest newsHaiti - Road to Recoverytag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/195208759Tue, 10 Mar 2015 18:10:52 -050008:30nofullVan Anh Vu Hong arrived in Haiti soon after the earthquake in 2010 to work on emergency relief projects, including one to clean canals filled with sewage that risked spreading disease. Five years later, she says many challenges remain. A major one is decentralizing the economy to other regions from the capital Port au Prince, in order to create more job opportunities for Haiti’s growing population.Listen to the latest newsNews Highlights: How Human Behavior Affects Health Decisionstag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/190988156Fri, 13 Feb 2015 20:16:29 -050013:11nofullWhy do some people choose to use toilets...or not? Or to take medicines that will save them...or not? The World Development Report for 2015 looks at this and other health-related behaviors. Kenneth Leonard was directly involved in some of the fieldwork and spoke of his experience. If you want to learn more about the India toilet program that Kenneth talks about, check out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGEMldM48k0Listen to the latest newsNotes from Brussels: Mamta Murthi on Working With the EU and Beyondtag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/189118544Mon, 02 Feb 2015 16:01:52 -050003:27nofullMamta Murthi is the Country Director for Central Europe and the Baltic Countries, based in Brussels, Belgium. In this podcast she discusses why the World Bank has offices in Brussels, what kind of work they do there, and why Brussels is a key focal point for development in the region.Listen to the latest newsNews Highlights: Ebola Cases Drop, but Disease Continues to Cripple Economiestag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/187030176Tue, 20 Jan 2015 21:29:39 -050006:30nofullThe number of Ebola cases are dropping, but the epidemic will continue to cripple the economies of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. That’s the conclusions of a new World Bank Group report released on the eve of the World Economic Forum in Davos. Listen to World Bank Senior Economist David Evans, co-author of the report, as he explains why the cost of Ebola is so high and why impoverished people who never got the disease are suffering.Listen to the latest newsSpotlight: Fiscal Decentralization and Local Governance in Burunditag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/180608783Mon, 08 Dec 2014 22:41:43 -050007:26nofullFollowing the Arusha Peace Agreement in 2000, which ended the Burundian civil conflict, a decentralization reform emerged as a clear policy objective to improve and encourage state-citizens interactions. In 2005, after the adoption of a new constitution, Burundi began a trans-formative process of decentralization to empower local entities known as communes to bring basic services to Burundi’s entire population. This will increase citizens’ access to education, health care, clean water and better food. Listen to the latest newsJim Yong Kim and Prince William: International Approach Needed for Fighting Corruptiontag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/180602265Mon, 08 Dec 2014 21:58:39 -050002:31nofullAs part of his work as United for Wildlife President, the Duke of Cambridge joined World Bank Group President, Jim Yong Kim at the opening of the International Corruption Hunters Alliance, addressing 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.Listen to the latest newsNews Highlights: Policies Should Match Behaviortag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/179670697Tue, 02 Dec 2014 21:02:29 -050002:53nofullhttp://www.worldbank.org/ - Development policies need to be re-hauled to reflect how people’s minds really work, a new World Bank study argues. This could help form and realize development goals, including that of breaking poverty cycles from one generation to the next, the study says.Listen to the latest newsNews Highlights: Unavoidable Impact of Climate Changetag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/178418294Mon, 24 Nov 2014 15:08:16 -050002:23nofullThe impact of Climate Change may now be unavoidable because the Earth's atmospheric system is locked into warming close to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels by mid-century, according to a new report by the World Bank Group which announces major adverse impacts. Climate Change, Africa, LAC, Brazil, development, water, shortages, drought, glaciers, soybean, wheat, rainfall, rural, Turn Down the Heat, World Bank Group, Confronting the New Climate Normal, Rachel Kyte, Listen to the latest newsJim Yong Kim: New Program Provides Services to Mexico’s Poortag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/177869716Thu, 20 Nov 2014 21:05:05 -050002:00nofullJim Yong Kim was just in Mexico to join the launch of its innovative Prospera social protection program, which is the country’s latest innovation in helping connect the poor and vulnerable to social services as well as improve the health and education of themselves and their families. The World Bank Group has approved a $350 million low-interest loan and has added our expertise to partner with Mexico on this ambitious new initiative. In this podcast, Jim Yong Kim is joined by Arup Banerji, who explains why Mexico’s new program could be helpful for countries around the world.Listen to the latest newsSouth Africa: Using Fiscal Policy to Address Economic Inequalitytag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/176772356Thu, 13 Nov 2014 20:06:43 -050003:16nofullThe end of Apartheid in South Africa has led to many positive changes in the country. But the division of wealth and income remains inadequate to address Apartheid’s crippling economic legacy. Like many growing countries, South Africa faces the difficult challenge of redistributing its wealth. However, unlike other countries, South Africa is facing the challenge head on. CATRIONA PURFIELD, World Bank Senior Economist We look at the top ten percent. They are earning incomes that are a thousand times bigger than those in the bottom ten percent in South Africa. They are only earning ZAR 200 a year before fiscal policy takes effect. However, once we look at fiscal policy, we say that it takes taxes to the rich, and gives it to the poor in the form of fiscal benefits. And as a result of that, that gap narrows from a thousand times bigger, to sixty six times bigger. In South Africa, the government provides benefits in the form of cash payments such as child and old age grants to the poorest people. It also provides free education and free healthcare. As a rule, the poorest people receive more in cash benefits than they are required to pay in taxes. The most recent South Africa Economic Update finds that this is a level of redistribution unsurpassed by other countries. GABRIELA INCHAUSTE / World Bank Senior Economist And what we find is that in terms of fiscal policy’s ability to reduce inequality and to reduce poverty, South Africa stands out. It stands out both in its ability to redistribute, but also in its ability to actually produce impacts on reducing poverty. South Africa’s cash transfers are cutting the poverty rate for those living on less than $2.50 per day by about 7 percentage points. The money brings meals to the dinner tables of families who otherwise would have no reliable income. 66 year old Eunice Ngcobo lives in the township of Alexandra in Gauteng Province. She’s Raised her four grandchildren after they were orphaned. EUNICE NGCOBO/Social Security Grant Recipient If I wasn’t getting the old age and child support grants, life would be very difficult for me. I am not working, and I have high blood pressure, so I would be in and out asking for food for my kids as well. Despite the benefit of such a progressive fiscal policy for South Africa’s poor, the country is grappling with slowing growth, high fiscal deficits and a debt burden that has grown to 40 percent of GDP, leaving little room for expanded social spending . Ending the legacy of inequality in South Africa and ensuring a bright future for all of its citizens will require a greater emphasis on the quality of education and health spending. It also calls for higher growth that creates jobs, especially for the poor, so that all South Africans can increase their earning potential. Listen to the latest newsLa politique fiscale, instrument efficace pour réduire les inégalités en Afrique du Sudtag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/176771043Thu, 13 Nov 2014 19:57:48 -050003:10nofull La fin de l’apartheid en Afrique du Sud a eu beaucoup de retombées positives Mais les écarts de richesse et de revenus hérités de l’apartheid demeurent encore trop importants pour permettre au pays de tourner définitivement la page. L’Afrique du Sud, comme beaucoup de pays émergents, est confrontée au défi important de la redistribution de ses richesses. Contrairement aux autres pays, l’Afrique du Sud s’est fermement attaquée à ce problème. CATRIONA PURFIELD, économiste senior à la Banque mondiale: "Prenons les 10 % les plus riches de la population sud-africaine. Ils gagnent mille fois plus que les dix % les plus pauvres. Ces derniers ne gagnent que 200 rands sud-africains par an avant la politique de redistribution. Cette politique fiscale prélève des impôts sur les riches qu’elle redistribue aux pauvres sous la forme d’aides budgétaires. Grâce à cela, l’écart de revenu entre riches et pauvres se réduit de mille à soixante-six fois." Le gouvernement sud-africain vient en aide aux populations les plus pauvres en distribuant par exemple des allocations familiales ou de retraite. Il fournit également un accès gratuit à l’éducation et aux soins médicaux. Il est de règle que les plus pauvres reçoivent plus d’allocations qu’ils ne paient d’impôts. Le dernier rapport sur l’économie sud-africaine constate que ce niveau de redistribution est bien supérieur à celui des autres pays. GABRIELA INCHAUSTE, économiste senior à la Banque mondiale: "Et nous constatons que l’Afrique du Sud se distingue par sa politique budgétaire, qui parvient à réduire sensiblement les inégalités et la pauvreté. Elle se distingue à la fois par sa capacité de redistribution, et par son impact réel sur la réduction de la pauvreté." Les allocations diminuent la pauvreté de 7 points de pourcentage pour ceux qui vivent avec moins de 2,5 dollars par jour. Ces ressources permettent aux familles à faible revenu de se nourrir. Eunice Ngcobo, 66 ans, vit dans le township d’Alexandra, dans la province du Gauteng. Elle s’occupe de ses quatre petits-enfants orphelins. EUNICE NGCOBO, Bénéficiaire d’une allocation de sécurité sociale: "Si je ne recevais pas ces allocations familiales et de retraites, ma vie serait très difficile. Je ne travaille pas et j’ai des problèmes de tension. Sans ces aides, je serais obligée de faire la manche pour nourrir ma famille." Si cette politique budgétaire a bénéficié aux plus pauvres, le pays connaît désormais une croissance plus faible, des déficits publics élevés et un niveau d’endettement qui atteint 40 pour cent du PIB. Cela laisse peu de marge de manœuvre pour augmenter les dépenses sociales. Pour tourner définitivement la page des inégalités en Afrique du Sud et assurer un meilleur avenir à tous ses citoyens, le pays devra mettre davantage l’accent sur la qualité des dépenses d’éducation et de santé. Il devra générer une croissance plus forte, créatrice d’emplois pour les pauvres, pour que chaque sud-africain puisse améliorer ses revenus. Listen to the latest newsSpotlight: Motivating Through Dignity Improves Sanitation in Rajasthantag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/176595415Wed, 12 Nov 2014 18:33:27 -050005:33nofullWhat would motivate you to install a toilet in your home? Most rural families in Rajasthan have defecated in open fields for generations. Listen to how a campaign that appeals to human dignity has spurred whole communities to change their lives and improve not only their health, but their peace of mind.Listen to the latest newsEbola: An Eyewitness Accounttag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/175527286Wed, 05 Nov 2014 21:24:19 -050007:01nofullTim Evans - the World Bank Group's Senior Director for Health, Nutrition and Population - gives an eyewitness account of his trip to the Ebola-affected countries of Guinea and Liberia. Community mobilizers and health workers there are playing key roles in combating the increasingly challenging disease, says Evans.Listen to the latest newsMigrant Money is Key to Developmenttag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/175509019Wed, 05 Nov 2014 19:18:11 -050008:45nofullhttp://www.worldbank.org/ - Did you know that the billions of dollars migrants send home to their countries each year far surpass the total amount of money that international aid agencies give annually? Mr. Dilip Ratha is a lead economist for the World Bank Group in Washington DC, and is a migrant himself. He says the money, called remittances, which international migrants send to their families and friends, is leading to healthier, more educated communities. Such remittances should be encouraged, says Ratha, who argues that regulations now controlling money sending are unnecessary.Listen to the latest newsJim Yong Kim: African Technology Boon to Businesstag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/174440499Wed, 29 Oct 2014 19:53:01 -050001:36nofullhttp://www.worldbank.org/ - World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim, in Kenya to pledge 1.8 billion in assistance for economic growth in the Horn of Africa, tells about his experience using the popular African mobile app M-Pesa, a service that allows users to pay for goods and conduct finances over their mobile phones. Kim and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon are part of a high level delegation that is joining forces to promote stability and development in the Horn of Africa.Listen to the latest newsNews Highlights: World Is Friendlier Place for Businessestag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/174399600Wed, 29 Oct 2014 15:09:02 -050002:57nofullA new World Bank Group report has found that it’s easier to conduct business this year because 80 percent of world economies surveyed have improved laws and regulations. The most extensive reforms occurred in sub-Saharan Africa. Watch what countries can do to improve trade and commerce, which are key to ending poverty.Listen to the latest newsSpotlight: Free Nappies and Motorbikes Deliver Healthy Babies in Zambiatag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/172477779Thu, 16 Oct 2014 21:11:55 -050005:54nofullAn innovative program that allows health clinics to spend funds on what they need most has resulted in healthy babies and moms in Zambia. The World Bank's Health Results Innovation Trust Fund is supported by the governments of Norway and the United Kingdom. HRITF has been supporting Results-Based Financing (RBF) approaches since 2007 to help developing countries accelerate progress towards development goals, particularly those that focus on maternal and child health and nutrition.Listen to the latest newsNews Highlights: Leaders Push to Speed Response to Ebola Crisistag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/172104701Tue, 14 Oct 2014 14:37:44 -050001:59nofullhttp://www.worldbank.org/ - Leaders of the World Bank Group, United Nations and affected African countries agreed at a critical meeting in Washington to work on speeding up the global response to the Ebola crisis. Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim said they will reach out to countries around the world to send more health workers to Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.Listen to the latest newsNews Highlights: World Bank Announces Global Infrastructure Agreement and Aid to Haititag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/171545829Fri, 10 Oct 2014 19:36:01 -050002:16nofullhttp://www.worldbank.org/ - During the 2014 Annual Meetings, the World Bank has launched a massive private sector partnership to raise billions of dollars in private money to build infrastructure in developing economies and also announced a 50 million dollar pledge to fight cholera in Haiti. Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim said waterborne diseases are a leading cause of death for Haitian children. He also said that all developing countries need an estimated 1 trillion dollars a year to maintain and increase infrastructure needed to keep their economies growing.Listen to the latest newsNews Highlights: Ebola Could Cost $32.6 Billiontag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/171228188Wed, 08 Oct 2014 18:55:57 -050002:00nofullhttp://www.worldbank.org/ - With the latest death toll from Ebola now at more than 3,400 in the three worst-affected countries of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, a new economic impact study from the World Bank Group says that if the epidemic was to significantly spread in neighboring countries, the two-year regional financial impact could reach US$32.6 billion by the end of 2015.Listen to the latest newsAfrica's Pulse Fall 2014tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/171080701Tue, 07 Oct 2014 19:46:18 -050002:31nofullThe World Bank’s biannual report on Africa’s economic performance, Africa’s Pulse, released in Washington, D.C. this week, finds that despite weaker than expected global growth and stable or declining commodity prices, African economies continue to expand. The report finds that Africa’s Growth may surpass five per cent in financial year 2015-16, but Ebola, terrorism and other risks also threaten these economies. World Bank Chief Economist for the Africa Region, Chico Ferreira: “The good news in the Africa’s Pulse that’s coming out this fall, is that growth continues to be strong in Sub-Saharan Africa. Growth in 2014 is expected to come in in 4.6 percent. Of course there are downside risks that we need to be aware of. The most important one, that’s on everyone’s mind, is the risk of Ebola and contagion from Ebola in West Africa. For the rest of the continent, Africa’s Pulse finds that significant public investment in infrastructure, increased agricultural production and expanding services in African retail, telecoms, transportation, and finance, are expected to continue to boost growth in the region, and bring jobs to Africa’s young workforce. However, in a special study of Africa’s patterns of African economies, The Pulse finds that the region is largely bypassing industrialization as a major driver of growth and jobs. Instead, the study finds that the extractive industries - in the natural resources sector, and a surging service industry are propelling Africa’s growth. Lead author of the report, Punam Chuhan-Pole: “Well, the growth of 4.5 percent has meant more jobs for people, but what it hasn’t meant is better paying jobs. What the focus needs to be moving forward; is having better jobs and better paying jobs for people. The World Bank Group continued its strong commitment to Africa delivering $10.6 billion in new lending for 160 projects in 2014. For more information on the World Bank’s work in Africa, visit www.worldbank.org/africa Listen to the latest newsNews Highlights: Turning on the Taps to Help Lebanon’s Poor and Syria’s Refugeestag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/169923652Mon, 29 Sep 2014 20:52:46 -050008:18nofullIt seems impossible but true. Lebanon has one of the world’s largest amounts of available fresh water and yet its people have such limited access that the taps for many are turned on for only a few hours a day. Now, the World Bank Group has announced a massive project that will soon get water flowing to over 1.6 million people in and around Beirut, improving the lives of Lebanon’s poorest, including Syrian refugees seeking shelter from conflict back home.Listen to the latest newsEbola: The Economic Impact of Ebola in Liberiatag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/168477505Fri, 19 Sep 2014 18:59:49 -050008:58nofullProducer Eva Flomo of United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) Radio discusses the economic impact of Ebola on Liberia's economy with Timothy Bulman, World Bank Senior Country Economist in Liberia. A recent World Bank Group analysis of the Ebola epidemic has found that that if the virus continues to surge in the three worst-affected countries – Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone – its economic impact could grow eight-fold, dealing a potentially catastrophic blow to the already fragile states.Listen to the latest newsEbola: Economic Impact Already Serious; Could Be “Catastrophic”tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/168185365Wed, 17 Sep 2014 19:46:43 -050002:15nofullhttp://www.worldbank.org/ - A World Bank Group analysis of the Ebola epidemic released today finds that, beyond the terrible toll in human suffering, the continuing surge in the deadly virus in the three worst-affected countries – Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone – could deal a potentially catastrophic economic blow to the already fragile states. World Bank President Jim Yong Kim says that the largest economic effects of the crisis are not as a result of the direct costs (mortality, morbidity, caregiving, and the associated losses to working days) but rather those resulting from aversion behavior driven by fear of contagion. The analysis finds that economic costs can be limited if swift national and international responses succeed in containing the epidemic.Listen to the latest newsCarbon Taxes and Investment in Public Transporttag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/167993651Tue, 16 Sep 2014 14:59:40 -050006:13nofullEconomists often recommend fuel taxes to curb greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles in cities. But the effectiveness of these taxes depends heavily on other factors, like the availability of public transportation, and the density of a city. A recent paper by Stephane Hallegatte, Senior Economist in the World Bank's Climate Change Unit, and his colleagues finds that taxes are twice as effective when accompanied by an investment in public transport. In this interview, Hallegate discusses his paper and findings. For more information, visit: http://www.worldbank.org/en/researchListen to the latest newsNews Highlights: Farming for a Cool Worldtag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/166962544Tue, 09 Sep 2014 17:56:42 -050001:46nofullhttp://www.worldbank.org/ - Listen to how Kenyan farmers produce more food, improve lives, and help mitigate climate change. The Carbon Credit program helps them better manage their land as rainfall becomes more erratic.Listen to the latest newsNews Highlights: Road to Riches in Bangladeshtag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/165166549Thu, 28 Aug 2014 15:33:53 -050001:46nofullhttp://www.worldbank.org/ - Bangladesh has a labor force ready to produce goods for the world market. But bad roads and ports slow down exports and drive up costs. Now, a plan to improve the transport system could pave the way to more jobs and prosperity.Listen to the latest newsEbola: Tackling The Outbreak in West Africatag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/164907385Tue, 26 Aug 2014 21:23:57 -050005:26nofullThe World Bank is working with the World Health Organization, the United Nations and other development partners to support the governments of Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea, as they work to contain the spread of the Ebola Virus.Listen to the latest newsImproving health outcomes for women and survivors of sexual based violence in Africa's Great Lakestag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/164906373Tue, 26 Aug 2014 21:16:11 -050005:28nofullA new World Bank supported project, the first of its kind in Africa, will provide integrated services to survivors of sexual and gender based violence in the DRC, Rwanda and Burundi. Survivors will receive health services, mental health counseling, legal aid, and economic opportunities. In Burundi and the DRC, they will also receive much-needed maternal and reproductive health services.Listen to the latest news2014 Africa Region Financial Year End Reviewtag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/164905585Tue, 26 Aug 2014 21:10:19 -050002:16nofullThe world bank group committed a record breaking US$15 Billion to Sub-Saharan Africa's development during the 2013 and 2014 fiscal year. The Bank supported job training programs for youth, the prevention of malaria and other tropical diseases as social protection for poor families across the region.Listen to the latest newsPreparing Young Women for Entrepreneurship and Jobs (UGANDA)tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/164904935Tue, 26 Aug 2014 21:05:20 -050007:05nofullIn this second episode of a 2-part podcast on the economic empowerment of young women, broadcaster Georges Collinet discusses the importance of employment training and the reproductive empowerment of young women in Uganda with an expert from the world’s largest NGO, BRAC, and two World Bank gender specialists.Listen to the latest newsPreparing Young Women for Entrepreneurship and Jobs (LIBERIA)tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/164904677Tue, 26 Aug 2014 21:03:32 -050006:31nofullIn this first episode of a 2-part podcast on the economic empowerment of young women, broadcaster Georges Collinet discusses entrepreneurship, technical training and soft skills training for young women in Liberia, with the Liberian Deputy Gender Minister, and two World Bank gender specialists.Listen to the latest newsCPIA Africatag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/164877502Tue, 26 Aug 2014 17:49:24 -050002:49nofullThe latest World Bank review of government policies and institutions in Africa shows that 20 percent of countries improved their policy environment to boost growth and cut poverty in 2013.Listen to the latest newsAfrica's Pulse Spring 2014tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/164876184Tue, 26 Aug 2014 17:39:46 -050003:53nofullEconomic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) continues to rise from 4.7 percent in 2013 to a forecasted 5.2 percent in 2014. This performance is boosted by rising investment in natural resources and infrastructure, and strong household spending, according to the World Bank’s new Africa’s Pulse, a twice-yearly analysis of the issues shaping Africa’s economic prospects.Listen to the latest newsTanzania Conditional Cash Transferstag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/164874844Tue, 26 Aug 2014 17:31:04 -050011:22nofullLegendary broadcaster Georges Collinet sits down with one of the researchers from the Conditional Cash Transfer project in Tanzania and the head of the Tanzania Social Action Fund to discuss the program, the study, and the results in this ten-minute podcast.Listen to the latest newsSouth Africa - TB Mines Launchtag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/164873803Tue, 26 Aug 2014 17:23:53 -050001:54nofullIn a move to tackle the century-old TB scourge among mineworkers, the governments of Lesotho, Mozambique, South Africa, and Swaziland will meet with mining industry, union representatives, development partners and other stakeholders, at a Ministerial Meeting on March 25, 2014, in Johannesburg, South Africa, to discuss a standardized approach to the management of TB in the mining industry across all four countries.Listen to the latest newsSouth Africa Economic Update 5, January 2014tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/164873360Tue, 26 Aug 2014 17:21:02 -050001:43nofullBoosting competition and promoting deeper regional trade integration are critical for restarting South Africa’s export engine to bolster growth which would help create jobs and reduce poverty, according to a recently released World Bank report.Listen to the latest newsAfrica's Pulse Fall 2013tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/164872420Tue, 26 Aug 2014 17:13:52 -050004:58nofullFive years after the start of the global financial crisis, most countries in Sub-Saharan Africa have continued to register relatively vigorous growth. Economic activity throughout the region continues to expand: GDP growth is projected to reach 4.9% in 2013, compared with 4.2% in 2012, and will rise to 5.5% in 2015, according to the World Bank’s new Africa’s Pulse, the twice-yearly analysis of the economic trends and latest data on the continent. Herbert Boh speaks with report author Punam Chuhan Pole and World Bank Africa Region Chief Economist, Francisco "Chico" Ferreira.Listen to the latest newsTourism in Africa Reporttag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/164872036Tue, 26 Aug 2014 17:11:07 -050007:19nofullA new World Bank report, “Tourism in Africa: Harnessing Tourism for Improved Growth and Livelihoods,” says that African countries can compete with other tourist-rich regions of the world if they can effectively plan for and integrate tourism into their economies. Herbert Boh speaks with report authors Ian Christie and Hannah Messerli.Listen to the latest newsRachel Kyte: Building a More Resilient and Livable Community in Vietnamtag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/164742048Mon, 25 Aug 2014 20:15:57 -050002:42nofullhttp://www.worldbank.org/vn - World Bank Group Vice President and Special Envoy for Climate Change, Rachel Kyte, visited the Mekong Delta in Vietnam, which is suffering from salt water intrusion and coastal erosion. She talks with local residents and urges decision makers and development partners to take actions to solve the problem.Listen to the latest newsAméliorer les services de santé et aider les victimes de violences dans l'Afrique des Grands Lacstag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/164722952Mon, 25 Aug 2014 17:57:37 -050006:12nofullInitiative sans précédent en Afrique, un nouveau projet soutenu par la Banque mondiale va offrir une prise en charge intégrée aux victimes de violences sexuelles ou d’autres formes de violences liées au genre, en RDC, au Rwanda et au Burundi. Les survivants bénéficieront ainsi de soins de santé, d’un soutien psychologique, d’une aide juridique et d’une offre de débouchés. Au Burundi et en RDC, les femmes pourront aussi accéder à des services de santé maternelle et génésique qui font aujourd’hui cruellement défaut.Listen to the latest newsSpotlight: How to Learn On a Full Stomach in Laostag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/164128622Thu, 21 Aug 2014 14:44:54 -050003:25nofullhttp://www.globalpartnership.org - Walking from village to school can take a long time for children in Laos. Children who went home for lunch often wouldn't return to class. So to improve education for all, Laos introduced a national program that offers free meals at the school. Thanks to funding from the Global Partnership for Education, the whole community is actively involved gardening, fishing, and cooking -- so that every child will be well nourished and educated.Listen to the latest newsSpotlight: More Teachers, More Learning in Cameroontag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/163703541Mon, 18 Aug 2014 18:48:03 -050003:32nofullhttp://www.globalpartnership.org - For years, Cameroon's education sector was in disrepair - teachers didn't receive salaries as more and more children crowded into classrooms. But Cameroon has managed a turnaround with support from the Global Partnership for Education. Teachers now receive a regular paycheck, which has attracted better and more reliable applicants to the profession. Hiring more teachers has also led to smaller classroom sizes. Listen to the latest newsNews Highlights: Ebola: World Bank Mobilizes Emergency Fundstag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/161710815Mon, 04 Aug 2014 21:35:58 -050001:20nofullhttp://www.worldbank.org/ - The World Bank Group will mobilize millions to aid affected families and communities and to build up public health systems in West Africa. The pledge comes after calls for assistance from the three African countries hardest hit by Ebola and the World Health Organization (WHO).Listen to the latest newsAfrique: Contrôler l’épidémie d’Ebola, un défi pour l’Afrique de l’Ouesttag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/161020589Wed, 30 Jul 2014 22:34:03 -050004:41nofullLa Banque mondiale œuvre aux côtés de l’OMS, de l’ONU et d’autres organisations pour renforcer les systèmes de santé des pays d’Afrique de l’Ouest affectés par l’épidémie d’Ebola et éviter que le virus ne se propage. Listen to the latest newsSpotlight: Improving Trade in Nepal is a Long Roadtag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/160957613Wed, 30 Jul 2014 14:44:15 -050007:14nofullhttp://www.worldbank.org/southasia - Everyone agrees that it takes way too long to export goods out of Nepal and import goods in. The government of Nepal plans on changing that by improving its roads, modernizing its customs and trade procedures, and creating internationally accredited inspection labs.Listen to the latest newsSpotlight: Financial Services for Everyone in the Democratic Republic of Congotag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/160649051Mon, 28 Jul 2014 14:39:35 -050006:57nofullhttp://www.ifc.org/financialinclusionafrica - Banks generally consider poor customers too risky and too expensive to serve. Employing an innovative business model of agent banking and biometric technology, micro-finance bank FINCA is bringing formal financial services to the poor in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Even low income people now have a safe place to save money, earn interest and manage economic decisions.Listen to the latest newsJim Yong Kim: Jobs in India - New Hope For Next Generationtag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/159959764Wed, 23 Jul 2014 16:31:15 -050002:30nofullhttp://www.worldbank.org - One of India's biggest challenges -- and opportunity -- is that 10 million people every year will move from rural areas to cities. We're helping the country find new models to give job skills to those in transition, especially women. In the village of Padappai, about 20 miles outside Chennai in southern India, I listened to dozens of women tell stories about how acquiring job skills not only helped give their families a living wage but also raised their aspirations for their children. One after the other, they said their children wanted to become a pilot, a doctor, a civil servant, and a teacher. They spoke so convincingly that I had no doubt this transformation is already in motion. Please listen to the short blog to learn more.Listen to the latest newsJim Yong Kim: Female Genital Mutilation and Child Marriagetag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/159795454Tue, 22 Jul 2014 14:38:23 -050002:09nofullThe health and welfare of many girls around the world are being endangered by the practices of early marriages and Female Genital Mutilation. World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim urges nations to help adolescent girls live safe and productive lives.Listen to the latest newsTake On: Pawpaw and Goats - Surprising Ways to Combat Climate Change in Kenyatag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/159109438Thu, 17 Jul 2014 14:30:45 -050008:02nofullhttp://www.worldbank.org - The rains are coming later and don't last as long. For an increasing number of Kenyans, the solution to Climate Change has been sustainable farming and herding techniques that reduce carbon output, save them money and make their farms and herds more prosperous. The goats seem okay with it too.Listen to the latest newsJim Yong Kim: Visits Areas Struck by Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) in the Philippinestag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/158800857Tue, 15 Jul 2014 13:46:34 -050002:03nofullhttp://www.worldbank.org/philippines - Victims of typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) are recovering from the disaster with the government's conditional cash transfer program supported by the World Bank, and a livelihood project funded by the Korean Presbyterian Church in Palo, Leyte.Listen to the latest newsJim Yong Kim: Learning From Japantag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/158660660Mon, 14 Jul 2014 15:46:10 -050002:15nofullhttp://www.worldbank.org/ - Tokyo - From the 42nd floor of the Mori Tower in downtown Tokyo, which had models of Tokyo and New York City on the floor, you can see the lessons of urbanization for the world: ways to build dense and clean cities. During my two-day trip to Japan, I met senior officials and spent an extended period with our partners the Japan International Corporation Agency, or JICA. We have learned so much in our collaboration with JICA, especially involving universal health coverage and disaster risk management, and now we will work with them to deepen that relationship. To learn more, listen to this short blog.Listen to the latest newsJim Yong Kim: Education is a Good Investment in Chinatag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/158106076Thu, 10 Jul 2014 13:55:10 -050002:09nofullhttp://www.worldbank.org/china - Changsha, China - For World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim, a technical training program at the Hunan Normal University illustrates how investment in education pays off over time. In 1992, a World Bank loan helped purchase machines that are still used today to provide students with technical and vocational training that will lead to jobs after they graduate. Listen as Kim talks about his visit to China and the Bank's plans to help China improve not only education, but also healthcare services.Listen to the latest newsJim Yong Kim: Wealthier China Determined to be Healthier Chinatag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/157957856Wed, 09 Jul 2014 13:51:45 -050001:24nofullhttp://www.worldbank.org/china - World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim said China's growing health sector will have a tremendous impact on the country's economy and said the Bank is collaborating with China and other organizations on a study that will help accelerate efforts to provide affordable quality medical care, especially for the country's aging population. Kim spoke at a press conference in Beijing following meetings with President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang and Vice Premier Liu Yandong and many other senior officials. World Bank Group,Jim Yong Kim,China,Beijing,Xi Jinping,Li Keqiang,Liu Yandong,healthcareListen to the latest newsJim Yong Kim: Are You Ready to Take It On? End Poverty by 2030tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/154922897Wed, 18 Jun 2014 14:04:42 -050001:26nofullhttp://wrld.bg/vCj2N - The world's most successful social movements are started by a small group of like-minded people, says the World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim. The next major task is to end extreme poverty globally by 2030 and we need everyone - writers, artists, engineers, economists. Find your interest, identify your talents, and take it on. It will be the most thrilling thing you ever do. Related links: http://blogs.worldbank.org/voices/take-it-what-you-can-do-help-end-extreme-poverty http://blogs.worldbank.org/voices/take-it-on http://www.worldbank.org #takeon #endpovertyListen to the latest newsNews Highlights: World Bank Lowers Projection for Economiestag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/154040039Thu, 12 Jun 2014 14:22:38 -050001:13nofullhttp://www.worldbank.org/ - Developing countries are headed for a year of disappointing growth, as first quarter weakness in 2014 delays an expected pick-up in economic activity, according to the World Bank's Global Economic Prospects (GEP) report. Bad weather in the US, the crisis in Ukraine, and political strife in several middle-income economies are all contributing to a third straight year of sub 5 percent growth in developing countries.Listen to the latest newsSpotlight: Teaching Spanish in Nepaltag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/153723491Tue, 10 Jun 2014 15:55:07 -050002:33nofullEntrepreneurship is booming in Nepal, helped by a modernization project at the country's Office of Company Registrar that has streamlined the process by which private and public limited companies are registered and file their annual reports. A new computer system, with the support of the World Bank Group's International Finance Corporation (IFC), has made it easier for start-ups to register at http://www.ocr.gov.np. To learn more, visit: http://www.ifc.org/southasia http://www.facebook.com/IFCsouthasia http://www.twitter.com/IFC_SouthAsiaListen to the latest newsJim Yong Kim: 'Jordan Needs the World's Help'tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/152840883Wed, 04 Jun 2014 20:52:31 -050000:44nofullhttp://www.worldbank.org/ - On the final leg of a four-day Middle East trip, World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim traveled to the Zaatari refugee camp, which has 103,000 Syrian residents who fled the three-year-long war, and met with senior Jordanian officials, including His Majesty King Abdullah and Prime Minister Dr. Abdullah Ensour. At the refugee camp, Kim said that Syria's neighbors, especially Lebanon, Jordan, and Turkey, have shown incredible generosity in allowing more than 2 million refugees into their countries. But he said as a result Jordan and the other countries were under great stress in nearly every sector -- water, electricity, health, and education -- and now was the time for the global community to step up its help to the host communities. Listen to the latest newsNews Highlights: Prepare for Syrian Peace Nowtag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/152779336Wed, 04 Jun 2014 13:58:23 -050002:02nofullhttp://www.worldbank.org/ - While the war in Syria shows no sign of abating, World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim today told an audience of students and policymakers in Lebanon that it was time to "prepare for peace" in Syria and surrounding countries, citing similar efforts that began 70 years ago before the end of World War II.Listen to the latest newsJim Yong Kim: Lebanon's Stressed Schoolstag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/152775110Wed, 04 Jun 2014 13:25:14 -050001:53nofullhttp://www.worldbank.org/ - Beirut, Lebanon - World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim visited an elementary school in Beirut that was once 95 percent Lebanese students and now has a majority of students from Syria, whose families fled the war. The visit, taken during a four-day trip to Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, and Jordan, illustrated the increasingly burden felt by Lebanon, where more than one million Syrians have fled to escape the war. Kim called on the international community to step up its support of Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, and other countries that have taken in the refugees.Listen to the latest newsNews Highlights: Rising Food Prices Could Exacerbate Instabilitytag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/151874677Thu, 29 May 2014 18:10:08 -050001:53nofullhttp://www.worldbank.org - International prices of food increased by 4 percent in recent months and the World Bank Group is concerned that food riots could lead to political instability in some regions.Listen to the latest newsJim Yong Kim: Improving Learning in Peru Will Help Reduce Inequalitytag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/150464069Tue, 20 May 2014 19:49:12 -050001:09nofullLamay, Peru -- In this Andean town outside Cuzco, I traveled with Peru's First Lady Nadine Heredia to the San Luis Gonzaga primary school. This school, and many others in the area, have had poor learning outcomes. But I was impressed by the government's and the school's commitment to improve, which will be critical in the efforts to reduce inequality and boost shared prosperity in Peru. Listen to this blog from a second-grade classroom to learn more.Listen to the latest newsJim Yong Kim: Turkey's Decade of Progresstag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/150418501Tue, 20 May 2014 14:35:34 -050002:13nofullhttp://www.worldbank.org/ - October 31, 2013 - Istanbul - On my first trip to Turkey, I met the country's political leaders, business executives, and civil society organizers -- and some of the World Bank Group staff. We have 250 staff in Turkey, of which 200 are in the regional hub of IFC, our private sector arm. While Turkey faces many challenges, I came away very impressed with many of the nation's accomplishments during the last decade. To learn more, listen to this audio blog.Listen to the latest newsNews Highlights: Violence Strikes 1 in 3 Women Globallytag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/149526637Wed, 14 May 2014 17:47:37 -050002:06nofullhttp://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/gender - Girls with little or no education are far more likely to be married as children, suffer domestic violence, live in poverty, and lack a say over household spending or their own health care than better-educated peers, which harms them, their children, and communities, a new report by the World Bank Group finds.Listen to the latest newsSpotlight: Navigating (Night)life in Dakartag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/149339067Tue, 13 May 2014 15:51:56 -050002:24nofullhttp://www.infoDev.org/mobile - A female-run startup in Dakar has created the most popular event guide to Senegal's capital. The cellphone app is a must for partygoers and tourists alike.Listen to the latest newsSpotlight: Better Roads Speed up Economic Growth in India and South Asiatag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/148688875Fri, 09 May 2014 14:29:23 -050005:20nofullhttp://www.worldbank.org/southasia - In this mountainous region of India, towns can thrive or fail depending on the quality of their roads. The World Bank Group is helping construct new roads and repair old ones, so improved transportation can boost intra-regional trade and prosperity, improving lives along the way.Listen to the latest newsJim Yong Kim: A Trip to The Sahel Shows New Opportunitiestag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/147418769Thu, 01 May 2014 17:35:29 -050002:23nofullhttp://www.worldbank.org/ - November 7, 2013 - Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso - President Jim Yong Kim arrived in the Sahel on a four-country trip thinking of the trouble in the region: drought, hunger, and conflict. He left impressed by the political leadership and the resolve of the people. To learn more, please listen to this audio blog.Listen to the latest newsJim Yong Kim: Stability Vital for Prosperity in Malitag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/147417402Thu, 01 May 2014 17:25:39 -050001:11nofullhttp://www.worldbank.org/ - November 6, 2013 - Timbuktu, Mali - Months after a rebel attack was rebuffed in Mali, the country is striving to stabilize in order to fight poverty and boost shared prosperity. President Jim Yong Kim visited the West African nation with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to underline international commitment to the region.Listen to the latest newsJim Yong Kim: A Road of Opportunity in Senegaltag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/147417396Thu, 01 May 2014 17:25:37 -050001:34nofullhttp://www.worldbank.org/ - November 6, 2013 - Dakar, Senegal - One of the most important pieces in our new strategy is that all parts of the World Bank Group need to work together more closely. In Dakar, President Jim Yong Kim visited a new toll road that has cut down commuters' travel time and shows signs of boosting economic development at various exits. The project was supported by IDA, our fund for the poorest, and the IFC, our private sector arm. Please listen to learn more.Listen to the latest newsMy Favorite Number: For China's Economy, 7 Is a Favorite Numbertag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/146419236Fri, 25 Apr 2014 14:14:09 -050003:56nofullhttp://www.worldbank.org - World Bank economist Bert Hofman's favorite number is 7. That's the indicative growth target of China's 12th Five Year Plan. Such a target would allow more balanced, sustainable growth, which is good for China and for the World. 'My Favorite Number' shows that economists are not just about numbers -- they bring passion, introspection and even humor to help the world stay on track.Listen to the latest newsJim Yong Kim: Learning from the Korean 'Miracle'tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/146266846Thu, 24 Apr 2014 16:00:16 -050002:48nofullhttp://www.worldbank.org/ - December 5, 2013 - Seoul, Republic of Korea - President Jim Yong Kim was born in Korea in 1959, a time when the per capita income was not much more than $100. Today, Korea's gross national income is roughly $23,000 per person. Everywhere President Kim travels in the developing world, leaders ask him, how did Korea lift itself out of such dire straits? One of the reasons is that many Koreans are never satisfied with success; they always seek improvement. Listen to this blog to learn more.Listen to the latest newsJim Yong Kim: Myanmar's Chance to Boost Prosperity, End Povertytag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/145795483Mon, 21 Apr 2014 18:52:11 -050001:30nofullhttp://www.worldbank.org - January 26, 2014 - Yangon, Myanmar - The government here has put forward ambitious plans to dramatically increase access to electricity and health care, especially in rural areas. Both are huge problems; some 70% of all people in Myanmar do not have access to electricity, and public health issues, including the spread of TB, need to be more effectively curtailed. What can we do about these problems? Actually, quite a bit. Listen to the podcast from the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon to learn more.Listen to the latest newsJim Yong Kim: From Davos, a Plan to Fight Income Inequalitytag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/145795478Mon, 21 Apr 2014 18:52:09 -050001:48nofullhttp://www.worldbank.org - January 23, 2014 - Davos, Switzerland - The theme of this year's World Economic Forum here involves income inequality and how to close the wide gap between rich and poor. I think this is a smart choice for the meeting, which attracts some of the most powerful and wealthiest people in the world. But to battle income inequality, you need a serious plan. Listen to this podcast from Davos to hear what we recommend as a smart plan of action.Listen to the latest newsGeorges Collinet: Charcoal: It's not just for Barbecue Anymore!tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/145782590Mon, 21 Apr 2014 17:27:45 -050005:08nofullwww.esmap.org/ - For most people, charcoal means summer and barbecue with friends and family. Well in Senegal, charcoal and cheap efficient charcoal burning stoves are the main links in a new economy. Listen to the podcast to learn how charcoal helps to improve lives in Senegal.Listen to the latest newsSpotlight: Happy Cows Help Save the Planettag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/145365445Fri, 18 Apr 2014 20:48:48 -050006:08nofullhttp://www.worldbank.org - Costa Rica has become a world leader in agricultural and forestry practices that help reduce global warming by reducing carbon output -- but the real winners are ranchers and farmers who say environmentally sound practices save them money and benefit their livestock, their crops and their livelihoods.Listen to the latest newsGeorges Collinet: Youth Employment in Sub-Saharan Africatag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/145174937Thu, 17 Apr 2014 17:06:21 -050005:55nofullwww.worldbank.org/ - April 11, 2014- Half of the population in Sub Saharan Africa is under 25 years of age. How to get this large number of youth, that are leaving school and entering the labor market, productively and sustainably employed? It’s the subject of a seminar and a review of the report “Youth Employment in Sub Saharan Africa” held at the World Bank.Listen to the latest newsGeorges Collinet: The Art of Resiliencetag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/145174901Thu, 17 Apr 2014 17:06:04 -050005:53nofullwww.worldbank.org/ - April 9, 2014 - 35 paintings and pictures by Syrian artists are exhibited in the Atrium of the World Bank’s headquarters. Dr. Jim Yong King, President of the World Bank, joined Inger Andersen, Vice President of Middle East and North Africa Region, Chris Gunness, Spokesperson and Director of Communications of the UNRWA, Jihad Yazigi, Founder and Editor of the Syria Report, and Raghad Mardini to inaugurate this exhibit. Raghad Mardini, creator of the Art Residence Alley in Lebanon for Syrian refugee artists, assembled the paintings and pictures.Listen to the latest newsGeorges Collinet: What Have Young People Gained from the Arab Spring?tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/145174861Thu, 17 Apr 2014 17:05:48 -050005:49nofullwww.worldbank.org/ - April 10, 2014 - After the exhilarating days of the Arab Spring, youth unemployment remains among the highest in the world. What can be done to improve this situation and tap the potential of young people? Join us for a lively debate conducted by Abderrahim Foukara from Al Jazeera, with panelists from Tunisia, Yemen, Morocco, and the World Bank.Listen to the latest newsSpotlight: Changing the Culture of Toilets in Indiatag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/145028269Wed, 16 Apr 2014 19:23:22 -050006:05nofullhttp://www.worldbank.org/india - An initiative by the Indian government geared at changing people's behavior when it comes to using toilets has been a success in some parts of India. There are more cellphones than toilets in India and it is estimated that more than half of India's households don't have access to toilets. A situation that has contributed to disease, infant mortality and widespread economic loss.Listen to the latest newsJim Yong Kim: Humility and the Power of Working Togethertag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/144873278Tue, 15 Apr 2014 21:16:12 -050001:51nofullhttp://www.worldbank.org - March 18, 2013 - Jim Yong Kim traveled to the United Nations to talk to UNICEF's Executive Board and also to meet with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on moving forward with the important work that we do together. These meetings are key to delivering results because our UN colleagues and we are committed to working closely together. Making that happen requires many things, including a big dose of humility.Listen to the latest newsJim Yong Kim: Paving the Way for Greener Cities in Shanghaitag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/144872240Tue, 15 Apr 2014 21:09:07 -050001:40nofullSeptember 17, 2013 - Shanghai, China - Jim Yong Kim speaks in front of a building at Linkong International Garden that has solar panels on the outer walls and rooftops, geothermal heat pumps, and online energy management. This is part of the front line of the fight against climate change, and Shanghai is helping to lead the way in making sure rapid urbanization involves a wide array of clean technologies. To learn more, visit www.worldbank.org/chinaListen to the latest newsJim Yong Kim: Shared Prosperity: What it Means in Russiatag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/144871771Tue, 15 Apr 2014 21:05:58 -050002:24nofullhttp://www.worldbank.org/russia - March 18, 2013 - During President Kim's trip to Russia, he spoke with government officials, civil society leaders, students, and attended the Group of 20 meetings. One of the major themes discussed is how an upper middle income country can boost shared prosperity among its citizens. How can Russia make sure that its growth includes women, young people and others, and how can it benefit future generations? Listen to the audio blog for more.Listen to the latest newsJim Yong Kim: Targets will Help Fight Against Povertytag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/144869656Tue, 15 Apr 2014 20:51:24 -050001:52nofullhttp://www.worldbank.org/president - April 8, 2013 - Madrid - I was just in Spain to meet with Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy Brey and with the United Nations' Chief Executives Board -- the heads of the UN agencies. In the UN meeting, we discussed the importance of setting targets to meet the Millennium Development Goals. We now have just under 1,000 days to reach those goals -- a target that can help spark action to reduce poverty and improve the lives of families in the developing world.Listen to the latest newsJim Yong Kim: Our Partnership with Russiatag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/144863206Tue, 15 Apr 2014 20:08:15 -050002:04nofullhttp://www.worldbank.org/ru/ - September 6, 2013 - President Kim highlights some of the issues he discussed with Russian President Vladimir Putin, including the World Bank Group's strong partnership with Russia, supporting the country in improving its business environment, and the Bank's Doing Business report, which is a top priority for President Putin.Listen to the latest newsJim Yong Kim: Inside the G20tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/144862926Tue, 15 Apr 2014 20:06:28 -050001:35nofullSeptember 6, 2013 - St. Petersburg, Russia - The Group of 20 leaders met for an intense 24-hour period over two days, discussing the situation in Syria and the global economy. Watch this audio blog to hear what World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim thought shouldn't be forgotten in these important discussions.Listen to the latest newsJim Yong Kim: In Afghanistan, Recognizing Success, and Challenges Aheadtag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/144862534Tue, 15 Apr 2014 20:03:56 -050001:49nofullhttp://www.worldbank.org/afghanistan - March 18, 2013 - On my first trip to Afghanistan as World Bank Group president, I met with many of the country's senior leaders, including President Hamid Karzai, as well as leaders in business and among women's groups. The challenges for Afghanistan, like many fragile or conflict-affected states, are huge, but it's critically important that we build on successes that we've achieved in the last decade. Learn more by listening to the audio blog.Listen to the latest newsJim Yong Kim: Mutual Efforts to End Povertytag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/144861526Tue, 15 Apr 2014 19:57:03 -050001:42nofullOctober 28, 2013 - Vatican City - Like many people around the world, I've been closely following Pope Francis' comments on the importance of serving the poor. When I had a chance to meet the His Holiness at the Vatican, I had the privilege to talk to about it -- and about helping lead a social movement to end extreme poverty. Listen to President Kim's audio blog to learn more.Listen to the latest newsMy Favorite Number: 2 Is a Small Number with Big Problemstag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/141210648Mon, 24 Mar 2014 18:51:50 -050003:38nofullhttp://www.worldbank.org - For World Bank Vice President and Special Envoy for Climate Change, Rachel Kyte, 2 is a number worth fixating on. My Favorite Number shows how a smart economist can bring passion and prose into complex issues, such as Climate Change and global emissions.Listen to the latest newsMy Favorite Number: When It Comes to Shared Prosperity, 40 Is Keytag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/141209267Mon, 24 Mar 2014 18:43:04 -050004:36nofullhttp://www.worldbank.org - For World Bank Chief Economist Kaushik Basu, 40 is a number that's taken over his life. My Favorite Number is a series that shows how economists can bring insight, intelligence and humanity to global development when they start talking about numbers.Listen to the latest newsSpotlight: Busting Ghostworkerstag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/138914145Mon, 10 Mar 2014 20:04:39 -050002:46nofullhttp://www.infoDev.org/mobile - Kenya's high crime rate has led to a surge in security companies. An estimated 500,000 security guards try to keep residences and businesses safe. However, often they turn into so called "ghostworkers" - not showing up for work but collecting salary. A Kenyan female entrepreneur has found a foolproof solution to bust ghostworkers. Using a mobile phone app, companies can now keep track of their guards. Learn more at http://www.infoDev.org/mobile and http://www.ukall.co.keListen to the latest newsSpotlight: From Slums to Cocktail Parties - African Jewelry is Trendingtag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/138896698Mon, 10 Mar 2014 18:13:03 -050002:47nofullhttp://www.infodev.org/mobile - Trendy jewelry made in African slums goes international: A Kenyan Startup company has used mobile technology to link local artisans with global markets. The company, founded and managed by women, distributes some of Africa's coolest fashion items via Internet.Listen to the latest newsSpotlight: Soap Opera for Social Changetag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/138896434Mon, 10 Mar 2014 18:11:24 -050004:42nofullhttp://www.worldbank.org/financialinclusion - Can soap operas educate TV audiences on personal finance issues? Researchers at the World Bank did the test: They integrated messages on personal finance into 2 episodes of South Africa's famous "Scandal!" soap opera. The results was stunning: debt mediators were flooded with calls by people who sought advice on similar issues.Listen to the latest news