The International Monetary Fund, World Bank Group, World Health Organization and World Trade Organization have joined forces to accelerate access to COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics by leveraging multilateral finance and trade solutions, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

The aim is to vaccinate at least 40 percent of people in every country by the end of 2021, and at least 60 percent by mid-2022.  The effort will track, coordinate, and advance delivery of COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics, working with governments and partners at the global and local levels to address finance and trade barriers to ensure that vulnerable populations have access to these life-saving tools. It supports the goals of the ACT-Accelerator and complementary initiatives.

The Task Force members are mobilizing critical financing, with a focus on grants and concessional lending; helping to remove barriers to...

The strategy put forward by our team is to PREVENT death of their caregivers through the rollout of vaccinations and continued attention to mitigation, testing, tracing and isolating; to PREPARE extended or foster families to care for children left without parental care so as to avoid the institutionalization of children; and to PROTECT these children from their increased risk of poverty, vulnerability and violence, including by supporting remaining parents and caregivers with child-sensitive social protection combining cash transfers with caregiver support.

As the largest provider of development assistance globally, the World Bank has a critical role to play in supporting countries to develop policies and programs to support the children left orphaned by COVID. Our work with governments, development partners, the private sector and civil society is essential to:

The International Monetary Fund, World Bank Group, World Health Organization and World Trade Organization have joined forces to accelerate access to COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics by leveraging multilateral finance and trade solutions, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

The aim is to vaccinate at least 40 percent of people in every country by the end of 2021, and at least 60 percent by mid-2022.  The effort will track, coordinate, and advance delivery of COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics, working with governments and partners at the global and local levels to address finance and trade barriers to ensure that vulnerable populations have access to these life-saving tools. It supports the goals of the ACT-Accelerator and complementary initiatives.

The Task Force members are mobilizing critical financing, with a focus on grants and concessional lending; helping to remove barriers to...

Improving governance and leveraging innovation and technology can help translate fiscal policies into human capital outcomes. Studies show that merely increasing spending in education or health does not necessarily translate to better outcomes. What is required is clear policy prioritization based on evidence; a focus on outcomes and accountability for results, facilitated by digital technologies; and strong coordination across ministries, agencies, and jurisdictions.

Much can be learned from recent examples. Since the end of 2020, at least ten education systems worldwide are participating in the “Accelerator Program” to accelerate learning poverty reduction. Developed to demonstrate that strong political and financial commitment, sound policy design, and a relentless focus on learning outcomes can speed up countries’ progress in improving foundational learning, the Accelerator Program coordinates efforts across the partners to ensure that the countries in the program...

The World Bank’s focus on foundational skills requires that issues of language and Language of Instruction be brought to the forefront of education policy discussions. Poor Language of Instruction policies harm learning, access, equity, cost-effectiveness, and inclusion. Yet, inappropriate Language of Instruction policies affect too many students in low- and middle-income countries. Given the large numbers of students being taught in languages that they do not understand globally, massive learning improvements are feasible by teaching in a small number of additional languages.

This discussion will present the World Bank’s first Policy Approach Paper on Language of Instruction, “Loud and Clear: Effective Language of Instruction Policies for Learning”, to outline its position and recommendations. The paper also offers an indication of the work that will be undertaken to support countries in introducing reforms that will result in more resilient, equitable,...

The International Monetary Fund, World Bank Group, World Health Organization and World Trade Organization have joined forces to accelerate access to COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics by leveraging multilateral finance and trade solutions, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

The aim is to vaccinate at least 40 percent of people in every country by the end of 2021, and at least 60 percent by mid-2022.  The effort will track, coordinate, and advance delivery of COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics, working with governments and partners at the global and local levels to address finance and trade barriers to ensure that vulnerable populations have access to these life-saving tools. It supports the goals of the ACT-Accelerator and complementary initiatives.

The Task Force members are mobilizing critical financing, with a focus on grants and concessional lending; helping to remove barriers to...

More than 150 rangers lose their lives on duty every year while protecting wildlife and national parks. On the World Ranger Day we honor rangers serving on the frontline of conservation.

Anyone who has been to Central Asia can attest to the region’s vast natural beauty, broad and diverse cultural history, and generous and hospitable people. You are met with kindness and warmth at every turn. Such was my experience last month during my first official trip to the region as World Bank vice president for Europe and Central Asia.

I wanted to hear first-hand about the development challenges countries in the region are facing, and to learn more about their goals in a post-pandemic future. 

Visiting four countries – Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan – I met with government leaders, private sector representatives, parliamentarians, representatives from civil society and development organizations, as well as ordinary citizens. We discussed a wide range of key issues including growth and jobs, poverty reduction, regional development, connectivity, trade, decarbonization, energy efficiency, private sector growth, disaster risk...

As of June 29, 2021, the World Bank approved operations to support vaccine rollout in 49 countries amounting to $4.3 billion. See the latest project financing, project documents and procurement information in the list below. More information will be shared here as it becomes available. See countries with projects under preparation.

Through this, the World Bank Group is working with partners on the largest vaccination effort in history to stop the COVID-19 pandemic. On April 2, 2020, at the initial COVID-19 response phase, the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved a $6 billion Global COVID-19 Response Program (also called the COVID-19 Strategic Preparedness and Response Program, or SPRP). The program has reached over 100 countries with emergency operations to prevent, detect, and respond to COVID-19 and strengthen systems for public health preparedness. The timing of potential vaccine development was not known when...

WASHINGTON, June 22, 2021—The World Bank Group today announced its new Climate Change Action Plan that aims to deliver record levels of climate finance to developing countries, reduce emissions, strengthen adaptation, and align financial flows with the goals of the Paris Agreement. The Action Plan for 2021-25 broadens World Bank Group efforts from investing in “green” projects to helping countries fully integrate their climate and development goals. The Plan also comes as countries seek sustainable pathways out of the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our new Action Plan will identify and prioritize action on the most impactful mitigation and adaptation opportunities, and we will drive our climate finance accordingly. This means helping the largest emitters flatten the emissions curve and helping countries achieve successful adaptation and resilience to climate change,” said World Bank Group President David Malpass. “We will be delivering climate finance at...

LUSAKA, May 27, 2021—Sylvia Banda, 65, uses the monthly cash transfer she receives from the government to take care of her husband who is disabled, and four orphaned children. Africa Zulu, 70, pays his grandchildren’s school fees to ensure they have a better future. Marcelina Ngandu, a widowed mother of five, invests the cash transfer into her small business.

“I buy baking flour and make doughnuts for selling,” said Ngandu, who is also raising her late sister’s five children. “From my last bi-monthly payment of K300 ($14), I made doughnuts and sold them for K400 that helps me pay for school fees for the orphaned children I look after. I urge all other widows to not only eat the money but grow it like I do.”

Through the Social Cash Transfer Program (SCT), supported by the World Bank through the Girl’s Education and Women Empowerment and Livelihood Project, is helping the Zambian government address one of its most important development challenges:...

PROGRAM UPDATE: The World Bank and IFC have merged their respective Young Professionals Programs into one World Bank Group Young Professionals Program (WBG YPP).

The new program is now accepting applications on behalf of three institutions (the World Bank, IFC and MIGA).  Building on the rich legacy of its predecessor programs, the WBG YPP will recruit and develop future leaders to collaborate effectively across our institutions on joint WBG solutions to development challenges.

Young Professionals are recruited from around the world, with preference to nationals of WBG member countries and countries of operations. We welcome all qualified individuals from diverse professional, academic, and cultural backgrounds to apply.