World Bank News and Development Updates
World Bank backs Sindh municipal revenue program with U.S.$150 million financing
Pakistan is expanding efforts to strengthen urban finances in Sindh as local councils remain heavily dependent on provincial transfers for most of their income. The new World Bank-backed program ...
Sri Lanka launches AgriConnect plan to expand agrifood investment and rural jobs
Sri Lanka is rolling out a joint plan with the World Bank Group and the International Fund for Agricultural Development to shift its agrifood sector toward higher-value production and stronger ...
World Bank flags Sub-Saharan Africa urban growth as major jobs opportunity
Sub-Saharan Africa is entering a decisive phase of urban expansion that could reshape job creation and investment across the region. A new World Bank Group report says policy choices on ...
Kosovo reforms could unlock up to $1.5 billion in private investment
Kosovo is seeking to turn regulatory changes into a broader private sector push as it looks to expand investment and create better-paid jobs. A new World Bank Group diagnostic says targeted ...
Haiti identity reform could expand access to services and jobs, World Bank says
Haiti is positioned to extend the reach of its national identification system after years of progress in civil registration and card issuance. A new World Bank diagnostic says 2.7 million to 3.1 ...
World Bank approves Paraguay logistics project for Itapúa farm exports
Paraguay is set to receive new financing to strengthen transport links in Itapúa, a key agricultural department with major soybean, rice, dairy and livestock production. The $280 million project ...
World Bank debars Bangladesh consulting firm over fraud in storage project
A World Bank sanction on a Bangladesh-based engineering and consulting company affects its access to bank-financed work after misconduct findings tied to a food storage project. The 19-month ...
World Bank sees commodity prices surge in 2026 amid Middle East war shocks
Escalating geopolitical disruptions are pushing up costs across global raw materials markets as energy, shipping and grain supply strains intensify. The World Bank says commodity prices are set to ...
Bangladesh economic zones attract private investment, add jobs with World Bank support
Bangladesh’s economic zones are drawing fresh private capital as authorities and development partners push investment-led industrial growth. Nearly $300 million in private investment has ...
World Bank approves $485 million Türkiye industry digital transformation project
Türkiye is expanding its industrial modernization push as smaller manufacturers face rising pressure to improve productivity, meet sustainability requirements, and stay competitive in export ...
World Bank backs Uzbekistan electricity grid upgrade with $100 million loan
Uzbekistan is advancing plans to strengthen its aging power network as rising electricity demand and renewable energy targets increase pressure on the grid. A new $100 million World Bank loan ...
Fiji economic update projects growth recovery as fiscal pressures rebuild
Fiji is making post-pandemic economic gains, but rising pressure on household budgets and narrowing fiscal room are increasing the need for more resilient growth policies. The World Bank Group's ...
Bukidnon coffee project secures World Bank-backed funding
A World Bank-backed agriculture project is channeling P98 million into arabica coffee production in Bukidnon for the Indigenous Peoples community in the Daraghuyan Ancestral Domain. The investment ...
Off-grid solar strengthens energy access economics for 398 million people, World Bank report says
Off-grid solar is expanding its role in electricity access as more households, farms and small businesses use standalone systems beyond the reach of traditional grids. A new market report says the ...
Western Balkans growth outlook strengthens as World Bank flags trade reform gains
Consumption and investment are expected to lift economic growth across the Western Balkans in 2026, with momentum strengthening further in 2027. A new World Bank report says lower trade-related ...
World Bank report urges Philippine cities to build growth corridors
After reaching upper-middle-income status in 2025, the Philippines is looking to its urban network to sustain growth and expand employment. A new World Bank report says stronger links among ...
World Bank launches philanthropy hub as aid cuts widen development funding gap
With donor-government support falling sharply, the World Bank is opening a new channel for foundations, family offices, and wealthy individuals to direct money into its development pipeline. The ...
World Bank report warns stalled poverty reduction needs stronger job creation
Global efforts to cut extreme poverty are stalling as weak growth limits job creation in the countries with the highest poverty levels. The World Bank Group says 811 million people live on less ...
World Bank, LIS-Water launch water governance partnership for global sanitation investment push
A new multi-year alliance is expanding efforts to improve water and sanitation systems by helping governments strengthen policy, institutional and regulatory frameworks. The initiative is designed ...
Somalia public finance review points to domestic revenue growth as key to jobs and services
Somalia's domestic revenues rise to an estimated 6.3% of GDP in 2025 from 6.2% in 2024, extending recent gains in fiscal institution-building. The increase remains well below peer-country ...
Bangladesh weighs repurposing idle World Bank loans as experts warn of project risks
Bangladesh is considering redirecting unused World Bank loan funds from slow-moving development projects to urgent energy and food security needs in the current fiscal year. More than Tk2,500 ...
