The World Bank

The Prosperity Gap Index offers a new lens on global inequality: incomes worldwide need to rise by an average factor of 7.7 to meet a $25/day standard. How does your country rank? Learn more: http://wrld.bg/IKFP50V0uix

Weekly Update: ➡️Four Ways the World Bank Is Advancing Road Safety ➡️How Energy Efforts Are Transforming West Africa #PoweringAfrica ➡️New Tourism Watch Data ➡️Supporting Women Entrepreneurs in Rural Tamil Nadu

The World Bank released decades of proprietary emerging market default and recovery statistics - as a public good - to drive more private sector capital into developing economies. 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀: ➡️ The IFC's private sector portfolio had a low default rate of 4.1% from 1986 to 2023, suggesting the untapped potential and resilience of private sector investments in emerging markets. ➡️ For investments rated as "weak" by IFC's internal rating system, the default rate was only 2.6% during the period between 2017 and 2023, indicating that even investments considered higher risk can perform better than could be expected. ➡️ For sovereign borrowers, defaults are rare, averaging just 0.7% annually, and the World Bank typically recovers more than 90% of the amount owed, including both principal and interest. This underscores the World Bank's preferred creditor status and its ability to effectively manage sovereign credit risk. ➡️ Sovereign default losses range from 0.01% to 58.5%, reflecting the effect of interest rates and length of time in default. Learn more: http://wrld.bg/KP9e50V0jU8

“I’ve learned through more than three decades of working in development that one should never give up. Countries do overcome difficulties, countries do grow, countries do transform themselves.” Akihiko Nishio, World Bank Vice President for Development Finance, shares his path in global development, highlighting the transformative power of the International Development Association (IDA), The World Bank's fund for 78 low-income countries. Learn why #IDAWorks: http://wrld.bg/A0Xr50V0jCR #InternationalDevelopment #InternationalCooperation #EndPoverty

Why does business location matter for economic growth and #job creation? In today's digital age, the physical location of a company remains crucial to its success. Data from The World Bank's #BusinessReady Project shows that business location significantly influences access to customers, transportation networks, labor pools, regulatory compliance requirements, and environmental commitments. Understanding this is crucial as it underscores how strategic location decisions can boost firm performance and foster private sector development across economies. Learn more on the role of geography, transport, and firm clusters in boosting productivity and development: http://wrld.bg/L2Bm50V0jrv

Access to electricity is a lifeline, not just a utility. For countries like Madagascar, it holds the key to transforming lives, creating #jobs, driving economic growth, boosting #productivity, improving and enhancing human capital outcomes, and opening the doors to digital inclusion. Supported by the World Bank-financed Least-Cost Electricity Access Development (LEAD) Project, vulnerable households and small businesses located close to the national electricity company (JIRAMA) power grids can apply for an affordable electricity connection, and gain access within a reduced timeframe. The LEAD Project supports Mission 300—a partnership by the The World Bank Group, African Development Bank Group, and others to connect 300 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa to electricity by 2030. Read more: http://wrld.bg/xiPO50UY3wy #PoweringAfrica

Chocolate is the love language of many (myself included) on #ValentinesDay. For chocolatier Arcelia Gallardo, my guest on Talking Development, chocolate is a way to reconnect with the people behind every cacao bean. It's inspiring to hear her tell how what started as an unexpected opportunity has grown into a way of empowering farmers across Latin America. Through her company, she’s showing how a value-driven private sector can uplift communities and push development forward.

With immediate reallocation of funds, access to more prearranged financing, and expanded catastrophe insurance, The World Bank's Crisis Toolkit is enhancing countries' crisis preparedness and response. In this episode of #ExpertAnswers, Ed Mountfield, Vice President, Operations Policy and Country Services, explains how this toolkit will empower countries in the face of crises, putting them on a path toward resilient, sustainable development. Watch the full episode here: http://wrld.bg/Ru3v50UZ0E4

Multidimensional poverty means lacking essentials like #education, #health, and safe #water. The International Development Association (IDA) $100 billion replenishment will support low-income countries in overcoming these barriers. Learn more in our #YearInReview story. http://wrld.bg/ifeQ50UZLM5

In FY24, Japan Social Development Fund (#JSDF) improved lives of 422,320 people, 41% of whom were women in low and lower-middle income countries. In Ghana, a JSDF project improved infant nutrition through better feeding practices during the crucial first 1,000 days of a child’s life. The JSDF is a partnership between the government of Japan and The World Bank that supports a broad array of innovative activities that benefit the most vulnerable and disadvantaged groups in developing countries across the globe. Learn more in its latest Annual report: http://wrld.bg/mQhx50UYT1e