World Bank Group

Helping Female Entrepreneurs Access Digital Platforms: The Importance of a Tech-Plus-Touch Approach and Other Lessons Learned - Case Study 1

This report showcases a successful pilot program in Ethiopia's Somali region that connected female entrepreneurs with a digital mentoring platform offering valuable resources. The program's key to success was a multi-faceted approach:traditional marketing to raise awareness, in-person support for initial platform navigation, a mobile-friendly low-bandwidth design for easy access, simplified registration to minimize barriers, and clear educational materials to empower women to leverage the platform's full potential. This demonstrates the feasibility of connecting female entrepreneurs in low-

Social Protection for the Informal Economy

This book talks about Africa's massive informal economy, the main source of jobs in the region, is expected to keep growing. Despite its established presence, challenges abound. Low productivity, limited resources, and vulnerability to shocks plague this sector. Informal workers, especially women, often lack access to social safety nets and financial tools. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed these vulnerabilities, prompting governments to utilize technology and innovation to deliver social protection programs and support economic recovery, particularly in urban areas.

The Promise of Ejo Heza : A Brighter Future for All Rwandans - Executive Summary (English)

This report is a product of a two-year engagement between the World Bank team and Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB). It aims to overview the Ejo Heza scheme, a local term that translates to ‘a better future,’ not only holds the promise of income security at older ages but can also be a much-needed source for domestic resource mobilization in the country. The report highlight its key strengths, and provide recommendations to improve coverage, adequacy, operational efficiency, and long-run viability. 

What a Waste 2.0: A Global Snapshot of Solid Waste Management to 2050

This report aggregates extensive solid waste data at the national and urban levels. It estimates and projects waste generation to 2030 and 2050. Beyond the core data metrics from waste generation to disposal, the report provides information on waste management costs, revenues, and tariffs; special wastes; regulations; public communication; administrative and operational models; and the informal sector.

From Jobs to Careers : Apparel Exports and Career Paths for Women in Developing Countries

This report examines the role of the apparel industry in developing countries for women's economic empowerment. While the industry has brought more women into the formal workforce, the report argues it's not enough. It focuses on seven countries and explores how these nations can leverage the garment sector as a springboard for women's career advancement. The report emphasizes the need for additional policies to break down barriers that prevent women from reaching higher-paying jobs and staying in the workforce long-term. The goal is to move women beyond just having jobs to having fulfillin

Riding the Blue Wave. Applying the Blue Economy Approach to World Bank Operations.

The main objective of this document is to provide guidance on how to apply a “Blue Economy lens” to Bank operations. To this end, it aims to: 1. Ensure that the World Bank’s operations around oceanic activities are developed with a view to improving the necessary integration between different economic sectors, both on land and at sea, and avoiding unnecessary impacts on ocean health. 2. Identify means to scale up Blue Economy activities, including through new sources of innovative blue finance.

The Potential of the Blue Economy. Increasing Long-term Benefits of the Sustainable Use of Marine Resources for Small Island Developing States and Coastal Least Developed Countries.

This report was drafted by a working group of United Nations entities, the World Bank, and other stakeholders to suggest a common understanding of the blue economy; to highlight the importance of such an approach, particularly for small island developing states and coastal least developed countries; to identify some of the key challenges its adoption poses; and to suggest some broad next steps that are called for in order to ensure its implementation.

AI and Services-Led Growth: Evidence from Indian Job Advert

This paper documents near-exponential growth in the demand for artificial intelligence (AI)-related skills in India’s services sector since 2016, using a new dataset of online vacancies from its largest jobs website. It evaluates the impact of demand for AI skills on establishment-level non-AI postings in the short term using an event study, and medium term using a shiftshare design that exploits variation in exposure to new AI inventions.