World Bank Podcasts

http://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.

The 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

It 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.

Producer 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.

http://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.

Economists 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/research

http://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.

http://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.

The 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.

A 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.

The 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.

In 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.

In 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.

The 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.

Economic 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.