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Dominican Republic leads adaptive social protection systems against disasters
By Globe Banner | May 28, 2024
When Julia returned home after Hurricane Fiona passed in September 2022, she found a desolate scene. "The hurricane destroyed everything. It was a disaster," she recalls.
Emergency cash transfers aid Dominican women amid climate crises
By Globe Banner | May 28, 2024
"When Hurricane Fiona came, the river flooded our house," says Alexandra Hernández from Higüey, in the province of La Altagracia in the Dominican Republic. "We were in shock."
Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform Initiative outlines post-MC13 work plan
By Globe Banner | May 28, 2024
At a recent meeting following the 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13), participants of the Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform (FFSR) initiative advanced their work plan for the year. Ambassador Clare Kelly of New Zealand, coordinator of the FFSR initiative, emphasized the direction set by MC13: “The MC13 Ministerial Statement and its associated work programme has set out a clear direction for the work of the initiative under its three pillars and related action steps,” she stated. “This will be the focus of our work this year.”
World Bank launches €80M safe transport initiative in Western Balkans
By Globe Banner | May 28, 2024
Safe and sustainable transport allows for the efficient movement of goods and people, which is crucial for economic activity. Improved transport infrastructure can lead to reduced production and distribution costs, increased trade and investment, and enhanced connectivity with other regions. As a result, businesses can access new markets, and consumers can benefit from a wider variety of products and services. This is particularly crucial for the small and open economies of the Western Balkans, where trade has played a significant role in driving growth and economic progress.
WTO publication addresses strategies against illicit food trade
By Globe Banner | May 28, 2024
A new World Trade Organization (WTO) publication titled “Illicit Trade in Food and Food Fraud” has brought together contributions from experts across international organizations, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, and the WTO Secretariat. The publication highlights the detrimental impact of illicit food trade on food security and public health and outlines various strategies to counter these issues. A comprehensive response is deemed necessary, involving regulatory measures, enforcement, industry cooperation, and consumer education.
Vietnamese intergenerational self-help clubs aid elderly care amid rapid aging
By Globe Banner | May 28, 2024
Nguyen Thi Tuyen, a 78-year-old woman living with Parkinson’s Disease in Viet Nam’s Nghia Ninh commune in Quang Binh province, faces the challenges of living alone. “I have three children, but they have migrated to other places to earn their living and rarely visit me. I do not eat much and do not need much clothing. What I need more is medications for my disease and have someone to talk with and help me,” she says.
World Bank addresses reverse gender gap impacting Caribbean's socioeconomic landscape
By Globe Banner | May 28, 2024
Boys in the Caribbean are experiencing educational setbacks in what has been termed a "reverse gender gap," posing challenges to the region’s socioeconomic landscape. In Jamaica, for example, fewer boys and men attend upper secondary school and tertiary education, affecting the male population, particularly in rural and socioeconomically disadvantaged areas.
NCUA grants first provisional charter under new pilot initiative
By Globe Banner | May 28, 2024
The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) has granted a federal charter and Share Insurance Fund coverage to Tribe Federal Credit Union in Minneapolis. This marks the first federal credit union to receive a charter under the NCUA’s provisional charter pilot initiative.
U.S. Embassy seeks bids for elevator maintenance services in Turkmenistan
By Globe Banner | May 28, 2024
The U.S. Embassy in Turkmenistan has announced an invitation for companies to submit quotations for elevator maintenance services under the solicitation number PR12561892.
World Bank-backed project improves menstrual hygiene management in Ethiopian schools
By Globe Banner | May 28, 2024
Tesfanesh Eba, a 6th grade student at Lideta Limat school in Addis Ababa, recalls the previous arrangement of shared toilets for both male and female students. “The boys used the ones on the left and the girls used the ones on the right,” she says. This setup was particularly uncomfortable for girls during menstruation, leading many to stay home and miss school.
World Bank highlights role of Islamic finance in achieving sustainable development goals
By Globe Banner | May 27, 2024
Axel van Trotsenburg, the World Bank Senior Managing Director, addressed the Global Forum on Islamic Economics and Finance on May 27, 2024. He extended greetings to several dignitaries including Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar bin Ibrahim, Malaysia's Minister of Finance II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan, Indonesia's Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati, and Goksel Asan from Turkey.
Call for papers open for World Trade Congress on Gender 2025
By Globe Banner | May 27, 2024
The call for research papers on innovation is now open for the World Trade Congress on Gender 2025, scheduled to focus on how women's empowerment drives innovation and how trade can support this process. The Congress, the only international research conference on trade and gender, aims to provide researchers and policymakers with a platform for in-depth discussions and insights into the role of innovation in enhancing gender equality, the impact of new technologies on women's access to trade opportunities, and how trade policies can foster innovation for women's empowerment.
Uzbekistan advances towards WTO membership with accelerated negotiations
By Globe Banner | May 24, 2024
Mr. Jamshid Khodjaev, Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan and Chair of the Inter-Agency Commission on WTO Accession, led a delegation to Geneva as part of the country's ongoing efforts to join the World Trade Organization (WTO). The delegation included Mr. Azizbek Urunov, Special Representative of the President on WTO issues and Chief Negotiator for WTO accession; Mr. Ahadbek Khaydarov, Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance; Mr. Alisher Karimov, Deputy Minister of Justice; and Mr. Akmaljon Kosimov, Deputy Minister of Agriculture. Officials from various ministries and...
BusinessEurope reacts to EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive adoption
By Globe Banner | May 24, 2024
Reacting to today’s Council agreement, which finalizes the legislative process to adopt the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, BusinessEurope Director General Markus J. Beyrer commented: "Harmonised transposition and clear guidance for companies will be key for implementation."
Lebanon Poverty and Equity Assessment 2024 reveals impacts of prolonged economic crisis
By Globe Banner | May 24, 2024
The Lebanon Poverty and Equity Assessment 2024: Weathering a Protracted Crisis is an evidence-based diagnostic tool designed to identify and analyze recent shifts in poverty and inequality in Lebanon. The assessment utilizes data from the Lebanon Household Survey 2022/2023, the first household consumption survey conducted in Lebanon in the past decade. The survey was conducted by the World Bank (WB) in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the World Food Programme (WFP).
Community Engagement Exchange invites applications for March-June 2025 program
By Globe Banner | May 24, 2024
The Community Engagement Exchange (CEE) Program is inviting applications for its upcoming three-month exchange set to take place in the United States from March to June 2025.
World Bank supports improved access to social services in Uzbekistan
By Globe Banner | May 24, 2024
The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved a $100 million concessional loan for Uzbekistan to implement the Innovative Social Protection System for Inclusion of Vulnerable People (INSON) Project. The initiative aims to enhance access to and the quality of social services for vulnerable populations in Uzbekistan.
New regulations on services trade take effect for four more WTO members
By Globe Banner | May 24, 2024
A total of 72 economies — comprising 70 WTO members and two acceding members (Timor-Leste and Comoros) — are committed to implementing the new disciplines on services trade regulation. Ecuador is the latest WTO member to have confirmed its commitment, requesting to become a participant in the Declaration on the Conclusion of Negotiations on Services Domestic Regulation.
Croatia collaborates with World Bank on public sector wage reform
By Globe Banner | May 24, 2024
In 2021, the Government of Croatia (GoC) committed to reforming its public sector wage-setting mechanism with the primary goal of making the system more equitable, transparent, internally consistent, and financially sustainable. This reform was a key element of Croatia’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), endorsed by the European Commission. The GoC recognized that the existing system was inequitable as not all similar jobs were paid equally. It also lacked transparency and clear rules for setting job complexity coefficients and supplements, as well as for job...
EU, Australia commit to implementing recent WTO rulings
By Globe Banner | May 24, 2024
The European Union has affirmed its intention to implement the panel ruling in DS600, a case concerning measures related to palm oil and oil palm crop-based biofuels. The ruling was formally adopted by the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) on April 26. The EU stated it would require a reasonable period of time for implementation and expressed a willingness to discuss this timeline with Malaysia promptly.