"𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵.” — Christine Lagarde, President of the Banco Central Europeo. Legal barriers that limit women’s economic participation have measurable consequences for productivity and competitiveness. Women, Business and the Law 2026 shows that removing these barriers could raise global output by up to 20%. Yet women globally still have only two-thirds of the legal rights enjoyed by men — and those rights are only half-enforced. Learn more in the report: https://wbl.worldbank.org/en/wbl?cid=ECR_WA_worldbank_EN_EXT

Ajay on why investing in jobs creates hope and opportunity while strengthening global stability. https://live.worldbank.org/en/event/2026/laying-the-groundwork-for-jobs-in-africa?cid=ECR_WA_worldbank_EN_EXT

We are working to connect 300 million people to electricity in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2030. So far: ⚡Nearly 39M connected 🌍~150 projects 📈 ~$9 billion mobilized 📄30 Energy Compacts https://www.worldbank.org/en/programs/energizing-africa/dashboard?cid=ECR_WA_worldbank_EN_EXT

𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗥𝗘𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧 | Women's economic opportunity laws are only half-enforced globally — and only 4% of women live where nearly full legal equality exists. That hurts growth and job-creation. The new Women, Business and the Law 2026 report shows that across 190 economies, equal-opportunity laws are advancing—but enforcement is only halfway there. 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀: ➡️ Laws are only half-enforced on average; economies have just 47% of the policies and services needed to implement them ➡️ Just 4% of women live in economies with nearly full legal equality ➡️ Even if laws were fully enforced, women would still have only two-thirds of men’s economic rights. Women, Business and the Law is the World Bank Group’s benchmark of legal gender equality in economic opportunity, assessing laws and their enforcement across 190 economies and 10 areas, from safety and childcare to pay, entrepreneurship, property rights, and pensions. Explore the findings ➡️ https://wbl.worldbank.org/en/wbl?cid=ECR_WA_worldbank_EN_EXT

More than 700 million women still lack access to a financial account holding back their ability to save, invest & build businesses. Closing this gap can unlock jobs & boost growth worldwide. Ahead of International Women's Day, learn how the World Bank Group is helping change that: https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/voices/closing-the-financing-gap-for-women-can-boost-jobs-and-growth?cid=ECR_WA_worldbank_EN_EXT

When governments face budget pressures, one of the first proposals is often to cut public-sector jobs. But is that the right approach? In many developing countries, the public sector is actually understaffed, making it harder to deliver essential services like health, education, and public safety. High-income countries average about 87 public employees per 1,000 people, compared with just 23 per 1,000 in low-income countries. At the same time, public employment remains one of the largest sources of formal jobs, accounting for 38% of global formal employment. Policymakers may need to think more strategically about staffing, skills, and recruitment systems in order to strengthen state capacity and service delivery. Learn more in our new blog: https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/voices/do-policymakers-underappreciate-public-employment?cid=ECR_TT_worldbank_EN_EXT

Weekly Update: ➡️ 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗝𝗼𝗯𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱'𝘀 𝟭.𝟮 𝗕𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀. The world’s largest generation of young workers is entering the labor force. Ajay shows how investing in their jobs can turn this demographic wave into shared global progress. ➡️ 𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗢𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝘀𝗶𝗮. Central Asia’s power demand will hit record highs by 2030, but grids are strained. World Bank Group investments are modernizing energy, boosting clean power, and creating jobs for nearly 80% of the population. ➡️ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹. “To tackle persistent challenges, we must rethink where policy can make a difference,” says Paschal Donohoe. Investing in people’s skills, health, and knowledge drives jobs and global stability. ➡️ 𝟲 𝗪𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗺 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀. Tourism can boost jobs and local economies—but only if communities benefit too. Our experts share six lessons from 80 countries for inclusive, sustainable growth. Read and subscribe: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/12-billion-new-workers-need-jobs-the-world-bank-jufoe/?trackingId=bHjRapjm%2BNZEx4YTEr7iqA%3D%3D

In a world of AI, deepfakes, and information overload, what does knowledge really mean? 🎧 On this episode of the Development Podcast, host Toni Karasanyi speaks with tech journalist Jamie Bartlett on using AI without being misled and Paschal Donohoe on why evidence still matters. Listen now: https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/podcast/2026/03/12/knowledge-age-disinformation?cid=ECR_WA_worldbank_EN_EXT

Sustainable jobs are created when infrastructure, policies, investment, and the public and private sectors all work together. Hear more from Ajay: https://live.worldbank.org/en/event/2026/laying-the-groundwork-for-jobs-in-africa?cid=ECR_WA_worldbank_EN_EXT

Keeping women on the economic sidelines isn’t just unjust, it’s self-defeating, says Indermit Gill. Women have only 2/3 the legal economic rights of men, according to the latest Women, Business and the Law data. Closing the gap will unlock productivity, jobs, & growth. https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/voices/keeping-women-on-the-sidelines-of-the-economy-isnt-simply-unjust-its-self-defeating?cid=ECR_WA_worldbank_EN_EXT