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STORY OF THE MONTH
World Bank CEO Kristalina Georgieva Meets with UK MPs and the Parliamentary Network
London, July 23, 2018 – World Bank CEO Kristalina Georgieva was hosted for a dinner meeting on July 23 at the British Parliament by Jeremy Lefroy, MP and Chairman of the Parliamentary Network; and Rt Hon. Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale, Co-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Sustainable Development Goals. Also present were Chinyelu Susan Onwurah, MP and Shadow Minister for Industrial Strategy, Science and Innovation, and Chair of the Africa APPG; Simeon Djankov, Director of the World Bank World Development Report (WDR) 2019 and former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of Bulgaria; Jakob Kopperud, World Bank Special Representative to the UK and Ireland; and Gergana Ivanova, Coordinator of the Parliamentary Network on the World Bank & IMF.
The meeting was the occasion for the World Bank CEO to highlight several recent World Bank developments, particularly the historical IBRD capital increase of $13 billion and the launch of the first ever International Development Association (IDA) bond, raising $1.5 billion to support the world’s poorest countries. She also brought up the World Bank’s announcement in July 2018 that 32.1 percent of financing in fiscal year 2018 had climate co-benefits, resulting in $20.5 billion of climate-related finance. Further talks centered around the upcoming WDR on the Future of Work and the shared emphasis on youth jobs creation at the World Bank and the Parliamentary Network. Mr. Lefroy, Chairman of the Parliamentary Network discussed an upcoming report by the Parliamentary Network that will gather best parliamentary practices on youth job creation, and how it could supplement the World Development Report as a tool for parliamentarians. He emphasized the Parliamentary Network as a key organization in linking MPs to one another as well as international financial institutions to enable them to explore innovative solutions to development challenges.
Twitter | The Parliamentary Network | UK Parliament | All-Party Parliamentary Groups
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PARLIAMENTARY ENGAGEMENT
France: World Bank Meeting with French MPs at the French National Assembly
Paris, June 28 2018 – Members of the World Bank European Office, Parliamentary Engagement team and the Parliamentary Network (PN) were invited to the French National Assembly on June 28, 2018 for a high-level breakfast meeting. The meeting was attended by 9 influential MPs and 11 parliamentary staffers representing a dynamic and innovative new parliament that is both the most gender-equal and youngest in French history, with 38.8% women and an average age of 48.6. The meeting was an opportunity to dial up collaboration with the French parliament on shared priorities such as fragility, conflict and violence (FCV), climate change and gender equality.
Coralie Dubost, Vice President of the La République En Marche party and member of the Constitutional Laws, Legislation and General Administration Committee, and the European Affairs Committee opened the session by expressing the group’s desire to cooperate with the World Bank as part of their emphasis on inter-parliamentary diplomacy to promote international development and peace. Céline Calvez, MP and member of the Cultural Affairs and Education Committee, who is serving as the Head of the World Bank Global Young MP Initiative then presented the new initiative’s objectives and encouraged her colleagues to participate.
World Bank representatives gave an overview of the World Bank’s relationship with France, parliamentary engagement work, and operational work, expressing their commitment to deepen and expand cooperation with French parliamentarians. Jeremy Lefroy, MP, UK and Chair of the PN then presented the structure, priorities and activities of the PN.
Following the presentations, a dynamic question and answer session was held to explore future opportunities for collaboration between the World Bank and the French National Assembly. Parliamentarians and staffers alike were keen to take advantage of the World Bank as a resource, knowledge bank on key development themes, and partner in development.
The World Bank in France
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PARLIAMENTARY ENGAGEMENT
Albania: 51st Plenary Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (PABSEC)
Tirana, June 20, 2018 – The Fifty-First Plenary Session of the General Assembly of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (PABSEC), organized by the Parliament of Republic of Albania, convened national delegations from 12 countries of Southeastern and Eastern Europe, the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation, as well as multiple observers and guests.
Discussions centered around two reports: (i.) “The Prospects of the Development of Digital Economy in the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Member States” which outlines the stages of development of digital economy in each of the member states; and (ii.) “Strengthening Cooperation in Cybersecurity in the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Member States” which outlines national policy and legislative developments in the area of cybersecurity and key vectors of international cybersecurity cooperation of Black Sea Economic Cooperation members.
World Bank Group representatives delivered remarks on the importance of collaboration between the World Bank and Parliamentarians, and commended PABSEC’s efforts to support development of Digital Economy and strengthening of Cybersecurity.
PABSEC
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PARLIAMENTARY ENGAGEMENT
France: Global Young MP Initiative Steering Committee Meeting
Paris, June 18, 2018 – The Parliamentary Engagement team hosted a Steering Committee of the new Global Young MP Initiative at the World Bank Paris office to formalize the priorities and structure of the program. The committee was composed of a core group of 10 influential parliamentarians under 45 from all regions of the world committed to overcoming international development challenges.
A lively brainstorming session was led by Céline Calvez, MP, France and Head of the Global Young MP Initiative to establish the new program. Topics discussed involved internal issues to be addressed within parliaments, such as underrepresentation of youths, as well as external issues affecting youth in society, and the structure of the future Global Young MP Initiative. The day concluded with a special session with Sheila Redzepi, Vice President, External and Corporate Relations, who shared the current bank priorities and emphasized the importance of parliamentarians as partners in shaping development policy. Shanta Devarajan, Senior Director, Development Economics and Acting Chief Economist, World Bank then gave a presentation of the World Development Report 2019 - The Changing Nature of Work. The day closed with final action points to solidify the Global Young MP Initiative as a program and obtain real results.
The Global Young MP Initiative will serve as a platform for dialogue to young parliamentarians to ensure that their voices are heard regarding development issues that are most pertinent to youths. It will facilitate communication and collaboration among young MPs from around the world as well as with international development partners, bringing them together to promote proactive thinking and policies to address challenges in innovative ways. Through specially organized events and activities, young MPs can share best practices between countries, encouraging one another to get involved in the decision-making process. A global study will also be conducted on youth expectations and what legislation is necessary at the country and global level to meet those expectations.
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PARLIAMENTARY ENGAGEMENT
Dominican Republic: Disaster Preparedness in the Caribbean as Congress Approves World Bank Loan
Santo Domingo, June 16, 2018 – The Dominican Republic Chamber of Deputies recently approved a $150 million loan to be earmarked for relief following a natural disaster. The initiative, passed by the Senate in April, was approved in the Lower Chamber of the Congress after its Commission of Finance received a presentation by a World Bank team to explain the Catastrophe Deferred Drawdown Option (Cat DDO). The Cat DDO provides countries with immediate financing in the aftermath of an emergency without taking resources away from social and development programs.
At the presentation meeting, Finance Commission President Ramon Cabrera, expressed his satisfaction with the World Bank’s commitment to better serve the country’s needs. World Bank representatives present included DR Country Manager Alessandro Legrottaglie; Senior Financial Specialist, Maritza Rodriguez and the Cat DDO Task Team Leader, Edouard Ereno Blanchet.
With the Caribbean hurricane season in full swing from June 2018, authorities in the Dominican Republic will now be in a position to access fast disbursement in case of a disaster, including health emergencies, and to effectively assist the most vulnerable segments of the population, while mitigating risks derived from climate events and natural disasters.
The World Bank in the Dominican Republic
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PARLIAMENTARY ENGAGEMENT
Guatemala: World Bank Team Meets with President of Congress
Guatemala, June 15, 2018 – The World Bank Latin America and Caribbean VP Jorge Familiar and the Country Manager for Guatemala, Homa-Zahra Fotouhi, were received by the President of Congress, Alvaro Arzú Escobar to underscore the World Bank’s solidarity and support for those affected by the eruption of the Volcán de Fuego on June 3, 2018.
The meeting was also an opportunity to discuss the progress in the implementation of the 2016-2020 strategy for the country. President Arzú reaffirmed his commitment to approve a $250m Development Policy Loan which will provide funding to assist the affected communities. He also expressed his appreciation and highlighted the importance of the support that the World Bank provides to Congress with technical assistance on initiatives of importance for the country, such as the design of a new procurement framework and the preparation of a law to regulate the consultations of ILO 169, a convention that grants indigenous people the right to prior consultations on business projects on their lands.
The World Bank in Guatemala
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PARLIAMENTARY ENGAGEMENT
Lithuania: Women Political Leaders Summit 2018
Vilnius, June 6-8, 2018 – The three-day Women Political Leaders (WPL) Summit, hosted by the Seimas of Lithuania, was attended by around 400 participants, including women Heads of State and Government, Cabinet Ministers and parliamentarians as well as thought leaders from academia, business, and civil society.
The WPL Summit gathers women political leaders alongside other international actors to address today’s global challenges and exchange best practices and knowledge on political decision-making. The theme of this year’s summit was; “It’s about time! 100 Reasons to Act” with sessions centered around technology; leadership in the face of threats such as war and climate change; security; health; and women’s economic empowerment. The conference included opening remarks by Viktoras Pranckietis, Speaker of the Lithuanian parliament, and Silvana Koch-Mehrin, President of WPL. Two keynote speeches were also given by HE Dalia Grybauskaité, President of the Republic of Lithuania, and HE Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, President of Malta and patron of the Girl2Leader campaign. The Girl2Leader campaign connects political leaders with adolescent girls to encourage them to become the next generation of leaders.
During the session “A Woman’s Place is in Politics,” a World Bank Group representative presented findings from Unrealized Potential: The High Cost of Gender Inequality in Earnings, as well as the most recent Women, Business and Law report, emphasizing that education is key to creating lasting, community change. Panelists, including Laimdota Straujuma, former Prime Minister of Latvia, discussed three broad types of strategies to increase women’s participation in politics – structural interventions, skills, and collective action.
WPL | Girl2Leader
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PARLIAMENTARY ENGAGEMENT
France: Sahel Alliance Conference and Meetings
Paris, May 31 and June 8, 2018 – STwo high-level events on the Sahel Alliance were held at the French National Assembly to address the ongoing humanitarian and security crisis in the region, which comprises five countries (the G5): Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger.
On May 31, Action Against Hunger hosted a conference to confront the various development challenges in the Sahel, with a particular emphasis on food security. The conference was attended by parliamentarians from the G5 countries and France, as well as a delegation of UK MPs led by Stephen Twigg, MP and Chair of the International Development Committee. Also present were representatives from research institutes, non-governmental organizations and various actors on the ground in the Sahel region. Participants discussed current interventions in place and opportunities for new development policies and parliamentary involvement moving forward.
On June 8, the French National Assembly hosted the G5 Interparliamentary Initiative, which gathered several main players in the ongoing efforts to support the humanitarian-security-development nexus in the Sahel, including key MPs and focal points from the G5 countries, French parliamentarians, the Sahel Alliance Secretariat, the French Development Agency (AFD), the European Union, the Secretary of the G5 Sahel, the World Bank, and representatives of the French Ministry of Armed Forces.
The objective of the day was to involve MPs more closely in the challenges related to security, development, and migration in the Sahel region in order to promote more effective partnerships and define ways for improving parliamentary oversight on G5 Sahel support (both for security and development).
Representatives of the World Bank Parliamentary Engagement team were present at both events alongside Michel Rogy, Program Leader, Mali Country Office. Mr. Rogy presented the World Bank’s analysis of the development priorities in the Sahel and in Mali, the approach of the World Bank to improve social sectors, and what kind of coordination would be the most effective to identify and target the best development policies. He emphasized the importance of parliamentarians in bringing their constituencies’ voices into projects and programs to ensure relevant and lasting development results.
The Sahel Alliance | Action Against Hunger
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UPCOMING EVENT - October 8, 2018
High-Level Parliamentary Meeting at the Annual Meetings in Bali, Indonesia
The Parliament of Indonesia will co-host a High-Level Parliamentary Meeting alongside the World Bank, the IMF, and the Parliamentary Network on the World Bank and IMF (PN) on the sidelines of the Annual Meetings in Bali on October 8, 2018.
The Parliamentary event is a unique opportunity for MPs from the Asia region and key donor countries to discuss today’s most pressing development issues with World Bank and IMF senior management and experts. The meeting will also serve to launch an Asian chapter of the PN. High-level speakers are expected to attend.
Themes will include governance, human capital, youth jobs, and gender equality. Participating MPs will also have the chance to attend other Annual Meeting events.
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PUBLICATION
Missed Opportunities: The High Cost of Not Educating Girls
This report finds that failing to educate girls has cost the world as much as $30 trillion in lost lifetime productivity earnings. While globally, nine out of ten girls complete primary education, only three in four complete lower secondary education, and in low-income countries, this figure decreases to less than two thirds. Educating girls is one of the fastest ways to build human capital – girls who complete secondary school grow into healthier, more prosperous adults with smaller families and healthier children. In addition, girls with a secondary education are more likely to participate in the labor force as adults, becoming decision-makers at home and in their communities, and contributing to the economy. .
Publication | Press Release | Fact Sheet
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DATA
Atlas of Sustainable Development Goals 2018
The Atlas of Sustainable Development Goals 2018 presents maps, charts, and stories to show progress made on the 17 SDGs based on data from the World Development Indicators. While improvements are being made across the board, the indicators help policy-makers and experts focus their attention on where work still needs to be done.
Full Data
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May 12, 2018
Iraq
The first parliamentary polls since ISIL’s defeat in Iraq saw the fracturing of the United Iraqi Alliance into multiple Shia-led parties. Three of these blocs dominated the election: The Marching Toward Reform Alliance won 54 seats, the Conquest Alliance earned 47 seats, while the Victory Alliance, headed by Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi won 42 seats. Additionally, the State of Law Coalition led by former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki won 26 seats, while the Kurdistan Democratic Party won 25 seats.
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May 12, 2018
Timor-Leste
East Timor held early parliamentary elections after the National Parliament was dissolved on January 26 by President Francisco Guterres. The Alliance for Change and Progress, a coalition of three opposition parties, won a majority of 34 of the 65 seats in Parliament. Democratic Socialist party Fretilin won 23 seats, while the Democratic Party and the Democratic Development Forum shared the rest of the seats, 5 and 3, respectively.
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May 24, 2018
Barbados
The general elections in Barbados saw the parliament undergo massive changes, as opposition Barbados Labour Party won all 30 seats, the first election in the nation’s post-independence era with a clean sweep of seats by a single political party. Former Leader of the Opposition Mia Mottley is the first woman to hold the post of Prime Minister in Barbados. The new House of Assembly will also include six women, the largest number of women MPs in the nation’s history.
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June 3, 2018
Slovenia
The Slovenian Democratic Party, led by two-time former prime minister Janez Jansa, won 25 of the 90 seats in Parliament. The List of Marjan Sarec party came second with 13 seats while Prime Minister Miro Cerar’s Modern Center Party and the Social Democrats each won 10 seats. Other parties won between 4 and 9 seats.
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June 24, 2018
Turkey
Originally scheduled for November 3, 2019, the Turkish parliament held a snap general election called by President Erdoǧan. Due to the passage of several constitutional amendments in the 2017 referendum, the number of MPs increased from 550 to 600. The President’s Justice and Development Party won 295 seats, shrinking from 49.5% of the vote to 42.6%, and the opposition Republican People’s Party won 146 seats.
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July 1, 2018
Mexico
Mexican General elections resulted in a sweeping win for the social democratic National Regeneration Movement (MORENA) party, who took 37.5% of the Senate and 37.25% of the Chamber of Deputies, as well as the Presidency for Andrés Manuel Lopez Obrador, also known as “Amlo.” The conservative National Action Party (PAN) came in second with 17.59% of the Senate and 17.93% of the Chamber of Deputies, and the socialist Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) came in third with 15.9% of the Senate and 16.54% of the Chamber of Deputies. The remaining seats were split among 6 other parties and independents.
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