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STORY OF THE MONTH
Women Leaders Global Forum
Rejkjavik, November 26-28, 2018 – The Women Leaders Global Forum in Reykjavik, Iceland November 26-28, 2018, was co-hosted by Women Political Leaders Global Forum (WPL) and the Government and Parliament of Iceland, and co-chaired by World Bank CEO Kristalina Georgieva alongside seven other influential leaders. It gathered the world’s most inspiring and committed leaders to share ideas and solutions on how to promote the number of women in leadership positions, how to further advance society, and how to make the most of the possibilities that the digital revolution offers. In addition, the forum marked the release of the “Reykjavik Index for Leadership,” a report that measures the extent to which men and women are viewed equally in terms of suitability for positions of power across 20 different sectors.
The theme of the forum, “Power, Together” was based on the concept of a more inclusive definition of power built on collaboration, understanding, and an emphasis on consensus rather than individual strength. This concept was exemplified during the Leaders Talk co-hosted by the World Bank on November 27, titled “Digital Leapfrogging – The Magic Wand in Development?” The session, was led by Boutheina Guermazi, Director Digital Development at the World Bank Group and moderated by Nayé Bathily, Head, Global Parliamentary Engagement at the World Bank Group, aside Afke Schaart, VP and Head of Europe at Groupe Speciale Mobile Association (GSMA); and Giovanie Biha, Deputy Executive Secretary for Knowledge Delivery at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). Topics discussed included digital identification, education and skills, and collaboration between the public and private sector.
Women Leaders Global Forum | Reykjavik Index for Leadership | WPL
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PARLIAMENTARY ENGAGEMENT
World Bank Participates in Debates of Le Monde Afrique on Women Empowerment
Paris, November 28, 2018 – On Wednesday, November 28, 2018 Le Monde Afrique hosted “Les Débats,” a day-long series of debates themed “Women Who Move Africa Forward: New Fights, New Activism.” The event, held at the Quai Branly – Jacques Chirac museum, was co-sponsored by the World Bank and Les Fonds Français Muskoka, and featured trailblazing speakers from a broad array of sectors, including politics, film, journalism, sports, business, and international organizations. Each gave her or his perspective on the various struggles of African women and how they can be empowered to overcome them.
“It is not a bad thing to be underestimated,” said Louise Mushikiwabo, General Secretary of Francophonie and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Rwanda, a statement that reflected the optimistic and determined mood of the entire day, even amidst such sobering topics as slave trade, AIDS, and racism. HE Mushikiwabo contributed to a discussion on women in politics alongside Honorable Bochra Belhaj Hmida, a Tunisian MP who leads the committee in charge of proposing a groundbreaking law to grant women equal inheritance rights in Tunisia, and HE Williametta Piso Saydee-Tarr, Liberian Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection. Representing the World Bank was Markus Goldstein, Lead Economist in the Research Group and Gender Practice Leader in the Africa region, who discussed the Bank’s research and work in helping women in Sub-Saharan Africa achieve economic independence and success. “Teachers are very good at teaching the way the world is versus the way the world should be,” he said as he explained that what matters most is a good education from quality teachers, information about career options available, financing, and a supportive network, including encouraging parents and teachers, other women entrepreneurs, and male mentors.
The Debates Le Monde Afrique | Follow-up Article | Women Entrepreneurs: The Future of Africa
Equal Inheritance Rights Law in Tunisia
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PARLIAMENTARY ENGAGEMENT
Relaunch of the German Parliamentary World Bank Group Caucus
Berlin, November 22, 2018 – The World Bank Group Caucus, an informal group for German MPs interested in development, held its first session following the 2017 national elections. Several influential members of the Bundestag and their advisors attended the relaunch.
Volkmar Klein, the new Chairperson of the World Bank Group Caucus and member of the Committee on Economic Cooperation and Development, chaired the session. Hafez Ghanem, the World Bank’s Vice President for Africa, introduced the World Bank Group and outlined its engagement in Africa, emphasizing the need to focus on human capital, economic transformation and job creation, more private investment in infrastructure, tackling conflict and fragility, climate change, and stronger regional integration.
Subsequent discussions centered around Africa’s progress on the Sustainable Development Goals, the Compact with Africa, IDA financing for the private sector in fragile and conflict-affected states, infrastructure needs, World Bank cooperation with the World Food Program, and the importance of the Annual and Spring Meetings.
The World Bank in Germany
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PARLIAMENTARY ENGAGEMENT
World Bank Country Director Meets Kenyan Senate
Nairobi, November 21, 2018 – World Bank Country Director for Kenya Felipe Jaramillo met with Senate Speaker Hon. Kenneth Lusaka at the Parliament Buildings on Wednesday to discuss the impact of devolution in Kenya as well as the challenges to the realization of its full potential.
During their discussion, Jaramillo drew comparisons between Kenya and his native country Colombia. "It took us about 10 years before proper decentralization took hold, with the biggest challenges being inadequate capacity and oversight," he said. Hon. Lusaka said devolution was ushering in immense changes, allowing the government to disperse political power and economic resources at the grassroots, though he warned of an “immediate need to build the capacity and staffing of critical institutions, such as the Office of the Auditor General, for it to execute its mandate sufficiently."
The World Bank in Kenya
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PARLIAMENTARY ENGAGEMENT
“The Future of Work” Conference and Book Release
London, November 15, 2018 – The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Inclusive Growth at the British Parliament and the Parliamentary Network on the World Bank & IMF (PN), organized a conference on “The Future of Work” at Westminster which also served as a platform for the launch of a new book, "The Future of Work for the People We Serve," commissioned by the PN. The conference brought together politicians, policy-makers, and figures from the world of business, finance, trade unions and academia to discuss the issue.
Sheila Redzepi, World Bank Vice President for External Affairs and Corporate Communications presented the new Human Capital Index launched at this year’s Annual Meetings in Indonesia. They also discussed the findings and recommendations of “The Changing Wealth of Nations” and the 2019 World Development Report on “The Changing Nature of Work.” Policymakers walked away with compelling evidence that delivering better outcomes in children’s health and learning can significantly boost the incomes of people, and of countries. Jakob Kopperud, World Bank Special Representative to the United Kingdom and Ireland also participated in the discussion.
The World Bank in the United Kingdom | Book: The Future of Work for the People We Serve
Human Capital Index|The Changing Wealth of Nations | The Changing Nature of Work
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PARLIAMENTARY ENGAGEMENT
Paris Peace Forum Conference on the South Sudan
Paris, November 14, 2018 – As part of the Paris Peace Forum, an event honoring the 100-year anniversary of Armistice Day, the France-South Sudan Parliamentary Friendship Group and Hon. Anne Chapelier, French MP hosted an event at the French National Assembly to put the spotlight on the current conflict-driven humanitarian crisis in South Sudan. Two round tables were held on the topics of human rights and the humanitarian crisis, and on the varying perspectives of the fragile peace accord between the Republic of the Sudan and South Sudan. Speakers included the French Ambassador to South Sudan Jean-Yves Roux and the South Sudanese Ambassador to France Andrew Akon Akech Kuol. Other high-level representatives included Frédéric de Saint-Sernin of ACTED, Pierre Mendiharat of Doctors Without Borders, Régis Savioz from the Red Cross, as well as members of the academic community, among which Gérard Prunier. Francesco Addis, Senior Resource Management Officer presented the World Bank’s engagement in South Sudan.
The Paris Peace Forum | The World Bank in South Sudan
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PARLIAMENTARY ENGAGEMENT
World Bank Meets with Speaker of Parliament and Ugandan Parliamentary Network
Kampala, October 24, 2018 – World Bank Country Manager, Tony Thompson, briefed the Rt Hon Rebecca Kadaga, Speaker of the Uganda Parliament on the World Bank’s ongoing work before holding a separate meeting with members of the Parliamentary Network on the World Bank and the IMF (PN) in Uganda. Mr. Thompson was accompanied by several task team leads from the World Bank, including the Forced Displacement program, Agriculture, Water, Social Protection, and the Macro-Economics Trade and Investment Global Practice.
Mr. Thompson expressed appreciation to Hon Kadaga for her leadership and the important oversight role that Parliament plays in development, “Our role in Uganda is very much overseen and approved by your team in parliament, and I wanted to make sure you are fully informed of the work we are doing, and how it aligns with the country’s development agenda.” Hon. Kadaga welcomed the World Bank’s support to Uganda and engagement with Parliament and pledged to follow up with pending project approvals, highlighting several areas of interest including regular information-sharing and knowledge resources to inform parliament’s decision-making.
During the meeting with the Parliamentary Network in Uganda, Hon. Elijah Okupa, Chair of the PN Uganda commended the Bank for its progress on certain agriculture and water projects that are transforming rural development. As part of their work, the local PN chapter is expected to make a presentation to Parliament annually to report on its activities and engagement with the World Bank and the IMF. This provides a meaningful entry point for more structured and regular engagement with its members, noted Hon. Okupa, who is also a member of the Parliamentary Accounts Committee – the main oversight committee of the House.
The World Bank in Uganda
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PARLIAMENTARY ENGAGEMENT
Global Parliamentary Forum for Evaluation and High-Level Panel on Public Investment Management and Evaluation
Colombo, September 17-19, 2018 – Sri Lanka hosted 400 parliamentarians from over 75 countries to discuss the role of evaluation as a source of evidence for decision-making on national development and in appraising progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.
The World Bank partnered with The Global Parliamentarians Forum for Evaluation (GPFE), Sri Lanka Parliamentarians Forum for Evaluation, EvalPartners and Sri Lanka Evaluation Association, to co-organize a panel discussion on Evaluation in Public Investment Management. The panel discussion, titled “Evaluation as a Lever to Increase the Socio-Economic Impact and Efficiency of Public Investments” explored international good practices and experiences in the evaluation of public investments and what it means for parliamentarians. It featured a South–South experience sharing session among parliamentarians and practitioners, including Public Investment Management champions and evaluation specialists from Sri Lanka, Tunisia, Nigeria and South Korea. The panel discussion was moderated by World Bank Governance Global Practice Director Jim Brumby.
During the event, the Government of Sri Lanka launched South Asia’s first National Evaluation Policy, supported by the World Bank and Australia. It sets out the objectives, principles, scope and architecture for the evaluation of public policies, programs, investments and institutions in the country.
The World Bank in Sri Lanka | Sri Lankan National Evaluation Policy
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PARLIAMENTARY ENGAGEMENT
Ecuadorian Parliamentarians meet with World Bank Management
Washington DC, August and September 2018 – A delegation of Ecuadorian parliamentarians met in August with Jorge Familiar, Vice President of Latin American and the Caribbean, and Alberto Rodriguez, Ecuador Country Director to share their concerns and points of view as Ecuadorian MPs on democracy and transparency in an open dialogue with the World Bank. The delegation included Honorables Doris Soliz, MP and member of the Committee on Sovereignty, Integration, International Relations and Security; Carlos Viteri, MP and member of the Committee on Biodiversity and Natural Resources; and Galo Valarezo, Ecuadorian Resident in the United States.
Later, in September, the Ambassador of Ecuador to the United States Francisco Carrion Mena presented advancements by Ecuador in certain areas, including the economy, to Mr. Familiar. Also present at the meeting were Juan Carlos Sánchez, Deputy Ambassador of Ecuador to the United States; Mireya Muñoz, Sub-Secretary for Foreign Affairs; Henry Cucalón, MP; Fabricio Villamar, MP; and Ximena Peña, MP.
The World Bank in Ecuador
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PARLIAMENTARY ENGAGEMENT
World Bank Holds Anti-Corruption Workshop for Parliamentarians
Santiago de Chile, April 9-10, 2018 – The World Bank held a workshop on "Control and Prevention of Corruption from Parliaments and Other State Organizations", organized by the Congress of Chile with the support of the World Bank Group on April 9 and 10 in the city of Santiago de Chile. The event aimed to review the progress of the probity agenda in Chile, 10 years after the enactment of a transparency law. Participants highlighted progress made by Congress and discussed the challenges in the mid-term. The General Comptrollers of Chile, Jorge Bermudez, and Peru, Nelson Shack also shared their experiences and work being done in the prevention of corruption.
Representing the World Bank were Pedro Luis Rodriguez, Senior Economist and Program Manager, Stephen Zimmermann, Senior Advisor in Governance and Ledda Macera, Consultant. From Chile, participants included the Presidents of the Senate, Hon. Maya Fernández and the Chamber of Deputies, Hon. Carlos Montes; the President of the Bicameral Commission of Transparency, Deputy Paulina Núñez; the current Minister of Justice, HE Hernan Larraín; Marta Herrera, Director of the Anticorruption Unit and the Legal Unit of the National Prosecutor's Office of Chile; Marcelo Drago, President of the Council for Transparency; and Eduardo Engel, member of the Board of the Public Space Foundation, among others.
The World Bank in Chile
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UPCOMING EVENT - April 8-9, 2019
Global Parliamentary Conference
The 2019 annual Global Parliamentary Conference (GPC), the Parliamentary Network on the World Bank and IMF (PN)’s flagship event, co-hosted by the World Bank and IMF, will take place on April 8-9, 2019 at the World Bank headquarters in Washington DC. The GPC is the only parliamentary conference of its kind, bringing together some 200 parliamentarians from across the globe to discuss today’s most urgent development challenges with World Bank and IMF senior management and experts. The fifth edition will include such topics as human capital, youth jobs, disruptive technology, and climate. The second day will also feature a half-day meeting of the Global Young MP Initiative, a program for legislators under 45 from around the world to address the development challenges facing youth today.
Registration opens early February
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PUBLICATION
Poverty and Shared Prosperity 2018: Piecing Together the Poverty Puzzle
The Poverty and Shared Prosperity report provides the most recent and accurate trends in global poverty and prosperity. The 2018 edition has expanded the definition and measurement of poverty to integrate the absolute notion of extreme poverty with that of relative poverty within cultures, including differences within households and based on age and gender. It also broadens measures to include information about access to education and basic infrastructure. The report found that while rates of extreme poverty ($1.90 a day) have declined sharply from 36 to 10 percent since 1990, nearly half the world still lives on less than $5.50 per day, the poverty line in upper-middle income countries.
Report (PDF) | Press Release
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DATA
World Development Indicators (WDI)
The World Development Indicators (WDI) is an online tool that offers new ways to explore the World Bank’s premier compilation of international statistics on global development. It provides access to almost 1,600 indicators for 217 economies, allowing users to find both historical and current development information. It also serves as a storytelling platform that takes users behind the scenes with details about data coverage, curation, and methodologies.
World Development Indicators Website
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October 27, 2018
Gabon
The first round of legislative elections was held on October 6 and the second round on October 27th to elect the 143 seats of the National Assembly. The ruling Gabonese Democratic Party maintained its two-thirds majority with 98 seats, even after a loss of 15 seats. The remaining seats were taken by independent candidates and 12 other parties. Elections were originally slated for December 27, 2016 and after two postponements, Gabon’s Constitutional Court ruled to dissolve the lower house of parliament and forced the Prime Minister to resign in April 2018 stating that their terms were expired.
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November 6, 2018
United States
Midterm elections were held to replace all 435 seats of the House of Representatives and 35 of the 100 seats in the Senate. The Democratic party took control of the House of Representatives with 234 seats, or 53.7%, while the Republican party took 198 seats. Conversely, Republicans maintained power in the Senate, winning 2 additional seats for a majority lead of 53 over 47 for the Democrats. Three seats in the House of Representatives are still undetermined due to recounts.
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November 14, 2018
Fiji
Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama’s FijiFirst party claimed a victory in Fiji’s general elections, receiving nearly 53% of the vote and 27 of the 51 seats in Parliament, losing 5 seats. The Social Democratic Liberal Party won 21 seats, gaining 6, while the National Federation Party retained the 3 remaining seats. Female representation in parliament also rose to 20 percent.
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