COVID-19 threatens to wipe out gains in health and education

PLUS: How to build back better after the COVID-19 crisis? [Having trouble seeing this email?](  [People stand on marked spots to practice social distancing as they queue for donated food in Jakarta, Indonesia. Photo: © Achmad/World Bank](  [COVID-19 threatens to wipe out a decade of gains in health and education]( Hard-won human capital gains are at risk due to COVID-19. The World Bank Group’s 2020 Human Capital Index update provides insights to better inform policies to protect and invest in people. [Press Release]( | [Full Report]( [Facebook]( [Twitter](  [Children from VuniSaviSavi, Fiji, sit in the village boat as they travel to their favorite swimming spot, a deep hole in the coral reef called 'The Tomb', not far from shore. Photo: Alana Holmberg/World Bank ](  [How to build back better after the COVID-19 crisis? A practical approach applied to Fiji]( Like every other country, the Republic of Fiji faces the unprecedented challenge of managing the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. While the number of cases remains low, in a country where international tourism is a cornerstone of the economy, the implications of the crisis are massive. [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [© World Bank](  [Supporting micro-scale irrigation in Uganda]( Agriculture is the lifeblood of Uganda’s economy. A new program in Uganda helps farmers improve crop production and adapt to climate change. Smallholder farmers will benefit from financing, local expertise, and online and offline training. [Facebook]( [Twitter]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Blog --------------------------------------------------------------- [Photo: © Mohamed Azakir/World Bank ]( [How Lebanon can chart a new path forward]( "The people of Lebanon have demonstrated repeatedly over the decades that they can recover from conflict and destruction. They also can tap the resources of a highly engaged global diaspora. So I am confident that we can once again count on their drive and resourcefulness. But this time it is not just a question of survival and recovery. It is also a question of whether the country will seize the moment and take decisive action for change, charting a new path forward." — Axel van Trotsenburg, September 17 [Facebook]( [Twitter]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Results That Change Lives --------------------------------------------------------------- [© World Bank Group]( This project to improve Uruguay's water supply [is delivering cleaner water and more sustainable farming.]( Read more [#ChangingLives stories.]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Broadcast Series & Virtual Events --------------------------------------------------------------- [© World Bank ]( [‘This is a once in a century, global – truly global – crisis’]( In our latest episode on The Development Podcast, the World Bank’s newly-appointed Chief Economist Carmen Reinhart and World Bank Group President David Malpass give us their perspective on the health of the global economy and what they believe a path to recovery looks like. [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Photo: Salahaldeen Nadir/World Bank]( [Enhancing government effectiveness & transparency: The fight against corruption]( The World Bank has undertaken a fresh assessment of challenges governments face in tackling corruption, what instruments tend to work and why, and how incremental progress is being achieved in specific country contexts. A new flagship report shows positive examples of how countries are progressing in their fight to #EndCorruption. Join us LIVE as we discuss the report and its findings with an expert panel about how the lessons learned can guide policy makers and anti-corruption champions. [Facebook]( [Twitter]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Social Media --------------------------------------------------------------- [.@WorldBank’s VP for Sustainable Development explains how #COVID19 could impact on food supplies for the poorest and most vulnerable. ( [Given the severe #COVID19 economic crisis, the debt overhang of the poorest countries needs to be addressed head-on. The current shallow and temporary payment relief leaves several major creditors draining resources from the urgent need for resources to address health, education, and investment in human capital. Read more from David Malpass' interview with Financial Times.]( --------------------------------------------------------------- In the News --------------------------------------------------------------- - [World Bank Prices GBP 1.25 billion 7-year Sustainable Development Bond]( - [World Bank Provides Additional Support for Agriculture Growth and Better Livelihood Opportunities for Ethiopia’s Smallholder Farmers]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Jobs --------------------------------------------------------------- - [Economist - Washington, D.C.]( - [Operations Officer - Monrovia, Liberia]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Data Viz --------------------------------------------------------------- [Chart: Exploring links between democracy and women’s economic empowerment. ]( women have been underrepresented at most levels of government, including in one of the highest bodies of national government: parliament. Over the past quarter of a century, however, the average share of women in parliamentary bodies has been rising in each region. This is a sign of progress, although the global average share of women remains capped at less than one-third of parliamentarians. [Read More>>]( [facebook]( [twitter]( [instagram]( [instagram]( [instagram]( Accredited journalists may obtain advance access to reports and information by registering with the Bank's [Online Media Briefing Center]( a password-protected site for working journalists. Material in this newsletter is copyrighted. Requests to reproduce it, in whole or in part, should be addressed to pubrights@worldbank.org For more information visit our website: [worldbank.org](. [Access to Information]( [Other Bank Newsletters]( | [Privacy Policy]( [Unsubscribe from this list]( | [Update subscription preferences](