World Bank to invest over $5B in Africa’s drylands

PLUS: Updated estimates of COVID-19’s impact on global poverty. [Having trouble seeing this email?](  [A woman fetching water in Niger. © Andrea Borgarello/World Bank/TerraAfrica](  [World Bank to invest over $5 billion in Africa’s drylands]( Over the next five years, this funding will help restore degraded landscapes, improve agriculture productivity, and promote livelihoods across 11 African countries on a swathe of land stretching from Senegal to Djibouti. [Blog: Building corridors of growth through the Sahel and beyond]( [Facebook]( [Twitter](  [People in Myanmar receiving food assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo: © World Bank](  [Updated estimates of the impact of COVID-19 on global poverty shows more falling into poverty]( In October 2020, using the June vintage of growth forecasts from the Global Economic Prospects (GEP), between 88 and 115 million people around the globe were estimated to be pushed into extreme poverty in 2020. Using the January 2021 forecasts from GEP, that number is now expected to rise to between 119 and 124 million. [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [A lecturer at Kandahar university in south Afghanistan using the Professional Development Center facility created under the Higher Education Development Center. © Rumi Consultancy/World Bank](  [Bringing modernity to Afghan universities]( Kandahar University is one of nine public universities in Afghanistan that has established a Professional Development Center under the Higher Education Development Project to update staff on innovations and new technologies. [Facebook]( [Twitter]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Blog --------------------------------------------------------------- [Smokey factory next to town.]( [Middle East and North Africa: Two opportunities for rebuilding after COVID-19 in green and inclusive ways]( "As MENA cities grow, especially on the coasts, recovery from the COVID-19 crisis calls for a greener, more resilient, and more inclusive development path to provide for healthy citizens in less-polluted cities. Cleaner coasts and oceans can secure millions of ‘blue economy’ jobs through a more efficient and resilient management of natural resources." — Marcelo Acerbi, Martin Heger, Helena Naber, and Lia Sieghart, January 11 [Facebook]( [Twitter]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Results That Change Lives --------------------------------------------------------------- [© World Bank Group]( "Games can connect children with our environment through a fun process." Indonesian entrepreneur Annisa Hasanah [has created board games]( help young people understand the impact of climate change. Read more [#ChangingLives stories.]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Broadcast Series & Virtual Events --------------------------------------------------------------- [© World Bank Group]( [UPCOMING: World Bank Group Data Privacy Day]( The World Bank Group Data Privacy Day is an event that aims to help raise privacy awareness—internally within the World Bank Group and externally—to promote data protection best practices and maintain trust in the institution. Join us live January 27-28! [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [© World Bank Group]( [REPLAY: Behind the Mission: Meet the Recruiters]( We spoke to four recruiters at the World Bank Group on how best to navigate careers within the organization. They shared some great insights and tips into what you can do to stand out as a competitive candidate! Watch the replay of the conversation now. [Facebook]( [Twitter]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Social Media --------------------------------------------------------------- [In #Georgia, @WorldBank helped the government purchase over 2M COVID-19 test kits. By September, the country was averaging 9,000 PCR tests and 1,700 rapid tests per day. 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Coming on top of a surge in global debt since 2010, this creates new risks. The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a steep increase in debt, particularly in EMDEs. This comes on top of a rapid debt increase since 2010. [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](