Achieving health for all takes collective action. The new Knowledge Hub connects partners, shares best practices, and drives advocacy, while National Health Compacts help translate commitment into real progress. Watch the event replay: https://live.worldbank.org/en/event/2025/healthworks-universal-health-coverage-high-level-forum?cid=ECR_WA_worldbank_EN_EXT

In our latest Development Podcast, we look back at what shaped the year in development with World Bank Managing Director Anna Bjerde, and Devex's Raj Kumar... and a look ahead to 2026 and beyond. LISTEN HERE: https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/podcast/2025/12/18/getting-development-done-2025-in-review?cid=ECR_WA_worldbank_EN_EXT

Inflation is slowing and markets are reopening, offering debt-strapped countries a brief chance to breathe. But this moment is fragile. Recent data shows: ➡️ $741B in net debt outflows between 2022–24 — the biggest in over 50 years ➡️ In the most indebted countries, half the population can’t afford a minimum healthy diet ➡️ Developing economies paid $415B in interest in 2024, diverting resources from health, education, and basic services Indermit Gill explains why the risks remain high — and what can be done: https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/voices/putting-debt-strapped-countries-on-a-sustainable-path?cid=ECR_WA_worldbank_EN_EXT

The World Bank Group Wrapped: 2025 Resilience, smart development, and a focus on jobs. See this year’s highlights and what’s coming next: https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/immersive-story/2025/12/16/2025-resilient-economies-smart-development-more-jobs?cid=ECR_WA_worldbank_EN_EXT

Weekly Update: ➡️ 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀’ 𝗗𝗲𝗯𝘁 𝗢𝘂𝘁𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀 𝗛𝗶𝘁 𝟱𝟬-𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵. New International Debt Report: from 2022–2024, developing countries paid $741 billion more on external debt than they received in new financing. ➡️ 𝗔𝗱𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿-𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗩𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲: 𝟭𝟲 𝗗𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗺. Safety drives development. When women and girls are free from violence, economies grow and opportunities expand. ➡️ 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗺𝘆 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀. Despite forecast swings, global growth looks resilient at ~2.7%, similar to early-year projections. ➡️ 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘀 𝗠𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗼𝘃𝗮’𝘀 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀. With World Bank support, Moldova has digitalized 87+ critical services, cutting costs, red tape, and wait times. Read & subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/new-data-debt-payments-reach-50-year-high-the-world-bank-ttdye/?trackingId=8vJBNDIpP2VwzFqRxYMdmg%3D%3D

Standards are the invisible infrastructure behind modern economies — and they’re multiplying fast. The World Development Report 2025, released today, provides the first comprehensive assessment of how global standards are reshaping trade, health, technology, and competitiveness. *The report finds:* • International standards have surged, with more than half created since 2000 • Standards-related non-tariff measures now affect 90% of global trade • Many developing economies lack the capacity to participate in global standard-setting — yet face the steepest compliance costs Explore the full report: https://www.worldbank.org/wdr2025/standards?cid=ECR_WA_worldbank_EN_EXT

Weekly Update: ➡️ 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝘆. International standards are booming—but many developing countries are being left behind, a new World Bank report shows. ➡️ 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟭.𝟱 𝗕𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗚𝗼𝗮𝗹. With 15 countries now launching National Health Compacts, primary care is expanding, jobs are growing, and we’re on track to serve 1.5 billion people by 2030. ➡️ 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: 𝗟𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽. Innovation powers progress. After 25 years of learning what works, here are five insights on how to boost innovation for development. ➡️ 𝗘𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗩𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗔𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗚𝗶𝗿𝗹𝘀 𝗧𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿. One in three women has experienced physical or sexual violence. The World Bank Group partners with governments and the private sector to address and prevent gender-based violence before it happens. Read & subscribe: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/global-standards-key-findings-from-our-new-report-the-world-bank-vpqoe/?trackingId=Uq8%2BVEYRSI2%2F%2FjCX2am7CA%3D%3D

In 2025, the real opportunities in emerging markets were hidden beneath the surface. 📈 While the headlines focused elsewhere, the data told a different story. Discover the key signals investors missed in IFC Economics’ latest report: "What the Data Told Us in 2025." https://www.ifc.org/en/stories/2025/what-the-data-told-us-in-2025?intcid=ecr_WA_en_ext

We want to hear from you: What would make the biggest difference in delivering quality, affordable health care for all?