Transforming sanitation in Benin: A tale of resilience and renewal
Nestled on the West African coast, Benin, home to 13 million people, is embarking on an ambitious journey of transformation. The government has shown strong leadership in its efforts to structurally transform the economy, through ambitious programs and reforms in…
Getting sanitation back on the (global) agenda
Despite the proven impact and interrelationship between sanitation and climate change, sanitation is still not part of the climate conversation. It must be, not only to ensure the resilience of the infrastructure, communities, and ecosystems that we depend on in…
Unlocking the circular water future: Four lessons from a recent knowledge exchange to Portugal
“When SHIT happens, we turn it into fertilizer” this was a catch phrase used by Aguas de Portugal who co-organized together with the WICER team from the World Bank a recent knowledge exchange event on Water in Circular Economy in Portugal. Representatives from eight countries…
Building Resilience for South Asia’s Future
More than 850 million people in South Asia live in poverty, trying to survive on just $3.65 a day. Many of them are also dealing with the effects of climate change and other shocks. Recent events, such as floods in Pakistan,…
Scaling up green hydrogen for inclusive growth, better jobs, and lower emissions
Clean hydrogen, including green hydrogen, is a building block for the energy transition. It can potentially eliminate the world’s reliance on fossil fuels, especially in hard-to-abate sectors, and contribute to achieving net zero emissions. We can produce green hydrogen by harnessing…
Three priorities to turn natural capital into wealth for the people of the Congo Basin
The question “top-of-mind” for most leaders and climate champions who will be gathering this week in Brazzaville for the Three Basin Summit, is how can the forests be turned into the wealth of nations? The three basins encompassing the Amazon, the Congo…
Deforestation: Accelerating climate change and threatening biodiversity
SDG 15 aims to protect, restore, and promote the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems and forests, to halt and reverse land degradation, and to put a stop to loss in biodiversity. Forests are crucial for sustainable development. Covering almost one…
Stranded jobs? The energy transition in South Asia’s labor markets
South Asia’s transition away from fossil fuels will have significant labor market impacts, which could leave many workers stranded in lower-wage jobs in declining industries. In most South Asian countries, pollution-intensive jobs outnumber green jobs. Pollution-intensive jobs are concentrated among lower-skilled…
Ending overfishing: An urgent need to protect our oceans
An important aspect of achieving this goal is the elimination of overfishing which occurs when too many fish are caught too quickly, without allowing time for the population to recover. Overfishing is a major development problem, as it can lead…
Is it safe to get a prescription for the contraceptive pill online?
Buying medicines online, when you already have a prescription, has certainly become easier and more commonplace. But a few websites are now offering both online prescriptions for and the delivery of the oral contraceptive pill (‘the pill’) — without an in-person doctor consultation. You…