#worldbank — Public Fediverse posts

Montenegro Leads Western Balkans in Labor Productivity – Albania Placed Last https://www.byteseu.com/2350118/ #InternationalLabourOrganizationILO #Montenegro #Podgorica #WesternBalkans #WorldBank

https://www.europesays.com/africa/417527/ SoDMA and FAO Discuss Super El Niño Preparedness and Humanitarian Response #Jubaland #Mogadishu #Security #Somalia #SouthWestState #WorldBank

https://www.europesays.com/africa/415840/ South Africa’s Land Partnerships Rewrite the Rules of Conservation #30x30Target #Africa #biodiversity #BiodiversityStewardship #ClimateResilience #CommunityConservation #conservation #DFFE #LandReform #OECMs #ProtectedAreas #RuralDevelopment #SANBI #SouthAfrica #WaterSecurity #WorldBank

https://www.europesays.com/africa/414719/ World ‌⁠‍‍⁠⁠‌‍‍⁠⁠‍‌‌Bank  invests N1.5 billion in Ondo malaria intervention #DirectorOfSpecialProjects #DrAdeorunkeAgbaje #DrCharlesMensah #IHVN #NationalMalariaEliminationProgramme #OndoStateMinistryOfHealth #Tanzania #TheChiefOperatingOfficerAndManagingDirectorOfIHVN #TheInstituteOfHumanVirologyNigeria(IHVN) #WorldBank

World Bank Approves $20 Million Project to Boost Cross-Border Water Cooperation in Central Asia

https://web.brid.gy/r/https://timesca.com/world-bank-approves-20-million-project-to-boost-cross-border-water-cooperation-in-central-asia/

Gov’t cuts growth outlook for newly upgraded upper-middle-income Philippines

https://web.brid.gy/r/https://www.rappler.com/business/government-cuts-growth-outlook-newly-upgraded-upper-middle-income-philippines/

Cuban Patients Are Dying Because of U.S. Blockade, Doctors Say

https://web.brid.gy/r/https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/26/world/americas/cubas-health-system-us-oil-blockade.html

Cuban Patients Are Dying Because of U.S. Blockade, Doctors Say

https://web.brid.gy/r/https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/26/world/americas/cubas-health-system-us-oil-blockade.html

Cuban Patients Are Dying Because of U.S. Blockade, Doctors Say

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/26/world/americas/cubas-health-system-us-oil-blockade.html

Cuban Patients Are Dying Because of U.S. Blockade, Doctors Say

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/26/world/americas/cubas-health-system-us-oil-blockade.html

Cuban Patients Are Dying Because of U.S. Blockade, Doctors Say

https://web.brid.gy/r/https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/26/world/americas/cubas-health-system-us-oil-blockade.html

World Bank Miracle: How to Show Rising Poverty as Declining!

The real poverty line at which a bare minimum level of nutrition can be reached, is at least three times the official poverty line and at least 65% of India’s population falls below it.

by Utsa Patnaik
Newsclick
December 22, 2025

https://www.newsclick.in/world-bank-miracle-how-show-rising-poverty-declining

#SEZs in #India: Balancing Economic Growth and #Environmental Concerns

July 27, 2024

"Picture this: vast stretches of industrial land buzzing with activity, modern factories producing goods for global markets, and thousands of job opportunities emerging overnight. This is the promise of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in India. But behind this gleaming facade lies a complex web of environmental challenges and social concerns that demand our attention. SEZs represent one of India’s most ambitious economic policies, designed to accelerate industrial growth and boost exports, yet they often come at a significant cost to the environment and local communities.

[...]

"[T]he rapid expansion of SEZs has raised significant environmental red flags. The most pressing concern is land acquisition, which often involves converting fertile agricultural land into industrial zones. This conversion not only reduces the country’s agricultural capacity but also disrupts local ecosystems and biodiversity.

"The establishment of SEZs typically requires large tracts of land – sometimes spanning thousands of acres. Much of this land is acquired from agricultural areas, leading to the displacement of farming communities who have depended on these lands for generations. For instance, the proposed #RaigadSEZ in #Maharashtra would have required over 14,000 hectares of #agricultural land, leading to massive #protests from local farmers.

"The conversion of agricultural land to #IndustrialUse has long-term implications for #FoodSecurity. As India’s population continues to grow, the loss of productive #farmland could exacerbate food shortage issues in the future. Moreover, agricultural land often has better soil quality and water retention capacity compared to industrial land, making this conversion environmentally costly.

"Industrial activities within SEZs generate various forms of #pollution. Air pollution from #manufacturing processes, water #contamination from industrial effluents, and #SoilDegradation from chemical usage are common problems. The concentration of industries in SEZs can create pollution hotspots that affect air and water quality in surrounding areas.

"#WaterScarcity is another critical issue. SEZs require substantial water resources for industrial processes, often competing with local communities for this precious resource. In water-stressed regions, this competition can lead to conflicts and further environmental degradation.
Human rights and social displacement

"The human cost of SEZ development cannot be overlooked. Land acquisition for SEZs often involves displacing local communities, particularly small farmers and agricultural workers. These communities frequently receive inadequate compensation and struggle to find alternative livelihoods.

"The displacement process can be traumatic for local communities who have strong cultural and emotional ties to their land. Traditional occupations like #farming, #fishing, and #SmallScaleTrading are disrupted, forcing people to adapt to entirely new economic realities. The promised employment opportunities in SEZs often don’t materialize for displaced communities, as they may lack the required skills for industrial jobs.

"Women in these communities face particular challenges, as they often have limited access to alternative employment opportunities and may lose traditional income sources like kitchen gardening or small-scale agricultural activities. The social fabric of rural communities can be severely disrupted, leading to increased poverty and social inequality."

https://csr.education/urban-planning-development/sezs-india-economic-growth-environment/#environmental-concerns-the-hidden-costs

#HumanRights #HumanRightsFreeZone #CorporateColonialism
#IMFLoanSharks #Exploitation #WorldBank #RaceToTheBottom
#HumanRightsViolations
#Pollution #EnvironmentalDegradation
#EconomicSacrificZones
#ForcedRelocation #ForcedDisplacement #TraditionalLifestyles #EnvironmentalRacism #Exploitation
#CorporateColonialism

The #environmental burdens of #SpecialEconomicZones on the coastal and marine #environment: A remote sensing assessment in #Myanmar

Thiri Shwesin Aung, Indra Overland, Roman Vakulchuk, Yanhua Xie
November 2022

"Special economic zones (#SEZs) are unusual parts of the world economy in terms of law, institutions, and economic functions (Chaisse and Dimitropoulos 2021). SEZs are geographically delimited areas created to facilitate industrial activities through fiscal and regulatory incentives and infrastructure support (UNCTAD 2019). Such zones carve out jurisdiction as a subset of the overall state jurisdiction for the purposes of enacting different laws and regulations that are more trade and investment friendly (Zeng 2021). Since the year 2000, SEZs have mushroomed in developing countries to attract foreign direct investment (FDI), accelerate industrialization and create jobs (Aiyer 2017). There are 5400 SEZs in 147 economies around the world. Asia is home to three quarters of them (UNIDO 2015). They have been a core element of the economic development strategy of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and currently all ASEAN member states have SEZs (Aggarwal 2022).

"As part of an export-oriented development strategy, the zones commonly include industrial mega-areas that accommodate large-scale infrastructure, deep-sea ports, logistical infrastructure for oil and gas, hotels and tourism, and industrial complexes (Aggarwal 2022). They are primarily defined by a specific regulatory regime and a dedicated governance mechanism designed to relieve customs and tariffs and reduce the burden on businesses from permits, licenses, employment laws, and land access. In return, host governments expect investors to create positive spillover effects, such as facilitating innovation, boosting employment, raising exports, and diversifying the economy. The global experience of SEZs have been mixed, with some countries achieving successful economic outcomes, while others struggle to overcome market failures, institutional constraints, and social and environmental costs (Aggarwal 2022; Zeng 2021).

"The lax regulatory regimes of SEZs often raise concerns about environmental, social, and #HumanRights standards, as well as possible conflicts over #LandRights (Brussevich 2020). Several SEZs have failed to yield the expected economic benefits while having severe adverse impacts on the environment and local communities (Adunbi 2019; Aritenang and Chandramidi 2020; Chaisse and Ji 2020). On the other hand, while SEZs can be hotspots for environmental #mismanagement, they can also provide opportunities for implementing environmental policies specifically designed to regulate industries within the zones. Also, certain environmental advantages may ensue from the introduction of foreign financial resources and environmental technologies that are otherwise not readily available (Richardson 2004).

"However, according to the 'race to the bottom' literature, most SEZs have a net negative impact on the environment and local communities (Richardson 2004; UNIDO 2015; ZENG and DOUGLAS, 2012).

"Despite this contradiction, existing studies focusing on the direct and indirect impacts of SEZs have been rare (#WorldBank, 2017). Particularly, the magnitude and intensity of SEZ impacts on the environment remain understudied.
SEZs tend to be located in remote regions. As such, SEZ-related information and data are generally scarce, making it difficult to assess the environmental consequences of such zones. Many SEZs are also located in countries where there is limited scope for independent environmental assessment due to #authoritarian rule, #corruption, and/or #secrecy surrounding deals with foreign investors. Recent improvements in access to satellite data and computing platforms for machine learning have greatly improved the ability to comprehensively assess SEZs in any location in the world in near real time (Ali et al., 2020; Jensen et al., 2019). This article demonstrates how these technologies can be applied to provide evidence related to the environmental impacts of SEZs. The method is tried out on the Kyaukpyu SEZ in Myanmar. Myanmar is an authoritarian country and the #KyaukpyuSEZ is a flagship project of China's Belt and Road Initiative (#BRI) located in an inaccessible part of #Myanmar. This is precisely the type of case where independent access can be limited and a remote sensing approach can be useful.

"From 2010 onwards, Myanmar was navigating its economic transformation and a partial loosening of military rule. SEZ development was prioritized as a critical element of the country's industrialization (Oxfam 2017). The three most notable ongoing SEZ projects are the Kyaukpyu SEZ in the rural but strategically important Rakhine State, which is also the largest SEZ in Myanmar, the Thilawa SEZ on the outskirts of Myanmar's former capital Yangon, and the Dawei SEZ in the Tanintharyi Region. Tanintharyi is a long narrow southern territory of Myanmar bordering the Andaman Sea to the west and Thailand to the east.

"Although they are expected to encourage economic growth and reduce poverty, all three SEZ projects continue to face local opposition, particularly the Kyaukpyu and Dawei SEZs. The International Commission of Jurists (2017) has reported that SEZs in Myanmar are linked to human rights violations and environmental abuses (Donateo 2017). Although Myanmar's SEZ law adopted in 2014 reaffirms the applicability of environmental regulations to SEZ development, it does not clearly delineate responsibilities between developers and the state (DICA 2014). The law also does not conform with international human rights standards (MCRB 2018)."

Read more:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352938522001173

#RaceToTheBottom #HumanRightsViolations #Pollution #EnvironmentalDegradation #EconomicSacrificZones #ForcedRelocation #ForcedDisplacement #HumanRightsViolations #EnvironmentalDegradation #IndigenousPeoples #ForestPeoples #SaveTheForests #Exploitation #CorporateColonialism

#30DayChartChallenge Día 23: ¡El poder de la Escala Logarítmica! 🪵📐 Hoy vemos el PIB per cápita de España 🇪🇸 (1990-2023, PPA $const) de otra manera. #TimeseriesWeek #SocialData

¿La clave? scale_y_log10(). En esta escala, la *pendiente* de la línea azul representa la tasa de crecimiento porcentual. ¡Ideal para comparar el ritmo económico a lo largo del tiempo!

Se ven clarísimas las diferentes fases:
* Crecimiento fuerte pre-2008.
* El largo estancamiento post-Gran Recesión (zona rosa 08-13).
* El bache del COVID (zona rosa 20-21).
* La crisis de los 90 (zona rosa 92-94).

Una herramienta básica pero potente del análisis de series temporales económicas.

🛠 #rstats #ggplot2 #WDI | Data: World Bank | Theme: #theme_week4_social
📂 Código/Viz: https://t.ly/e3_cv

#Day23 #LogScale #dataviz #DataVisualization #EconomicGrowth #GDP #PIB #España #Economia #Macroeconomia #ggplot2 #RStats #WorldBank

Causing major harms through development projects

"World Bank-funded projects have also continually been found to be in direct, serious violation of international human rights standards. Major recurring issues include mass evictions and the forced displacement of peoples and communities for major infrastructure and agricultural projects (see Observer Spring 2015), violations of the rights of indigenous and forest peoples, targeting of human rights defenders, triggering local food insecurity, and serious labour rights violations, such as child and forced labour reportedly being used in Bank-funded projects (see Observer Winter 2016). The IFC has also been shown on several occasions to have invested in companies that avoid or evade taxes (see Observer Autumn 2016). More recently, the Bank has also acknowledged that its projects can create an environment that can foster gender-based violence, including sexual abuse and the spread of HIV/AIDS (see Observer Spring 2017).

"To safeguard against risks like these, the World Bank launched its revised Environmental and Social Framework in 2018, although it applies only to its project lending and not to its DPF.

"Many in civil society remain unconvinced that the safeguards are fit for purpose if the Bank is to deliver on its mandate to implement policies that benefit the poorest, especially as the Bank is set to focus on more complex and difficult environments from 2018."

#ForcedRelocation #ForcedDisplacement #HumanRightsViolations #EnvironmentalDegradation #IndigenousPeoples #ForestPeoples #SaveTheForests #Exploitation #CorporateColonialism
#IMFLoanSharks #WorldBank #GenderBasedViolence #ManCamps

[Thread] What are the main criticisms of the #WorldBank and the #IMF?

Bretton Woods Project - Critical voices on the world bank and IMF

4 June 2019

"World Bank-funded projects have also continually been found to be in direct, serious violation of international human rights standards. Major recurring issues include mass evictions and the forced displacement of peoples and communities for major infrastructure and agricultural projects (see Observer Spring 2015), violations of the rights of indigenous and forest peoples, targeting of human rights defenders, triggering local food insecurity, and serious labour rights violations, such as child and forced labour reportedly being used in Bank-funded projects (see Observer Winter 2016). The IFC has also been shown on several occasions to have invested in companies that avoid or evade taxes (see Observer Autumn 2016). More recently, the Bank has also acknowledged that its projects can create an environment that can foster gender-based violence, including sexual abuse and the spread of HIV/AIDS (see Observer Spring 2017).

"To safeguard against risks like these, the World Bank launched its revised Environmental and Social Framework in 2018, although it applies only to its project lending and not to its DPF.

"Many in civil society remain unconvinced that the safeguards are fit for purpose if the Bank is to deliver on its mandate to implement policies that benefit the poorest, especially as the Bank is set to focus on more complex and difficult environments from 2018."

https://www.brettonwoodsproject.org/2019/06/what-are-the-main-criticisms-of-the-world-bank-and-the-imf/

#HumanRights #HumanRightsViolations #IndigenousPeoples #ForestPeoples #Exploitation #IMFLoanSharks #CorporateColonialism #CorruptGovernments #BigOilAndGas #BigMining #SaveTheForests

#Uganda #president #defiant after #WorldBank #suspends #funding over #antiLGBTQ #law

The #WorldBank said the new #law, which imposes the #deathpenalty for certain #samesex #acts, #contradicts its #values.

#Women #Transgender #LGBTQ #LGBTQIA #Africa #Uganda #Religion #Hate #Bigotry #Violence #Genocide #Discrimination #Homophobia #Transphobia #EmptyThePews #DefundUganda

https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/uganda-president-defiant-world-bank-suspends-funding-lgbtq-law-rcna99206

#Attacks on #LGBTQ #Ugandans #spike as #WorldBank faces #pressure to #suspend #lending over #AntiHomosexuality #Act.

#Women #Transgender #LGBTQ #LGBTQIA #Africa #Uganda #Religion #Hate #Bigotry #Violence #Genocide #Discrimination #Homophobia #Transphobia #EmptyThePews

https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-07-04-attacks-on-lgbtq-ugandans-spike-as-world-bank-faces-pressure-to-suspend-lending-over-anti-homosexuality-act/

Waresix hauls in $14.5M to advance its push to digitize logitics in Indonesia - Waresix​, one of a handful of startups aiming to modernize logistics in Indonesia — the world’s four... more: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/hFJa8NuNYek/ #monkshillventures #fundings&exits #jungleventures #traviskalanick #southeastasia #eastventures #luckincoffee #carsharing #co-founder #logistics #commuting #countries #indonesia #singapore #transport #worldbank #evgrowth #china