World Bank Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan

06/16/2026

A strong reflection from Ousmane Dione, World Bank Vice President for the Middle East and North Africa, after the CEO Forum: Africa’s conversation on scale is really a conversation about impact, reform, and realization.
In his remarks, he points to three things The Bank Group brought to the Forum: the ability to show up as one institution, the depth of knowledge across the issues that matter for transformation, and the importance of financing when vision is already on the table.
That combination matters. Africa’s challenge is not only to identify opportunities, but to organize around them more effectively - through better policy, more innovative financing, and stronger institutional coordination.

06/15/2026

The World Bank Group has approved a $400 million program to shield households, businesses, and the financial sector from the growing threats of , disaster, and cyber risks — and the results it aims to achieve by 2031 are promising.

Here's what the Morocco Climate & Risk Finance Program will deliver:

✅For resilience: New cyber and disaster insurance instruments will expand Morocco's risk-transfer capacity, while a reinforced digital payments infrastructure will accelerate the flow of finance after shocks. Financial regulators will receive dedicated support to better oversee climate and cyber risks.

✅For disaster preparedness: $1 billion in pre-arranged disaster financing will be put in place — ensuring that when shocks hit, the financial response is fast and effective.

✅For the financial sector: Cyber risk coverage will be extended to at least 20 financial entities, with 60% of regulated insurers expected to incorporate climate and cyber risks into their management processes.

✅For climate investment: A new Project Preparation Facility will develop a pipeline of commercially viable projects in renewable energy, energy efficiency, sustainable transport, and water infrastructure — backed by blended finance structures to attract private investors at scale.

Over the next 5 years, the program aims to mobilize up to $400 million in private capital and bring a new generation of climate infrastructure projects to market. This is about more than financial protection; it's about ensuring that when the next shock hits, Morocco is ready.

Learn more:

The World Bank's Board of Directors has approved two new programs totaling $650 million that will help accelerate progress toward Morocco's digital transformation goals while boosting the country’s financial resilience against climate, disaster, and cyber risks.

06/13/2026

The World Bank Group has approved a $250 million program to support 's Digital Morocco 2030 strategy — and the results it aims to achieve by 2031 are promising.

Here's what the Morocco Digital Transformation Acceleration Program will deliver:

✅For citizens: A unified national portal for end-to-end digital access to public services, reducing in-person administrative visits. A National Sovereign Wallet — linked to the national identity card — will allow Moroccans to securely store and share official documents digitally.

✅For businesses: Financing and capacity-building for startups, with a government-backed venture capital framework expected to mobilize close to $200 million in private investment, and support for over 11,000 small and medium enterprises.

✅For talent: 20,000 students trained in digital skills and 30,000 new jobs in the offshoring sector, with at least 40 % going to women.

✅For innovation: A network of AI centers of excellence (the Jazari Institutes) will position Morocco as a regional hub for applied AI research and digital innovation.

Developed in close collaboration with the Moroccan government, this program is about more than technology — it's about building a more inclusive, competitive, and resilient economy for all Moroccans.

Learn more:

The World Bank's Board of Directors has approved two new programs totaling $650 million that will help accelerate progress toward Morocco's digital transformation goals while boosting the country’s financial resilience against climate, disaster, and cyber risks.

06/11/2026

At the Port of , training is turning directly into jobs.

Crane operators trained under the -supported Skills Development for Employment Project moved straight from internships into employment — a 100% placement rate built on training aligned with real market needs.

With nearly 1,500 people trained across priority sectors, the project is helping connect learning to opportunity.

Read the full story: http://wrld.bg/B6wN50YNaag

06/10/2026

What does it take to rebuild a healthcare system?

In 🇾🇪, it starts with training the next generation of medical professionals.

IFC is supporting the University of Science and Technology's efforts to expand medical and build a new 250-bed teaching hospital in Aden. Once completed, the facility will train 120–150 medical students each year, helping address the country's severe shortage of doctors while expanding access to healthcare services.

The project is expected to create more than 4,600 jobs and provide healthcare services to approximately 160,000 patients annually, including through outreach programs in remote communities.

It is also helping create new opportunities for pursuing careers in medicine through expanded access to higher education and digital learning.

Read how private sector investment is helping strengthen healthcare and education in Yemen:

Private investment in Yemen's University of Science and Technology will strengthen its medical school training programs, support a new teaching hospital, and facilitate the purchase of state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment.

06/05/2026

News: The 's Board has approved a new Country Partnership Framework for FY2026-2030, "Better Livelihoods & More Jobs Amid Fragility."
A new phase in our commitment to the people of Yemen.
Alongside the new Yemen Country Partnership Framework, US$285 million in new financing was approved across 4 operations covering health, water, urban services & governance, putting the framework into action for Yemen from day one:
http://wrld.bg/c4G850Z89Bs

The World Bank Group's Board of Executive Directors today approved a new Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for the Republic of Yemen for fiscal years 2026-2030, alongside four new operations totaling US$285 million, marking a new phase in the World Bank Group's long-standing commitment to the peop...

06/03/2026

Afghanistan continues to show modest growth, but rising population and inflation are eroding living standards. The latest Development Update highlights key challenges and the urgent need for sustained support. http://wrld.bg/61AH50Z7bVn

06/02/2026

يؤثر تغير المناخ في #المغرب 🇲🇦 بشكل متزايد على فرص العمل، لا سيما في المناطق الريفية. ومع توقع تكرار موجات الجفاف واستمرار الضغوط الهيكلية على الموارد المائية خلال السنوات المقبلة، قد تتقلص فرص العمل الريفية في العقود القادمة ما لم يحظَ التكيف المناخي بالأولوية.

وفي مطلع عام 2025، أنشأ المغرب وحدةً للمناخ تتولى قيادة إصلاحات إدارة المالية العامة المناخية، بهدف تعزيز التنسيق والتعاون وفق نهج "الحكومة بأسرها".

ولأول مرة، يتضمن قانون المالية لعام 2026 معلومات حول التمويل العام للمساهمات المحددة وطنيًا للفترة 2026-2028، مما يوفر للحكومة رؤية أوضح لفجوات التمويل المرتبطة بأهدافها المناخية.

اطّلعوا على المزيد حول نهج المغرب القائم على "الحكومة بأسرها" في العمل المناخي في مدونتنا الجديدة: http://wrld.bg/ScNJ50Z6VLi

06/01/2026

Depuis 2023, le 🇲🇦 prend des mesures concrètes pour renforcer les acquis d’apprentissages au primaire avec le lancement du programme « Écoles pionnières ». Parti d’une initiative pilote concernant 626 écoles et 320 000 élèves, le programme couvre aujourd’hui 4 626 établissements et touche plus de 2 millions d’enfants dans le pays.

Avec l’appui financier et technique de la Banque mondiale, le Maroc conduit une réforme de l’éducation ambitieuse, fondée sur une approche centrée autour de l’apprentissage de l’élève.

Au cœur de cette transformation : 75 000 enseignants et 960 inspecteurs à travers tout le pays — des professionnels engagés qui œuvrent ensemble, en classe et au sein de l’établissement, pour la réussite de chaque élève.

Le Maroc a pris des mesures décisives pour améliorer son système éducatif et mieux préparer les générations futures. Guidé par la Vision stratégique pour la réforme 2015-2030, le pays entreprend une transformation en profondeur de son système éducatif, qui met l'accent sur les acquis d'a...

06/01/2026

منذ عام 2023، يتخذ المغرب خطوات جادة لتعزيز التعلم الأساسي في مدارسه الابتدائية من خلال برنامج "المدارس الرائدة". وقد توسع البرنامج من تجربة شملت 626 مدرسة و320 ألف تلميذ إلى 4,626 مدرسة تخدم اليوم أكثر من مليوني طفل في البلاد.

بمساندة مالية وفنية من البنك الدولي، يمضي المغرب قدماً في تنفيذ أجندة طموحة لإصلاح التعليم من خلال مقاربة تضع تعلم التلاميذ على رأس الأولويات.

يقف في صميم هذا التحول 75 ألف أستاذ و960 مفتشاً تربوياً في مختلف أنحاء البلاد، وهم مهنيون ملتزمون يعملون معاً في الفصول الدراسية والمدارس لضمان نجاح التلاميذ.

اتخذ المغرب خطوات حاسمة لإصلاح المنظومة التعليمية وإعداد أجياله القادمة على نحوٍ أفضل. واسترشاداً بالرؤية الإستراتيجية للإصلاح 2015–2030، تشهد البلاد تحولاً واسع ال...