The Development Podcast

By World BankBusiness News Government Non-Profit

The Development Podcast episodes

December 08, 2020 End of Year Special: The World Bank Group’s President and IFC Interim Managing Director reflect on the impact of COVID-19 in 2020, and the opportunities for recovery in 2021
“COVID has been a big setback and particularly a setback for the poorest countries. But I think there are some opportunities that we can build on into the future.” World Bank Group President, David Malpass on his hopes for 2021.
In a special year end edition of The Development Podcast, President Malpass and Interim MD and COO of the IFC, the Bank’s private sector arm, look back on 2020 and examine the path to a resilient recovery in 2021.
“I really do hope that as we come out of this, we can think about a resilient recovery that's about greater equality.” Stephanie von Friedeburg explains how the pandemic has laid bare global inequalities.
36 min
September 16, 2020 ‘This is a once in a century, global – truly global – crisis’ – A health check on the global economy with the World Bank’s Chief Economist and President
“Even by the standards of systemic crises, this is a once in a century, global – truly global – crisis,” explains Carmen Reinhart, the World Bank’s newly-appointed Chief Economist, about the pandemic-led economic downturn.
In a special appearance on The Development Podcast, Reinhart and World Bank Group President David Malpass give us their perspective on the health of the global economy and what they believe a path to recovery looks like.
“More-so than the 2008 crisis,” according to Malpass, “this one is really hitting the poor, hitting the developing countries. It’s not only a financial crisis, but it’s a true deep, deep economic crisis.”
Plus: Pabsy Mariano joins hosts Paul Blake and Raka Banerjee to preview this year’s entirely virtual World Bank Group – IMF Annual Meetings and details how you can participate from home.
------------------
Show notes:
-Read Carmen and Vincent Reinhart’s article, “The Pandemic Depression”, in Foreign Affairs: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/united-states/2020-08-06/coronavirus-depression-global-economy
-Get the latest on the 2020 World Bank Group – IMF Annual Meetings and plan to participate: http://live.worldbank.org
1 hr 2 min
August 27, 2020 ‘The Pandemic is Not Gender Neutral’ – How COVID-19 is Uniquely Threatening Women and Girls
On the latest edition of The Development Podcast, we explore the gender dynamics at play during the COVID-19 pandemic with the World Bank’s Global Director for Gender, Caren Grown.
“It turns out actually that the pandemic is not gender neutral,” Grown tells us, explaining that women and girls face distinct risks including increased exposure to the virus on health care front lines, potentially larger impacts to their livelihoods during lockdowns, as well as heightened risk of domestic violence.
As always you can send us your questions and comments: [email protected]
19 min
August 07, 2020 ‘A way to give developing countries more resources in a time when they need it most’ – Helping poor countries suspend their debt service payments during COVID-19
Developing countries are under tremendous strain while attempting to respond to the coronavirus pandemic.
To try and free-up resources so that they can better protect lives and livelihoods, the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund in April called on creditors to allow lower income countries to suspend their bilateral debt service payments and focus resources on responding to the pandemic. The plan – called the Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI) – was taken up by G20 Finance Ministers.
On this edition of the Development Podcast, we hear from the World Bank Group’s Global Director for Macroeconomics, Trade and Investment, Marcello Estevão, who answers our questions on how the program works and just how effective it has been.
And send us your questions and comments: [email protected]
19 min
July 23, 2020 ‘They rely on those remittances and without it, how can they live?’ – COVID projected to slash key lifeline for families in the developing world
In recent years, remittances were on the rise, playing an increasingly important role in global development. They eclipsed foreign aid in the ‘90s and surpassed foreign direct investment last year. Then COVID-19 and the subsequent lockdowns hit.
Dilip Ratha, the World Bank’s Lead Economist for Migration and Remittances, tells us that he thinks there will be a 20% drop in those flows this year, as migrants struggle to find work. And that matters, he says, because many families depend on those funds for their basic needs.
We also get the view from Manilla, from where Katrina Hontomin joins us to talk through how remittances shaped her life – from her early education to today.
And Raka has the latest development data to help us make sense of the story.
It all comes to you from the World Bank Group in Washington, DC and around the world!
And as always, we welcome your feedback, questions, and ideas. Email us using [email protected].
23 min
June 24, 2020 ‘Locking down an economy creates insolvency’ – The coronavirus’ impact on companies and jobs
Call it the “great lockdown”, the “coronavirus recession” or another moniker – whatever your label, the facts are clear: this unprecedented pandemic is having an unprecedented impact on the private sector.
While the full scale of the damage to companies and jobs is still being assessed, the International Finance Corporation’s Stephanie Von Friedeburg says: “developed country or a developing country, locking down an economy creates insolvency”.
“What we're going to see is a rise in unemployment and a loss of jobs. Liquidity issues at the firm level. And the longer the lockdown lasts, the more probability of insolvency”.
We hear from Stephanie about her plans to support the private sector during the COVID-19 response and recovery.
Plus, Raka runs us through the latest forecasts for the global economy from our colleagues behind the Global Economic Prospects.
All that and more from the World Bank Group in Washington, DC and around the world!
And as always, we welcome your feedback, questions, and ideas. Email us using [email protected].
21 min
June 09, 2020 Crisis alongside crisis: Locust swarms threaten the food security and livelihoods of millions, while COVID-19 complicates response efforts
Millions of people’s food security and livelihoods are under threat from historic locust swarms that are decimating cropland in East Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia. As affected countries work to respond, experts tell the Development Podcast that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is complicating response efforts.
With the World Bank stepping up to support countries, we hear from two of the experts behind the $500 million (USD) program – Afrah Al-Ahmadi and Melissa Williams.
We also take a listener's question about the Bank's Young Professionals Program. Send your questions to [email protected].
It all comes to you from the World Bank in Washington, DC and around the world. Listen, rate, review and subscribe!
Show notes:
Behind the Mission: World Bank Young Professionals discuss their experience: https://live.worldbank.org/behind-mission-world-bank-group-young-professionals-program
The Young Professionals Program homepage: https://www.worldbank.org/en/about/careers/programs-and-internships/young-professionals-program
27 min
May 29, 2020 ‘We’re moving to the next stage’ – The risks, opportunities, and the road to recovery from COVID-19, with World Bank Group President David Malpass
As healthcare workers continue to tirelessly fight the coronavirus, countries around the globe are starting to look towards recovery from the pandemic.
In a special interview David Malpass, the World Bank Group’s President, shares his thoughts on the crisis response so far and lays out his vision for the road ahead – how to promote economic growth, support the poorest, and sustain businesses and jobs.
The Group’s president shared his views on the unique risks and opportunities for developing countries as they look to mount a sustainable recovery.

“It's a double impact. They're vulnerable to the pandemic - to COVID-19 itself and people are dying in the countries,” Malpass said. “But then this added problem is they just don't have the resources and the capacity in order to protect their economies.”

“But we're moving to the to the next stage of designing programs that will maintain the economies and be ready as a recovery takes hold - we hope in the second half of 2020,” he said.
28 min
May 12, 2020 More than a billion students aren’t in class – how do we educate during a pandemic?
As the coronavirus has rapidly spread around the globe just about every aspect of life is being disrupted – not least education, which was already in crisis. That begs the question: How do we educate students during a pandemic?
We get the view from the World Bank’s Global Director for Education, Jaime Saavedra, who walks us through COVID-19’s impact schools, students, learning, and the solutions countries are implementing.
As students shift from the classroom to the living room, families are coming under strain and the digital divide is threatening to become an educational divide. We hear from two mothers in Colombia as they try to navigate the stress of working and now teaching at home.
It all comes to you from the World Bank headquarters in Washington, DC. Subscribe, listen, share, and review!
17 min
March 11, 2020 As coronavirus spreads around the world, countries brace for impacts on their people, healthcare, and economies
***Update: This episode was recorded in early March and makes several references to the World Bank’s fast-track financing facility to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since recording, the value of that package has increased from $12bn to $14bn. The podcast may contain references to the earlier figure.***
As coronavirus has rapidly spread around the globe – infecting more than 100,000 and killing more than 4,000 – healthcare systems and economies are coming under pressure.
Of particular concern: Africa, where many healthcare systems are fragile and may struggle to provide care to the most severely-affected patients. For the latest, we get an on-the-ground view from Africa Centers for Disease Control Deputy Director Dr. Ahmed Ogwell – who has been traversing the continent helping countries prepare.
In Washington, we hear from the World Bank Group’s Global Director for Health, Nutrition, and Population, Dr. Muhammed Pate, about an emergency support package the Bank has announced – valued at up to $12bn – to help countries preparing for or responding to the outbreak.
And as always, we bring you the data driving this story.
It all comes to you from the World Bank headquarters in Washington, DC. Subscribe, listen, share, and review!
21 min

About The Development Podcast

From the publisher's feed

The Development Podcast brings together the latest data, research and cutting-edge solutions that can pave the way to a sustainable future. We’ll take you on a journey around the world of…