World Bank Podcasts

Earlier this year, hundreds of geeks gathered in South Africa for the first ever World Data Forum. Among them, was Tariq Khokhar. In a special edition marking the end of the first series of “Between 2 Geeks”, he reports on innovations in how data are being produced, with discussions featuring Amazon, Facebook and The World Pop Project. He also speaks with Anna Rosling Rönnlund of Gapminder, and explores new ideas for how data can be used to promote a “fact based view of the world”

Solar power is changing lives in Bangladesh and has helped the South Asian country leapfrog into an era of using renewable energy to light up homes – and quickly going a step further. Clusters of solar panels in remote islands like Monpura and villages such as Saidpur are helping small business owners and farmers access affordable and reliable electricity to improve productivity and climb the rungs of economic prosperity.

Globally, 77 countries still don’t have the data they need to adequately track and measure poverty. These data come from household surveys, but how exactly are these surveys designed, tested and run? Presenters Raka Banerjee and Tariq Khokhar speak with Diane Steele - an expert in the World Bank’s Living Standards Measurement Study team, and discover that collecting data from surveys may be more complicated than you think.

Phiona Mutesi, the Ugandan chess champion who inspired the movie Queen of Katwe, shares with communications officer Pabsy Pabalan Mariano her strategies for advancing her own life through education, and empowering youth through her support of a foundation. Mutesi and her coach Robert Katende sat down with Pabsy during the World Bank Group-IMF Spring Meetings 2017.

Has renewable energy reached the stage where it’s cheaper than fossil fuels? Presenters Tariq Khokhar and Raka Banerjee talk to Mafalda Duarte, head of the Climate Investment Funds, about the data behind renewables, and if we’re reaching a ‘tipping point’ in them becoming the preferred energy source for countries around the world. To read more, visit: http://blogs.worldbank.org/opendata/between-2-geeks-episode-5-renewable-energy-tipping-point

What do our cell phones reveal about society’s poverty or prosperity? This week’s edition of 'Between 2 Geeks’ looks at the way that metadata from our phones paints a picture of our collective behavior. Presenters Tariq Khokhar and Andrew Whitby talk to Professor Joshua Blumenstock, from the University of California, on this innovation in data analysis and what it means for development.

World Bank Africa Region Chief Economist, Albert Zeufack and Africa’s Pulse Lead author, Punam Chuhan Pole discuss the most recent Africa’ Pulse report. In this issue the Pulse tackles Sub-Saharan Africa’s projected moderate growth of 2.6 percent, which should strengthen somewhat in 2018, helped by improvements in commodity prices, a pickup in global growth, and domestic conditions. However, there is a need to spur investment in infrastructure, energy production and roads, without losing the hard won battle against debt in poor countries. Albert and Punam discuss the ways that countries can increase investment to achieve their goals and reduce poverty.

Testing helps evaluate the performance and progress of pupils in the classroom. But what is the best way to judge the effectiveness of an educational system as a whole? In this week’s edition of ‘Between 2 Geeks, Presenters Tariq Khokhar and Raka Banerjee talk to Dr. Husein Abdul Hamid, a Senior World Bank Education Specialist, to understand the value of testing and how to measure what really works in the classroom.

What’s the connection between dice and climate change? Find out in this week’s edition of ‘Between 2 Geeks’ - the World Bank’s podcast that looks at the data behind international development. Presenters Tariq Khokhar and Andrew Whitby talk to Dr. Ana Bucher, a climate change specialist with the World Bank, to find out what the data are saying about our changing world, and what needs to be done to address it. Read more on The Data Blog: http://blogs.worldbank.org/opendata/between-2-geeks-episode-2-climate-change-anomalies-and-new-normal

Where in the world is the population growing, where is it shrinking, and why are there such variations? The first episode of Between 2 Geeks looks at the data behind demography. Presenters Tariq Khokhar and Raka Banerjee are joined by Dr. John May – a demographer and population policy expert with the Population Reference Bureau. They discuss the factors that shape population change, and what it means for the future of our world. Read more on The Data Blog: https://blogs.worldbank.org/opendata/between-2-geeks-ups-and-downs-demography

Hear about the World Bank’s new podcast series ‘Between Two Geeks,’ which delves into the numerical side of life around the world. In the first episode, presenters Tariq Khokhar and Raka Banerjee look into the data behind demography with help from one of the world’s leading population experts. Future episodes will follow every Tuesday over the course of the next two months.

Can a soap opera change lives? In Nigeria, the MTV drama, Shuga, is encouraging young people to get HIV-tested and reduce risk-taking, according to a new study by economists Abhijit Banerjee, Eliana La Ferrara and Victor Hugo Orozco-Olvera. In this podcast, Banerjee and Orozco explain why “edutainment” – the combination of entertainment and education - may be the best way to motivate people to change their behavior and to tackle development problems, such as HIV/AIDS.

Fashionable clothes. Fun felt toys. Tasty tea. Organic Ginger. Nepal has plenty of goods to export across the globe - and that will be easier with the launch of a new Trade Information Portal, financed under the Nepal-India Regional Trade and Transport Project. The portal provides pretty much all of the information traders need to import and export goods, including information on permits, laws and taxes. Listen to how two innovative entrepreneurs plan to make the portal work for them. And to learn more about Nepal transport and trade issues, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMEtNb8Gqgs

IDA, the World Bank’s fund for the poorest, is the largest source of concessional finance for the world’s poorest countries. As the fund prepares for its triennial replenishment, to be held Dec. 14-15, 2016, in Indonesia, we talk with IDA Director Lisa Finneran about the fund’s impact on ending poverty, boosting prosperity and responding to crisis. In the next IDA funding cycle (IDA18), a new financing model is expected to bring greater investment on issues including fragility and conflict, climate change, gender, governance, and jobs. For more, visit http://ida.worldbank.org/ and follow us on Twitter: @WBG_Fin4Dev. Join the conversation with #IDAWorks.

Armenia was faced with a slowing economy, sinking remittances, and inefficient tax administration. At the same time, ordinary taxpayers had to navigate arduous processes when paying taxes. The Armenian government was eager to reform its tax administration, and with the World Bank’s support, was successful in creating a more service-oriented and efficient tax administration. Reforms helped the country build a fairer tax code and collect more public revenues. Photo courtesy of: Dmitry Karyshev https://www.flickr.com/photos/bims2008/28079708852/in/photolist-JMiRaf-6cG1bP-644bjw-re7yDN-7ZZxwM-amz1Kp-bmqbNw-69djyF-4i5qt7-4i1miD-8Gae4d-c789GS-8F94mE-8ETTTo-8EQJZ8-8EQz1x-813GaC-ah24fX-8EQN32-LJVBLu-69djdV-69dkbB-6zqdyy-6ynQhz-oT2JdE-6Lt215-wCZ89p-45pomB-anbfHg-wHwXeq-afYvkj-6LoTe8-JLArLH-5nJPi8-4i1kZZ-4i5qX9-JZzaDr-JffM6L-6hcmHM-ov9Ls-5nA9dK-Fhzd4Z-J17Hwn-HncKud-4i1mpn-s32atL-644819-J15Wqo-6fPbVG-4i1muF

In the Central African Republic, recovery and reconstruction after its most recent civil war will take time, political will, courage and perseverance. But there is hope. After three years of unprecedented violence and civil strife, the recent presidential elections have opened the door for a fragile peace brokering process. Now, for the first time; citizens have a democratically elected president and parliament. A 12,000 armed strong peacekeeping mission is deployed on the entire territory that is able to contain the armed groups scattered throughout the territory. Professor Faustin Archange Touadéra, President of the Central African Republic, says, "Accordingly, we plan to launch immediately a program for disarmament, demobilization, rehabilitation and repatriation of former combatants." Despite its entrenched poverty, and frail economic and social climate, the CAR’s public finances are no longer in acute crisis. Regionally, there are signs of a rebound in confidence, with the resumption of internati

Faustin Touadéra, le président de la République centrafricaine, s’est donné pour priorité de remettre les agriculteurs au travail, de consolider la paix, de désarmer et réinsérer les anciens combattants dans la société alors que le pays se relève à peine de trois années de conflits. La communauté internationale est aux côtés des Centrafricains et soutient les efforts du nouveau gouvernement.

Gone are the days when women used dangerous and smoky stoves. Now, they’re entrepreneurs and promoters of improved stoves that save money. This is one of several case studies in the upcoming State of Energy Access Report, supported by the World Bank’s Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP). The simple, new stoves use less firewood and help women in rural Kenya cook meals faster, save money, and reduce the impact on their health. To learn more about Kenya's energy projects, visit: http://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/energy https://www.esmap.org/

A free digital ID system in India is bringing financial services such as bank accounts and insurance to millions of people for the first time. World Bank's Pabsy Pabalan speaks with Dr. Ajay Bhushan Pandey to learn how a new, verifiable ID can improve lives. *** Watch the full event: Identification for Development: Harnessing the Power of Digital Solutions http://live.worldbank.org/identification-for-dev Event details: One-and-a-half billion people around the world can’t prove who they are. Without an ID, they face barriers doing everyday tasks such as opening a bank account, accessing social benefits, and getting health insurance. New technologies can help countries build robust and inclusive identification systems. Join the World Bank’s Chief Economist and panelists from governments and the private sector as they discuss how countries have developed identification systems to enable a range of key development outcomes. #ID4D *** ABOUT PABSYLIVE A young professional and a native of the Philippines, P

As Treasurer of the World Bank, Gene Rotberg was at the front line in contending with complicated global economic issues. Despite retiring from the post almost three decades ago, he maintained an interest and passion in explaining the matters that occupied him during his years at the Bank. In particular he sought to make them comprehensible to those not normally exposed to international economics – children. As a result, Gene Rotberg along with his wife Iris, who is a Professor of Education, wrote a book ‘‘How Emma Stopped the World’ playfully explaining global trade. It was inspired by a question from one of their grandchildren, and it uses their professional backgrounds to enlighten and entertain. Bookmark explores the creative literary works of World Bank Group staff members. To listen to others episodes of the series, visit: soundcloud.com/worldbank/sets/bookmark