World Bank [to 4 July 2015]
http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/all
[We generally limit coverage to regional and global level initiatives, recognizing that a number of country-level announcements are added each week]

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The Investing in Africa Forum: Partnering to Accelerate Investment, Industrialization, and Results in Africa
ADDIS ABABA, July 1, 2015 – The Investing in Africa Forum: Partnering to Accelerate Investment, Industrialization, and Results, was held June 30-July 1, 2015, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, co-organized by the Government of Ethiopia, the China Development Bank, the China-Africa Development Fund, the World Bank Group, and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization. It brought together representatives of the public and private sector from China and African countries. Regional institutions, development partners and think tanks also attended. Participants exchanged views on how African countries could attract greater investment, accelerate industrialization, create jobs and sustain development. The Chinese and African experiences were shared in order to provide information and lessons learned, and identify opportunities for enhanced partnerships…
Date: July 1, 2015 Type: Press Release

Global Food Prices Drop to a Five-Year Low
WASHINGTON, July 1, 2015 – International food prices decreased by 14% between August 2014 and May 2015, dropping to a five-year low, according to the latest edition of Food Price Watch. Cheap oil contributed to abundant global supplies of food in 2014 and prospects of a bumper crop for wheat, maize and rice in 2015—factors that are driving the sharp decline in international food prices. The agriculture and food sector continue to benefit from less expensive chemical fertilizer, fuel and transportation costs brought on by the previous year’s oil price declines, with food prices holding steady despite recent oil price hikes.Between August 2014 and May 2015, wheat prices plunged by 18%, rice prices dropped by 14% and maize prices declined by 6%. However, the arrival of El Nino, the appreciation of the U.S. dollar and the recent increase in oil prices could drive up food prices in the coming months…
Date: July 1, 2015 Type: Press Release

World Bank Commits to Greater Access to Information on the Policy’s Fifth Anniversary
WASHINGTON, July 1, 2015—The World Bank’s Access to Information (AI) Policy and Open Data Initiative launched five years ago, with more than 6.1 million documents and reports downloaded and over 18,000 development indicators made available, thereby spreading the organization’s wealth of operational information, research, statistics, and data on development challenges around the globe. Access to information and data can enable citizens to make informed decisions. “There is no one-size-fits-all solution to development challenges. But there is evidence that when citizens have access to information, they are empowered to participate in decisions that affect their lives and positively influence their community,” said World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim, “Our goal is to continue to create new opportunities for knowledge exchange, and, ultimately, support our clients’ application of evidence-based solutions to development challenges,” he added…
Date: July 1, 2015 Type: Press Release

Speech by World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim on Trade’s Role in Ending Poverty by 2030
Date: June 30, 2015 Type: Speeches and Transcripts

Statement by World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim on the Establishment of AIIB
WASHINGTON, June 28, 2015—The World Bank Group today issued the following statement from World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim on the signing of the articles of agreement by the founding members of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank: “I congratulate all founding members of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank on the establishment of the new development institution today. More funding for infrastructure will help the poor, and we are pleased to be working with China and others to help the AIIB hit the ground running. The developing world’s infrastructure investment needs are too huge for any single institution. The world spends about $1 trillion a year on infrastructure, but the vast majority of that goes to developed countries. Emerging markets and low-income countries face an annual gap of $1 trillion to $1.5 trillion in infrastructure spending. We view the AIIB as an important new partner that shares a common goal: ending extreme poverty…
Date: June 28, 2015 Type: Press Release