World Bank [to 18 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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PRESS RELEASE
China Launches First World Bank Trust Fund to End Poverty and Promote Development
July 16, 2015
WBG and China also agree on AIIB collaboration
BEIJING, July 16, 2015— World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim today praised China for its growing role in global development in meetings with Premier Li Keqiang and other senior leaders including Finance Minister Lou Jiwei and Governor Zhou Xiaochuan of the People’s Bank of China.

On the first day of his two day visit, President Kim had a far reaching discussion with Premier Li Keqiang on the global economy, development finance and China’s health reforms.
In a separate meeting today, President Kim and Finance Minister Lou Jiwei signed an agreement to establish a $50 million fund to help reduce poverty. The World Bank President also met with leaders of the Multilateral Interim Secretariat for Establishing the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) to discuss closer collaboration.

These initiatives reinforce the growing partnership with China, which already is the Bank’s third-largest shareholder and an important contributor to IDA, the institution’s fund for the poorest, as well as the Global Infrastructure Facility.

“China is a strong partner in development and a strong partner for the World Bank Group, and we share the commitment to ending poverty and boosting shared prosperity,” said President Kim. “I look forward to a continued strong, cooperative, and productive relationship, which will benefit developing countries around the world.”

The trust fund, which is expected to start later this year, aims to enhance the cooperation between China and the World Bank Group and leverage financial and knowledge-based resources to help developing countries achieve inclusive and sustainable development. It will finance investment projects, operations, knowledge development and human-resource cooperation at both global and regional levels…

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Speeches & Transcripts
Financing for Gender Equality – Results and Good Practices
July 14, 2015
World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
As Prepared for Delivery
Mr. Secretary-General, Ministers, and friends. It’s wonderful to see you.
Twenty years ago, the landmark Fourth World Conference on Women put forward a Platform for Action that made a powerful case for gender equality. Among other things, it recognized two important principles: (1) “that equality between women and men is a matter of human rights and a condition for social justice;” and (2) that “broad-based and sustained economic growth in the context of sustainable development is necessary to sustain social development and social justice.”

Two decades later, we are in the middle of a watershed year for our work to advance gender equality and end extreme poverty. We know based on evidence that gender equality is not only a condition for social justice but a powerful driver of the economic growth that can help deliver it—the inclusive growth that benefits all. And we now have data to prove that the world cannot achieve its potential—or secure its future—unless all its people can achieve and secure theirs…

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PRESS RELEASE
Global Conference on Religion and Sustainable Development: Strengthening Partnerships to End Extreme Poverty
July 12, 2015
WASHINGTON, July 12, 2015 – A highly significant conference brought together 130 attendees to discuss Religion and Sustainable Development this week.

The “Religion & Sustainable Development: Building Partnerships to End Extreme Poverty” conference was convened and co-hosted by the World Bank Group, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (implemented by GIZ), U.S. Agency for International Development, UK Department For International Development, GHR Foundation, World Vision and the Joint Learning Initiative on Faith and Local Communities, a coalition of faith-based organisations and academic institutions.

Co-sponsors included the Catholic Medical Mission Board, Catholic Relief Services, Islamic Relief USA, Tearfund, American Jewish World Service, IMA World Health and McKinsey & Company…