All publications and documents

The role of the global apparel and footwear industries has shifted far beyond meeting a basic human need. The relationship with fashion in our modern lives has had a collateral and significant impact on our planet’s resources. As we face urgent environmental and social challenges caused by climate change and resource depletion, the efficacy of solutions will depend on the creativity,…

This year’s theme “Growth, Jobs and Inequalities” is central to Agenda 2063: the goal of a prosperous African population requires strong, sustainable and inclusive growth that creates decent jobs and reinforces social cohesion by curbing inequality. Although Africa has the second highest rate of gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the world – it should reach 3.7% in 2018 – this remains below…

This paper points out that increasing women’s awareness and access to information and knowledge about climate-smart agriculture options will lead to greater uptake of these technologies and practices as well as enhance the resilience of entire households, communities, and food systems to climate-related shocks and changes. Female farmers play important roles in maintaining knowledge…

The climate-smart agriculture (CSA) concept is gaining considerable traction at international and national levels to meet the challenges of addressing agricultural planning under climate change. CSA is a concept that calls for integration of the need for adaptation and the possibility of mitigation in agricultural growth strategies to support food security. Several countries around the world have…

A decade ago, the World Bank launched the book Where Is the Wealth of Nations?, which first introduced the concept of wealth as a complementary indicator to gross domestic product (GDP) for monitoring sustainable development in a country. For the first time, we showed that development is about managing a broad portfolio of assets— produced, human, and natural capital. Just as a company measures…

Across the world, companies with a wide range of business models are making money from planting trees. These restoration enterprises are proving that restoring degraded forests and agricultural lands is not only good for the planet, but a good business opportunity as well. Population growth and expanding consumer demand are placing immense pressure on the earth’s natural resources. The…