Office of the President

Poverty, Health and the Human FutureMr. President, Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan, Excellencies, colleagues and friends:We stand at a moment of exceptional possibility.  A moment when global health... Show More + and development goals that long seemed unattainable have moved within our reach.  A moment, also, when dangers of unprecedented magnitude threaten the future of humankind.  A moment that calls us to shed resignation and routine, to rekindle the ambition that has marked the defining chapters of global public health.A generation must rise that will drive poverty from the earth.  We can be that generation.A generation must rise that will end the scourge of inequality that divides and destabilizes societies.  We can be that generation.A generation must rise that will bring effective health services to every person in every community in every country in the world.  We will be that generation, and you—members of this Assembly—will lead the way.Yes, I’m optimistic. Show Less -

President Kim’s First Official Visit Includes Meetings with Ponta, Basescu, Business Leaders, Civil Society, and Roma Representatives; He Calls for Inclusive Growth, Shared ProsperityBUCHAREST, May 10,... Show More + 2013 - World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim today concluded a two-day visit to Romania, praising the country for its inclusive growth over the past two decades. He called on leaders to continue building a more competitive economy that benefits all parts of society, including the poorest.The visit – his first to Romania -- was an opportunity for Kim to build on the World Bank Group’s two decade-long partnership with Romania. Kim pledged the support of the World Bank in helping to develop and implement a clear and innovative vision for inclusive growth and shared prosperity in Romania.During his visit, Kim met with Romanian officials, including Prime Minister Victor Ponta and President Traian Băsescu, as well as business representatives, students, civil society, and Roma representatives Show Less -

World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim will visit Romania on May 9th – 10th, his first visit to the country since becoming president in July 2012.During his visit, Kim will meet with government leaders,... Show More + political and civil society representatives, and business representatives to discuss how the World Bank Group can best continue supporting Romania’s inclusive growth and shared prosperity. Meetings will focus on the challenges and opportunities facing Romania, an upper middle-income country, and the needed reforms in the European Union context.Kim will be accompanied by Frank Heemskerk, Executive Director, Philippe Le Houérou, Europe and Central Asia Vice President, Mamta Murthi, Country Director, Elisabetta Capannelli, Country Manager, Thomasz Telma, International Finance Corporation Regional Director, Stefan Nanu, Alternate Executive Director, and Ana Maria Mihaescu, International Finance Corporation Chief Resident Representative.There will be a brief press opportunity with Kim and P Show Less -

Despite tough challenges in fragile countries, World Bank analysis reveals glimmers of hopeWASHINGTON, May 1, 2013—Despite enduring political and economic challenges, 20 fragile and conflict-affected states... Show More + have recently met one or more targets under the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and an additional six countries are on track to meet individual targets ahead of the 2015 deadline, according to a new analysis by the World Bank Group released today. The figures stand in stark contrast to only two years ago, when the 2011 World Development Report on Conflict, Security and Development reported that no low-income fragile or conflict-affected country had achieved a Millennium Development Goal (MDG).  The analysis was released today in a paper prepared for the “Fragility Forum” event held at the World Bank and comes as the Bank embarks on a series of internal reforms to leverage its effectiveness in fragile and conflict-affected states.“This should be a wake- up call to the globa Show Less -

April 20, 2013— After a decade of sustained economic growth and falling poverty in developing countries, the World Bank Group has a “historic opportunity” to help end extreme poverty within a generation,... Show More + the Development Committee said at the close of the 2013 World Bank-IMF Spring Meetings.   The ministers backed the goal put forward by World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim to reduce the number of people living on $1.25 a day to 3% or less of the world’s population by 2030, said Chairman Marek Belka.“We have set an expiration date for extreme poverty. With commitment, cooperation, and the vision of leaders from around the world, we have great faith that we can make it happen,” said Dr. Kim.The goal includes fostering income growth and “shared prosperity” for the bottom 40% of every country – which will entail reducing inequality, promoting gender equality, and creating opportunities for all citizens.“Ministers unequivocally supported Dr. Kim’s vision and stated that we can Show Less -

2030.This is it. This is the global target to end poverty.Thank you for coming and I just want you to know that less than an hour ago, for the first time in history, we have committed to setting a target... Show More + to end poverty. We are no longer dreaming of a world free of poverty. We have set an expiration date for extreme poverty. With commitment, cooperation, and the vision of leaders from around the world, we have great faith that we can make it happen. This will be hard work. The target of 2030 is closer than you think – just 17 years away. We will bring the urgency of the task to the world every year by reporting on our progress, country by country, on the rate of extreme poverty around the world as well as the changes in the income of the bottom 40 percent in each country, the people who are vulnerable to slipping back into poverty in the event of losing a job or suffering a health crisis. We will learn every year where we are making progress and where we are not.I also very much welcome Show Less -

RICHARD MILLS:  Very good.  Thank you all for coming to the closing press conference for these meetings.  Each of our participants will give a short statement and then we will be happy to... Show More + take your questions. If you could please identify yourself when asking a question and your news organization, that would be great. Chairman Belka.MR. BELKA:  Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to this press conference on today's Development Committee meeting. I am pleased to be joined by Jim Yong Kim and Christine Lagarde.As President of the World Bank Group, Jim has brought renewed enthusiasm for its core mission, a world free of poverty, and I mean it, "enthusiasm." The way Development Committee reacted to the two main objectives set out by President Kim cannot be described otherwise but a resounding, unequivocal support. Today, the Development Committee endorsed the two goals that will guide the World Bank Group to achieve its mission.First, we believe we have a Show Less -

Heads of UN and World Bank name team to mobilize action toward universal energy access, doubling of renewables and doubling of energy efficiency ratesNew York and Washington, April 19, 2013 – United Nations... Show More + Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim today announced the members of the Advisory Board for the Sustainable Energy for All Initiative, kicking off a major new phase of activity for this global public-private partnership.The Advisory Board of the Sustainable Energy for All initiative includes distinguished global leaders in business, finance, governments, and civil society. The launch of the Board, co-chaired by the Secretary-General and the President of the World Bank, marks the first time the two leaders have jointly led such an effort, underscoring the emphasis each institution places on providing sustainable energy for all.“Sustainable energy is the golden thread that connects economic growth, social equity, and a stable climate and healthy env Show Less -

RICHARD MILLS:  Well, thank you all for coming to the meetings of the World Bank and IMF.  President Kim will give a short opening statement, and then we will be happy to take your questions.If... Show More + I could please remind everyone if their cellphones and pagers could be off.  And also please identify yourself and your news organization when you're called on.President Kim.DR. KIM:  Thank you very much.Thank you for coming to the press conference which opens the 2013 Spring Meetings of the World Bank Group and the IMF.First, let me express my deep condolences to family and friends of people who died or were wounded in the attack in Boston earlier this week, a city which I have spent much of my adult life in as both a student and a professor.Just a couple of weeks ago, I outlined an ambitious agenda for the global community that called for a two pronged approach for a world free of poverty.  The first is virtually ending extreme poverty by 2030.  The second is prom Show Less -

Hi everyone. Thank you for coming to the press conference, which opens the 2013 Spring Meetings of the World Bank Group and IMF. First, let me again express my deep condolences of the family and friends... Show More + of people who died or were wounded in the attack in Boston earlier this week.Just a couple of weeks ago, I outlined an ambitious agenda for the global community that called for a two-pronged approach for a world free of poverty.The first is virtually ending extreme poverty by 2030. The second is promoting shared prosperity by fostering income growth of the bottom 40 percent of the population in every country. And for that second goal, we also mean sharing prosperity across generations, and that calls for bold action on climate change.I have no doubt that the world can end extreme poverty within a generation, but this will be much harder than most people realize. It is far from a given. It will take ingenuity, focus, commitment, and visionary leaders. But if we succeed, we will have acco Show Less -