Development Research Group

The World Bank and George Washington University are pleased to announce the inaugural AI & The Future of Human Capital in the Global South Symposium scheduled for Monday September 29th, 2025, in Washington, DC. 

Organizers invite submissions for cutting-edge research on AI solutions in low-resource settings and the impact of AI on human development. 

📅 Submission deadline: July 18, 2025

To foster academic dialogue relevant on industrial policy for Africa, the World Bank Institute for Economic Development, the African Economic Research Consortium (AERC), the Structural Transformation and Economic Growth (STEG) Program, and the International Growth Center (IGC) are convening a research conference in Nairobi, Kenya on February 16-18, 2026. 

The organizers invite abstract submissions for research paper presentations on any issue pertaining to industrial policy. 

📅 Submission deadline: July 30, 2025

📊 How are people around the world managing their money—and what’s driving progress in financial inclusion?

The Global Findex 2025, the world’s most comprehensive database on how adults save, borrow, make payments, and manage risk, will launch on July 16 at 9:30am EDT. This fifth edition introduces the Global Findex Digital Connectivity Tracker, shedding light on how mobile phones and internet access are shaping financial behavior and inclusion.

Watch as Leora Klapper, Founder of the Global Findex, shares 5 key insights from the latest data. Meet John Ngeche, a poll worker who helped collect voices from nearly 150,000 adults, and hear from Findex champions around the world who are using digital tools to expand financial access and build economic resilience in their communities.

Without sufficient capital, even the most promising businesses struggle to grow, hire, or innovate. This edition brings together four recent studies on how targeted interventions can help close this financial gap for small and medium enterprises (SME) and entrepreneurs.

At the center is a meta-analysis of 24 rigorous studies conducted across the globe, which finds that formal loans significantly boost job creation, sales, and profits across SMEs.

This is complemented by studies in Ecuador, Tunisia, and Bangladesh that examine how specific programs, and alternative strategies address financial constraints for entrepreneurs.