News and Events

Third International Conference on Conditional Cash Transfers. Istanbul, June 26-30, 2006
As a follow-up to the previous Mexico (May 2002) and Brazil (April 2004) conferences, the World Bank and the Government of Turkey are co-sponsoring the third international conference on CCT with support from several Donors. More.

Workshop on Issues and Directions for Social Protection in Thailand. Bangkok, February 23, 2006
Improving the coverage and effectiveness of Thailand’s social protection programs are key to bettering the lives of Thai people, according to a recent analysis from the Social Protection Partnership produced by the Government of Thailand and the World Bank entitled “Issues and Directions for Social Protection,” and discussed at the Closing Workshop on Social Protection. More

Agreement Reached on New Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. August 26, 2006                                                                                                                                After five years of negotiations, countries have agreed on a new convention to protect the rights of persons with disabilities. "This is the first convention of this magnitude for this century," UN General Assembly President Jan Eliasson said after the agreement was reached. He told the negotiators that they were "sending an absolutely wonderful message to the world. You are sending the message that we want to have a life with dignity for all and that all human beings are all equal". More (26kb pdf)

Formal Pension Systems are a Crucial Tool in Reducing Poverty Among the Elderly. Washington, D.C., February 2, 2006
The Independent Evaluation Group of the World Bank released the report Pension Reform and the Development of Pension Systems: An Evaluation of World Bank Assistance.  More (79kb pdf)

Migration Can Deliver Welfare Gains, Reduce Poverty, Says Global Economic Prospects (GEP) 2006. Washington, D.C., November 16, 2005
This year's GEP, entitled The Economic Implications of Remittances and Migration, also forecasts that economic growth in developing countries will slow to 5.9 percent this year, and to 5.7 percent in 2006, down from 6.8 percent in 2004.  More

Social Funds: Exploring New Frontiers Series Workshops. Washington, D.C., November 2005
Series of workshops sponsored by the Social Funds Group of the Human Development Network at the World Bank.
  Presentations from "Financing Productive Assets through Social Funds & CDD Operations," Social Funds: Exploring New Frontiers Series, November 16, 2005
  Presentations from "Can Multisectoral Operations Effectively Implement Public Works Programs?", Social Funds: Exploring New Frontiers Series, November 8, 2005
  Presentations from "Can Multisectoral Operations Effectively Implement Conditional Cash Transfer & Other Safety Net Programs?", Social Funds: Exploring New Frontiers Series, November 1, 2005