📈 Global debt reached a record-high

PLUS: Tackling the obesity crisis, achieving food and nutrition security, and more, all in this week's newsletter!

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Why the recent debt buildup is a concern, in four charts Since 2010, debt in emerging market and developing economies has grown to record highs. Options are available to reduce the likelihood of the current debt wave ending in crises and, if crises were to take place, to alleviate their impact.

Displacement camps: For better or for worse? While camps are often crucial for the displaced populations in the immediate term, they are not a tenable option when displacement becomes prolonged. In our new report, we collect micro-data from five African countries. Here's what we discovered.   A key priority for Africa over the next decade? Improving food security Africa cannot address food insecurity without addressing the agriculture-related drivers of conflict and fragility and their consequences. Here's why!

Blogs

Shortening the path from data to insights "By reducing the costs of working with data, the World Bank's Development Data Hub helps increase data use and knowledge production." -Tony Fujs – January 23

You don't want to miss this!

Obesity-related diseases among the top three killers globally Obesity is a growing concern for all countries regardless of income level. Join us for the launch of our new report on February 6 as we discuss the health and economic consequences of obesity.

Social Media

Did you know that @WorldBank Group is looking to fill over 100 job positions located in Fragile, Conflict and Violence settings? Find out more on Feb 3, at 11am in our first LinkedIn Live. Ask your question today! http://wrld.bg/ujFI50y7281 #BehindtheMissionWBG Give us 20 minutes, we'll give you a window into the world of international development. Listen and subscribe from Jan 30th to the Development Podcast – a new series on data, research and solutions to the globe's biggest challenges. http://wrld.bg/mmle50y4wk5 #WorldBankPodcast

In the News

Better Road Safety Will Boost Economic Growth in Bangladesh Vanuatu: New Transport Project Will Improve Resilience to Disasters, Access to Markets

Jobs

Health Specialist – Khartoum, Sudan Compliance Officer - Information, Learning and Development – Washington, DC

Data Chart

Are decreases in air quality a necessary evil in order to achieve economic success? Data from the World Bank's World Development Indicators database shows that while global GDP per capita increased by half between 1990 and 2016, global trends for air pollution (as measured by levels of PM2.5, or particulate matter less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter) followed a similar upward trajectory. Read More.

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