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WASHINGTON — The World Bank Group has endorsed the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Regional Partnership Strategy for the next four years, which projects financial assistance of up to US$193 million, in addition to technical and advisory services. The strategy seeks to support economic stability, competitiveness, and inclusive and sustained growth. Additionally, the Board of Directors approved two operations for a total of US$20 million for St. Lucia and Grenada aimed at supporting policy reforms.

With an estimated population of 20 million, the Pakistani city of Karachi is a major commercial hub in South Asia. It alone accounts for 95 per cent of the country's foreign trade, and 15 per cent of its GDP.

Commonwealth Ministers and senior officials responsible for gender and women's affairs gathered in Barbados yesterday for the start of a three-day meeting focusing on the impact of the global financial crisis on women and new funding mechanisms for gender equity.

WASHINGTON — The World Bank's Board of Directors have approved a US$60 million Development Policy Loan (DPL) to support the Government of Morocco in the implementation of the “Education Emergency Program 2009-12” to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of service delivery and educational outcomes.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) will focus its activities for the period ahead on securing the recovery from the global financial crisis and making progress in its governance and mandate reforms, IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn said in presenting the IMF's work program for the upcoming period.

New York: The United Nations human rights chief has urged the Kenyan Government to reconsider setting up a special tribunal to pursue accountability for the crimes committed during the violence that followed the disputed December 2007 elections.

WASHINGTON, DC ─ The rural poor in the Indian state of West Bengal stand to benefit from a US$200 million IDA credit aiming to improve the effectiveness of service delivery by Gram Panchayats, the lowest level of village government in India.

New York: The United Nations refugee agency has voiced concern over delays of a search-and-rescue operation for a boat carrying more than 20 people - mostly Eritreans - near Malta.

Washington, D.C. — Housing finance is prospering in emerging markets despite the economic slowdown and the mortgage crisis in many developed economies, finds a team working on housing finance at the World Bank Group.

PARIS — The World Bank Group and the Government of Switzerland have called for concerted action against plundering of developing countries. Much of the money stolen from them finds safe haven in international financial centers. Failing to stem and reverse these criminal flows contributes to the impoverishment of the world's poorest countries.