Insights | June 2024

As we cross the halfway mark of 2024, our insights digest explores some groundbreaking efforts in gender equality, economic empowerment, and the transformative impact of the internet.

Our featured articles include 世界银行 's enhanced strategy for accelerating #gender equality. We cover 麦肯锡 's piece on how to lift a quarter-billion people to economic empowerment, and we point you to The Royal Society 's celebration of the 50th anniversary of the internet; a useful reminder of how technology and innovative policies can drive progress.

Additionally, we cover new World Bank methodologies for measuring impact, and a data.org challenge leveraging AI to accelerate inclusion. These resources provide valuable inputs for inclusive and sustainable growth.

Enjoy this month's newsletter!

1. Bold Ambitions to Accelerate Gender Equality | The World Bank

• In this report, the World Bank emphasizes the need for bold actions to achieve gender equality.
• It highlights strategies and policies aimed at closing gender gaps in education, employment, and political representation.
• The economic benefits of gender equality are enormous and go beyond the significant GDP growth if gender disparities are addressed.

Bottom Line: Accelerating gender equality is not only a moral imperative but also an economic necessity, with substantial benefits for global prosperity.

2. A Better Life Everyone Can Afford | McKinsey Global Institute

• McKinsey's report explores strategies to lift a quarter-billion people to economic empowerment, an aspirational level of well-being above and beyond the global poverty line.
• It focuses on key areas such as education, healthcare, and digital inclusion to drive economic mobility.
• Their ambitious proposal identifies scalable solutions and investments necessary to achieve these goals.

Bottom Line: Empowering a quarter-billion people economically requires targeted investments in education, healthcare, and digital access, with the potential to transform lives and economies.

3. Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Internet | The Royal Society

• The Royal Society celebrates the 50th anniversary of the internet, reflecting on its transformative impact on society.
• The event features discussions on the future of the internet, including digital inclusion and cybersecurity.
• Drawing lessons on the role of the internet in driving innovation and connecting communities globally could be vital for the next technological era.

Bottom Line: As we celebrate 50 years of the internet, it's crucial to focus on ensuring digital inclusion and security to harness its full potential for societal benefit.

4. Measuring What Counts | The World Bank

• The World Bank Group announced a new methodology for measuring the impact of development projects.
• The approach focuses on better tracking of outcomes and ensuring that projects are delivering tangible benefits.
• The Scorecard aims to improve transparency and accountability in development efforts.

Bottom Line: The World Bank's new approach to measuring impact ensures that development projects are more effective and accountable, enhancing their overall success and sustainability.

5. AI to Accelerate Inclusion Challenge | data.org

• data.org launched a challenge to leverage AI for accelerating financial and social inclusion.
• The initiative aims to develop AI-driven solutions that address barriers to inclusion, such as access to financial services and education.
• It encourages collaboration between tech developers, researchers, and social impact organizations.

Bottom Line: The AI to Accelerate Inclusion Challenge fosters innovative solutions to inclusion challenges, driving progress through the power of AI.