Economics & Development

The objective of the Pandemic Fund-Resilient Philippines Project is ​to improve the Philippines’ capacity to detect, report, and respond to existing and emerging pathogens with epidemic potential among humans, animals, and wildlife. The project is structured into three integrated components to strengthen pandemic preparedness and response in the Philippines. Component 1: Human Health (9.25 million dollar) focuses on improving surveillance systems, laboratory capacity, and workforce capabilities. It supports the development of digital one health surveillance platforms, upgrades laboratory systems and diagnostic services, and enhances workforce readiness through training and regulatory strengthening. Component 2: Animal Health (7.9 million dollar) strengthens early warning systems and diagnostic capacity for animal diseases. It includes the rollout of one health surveillance approaches, upgrading national and regional laboratories, and enhancing digital infrastructure for real-time animal health monitoring and coordinated response. Component 3: Project Management, Monitoring and Evaluation (1.7 million dollar) supports effective implementation by financing project coordination, fiduciary management, monitoring and evaluation, stakeholder engagement, and communication activities through dedicated project management offices in the health and agriculture sectors.

The Myanmar Firm Monitoring Survey Round 21, conducted in March 2026 with 500 firms and complemented by 30 key informant interviews, provides nationally representative insights across sectors, firm sizes, and regions. Findings indicate gradual recovery, with average operating capacity rising to 78% (from 71% in October 2025), though business conditions remain below neutral levels, signaling continued contraction. Firms face persistent cost pressures, with 55% reporting increased operating expenses driven by labor, logistics, and electricity, leading 44% to raise prices. Conflict, supply disruptions, and policy constraints remain major challenges, while earthquake impacts continue to affect productivity and recovery timelines. Employment levels are broadly stable, but hiring difficulties persist due to skill shortages and migration. Access to formal credit remains limited, and firms rely heavily on informal financing. While some resilience is evident, business sentiment remains cautious, with limited investment intentions and continued uncertainty driven by regulatory instability, weak demand, and operational constraints.

Human capital - people’s knowledge, skills, and health - drives productivity and growth. The Human Capital Index Plus (HCI+) measures the human capital a child born today can expect to accumulate over their working life, extending the original HCI by incorporating tertiary education and work experience. This brief summarizes Senegal’s HCI+ score and its performance in building human capital.

Human capital - people’s knowledge, skills, and health - drives productivity and growth. The Human Capital Index Plus (HCI+) measures the human capital a child born today can expect to accumulate over their working life, extending the original HCI by incorporating tertiary education and work experience. This brief summarizes Niger’s HCI+ score and its performance in building human capital.

Human capital - people’s knowledge, skills, and health - drives productivity and growth. The Human Capital Index Plus (HCI+) measures the human capital a child born today can expect to accumulate over their working life, extending the original HCI by incorporating tertiary education and work experience. This brief summarizes Gambia’s HCI+ score and its performance in building human capital.

Human capital - people’s knowledge, skills, and health - drives productivity and growth. The Human Capital Index Plus (HCI+) measures the human capital a child born today can expect to accumulate over their working life, extending the original HCI by incorporating tertiary education and work experience. This brief summarizes Canada’s HCI+ score and its performance in building human capital.

Human capital - people’s knowledge, skills, and health - drives productivity and growth. The Human Capital Index Plus (HCI+) measures the human capital a child born today can expect to accumulate over their working life, extending the original HCI by incorporating tertiary education and work experience. This brief summarizes Tunisia's HCI+ score and its performance in building human capital.

Human capital - people’s knowledge, skills, and health - drives productivity and growth. The Human Capital Index Plus (HCI+) measures the human capital a child born today can expect to accumulate over their working life, extending the original HCI by incorporating tertiary education and work experience. This brief summarizes Tonga's HCI+ score and its performance in building human capital