NextBillion - A WDI Publication

Time: 7:00 AM ET

The Largest
International Energy trade show and conference in Nigeria

The largest international solar energy trade show curated exclusively for the energy, power, renewables and electrical segment will be hosted at Lagos between 3,4,5 Feb 2026.

Indeed, it will bring stalwarts from the entire power, energy, renewable and electrical segment value chain under one roof.

Known as Nigeria’s financial centre and economic heart, renewable and green energy exhibition Lagos offers a perfect platform for all international and national players to forge partnerships and business deals. Being well connected and the eclectic business atmosphere coupled with superior infrastructure makes Lagos the first choice for an energy efficiency event and solar exhibition in Nigeria like Power Elec.

“If our economies cannot grow forever, and they cannot, we need to start thinking differently about how we plan for retirement.”

Pensions as we know them are not future fit. They are trapped in a system that requires continuous growth of assets on a planet with finite resources and most are vastly underestimating the risks associated with that. By disaster or by design, profound changes are in store for pensions-as-usual, whether they see them coming or not.

This paper lays out the challenges pensions are faced with today, the opportunities for change in line with a transition to an economy that can , and an immediately applicable shift in mindset that could help us realize resilient, growth-independent wellbeing in retirement.

Time: 16:30 CET | 10:30 EST

Agroforestry and Trees Outside Forests (AF-TOF) systems are vital for South Asia’s ecological health, rural livelihoods, and climate resilience. Agroforestry and Trees Outside Forests (AF-TOF) systems are vital for South Asia’s ecological health, rural livelihoods, and climate resilience. These multifunctional land-use systems are deeply embedded in the region’s agricultural and cultural fabric, offering food, fodder, fuelwood, timber, and ecosystem services to millions of people. Yet, their full potential remains untapped.

Despite favourable agroecological conditions and growing domestic demand for wood and tree-based products, South Asian countries remain heavily dependent on imports, with the regional wood trade deficit crossing USD 9 billion in 2022. At the same time, AF-TOF systems face persistent challenges, including restrictive policies, underdeveloped value chains, inadequate investment, and limited technical support.

TREESCAPES 2026 will be a pivotal platform to spotlight the potential of agroforestry and trees outside forests. As the first such regional congress, the event will bring together policymakers, researchers, industry leaders, civil society, farmers, and youth from across South Asia to exchange knowledge, showcase best practices, and explore innovative solutions to mainstream and scale AF-TOF systems in the South Asian region.

Schools should provide a safe and nurturing environment where children are able to learn and thrive. Yet high rates of girls and boys continue to experience violence in and around schools. Such exposure not only violates children’s right to a safe education, but also prevents them from fully benefiting from it. A growing body of evidence shows that school-related violence has adverse and lasting consequences for children’s learning, mental health, and future employment prospects. Emerging research is identifying promising pathways to reduce such violence. However, important knowledge gaps remain—limiting practitioners’ ability to respond effectively and sustainably reduce its prevalence and impact.

On February 10-11, 2026, CGD will host a one-and-a-half-day in-person workshop at the CGD offices in Washington, D.C., to examine the drivers, consequences, and pathways to preventing school-related violence in low- and middle-income countries. We invite submissions of studies that investigate these issues, as well as studies that explore the links between school-related violence and violence occurring in other settings.

The workshop will provide an opportunity for economists, public health specialists, and education experts from diverse institutions and countries to present research, exchange ideas, build relationships, and shape a future research agenda that informs policymaking to end violence in and around schools.

Submissions
Submissions for this workshop have now closed.

Notifications of acceptance
Notifications of acceptance will be circulated by December 1st, 2025.

Funding
There is no fee to attend the workshop. There are limited resources to finance conference travel for a handful of presenters based in low- and middle-income countries and/or graduate student presenters. As funding is limited, we encourage participants with access to research or institutional funds to use them. If you would like to be considered for travel funding, please indicate that on your cover page when submitting the paper. Presenters selected for travel and accommodation support will be notified at the time of notification of paper acceptance.

Scientific Committee
Sofia Amaral, Economist, South Asia Region Gender Innovation Lab, World Bank

Lelys Dinarte-Diaz, Economist, Development Research Group, World Bank

David Evans, Director, Global Education and Child Well-Being Program and Senior Fellow, CGD

Jenny Parkes, Professor, University College London

Gabriela Smarrelli, Senior Research Associate, CGD

What is GreenBiz?

You’re leading change in an unpredictable political, social and economic environment. At GreenBiz, you’ll connect with peers and trailblazers and master the skills essential to face your company’s unique challenges. Join your community, including the most influential voices in sustainability, and learn what’s next in decarbonization, disclosure, nature, supply chains, strategic communications, change management and more at GreenBiz.

Who You’ll Meet

Join nearly 3,000 corporate sustainability professionals and leaders beyond the sustainability function, including CEOs, CFOs, COOs, CIOs, heads of legal, supply chain, human resources, investor relations and others. Bring your team, department or organization up to speed on the latest sustainable business trends. 79% of attendees are manager-level or above. 50% of attendees are from companies with annual revenue of $100M+ and 50% of attendees are from companies with annual revenue of $1B+.

What You’ll Learn

Take your sustainability strategies to the next level and master the skills essential to face your company’s unique challenges. Don’t miss your chance to recharge, connect, and learn what’s next in decarbonization, disclosure, nature, supply chains, strategic communications, change management and much more.

Who You’ll Learn From

More than 300 trail-blazing speakers will explore emerging trends, share best practices and give you the insights and advice you need to master the skills essential to face your company’s unique challenges.

Collecting accurate and meaningful data lies at the heart of effective program design, implementation, and policymaking. Make Measurement Matter: Designing Surveys For Better Evidence (MMM2026) is a three-day, in-person course to equip development professionals with the theoretical knowledge and practical tools to design robust surveys to drive data-use and evidence-based decisions. Applications close on January 6, 2026.

Apply Now >>>

Early-bird discount: Applicants who apply before 14-Dec-2025 will receive a 10% discount.

About the Course
MMM2026 marks an evolution of J-PAL South Asia’s long-running Measurement and Survey Design Course (MSDC).

While MSDC focused on introducing foundational measurement theory and quantitative survey design, emphasizing abstract concepts, SMART indicators, piloting protocols, and field management basics, MMM 2026 offers a broader and more applied orientation, expanding the scope to focus more directly on how organizations can use data and evidence to strengthen real-world program decisions.

While the core strengths of MSDC remain – rigorous measurement concepts, systematic survey design, and J-PAL’s field-based expertise – the 2026 chapter places greater emphasis on practical applicability, decision relevance, and integrating measurement into day-to-day program cycles, making it a distinct new edition within the same learning tradition.

Course Focus
The course blends conceptual clarity with practical exposure across the entire data lifecycle, featuring essential concepts in measurement theory and quantitative survey design strategies.

MMM2026 incorporates brand new modules on data use, visualization, impact communication, and practical field trade-offs, alongside hands-on “think-through” exercises that help participants design tools grounded in their operational contexts, training participants in designing surveys that directly improve evidence use and decision-making within organizations.

Participants will learn to:

Identify when and why to collect data for program design and evaluation
Develop robust theories of change and select SMART indicators
Design accurate and reliable survey instruments
Ensure measurement quality and minimize bias
Pilot, digitize, and manage survey tools effectively
Analyze, synthesize, and communicate findings for decision-making
Navigate field challenges and balance rigor with feasibility
Build internal capacity for evidence use and knowledge transfer within organizations
View the tentative agenda of MMM2026 for more information on the course structure. Please note that the agenda is subject to change.

Apply Now >>>

Who Should Attend
The course is designed for professionals involved in data collection, analysis, and use—whether for implementation, research, or evaluation. It will be especially relevant for:

Practitioners from implementing organizations and NGOs
Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) professionals and researchers
Donor organizations, philanthropic foundations, and multilaterals supporting evidence-based programs
Students and early- to mid-career professionals seeking to strengthen quantitative and field research skills