World Bank

11/15/2025

Understanding 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐢𝐬 𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 is key to strengthening the evidence base that informs policy and investment decisions. Yet despite the immense value of development data, we often lack visibility into how datasets are cited, reused, or combined in policy-relevant literature. Artificial Intelligence can play a transformative role in this effort. Methods leveraging large language models offer a way forward.

Understanding how datasets are used in research is vital for data-driven policy. A new World Bank approach shows how synthetic data and AI can...

11/15/2025

✅ In this 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞, participants will learn how municipalities can implement effective mitigation strategies, based on the environmental and social challenges posed by three projects. Enroll now! Self-paced.⁠ http://wrld.bg/K81s50Xrm4Q

11/15/2025

🗨️ 𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐈𝐃𝐃𝐋𝐄-𝐈𝐍𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐄 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐏

Many middle-income countries aspire to achieve high-income status, yet only a few succeed. Since 1990, just 34 countries have made this transition. Today, 108 nations are classified as “middle-income,” with annual per capita incomes between $1,100 and $13,800. These countries generate nearly 40 percent of global economic output and are home to more than 60 percent of the world’s extreme poor. Their progress will shape the future of global growth and poverty reduction.

The “𝐦𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐥𝐞-𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐩” 𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐩 where incremental reforms and weak institutions that delivered early growth are no longer sufficient. Institutions are critical for sustaining the middle-to-high income journey. Here are five imperatives that should guide any country trying to overcome the middle-income trap:

1️⃣ 𝐃𝐢𝐚𝐠𝐧𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐬, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲 𝐠𝐚𝐩𝐬. Effective reforms require understanding benefits and costs distribution, stakeholder incentives, and the coalitions that may facilitate or hinder change.
2️⃣ 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐬, 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲. Ministries of economy, planning, industry, and innovation must be able to operate with credibility, performance incentives, and reduced political capture.
3️⃣ 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐥𝐲. A shift from broad giveaway policies to performance-based, selective rewards like innovation grants and R&D subsidies can help align private incentives with public goals, while limiting rent-seeking by incumbents.
4️⃣ 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭. State interventions must become fair, predictable, and transparent. Mechanisms to widen participation and enforce anticorruption, help transform compliance from coercion to voluntary.
5️⃣ 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬. Economic or political shocks often weaken entrenched interests, making it easier to implement reforms with strategic leadership. In Europe and Central Asia, countries that enacted major changes during downturns — such as in the 1990s transition and after the global financial crisis—gained credibility faster.

At its core, the middle-income to high-income transition hinges on 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦. While structural policies (macroeconomic, trade, infrastructure) are important, they become transformative when paired with stronger institutions. As noted in the two World Bank papers, institutional quality is central—not secondary— to growth in middle-income countries.

✍️ 𝘉𝘺 𝘎𝘢𝘦𝘭 𝘙𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥, 𝘗𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘳, 𝘎𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘎𝘭𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘭 𝘗𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘞𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘈𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢; 𝘝𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘢 𝘍𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘻, 𝘚𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘳 𝘎𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘚𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵, 𝘎𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘎𝘭𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘭 𝘗𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦; 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘋𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘦 𝘡𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘪𝘢𝘯, 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵, 𝘎𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘎𝘭𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘭 𝘗𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦

11/14/2025

🌐 𝐁𝐑𝐈𝐃𝐆𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐋𝐃𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇 𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐔𝐀𝐆𝐄 𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆

At the World Bank Group, the mission to end poverty on a livable planet is inherently global—and so is the workforce. Every day, staff work with clients and partners in more than 180 countries, navigating multilingual settings where communication can make or break collaboration.

In this context, 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 is more than a professional skill—it’s a bridge to understanding, inclusion, and impact. “Language training isn’t just about today’s business needs—it’s a smart investment in your career,” says Nathalie Ray, Language Program Lead at the World Bank Group (WBG). “It opens doors to global assignments and leadership roles while helping you build trust, engage clients, and deliver impact.”

So far, more than 1,600 staff have taken part in the 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦, which offers courses in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and more. Nathalie knows the benefits firsthand—she began her own WBG career as a French instructor. “Starting early builds confidence and fluency, so you’re ready to contribute from day one,” she says.

➤ For 𝐈𝐠𝐨𝐫 𝐊𝐡𝐞𝐲𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐬, 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐭, language learning became a turning point. After completing Spanish courses in 2023, he began overseeing the Bank’s education engagements in Mexico and Argentina. Today, he conducts business exclusively in Spanish. “The program let me customize my learning to fit the regional, cultural, and job-specific context I needed,” Igor explains. “Mixing everyday Spanish with technical topics prepared me to hit the ground running as soon as I joined Latin America and the Caribbean.” Communicating in Spanish, his third language, transformed his ability to lead technical discussions and strengthened his relationships with clients. “Speaking to counterparts in their own language changes everything,” he adds. “It builds trust and shows respect.”

➤ For 𝐀𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐢𝐚, 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐭, learning languages has shaped every chapter of his professional journey. “Languages have always been part of my life—Spanish growing up, English for grad school, German with my family, and Portuguese in Africa—so French was the next step waiting for me,” he says. That next step paid off. On a mission to Côte d’Ivoire for a European Union engagement, Andres found himself able to follow technical presentations and converse directly with government and private sector representatives in French. Even when English was an option, discussions often stayed in French—a sign of mutual comfort and respect. “I never expected that my career, which has taken me from South Asia to East Asia and across Africa, would one day lead me to debating economic reforms in French—or even negotiating with a Paris plumber about my water heater,” he jokes. “Language is key to global mobility.” Andres insists that progress is about persistence, not talent. “The more you read and speak, the faster you grow—and the Bank Group offers the perfect stage for this.”

➤ For 𝐀𝐧𝐚 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐚, a 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐜𝐤 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 for Eastern and Southern Africa, learning Arabic bridges both professional aspirations and personal heritage. Her grandparents once lived in Lebanon, and she hopes to soon rotate to the Middle East and North Africa region. A veterinarian by training, Ana Cristina manages regional livestock projects in South Sudan and supports operations in Yemen. “I wanted enough Arabic for respectful interaction,” she says. “I knew I’d never be fluent, but I wanted to hold a basic conversation.” She has since advanced from beginner dialogue to reading Arabic—one of her original goals. “Learning a language enhances memory and cognitive function,” she adds. “But more importantly, it gives insight into the cultural and historical context behind the work we do.” For her, the effort reflects the World Bank Group’s commitment to mobility and inclusion. “The Bank is a dynamic institution,” she says. “Language skills help us plan our next move and connect more deeply wherever we go.”

As technology evolves, one thing remains constant: the human need to connect. While Artificial Intelligence continues to transform how we work, it cannot replace empathy, cultural nuance, or the human voice. “Learning a language is not just about words—it’s about 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠,” says Nathalie. “That’s what makes our global workforce effective.”

For WBG staff, language training is both a professional advantage and a personal journey. It strengthens cross-cultural understanding, enhances collaboration, and supports the institution’s global mission. In times of change, it can even help staff stay agile and competitive for new roles and assignments.

Because at the World Bank Group, every word spoken in another language brings us one step closer—to our clients, our colleagues, and our shared mission of a livable planet free of poverty.

11/14/2025

𝐍𝐎𝐕. 𝟏𝟕: 𝐒𝐀𝐕𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄! Join experts from around the world, including representatives from local communities, for a discussion on how healthy forests and the sustainable management of natural resources can reduce poverty, boost employment, and provide a better quality of life for all.

Investing in nature is smart development. Forests power jobs, growth, and resilient communities. Join experts on November 17 to explore how.

11/14/2025

🗨️ 𝐋𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐒 𝐈𝐍 𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐄

James Joyce ended his book Ulysses with a single word that reverberates through literature: yes. Not a casual yes, but one of affirmation, of life, of possibility. As the World Bank Group’s Outcomes Department marks its first year, that same word feels like the truest way to describe our journey.

When we set out a year ago, we knew the task ahead was ambitious. Our goal was to shift the World Bank Group’s culture 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬. We did not imagine it would be easy. Change rarely is. But step by step, we found ourselves saying yes in ways both big and small. And, like Joyce’s wandering characters, we discovered that the journey itself teaches lessons: that meaning emerges gradually, through detours, reflections, and the courage to keep moving forward.

We said yes to a 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐦. The outcome reflex—that instinct to constantly ask, are we achieving results that matter for people?—is not a rule written into a manual. It is a habit we are slowly learning together. In stock-takes, in strategy discussions, in country dialogues, we are beginning to see colleagues pause and ask the question. That pause is small but powerful. It signals a new reflex in the making. For example, we now hold regular stock-takes of World Bank Group corporate targets, where operational teams bring evidence and insights to help keep us on course toward outcomes. Lesson one of change: Like Molly Bloom’s meander through Dublin in Ulysses, culture shifts gradually through small affirmations that add up to transformation.

We said yes to 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬. Artificial intelligence (AI), once seen as a distant reality, is already shaping how we work. From analyzing hundreds of project reports to identifying learning patterns to building simple text-based dashboards that help teams connect dots across portfolios, we are discovering what it means to take an “AI-native” approach to outcomes. These tools are not perfect, nor are they a substitute for judgment, but they expand our imagination of what is possible. Scoresight, for instance, now taps into the institution’s Knowledge Bank in seconds to suggest what and how to measure project results, accelerating a process that once took weeks. Lesson two of change: As in Joyce’s stream of consciousness, innovation advances by trial, error, and discovery; imperfect, unfinished, yet vital.

We said yes to 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬. With the redesigned World Bank Group Scorecard, which includes 22 indicators across 15 outcome areas, we gave ourselves a compass. Jobs, poverty, climate, and private sector engagement now sit side by side, measured not in isolation but as parts of one story. This is still a work in progress, but it has already shifted conversations across the organization with senior management, with the Board, and with teams in the field.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞. In 2025, the World Bank Group moved to the top of the Publish What You Fund Transparency Index, a recognition that standards and openness can go hand in hand. Lesson three of change: Like the structure hidden beneath Ulysses’ seeming chaos, standards bring coherence to what might otherwise be overwhelming.

This change matters, perhaps now more than ever. In a world of growing uncertainty, with climate shocks, fragile debt situations, pressures on jobs, and inequality, development institutions are being asked not just to do more, but to prove they are making a difference in people’s lives. Outputs and activities, while necessary, are no longer enough. The shift to outcomes is 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐞 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭, 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐭, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐟𝐮𝐥. It is our way of navigating the complexity of the present, just as Joyce’s characters wandered through Dublin’s streets searching, questioning, and gradually revealing that what seems ordinary can be transformative. In our case, the transformation lies in holding ourselves accountable not for what we do, but for what endures.

And, perhaps most importantly, others said yes too. Colleagues across the World Bank Group said yes by 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐝𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤. I have seen task teams experiment with new approaches in country programs and managers embrace outcome-focused reviews even when the data is incomplete. Clients and shareholders said yes by asking us to help them strengthen their own capacity for outcome measurement, from ministries in Benin to discussions in Argentina, and through new partnerships with Princeton, Bocconi, and the Cote d’Ivoire School of statistics. Development partners said yes by working with us to harmonize indicators and by rallying around the Jobs Council, turning what could have been fragmented efforts into collective momentum. Lesson four of change: Like Joyce’s polyphonic chorus of voices, lasting reform requires many yeses, not one solitary affirmation but a collective one.

Yet none of this is finished. A year in, we are less at the destination than at 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡. And that is perhaps the greatest teaching of all: Lesson five of change is humility. Outcomes are not achieved by decree but by repeated practice, by habits that evolve, and by imagination that dares to say yes. Like Ulysses, our work resists neat endings; it is an unfolding journey that rewards persistence, patience, and attention to detail.

Joyce knew that “yes” is the word that holds the future. Bloom’s final soliloquy closes with the words, “and yes I said yes I will Yes.” That is how we close our first year. Not with finality, but with humility, gratitude, and a commitment to keep saying yes.

✍️ 𝘉𝘺 𝘓𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘰 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯, 𝘋𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘖𝘶𝘵𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘋𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘋𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳'𝘴 𝘖𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘉𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘱

11/14/2025

💧 Drawing on two decades of satellite data, a new World Bank report identifies 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐬 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 and outlines solutions to manage demand, augment supply, and improve allocation. Download it now! http://wrld.bg/1xjX50Xngi3

11/13/2025

✅ The latest 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 summary report, now covering 93 economies, shows that investments in resilience and low-emission development can generate benefits equivalent to 150 million jobs in low- and middle-income countries. Download it now!

Investments in building climate resilience can deliver benefits equivalent to 150 million jobs by 2050.

11/13/2025

📖 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡: Download any of these 5 publications for free!
⁠
- Accelerating Investment: Challenges and Policies⁠ http://wrld.bg/Pmen50Xm64O
- The Container Port Performance Index: Trends and Lessons Learned⁠ http://wrld.bg/L9mU50Xm64K
- Reboot Development: The Economics of a Livable Planet⁠ http://wrld.bg/NUaz50Xm64w
- Sahel Irrigation Strategy⁠ http://wrld.bg/tOKJ50Xm64p
- Rethinking Taxation for Growth in Latin America and the Caribbean: Objectives, Behavioral Responses, and Technological Advances⁠ http://wrld.bg/Bh9u50Xm64k

11/13/2025

✳️ What connects tourism, farming, and tech? Jobs. This episode of the 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐏𝐨𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭, recorded at our Annual Meetings, unpacks AgriConnect and small AI with voices from Egypt, Nigeria, and Kenya. Listen now: http://wrld.bg/2lRs50Xo74q

11/13/2025

🌊 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐓𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐇𝐎𝐎𝐃𝐒 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐂𝐎𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐋 𝐄𝐑𝐎𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐈𝐍 𝐖𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐀𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐀

For decades, this coastline in Aneho, a small coastal town in Togo🇹🇬, was disappearing - swallowed meter by meter by waves and floods. As much as 10 meters of land vanished each year, and in the most fragile stretches, losses reached 30 meters. “There was no word to describe the hardship we went through,” recalls Ayayi Hounlédé, a resident of coastal Aneho in Togo. “We were hit with tides up to two meters high. Our houses would get smashed. All the homes here were flooded.”

Nearly one-third of West Africa’s population lives on the coast, where almost half of the region’s economy is generated. Protecting these shorelines is vital for jobs, communities, and future generations. The West Africa Coastal Areas Resilience Investment Project (WACA) is delivering that protection. Cross-border works— coastal barriers, wave breakers, sand replenishment, and mangrove restoration—are bringing beaches back, safeguarding people and ecosystems, and restoring investor confidence. Learn more: http://wrld.bg/OH3C50XqJER

11/12/2025

🙏🏼 Access to quality 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞 is at the heart of productivity, human potential, and overall development. It can unlock human capital and economic dividends for countries. Together, we must accelerate our efforts to ensure quality health care for all. Here's how we'll get there: http://wrld.bg/ir5m50Xo7Qk