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  • 2015-2019  (1,492)
  • 1975-1979  (4)
  • World Bank Group  (1,488)
  • Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
  • Schnorbus, Axel
  • University of Virginia Library
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Year
Author, Corporation
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  • 101
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Other Education Study
    Abstract: Tajikistan's human capital, eroded by the country's civil war (1992-97), remains low today. According to analyses by the World Bank's Human Capital Project, a child born in Tajikistan today is expected to be 53 percent as productive as he or she could be with full health and complete education. High rates of childhood stunting, low preschool coverage and low learning outcomes are the major reasons for underperformance. Accordingly, Tajikistan has made it a development priority to invest in high quality early childhood development (ECD) and early childhood education and care (ECEC). Given Tajikistan's overwhelmingly young population and high birth rates (box W1), the government is right to address its human capital shortcoming by investing in its youth. High quality ECD and ECEC investments are vital: they yield high economic and social returns by improving child health, education access and quality, and cognitive and psychosocial development
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  • 102
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Other Agricultural Study
    Abstract: This report seeks to support the larger jobs study by examining how investment in South Sudan's food sector can not only address food security needs, it can generate income and lay the foundation for livelihood and job creation in the country. It argues that applying a value chain lens to investments in the sector can contribute to creating direct, indirect, and induced labor in the food system. The goal is to move the country from a dependency on humanitarian aid to building recovery and resilience in the short term in a way that can produce stable jobs over the medium to long term. More specifically, it looks at the potential technology and organizational arrangements that investment programs can start supporting now to stimulate value chain development for increased economic activity and job creation. The assumption is that significant donor support will still be necessary for the short to medium term to support investments in reconstruction and food security. As security spreads, public sector capacity to support development can grow, private actors can establish or expand their operations, and the donor community can begin to disengage, addressing only the neediest communities while development organizations continue to work with the public and private sector actors to support development and economic transformation
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  • 103
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Public Expenditure Review
    Abstract: This Public Expenditure Review (PER) is the first for Namibia's health sector. Namibia is an upper-middle income country that has made major progress in improving the standard of living for its population and reducing poverty. Still, with one of the highest Gini coefficients in the world, the society is highly unequal. In addition, the size of Namibia, combined with a low population density, makes it challenging for the health sector to provide universal access to quality health services across the country. The recent economic downturn has put fiscal pressure on the government and heightened the need for spending efficiency. Although government spending on health has been consistently close to the Abuja target of 15 percent, health outcomes are poor. The country faces a double burden of both communicable and non-communicable disease (NCDs), with high HIV/AIDS, stunting and maternal mortality rates that predominately affect the poor, and an increasing prevalence in non-communicable diseases that will contribute to costly treatments and growing health expenditures in the future. The Namibian government is committed to improve health outcomes. Namibia's 5th National Development Plan (NDP5) for 2017-2022 aims to provide access to quality health care for its population, to increase Health Adjusted Life Expectancy (HALE) from currently 59 to 67.5 years, and to reduce mortality for mothers and children. to achieve this goal, the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) has identified three strategic pillars for the health sector: (i) people's wellbeing; (ii) operational excellence; and (iii) talent management. This health PER identifies several areas for the Namibian government to address in view of its goals
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  • 104
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Other Environmental Study
    Abstract: Greening Pakistan's industry has become an imperative to minimize its adverse impacts on the environment and society, but also to sustain the sector's growth. Despite substantial growth in recent decades, the industrial sector is yet to make its full contribution to Pakistan's development. Limited consideration of the growing resource use, waste, and pollution that have accompanied industrialization has imposed mounting economic, environmental, and social costs. This is particularly true in large urban centers around which industries agglomerate, such as Lahore and Karachi. At the same time, poor environmental management has become a liability for Pakistan's industries, which notably undermines the competitiveness of export-oriented manufacturing sectors. The challenges posed by industries' lack of environmental sustainability jeopardize Pakistan's development and are expected to worsen under a business-as-usual scenario. The Government of Punjab (GoPunjab) should put sustainable industrialization at the center of its growth strategy and should modernize its policy toolkit for this purpose. Punjab's Growth Strategy 2018 envisioned that growth must be private sector-led, investment-driven, export-oriented, environmentally sound, and employment-intensive. Developing an ambitious and integrated policy to green industries would be a strategic way to jointly achieve these objectives, and in so doing, Punjab could become a lighthouse for the rest of Pakistan. This would require both strengthening environmental policy (stick) and developing elements of a green industrial policy looking at investment, innovation, and trade (carrot). Importantly, policy objectives should go beyond the current focus on pollution control and compliance, to include preventive and circular approaches at the firm and industry levels that could yield environmental and productivity/competitiveness gains. The time has come to integrate these approaches in strategies and regulations, and to institutionalize and mainstream them across relevant government agencies
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  • 105
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Institutional and Governance Review
    Abstract: The 2019 Africa Country Policy and Institutional Assessment (CPIA) report covers the period January to December 2018. Over this period, the average quality of policies and institutions in International Development Association (IDA)-eligible countries remained unchanged, amid decelerating growth across the region. The overall CPIA score for IDA countries in Sub-Saharan Africa was 3.1 in 2018, the same as 2017, reflecting the slow progress in improving the quality of policy and institutional frameworks in the region
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  • 106
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Other Health Study
    Abstract: This activity, Catching-up Regions 3 (CuR3), is designed as a one-year engagement with three selected regions in Poland, based on their regional needs and priorities. The activities of this initiative build on the results of the CuR Initiative delivered by the World Bank and the European Commission over the last two years across Poland. The objective of this task is to propose a service delivery model that will facilitate care for the elderly over the age of 65 years of age in Grudziadz. This effort includes care, services, investments, and new initiatives in a way that strives to prevent the institutionalization of the elderly, as long as possible. The local system of care delivery for seniors does not stand alone, and will be molded with consideration to the broader context of policy and governance arrangements for health and social care already established in Poland, together with the funding, capacity, and systems that are currently in place. All local and national stakeholders from Ministries to non-governmental organizations or local community groups can have a part in the model implementation. The model builds on the national system's focus on the changes and adjustments that need to be made at the local level
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  • 107
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Law and Justice Study
    Abstract: This report documents the results of a survey that was conducted to better understand howthe justice system affects the business environment in eight countries in South East Europe (SEE);Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia andSerbia. The primary purpose of the Survey was to analyze businesses' perceptions of and experienceswith the justice system and in particular, the performance of the courts in their respective countries. The Survey also identified the challenges businesses face in their daily operations, assessed the impact of the justice system on businesses and established which justice issues present the greatest obstacles for business operations and growth. This research is part of a broader initiative to inform justice policy dialogue and reform in the Western Balkans
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  • 108
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Other Environmental Study
    Abstract: According to a report by the World Bank published in April 2018, air pollution in Tehran incurs annual loss of billions of dollars and over 4,000 premature deaths from exposure to fine particles ambient concentrations. Particulate matter (PM), one of the primary pollutants from diesel exhaust, is associated with many different types of respiratory and cardiovascular effects, and premature mortality. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the cost effectiveness of retrofitting existing city diesel bus fleet in Tehran with best available Diesel particulate filters (DPFs) available in the market. The report provides an updated assessment on the diesel retrofit solutions for an ageing diesel city bus fleet in Tehran based on publicly available information. The economic benefits of DPF installed in buses are evaluated with standard techniques of environmental economics, and technological assumptions about how much PM emissions can be avoided and control costs. The report highlights a number of national, regional and local examples of effective emission control program that exhibit best practices from around the world. Also, it presents important features and global experiences of successful retrofit program on heavy-duty diesel vehicles (HDDVs), including benefit-cost analysis from several case studies to help Tehran city leadership in taking informed economic and policy decisions. Finally, it recommends a set of critical actions to the government both at the national and local level for implementation of an effective emission control programs
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  • 109
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Policy Notes
    Abstract: Between 2010 and 2018, Bhutan's economic performance in the real growth of gross domestic product (GDP) was respectable, averaging more than 5 percent a year. This was driven by hydropower, services, and agriculture. However, there is growing pressure to diversify production. Hydropower development will peak by 2023 and is associated with widening current account deficits and the accumulation of public debt. There is a greater need to foster a dynamic private sector and create employment. In this context, Bhutan has recently embarked on a strategy to develop a business infrastructure policy. This is mainly focused on establishing four industrial parks to jump-start investment and developing the management arrangements. These industrial parks would include access to land, infrastructure, and energy sources and be in the south, near the border with India. Drawing on the experiences of other countries, the industrial park policy in Bhutan is based on an overall umbrella of rules on purpose, coverage, policy considerations, existing infrastructure, regulatory and legal framework, and enactment and implementation of legislation. The industries in the parks are envisaged to include wood-based, agriculture-based, and metal-based industries
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  • 110
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Health Sector Review
    Abstract: This report presents findings from an assessment of quality of care in the health sector in Colombia, using a novel methodology developed by the World Bank Group to assess government oversight, promotion and stewardship of quality of care in the health sector. This assessment of quality of care in the health sector in Colombia examines how well governments strategize, plan and measure quality; set standards of care; build capacity for quality improvement in the sector; ensure adequate resources are available and well distributed to support quality results; hold organizations accountable for quality results; apply quality policies consistently; and achieve superior quality of care results. This methodology evaluates these eight domains using 49 criteria based on 171 standards. The assessment is based on quantitative analytics, key informant interviews, over 30 visits of public and private healthcare facilities, a review of key policy documents and a survey of a sample of health insurance companies. The assessment is a joint initiative from the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and was undertaken for the first time in Colombia. It took place from January to June 2019
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  • 111
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Other Urban Study
    Abstract: To accelerate growth and create jobs, the Western Balkans and Croatia will need faster economic growth generated by advanced industries and services that usually concentrate in cities. Raising the competitiveness of leading cities will thus be the priority for growth and job creation in the region. At the same time addressing the challenges of places left behind will be increasingly important for shared prosperity and sustainable growth. European Union (EU) accession, technological changes, and globalization are most likely to create growth opportunities that will favor cities and their agglomeration economies. These trends, if left unchecked, are also more likely to increase spatial welfare disparities. This report advocates for a stronger focus on cities, especially capital cities and their metro regions, as engines of growth and job creation. It also argues for policymakers to focus on lagging regions to address spatial welfare disparities likely to increase with the concentration of people and economic activity in fewer places
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  • 112
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Social Analysis
    Abstract: While Vietnam has now reached lower middle-income country status, the gaps between the ethnic minority population and the majority group are evident and widening over time. In addition, ethnic minority groups are different in terms of where they are in these gaps. This study attempts to examine why and how certain ethnic groups have managed to rise to the 'top' as 'best performers' while the other groups seem to stand on the 'bottom' as 'least performers. The key study questions are: (1) What are drivers of the socio-economic development of the different ethnic groups? (2) Why have some ethnic minority groups successfully managed to escape poverty while others have lagged far behind? (3) How have such factors have been addressed in the respective policies and designated programs or projects initiated by the Government of Vietnam, development partners, and other stakeholders? (3) What are the changes needed for future design and implementation of initiatives to support sustainable socio-economic development among ethnic minorities? This study adopts a mixed methodological approach, combining both quantitative and qualitative methods. In order to identify the top- and bottom-performing ethnic minorities, the 2015 Ethnic Minorities Socio-Economic Survey of 53 groups (53EMS) dataset was used to calculate the Human Development Index (HDI) and Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) as two indicators of socio-economic development of the ethnic minorities
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  • 113
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Country Partnership Frameworks
    Abstract: This Country Partnership Framework (CPF) provides the main elements of the cooperation between the Republic of Tajikistan and the World Bank Group during the five years spanning FY19-23. The CPF builds on the Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) of FY15-18, and incorporates the Implementation Note (IN) for the IDA18 Risk Mitigation Regime (RMR). The overarching goal of the CPF is to support Tajikistan in adopting policies geared towards reducing poverty and promoting shared prosperity in a sustainable manner. to this end, the CPF is aligned with the National Development Strategy (NDS) and the Medium-Term Development Program (2016-20) of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan. CPF priorities have been informed by consultations with key stakeholders.This CPF has been developed at a critical time for Tajikistan, with several external changes having opened a window of opportunity; taking advantage of these would substantially enhance the country's growth trajectory and increase resilience. Changes include the recent opening of borders with China and Uzbekistan during 2016-17 and increased trade with Afghanistan, reversing more than a century of adverse historic developments. These developments have reopened nearby export markets and reduced the costs of trading with new markets. to succeed in this potentially transformative move towards an economy integrated with neighbors and wider markets, Tajikistan will need to address principal structural, macroeconomic, and environmental legacy issues. Going forward, fiscal constraints, persisting inequalities, and a deceleration in poverty reduction call for an urgent upgrade of policies. Adopting policies that ensure opportunity for all, allow for more openness and accountability, protect the poor, and address inequalities will reduce fragility, increase resilience, and improve citizens' standard of living
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  • 114
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Systematic Country Diagnostics
    Abstract: This Systematic Country Diagnostic is the result of a diagnostic exercise conducted by World Bank staff. It was prepared to inform the strategic dialogue between the Government of the Central African Republic (CAR) and the World Bank about priority areas for World Bank Group engagement. This Systematic Country Diagnostic aims to identify key elements to help the country embark on a path of growth and sustainable poverty reduction and to end the cycle of conflict. The analysis was guided by three questions: (a) How can development initiatives contribute to stabilization and a peaceful resolution of the conflict? (b) How does one deliver public services in a country where state presence is limited? (c) Which investments are critical to kick-starting a process of growth, taking into account regional/geographic variation, low population density, and limited urbanization?
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  • 115
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Other papers
    Abstract: The signs of digital technology adoption are evident across Southeast Asia. In big cities, the use of mobile phones for messaging and social media has become ubiquitous. Ride-sharing services and delivery riders using apps to obtain their next booking are changing the face of urban transport and other services. As consumers go online to purchase products, they are recasting the future of brick-and-mortar retail businesses. The impacts of the digital revolution are not limited to a few prominent social networking sites, online businesses, or mobile apps. Digital platforms - a combination of technical innovation, new business models, and value proposition - in the private and in some cases the public sector, offer a range of products and services via digital channels. The use of digital technology is transforming - indeed, disrupting - all sectors, notably services such as logistics and finance, but also industrial production and agriculture. These are all visible manifestations of a growing digital economy. Southeast Asia is primed to embrace this digital revolution. There is a high level of interest from governments, businesses, and individuals in the region to support the growth of the digital economy and maximize its benefits. There is significant excitement about the rise of e-commerce platforms and app-based companies - including the region's own "unicorn" technology companies. Southeast Asia leads the world in some indicators on the use of the Internet, for example in social media and messaging
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  • 116
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Country Environmental Analysis
    Abstract: This document aims to dee ...
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  • 117
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Other Financial Accountability Study
    Abstract: This note discusses emerging international approaches for regulating design and distribution of retail banking products. Such products include deposit, credit, and payment products, being the products that new financial consumers typically acquire first. Policy makers are finding that financial consumer protection measures implemented to date, such as disclosure requirements, while still important, are insufficient to protect consumers against all key risks. Anticipating new or changing risks to consumers has also become more difficult for regulators given rapid financial sector innovation. Regulation of providers' product design and distribution processes aims to ensure that products distributed in a market are designed to meet the needs of consumers in that market. This discussion note analyses relevant frameworks in a number of jurisdictions and highlights emerging common approaches, including in relation to requirements for governance arrangements, target market assessments, distribution arrangements and product reviews
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  • 118
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Public Expenditure Review
    Abstract: The Ecuador public finance review (PFR) series responded to a request from the Ecuadorian Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) to assess the efficiency and effectiveness of public spending. The PFR series offers a combination of analysis, capacity building, and options for reform in selected areas and sectors of the budget to achieve efficiency gains and fiscal savings, while improving (or at least preserving) equity. The PFR-phase two complements and deepens the analysis and capacity building initiated under phase one. Phase two also includes an analysis of the efficiency of public spending in education. As in phase one, phase two was accompanied by a number of technical assistances related to the areas covered by the study, including: an Ecuador specific forecasting model, BOOST database for Ecuador, public financial management, impacts of tax on capital outflows, public wage bill forecast and simulation, and efficiency of spending
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  • 119
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Private Sector Development, Privatization, and Industrial Policy
    Abstract: Ethiopia has made impressive strides along its developmental path. Job creation is now the critical development challenge, raising the importance of the private sector agenda. After more than a decade of sustained public sector-led growth, the government is revising its growth strategy to allow for a much greater role for the private sector in driving growth and job creation. Broadening the base for job creation beyond light manufacturing toward a wider range of high productivity agricultural and services activities will help to overcome the uneven spatial distribution of manufacturing jobs across the country. Ethiopia has a number of advantages that it can leverage to attract the investment needed for job creation. These include rapidly improving transport and energy infrastructure, low labor costs, a large and growing domestic market, cheap power, an ideal climate, and preferential market access to the European Union, the United States, and other major markets. The purpose of the Ethiopia country private sector diagnostic (CPSD) is to support the transition to a private sector- driven growth model that advances the country's development objectives and, in particular, delivers the necessary jobs. It identifies investment opportunities that can materialize in the short term, and the reforms that are needed to enable these opportunities to emerge. It also discusses how specific actions by the public sector, in collaboration with the private sector, in filling gaps in public investment, reforming business regulations and trade policy, addressing market failures, and enhancing the efficiency of key backbone services and sectors, while tackling gender inequalities, can fully unleash the potential of private sector investment
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  • 120
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Foreign Trade, Foreign Direct Investment, and Capital Flows Study
    Abstract: The internationalization of the Ecuadorian economy is necessary if the country is to successfully adopt a development model led by the private-sector. The Ecuadorian government is seeking to accelerate growth and sustain social progress by giving greater prominence to the private sector; it does at a time when external conditions are less favorable than at any time in the last decade. This report has three main objectives; to provide a systematic benchmark of Ecuador's connection to the global economy, to identify key bottlenecks, and to make recommendations for enhancing the competitiveness of the private sector. The assessment is broken down into two sections. First, there is a section about international competitiveness outcomes, which assess Ecuador's performance and identifies the challenges associated with connecting to international markets. The analysis looks at outcomes throughout the four competitiveness channels; that is, exports, imports, foreign direct investment (FDI), and global value chains (GVCs). The report's second main section contains a competitiveness diagnostic about the key drivers behind the previously identified challenges and provides actionable policy recommendations to overcome them. The determinants are grouped in four mutually exclusive groups: (i) the macro and fiscal framework; (ii) the institutional and regulatory framework governing trade and investment; (iii) supply-side factors; and (iv) demand-side factors
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  • 121
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Other Public Sector Study
    Abstract: Good Regulatory Practices (GRP) are a systematic application of tools, institutions, and procedures that governments can mobilize to ensure that regulatory outcomes are effective, transparent, inclusive, and sustained. Other terms used for GRP include 'regulatory governance' and 'better regulation.' Among the most common GRP tools used by governments are: public consultation, ex ante regulatory impact analysis (RIA), ex post review of existing regulations, administrative simplification, access to laws and regulations, forward regulatory planning, and regulatory oversight functions. This report focuses on GRP because by improving the regulatory environment, they can boost conditions for sustainable growth and investment. This is evidenced, among others, in the World Bank Group's Global Investment Competitiveness Report 2017-2018, which surveyed 750 investors in developing and transition economies. The report found that next to 'political stability and security', the 'legal and regulatory environment' was the most important consideration of senior executives when making investment decisions (WBG, 2018). Similarly, evidence shows a positive relationship between the improvement of the regulatory environment and aggregate investment (and economic growth), suggesting that countries stand to gain from a broad push for streamlining regulations and procedures affecting business (Eifert, 2009). The report reflects on Malaysia's formal experience with GRP because, although launched only relatively recently, results have been remarkable. Malaysia has demonstrated that more business-friendly regulations and a more favorable regulatory environment can contribute to economic growth and investment. Moreover, Malaysia's regulatory reform success has been reflected in many international indicators, such as the Global Indicators of Regulatory Governance, Worldwide Governance Indicators, Doing Business, (all produced by the WBG) and those from the World Economic Forum that measure the burden of government regulations and transparency of the policymaking process. International indicators measuring GRP performance show that Malaysia is converging with high-income OECD countries
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  • 122
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Other Social Protection Study
    Abstract: The promotion of economic opportunities for women is one of the most promising avenues for Malaysia's future development. Closing gaps between men's and women's economic opportunities could boost Malaysia's income per capita by 26.2 percent. Against this backdrop, the report relies on a comprehensive mixed-methods approach to investigate constraints on improving women's economic opportunities. It finds that Malaysia's female labor force participation rate has risen significantly in recent years but is still low compared to other countries in ASEAN. In addition, there are wide gender gap in access to jobs that pay well and offer benefits, social protection, and career prospects. Policy directions for improving the economic opportunities for women in Malaysia should include: (1) expand the availability, quality and affordability of child and elder care to enable more women to stay in the labor market and to work in more productive jobs; (2) strengthen the protection of informal workers and the productivity of workers and business owners to harness women's full economic potential; (3) pursue planned reforms of the legal environment and strengthen the implementation, monitoring and enforcement of laws and regulations, (4) improve support for parents, in line with international legal norms and (5) address gender norms and attitudes in education and among the wider population
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  • 123
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Other Infrastructure Study
    Abstract: Transport connectivity is an essential part of the enabling environment for inclusive and sustained growth. In many developing countries, particularly in Africa, most people are still not connected to local, regional, or global markets. Such rural accessibility is crucial to reduce poverty and promote inclusive economic growth. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aim to build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation (Goal 9), for which Target 9.1 is to 'develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all.' The Rural Access Index (RAI) was proposed and accepted as an indicator to measure this target. The RAI is one of the most important global indicators in the transport sector. It measures the proportion of people who have access to an all-season road within an approximate walking distance of 2 kilometers (km). There is a common understanding that the 2 km threshold is a reasonable extent for people's normal economic and social purposes. The definition is also simple enough to understand and use not only in the transport sector, but also in the broader development context, such as poverty alleviation. The initial RAI study in 2006 was based on household surveys and other simplified methods, estimating the global index at 68.3 percent, leaving a rural population of about one billion disconnected around the world
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  • 124
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Women in Development and Gender Study
    Abstract: This report examines the extent of gender gaps, their economic impact, and proposes policies to improve gender equality in Guinea. Although the government of Guinea has taken actions to boost gender equality, significant challenges persist. Child marriage is widespread among girls, reducing girls' education and resulting in among the highest rates of early childbearing worldwide. Moreover, female genital mutilation is almost universal with high societal costs on women's health. Girls reaching adulthood have lower education levels than men, lower wages,and lower agricultural productivity. Reducing gender inequality in Guinea could potentially accelerate per capita GDP growth by up to 0.6 percentage points per year or 10.2 percent overall by 2035, according to the results of estimations from a Computable General Equilibrium Model. This is a rate of return to investment of 8.2 percent per year. Policy recommendations to tackle the gender divide focus on legislative changes and programs intended to boost the productivity of adult women, reduce the prevalence of child marriage, early child bearing, and female genital mutilation/excision
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  • 125
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Public Expenditure Review
    Abstract: This report examines agricultural spending in Zimbabwe. This public expenditure review (PER) is the sixth in a series focusing on local government service delivery, state-owned enterprises and parastatals, education, social protection, and cross-cutting issues. The PERs are intended to support the Government of Zimbabwe in improving its fiscal management. Agriculture plays a critical role in Zimbabwe's economy. About two thirds of Zimbabweans work in agriculture and many Zimbabweans, directly or indirectly, depend on it. Public spending on agriculture needs to be understood against the backdrop of Zimbabwe's history of land reform. Between 2011 and 2015, spending on agriculture had been broadly comparable to other countries. Government introduced the new program, command agriculture, in 2016-17 in order to reverse decline in agricultural production. Sustainable agricultural spending cannot be separated from structural reforms to raise agricultural productivity and rebuilding of macroeconomic resilience. Some steps to rebuild resilience have already been undertaken in 2019, but the fiscal cost of agriculture has proven difficult to contain
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  • 126
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Public Expenditure Review
    Abstract: The government of Uganda (GoU) regards agriculture as a key economic sector to support Uganda's vision 2040 and the transition to middle-income status. It recognizes that public spending on agriculture has a pivotal role in equipping the sector to fulfil its potential to drive economic growth, create employment for a rapidly growing and predominantly young population, and ultimately reduce poverty. To improve the quality and effectiveness of public expenditures in agriculture, Uganda has conducted its second agriculture public expenditure review (AgPER) since 2010. Overall, the performance in implementing policy recommendations from the 2010 AgPER has been mixed. This summary presents the key messages emerging from the review and recommends policy and strategic actions for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of spending on agriculture in Uganda
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  • 127
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Other Poverty Study
    Abstract: This report analyzes issues related to international migration in Armenia and its impact on Armenian households' welfare. The report uses microdata coming from two recent household surveys, the 2017 Russian-Armenian University survey, a nationally-representative household focused on international migrants and their origin households, and the 2017 Integrated Living Conditions Survey, nationally representative household conducted by the Statistical Committee focused on welfare measurement but also with information on international migrants. The report finds that among international migrants, there are some slight differences in the profile of permanent and temporary migrants. Permanent migrants tend to be younger, more educated and are more likely to come from secondary cities, in contrast to temporary migrants, who are a bit older, less educated and are more likely to come from rural areas. Employment prospects for both groups are very limited the moment they leave the country, with employment rates around 25 percent. They tend to migrate largely to the Russian Federation, where they are hired almost exclusively by firms in the private sector. Temporary workers overwhelming work in the construction sector, while permanent workers show more diversity in sectors of employment
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  • 128
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Debt and Creditworthiness Study
    Abstract: The joint World Bank/IMF Debt Sustainability Analysis (DSA) has been prepared in the context of the 2019 Article IV Consultation, for the first time based on the revised framework for low-income countries. Results indicate moderate risk of debt distress for both external and overall public debt. However, the debt outlook remains vulnerable, especially to a deceleration in real GDP and exports growth and the depreciation of the KGS. To address these vulnerabilities, the authorities need to remain cautious when contracting and guaranteeing new debt, maintain fiscal discipline, improve public investment management, and continue improving the business environment to maintain the export potential of the country after the main gold mine will close in 2026
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  • 129
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Debt and Creditworthiness Study
    Abstract: The updated DSA suggests that the external risk of debt distress for Vanuatu remains moderate with limited space to absorb shocks. All external debt indicators remain below the relevant indicative thresholds under the baseline scenario, incorporating the average long-term effects of natural disasters on growth and the fiscal and current account balances. A tailored natural disaster shock, reflecting Vanuatu's vulnerability to disasters, would cause the present value (PV) of public and publicly guaranteed (PPG) external debt-to-GDP ratio to breach the threshold from 2024 onwards. The overall risk of debt distress is assessed as moderate. Although the PV of the public-debt-to-GDP ratio remains below the 55 percent benchmark under the baseline scenario, the public-debt-to-GDP ratio would breach the authorities' debt ceiling of 60 percent by 2025. Moreover, a tailored natural disaster shock would lead to a significant deterioration in debt sustainability, breaching the benchmark. The breach of the authorities' debt ceiling and of the benchmark indicates the need for rebuilding fiscal buffers and enhancing resilience against shocks, including from natural disasters. This requires both stronger revenue mobilization measures, including an introduction of the proposed income taxes, and expenditure rationalization in the medium term. When contracting new public infrastructure projects, the authorities are encouraged to seek grants or concessional loans as much as possible to contain its debt burden
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  • 130
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Debt and Creditworthiness Study
    Abstract: Mali remains at moderate risk of external debt distress. This rating is unchanged from the previous analysis and consistent with the May 2018 Staff Report (IMF Country Report/18/141). All the projected external debt burden indicators remain below their thresholds under the baseline. However, the ratio of the external debt service to exports exceeds its threshold in the case of an extreme shock to exports under a customized scenario that incorporates 2 percentage points of GDP larger fiscal deficits over 2019 to 2023 than the baseline.1 The baseline scenario assumes improved fiscal policies and achievement of the WAEMU fiscal deficit convergence criteria by 2019. As illustrated in the customized scenario, continued shortfall in domestic revenue mobilization and a deterioration in security conditions will result in a weakened fiscal position and increase the likelihood of debt distress. Mali's main challenge continues to be ensuring macroeconomic stability while protecting social and investment spending and providing for growing security spending and large development needs. To maintain debt at moderate risk rating, it is essential that the authorities continue their efforts to mobilize domestic revenue and implement reforms. Debt management capacity should be strengthened while deepening structural reforms to diversify the exports base
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  • 131
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Debt and Creditworthiness Study
    Abstract: The Union of Comoros remains at moderate risk of external debt distress, but its space to absorb shocks is "limited." All debt burden indicators exhibit a continual upward trend, with the PV of debt-to-export approaching its threshold at the end of the assessment horizon (2029) under the baseline scenario. (Thresholds reflect "medium" capacity to carry debt). The reduced space to absorb shocks reflects the taking on of a large new loan, a downward revision of projected exports in line with lower export prices and impacts of Cyclone Kenneth on debt accumulation. Shock scenarios indicate vulnerability to a deterioration of export performance, natural disasters, and exchange rate instability. Comoros' overall risk of debt distress remains moderate, given that domestic debt is expected to remain minimal. The authorities need to strengthen policies to improve macroeconomic performance including by making faster progress on domestic resource mobilization and broadening the export base. The authorities should proceed cautiously on taking up any new debt and may wish to largely avoid new non-concessional debt
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  • 132
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Debt and Creditworthiness Study
    Abstract: An updated debt sustainability analysis (DSA) is prepared using the revised Low-income Countries Debt Sustainability Framework (LIC DSF) to assess Zambia's current debt situation. Debt burden indicators have deteriorated considerably since the October 2017 DSA mainly on account of large fiscal deficits as the authorities made use of available financing to boost infrastructure spending, weaker growth and exchange rate, and a worsened external environment (terms of trade and financial conditions). Rising debt service costs (both externally and domestically) and a large pipeline of contracted and to-be-disbursed loans place Zambia's public debt on an unsustainable path under current policies while budget expenditure arrears have risen. Zambia's debt-carrying capacity has also weakened with its FX reserves' import coverage declining from 4.7 months in 2015 to 1.7 months in May 2019. All four external debt burden indicators breach their indicative thresholds, three of them by large margins and throughout the medium-term under the baseline scenario. Total public debt is projected to increase somewhatin the near-term as, under unchanged policies, fiscal deficits remain large, before gradually declining as large debt-financed public projects are completed and forced fiscal adjustment occurs given financing constraints. As a frontier market, Zambia's high gross financing needs (peaking at 19 percent of GDP over the next three years), combined with wide EMBI spreads (1,575 basis points on June 11, 2019) and high domestic borrowing costs, expose it to significant market-financing risks. Despite the challenging fiscal situation, Zambia has remained current on all its debt obligations both domestic and external, and has not experienced a debt distress event. The authorities remain committed to prioritizing debt service payments and have identified resources to continue meeting debt obligations in the near-term. However, staff assess the risk of external and overall public debt distress for Zambia as very high at this juncture, and that a large upfront and sustained fiscal adjustment is essential to begin reducing debt vulnerabilities
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  • 133
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Economic Updates and Modeling
    Abstract: The Iraq Economic Monitor provides an update on key economic developments and policies over the previous six months and presents findings from recent World Bank work on Iraq, placing them in a longer-term and global context and assessing the implications of these developments and other changes in policy regarding the outlook for Iraq. Its coverage ranges from the macroeconomy to business environment and private sector development. It is intended for a wide audience, including policy makers, business leaders, financial market participants, and the community of analysts and professionals engaged in Iraq
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  • 134
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Water Papers
    Abstract: The water sector in South Tarawa, the capital city of Kiribati, is entering a time of deep transition. In a small island context risks can materialize faster than elsewhere and have disproportionate consequences. Strengthening water sector resilience is therefore critical to people's welfare and to the economy. This report was conducted in parallel to the preparation of the South Tarawa Water Supply Project, to provide a diagnostic of the remaining vulnerabilities the capital city's water supply sector may face after the completion of this project. Its main objective is to inform decisions by the Government of Kiribati on how to address these vulnerabilities. Section one gives introduction. Section two sets the stage with a brief presentation of the concept of water supply resilience in a context of water scarcity. Section three provides a summary of water supply conditions in South Tarawa and analyzes the impacts of various stresses and shocks on freshwater availability. Section four discusses potential measures to reduce water supply deficits during major crises. Section five offers an overview of these measures, in the form of an action plan, and presents several lessons that can be applied in water scarce cities in small islands and elsewhere
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  • 135
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Financial Sector Assessment Program
    Abstract: A joint IMF-World Bank mission visited Thailand from November 1 to 16, 2018, and February 6 to 22, 2019, to update the findings of the Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP) conducted in 2008. This report summarizes the main findings of the mission, identifies key financial sector vulnerabilities, and provides policy recommendations
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  • 136
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Financial Sector Assessment Program
    Abstract: This report contains the assessments of BAHTNET and TSD based on the PFMI. The assessment was undertaken in the context of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP) of Thailand in November 2018. The assessors were Gynedi Srinivas and Dorothee Delort of the World Bank's Payment Systems Development Group. The assessors would like to thank the Thai counterparts for their excellent cooperation and generous hospitality. The objective of the assessment was to identify potential risks related to the FMIs that may affect financial stability. While safe and efficient FMIs contribute to maintaining and promoting financial stability and economic growth, they may also concentrate risk. If not properly managed, FMIs can be sources of financial shocks, such as liquidity dislocations and credit losses, or a major channel through which these shocks are transmitted across domestic and international financial markets. The scope of the assessment includes two main FMIs as well as the authorities in Thailand responsible for regulation, supervision, and oversight of FMIs. BAHTNET and TSD are assessed against all relevant principles of the PFMI. The authorities, the BOT and the SEC, are assessed using the responsibilities for authorities of FMIs
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  • 137
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Other Infrastructure Study
    Abstract: While all infrastructure public-private partnerships (PPPs) inevitably deal with financing, construction, regulatory, demand, and operational risks, among others, projects in disaster-prone regions must additionally develop commercially and technically viable solutions for managing disaster and climate risk. This technical brief highlights key considerations and good practices for structuring resilient infrastructure PPPs through Policy and Legislation; Contracting and Disaster Risk Allocation; Procurement, Monitoring, and Payment; and Insurance. The brief was developed based on country case studies on Japan, India, and Kenya as well as a literature review
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  • 138
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Economic Updates and Modeling
    Abstract: The successful conclusion of the Presidential election in January 2019 represents a historic window of opportunity for Madagascar to break cycles of political instability that abruptly interrupted its development in the past and to leapfrog its economic and social revitalization. Following a prolonged period of economic stagnation, growth accelerated over the last five years to reach 5.1 percent in 2018, its fastest pace in over a decade. The return to constitutional order in 2014 was instrumental to this economic revival, as it contributed to restore investor confidence, re-open access to key export markets, reinstate flows of concessional financing, and encourage structural reforms. Growth continued apace in 2019, although moderating slightly to an estimated 4.7 percent, amid weakening external demand and a slow execution of public spending following the presidential and parliamentary elections. A post-election rebound in public and private investments is expected to result in growth averaging 5.4 percent in 2020-21. This Economic Update suggests however that the country remains vulnerable to shocks. International risks include the possible intensification of the trade war between main trading partners, or the rise in international oil prices in a context of geopolitical tensions. The risk of natural disasters or of a sharp drop in the price of vanilla also need due consideration. The government must take advantage of the successful political transition to accelerate growth-enhancing reforms and develop the necessary fiscal buffers to support priority investments and be ready to face unexpected circumstances
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  • 139
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Other Environmental Study
    Abstract: The Paris Agreement introduced a bottom-up approach for addressing climate change by enabling countries to pledge individual commitments through nationally determined contributions (NDCs). Furthermore, Article 6 of the Paris Agreement recognizes that Parties may engage in bilateral cooperative approaches, including through the use of internationally transferred mitigation outcomes (ITMOs), to achieve their NDCs. Heterogeneous climate markets may have different governance systems and technological approaches. Information about mitigation outcomes (MOs) or emission reductions is currently collected in a variety of repositories, including spreadsheets and registries, with different levels of information. The differences in these processes may constrain market integration and add to the complexity of tracking and recording transactions. Against this backdrop, there is a need to create a new architecture to support transparency and enhance the tradability of climate assets across jurisdictions while ensuring the integrity of trades. The Kyoto Protocol utilized an International Transaction Log (ITL), operated by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), to facilitate communication between registries and maintain a transaction log to ensure accurate accounting and verification of transactions proposed by connected registries. However, under the Paris Agreement, which may rely on a decentralized approach to markets under Article 6.2, climate negotiators are still determining whether a centralized infrastructure should continue, the functions it could perform, and to which market mechanisms or transactions it would apply. Consistent with the bottom-up ethos of the Paris Agreement, there is value in demonstrating an approach to link registry systems in a peer-to-peer arrangement
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  • 140
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Other Environmental Study
    Abstract: The purpose of this report is to review and disseminate lessons learned from domestically financed forestry programs in China and from those programs financed by international organizations, and to recommend best practices on sustainable forest management. Projects covered by the review include those supported by the World Bank (the Bank), the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ), Kreditanstalt Fur Wiederaufbeau (KfW), and those financed by the Government of China. In addition to conclusions on the most promising models for sustainable forest management (SFM), the review presents an overview of the main sources of financing for SFM and recommendations on what needs to be done to strengthen financial support for SFM. Forests play a key role in the conservation and protection of a wide range of ecosystems, including water courses, watersheds, wetlands, drylands, and deserts. They also serve important functions in conserving on-farm ecosystems, grasslands, and urban environments. Such is the importance of global forest ecosystems that they are often called the 'the lungs of the Earth,' the 'kidneys of the Earth,' or the 'immune system of the Earth.' They are also regarded as pivotal in stabilizing terrestrial ecosystems by balancing and offsetting changes in global dynamics that adversely affect terrestrial ecosystems, such as the sequestration of carbon dioxide
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  • 141
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Economic Updates and Modeling
    Abstract: Malaysia's economy is continuing to see growth, but the pace of expansion has moderated. Growth slowed to 4.4 percent in Q3 2019, as subdued global conditions and heightened uncertainty continued to weigh on the economy. Investment and trade activity was softer than expected during the quarter, and indicators suggest overall business sentiment remains muted. In 2020, Malaysia's economy is projected to expand at a relatively moderate pace, amid continued uncertainty and external headwinds. The GDP growth rate is projected to reach 4.5 percent in 2020. Investment is expected to improve but remain subdued over the near term, with both the public and private sectors adopting a cautious stance towards capital spending. Similarly, the softness in export growth is likely to persist into next year, mirroring the continuing subdued global growth. Short-term policies should focus on measures to boost resilience and protect the vulnerable. Federal debt has increased, and government revenue as a share of GDP is expected to decline further next year. In the context of a more uncertain economic environment, it is vital for Malaysia to preserve fiscal space to enable it to mitigate the impact of any negative shocks to the economy. Increased progressivity in the personal income tax framework and an expansion of current tax measures could enable the government to both increase revenues and improve redistribution. Malaysia's weakening trade and investment activity, amid challenging external conditions, underscores the need to improve private sector confidence and strengthen investment competitiveness. With sluggish global demand and increased protectionist tendencies among the majoreconomies, a sustained commitment to deepening regional integration and addressing trade barriers is vital to preserve a vibrant trading environment and build investors' confidence. It is also important to strengthen Malaysia's competitiveness in attracting quality investments and to maximize the gains from tax expenditures with better targeting of investments towards economic upgrading, high-value job creation and inclusive growth
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  • 142
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Economic Updates and Modeling
    Abstract: With Malawi's economic growth recovering and single digit inflation, the Government has a keyopportunity to rein in fiscal deficits and reduce domestic debt. If it can better control domestic debt levels, the Government could increasingly move towards creating the conditions for the privatesector to increase investment, which can drive growth and job creation. To support this, the Government needs to develop a track record of achieving sustainable fiscal deficits in order to contain and reverse the escalating domestic debt burden, to contain interest rates and avoidcrowding out private sector investment, and to increase public investment. Malawi's economy is projected to grow by 4.4 percent in 2019, up from 3.5 percent in 2018. Agricultural activity rebounded in 2019 due to favorable weather conditions, which offset the negative effects from Tropical Cyclone Idai in parts of the southern region of the country. Crop production was generally strong, particularly in the case of maize, with production increasing by 25.7 percent. This supported overall economic growth, despite a decline in tobacco production. However, the ongoing political impasse, with widescale demonstrations that have continued since May 2019, has constrained business activity and increased uncertainty, weighing on investment. The Government missed the revised fiscal deficit target in FY2018/19. The fiscal deficit increased to 6.5 percent of GDP, higher than the revised target of 5.8 percent. The impact of election-related expenses,increased interest payments and costs associated with the disaster response pushed recurrentexpenditure beyond targeted levels by 1 percent of GDP. This was partially offset by under-execution of development expenditure, which was not enough to keep the fiscal deficit to 5.8 percent of GDP. Poor revenue performance, which was lower by 0.5 percent of GDP, compounded the problem
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  • 143
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Other Health Study
    Abstract: In the wake of the 2014 Ebola Virus Disease (Ebola) crisis, the international development community, including the World Bank Group (WBG), have taken various institutional and operational steps to improve the advice, investments, and financing instruments to support both the efficiency and effectiveness of emergency responses to infectious disease outbreaks. Several World Bank instruments have been developed or adapted to more promptly deliver financial resources. The objective of the study is to inform the design and implementation of financing for rapid response to outbreaks through an analysis of lessons learned from recent outbreaks in West and Central Africa. This report will explain the methodology used to collect and analyze study data. It will then review the background, findings, and observations on mobilizing domestic and external funds for response in light of the evolution of epidemics in West Africa, Nigeria, and Democratic Republic of the Congo. The report summarizes the recent changes and key remaining challenges globally and in select countries summarized by the four selected themes (governance, effective financing, efficient use of resources, and preparedness). This report then offers conclusions and recommendations from this qualitative study
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  • 144
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Country Gender Assessment
    Abstract: The analysis presented in this study points to persistent and high numbers in Georgia and Armenia of youth who are jobless and/or economically inactive and with limited access to learning and/or training opportunities, and these figures are among the highest in the ECA region. As many as 31 percent youth aged 15-29 in Georgia and 33 percent in Armenia are not in employment, education, or training (NEET). In Georgia, the phenomenon is mostly urban, whereas in Armenia it's both rural and urban. NEET rates are consistently higher among female than male youth, pointing to the fact that being female is a risk factor itself for labor market exclusion, and gender disparities. In addition to gender gaps, there are important gender differences in the condition of those who are NEET: economic inactivity - in the form of homemaking and/or caregiving work - is the most prevalent condition among NEET women, whereas unemployment is the most common status among NEET men. With regards to education, Georgia and Armenia stand out as cases where higher educational attainment does not necessarily prevent young people from becoming NEETs, and the NEET rate among higher education graduates is even bigger (particularly among women) than for those with lower education. This is a strong sign of mismatch between the demand and supply side of labor market. The economies of these countries are not able to create an adequate supply of skilled jobs for graduates, and there is persistent subsistence low-productivity employment the agriculture sector
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  • 145
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Other Health Study
    Abstract: The Philippines has made remarkable progress in the last decades in improving its health outcomes. However, performance is still poor compared regionally and with similar economies. This report was developed with the aim of informing health policy during the political transition from the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). This transition began with the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) in January 2019. This report provides an overview of the current capacities and challenges facing the public primary health care system as the BARMM government enters into its new role. By providing a detailed look at the availability of inputs needed to deliver priority services, it highlights current strengths, and also indicates areas that need to be strengthened if the national and subnational health goals are to be realized. Historically, health outcomes have been far worse in BARMM than elsewhere in the country. While health outcomes are complex and multi-dimensional, weaknesses in health governance have exacerbated the geographic and socio-cultural challenges associated with health care delivery. While the authors recognize that the transition is likely to introduce some challenges, it is hoped that the findings documented in this report can guide health policy, including investments towards high-impact priorities and in this way, help lay the foundation for better health care, and better health for the people of BARMM
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  • 146
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Commodities Study
    Abstract: Mongolia has a comparative advantage in agribusiness, especially downstream industries using livestock products. Yet its share in worldwide exports of agribusiness commodities is insignificant. Enhancing the efficiency of the central economic corridor (CEC) is vital to Mongolia's effort to improve trade competitiveness and diversify exports. The role of Mongolia's economic corridors is best understood when seen as an integral part of the country's supply chain. The report analyzes the performance gap of the CEC through an examination of three sectors: (a) cashmere and wool sector, (b) meat, and (c) leather. These sectors highlight the major challenges that Mongolian producers face in a world where agribusiness depends on a demanding retail sector characterized by tight delivery schedules and high-quality standards, which are more important than tariffs. The report diagnoses the challenges that these industries face, identifies opportunities for the growth of these sectors, leveraging the potential of the CEC, and shares policy recommendations on how to seize these opportunities. The analysis shows that Mongolia's comparative advantage has been significantly diluted by weaknesses associated with its economic corridors
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  • 147
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Economic Updates and Modeling
    Abstract: Real GDP growth in Russia surpassed expectations in 2018, reaching 2.3 percent, mostly due to one off effects of energy construction. Forecasted growth of 1.2 percent in 2019 and 1.8 percent in 2020 and 2021 reflects a more modest outlook. Russia's macro-fiscal buffers remain strong, with fiscal surpluses across all tiers of government and low public-debt levels. When compared to advanced economies, Russia spends less on health and education. Rebalancing in favor of these categories could improve the overall efficiency of public spending. Short-term inflationary risks have abated, with the Bank of Russia signaling a return to a neutral policy rate. Lending activity is recovering, but the banking sector remains afflicted with high concentration and state dominance. Having eased slightly, the poverty rate remains in double digits with many households close to the poverty line and lacking formal employment. Informal employment is rising in the face of close-to-zero net job creation by medium-sized and large formal enterprises. Key risks to medium-term growth include the expansion of economic sanctions, renewed financial turmoil in EMDEs, a dramatic drop in oil prices, and souring of the global trade environment. The recent double-digit expansion in household credit may also pose a risk to financial stability in the case of a deterioration in the macroeconomic environment
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  • 148
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Other Poverty Study
    Abstract: This report is the result of a collaboration between the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Poverty and Equity Global Practice of the World Bank Group (WBG). Repatriation or the return of refugees to their country of origin has been rarely studied, and data on their socio-economic outcomes is sparsely available. In such a context, the World Bank and UNHCR teams attempted to make good use of the existing data sources and complemented it with new data collection methods to better understand the patterns and characteristics of recent Afghan refugee returns. More specifically, the team attempted to analytically connect insights between different data sources to explore (albeit imperfectly) questions of selection among Afghans who remained in Pakistan and those documented returnees who returned to Afghanistan
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  • 149
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Other Health Study
    Abstract: This brief provides an overview of tobacco control legislation, use, and taxation in the country
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  • 150
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Other Health Study
    Abstract: Serbia has rather high prevalence of smoking. According to the National Health Surveys, the prevalence of daily smoking among men in 2013 was 33 percent which was lower than in 2000 (41 percent), while among women it was almost as high as in 2000 (26 percent). Cigarette smoking among adolescents aged 13-15 years old decreased in 2013-2017; however, the use of electronic cigarettes and waterpipe is growing among young people. to overcome the tobacco epidemic, Serbia became a Party to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control on May 9, 2006, and implemented some tobacco control policies. Tobacco taxation policy in Serbia in 2009-2013 was very successful from a public health perspective as it reduced tobacco consumption, in line with the FCTC obligations. Estimated tobacco consumption in the country declined by 33 percent in four years. The outflow of cigarettes taxed in Serbia to other countries also declined, while the volume of cigarettes, which were smoked but not taxed in Serbia, did not change much after the tax increases. This taxation policy also increased the tobacco excise revenue from 39 billion RSD in 2008 to 84 billion RSD in 2013 (by 44 percent in real terms). However, the tobacco industry managed to modify the impact of the tobacco taxes. In 2012-early 2014, it vastly increased its (net-of-tax) part of cigarette price, and this reinforced the taxation impact on tobacco sales as the final retail price increased more than expected. As the growth of the industry profit margins was disproportionately soaring, the industry increased its profits despite the decline of tobacco sales. The main factor behind the cigarette sales reduction in 2012-2014 was the industry pricing tactics, while the excise rate increases were rather moderate. The combined effect of government taxes and industry prices substantially reduced cigarette affordability, and the resulting sales decline exceeded the excise burden growth; so, the government excise revenue decreased. In late 2014, the tobacco industry decreased prices for some brands, and it also contributed to the excise revenue decline in 2014, as ad valorem part of cigarette excise was rather high in Serbia
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  • 151
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Public Expenditure Review
    Abstract: This Public Expenditure Review (PER) is the result of a collaboration among the World Bank Group, and Lesotho's Ministries of Education and Finance, and is designed to inform Lesotho's effort in expanding access to quality education services, while operating in a highly fiscally constraint environment. Although education spending is one of the highest in the world as a percentage of GDP (13.5 percent of GDP) and universal access to primary education enshrined in law, poor educational outcomes persist across the country. Lesotho is also not on track to achieve the two education-related MDGs, with both primary enrollment (82 percent) and primary completion (65 percent) rates lagging far behind the goal of 100 percent by the end 2015. The report is organized as follows. The first chapter offers a detailed assessment of the overall sectoral budgeting and expenditure patterns in the education sector over a five-year period, from fiscal years (FY) 2011-12 to 2015-16, using multiple data sources. The second chapter estimates the cost of expanding secondary education to achieve the government's goal of universal compulsory lower basic education by 2020 and makes recommendations on how to better utilize the funding for the sector taking into account the fiscal constraints at macro level
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  • 152
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Other Infrastructure Study
    Abstract: Bangladesh has been successful on many counts. The economy grew six percent a year between 2000 and 2017, and the poverty rate fell by more than half. All sectors experienced growth, but the contribution of agriculture to gross domestic product (GDP) declined, as Bangladesh became an important player in the textile and ready-made garments global value chain, which accounts for more than half of manufacturing employment and eighty-four percent of all exports in the country. The sustainability of this growth model is now being challenged, as Bangladesh's competitiveness based on low wages is eroding. Rising wage demands from workers, intensifying global price competition, and inefficient logistics are putting significant cost pressure on Bangladeshi producers. This report presents a comprehensive assessment of logistics performance, its root causes, and the economic implications of potential interventions. Based on the analysis, the report proposes policy directions to improve logistics performance
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  • 153
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Other Social Protection Study
    Abstract: The European Commission's Directorate General for Neighborhood and Enlargement Negotiations approached the World Bank to develop an evidence base and to deliver policy advice and technical assistance for supporting the effective reintegration of (Roma) returnees in the Western Balkans: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Kosovo, and Serbia. This synthesis report presents the results of that research. This report documents the main socio-economic factors that drive migration from the Western Balkans to the EU. Returnees emphasize that they migrate to escape poverty, lack of housing, unemployment, the lack of or insufficient access to social security, and a consistent struggle and inability to provide a basic standard of living for themselves and their families. Poverty, discrimination, and historic marginalization reinforce one another and constitute strong push factors. Estimates suggest a substantial number of returnees belong to the Roma minority and that Roma are over-represented in migration and returnee flows. In addition, Roma and ethnic minorities have had to contend with systemic economic and social exclusion and institutional discrimination. Roma communities lack access to basic infrastructure and social services, are more likely to be underemployed, and have limited earning potential due to low incomes from unskilled jobs in the formal and informal sectors
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  • 154
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Public Expenditure Review
    Abstract: Cambodia's rapid economic growth and poverty reduction have taken place in an environment characterized by macroeconomic stability and prudent fiscal management. Having recently graduated to become a lower middle-income country, Cambodia is beginning to face complex fiscal and public service delivery challenges. The Cambodia public expenditure review (PER) discusses the numerous achievements in fiscal policy to date and presents policy options going forward, based on both analysis and consultations with stakeholders. The PER aims to help the Royal Government of Cambodia in the effort to overcome the challenges and move toward more effective public spending and service delivery, while maintaining macroeconomic stability. to make the most of fiscal policy and available fiscal space, Cambodia needs to continue improving the allocation and execution of public resources, for increased value for money. The Cambodia Public Expenditure Review (PER)discusses the numerous achievements in fiscal policy to date and proposes policy options goingforward, based on both analysis and consultations with stakeholders. The PER aims to help the RoyalGovernment of Cambodia in the effort to overcome the abovementioned challenges and move towardmore effective public spending and service delivery, while maintaining macroeconomic stability. Structured around the key challenges, the six chapters of the PER are based on background papers that incorporate feedback from two rounds of consultations with the PER Committee chaired by the Ministry of Economy and Finance
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  • 155
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Economic Updates and Modeling
    Abstract: Sierra Leone's macroeconomic performance continued to improve but at a slower pace. Yet there are significant downside risks to the medium-term economic outlook
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  • 156
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Economic Updates and Modeling
    Abstract: The Malaysia Economic Monitor (MEM) consists of two parts. Part 1 presents a review of recent economic developments and a macroeconomic outlook. Part 2 focuses on a selected special topic that is key to Malaysia's medium-term development prospects and the achievement of shared prosperity. In this edition, the focus of the special topic is on re-energizing the public service to better enable it to facilitate Malaysia's future development
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  • 157
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Other Environmental Study
    Abstract: Minerals and metals are fundamentally incredibly important to societies all over the world. The activities required to extract minerals, however, often have negative impacts on forest landscapes and habitats. Forest health is not only about deforestation; mining has been found to produce severe impacts on water and soil that can indirectly impact forest health and its ecological integrity. Moreover, impacts of mining can become significant when multiple instances of mining activities happen at the same location simultaneously, as was found in the Indonesian case studies. Therefore, there is still the need to identify and attempt to reduce the impacts of mining even in a landscape dominated by activities like agriculture and forestry. Artisanal mining is typified as formal, informal, or illegal mining operations with predominantly rudimentary technologies in the exploration and extraction by individuals or large groups of people. Small-scale mining operations can also be mechanized, or semi-mechanized, and or have a greater degree of capitalization than artisanal mining. The World Bank's extractive industries in forest landscapes program seeks to address these challenges by promoting forest-smart extractive investments to ensure that investments in the extractives sector do not erode forest capital and instead generate positive forest outcomes. The artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) study and the parallel study on large-scale mining (LSM) share the overarching objective of supporting the World Bank's efforts to help client countries ensure that resource extraction from forested areas serves as a force for poverty reduction and sustainable development while respecting the environment and the needs of local communities. In order to achieve a forest-smart ASM sector, adopting an integrated approach is recommended
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  • 158
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Other Environmental Study
    Abstract: Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) has a comparative advantage in natural capital, which has fueled economic growth averaging around 8 percent per annum since 2000. The natural resource endowment comprises half of the country's wealth. Although forest cover declined 3.6 percent between 2005 and 2015, Lao PDR still has among the highest forest cover percentage of countries in the region, and the value of timber and non-timber forest products is 10,740 US Dollars per capita. Inefficiencies, including overuse, under-budgeting, and unsustainable and unscientific management, have led to a reduction in forest cover, natural wealth, and public revenues. Lao PDR's recent policy reforms, institution-building and community engagement aim to build a new foundation to sustain the Lao forest estate and the people and sectors that depend on it, including for tourism, agriculture, energy, water, fisheries, and wood products. Lao PDR's ambitious forest sector reforms aim to achieve financially and environmentally sustainable, resilient, and inclusive economic growth, especially through credible private sector investors. This reform agenda accompanies the Government of Lao PDR's (GoL) plan to expand forest cover to 70 percent from the current 58 percent, which will help to reduce poverty, create green jobs and livelihoods, support local industry and expand participatory sustainable forest management (SFM) and forest restoration, as well as to meet Lao PDR's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to climate action. Auspiciously, credible private sector commercial plantation investors are also starting to scale up investment in the country
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  • 159
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Risk and Vulnerability Assessment
    Abstract: Natural events are recurrent. Geophysical hazards such as earthquakes or volcano eruptions cannot be predicted, but it is known that where they have happened in the past, they will happen again. In the case of hydro-meteorological hazards, frequency and intensity are increased by the action of climate change. Guatemala is located in one of the most hazard prone regions, threatened by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, fires, hurricanes, and floods. Additionally, other hazards such as fires usually affect ancient structures, becoming one of the main hazards to specific cultural heritage assets. However, natural hazards only lead to disasters when its effects negatively affect human life, and the consequences depend on the vulnerability of the assets and population exposed to these hazards. The concept and practice of Disaster Risk Management (DRM), understood as a safe development strategy, has evolved during the last decades from an approach focused almost exclusively on disaster response, towards a broader approach focused on risk understanding, prevention, and reduction, without demeriting the importance of having strong preparation and response systems. However, other priorities generally relegate cultural heritage in the agenda of local and national governments, and disaster risk plans do not include heritage, leaving at risk areas, buildings or other assets of high historical value. In this regard, conducting risk assessments and establishing risk mitigation and emergency preparedness measures is fundamental. In case of emergency the priority is always to save lives, but in a second moment, acting quickly on cultural heritage is essential to preserve legacies that could otherwise be lost forever
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  • 160
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Policy Notes
    Abstract: Investment in young children in Liberia is a critical aspect to Liberia's development agenda. While progress is being made, greater momentum is needed to ensure that young children develop and thrive along physical, cognitive, language and socio-emotional dimensions. The quality and quantity of early experiences in the first thousand days lay the foundation for children's brain development, which includes good nutrition, early stimulation, and safe and secure environments. Healthy brains in turn influence health and education outcomes in subsequent years which translates into economic growth. Investments in early experiences yield better health, better school readiness, and higher academic performance which in turn leads to higher economic productivity. The pathway to early childhood development (ECD) starts in utero, therefore, investments in pre-natal services and healthy pregnancies are the starting points to healthy childhoods and productive adulthood. Investment in the early years is a proven gateway to a country's economic growth and development. to reap full benefits of ECD investments, it is critical to start early and integrate programs across health, nutrition, education, and social or child protection sectors. Over the past three decades, Liberia made some improvements in the well-being of the youngest in the country. Despite progress, coverage of services remains low across the ECD continuum from conception through birth to child health and pre-school packages. to conclude, existing guidelines for center or facility-based delivery of ECD services should be reviewed and revised to ensure integration of services
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  • 161
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Country Economic Memorandum
    Abstract: This current Country Economic Memorandum is intended to provide a comprehensive analysis of growthconstraints and recommendations. While it updates some aspects of these earlier studies, its main focus is on enterprise performance. Insofar as enterprise performance occurs in a larger institutional context, this focus necessarily touches on several of the earlier themes, particularly the rule of law, business regulation, and education. The first chapter presents a diagnostic that highlights the problem of falling productivity in the enterprise sector and points to elements of market structure (particularly state ownership) that undermine productivity growth and curtail the growth of the private sector. This chapter also focuses on demand-side issues in export markets, and highlights policy lessons from sectors with high productivity that could drive future growth. A second chapter focuses on foreign firms, which are high productivity enterprises within Moldova, and looks at investment promotion and ways to improve the contribution of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to the economy. Subsequent chapters extend the analysis to incentives shaping enterprise performance and opportunities for growth led by the private sector, particularly: competition and regulatory policies (Chapter 3); tax policy insofar as it affects incentives and tax buoyancy that underpin macroeconomic stability (Chapter 4); and finally, education as a crucial input into enterprise development (Chapter 5)
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  • 162
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Other Health Study
    Abstract: Montenegro became a Party to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in 2006 and ratified the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products in 2017. Tobacco excise hikes, undertaken in Montenegro in 2009-2011, were successful both in fiscal and public health terms. Revenues from tobacco excises rose from about 4 million in 2007 to 44 million euro in 2011. Annual cigarette sales declined from more than 1.5 billion cigarettes in 2008-2011 to less than 1 billion cigarettes in 2014 and further years. However, in 2013-2016, tobacco excise increases were too small to reduce tobacco affordability and tobacco sales, and tobacco revenues did not change much. In August 2017, Montenegro adopted an ambitious plan of excise tax increases; however, the tobacco industry responded with series of hidden actions (forestalling and price over-shifting) which temporarily reduced tobacco excise revenue in early 2018. As the next high increase of excise rate was scheduled for January 2018, and at the same time, VAT rate increased from 19 to 21, the industry substantially increased cigarette supply in the second half of 2017 and sharply reduced it in early 2018 as it already had in stocks large numbers of cigarettes for which excise was paid in 2017. The excise revenue substantially increased in late 2017, but declined in early 2018 despite the excise rate increase. The industry organized the media campaign to persuade the government that this revenue decline was allegedly caused by tax-driven growth in cigarette smuggling (while no rigorous evidence of such growth was presented), and the only way to fight smuggling is the reduction of cigarette excise. From September 2018, the excise rates were reduced, while they are still higher than those planned before 2017. The plan of annual tobacco excise changes until 2025 was already adopted by authorities, but the proposed changes have rather low potential to reduce the tobacco consumption and to increase government revenue. The expected total excise rate in 2025 will be below 90 euro (minimum EU level). Montenegro is able to conduct a more aggressive and successful tobacco taxation policy which can both reduce tobacco consumption and increase tobacco revenue
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  • 163
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Economic Updates and Modeling
    Abstract: The external environment has deteriorated during the first half of 2019, and downside riskspredominate in the near-term. Global GDP growth is projected to decline to 2.6 percent in 2019 from 3 percent in 2018, reflecting broad-based weakness in advanced economies and major Emerging Market and Developing Economies. Reflecting slower growth and heightened policy uncertainty associated with protected trade tensions, global trade growth is protracted to weaken further from 4.1 percent in 2018 to 2.6 percent in 2019. Downside risks include a further escalation of trade disputes between the world's two largest trading nations, while a more pronounced downturn in global activity and increased volatility in financial flows. Amidst rising global headwinds, Vietnam's economic growth momentum has been slowing since the beginning of the year. Vietnam's real GDP growth has decelerated to a still robust 6.8 percent in the first quarter of 2019 from a vibrant 7.5 percent pace in the same period of 2018. Slower growth reflects several factors. Agricultural output decelerated due to the outbreak of African swine fever and a decline in international prices. Weaker external demand moderated growth of the export-oriented manufacturing sector as well as overall export performance, even though Vietnam seems to have benefitted from some trade diversion due to the ongoing trade tensions between China and the US. Domestic investment appears to be slowed resulting from subdued credit growth and continued consolidation in public investment. Other macroeconomic indicators, such as more sluggish credit growth, subdued inflation and slower import growth are further signs of a cyclical moderation in economic activity. In contrast, service sector activity continues relatively strong, signaling sustained buoyancy in private consumption. Despite a recent uptick in headline inflation, price pressures have remained subdued as credit growth moderated. The headline CPI rose by 2.9 percent (y/y) in May 2019, up slightly from 2.6 percent in January 2019, driven by hikes in administered prices (for electricity and fuel) and moderate food price increases. The State Bank of Vietnam maintained a prudent monetary policy stance to support its twin goals of sustaining macroeconomic stability and supporting overall economic growth. Credit growth is estimated to have slowed to about 13 percent (y/y) in March 2019 reflecting tighter credit policies
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  • 164
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Mining, Oil and Gas
    Abstract: Mining has been central to the social and economic narrative of Southern Africa, and has been a key provider of investment, employment, government revenue and infrastructure in the region. In South Africa, the Johannesburg-Pretoria metropolitan area, which serves as the region's economic and financial hub, developed because of the local gold supply. In the early years, mining developed on the back of migrant workers from across Southern Africa who toiled in the mines under poor conditions. Many ex-miners suffer from vocational diseases to this day. While mining has helped build the economies of Southern Africa, it has come at social and environmental costs that cast a long shadow. Inequality is also high in many Southern African countries, suggesting that mining has not translated into inclusive growth. This report attempts to examine and weigh the various benefits and costs that mining has brought to the Southern Africa region. Data limitations are significant, restricting authoritative conclusions on whether the benefits from mining are positive or negative, on balance, for Southern African societies. The emphasis of this report is thus on taking stock of various benefits and costs associated with mining, while drawing on available information and thought experiments to highlight the potential trade-offs and how they affect stakeholder groups: workers, investors, governments, communities, and the rest of the economy. The countries this report focuses on are Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe
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  • 165
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Economic Updates and Modeling
    Abstract: Confronted with pervasive macroeconomic imbalances and microeconomic distortions, the Government of Egypt (GOE) started in 2016 to move forward with important reforms to stabilize the economy and restore confidence. At that time, Egypt was facing daunting economic and structural challenges, unsustainable fiscal and external imbalance and a deterring business environment. The severe foreign currency crunch that peaked in late 2016 motivated the GOE to introduce transformative economic reforms to alleviate the longstanding structural constraints to inclusive growth and macroeconomic stability. The flagship reforms of the economic program were (i) the liberalization of the exchange rate to eliminate the large currency overvaluation and foreign exchange shortages; (ii) a fiscal consolidation program that introduced a ale-added tax (VAT) and a gradual reduction in energy subsidies and the wage bill, and (iii) major energy sector terms to address power outages by public and private investment in generation and establish Egypt's potential as an oil and gas producer by reducing pricing distortions and arrears. These reforms were complemented by efforts to improve the business climate and attract private investment, starting with legislative reforms and the introduction of new laws on industrial licensing, investment, and insolvency. Macroeconomic indicators have reacted positively to the stabilization reforms. Most notable, economic growth has accelerated, the parallel market for foreign currency exchange has been contained, external deficits have narrowed, and international reserves have replenished. Public finances are progressing on a more sustainable path, with a frim containment of spending on price subsidies and a narrowing fiscal deficit. The improvement in macroeconomic conditions have also reflected positively on investors; perceptions, with credit rating agencies upgrading their ratings and outlook for Egypt
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  • 166
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Economic Updates and Modeling
    Abstract: Cocoa is essential to Cote d'Ivoire. This sector mobilizes close to one million producers who provide income to five million persons (one-fifth of the country's population) in order to meet 40 percent of global supply. Cocoa is also the country's leading foreign exchange earner and is among the sectors making the biggest contribution to government revenue. In short, cocoa plays a central role in Ivorian society and in the lives of many families. However, despite its importance to the Ivorian economy and society, the cocoa sector is not fully playing its role as the engine of economic development. Some even go so far as to cite the curse of 'brown gold,' for at least three reasons. First, more than half of producers live below the poverty line-on less than CFAF 757 (roughly 1.2 US Dollar) a day. Second, the price paid for the expansion of cultivated areas in recent decades has been the destruction of virtually all the country's forests. Third, Cote d'Ivoire has not yet managed to increase its share (between 5 and 7 percent) of the profit made along the cocoa-chocolate global chain. Given this situation, it is not surprising that cocoa is at the center of a host of economic policy discussions in Cote d'Ivoire and that the Government has sped up its deliberations aimed at improving the performance of the sector, in particular through the Abidjan Declaration signed jointly in 2018 by the Presidents of Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana, which seeks to harmonize their policies and thus maximize their profit (these two countries account for approximately 65 percent of global production). After analyzing the most recent trends in the Ivorian economy, this ninth economic update for Cote d'Ivoire therefore focuses on how the cocoa sector could support the structural transformation of the country and, in so doing, promote greater economic and social inclusion
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  • 167
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Water Papers
    Abstract: Prudent economic policies, combined with the enabling conditions created by a high endowment of water, have transformed Vietnam from a low income to a middle-income country within two decades. Though growth has produced vast benefits, it has also placed unrelenting pressures on water resources, which in turn lead to economic stresses. This report assesses how secure Vietnam's water resources are and its economic implications and focuses on reducing the threats of 'too little, too much, and too dirty.' Specifically, the report focuses on increasing water productivity in irrigated agriculture, water security and services for settlements, and on how Vietnam manages water quality and pollution issues, as well as climate change adaptation, disaster risks, and risks from infrastructure gaps and vulnerabilities. Recognizing that water governance is fundamental in addressing Vietnam's water challenges, this report analyzes the current governance of the water sector to inform the development of strategies, provide an integrated view of challenges, and identify the most fundamental shifts needed to achieve national water security. Going forward, greater emphasis will have to be given to policy enforcement and to the incentives needed to assure greater compliance. The solutions suggested by this analysis are clustered around seven recommendations. This report was developed in close cooperation with the Government of Vietnam
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  • 168
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Economic Updates and Modeling
    Abstract: Myanmar's economy continues to show resilience despite the global slowdown and domestic uncertainties. Its economy is estimated to have grown at 6.3 percent in 2018/191, marginally higher than 6.2 percent in 2017/18, supported by better performance in the manufacturing and services sectors. Macroeconomic volatility has increased since the June 2019 Myanmar Economic Monitor, with inflation reaching double digits in July 2019. Economic growth is expected to reach 6.4 percent in 2019/20, helped by growing investment in the transport and telecommunication sectors and government's planned infrastructure spending before the 2020 elections. Risks to the economic outlook are tilted to the downside due to slowing global and regional growth, and continued uncertainty about investor perceptions triggered by the Rakhine crisis and the pace of reforms prior to the 2020 general elections, although the pace has thus far been strong
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  • 169
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Water Papers
    Abstract: Lake Toba is a unique natural asset of global significance with a rich cultural heritage located in the North Sumatra Province of Indonesia. Located 904 meters above sea level and with a maximum depth of more than 500 meters, this 87-kilometer-long lake provides a wide range of economic and environmental goods and services for more than half a million people and 400 villages in the seven districts covered by the lake's 3,658 square kilometer catchment. However, sustaining the long-term economic and environmental value of Lake Toba depends on addressing the deterioration of water quality. This technical guidance note reports on the potential benefits of using remote sensing as part of an integrated strategy to improve the monitoring and management of water quality in Lake Toba
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  • 170
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Water Papers
    Abstract: Water management agencies in many parts of the world are currently missing big opportunities to increase their capacity to monitor water resources. This report presents a range of remote sensing applications to support water resources management and decision-making, and discusses implementation approaches and their sustainability going forward. These were developed within the second phase of the global initiative on remote sensing for water resources management, conceived to help mainstream beneficial remote sensing uses in operational projects of the Bank, and to facilitate the adoption in World Bank client countries. This report is addressed to water practitioners in general, technical staff in national water agencies, and project leads from development and financing institutions. The goal of the report is to present insights from innovative remote sensing applications to help address specific water resources management challenges. The results presented include constraints identified in the adoption of remote sensing, the approaches adopted to make applications functional in different contexts, the project applications themselves, insights on their sustainability, and ways forward
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  • 171
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Energy Sector Management Assistance Program Papers
    Abstract: Floating solar photovoltaic installations open new opportunities for scaling up solar generating capacity, especially in countries with high population density and competing uses for available land. Advantages of floating solar over land-based systems include higher energy yield, reduced evaporation, and improved water quality, among others. Combining floating solar with hydropower plants is of particular interest. Flexible hydropower output can be used to smooth the variability of the solar generation, while making better use of existing transmission assets, particularly beneficial in countries with weak grids. With a global estimated potential of 400 gigawatts, under conservative assumptions, floating solar could double the current global installed capacity of solar PV. Although the market is still nascent and challenges in deployment remain, the floating solar market is set to accelerate as the technologies mature. Floating Solar Market Report presents an overview of floating solar technologies, current deployment market and future opportunities, challenges related to floating solar deployment, policies and regulatory considerations, and current costs and project structuring. Floating Solar Market Report is the second publication of the series Where Sun Meets Water dedicated to floating and hydro-connected solar deployment
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  • 172
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Other Health Study
    Abstract: Hypertension is a major driver of pre-mature death and disability in Tajikistan, a low-income country in Central Asia. The high burden of disease also results in significant health care expenditure and lost labour productivity. Therefore, there is an urgent need to strengthen service delivery systems through early detection of high blood pressure, prompt diagnosis, sustained treatment maintenance, and the attainment of blood pressure control. The Ministry of Health and Social Protection and the World Bank undertook implementation research to identify effective and context-appropriate solutions for improving hypertension services. The assessment used the cascade framework to describe drop-offs along the continuum of care, collected patient and health care provider perspectives on the causes of discontinuities, used routine data from participating facilities in a Bank-supported operation, and drew on the international literature on chronic care interventions. The report presents feasible and cost-effective recommendations that, if adopted, can strengthen current programs and policies to address the growing burden of hypertension in Tajikistan
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  • 173
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Other Education Study
    Abstract: The report has three main chapters. Chapter two examines the financing situation of the Kenyan higher education system, presents the results of a scenario-building exercise to explore the financial impact of various expansion paths, and proposes a strategy to achieve financial sustainability. Chapter three focuses on the quality and relevance of existing institutions and programs. It starts with an assessment of the present state of Kenyan higher education institutions. It continues with a review of options to strengthen the QA system at the national and institutional levels. Finally, it proposes a road map for developing a well-functioning Labor Market Observatory. Chapter four is a technical note focusing on international developments in the use of technology to increase access and improve quality in higher education. It makes concrete recommendations on how the Kenyan government and university leaders could harness technology in innovative ways
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  • 174
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Education Sector Review
    Abstract: Education in Ukraine has ...
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  • 175
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Other Financial Accountability Study
    Abstract: Core to an effective financial consumer protection framework is an accessible and efficient recourse mechanism that allows consumers both to know and to assert their rights to have their complaints addressed and resolved in a transparent and just way within a reasonable timeframe. Complaints handling mechanisms are especially important for low-income and vulnerable financial consumers, to whom timely and effective recourse processes can have a decisive influence over their trust in their financial service provider (FSP) and in the financial sector in general. Increased trust contributes to consumers' uptake and sustained usage of financial services and, consequently, their economic livelihoods. Financial consumer complaints handling mechanisms comprise two stages: complaints that are handled by FSPs, generally referred to as internal dispute resolution (IDR); and complaints that, if not satisfactorily resolved, are handled by an alternative, out-of-court process, generally referred to as external dispute resolution (EDR). There are several international sources of principles applicable to complaints handling and resolution processes and procedures to be established by FSPs. Drawing from the World Bank's Good Practices for Financial Consumer Protection, the work of international bodies, such as the Group of Twenty (G20)/Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Task Force on Financial Consumer Protection, as well as selected country experiences this Technical Note highlights considerations that aim to provide a methodological guidance for regulators and FSPs when developing and implementing IDR frameworks to ensure they are consistent with international good practices. This Technical Note synthesizes concepts, principles, and practices for IDR mechanisms for financial consumers and shares examples of legal and regulatory requirements for FSPs to resolve complaints and to ensure that complaints- related data is collected, analyzed, and shared as appropriate to support improvements in FSP performance, industry market conduct, and market conduct regulation
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  • 176
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Country Financial Accountability Assessment
    Abstract: Efficient utilization of overall resources through sound public financial management (PFM), good governance and oversight are priorities in the Lao PDR government's reform agenda. The strengthening of PFM systems is fundamental to the successful development of Lao PDR and has been center stage in the Government's policy agenda. There has been slow progress since 2010 in strengthening the quality of PFM systems and processes and there has also been a pause in the PFM reform agenda since 2013. This Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability (PEFA) Lao PDR 2018 is intended to assess the current state of PFM in Lao PDR. This PEFA uses the upgraded 2016 methodology that has more demanding PFM standards with new calibration and scoring criteria. While it is expected that the assessment generates relatively low scores and reveal severe PFM performance gaps. The Government expects that the narrative will also highlight the area of ongoing or planned reform action in order to link the analysis to the existing areas of the new PFM reform agenda and to support the post-PEFA dialogue on the priorities and sequencing of the reform actions. this context, the GoL agreed at the end of 2016 to carry out a PEFA self-assessment managed by the WB and financed by the EU, to establish a diagnostic study of the PFM system using the PEFA 2016 methodology. It is expected that the PEFA exercise gives further impetus to the momentum created by the launch of the PFM reform agenda, mobilizing the participating institutions on the subsequent dialogue on PFM reform policy decisions. The overall objective of the PEFA assessment is to provide a baseline with an evidence-based PFM performance assessment to guide the Government's PFM reform strategy and potential engagement with its development partners in further strengthening PFM in the country
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  • 177
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Other Education Study
    Abstract: Moldovan employers voice concerns that workers' low levels of socioemotional capabilities, such as poor work ethics, lack of motivation, and limited problem-solving skills, are among the major constraints for business development and productivity. The World Bank's 2013 Business Environment and Enterprise Performance Survey, the 2016 Labor Market Forecast of Moldova, and a qualitative interview among private sector representatives in 2017 suggest that employers face skills shortages, particularly in areas of work ethics, motivation, and problem solving. The magnitude of skills shortages in Moldova is the highest in the Europe and Central Asia region. The Moldovan labor market will benefit from an increased supply of employees, including new recruits, with a range of relevant socioemotional as well as cognitive capabilities. This report provides a first diagnostic of socioemotional skills in Moldova to profile the skills composition of grade 9 students, identify learning context measures that are strongly associated with socioemotional skills, and clarify options for policy makers and practitioners to foster socioemotional skills. To this end, the Moldovan Socioemotional Skills Assessment was launched in April 2019. This assessment focused on grade 9 students to better understand how much socioemotional skills students exiting the end of the compulsory school cycle self-reported, and how these skills were associated with learning inputs from schools and families. This assessment was the first to evaluate a range of socioemotional skills among school-age children in Moldova, using measures that had been validated internationally. The measures were designed to capture five broad domains of socioemotional skills, including students' self-reported capacity to 'work with others', 'care for others', 'engage with others', 'explore new horizons', and 'manage emotions. The assessment provided not only technical validation of the measurement tools in Moldova but also initial guidance for policies and practices to foster these skills. The results suggest that such measurement tools can be mobilized in Moldova in the future
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  • 178
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Debt and Creditworthiness Study
    Abstract: Niger's risk of external and overall public debt distress is rated "moderate" as in the previous DSA. While all thresholds are observed in the baseline, the PV of PPG external debt-to-exports ratio breaches its threshold under stress test scenarios. Debt-carrying capacity continues to be rated "medium." The analysis shows that Niger has limited space to accommodate negative shocks and remains vulnerable to adverse developments of its exports. The DSA is predicated on the government continuing to implement its reform program: fiscal consolidation; structural reforms, including revenue mobilization efforts; contain expenditures and improve spending quality; and timely completion of several large-scale projects, in particular the construction of a pipeline for crude oil exports. Identified weaknesses call for further strengthening of debt management, including by broadening the coverage of public debt, prioritizing concessional borrowing, and strengthening private-sector development to support economic diversification and mitigate the risks associated with commodity price fluctuations
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  • 179
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Economic Updates and Modeling
    Abstract: Improving the efficiency and equity of public spending and strengthening revenue mobilization remains a priority in all Western Balkan countries. Public sector wage bills and pensions constitute the largest share of public spending in the region. Tighter controls on wage bills, reducing tax expenditures, and better targeting of social benefits would open space for more public investment, improve equity, and enable the build-up of fiscal buffers to mitigate rising risks. As outlined in this report, fiscal rules can help anchor spending and fiscal sustainability. However, their credibility in the region needs to be restored after they have been repeatedly breached in some countries. Fiscal management reforms are needed as a part of broader structural reforms that help increase the region's export competitiveness. This includes strengthening state institutions that protect the rule of law and private sector competition to unleash productivity growth and innovation by enabling a level playing field between firms. Together, these reforms would help unlock stronger, more equitable, and more sustainable growth, ensuring faster convergence with EU income levels. A strong commitment to sound macro-fiscal policy and structural reforms was always important-rising uncertainties have made it an imperative
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  • 180
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Economic Updates and Modeling
    Abstract: Bangladesh economic expansion continued in FY19, supported by rising exports and record remittances. Inflation remained within the 5.5 percent target, supported by bumper rice harvests. Broad money growth increased marginally. Private sector credit growth was weak and bank liquidity remains constrained. Non-performing loans continued to rise in the banking sector. The current account deficit declined with higher export and lower import growth. Bangladesh Bank interventions moderated the depreciation of the taka against the US dollar, but the real effective exchange rate appreciated. The fiscal deficit has reached 4.6 percent of GDP as expenditure increased and revenue collection remained below target. Recent tax policy adjustments are likely to constrain revenue growth in the near term, while additional subsidies will increase recurrent expenditure. Sustaining growth will require momentum on the reform agenda to address challenges in the business climate, public investment management, revenue mobilization, and the resolution of fragile banks. Economic transformation will require development of new skills in the workforce. Tertiary educational institutions can support this agenda if quality, relevance, and access challenges are addressed
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  • 181
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Debt and Creditworthiness Study
    Abstract: Nepal's risk of external debt distress remains low. Under the revised IMF/World Bank Debt Sustainability Analysis Framework for Low Income Countries (LIC-DSF), all debt and debt service ratios are projected to remain below relevant indicative threshold values. Following a prolonged decline, to 25 percent of GDP in mid-2015, the sum of external and domestic public debt rose to 30 percent of GDP in mid-2018. A further rise in total public debt is projected, to about 35 percent of GDP in the medium term and about 48 percent of GDP in the long term, owing to continuing fiscal and current account deficits, as the authorities implement fiscal federalism and aim to put the economy on a higher growth path. Stress tests suggest that debt burden indicators are vulnerable to growth/exports shocks and natural disasters. This underscores the importance of implementing sound macro-economic policies. Efforts to improve the business climate and competitiveness through high-quality public investment and structural reforms would support growth and expand foreign exchange income streams
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  • 182
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Debt and Creditworthiness Study
    Abstract: The Central African Republic (C.A.R.) remains at high risk of external debt distress and overall high risk of debt distress under the revised Debt Sustainability Framework (DSF), unchanged from the 2018 DSA. Solvency indicators (the present values of the external public and publicly guaranteed debt-to-GDP and debt-to-exports ratios) remain below their relevant thresholds in the baseline scenario. However, liquidity indicators (debt service-to-exports and debt service-to-revenue ratios) breach their thresholds in the baseline scenario. Further considerations support the high-risk assessment: the debt indicators are sensitive to standard stress tests; macroeconomic projections are highly uncertain in a volatile security environment; and sizeable contingent liabilities, notably related to the large stock of unaudited potential domestic arrears and the limited financial information available on state-owned enterprises, could materialize. C.A.R.'s debt sustainability is also sensitive to a deterioration of the financing mix. A tailored scenario in which grant financing (of 2 percent of GDP) is replaced by concessional external debt-financing from 2021 onwards would worsen debt sustainability considerably. This shows that the government's investment program requires grant financing, with concessional debt financing to be considered in exceptional cases
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  • 183
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Debt and Creditworthiness Study
    Abstract: The Debt Sustainability Analysis (DSA) indicates that Honduras stands at low risk of debt distress both for public external debt and overall debt, which represents an upgrade from the 2018 DSA, where risk of debt distress was assessed as moderate. The DSA was undertaken under the revised debt-sustainability framework for low income countries (LIC DSF), whereby Honduras's debt carrying capacity was upgraded from medium to strong. Changes in the debt-sustainability framework have contributed to the risk of debt distress improvement. A proven record of compliance with the Fiscal Responsibility Law (FRL) and solid macroeconomic conditions also contributed to rate Honduras' risk of debt distress as low. Going forward, adherence to the FRL and institutional reforms to boost inclusive growth and increase the economy's potential are critical to maintain debt sustainability
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  • 184
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Debt and Creditworthiness Study
    Abstract: Benin remains at moderate risk of external debt distress. The rating is unchanged from the previous November 2018 DSA. All the projected external debt burden indicators remain below their thresholds under the baseline, but the ratio of the present value (PV) of external debt to exports exceeds its threshold in the case of an extreme shock to exports.1 With regard to total public and publicly guaranteed (PPG) debt (external plus domestic), the overall risk of debt distress remains also moderate. The public debt-to-GDP ratio is below its prudent benchmark in the baseline scenario; however, the PV of public debt-to-GDP rises very slightly above its benchmark from 2024 until the end of the projection period under the real GDP shock scenario. Other factors motivating the overall rating include: the past evolution of domestic debt, the relatively high debt service burden, as well as the existence of contingent liabilities. Medium-term fiscal consolidation, sound public investment management, and enhanced debt management capacity are needed to reduce debt vulnerabilities
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  • 185
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Other Economic and Sector Work Reports
    Abstract: This study responds to a request in March 2018 by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Cooperation (MoFEC), to the World Bank and Department for International Development (DfID) to carry out a study of the lowlands with a view to strengthening the resilience of lowland populations to external shocks. This overview synthesizes the nine self-standing chapters of the report that examine different dimensions of poverty, vulnerability, and resilience to shocks in the Ethiopian lowlands. To identify a policy agenda fostering resilience in the lowlands, the report adopts an analytical framework with three main features. First, the livelihood system of the population in the lowlands is examined in detail for the purpose of providing a better understanding of the patterns of behavior observed and the factors that are associated with the prevalence of poverty at a given point in time and changes in poverty over time. Second, a distinction is made between the poverty status of a household at a given point in time and the vulnerability of a household to poverty, which is about the likelihood of a household being poor in the future. Third, emphasis is placed on understanding the different sources of household vulnerability in the lowlands, how these sources of vulnerability have evolved over time, and how the capacity of households to cope with changes has evolved
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  • 186
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Other Environmental Study
    Abstract: Land use initiatives that distribute result-based payments for emission reductions need to define transparent and equitable benefit-sharing plans for how these incentives flow to a diverse range of stakeholders. This study synthesizes good practices for benefit sharing in jurisdictional land use programs that make results-based payments for emission reductions. The report draws lessons from large-scale programs and other relevant initiatives that involve benefit sharing focused on forests, land use, natural resources, and climate change. The analysis is designed to support government and program staff in developing and implementing benefit-sharing arrangements for jurisdictional level results-based land use programs, including participant countries of the World Bank's Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) and BioCarbon Fund Initiative for Sustainable Forest Landscapes (ISFL)
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  • 187
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Other Agricultural Study
    Abstract: This document provides an investment plan for climate-smart agriculture (CSA) in Mali, developed with support of the AAA Initiative and the World Bank, and technical assistanceof the International Center for Tropical Agriculture, the World Agroforestry Centre and the CGIAR Research Program on Agriculture, Climate Change and Food Security (CCAFS). It identifies specific interventions that define on-the-ground action that are consistent with Mali's NDC and national agricultural strategy, which can be funded by public and private sector partners. CSA interventions are designed to increase agricultural productivity, to help farmers, livestock keepers and fisher-people adapt and build resilience to climate risks, and, where appropriate, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change.This plan includes a set of 12 key CSA investments for Mali that were developed with strong stakeholder engagement, expert input and scientific evidence. This plan is not intended to be comprehensive but can further include additional projects when more funds will be available. The plan presents a situation analysis of Mali's national policies, plans and programs in relation to key climate risks, which form the context for key prioritized interventions. Designed project concepts are developed for each of these key investments, including the main project objectives, components and implementation arrangements. These provide a tangible set of project concepts for potential investors and donors to consider for funding. Finally, a general framing for developing a monitoring and evaluation (MandE) framework for the CSA investment plan (CSAIP) is provided, showing how CSA outcomes relate to other MandE frameworks and other monitoring activities for national-level development priorities.The CSAIP provides the context and evidence for the importance of these projects, and details how they can be economically beneficial and provide food security to the people of Mali. This can help spur investment and funding for CSA to help Mali deliver on its NDC and other national targets
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  • 188
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Energy Study
    Abstract: The report, a joint effort between the World Bank's Social Development Global Practice and International Finance Corporation (IFC) advisory services, is based on the idea that local engagement, for example, through benefit sharing, is an important way for better risk management and creating a more enabling environment for renewable energy development. It finds that the underlying causes of the conflicts are diverse, complex, and dynamic: influencing factors include historical struggles over poverty and inequality, land ownership, mistrust in public and private institutions, a lack of free, prior and informed consultations (FPIC) before investment flows into the region and oftentimes a missing legal framework for benefit sharing. The study provides recommendations on how to improve the investment climate for renewable energy and wind energy, in particular, through benefit sharing, risk management, and local community engagement. Integrating communities through FPIC or benefit sharing mechanisms is costly - but the cost of not integrating communities and of failed projects is even higher
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  • 189
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Other Agricultural Study
    Abstract: Climate change threatens to bring substantial impacts to Cote d'Ivoire's agriculture sector, which is central to the country's economic productivity and food security. Climate change, of course, poses challenges not only for Cote d'Ivoire but also for countries across Africa. Cote d'Ivoire is a signatory to the United National Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Paris agreement and has submitted its nationally determined contributions (NDC), committing to take action both on adaptation to climate change and on reducing greenhouse emissions. Cote d'Ivoire is by far a minor emitter of greenhouse gases. This document provides an investment plan for climate-smart agriculture (CSA) in Cote d'Ivoire, developed with support of the AAA Initiative and the World Bank, and technical assistance of the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS). This plan includes a set of twelve key CSA investments for Cote d'Ivoire that were developed with strong stakeholder engagement, expert input and scientific evidence. Because it is a member of the AAA Initiative and is also committed to delivering on its NDC commitments, Cote d'Ivoire now has an investment plan that includes a set of specific climate-smart projects that improve productivity, build resilience to climate change and, as appropriate, reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the agriculture sector
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  • 190
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Public Expenditure Review
    Abstract: This PER is structured as follows: chapter two provides some background on the Paraguayan economy, the country's road network (primary, secondary, and tertiary) features and analysis, and an overview of the government institutions responsible for the network; chapter three describes how Paraguay budgets and manages its road sector, what the funding sources are, and how efficiently the expenditures are being spent; chapter four assesses Paraguay's goals for its road sector, the effectiveness of its budget execution and sustainability of its funding, and its sector monitoring practices; and chapter five concludes with the main findings and recommendations
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  • 191
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Country Economic Memorandum
    Abstract: Madagascar is characterized by an expanding economy and a peaceful transition of power, providing a solid basis for achieving a more productive, inclusive, and sustainable growth trajectory. Given the vast opportunities, but also substantial challenges, the objective of the Madagascar country economic memorandum is to inform the policy dialogue on how the country's inclusive growth potential can be harnessed. The country economic memorandum takes an evidence-based approach to informing policy on how opportunities for achieving productive, inclusive, and sustainable growth can be realized. Accelerating the current pace of growth requires further expanding the bright spots of the economy, which are focused on exports and investment related activities. The bright spots are creating jobs at the fastest pace, are resilient to shocks and have linkages with other sectors of the economy. Scaling success requires addressing constraints related to connectivity, human capital, and the business environment, while incentivizing the uptake of improved technologies to enable other sectors, such as agriculture, to realize their potential
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  • 192
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Other Infrastructure Study
    Abstract: This report examines Ukraine's economic decline and development through the lens of technology upgrading. The technology upgrading framework assumes that economic growth is a function of technology capability, whereby upgrading occurs through technological, industrial, and organizational change. This technology upgrading framework is applied to analyze the Ukrainian economy, which reflects its limited capability to generate, as well as absorb, new technology. The report finds that Ukraine ranks last among comparison countries in a composite index of technology upgrading, with especially low performance in terms of production, management, and RandD capabilities. A case study on Ukraine's booming ICT sector, Ukraine's fastest-growing sector, showcases the country's potential, while simultaneously demonstrating which factors and capabilities can constrain its future growth. While Ukraine has developed a vibrant ICT industry, significant challenges exist for its long-term success. To address the challenges, three main areas for policy action are recommended. These include: (1) the development of firms' managerial capabilities and adoption of productivity-enhancing technologies, (2) better integration into global value chains, and (3) supply and retention of a digital-ready workforce. The report also offers cross-cutting recommendations for improving Ukraine's business environment and the complementarities needed for firms' growth and upgrading
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  • 193
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Women in Development and Gender Study
    Abstract: The aim of this study was ...
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  • 194
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Systems Approach for Better Education Results (SABER)
    Abstract: This report aims to help the government of Armenia and its stakeholders develop a strategy for the tertiary education sector. It uses the methodology of SABER - Tertiary Education (SABER-TE), which is a diagnostic tool to assess how education systems perform and to identify priorities for reforms at the national level. The methodology and this report are part of the World Bank's systems approach for better education results (SABER), which benchmarks education systems at the country level. SABER uses an extensive questionnaire to collect data on the policy environment for tertiary education. The questionnaire is populated through an analysis of the most recent versions of relevant legislation, policy documents, and reports on the sector. The SABER team also carried out fieldwork in Armenia between July 2018 and March 2019 with visits to several universities, government agencies, and other stakeholders. After data collection for Armenia was complete, the policy dimensions were scored on a rubric. This report proceeds as follows. First, the authors describe the context of the tertiary education system in Armenia. In the seven sections that follow the authors proceed with scoring each of the seven policy dimensions in turn, and in the conclusion they offer a few general observations and recommendations about tertiary education in Armenia
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  • 195
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Other papers
    Abstract: In recent years, it has become clear that many children around the world are not learning to read proficiently. As a major contributor to human capital deficits, the learning crisis undermines sustainable growth and poverty reduction. To spotlight this crisis, we are introducing the concept of Learning Poverty, drawing on new data developed in coordination with the UNESCO Institute for Statistics
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  • 196
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Other Environmental Study
    Abstract: This paper has two goals - to motivate policy makers in developed and emerging economies to pay more attention to illegal logging, fishing, and wildlife trade, and to provide a road map to address the root causes of the illegal activities. Illegal wildlife trade directly causes declines in species population, resulting in the deterioration of ecosystem functions. Illegal activities involve trade of species threatened with extinction, including many keystone species. It also covers a range of mammals, such as pangolins (considered the world's most trafficked mammal), and wood products such as rosewood, and marine mammals such as the vaquita found in the Sea of Cortez in Mexico. For all practical purposes, combating illegal logging, fishing, and wildlife trade is a governance issue that first and foremost requires high-level political commitment at the national and international levels. The financial action task force (FATF) recommendations (FATF 2012-19) provide a framework for a risk-based, peer-reviewed system of mutual evaluations for compliance with global standards on money laundering and terrorist financing. The national risk assessment tools can be expanded to also address illegal logging, fishing, and wildlife trade and other natural resources crimes
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  • 197
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Policy Notes
    Abstract: The international community is currently planning for a potential political settlement in Afghanistan. Negotiations may bring opportunities for significant reductions in violence. Government and development partners are considering how to support, consolidate, and sustain any reduction in violence following a potential political settlement, through humanitarian, development, and reintegration programming. This report provides an analysis of overall medium-term financing needs and identifies implications for ongoing grant support and post-settlement programming
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  • 198
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Economic Updates and Modeling
    Abstract: Following a two-year recession, economic activity is expected to recover in 2019. Public spending, which has traditionally been the key driver of economic growth, increased by 16 percent in the first half of 2019 when compared to the same period in 2018. Higher spending was predominantly focused on current expenditure, while capital spending was more subdued. Only a more dynamic private sector will enable the economy to grow faster and in a more sustainable way. Policy priorities for increasing firm performance include increasing firm access to finance, skills and affordable inputs, as well as easing firm entry and reducing regulatory uncertainty. Additional policy areas for reform may include the foreign direct investment (FDI) regime (affecting entry) and the insolvency and creditor rights system (affecting exit)
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  • 199
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Other Infrastructure Study
    Abstract: Breakthroughs in information and communication technology (ICT) increasingly offer new tools to support disaster risk management (DRM). Due to the rapid advancement of computing and communication devices, ICT's capacity to improve the DRM framework became a critical factor to strengthen resilience. As a nation with high levels of disaster risk and technological development, Japan has developed several forward-looking ICT for DRM. This report highlights the application of ICT for DRM in two specific areas: Early Warning System (EWS) and Disaster Information Management System (DIMS). The analysis of eight Japanese case studies of ICT solutions for DRM across various sectors, hazards, and levels of governance gives insight into their development, selection process and enabling environments, and provides case-specific lessons and recommendations. This report is intended as a reference tool for global DRM practitioners seeking to develop an enabling environment for applying ICT solutions toward resilience. The lessons learned from the Japanese case studies are intended to support practitioners and decision-makers in other countries to envision and explore ways to better leverage ICT to strengthen resilience. While valuable information can be extracted from the analysis, each case is contextualized within its particular social, political and environmental framework: our recommendations should be adapted to local needs and capacities
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  • 200
    Language: English
    Pages: 1 Online-Ressource
    Series Statement: World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Economic Updates and Modeling
    Abstract: Nigeria continues its rec ...
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