In order to achieve the underlying reform objectives of citizen service centers, it is necessary to ensure that staff are appropriately selected, trained and managed.
... See More + This learning note sets out the staffing approach taken in the DFGG funded one window service Office initiative in Cambodia , describing the elements of the staffing, and setting out what worked, what didnt work and the steps that are being considered to address the problems of staffing that are arising during implementation.
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The objective of the Uttar Pradesh Core Road Network Development Program Project for India is to: (i) improve quality, safety and sustainability of targeted state highway corridors and; (ii) to introduce better road management practices.
... See More + Some of the negative impacts and mitigation measures include: all vehicles delivering materials to the site shall be covered to avoid spillage of materials; the contractor shall take every precaution to reduce the level of dust emission from the hot mix plants and the batching plants up to the satisfaction of the Engineer in accordance with the relevant emission norms; all crushers used in construction shall confirm to relevant dust emissions control as legislated. Clearance for siting shall be obtained from the UP Pollution Control Board Alternatively, material can be procured from licensed crusher only; dust screening vegetation will be planted on the edge of the Right of Way (RoW) for all existing roadside crushers; maintenance of vehicles, equipment and machinery shall be regular and proper, to the satisfaction of the Engineer, to keep noise from these at a minimum; and blasting shall be carried out only with permission of the Engineer. All the statutory laws, regulators, rules, etc., pertaining to acquisition, transport, storage, handling and use of explosives shall be strictly followed.
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The development objective of the Xian Sustainable Urban Transport Project for China is to improve accessibility and mobility in Xian while protecting its cultural heritage and reducing the environmental impact of urban transport system, with a focus on the Ming walled city.
... See More + In line with the Bank's operation policy for involuntary resettlement OP 4.12 and taking into consideration the City of Xian local laws and regulations, resettlement codes of practice and policies of the People's Republic of China. This Resettlement Action Plan has the following principles and objectives : avoid and minimize involuntary resettlement and land acquisition associated with road upgrading construction; land acquisition or resettlement will be entirely voluntary and be limited to situation were Project Affected Peoples (PAPs) will be the beneficiaries of services and facilities offered by the project; ensure that relocation sites chosen cause minimal disturbance to the livelihood and living standards of PAPs; provide recovery or compensation for the loss of land, working place, cultural property, trees and infrastructure, etc.; keep in tough with PAPs during the removal period for timely settlement of potential problems (disputes); finally, conduct meetings with residents (farmers), business and enterprise owners to notify them on the progress of the removal process and compensation standards.
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This brief is about preventing Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) of poverty. There is global support for the control and elimination of NTDs in low income countries.
... See More + In 2012, as part of the London Declaration on NTDs, the pharmaceutical industry collectively committed to donate most of the drugs necessary for an Africa-wide NTD program. For the past 40 years, the endemic countries of Africa together with the World Health Organization (WHO), World Bank and other development partners, the pharmaceutical industry, and non-governmental organizations have prioritized the control of river blindness through the Onchocerciasis (river blindness) Control Programme (OCP) and the African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control (APOC). This brief contains the following headlines: Community health systems provide a way forward; Collaboration is key; Increased WHO technical assistance; Timeline for elimination; Ensuring that health systems effectively address Intensive Disease Management (IDM) NTDs; and New funding strategies from the World Bank.
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This brief is about preventing Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) of poverty. There is global support for the control and elimination of NTDs in low income countries.
... See More + In 2012, as part of the London Declaration on NTDs, the pharmaceutical industry collectively committed to donate most of the drugs necessary for an Africa-wide NTD program. For the past 40 years, the endemic countries of Africa together with the World Health Organization (WHO), World Bank and other development partners, the pharmaceutical industry, and non-governmental organizations have prioritized the control of river blindness through the Onchocerciasis (river blindness) Control Programme (OCP) and the African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control (APOC). This brief contains the following headlines: Community health systems provide a way forward; Collaboration is key; Increased WHO technical assistance; Timeline for elimination; Ensuring that health systems effectively address Intensive Disease Management (IDM) NTDs; and New funding strategies from the World Bank.
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Until 2010 Tunisia appeared to be doing well and was heralded by the World Bank and the IMF as a role model for other developing countries, and the World Economic Forum repeatedly ranked Tunisia as the most competitive economy in Africa.
... See More + Yet, the Tunisian model had serious flaws. Inadequate creation of jobs, notably for university graduates, and deep regional disparities were a source of increasing frustration across the country in the run up to the January 2011 Revolution. This development policy review shows that, in contrast to the façade often presented by the former regime, Tunisia's economic environment was and remains deeply deficient. The review highlights an economy that has remained frozen in low-value added activities and where firms are stagnating in terms of productivity and jobs creation. The review argues that Tunisian prosperity has been held back by policies that have reduced the countrys overall economic performance. This poor performance results from extensive barriers to entry and market restrictions coupled with a heavy business regulations and a poorly functioning financial system, have resulted in economic stagnation. Economic policies have exacerbated cronyism and rent-seeking, allowing under-performing firms to survive, regardless of their productivity. in order to fulfill its economic potential, Tunisia needs to create a level playing field by opening up the economy and removing Tunisia's three dualisms, namely the onshore-offshore division, the dichotomy between the coast and the interior, and the segmentation of the labor market. A strong social policy is also necessary, of course, and should be designed to accompany private sector-led growth. Tunisia can capitalize on a strong competitive advantage to export wage-intensive goods, expand its export of services, and unleash the potential of agriculture, to the benefit of small businesses, young graduates, and farmers in Tunisia's long-neglected interior regions. Realizing these benefits will require improving the investment climate, rationalizing regulations, and developing more equitable development policies that benefit all of Tunisia's regions. The Unfinished Revolution is a challenge for policymakers to rethink Tunisia's economic development model, to question existing assumptions, and to dare to think big about policy reforms which can accelerate growth and shared prosperity, create quality jobs and promote regional development.
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Development Policy Review (DPR) 86179 MAY 24, 2014
Until 2010 Tunisia appeared to be doing well and was heralded by the World Bank and the IMF as a role model for other developing countries, and the World Economic Forum repeatedly ranked Tunisia as the most competitive economy in Africa.
... See More + Yet, the Tunisian model had serious flaws. Inadequate creation of jobs, notably for university graduates, and deep regional disparities were a source of increasing frustration across the country in the run up to the January 2011 Revolution. This development policy review shows that, in contrast to the façade often presented by the former regime, Tunisia's economic environment was and remains deeply deficient. The review highlights an economy that has remained frozen in low-value added activities and where firms are stagnating in terms of productivity and jobs creation. The review argues that Tunisian prosperity has been held back by policies that have reduced the countrys overall economic performance. This poor performance results from extensive barriers to entry and market restrictions coupled with a heavy business regulations and a poorly functioning financial system, have resulted in economic stagnation. Economic policies have exacerbated cronyism and rent-seeking, allowing under-performing firms to survive, regardless of their productivity. in order to fulfill its economic potential, Tunisia needs to create a level playing field by opening up the economy and removing Tunisia's three dualisms, namely the onshore-offshore division, the dichotomy between the coast and the interior, and the segmentation of the labor market. A strong social policy is also necessary, of course, and should be designed to accompany private sector-led growth. Tunisia can capitalize on a strong competitive advantage to export wage-intensive goods, expand its export of services, and unleash the potential of agriculture, to the benefit of small businesses, young graduates, and farmers in Tunisia's long-neglected interior regions. Realizing these benefits will require improving the investment climate, rationalizing regulations, and developing more equitable development policies that benefit all of Tunisia's regions. The Unfinished Revolution is a challenge for policymakers to rethink Tunisia's economic development model, to question existing assumptions, and to dare to think big about policy reforms which can accelerate growth and shared prosperity, create quality jobs and promote regional development.
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Development Policy Review (DPR) 86179 MAY 24, 2014
In the past decade, conditional cash transfer (CCT) programs have become an important component of social policy in developing countries. While the impacts of these programs have been well researched with respect to their effectiveness to achieve intended outcomes, less is known about their impact on private expenditure decisions.
... See More + This aspect has great policy relevance since changes in private household expenditures can either support or counteract the aim of the programs. This essay investigates the impact of a CCT program on private household expenditure decisions in nutrition, health and education which are seen as principal contributors to child human capital. First, household expenditure behavior under a CCT program is discussed based on Heckman's model on the technology of skill formation as a conceptual framework. The paper shows how intra-household preferences and perceptions on the substitutability or complementarity of investments can impact household resource allocation decisions. Subsequently, the theoretical implications are tested in the context of the Brazilian CCT program Bolsa Família, using the Brazilian household expenditure survey. Evidence is found that households increase their private expenditure in food and education disproportionally to the amount of cash transfer, that is, more than would be expected when considering the Engel curves of the expenditures under question.
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Policy Research Working Paper WPS6867 MAY 01, 2014
The infrastructure sector has seen unprecedented changes in India with exponential growth due to changing economic landscape and development in the country.
... See More + Massive investments are required to be made across a range of sectors like power, ports, roads, railways, health, education, and aviation. The complexity and scale of these infrastructure projects has increased significantly and a typical project now takes anywhere from six to ten years to complete. The World Bank commissioned a study in early 2013 on introducing and enhancing the use of information technology (IT) based interventions and solutions in the management of construction projects and programs to enhance efficiency, transparency, and governance in delivery, thereby increasing their success and impact potential. The study concluded with a guidance note which targets implementing agencies and project managers with practical steps on adopting e-tools and how e-tools can contribute to improve construction project management and delivery. Building on the study, it is acknowledged that implementation of e-tools in infrastructure project can be promoted through address knowledge and information gaps. The World Bank and Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) organized a workshop in order to disseminate the guidance note information among implementing agencies and to promote use of e-tools in the management of public sector infrastructure projects in India. In this context, the report presents background; objective; and key messages from the keynote addresses.
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Ombuds Services (OMB) and the Respectful Workplace Advisors (RWA) Program aim to help any Bank Group employee address any kind of workplace issue, in a confidential and informal way.
... See More + The Ombuds office provides training, support, and back-up to the RWAs, who are volunteer staff chosen by peers and located primarily in the country offices (COs). This annual report summarizes usage patterns, issues raised and observed for both programs, and OMB exit survey data. This year, the RWA Program achieved many objectives. RWAs made 540 referrals to the Internal Justice System (IJS) and other services, strengthening their status as critical local resources. The number of presentations that involve RWAs as one of the partners of the IJS continues to increase. RWAs are also increasingly included in new staff orientation in their locations. In an effort to partner better with our stakeholders, the RWA team intentionally increased opportunities to meet with HR teams, Learning Coordinators, the VP HR, and the change reform groups. The RWA Program has now become an integral part of the Conflict Resolution System (CRS), and RWAs are increasingly involved in CRS activities. Some of the program's challenges continue to be the heavy administrative demands of the nomination process and the inability to take full advantage of the rich data in the RWA activity forms.
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Social safety nets non-contributory transfers or cash transfers can immediately address poverty, but also help reduce future poverty by enabling people to invest in their or their childrens health, nutrition and education.
... See More + Such transfers are also an effective way for the poor to mitigate the immiserating effects of shocks.
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