This paper reviews the published work on the governance of regulatory authorities in order to identify the basic governance standards that apply and some of the factors that affect the implementation of good governance.
... See More + There are four pillars of good regulatory governance: independence, accountability, transparency, and integrity. The regulator should be operationally independent from commercial and political influences in the exercise of its functions and powers. Accountability is the means whereby a regulatory authority is held responsible for the actions it takes. Transparency refers to the publication of relevant information designed to demonstrate consistency and openness. The fourth governance pillar, integrity, refers to the internal processes that the authority adopts to ensure there is discipline and consistency in its operations and to limit the risks of regulatory staff acting in their own self-interest as opposed to that of the authority and the market. These four elements are mutually reinforcing, in that accountability is necessary to provide legitimacy to independence, transparency is necessary to demonstrate that independence does not lead to abuse or improper behavior, and integrity is necessary to provide the discipline to control the exercise of independent powers. Available evidence suggests that independence and accountability are far from being universally applied in practice. The paper concludes with some practical suggestions that experience indicates are likely to enhance the effectiveness of the governance of securities regulators. Good governance of the securities regulator is necessary for effective regulation. It is also of importance in setting an example to encourage good corporate governance in the private sector.
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Policy Research Working Paper WPS6800 MAR 01, 2014
The Dasu Hydropower Project (DHP) for Pakistan seeks to modernize and expand the energy sector of the country, while shifting from thermal generated electricity to low cost and high reward, clean generation of hydropower.
... See More + This environmental and social assessment report describes the potential environmental and social impacts of the project, and provides a framework with which to review and address these impacts. Significant potential impacts identified are: changes in physiography and landform; loss of natural vegetation and trees; impact of increased traffic and transportation; loss of bridges and access roads connecting villages on right bank; effects of land acquisition; impacts on river habitat due to construction activities and drying of river section between two coffer dams; fish entrapment and mortality; potential risk of pollution of air, noise, soil and water resources by construction works; risk of pollution from solid waste and waste effluents; increased risk of landslides; noise pollution; and impacts from increased human activities on flora and fauna. Appropriate mitigation measures such as developing and implementing a landscape plan in the project footprint areas; planting of native trees near resettlement villages and along roads and promotion of use of alternatives for fuel; traffic management plan, including awareness raising and safety measures; implementing resettlement action plan and providing adequate compensation; controlling waste water and sediment releases to river and implementing water quality management protocols; protection measures at inlets of tunnels to deter movement of fish; and pollution prevention plans to be prepared and implemented by contractors, are suggested to help minimize or avoid these adversities.
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Ratings for the Reducing Technical Barriers for Entrepreneurship and Trade Project for Kyrgyz Republic were as follows: outcomes were moderately satisfactory, risk to development outcome was substantial, Bank performance was moderately satisfactory, and Borrower performance was moderately satisfactory.
... See More + Some lessons learned included: continuity of Bank staff in charge of project supervision is critical to the success of projects that operate in a challenging environment. The linkage between project components, outputs, and outcomes needs to be clearly identified at project design stage to arrive at more realistic project development objectives (PDOs). PDOs need to be supported by project components that are consistent with the results framework. An effective mechanism to jump-start institutional development of newly-formed entities and to speed up the learning curve is to organize twinning arrangements with well-known institutions that are committed to the sponsorship of best practices. Projects with complex technical components should be allowed more time for implementation or its principal components structured as separate consecutive projects.
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Implementation Completion and Results Report ICR2731 SEP 30, 2013
This sectoral environmental assessment for the Yemen Rural Access Improvement Program identifies expected negative environmental impacts from the project and recommends measures to mitigate them.
... See More + Included among these are the following: locate and select sites so as to minimize environmental damage or disruption to current agricultural or other activities. Minimize permanent land taking. Stabilize slopes or use protective measures such as retaining walls, protection barriers, terracing or mesh gabion works. Provide adequate living and sanitation facilities for the workers, including an approved plan for solid and liquid waste disposal. Have an approved management and safety plan for storage of equipment, petroleum products, paving materials, etc., so as to minimize risk of spillage or leakage, as well as safety and emergency response procedures. At the end or the contract period, leave the site compound in a clean and rehabilitated condition. Dispose of excavated materials, removed debris and demolished structural materials and transport to dumping locations. Recover borrow pits and quarry areas. Obtain access authorization for use of water resources and address any local concerns for excessive draw-down on the water table or surface water supplies. Avoid pollution to ground or surface water supplies by providing sedimentation/septic tanks, water-incepting ditches and drains to prevent contamination of water resources; garbage separation at the source and use of organic material as compost; storage of non-biodegradable materials; temporary drains to dispose of eroded sediments; Limitation of works near wells, or covering them to prevent pollution; waste water management, including use of wastewater to irrigate camp-site plantation; not dumping chemicals, coal tar, asphalt or anything which may pollute the aquifers; refueling of plants or transfer of materials far water courses; pursuing collection and recycling; installing anti-spillage devices in storehouses, workshops and vehicle parks; locating fuel, oil and grease interceptors with impervious bed underneath the parking areas to drain the runoff into the oil interceptors and prevent contaminated discharges; and collecting used lubricants for safe disposal or recycling; building riparian buffers along the edges of ponds to prevent water contamination; and constructing bridges and culverts in the dry season.
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This sectoral environmental assessment for the Yemen Rural Access Improvement Program identifies expected negative environmental impacts from the project and recommends measures to mitigate them.
... See More + Included among these are the following: locate and select sites so as to minimize environmental damage or disruption to current agricultural or other activities. Minimize permanent land taking. Stabilize slopes or use protective measures such as retaining walls, protection barriers, terracing or mesh gabion works. Provide adequate living and sanitation facilities for the workers, including an approved plan for solid and liquid waste disposal. Have an approved management and safety plan for storage of equipment, petroleum products, paving materials, etc., so as to minimize risk of spillage or leakage, as well as safety and emergency response procedures. At the end or the contract period, leave the site compound in a clean and rehabilitated condition. Dispose of excavated materials, removed debris and demolished structural materials and transport to dumping locations. Recover borrow pits and quarry areas. Obtain access authorization for use of water resources and address any local concerns for excessive draw-down on the water table or surface water supplies. Avoid pollution to ground or surface water supplies by providing sedimentation/septic tanks, water-incepting ditches and drains to prevent contamination of water resources; garbage separation at the source and use of organic material as compost; storage of non-biodegradable materials; temporary drains to dispose of eroded sediments; Limitation of works near wells, or covering them to prevent pollution; waste water management, including use of wastewater to irrigate camp-site plantation; not dumping chemicals, coal tar, asphalt or anything which may pollute the aquifers; refueling of plants or transfer of materials far water courses; pursuing collection and recycling; installing anti-spillage devices in storehouses, workshops and vehicle parks; locating fuel, oil and grease interceptors with impervious bed underneath the parking areas to drain the runoff into the oil interceptors and prevent contaminated discharges; and collecting used lubricants for safe disposal or recycling; building riparian buffers along the edges of ponds to prevent water contamination; and constructing bridges and culverts in the dry season.
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The integration of consultation mechanisms throughout the policymaking process has proved to be a valuable instrument to help strengthen government-citizen interaction and improve the quality of government policies on key development areas by leading to better designed development projects, more effective service delivery, and improvements in the targeting of benefits.
... See More + By making preliminary policy analysis available for public scrutiny, stakeholders are provided with a means to inform the development of a policy or its implementation. Consultation also helps regulators to balance opposing interests and to identify unintended effects while ensuring transparency to minimize administrative burdens and reduce corruption and rent-seeking. When successful, public participation can have a transformative impact by providing citizens with a platform for active engagement in the development process, and allows citizens to hold governments to account and to better influence decisions that affect their lives. While the benefits of public consultation are widely recognized, the MENA region still lags in the domain of public engagement, especially in regards to providing citizens with mechanisms to engage effectively in the design, implementation, and evaluation of public policy.
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The objective of the Preparation of the Results-Based Road Maintenance and Safety Project is to support the Government of Albania in preparing a Results-Based Road Maintenance and Safety Project (RRMSP) and to enhance the capacity of the Albanian Road Authority in road asset management and road safety.
... See More + Some of the negative impacts and mitigation measures include: a) describe the pertinent laws, regulations, permitting procedures and standards governing environmental quality, environmental impact assessments, outdoor works, traffic management, waste management, at the regional and national level; and b) in this analysis, distinguish between significant positive and negative impacts, direct and indirect impacts, and immediate and long-term impacts for the project locations. Identify impacts that are unavoidable or irreversible. Wherever possible, describe impacts quantitatively, in terms of environmental costs and benefits. Assign economic values for each activity. Characterize the extent and quality of available data, explaining significant information deficiencies and any uncertainties associated with predictions of impact. Provide all relevant information in a format which is acceptable and required by the Albanian environmental legislation (if necessary).
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The objective of the Europe and Central Asia Region Capacity Development Trust Fund (ECAPDEV) Grant for the Preparation of the Results-Based Road Maintenance and Safety Project for Albania is to support the Government of Albania in preparing a Results-Based Road Maintenance and Safety Project (RRMSP) and to enhance the capacity of the Albanian road authority in road asset management and road safety.
... See More + Some of the negative impacts and mitigation measures include: a) describe the pertinent laws, regulations, permitting procedures and standards governing environmental quality, environmental impact assessments, outdoor works, traffic management, waste management, at the regional and national level; and b) in this analysis, distinguish between significant positive and negative impacts, direct and indirect impacts, and immediate and long-term impacts for the project locations. Identify impacts that are unavoidable or irreversible. Wherever possible, describe impacts quantitatively, in terms of environmental costs and benefits. Assign economic values for each activity characterize the extent and quality of available data, explaining significant information deficiencies and any uncertainties associated with predictions of impact. Provide all relevant information in a format which is acceptable and required by the Albanian environmental legislation (if necessary).
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The main development objective of the Third access to finance for Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Project for Turkey is to enhance access to medium and long term finance for SMEs.
... See More + The environmental impact assessment process is carried out to determine the possible positive or negative impacts of proposed sub-projects; to evaluate the precautions to be taken in order to prevent or minimize negative impacts which may damage the environment (for example by construction and mitigation measures); and for supervision and inspection of sub-project implementation.
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The report's main objective is to provide policy makers, regulators, and the private sector, primarily in emerging economies and developing countries, with a tool for enforcing international best practice and for developing strategies for successful reforms in the area of construction regulation.
... See More + This paper is divided into the following eight chapters: 1) the importance of construction regulation reform. The first chapter defines three overarching goals of construction-regulation reform and addresses why and how these efforts can pay off; 2) reforms as good regulation not deregulation. This chapter points out that deregulating is not the answer; 3) the distribution and focus of construction regulation reform. Leveraging eight years of data from the doing business reports, this chapter provides an overview of reforms initiated within the doing business scenario and the key regional trends; 4) eight key policies affecting process efficiency, transparency, regulatory outcomes, and costs. This chapter provides a concise description of eight priority policy areas; 5) initiating reform and addressing typical challenges. Based on international experience, this chapter focuses on how to start reforms and covers issues including who should be involved in construction-regulation reform and how reform should be sequenced; 6) an overview of best practices. This chapter summarizes the best practices around four major issues, namely, building codes, procedures and transparency, payment of fees, and measures concerning stakeholder liability and accountability; 7) performance measures and evaluation of building regulatory systems. This chapter defines guiding principles for leading the reform effort and includes a meaningful set of indicators and a framework for monitoring outcomes; and 8) ten case studies. This chapters 10 in-depth case studies round out the discussion.
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The Ministry of Finance (MoF) requested an extension of the closing date for the Moldova Public Financial Management Technical Assistance Project (PFMTA) for twelve months, from December 31, 2012 to December 31, 2013.
... See More + This will allow for the completion of the Financial Management Information System (FMIS) and achievement of the Project Development Objective (PDO). The new budget classification, chart of accounts, internal audit practices supported by the project can only be fully implemented with the FMIS in place. The implementation of the FMIS will benefit the public financial management (PFM) system of the country and has major implications on the budget support provided by the World Bank, the European Union (EU) and other donors. The high-level commitment of the management of the MoF, as evidenced by appointment of the Deputy Minister as Project Manager in 2012 and improved project management practices, provides a basis for the successful completion of the FMIS in 2013. Given that all the efforts will be directed towards the implementation of the FMIS and that non-FMIS related objectives were achieved, the portion of the IDA credit not related to FMIS development will be cancelled as part of this restructuring.
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This restructuring paper has, as its main objective, to streamline the national elements of the West Africa Regional Fisheries Program (WARFP) around the priority of strengthening governance of the sector, in order to help rebuild the resource base and achieve the PDO.
... See More + More specifically, certain components of the Project will be restructured to include activities that were initially not financed by the IDA, and which were are included in the Project Appraisal Document. All the activities that are added to the components are not new in that they were appraised and the due diligence as to social safeguard policies was undertaken as part of the Project appraisal. Component one activities will focus on scaling up the principles of local empowerment and allocation of secure rights to reduce open access (the main constraint of the fisheries sector) (Component 1) while continuing to improve surveillance of fisheries (Component 2), while the component on infrastructure (Component 3) has been greatly reduced as a later priority. For component 1, the activities will be modified to reduce a number of broader research efforts while at the same time adding the operation and completion of the successful community pilot initiatives from the GIRMaC and GDRH. For component 3, the investments for establishing a fishing landing site cluster in Kafountine will be dropped for a later priority.
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Chapter one introduces the paper and briefly summarizes the main reform objectives and issues for District Heating (DH) in China. Chapter two presents relevant alternatives and lessons learned on approaches to regulatory practices in district heating internationally.
... See More + Chapter three presents key findings and options for enhancing the institutional framework for DH regulation. Several Annexes complement the chapters by focusing especially on special topics raised by the MOHURD during this technical assistance activity. Annex one elaborates on chapter one, providing an overview of the current situation in China. Annex two introduces options for monitoring and benchmarking. Annex three discusses various methods for cost allocation of Combined Heat and Power (CHP). Annexes four, five, and six complements aspect of analysis on pricing and equity issues, a summary of options for competition among DH suppliers, and an example of red line impediments to energy efficiency innovation.
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Chapter one introduces the paper and briefly summarizes the main reform objectives and issues for District Heating (DH) in China. Chapter two presents relevant alternatives and lessons learned on approaches to regulatory practices in district heating internationally.
... See More + Chapter three presents key findings and options for enhancing the institutional framework for DH regulation. Several Annexes complement the chapters by focusing especially on special topics raised by the MOHURD during this technical assistance activity. Annex one elaborates on chapter one, providing an overview of the current situation in China. Annex two introduces options for monitoring and benchmarking. Annex three discusses various methods for cost allocation of Combined Heat and Power (CHP). Annexes four, five, and six complements aspect of analysis on pricing and equity issues, a summary of options for competition among DH suppliers, and an example of red line impediments to energy efficiency innovation.
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This paper examines the processes used in the United States and Mexico to assess the economic costs and benefits of environmental improvement, the kinds of information obtained from these procedures, and the additional knowledge that is needed about both elements to improve understanding of the problems and prospects of advancing a green growth agenda.
... See More + Because environmental and other development needs are large and resources are limited, it is important to choose the best projects, those with the highest returns on both public investments and private resources harnessed by regulation. The United States is well-established as a world leader in the use of quantitative methods to evaluate options for environmental regulation and policy. Mexico represents a case where a developing country has made clear advances in reforming its economy and in introducing transparency in its regulatory processes for environmental and other policy areas.
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Policy Research Working Paper WPS6242 OCT 01, 2012
The development objective of the SME energy efficiency project for Turkey is to improve the efficiency of energy use in the small and medium enterprise (SME) and building sectors, by scaling-up commercial bank lending for energy efficiency investments.
... See More + Environmental issues of sub-borrowers and their sub-projects will be addressed through the sub-loan environmental eligibility assessments. Environmental assessments will be carried out in accordance with both Ministry of Environment and Urbanization (MoEU) environmental assessment regulation and World Bank environmental assessment requirements. The environmental impact assessment process is carried out to determine the possible positive or negative impacts of proposed sub-projects; to evaluate the precautions to be taken in order to prevent or minimize negative impacts which may damage the environment (for example by construction and mitigation measures); and for supervision and inspection of sub-project implementation.
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The development objective of the SME energy efficiency project for Turkey is to improve the efficiency of energy use in the small and medium enterprise (SME) and building sectors, by scaling-up commercial bank lending for energy efficiency investments.
... See More + Environmental issues of sub-borrowers and their sub-projects will be addressed through the sub-loan environmental eligibility assessments. Environmental assessments will be carried out in accordance with both Ministry of Environment and Urbanization (MoEU) environmental assessment regulation and World Bank environmental assessment requirements. The environmental impact assessment process is carried out to determine the possible positive or negative impacts of proposed sub-projects; to evaluate the precautions to be taken in order to prevent or minimize negative impacts which may damage the environment (for example by construction and mitigation measures); and for supervision and inspection of sub-project implementation.
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The development objective of the Reducing Technical Barriers for Entrepreneurship and Trade (RTBET) Project for Kyrgyz Republic is to streamline the compulsory standards requirements for business, develop systems to enhance product quality and safety, and increase enterprise competitiveness in pilot sectors.
... See More + The closing date of the project will be extended for five months from October 31, 2012 until March 31, 2012. This will be the second project extension with a cumulated extension period of 23 months. Overall implementation progress has been encouraging despite a number of operational difficulties and delays related to project activity disruptions caused by the repeated domestic political and social unrests that took place over the course of implementation. USD 3.1 million or 62 percent of total International Development Association (IDA) grant funds have been disbursed to date. An additional 30 percent are committed under signed contracts currently under implementation. PDOs are currently moderately satisfactory with noteworthy results observed in the (i) development of a significant number of new technical regulations in replacement of outdated standards, (ii) reduction in the burden of regulatory compliance for businesses, (iii) upgrading of metrology infrastructure, (iv) improved reliability of domestic laboratory accreditation services, (v) harmonization of Kyrgyz standards on international standards, and (vi) creation of a World Trade Organization (WTO) enquiry point providing updated information on the Kyrgyz regulatory framework to prospective trade partners. The PDOs continue to be achievable within the extended closing date. The Kyrgyz Government is keen to advance its challenging reform and institutional building program in the technical regulation and Metrology, Standards, Testing and Quality (MSTQ) areas initiated under RTBET. Completing the installation of this equipment will allow the project to meet its PDOs more fully by ensuring that the project indeed helped 'streamline the national technical regulation and standards framework for business, develop systems to enhance quality and safety of products and increase enterprise competitiveness in pilot sectors' as per the formal project development objectives.
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