Rural electrification can have many benefits-not only bringing lighting, but improving the quality of health care, spreading information and supporting productive enterprises. The extent of these bene
Early childhood, from birth through school entry, was largely invisible worldwide as a policy concern for much of the twentieth century. Children, in the eyes of most countries, were 'appendages' of t
In this latest entry of the WBI Development Studies series, the authors stress the importance of solid waste management (SWM) in developing countries, and how policies adopted in India in 2000 can be
'The Road Not Traveled: Education Reform in the Middle East and North Africa Region' evaluates the impact of past investment in education in the region and proposes a new approach to future education
'Female Genital Cutting, Women's Health, and Development' provides a comprehensive understanding of the issue of femal genital mutiliation/cutting—scope, challenges, opportunities, best practices, and
Prosperity in the world today depends on societies' nurturing of young children. Quality care (stimulation, health, and nutrition) during ages 0 - 5 has a decisive and long-lasting impact on a person'
This study addresses policy, social, and technical challenges facing aquaculture, provides orientations and recommendations for World Bank client countries. and makes suggestions about the Bank's role
The fifth ABCDE-Europe was held in Paris, France, on May 15-16, 2003. The conference was co-organized by France's Agence francaise de developpement (AfD), the Conseil d'Analyse Economique (CAE), and t
'Water Resource Development in Northern Afghanistan and its Implications for Amu Darya Basin' examines increased water use by Afghanistan and its implications for other water users in the basin, inclu
Reforming public-sector organizations--their structures, policies, processes and practices--is notoriously difficult, in rich and poor countries alike. Even in the most favorable of circumstances, the
Economists have long argued that developing countries have the potential for high productivity growth if they adopt existing technologies and apply them to the local context. This report brings to bea
This book, produced jointly by the World Bank, the University of California, Berkeley, and the WHO, aims to provide decision-makers at sub-national, national, regional and global levels with additiona
Middle East and North Africa (MNA) is a region in turmoil. The pervasive sense of discontent and disenchantment among the people in the region appears at odds with the conventional measures of economi
South Asia’s trade almost doubled in the past decade, but the share of trade in GDP is still smaller (47 percent) than in East Asia (55 percent), and South Asia’s economic competitiveness continues to
Confronting Climate Uncertainty in Water Resources Planning and Project Design describes an approach to facing two fundamental and unavoidable issues brought about by climate change uncertainty in wat
Argentina is passing through a demographic transition that constitutes a window of economic and socialopportunities and challenges. Argentina’s working-age population represents the largest proportion
This report shows that in MENA, policies that lower competition and create an unleveled playing field abound and constrain private sector job creation. These policies take different forms across count
Early childhood is the most important stage of human development. In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), there is little research and inadequate investment in this crucial stage of life. This boo
Just as the steam engine was the driving force behind the Industrial Revolution, broadband Internet is today seen as critical to the transition to knowledge-intensive economies across the world. As a
What needs to be done to enable the domestic private sector to expand its role in the provision of safe water and improved sanitation to the poor in developing countries? Is an expanded role constrain
The Results-Based Initiatives (RBI), launched in 2007, were a pioneering attempt to provide comprehensive, coherent, and rigorous evidence on effective interventions to foster the economic empowerment
Foreign direct investment (FDI) is becoming increasingly critical to the economies of developing countries, in part due to a major expansion in the scope of global value chains (GVCs), whereby lead fi
The battle against the bribery of foreign public officials is critical to the overall fight against corruption. Corruption undermines the governance, rule of law, and economic and social development
Given the labor market challenges that countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region are facing (notably high unemployment, prevalence of skills mismatches, low labor market mobility, an
Indonesia has begun to emerge into middle-income status, yet persistent poverty and stark inequalities continue to affect young children’s development. This book tells the story of Indonesia’s effort
This book was undertaken at a pivotal time in the region. The weak summer monsoon in 2009 created drought conditions throughout Pakistan. This followed an already tenuous situation for many rural hous
In the aftermath of the Arab Spring, when thousands of young women and men fought for the opportunity to realize their aspirations and potential, the question of jobs continues to be crucial in the Mi
Urbanization beyond Municipal Boundaries informs policy priorities to manage India’s urbanization. Incisiveanalysis of the patterns of India’s urbanization using geo-referenced data from various round
The Uganda school system has expanded over the years resulting from mass education reforms at the primary – since 1997, and the lower secondary level – since 2007. This has enabled provision of key in
In China, despite the introduction of economic reforms that have lifted millions out of poverty, the income gap between rural and urban areas remains wide. There is a growing realization in policy cir
The end of the MFA was followed by rising apparel exports, falling prices, and a reallocation of production and employment between countries. There were also significant changes within countries. The
This book examines how light manufacturing can offer a viable solution for Sub-Saharan Africa’s need for structural transformation and productive job creation, given its potential competitiveness base
Increased global demand for land posits the need for well-designed country-level land policies to protect long-held rights, facilitate land access and address any constraints that land policy may pose
Guangdong, a province of over 93 million residents, is located on the southern coast of China, boarding with Hong Kong, China. As China’s powerhouse for economic growth and a pioneer of reform and ope
Public Expenditure Tracking Surveys (PETS) are a tried and tested methodology to identify delays in financial and in-kind transfers, leakages, and other inefficiencies in government programs. This gui
Discovering the Real World is part of the World Bank Working Paper series. These papers are published to communicate the results of the Bank's ongoing research and to stimulate public discussion.This
A vibrant housing finance market is an important pillar of economic prosperity. A strong institutional framework is indispensable for a functioning housing finance market. Home affordability is a fun
