The World Bank Open Knowledge Repository
The World Bank Open Knowledge Repository (OKR) is The World Bank’s official open access repository for its research outputs and knowledge products.
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Total publications: 38,671
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Publication Integrating Local SMEs in the Tourism Industry in Cabo Verde, Sao Tome and the Gambia(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2025-04-21) World BankThis report aims to contribute to fill those gaps, analyzing the tourism chain and SMEs access to finance the three African countries where tourism is a major economic sector: Cabo Verde, Sao Tome and the Gambia.Publication Bridging the Gap: Revenue Mobilization in South Asia(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2025-04-21) Kruse, Hagen; Ohnsorge, Franziska; Tourek, Gabriel; Xie, Zoe LeiyuThis paper examines tax revenue shortfalls in South Asian countries. On average during 2019–23, South Asian revenues totaled 18 percent of GDP—well below the average 24 percent among emerging market and developing economies (EMDEs). Econometric estimates from stochastic frontier analysis, which control for tax rates and the size of potential tax bases, suggest that tax revenues in the region are 1 to 7 percentage points of GDP below potential, with shortfalls in five of the region’s eight countries larger than in the average EMDE. Even after controlling for country characteristics, such as widespread informal economic activity outside the tax net and large agriculture sectors, sizable tax gaps remain, suggesting the need for improved tax policy and administration. The paper discusses and provides evidence from international experience with reforms to raise government revenues.Publication The Current State and Future Prospects of Drones for Development in Guatemala(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2025-04-21) World BankThis report aims to evaluate the current status of the drone ecosystem in Guatemala and considers ways to unlock the potential of drones by encouraging wider adoption. To this aim, following the methodology utilized by PwC, a mapping of the current ecosystem was conducted, along with an analysis of the regulatory framework, a calculation of the market potential, and finally, an evaluation of the initiatives necessary to ensure the expansion of the drone ecosystem over the next five years. The first part of the report analyses the current status of the drone ecosystem in the country, identifying the main stakeholders and key players present in Guatemala and the roles that they currently play in the sector. Additionally, this section explores the maturity of the sector in the country, focusing particularly on the components of the UAS ecosystem, including an evaluation of the current situation regarding the regulatory framework, identifying main bottlenecks, challenges, and opportunities for improvement that can unlock the industry’s potential in the country. The second part looks at UAVs' growth and market potential, specifically regarding use cases and the sectors that are most relevant and have the most potential for investment and industry development. The third section describes the non-commercial drone applications currently present in the country and assesses which has the most potential for successful development and growth. Here it is also showcased the relevance of drones in tackling social and environmental problems in the country. The last section provides an overview of key initiatives that need to be implemented by the government and the relevant regulators to ensure the development of the drone ecosystem and the broader adoption of UAVs across key sectors in Guatemala. Recommendations are made for activities and initiatives that aid the sector’s growth, increasing digitalization, raise drone awareness, and accelerate the formalization of the industry in Guatemala.Publication Drones for Development: The Current State and Future Prospects of UAS for Sustainable and Green Growth in Brazil(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2025-04-21) World BankThis report aims to assess the present state of Brazil's drone ecosystem while also investigating and analyzing potential opportunities to broaden the utilization of drones for commercial and developmental purposes within the nation. Simultaneously, the report provides recommendations to encourage broader drone adoption and to enhance Brazil's standing as a regional hub for UAS technology and its applications. To this aim, a comprehensive assessment was undertaken to understand the status of the drone ecosystem, including a review of the regulatory framework, an analysis of the market potential of UAS commercial services, and an exploration of its developmental, social, and environmental applications. Ultimately, the study entailed identifying key initiatives for fostering the expansion of the drone ecosystem over the next five years. The first part of the report gives an overview of the drone ecosystem in Brazil, identifying the level of maturity of different components in comparison to selected benchmarked countries in the LAC region. Additionally, the section explores the stakeholders, identifying their main categories, and regulations that support the implementation of UAVs across the country. The second part describes the current and forecasted market potential for drone services. It gives a detailed look at the most relevant industries with significant investment and sector development potential. Forecasts on job creation and the number of commercial and recreational drones are also included in the chapter. The third part explores how drones can address Brazil's key social and environmental challenges. The fourth part provides an overview of strategic pillars and key initiatives that need to be implemented to ensure the development of the drone ecosystem and the broader adoption of UAVs across key sectors in Brazil. Recommendations are made to increase digitalization, raise drone awareness, and accelerate economic growth, improving the country's economic, social, and environmental prospects. The last part examines a case study of a drone Proof of Concept implemented in Tocantins. The chapter details the lessons learned and key insights about how drones can support environmental monitoring efforts, especially related to inspections and mapping protected areas and water sources.Publication The Current State and Future Prospects of Drones for Development in Haiti(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2025-04-21) World BankThe objective of this report is to assess the state of the drone ecosystem in Haiti and provide recommendations on the practical steps that can be taken to unlock the drone industry’s potential for development. The study was based on comprehensive desk research, interviews with key local and international stakeholders, and workshops and working sessions with relevant players. A mapping of the status of the current ecosystem was conducted, along with an analysis of regulatory frameworks, an analysis of the market potential for the technology, development, social and environmental use of UAVs, and finally, the identification of the initiatives necessary to ensure the expansion of the drone ecosystem over the next five years. The first part of the report analyses the current status of the drone ecosystem in the country, exploring the sector's maturity, evaluating the current regulatory framework, identifying key ecosystem players, and recognizing the key bottlenecks, challenges, and opportunities for improvement that can catalyze Haiti’s development. The second section compares the market potential of Haiti’s drone market to the rest of the Caribbean and the LAC region before describing the drone applications currently present in the country and evaluating which of them have the most potential for successful development and growth. In addition, this section also showcases the relevance of drones in tackling social and environmental problems in the country. The final section provides a general overview of initiatives that need to be implemented by the government and the relevant players to ensure the development of the drone ecosystem and the wider adoption of UAVs across key sectors in Haiti. Recommendations are made for activities and initiatives that support the sector’s development, increasing digitalization, raise drone awareness, and accelerate the development of the industry in Haiti.