Other Infrastructure Study

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  • Publication
    Strengthening Sustainable Water Supply Services through Domestic Private Sector Providers in Cambodia
    (World Bank, Washington, DC, 2016-01-28) World Bank
    With the exception of Myanmar, Cambodia has the lowest access to piped water supply in the South East Asia region, which was estimated to be 21 percent in 2015. Less than one in ten rural households (7 percent) have access to piped water services on their premises, while for urban households, three out of four households enjoy these services (75 percent) (WHO and UNICEF, 2015). Against this backdrop, the Government of Cambodia in its National Strategic Development Plan 2014-2018 (Royal Government of Cambodia, 2013) prioritizes the acceleration of access to piped water services, in partnership with the domestic private sector. Private water operators are licensed and regulated by the Ministry of Industry and Handicraft (MIH). Scarce public domestic financial resources are solely channeled to state-owned utilities and enforcement of regulations is generally weak. With the exception of the French Development Agency (AFD), most development partners focus their grant and lending support on public utility investments. In 2012 the private sector is already estimated to provide 1.4 million Cambodians with piped water services, with the immediate potential for expansion of existing schemes covering another 2 million and further new schemes that could viably be developed for another 3 million Cambodians (Sy, Warner, & Jamieson, 2014) and ( (DFAT, 2014). Around 300 private sector utilities, around half of which are licensed by the Ministry of Industry and Handicraft (MIH), have a market share of almost 50 percent of those with access to piped services, mostly situated in rural towns and agglomerations of settlements, with 750 to over 3000 household connections. Driven by demand for higher services, the private sector in Cambodia will be an important driver for increasing access to piped water supply, especially in the rapidly urbanizing rural growth centers of Cambodia.
  • Publication
    Strengthening the Indonesia National Water and Sanitation Information Services Center for Improved Planning
    (Washington, DC, 2015-03) World Bank
    This report summarizes the main achievements of technical assistance provided under the Water Supply and Sanitation Policy Formulation and Action Planning Facility to the Indonesian National Water and Sanitation Information Services (NAWASIS) Centre from October 2012 to December 2014 to further consolidate the water supply and sanitation (WSS) data and information management instrument (NAWASIS Info) as a modular part of the overall services provided by the Centre. It highlights some of the continued challenges of effective WSS monitoring, and proposes strategies for further WSS data and information management development. This reports is divided into nine sections. The first three sections provide background information, including the report purpose, general context and description of the assistance. Sections four to seven describe the progress made in achieving the expected outcomes, while the final two sections describe the future of NAWASIS and some recommendations on moving forward.
  • Publication
    Fostering a Digitally Inclusive Aging Society in China : The Potential of Public Libraries
    (Washington, DC, 2014-07-08) World Bank
    The World Bank has been supporting this policythrough theprogram China Rural Information and Communications: Technical Assistance on Design and Impact Evaluation, which aims to support the government make decisions about potential scaling up of innovative ICT pilot projects and to generate and disseminate knowledge about the impacts of ICT in rural China. Three activities were undertakenwith a focus on a trio of provinces (Guizhou, Jilin, and Shandong): (a) a demand survey to assess rural ICT access and attitudes; (b) a library study including scoping the status of ICT use in rural libraries; and (c) a limited impact evaluation to examine how ICT interventions have affected rural users.
  • Publication
    Regional Impacts of High Speed Rail in China : Baseline Report for a Case Study of Yunfu in Guangdong Province
    (World Bank, Washington, DC, 2013-06-30) Jin, Ying; Bullock, Richard; Fang, Wanli
    This paper contains an initial reconnaissance of the situation in Yunfu, prior to the NanGuang project construction. It provides a brief overview of the trajectory of economic development in Yunfu from an economy that was dominated by primary industries to that by secondary industries. The development of local transport infrastructure is reviewed, as is the more detailed structure of local industries, with special emphasis on dominant industrial sectors and the planned industrial parks. The experience of high speed rail development impact elsewhere was drawn upon to reflect on the possible regional economic outcomes that might emerge following the opening of the Nanning-Guangzhou high speed rail. The structure of and the approach to a before and after monitoring study is considered. The remainder of the paper is divided into six parts. Part two gives a brief overview of the economic development in Yunfu municipality since its establishment in 1994. Part three describes local transport links and infrastructure. Part four provides a description of the internal structure of local industries, with special emphasis on the dominant industrial sectors and the planned industrial parks. Part five discusses possible regional economic impacts associated with the forthcoming high-speed rail line and part six summarizes a proposal for the next steps.
  • Publication
    Regional Impacts of High Speed Rail in China : Spatial Proximity and Productivity in an Emerging Economy
    (World Bank, Beijing, 2013-06-30) Jin, Ying; Bullock, Richard; Fang, Wanli
    This paper contains an initial reconnaissance of the situation in Yunfu, prior to the NanGuang project construction. It provides a brief overview of the trajectory of economic development in Yunfu from an economy that was dominated by primary industries to that by secondary industries. The development of local transport infrastructure is reviewed, as is the more detailed structure of local industries, with special emphasis on dominant industrial sectors and the planned industrial parks. The experience of high speed rail development impact elsewhere was drawn upon to reflect on the possible regional economic outcomes that might emerge following the opening of the Nanning-Guangzhou high speed rail. The structure of and the approach to a before and after monitoring study is considered. The remainder of the paper is divided into six parts. Part two gives a brief overview of the economic development in Yunfu municipality since its establishment in 1994. Part three describes local transport links and infrastructure. Part four provides a description of the internal structure of local industries, with special emphasis on the dominant industrial sectors and the planned industrial parks. Part five discusses possible regional economic impacts associated with the forthcoming high-speed rail line and part six summarizes a proposal for the next steps.
  • Publication
    Lao PDR - Labor Standards and Productivity in the Garments Export Sector : A Survey of Managers and Workers
    (Washington, DC, 2012-07) World Bank
    This report describes labor practices in the Lao garments export sector as seen by both management and labor. The main objective of this report is to present the differing perspectives on working conditions between managers and workers, and to explore ways in which the Lao garment sector could break out of this unsustainable situation. More specifically, insights on management practices, working conditions and worker motivation, as well as industry technology and workflow practices, are drawn from the survey and recommendations made on what firms, industry, government and development partners can do to boost productivity in the sector. This study seeks to investigate further possible factors contributing to low-productivity including management practices, working conditions and worker motivation, as well as industry technology and workflow practices. In order for the garment sector to progress, this study points to possibilities to increase worker wellbeing, reduce turnover and improve productivity through mutually reinforcing actions. Possible interventions include: a transition support program and improved labor market information systems to support labor force entry; better worker representation and dispute resolution mechanisms; and, a factories improvement program that would include monitoring/certification systems to provide incentives for firms to improve conditions as a means of accessing elusive premium buyers.
  • Publication
    Powering Up Productivity in Rural Lao PDR : Stimulating Small and Medium Enterprises to Use Electricity for Income Generation
    (World Bank, Washington, DC, 2011-06) Tuntivate, Voravate Tig
    This study s broad goal was to identify opportunities for promoting productive uses of electricity in existing as well as among new small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the rural villages of Lao PDR to generate income for rural people and promote economic development. To this end, the study team conducted a market analysis of current businesses and services, as well as major agro-processing and other income-generating activities in (i) six selected central and southern provinces connected to grid-based electricity and (ii) 10 rural villages of a remote northern district that rely on renewable energy based, off-grid power supply. Based on the survey results, the study team identified opportunities for the SMEs to switch to or adopt electricity for productive purposes; major obstacles faced by the SME owners in utilizing electricity more fully; and suggested ways to overcome these barriers, including the facilitating role of EdL (Electricité du Laos, the country s national utility company. This study relied on a social marketing survey conducted in February 2011 as the primary data source. It also drew from literature reviews and information gathered from government agencies and international organizations. Three sets of field surveys were conducted. The first set focused on rural villages with access to grid electricity whose main crop is rice; the surveys covered three central (Bolikhamxai, Khammouan, and Savannakhet) and three southern (Salavan, Champasak, and Attapue) provinces. The second set focused on rural villages with access to grid electricity whose main crop is coffee; the surveys covered the same three southern provinces (Salavan, Champasak, and Attapue). Finally, the third set focused on 10 rural villages in the Muang Mai district of Phongsaly province (Sobnaon, Houayvangkao, Nakang, Houaychik, Naxong, Sobhoun, NamNga, Xongneua, Sensaat, Nakham), which are served by an isolated grid system
  • Publication
    Preparing for the Next Crisis : Establishing a Vulnerability and Shock Monitoring and Response System in Indonesia
    (World Bank, Jakarta, 2010-10) World Bank
    Economic and natural crises and shocks are unfortunately recurring events, but the better a country is prepared for such eventualities, the lesser the impact may be. In 2009, in the wake of the global economic crisis, the Government of Indonesia piloted a Crisis Monitoring and Response System (CMRS). The CMRS experience provides valuable inputs for the design of a long-term Vulnerability and Shock Monitoring and Response System (VSMRS). The CMRS covered the whole country, which meant that there was no need for a priori guesses on where crisis impacts might be worst. This report is intended to provide inputs to a discussion within Government of Indonesia agencies, and between the Government and other interested parties (such as donors, international agencies, etc), on what a nascent VSMRS could look like, and how it could operate. It should be stressed that this document does not provide a blueprint for a fully-fledged VSMRS, primarily because such a system could develop in so many ways that much of what would be elaborated in detail might be of little use. The focus is therefore primarylyon discussing general aspects of a VSMRS, to build a common perception on the general direction of such an initiative between the key stakeholders, and to elaborate the concept later on together with a technical working group tasked to do this.
  • Publication
    Crisis Monitoring and Response System
    (Washington, DC, 2010-09) World Bank
    This document contains a detailed description of the design, development, and operations of the Crisis Monitoring and Response System (CMRS). It covers the period from January 2009, when the CMRS was initiated, until September 2010 when the final CMRS reports (including this one) were completed. In addition to providing a definitive record of CMRS design and operational decisions, the document describes the results of the analyses based on the data collected. The document is intended to be the definitive source of reference material. It should prove particularly useful if and when consideration is given to the design, development and implementation of crisis monitoring system in the future. The ultimate objective was to ensure timely and appropriate policy responses in those districts identified as adversely affected as result of the global economic crisis (or any other shock). The output was to be an operational CMRS, comprising a data collection system and analyses that facilitated identification of appropriate responses. Funding for the CMRS was provided by Australian Government agency responsible for managing Australia's overseas aid program (AusAID). The level of funding determined the scale of the CMRS. The budget was sufficient to support three rounds of a survey collecting data via a relatively short questionnaire from about 15,000 households.
  • Publication
    Southern Mongolia Infrastructure Strategy
    (Washington, DC, 2009) World Bank
    This report is concerned with the development of the infrastructure which is required in order to support proposed mines in Southern Mongolia. In order for the mines to be developed, it will be necessary to provide towns for the new inhabitants, road and rail links to provide supplies and to transport the mines' products to markets, and electricity for the mines' operations. Water resources need to be investigated and supplied to the mines and towns. And as all of the development advances, consideration needs to be given to mitigating any negative environmental and social impacts. The geographic focus of the report varies according to the particular topic. The mines are all located in a region which this report defines as 'Southern Mongolia', and which includes the images of Omnogovi, Dornogovi, Govisumber and Dundgovi. The majority of the important new mines are located in Omnogovi, and the analysis of housing and social impacts is concentrated in areas close to these mines. In terms of time, the report concentrates on the most important priorities for government action up to 2015. Nevertheless, consideration is given to a longer time-horizon when considering the potential environmental and water resource demands likely to arise as a result of the region's development. The report is not concerned with the longer-term actions required for broader economic development of the region, including the development of value-added industries associated with the mining industry. To get to long-term objectives, it is necessary to start with the short term. This report assumes that the Government will permit development of the mines in the near future.