Stand alone books

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http://hdl.handle.net/10986/5993

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An Opportunity for a Different Peru : Prosperous, Equitable, and Governable

(Washington, DC : World Bank, 2007) Guigale, Marcelo M. ; Fretes-Cibils, Vincente ; Newman, John L.

This book argues that Peru faces an unprecedented opportunity to become the next success story in Latin America. In the coming five years, policy making could put the country on a development path similar to the one that, say, Chile, Costa Rica, or Spain have followed over the last two decades. This book includes 32 sector-specific chapters and 2 historical perspectives that precede them. The beginning chapter, a synthesis, builds a comprehensive reform agenda that highlights possible sequencing and priorities. It is organized in five sections-the main messages, the three strategic challenges in Peru's development, and a path for action over the next five years.
Finding Global Balance : Common Ground Between the Worlds of Development and Faith

(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2005) Marshall, Katherine ; Keough, Lucy

This book relates the latest chapter in the story of a remarkable partnership between the worlds of faith and development, launched in 1998 by Jim Wolfensohn and then Archbishop of Canterbury, George Carey, when they convened a meeting of faith and development leaders in Lambeth Palace. The intervening years have seen the growth and enhancement of a network of world faith and development leaders who share a common passion to eradicate global poverty, extend social justice and ensure global security for all of the world's people. Periodically this group of leaders gathers together to debate issues of common concern and global significance. The most recent meeting took place in Dublin, Ireland in January 2005. Debates over two days were rich and provocative, examining issues ranging from the recent Asian tsunami, to HIV/AIDS, gender and youth, and the roots of conflict, all viewed through the lens of equity. References to the ethical dimensions of poverty alleviation and the need for a strong moral underpinning as a foundation for equitable and sustainable development lay at the heart of every session. The uniqueness of this partnership is the fresh perspective it offers on critical development issues and the opportunity for faith leaders and development leaders to seek new avenues for collaboration. The book tells the story of this partnership, within the context of the Dublin meeting. It draws primarily on background materials prepared for the meeting and on discussions during the meeting itself.
Getting to Know the World Bank : A Guide for Young People

(Washington, DC, 2005) World Bank

This publication serves as a starting point for young readers who want to learn more about the World Bank. A general, accessible introduction to the World Bank, this guide provides an overview of the Bank's history, organization, mission, and purpose. It is a good reference tool for young people interested in understanding what the Bank does and how it operates. The guide features graphics and sidebar Q & As on a wide range on topics such as HIV/AIDS, education, and conflict prevention. It addresses such questions as: Why was the Bank founded? Where does it get its money? What are Millennium Development Goals? And what's the difference between the Bank and the International Monetary Fund?
Environment Matters at the World Bank : Annual Review 2005

(Washington, DC : World Bank, 2005) World Bank

In line with one of the major themes in the Bank's Environment Strategy, this 2005 annual review is devoted to the theme of environmental health. Viewpoint articles in this edition reflect several external perspectives: the World Health Organization (WHO) lays out the panorama of environmental risk factors; a successful example of combating urban air pollution is provided by the former mayor of Bogotá; successful strategies to enhance sanitation among poor people are suggested by a nongovernmental organization (NGO) - WaterAid - with an impressive implementation record; and a leading researcher gives his perspective on indoor air pollution. As usual, Environment Matters provides a Bank-wide review of our safeguard policies, and conveys the latest data on our environmental lending and analytical work. This year's feature articles all cluster around the main theme of environmental health: Ruta and Sarraf explain the basics of economic valuation of health impacts of environmental risks; Kaufmann summarizes a recent study that provides an overview of what we know about the effectiveness of interventions in water and sanitation; Ahmed and Awe return to the theme of indoor air pollution, with a study from Guatemala; Constant and Procee explain how the Bank's Clean Air Initiative works in several regions; and, Tynan concludes the section with an article on the risks that chemicals pose to human health. This edition reviews each of the Bank's Regions. With attention to the environmental health theme, each Region has chosen a number of issues and projects to feature in their annual review. This section illustrates the diversity of issues the Bank is confronting in collaboration with client countries. The regional reviews are complemented by the institutional perspectives of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), which deals with private sector development, and the World Bank Institute, which is responsible for capacity building in client countries.
Improving The Business Environment in East Java : Views From The Private Sector

(Jakarta: World Bank and Asia Foundation, 2005) World Bank ; Asia Foundation

This report presents the results of research undertaken by The World Bank and The Asia Foundation to identify barriers to trade and investment in East Java. This activity was initiated by the World Bank and The Asia Foundation with several important aims: (i) to support private sector participation in the public planning process related to potential World Bank assistance for infrastructure projects; (ii) to provide an opportunity for the private sector to express their concerns to local governments and to make recommendations for improving the business climate; and (iii) to encourage increased coordination between local governments in stimulating trade between regions. The role of the Asia Foundation / World Bank Team was to identify barriers to trade and investment and to facilitate activities to introduce a sustainable and replicable process for how regional governments can best work with the private sector in creating a conducive business climate.
Poland and the Knowledge Economy : Enhancing Poland's Competitiveness in the European Union

(Pruszkow, Poland: Rewasz Publishing House and the World Bank, 2004) Goldberg, Itzhak

The Poland Knowledge Economy Assessment (KEA) aims to provide policy options for securing sustainable growth, and improving competitiveness, by creating an environment conducive to business development, and investment in general, as well as to knowledge generation and absorption via innovation, and learning, in particular, as well as by stimulating investment in innovation, and in learning systems. This KEA argues that efficient, and relevant lifelong learning systems, Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), institutions and funding mechanisms to support innovative research and development (R&D), are essential components of the National Innovation System (NIS). The foremost theme of this report is securing sustainable growth and competitiveness in Poland, by stimulating investment in R&D, and in appropriate learning systems, which have a key role in developing a country's absorptive capacity-the ability to identify, assimilate, and exploit knowledge from both domestic, and external sources. Therefore, policies that support the development of inter-firm linkages, and the capacity to absorb new knowledge that can be gained through such linkages, are crucial elements. As regards R&D and innovation, efforts need to be made to build institutions and provide financial incentives aiming to increase Polish R&D. Nevertheless, it should be stressed that an improvement in the business environment in Poland is a necessary condition for raising the R&D within firms. Most importantly, efforts need to be made to increase the quality, and relevance of the formal education system, ensure the provision of life long learning systems to the entire population, and improve the linkages between academia, the scientific, and business communities that assist the transfer of technology in other countries. It is proposed that the regulatory framework be updated to the European Union (EU) 2002 level, and that the capacity, and market credibility of the Office of Telecommunications and Post Regulation (the regulatory authority), be strengthened in order to sustain competition. The implementation of e-government services for businesses, as well as citizens is key for improving the efficiency, and competitiveness of Polish business.
Responsible Growth for the New Millennium : Integrating Society, Ecology and the Economy

(Washington, DC, 2004) World Bank

This report builds on the consensus developed at the August 2002 Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development. It draws on the effort to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. And it looks beyond, to 2050, to envision a future that is far more prosperous and more equitable than today. This work raises some hard questions: How do we ensure that the progress achieved by 2015 is sustainable? What quality of growth will be required to attain this vision? Long-term thinking is essential in dealing with sustainability issues (economic change, ecological threats). A consensus has emerged about the need to move toward a new development path, one that integrates economic growth with environmental responsibility and social equity. The World Bank has been advocating this vision of responsible growth, together with the concept that poverty reduction is not just an end in itself but also a precondition for peaceful coexistence and ecological survival. The report examines the drivers of growth-agriculture, trade, energy, water, innovation, human development, and social development, as well as the global environment, in particular, forest preservation. It also considers challenges and constraints for socially balanced development.
Battling HIV/AIDS : A Decision Maker's Guide to the Procurement of Medicines and Related Supplies

(Washington, DC, 2004) Tayler, Yolanda ; Tayler, Yolanda

This Guide sets out principles and advice for the procurement of HIV/AIDS medicines and related supplies for programs scaling up antiretroviral therapy (ART) and associated health services, such as basic and palliative care, disease prevention, treatment of opportunistic infections, and laboratory tests. ART includes the treatment of infected adults and children and the prevention of mother-to-child transmission. A wide range of other commodities-particularly condoms and support for basic living and care-are also essential to support the treatment and prevention of HIV. The primary audience for this guide is World Bank staff and those responsible for procuring HIV/AIDS medicines and related supplies in Bank-funded programs and projects-which could include either procurement agency staff or technical agency staff. Policymakers and Bank partners will also benefit from the information and advice in the guide.
Sustaining Forests : A Development Strategy

(Washington, DC, 2004) World Bank

Forest resources directly contribute to the livelihoods of 90 percent of the 1.2 billion people living in extreme poverty and indirectly support the natural environment that nourishes agriculture and the food supplies of nearly half the population of the developing world. Forests also are central to growth in many developing countries through trade and industrial development. However, mismanagement of this resource has cost governments revenues that exceed World Bank lending to these countries. Illegal logging results in additional losses of at least US$10 billion to US$15 billion per year of forest resources from public lands. If captured by governments, these losses could support expenditures in education and health that will exceed current development assistance to these sectors. Forests also are central to maintaining the environmental commons. Nearly 90 percent of terrestrial biodiversity is found in the world's forests, with a disproportionate share in the forests of developing countries. Most of the carbon emissions of developing countries come from deforestation, which accounts for between 10 and 30 percent of global carbon emissions. Growing forests are a valuable resource not just for their timber and biodiversity values but also for their prospective value if a global market emerges for the sequestering of carbon from forests. A Forest Strategy for the Bank that can make an effective contribution to poverty reduction and environmental management is central to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDG). These goals include increasing school enrollment, reducing child and maternal mortality, expanding health services, eliminating gender disparities, and improving environmental management for sustainable development. This publication is accompanied by a CD containing background materials on how the World Bank's Forests Strategy was developed, including the stakeholder consultative process, as well as information on the role of forests in poverty reduction, economic development, and the provision of environmental services that helped to shape the strategy. World Bank safeguard policies relevant to forests and a short video highlighting the strategy's objectives are also included in the CD. The Appendixes, Notes, Boxes, Figures and Tables are included as Volume 2.
Private Solutions for Infrastructure in Mexico : Country Framework Report for Private Participation in Infrastructure

(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2003-02-01) Public-Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility

This report analyzes regulatory and efficiency issues in the telecommunications, natural gas, urban water and sanitation, and transport sectors. After reviewing recent performance in these sectors, the report identifies areas where changes in the policy and regulatory environment could yield better outcomes for future transactions, or broaden and deepen private involvement. The findings reveal considerable potential for private sector participation in infrastructure service provision in Mexico. They also show how the country's experience has been less successful than that of many other countries because of gaps in the regulatory framework, poor concession design and implementation, and the lack of a coherent strategy that clearly defines the roles of the public and private sectors.