World Bank Working Papers

217 items available

Permanent URI for this collection

https://hdl.handle.net/10986/5908

World Bank Working Papers present the results of economic, financial, or technical research; country experience or analysis; operational evaluations; or detailed background or case studies. These are typically works in progress, published to stimulate public discussion of ongoing research. These books tend to be short, ranging typically between 64 and 128 pages in length. This series was superseded by the World Bank Studies series in 2011 [see Books - Series (active)]. Smaller, chapter-sized articles can be found in the Policy Research Working Papers collection.

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The Impact of COVID-19 on Labor Market Outcomes: Evidence from High Frequency Phone Survey from The Gambia - First Quarterly Report (March 2021)
(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2021-12-23) World Bank
The report describes the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on labor market outcomes for theGambia and finds evidence that the initial effects of the pandemic on employment were large.
Understanding the Socioeconomic Differences of Urban and Camp-Based Refugees in Kenya: Comparative Analysis Brief - 2018 Kalobeyei Settlement, 2019 Kakuma Camp, and 2020-21 Urban Socioeconomic Surveys
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2021) World Bank; United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR)
The comparative analysis on the socioeconomic conditions of urban and camp-based refugees in Kenya builds upon the findings of the Kalobeyei, Kakuma and Urban Socioeconomic Surveys (SES). It offers an analytical understanding about key differences between refugees while providing explanations, and policy recommendations.
Health, Nutrition, and Population in Madagascar 2000-09
(World Bank, 2011-07-05) Sharp, Maryanne; Kruse, Ioana
With an income per capita US$400 in 2008, Madagascar is one of the poorest countries in the world. Poverty is widespread but with significant urban-rural differences (52 percent versus 74 percent). Health, nutrition, and the fight against communicable diseases and HIV/AIDS are key goals of the country's poverty reduction strategy, the Madagascar Action Plan 2007-2012. The National Health Sector and Social Protection Development Plan 2007-2011 was developed to strengthen the health system and improve service delivery to reduce neonatal, child and maternal mortality, address malnutrition and control communicable illnesses. The health sector has benefited from increasing investment over the last years, and a number of studies and surveys have been carried out, providing a wealth of information that is yet to be analyzed in a complementary way. This Country Status Report (CSR) seeks to capitalize on all of the existing data in the health sector, compare Madagascar to countries of similar income levels and assess the results achieved by the health system. The CSR provides an analysis of the population's health and nutrition status by linking health outcomes, household/individual behaviors, community factors, government interventions, and service provision. Although Madagascar is performing beer than the SSA average of 645 per 100,000 live births, the maternal mortality rate has stagnated over the last decade and in 2008/09 was estimated at 498. Health care seeking behavior for preventive child health services at the health facility level is improving. Complete immunization coverage stands at 62 percent in 2008 (for children 12 to 23 months), but there are still large differences in coverage across regions, place of residence, and income groups.
A Decade of Aid to the Health Sector in Somalia 2000-2009
(World Bank, 2011-06-02) Capobianco, Emanuele; Naidu, Veni
This study reviews: (1) how levels of donor financing of the health sector in Somalia varied over the decade 2000-09, (2) which health interventions were prioritized by donors, and (3) how evenly health sector aid was distributed to the different zones of Somalia. The overall aim of the study was to create evidence for donors, implementers, and health specialists involved in allocation of financial resources to the Somalia health sector. The results of the study are based on quantitative data collected from 38 Development Assistance Committee (DAC) donors and implementing agencies active in Somalia. Quantitative data were collected between March and May 2007 and in March 2010, with response rates of 96 and 95 percent, respectively. The report is organized in five chapters. Chapter one provides the background to the study, along with its aims and objectives, and contextualizes the study area, Somalia. Chapter two provides the conceptual framework for the research by looking at aid financing trends in developing countries, in the health sector, in fragile states, and in Somalia. Chapter three describes the methodology, the data collection process, types of data collected, and methodological limitations. Chapter four presents the quantitative findings in terms of total health sector aid financing, and expenditure by disease and by zone. Chapter five offers conclusions linked to the four primary study objectives and provides recommendations for future funding.
The Human Resources for Health Crisis in Zambia : An Outcome of Health Worker Entry, Exit, and Performance within the National Health Labor Market
(World Bank, 2011-04-26) Herbst, Christopher H.; Campbell, Karen; Sjöblom, Mirja; Soucat, Agnes
This report compiles recent evidence on the Zambian health labor market and provides some baseline information on human resources for health (HRH) to help the government address its HRH challenges. Rather than focusing on making policy recommendations, the report is designed to be a source book to benefit and fuel discussions related to HRH in Zambia. Most of the data presented in the report covers the period 2005-08. The report analyzes the national health labor market to better understand the available evidence related to the stock, distribution, and performance of HRH in Zambia (that is, the HRH outcomes). It aims to explain those HRH outcomes by mapping, assessing, and analyzing pre-service education and labor market dynamics, that is, the flow of health workers into, within, and out of the health labor market, as well as the core factors influencing these dynamics. Finally, this report examines the issue of access and equity of HRH. It finds that even if health workers are available, in either urban or rural areas, and performing adequately, the wealthy in Zambia have better access to services than the poor. This situation is found in most if not all other countries. The report finds that as far as access to health workers is concerned, the poor generally loose out. It also reveals that even if health workers are available, wealthier segments of the population often continue to have better access to health workers than poorer segments. Wealthier women have the highest probability of receiving any antenatal care. There is an even steeper pro-rich gradient in delivery attendance in Zambia. In contrast to antenatal care, there is little variation across socioeconomic quintiles among those seeking medical treatment for children with diarrhea or cough and fever. The poor are slightly more likely to be visited by a health worker and receive certain services during visits. The factors linked to these variations in use of services remain to be examined (they could be linked to expense, fear of receiving care from an individual belonging to a higher social stratum, or different gender, and so forth). Either way, they should be taken into consideration when planning to improve access for the poor to health care services and providers.
Uganda's Remittance Corridors from United Kingdom, United States, and South Africa : Challenges to Linking Remittances to the Use of Formal Services
(World Bank, 2011) Endo, Isaku; Namaaji, Jane; Kulathunga, Anoma
The purpose of this study is to gather a broad spectrum of remittance data related to Uganda and the three remittance corridors and compile such information in a comprehensive report with a view to sharing knowledge and expertise. In addition to knowledge sharing, it is expected that the information and findings in this report will assist the authorities in developing the Ugandan remittance market and mitigating related risks. Being the first Bilateral Remittance Corridor Analysis (BRCA) report to be conducted with the partnership of a local authority adds to the significance of the endeavor. This report comprises five chapters with supporting annexes. The first chapter is a introductory chapter continues with data showing remittance trends from a global perspective and in Sub-Saharan Africa and their comparison with those of Uganda. Chapter two analyzes and compares the three remittance-sending countries in terms of remittance flows, remittance mechanisms and related costs, and regulations. Chapter three focuses onUganda as a remittance-receiving country, describing the remittance flows, market players, distribution network, access. Chapter four summarizes the main findings and observations. This report presents policy recommendations for Uganda as well as for remittance-sending countries in the final chapter.
Reducing Geographical Imbalances of Health Workers in Sub-Saharan Africa : A Labor Market Perspective on What Works, What Does Not, and Why
(World Bank, 2011) Lemiere, Christophe; Herbst, Christopher H.; Soucat, Agnes
This report discusses and analyzes labor market dynamics and outcomes (including unemployment, worker shortages, and urban-rural imbalances of categories of health workers) from a labor economics perspective. It then uses insights from this perspective as a basis for elaborating policy options that incorporate the underlying labor market forces. The goal of the study is to address undesirable outcomes (including urban-rural HRH imbalances) more effectively. The study draws on an extensive inventory of policy options relevant to urban-rural labor force imbalance in Sub-Saharan Africa and the experiences with these imbalances to date. Given the limited documentation available on this topic through formal channels, the review relies heavily on 'gray literature' from policymakers in Sub-Saharan Africa and their development partners, especially the World Bank and the World Health Organization (WHO). The report is divided into five main sections. The first section focuses on economic policies related to Human Resources for Health (HRH) objectives. It argues that policymaking has ignored health labor market dynamics. The second section provides data showing the extent of urban-rural imbalances and describes how these imbalances affect health system outcomes. The third section uses a health labor market framework to explain these imbalances. The fourth section outlines policy options relevant to Sub-Saharan Africa for addressing market distortions and affecting labor market outcomes. It also reviews evidence on the policies, strategies, and programs designed to address geographic imbalances in Sub-Saharan Africa, highlighting what has been done, what has worked, and what has not. The last section provides a roadmap for policymakers.
Youth Employment and Skills Development in The Gambia
(World Bank, 2011) Lahire, Nathalie; Johanson, Richard; Wilcox, Ryoko Tomita
Despite substantial improvements in access to basic education and steady economic growth, The Gambia still faces considerable challenges in respect to reducing poverty. As the result of its narrow economic base and its reduced internal market, the country will continue to rely heavily on the productivity of its citizens to reverse the cycle that keeps families in poverty generation after generation. Poverty reduction is a complex equation that involves improvements in job creation, especially for high-skilled and productive employment, as well as improvements in human capital levels to ensure that citizens are able to take advantage of employment opportunities. Currently, however, low human capital levels greatly limit the productivity and employment outcomes of the population, as evidenced by the fact that a majority continues to work in subsistence agriculture, especially in rural areas. Nearly 60 percent of the poor in The Gambia are under the age of 20 years. Youth face significant challenges with respect to employment outcomes, such as a very difficult transition from school to work and very low levels of education and training. In terms of education levels, a significant proportion of young people (especially in rural areas) leave school early, in part due to what are perceived to be low returns on education. Many of those who do receive high quality education and training choose to emigrate. In a country where more than half the population is under the age of 20 years, these trends are worrisome. Overall, young workers are employed in jobs of low quality and high levels of informality. Female youth are also much more likely to be self-employed (46 percent, versus 32 percent for male youth). More than half of young workers are engaged in agriculture, which predominates in rural areas (82 percent, versus 16 percent in urban areas), and the services sector is the most important source of youth employment in cities and towns, accounting for almost 65 percent of employed youth. Female youth are less likely to be employed or in education, and more likely to be inactive (31 percent, against 27 percent for male youth); possibly reflecting the period when child-rearing and domestic responsibilities begin for female youth. The study assessed the impact of the following factors on youth's time use: education level, gender, local labor supply and demand, and place of residence. From the analysis, it was noted that the probability of being employed decreases as the level of human capital increases. In fact, uneducated youth display the highest probability of being employed.
Private Health Sector Assessment in Mali : The Post-Bamako Initiative Reality
(World Bank, 2011) Lamiaux, Mathieu; Rouzaud, François; Woods, Wendy
This country assessment of the private health sector in Mali is part of a series of studies designed to deepen understanding of ways to enhance the health policy framework, business environment, and investment climate in which the private health sector operates in African countries. The Malian health system has evolved dramatically since the middle of the 1980s. A large part of the analysis in this report relies on the reprocessing and the mining of existing databases, the financial and macroeconomic models based on those data, and elements reconstructed through triangulation. Those calculations proved indispensable for assessing the main demographic trends in the private sector, for estimating the growth of community centers (CSCOMs) and private mutual insurance, and identifying how to reinforce them. The growth of the private sector is further held back by insufficient educational preparation for practice in the private sector and in rural areas. For-profit and not-for-profit health care providers, pharmacies, and schools should be given beefier access to funding during start-up. Other financial engineering strategies (participation, etc.) could also be devised. The government of Mali has an opportunity to take advantage the large and dynamic private health sector in contributing to its national health care objectives and outcomes. The study describes the various instruments of stewardship towards the private sector that could be used such as information, regulations, financing and direct provision of public services in areas of significant market failure.
Budgeting for Effectiveness in Rwanda : From Reconstruction to Reform
(World Bank, 2010-10-01) World Bank
The overall objective of this comprehensive report is to consider Rwanda's budget support in the context of its overall public expenditure and resources to: (a) provide an overview of Rwanda's experience with budget support, reform measures, and its progress of budget harmonization, (b) provide the first comprehensive assessment of all of Rwanda's overall public expenditures and resources between 2004 and 2007, and (c) provide the first summary of public expenditure reviews and related analytical work undertaken in priority sectors, covering varying periods between 2000 and 2007. Following this introductory chapter, chapter two reviews: (a) general budget support relevance, rationale, and outstanding challenges in the context of Rwanda by providing a historical background of budget support; (b) Rwanda's progress in budget support- related processes and practices; (c) economic and structural reforms to date; and (d) budget support predictability trends. Chapter three then assesses the net resources available to the government of Rwanda and how these resources were spent. In this chapter, resources are broken down by domestic revenue (tax revenue, nontax revenue, and other sources), external funding (grants and loans), and other financial resources; expenses are broken down by recurrent expenditures (operational expenditures, interest and commission, reimbursement of public debt, and subsidies and recurrent transfers), capital expenditures and net lending, and arrears. Chapter four follows with a detailed review of resource allocations and spending among the government's ministries, including its transfers to districts. Public expenditures are broken down according to the structure of the Organic Budget Law, considering recurrent and development spending by ministry and economic classifications. Chapter five reviews all sectors-not only ministerial expenditures, but also other sector?related spending across ministries and other expenditures that contribute to a sector but are not part of central?government spending. Chapter six summarizes the report, addresses outstanding challenges, and offers concluding remarks.