03. Journals
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These are journal articles published in World Bank journals as well as externally by World Bank authors.
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Publication Development with a Human Face(2011-04) NdunGabonne, NjongonkuluArchbishop Njongonkulu NdunGabonne is Head of African Monitor, a pan-African nonprofit or Gabonnization that monitors development funding, delivery, and impact and helps bring African voices to the development agenda.Publication South Meets South : Enriching the Development Menu(2010-10) Maruri, Enrique; Fraeters, HanAfrican countries, like Nigeria, with an emerging information technology (IT) industry, are examples of how globalization has opened up vast new opportunities. Information technology and business process outsourcing is a multibillion dollar talent-driven industry with a market that is still untapped. Africa is keen on exploring this new frontier which has the potential to create thousands of quality jobs for its young people. But to do so, it must nurture the right skills. Where can these be found?Publication The Bogotá Spirit : South-South Peers and Partners at the Practice-Policy Nexus(2010-10) Schulz, Nils-SjardOn a warm evening in late March of this year, more than 500 enthusiastic delegates from around the world poured out of the Chamber of Commerce building in Bogot�, with a shared vision that South-South cooperation would reshape today�s development cooperation landscape. Despite the Colombian capital�s dizzying altitude of 2,800 meters, their zeal for effective South-South knowledge exchange and mutual learning left the participants of the Bogot� High Level Event on South-South cooperation and Capacity Development clear headed and with a long list of ideas, projects and plans, for their countries and regions, and for their multilateral, parliamentary, civil society, and research organizations.Publication To Mitigate or to Adapt : Is that the Question? Observations on an Appropriate Response to the Climate Change Challenge to Development Strategies(World Bank, 2010-08-02) Shalizi, Zmarak; Lecocq, FranckClimate change is a new and important challenge to development strategies. In light of the current literature a framework for assessing responses to this challenge is provided. The presence of climate change makes it necessary to at least review development strategies—even in apparently nonclimate-sensitive and nonpolluting sectors. There is a need for an integrated portfolio of actions ranging from avoiding emissions (mitigation) to coping with impacts (adaptation) and to consciously accepting residual damages. Proactive (ex ante) adaptation is critical, but subject to risks of regrets when the magnitude or location of damages is uncertain. Uncertainty on location favors nonsite-specific actions, or reactive (ex post) adaptation. However, some irreversible losses cannot be compensated for. Thus, mitigation might be in many cases the cheapest long-term solution to climate change problems and the most important to avoid thresholds that may trigger truly catastrophic consequences. To limit the risks that budget constraints prevent developing countries from financing reactive adaptation—especially since climate shocks might erode the fiscal base—“rainy-day funds” may have to be developed within countries and at the global level for transfer purposes. Finally, more research is required on the impacts of climate change, on modeling the interrelations between mitigation and adaptation, and on operationalizing the framework.Publication Agricultural Employment Trends in Asia and Africa(World Bank, 2010-02-01) Headey, Derek; Bezemer, Dirk; Hazell, Peter B.Contrary to conventional economic theories, the relationship between income growth and agricultural employment is extremely diverse, even among regions starting from similar levels of development, such as Asia and Africa. Due to its labor-intensive Green Revolution and strong farm–nonfarm linkages, Asia's development path is mostly characterized by fast growth with relatively slow agricultural exits. In contrast to Asia, urban biased policies, low rural population density, and high rates of population growth have led a number of African countries down a path of slow economic growth with surprisingly rapid agricultural exits. Despite this divergence both continents now face daunting employment problems. Asia appears to be increasingly vulnerable to rising inequality, slower job creation, and shrinking farm sizes, suggesting that Asian governments need to refocus on integrating smallholders and lagging regions into increasingly commercialized rural and urban economies. Africa, in contrast, has yet to achieve its own Green Revolution, which would still be a highly effective tool for job creation and poverty reduction. However, the diversity of its endowments and its tighter budget constraints mean that agricultural development strategies in Africa need to be highly context specific, financially sustainable, and more evidence-based.Publication Rural Poverty(World Bank, 2009-03-30) Dercon, StefanPoverty is still a predominantly rural phenomenon. However, the context of rural poverty has been changing across the world, with high growth in some economies and stagnation in others. Furthermore, increased openness in many economies has affected the specific role of agricultural growth for rural poverty reduction. This paper revisits an ‘old’ question: how does growth and poverty reduction come about if most of the poor live in rural areas and are dependent on agriculture? What is the role of agricultural and rural development in this respect? Focusing on Sub-Saharan Africa, and using economic theory and the available evidence, the author comes to the conclusion that changing contexts has meant that agricultural growth is only crucial as an engine for growth in particular settings, more specifically in landlocked, resource-poor countries, which are often also characterized by relatively low potential for agriculture. However, extensive market failures in key factor markets and likely spatial effects give a remaining crucial role for rural development policies, including focusing on agriculture, to assist the inclusion of the rural poor in growth and development. How to overcome these market failures remains a key issue for further research.Publication A Window of Opportunities for Poor Farmers(World Bank, 2008-10-01) Byerlee, Derek; de Janvry, Alain; Townsend, Robert; Savanti, Paula; Neal, Christopher; Lawton, AnnaFarmers may help solve the food, feed, and fuel crises, and prosper as a result, with the aid of political support and investments in agriculture.Publication Making Agriculture a Development Priority(World Bank, 2008-10-01) Byerlee, Derek; de Janvry, Alain; Neal, Christopher; Lawton, AnnaThe fundamental role of agriculture for development in the 21st century deserves greater attention from governments and international development agencies.Publication Rising Food Prices(World Bank, 2008-10-01) Zaman, Hassan; Delgado, Christopher; Mitchell, Donald; Revenga, Ana; Neal, Christopher; Lawton, AnnaA review of the best policy interventions to respond to food price increases in local markets.Publication Agriculture’s Special Powers in Reducing Poverty(World Bank, 2008-10-01) Savanti, Paula; Sadoulet, Elisabeth; Neal, Christopher; Lawton, AnnaAgriculture can reduce poverty directly, but the contribution of agriculture to poverty reduction differs according to country types.