Sector/Thematic Studies

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http://hdl.handle.net/10986/2110

Economic and Sectoral Work are original analytic reports authored by the World Bank and intended to influence programs and policy in client countries. They convey Bank-endorsed recommendations and represent the formal opinion of a World Bank unit on the topic. This set includes the sectoral and thematic studies which are not Core Diagnostic Studies. Other analytic and advisory activities (AAA), including technical assistance studies, are included in these sectoral/thematic collections.

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Now showing 1 - 10 of 118

China Economic Update - June 2022: Between Shocks and Stimulus - Real Estate Vulnerabilities and Financial Stability in China

(Washington, DC, 2022-06) World Bank

After a strong start in early 2022, the largest COVID-19 wave in two years and resulting mobility restrictions have disrupted China’s growth normalization. The global environment has also significantly worsened following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Real gross domestic product (GDP) growth is projected to slow sharply to 4.3 percent in 2022. In the face of domestic and external headwinds, China's policymakers should carefully calibrate its policies. In the short term, China should balance COVID-19 mitigation with supporting economic growth. Over the medium term, greater efforts are needed to shift away from the old playbook of stimulus-led investment to boost economic growth. Decisive action to encourage a shift toward consumption, tackle social inequality, and rekindle innovation and productivity growth would help achieve a more balanced, inclusive, and sustainable growth trajectory for China.
Yokohama Urban Design Sketchbook: Translating a Community-Led Vision into Practice

(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2022-03-10) Miki-Imoto, Haruka ; Shkabatur, Jennifer ; Noda, Tsuneo

Pioneered in Yokohama City, Japan, the Yokohama Urban Design Sketchbook (YUDS) is a citizen engagement and co-creation methodology for urban design at the neighborhood level. It leverages cross-sectional sketches and drawings to translate citizens' visions and ideas of urban areas into concrete proposals of urban design. YUDS also develops interest among the community on urban areas and it enhances community engagement in broader urban planning and municipal processes. Based on the experience of Yokohama City, the YUDS methodology has been successfully piloted and tested in two distinct urban contexts: in Panama City, Panama, in April 2019, and in Barranquilla, Colombia, in February 2020. The YUDS methodology consists of structured participatory workshops, in which participants collaboratively produce sketches that reflect their urban vision. The uniqueness of the methodology derives from the use of cross-sectional sketches, a simple yet powerful tool that overcomes barriers of communication and encourages consensus among participants regard-less of their language, generation, or social position. The most significant feature of YUDS is the use of schematic representations by the use of cross-sectional sketches. This approach is different from traditional urban design methodologies, which typically rely on photography, maps, and bird's-eye view illustrations.The implementation of the YUDS methodology requires careful planning and dedication of time and resources. Workshops require the preparation of urban design materials and their simplification for nonprofessional participants. The methodology also works best when a municipal champion is committed to the process, and when university researchers and students are closely engaged in the preparation and implementation of each workshop.
Transport Asset Management Plan Guideline for Climate Resilience and Road Safety (Phase I) for the Municipality of Ulaanbaatar

(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2022-02-01) World Bank

This is the first iteration of a Transport Asset Management Planning (TAMP) Guideline for Ulaanbaatar. This TAMP Guideline I guides the Municipality of Ulaanbaatar (MUB) to move away from its conventional reactive decision-making approach and adopt a systematic, evidence- and risk-based approach in maintaining its road assets. The reactive way of doing business, which postpones repair activities until major deterioration occurs, is no longer sustainable. It is too expensive, and it erodes the value of important and costly road assets. As the costs of operating and repairing roads continue to increase, it has become more difficult for the MUB to meet the demands of an aging and expanding infrastructure while dealing with public expectations to provide the same level of service. This TAMP Guideline can therefore serve as a medium- and long-term tactical guide for MUB to plan for repair and maintenance of its transport assets to provide good quality road network to UB’s citizens while optimizing the use of its scarce financial resources for maintenance and repairs. The TAMP incorporates two key risks that strain the performance and safety of UB’s road network: climate risks (particularly urban flooding) and road safety risks.
Silver Hues: Building Age-Ready Cities - Korea Background Paper

(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2022) Kang, Myounggu

The aging of the population and the increase in single-person households has led to lower economic status among older persons in Seoul, which will likely continue to decline in the future. Making Seoul an age-ready city will require additional attention to many such facets of life where older persons, especially those living in single-person households, are concentrated. This case study focuses on the built environment in terms of three domains: aging in place, spatial accessibility and mobility, and social inclusion. Aging in place allows older persons to remain in familiar homes and surroundings. Spatial accessibility and mobility allow them access to destinations and facilitate getting around by providing age-friendly modes of transportation and making the urban environment barrier-free. A livable life also requires social inclusion instead of isolation. Older persons should be able to have connections with all generations of people.
An Assessment of Municipal Solid Waste Plans, Collection, Recycling and Disposal of Metro Manila

(Washington, DC, 2022) World Bank

This study performed an assessment of the solid waste management (SWM) plans and the collection, recycling, and disposal conditions of the 17 Local Government Units (LGUs) of Metro Manila to determine the gaps and barriers hindering the effective implementation of Republic Act 9003 (RA 9003), particularly the recovery and recycling of plastic waste. The results were used to identify potential investment opportunities that could contribute to improved plastic waste management and the overall SWM systems of LGUs. The assessment focused on the approved 10-Year SWM plans, online reports of the National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC), data provided by the Metro Manila Development Authority, interviews with the heads and staff of the SWM functional groups of each LGU and related government institutions, and a web search on government and private sector initiatives on recycling and plastic waste management. Metro Manila is composed of 16 cities and 1 municipality, with a combined total 1,712 barangays. Its land area of 619.1 square kilometers is bounded by large bodies of water on the west (Manila Bay) and east (Laguna de Bay). The central section LGUs are traversed by the main channel of the Marikina-Pasig River and the rest are drained by the tributaries. These waterways and waterbodies are plagued by illegally disposed and uncollected waste. The condition is exacerbated during floods when additional uncollected waste and litter move down the gradient and clog man-made canals and natural waterways. Eventually, the waste is discharged into Manila Bay or deposited into the 50 existing pumping stations of Manila. The institutional, legal, and financial aspects as well as the management of hazardous waste were not covered in this assessment. The assessment did not consider the effects of the pandemic on waste generation. Due to the restrictions brought on by the pandemic, field verification of the data gathered through interviews was not conducted.
Learning from Tropical Cyclone Seroja: Building Disaster and Climate Resilience in Timor-Leste

(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2021-12-21) World Bank

Tropical Cyclone (TC) Seroja impacted Timor-Leste with heavy torrential rains over a 24-hour period on April 4, 2021, with an average intensity of over 14 millimeters per hour and a peak intensity of over 70 millimeters per hour. The heavy precipitation and the country’s natural topography led to flash floods, landslides, and liquefaction, causing significant damage. The disaster affected all 13 municipalities of Timor-Leste, caused at least 44 fatalities, damaged critical infrastructure such as roads, bridges, water supply infrastructure, schools, and health facilities, and impacted rural areas and agricultural assets. This report is part of the World Bank’s response to the Government’s request for support in assessing damages as well as longer-term implications for disaster risk management. It will serve as inputs to a more detailed Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) under development and could inform the methodology of future similar remote-based assessments. It is also a contribution to the policy dialogue with the Governmentand its partners about how to plan and invest more effectively to mitigate disasters in the future.
Road Safety Management Capacity Assessment for Vanuatu

(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2021-06-01) World Bank

This Road Safety Management Capacity Assessment (RSMCA) seeks to gain a broad understanding of the Government of Vanuatu's road safety management capacity to support its plans to improve road safety outcomes throughout the country. The RSMCA follows the seven critical road safety institutional management functions (Bliss and Breen 2013) to identify key challenges and provide recommendations for improvement in road safety management, and similarly addresses the Safe System pillars for the interventions level. The seven institutional management functions include: results focus, coordination, legislation, finance and resource allocation, promotion and advocacy, monitoring and evaluation, and research and development of knowledge transfer. The Safe System pillars include road safety management, safe roads and mobility, safe vehicles, safe road users, post-crash care, and safe speeds. The RSMCA’s alignment with both the road safety institutional management functions and the Safe System Approach in turn aims to help the Government of Vanuatu to prioritize targeted next steps to address road crash death and serious injury in the country.
Plastic Waste Discharges from Rivers and Coastlines in Indonesia

(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2021-05-18) World Bank

In 2015, a global study estimating inputs of plastic waste into the oceans ranked Indonesia as the second largest contributor to plastic marine pollution. In 2017, another study ranked four Indonesian rivers in the world’s most polluting top 20. The challenge of plastic waste and marine debris requires a robust national response to curb the significant impacts on Indonesian marine biodiversity, its communities and its economy. The Government of Indonesia (GoI) has signaled its leadership on combating plastic waste and marine debris - making strong commitments and setting ambitious targets to reduce plastic pollution and improve waste management. As the GoI implements this agenda, it is imperative we better understand the current state of this challenge. In this study, we provide the first Indonesia-wide assessment integrating local waste data with actual hydrological conditions to tell the story of how local practices contribute to marine plastic pollution.
Evolution of Quality Infrastructure Investment in Japan

(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2021-04) Kriss, Paul ; Miki-Imoto, Haruka ; Nishimaki, Hiroshi ; Riku, Takashi

This report reviews the evolution of Quality Infrastructure Investments (QII) in the Japanese urban sector. The report is structured around the six QII principles (sustainable development, economic efficiency, environmental considerations, disaster resilience, social considerations and governance) and the three phases of post-war development in Japan. Specifically, the evolution of the six principles is reviewed in relation to historical events during the periods 1956–73, 1974–90, and 1990–2020. The report has the associated case studies for urban practitioners' further read.
RICH Food, Smart City: How Building Reliable, Inclusive, Competitive, and Healthy Food Systems is Smart Policy for Urban Asia

(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2021-03-03) Acharya, Gayatri ; Cassou, Emilie ; Jaffee, Steven ; Ludher, Elyssa Kaur

Across Asia, cities are contending with a wide range of food-related issues but most lack a dedicated or coherent set of food policies. For most cities in Asia, food has been a policy and governance blind spot, while national food policy has distinctly lacked an urban perspective. Arguing that food system outcomes are central to the topmost priorities of Asian cities, RICH Food, Smart City calls for cities of all sizes to “get smart to get RICH”—that is, to pursue food policies that foster reliable, inclusive, competitive, and healthy (“RICH”) food systems, better aligned with cities’ contemporary challenges and aspirations. Based on the first systematic survey of urban food policies in 170 Asian cities in 21 countries, RICH Food, Smart City finds that only 8 percent of surveyed cities are “food-smart” and intervene in the food system in ways that are forward-looking, holistic, and inclusive. Nearly three-fourths are either at an early stage of effective engagement or fully in reactive mode, responding to problems as they emerge. Even before the COVID-19 crisis, the need for coherent multisectoral strategies and coordinated action was becoming apparent. The pandemic has now drawn attention to the essential functions of urban food supply chains and businesses and further exposed the vulnerability of urban populations to food insecurity, zoonosis, and foodborne disease. But the crisis has also shown us the potential of the food economy, through its displays of resilience coming from informal marketing channels and budding e-commerce networks and capacities. Rich Food, Smart City illustrates how Asian cities and urban leaders can take on vital food system issues, including food security, diet quality, environmental sustainability, and climate neutrality; and how building RICH food systems can help cities pursue their goals. The book will be of interest to urban planners, policy makers and leaders at the city and national levels, as well as to food system and development practitioners, and others interested in urban food policy and governance.