Publication: Smart Villages in Azerbaijan: A Framework for Analysis and Roadmap
Loading...
Published
2021-03
ISSN
Date
2021-04-20
Author(s)
Editor(s)
Abstract
This paper is the main output of an analytical and research program aimed at identifying policy options to develop technology and social innovation driven smart village approaches that can improve service delivery and local economic development in rural areas. The concept of smart villages focuses on enabling communities - in partnership with local government and the private sector - to identify opportunities and solutions that are right for their own areas based on demand (bottom-up and participatory needs assessment), on transferring knowledge and innovation, and on policy incentives. With these three elements in place, customized smart solutions for rural areas can result in greater local economic development with better connectivity and improved services, increased livelihoods and incomes, and improved quality of life. The paper is presented in six sections, each representing an element of the research and analysis undertaken to define and apply the concept of smart villages in Azerbaijan. The first section presents the context of rural development, particularly aspects which relate to the rural-urban divide, public policies, and programs aimed at advancing rural development, as well as the digital dimensions of development. The second section introduces the concept of smart villages. What does this mean? How do other countries apply this term? What are the core principles and elements? Following from the definition and global examples of smart villages, the paper lays out a framework for assessing the smart village readiness of villages in Azerbaijan, viewing them as spatial clusters and drawing on global big data and national data sources to rank village clusters with common spatial characteristics as the most versus the least ready to apply smart village approaches.
Link to Data Set
Citation
“World Bank. 2021. Smart Villages in Azerbaijan: A Framework for Analysis and Roadmap. © World Bank. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/35468 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”
Digital Object Identifier
Associated URLs
Associated content
Other publications in this report series
Journal
Journal Volume
Journal Issue
Collections
Related items
Showing items related by metadata.
Publication Information and Communication Technologies for Women's Socioeconomic Empowerment(World Bank, 2009-08-01)The purpose of this report is to provide the reader with an overview of some of the issues relating to women and information and communication technology (ICT) in the developing world in contrast to the developed world. Where possible, men's engagement will be added also as a contrast, but the focus of this working paper is on women, not gender. This is not to suggest that a focus on gender is not of value, it is. But understanding the unique perspectives of women is the first step in addressing the larger issues of diversity and, specifically, gender, which has started to receive much attention from other organizations. This paper presents how and why ICT impact women and men differently and the implications of women's lack of engagement, participation, and leadership in the knowledge society through ICT for business and development. The paper will also highlight examples of best practices and weaknesses in assumed best practices to provide opportunities for full scale execution of efforts to achieve measurable outcomes in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). An important focus is the need to move many of the carefully incubated gender policies and initiatives, developed through thoughtful leadership in specialized women's programs, into the mainstream. This will help ensure that well-designed initiatives do not inadvertently become 'ghettoized' or ignored by the mainstream programs that desperately need the knowledge to enhance and achieve their outcome goals.Publication Trends : The Shifting Urban Economic Landscape, What Does It Mean for Cities?(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2013-11)Cities are the driving force of economic growth. According to the United Nations, more than half the world's people now live in urban areas - in towns and in cities of all sizes. By 2025, the urban population is expected to have grown by another billion people, a huge majority of them in developing countries. At that point, 2.5 billion people - more than half the world's urban population will likely live in the burgeoning cities of Asia. China is expected to have more than triple, and India double, the number of urbanites in the United States today. Urbanization is not new. For centuries, people have packed up and moved from their rural homes in search of better-paid urban livelihoods. But today's urban shift is unprecedented in scale and speed. It is no hyperbole to say that one is amid the most significant economic transformation the world has ever seen.Publication Building Resilience for Sustainable Development of the Sundarbans : Strategy Report(Washington, DC, 2014)Recognizing the importance and uniqueness of the Sundarbans, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) declared the Indian portion of the forest a World Heritage Site in 1987, and the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Program has included the Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve in the Global Network of Island and Coastal Biosphere Reserves Contributing to Action on Climate Change and Sustainable Development. While the Sundarbans region is celebrated for its ecological attributes, it is a difficult place to live in. The inhabited portions of India s Sundarbans are characterized by severe poverty, which both contributes to and arises from the vulnerability of the population to a growing range of natural hazards. Resilience is characterized by a capacity to adapt to changing conditions and persistent stresses by responding effectively. However, the resilience of those residing in the Sundarbans has been undermined by a long series of persistent pressures. Sea level rise, salinization of soil and water, cyclonic storms and flooding have combined over the past century to render this one of the most hazardous areas in the Indian subcontinent.Publication Toward an Urban Sector Strategy : Georgia's Evolving Urban System and its Challenges(Washington, DC, 2013-02-03)This review analyzes the profile, trends and challenges of Georgia's changing urban landscape since independence in 1991 and provides policy suggestions to facilitate the economic transition of the country through its cities. In its analysis and subsequent recommendations on policy interventions, this report draws on a program of diagnostics called the 'Urbanization Review' (UR). The UR diagnostic is based on three main pillars of urban development which have emerged as key areas of policy engagement for successful cities. These are: a) planning, charting a course for cities by setting the terms of urbanization, especially policies for using urban land and expanding basic infrastructure and public services; b) connecting, physically linking people to jobs, and businesses to markets; and c) financing, raising and leveraging up-front capital to meet the increasing demand for infrastructure and services. In moving forward, the review recommends that Georgia focus on: a) developing a national urban strategy that recognizes the contribution of each city to the overall economy, i.e. a 'systems of cities' approach that can assist in reducing regional disparities; b) assisting cities to develop urban plans, including local economic development plans, c) reforming building and planning codes; and d) assisting cities in improving their local governance and finances.Publication Growth Prospects for Rukwa Region : Constraints and Opportunities(Washington, DC, 2007)The Tanzania country office of the World Bank has been exploring ways in which it can be more responsive to Government in supporting the National Strategy for Growth and Alleviation of Poverty (MKUKUTA) and ensuring growth is an integral part of strategic planning. Given Tanzania's great regional variations in resource endowments, growth potential and degree of institutional development, it was proposed that a regional case study of growth prospects and constraints be undertaken in collaboration with local stakeholders in a remote region of Tanzania. Based on this, the 'growth cluster group' of the World Bank Tanzania country team decided to embark on Economic and Sector Work (ESW) in Rukwa region with the following objectives: (1) enhancing knowledge of Rukwa's resources, infrastructure and growth potential, as well as specific constraints at both regional and district level, and improve awareness of cross-sectional synergies in advancing growth; (2) identifying promising processes for the formulation and implementation of local growth strategies that involve adequate stakeholders consultation, are technically sound, and provide for appropriate higher level (regional and central) input; and (3) identifying priority activities and investments, within a five year time-frame, given expected budgetary flows and local resources. This should improve the strategic focus of regional and district growth strategies. The study aims to improve the understanding of local area development potential and constraints, and help regional, Local Government Authority (LGA), and Bank staff understands the contribution of different sectors to a more coherent growth/poverty reduction agenda in a specific regional setting. This report contains the study findings, being a result of literature review and interviews conducted with regional and LGA officials, residents of Rukwa and representatives of institutions operating in Rukwa region.The findings were presented at a 'stakeholders workshop' that was held in Sumbawanga on May 17 and 18, 2007. The workshop assisted to disseminate information on utilization of the identified potentials and which are: (a) growth and reduction of income poverty; (ii) improved quality of life and social well-being; and (iii) good governance and accountability constraints to enhance the planning process and use of available resources.
Users also downloaded
Showing related downloaded files
Publication Kyrgyz Republic Country Climate and Development Report(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2025-11-03)This Country Climate and Development Report (CCDR) on the Kyrgyz Republic aims to support the country’s development goals amid a changing climate. The CCDR considers two policy scenarios up to 2050: the business-as-usual (BAU) and high-growth scenarios. As it quantifies the likely impacts of climate change on the Kyrgyz economy between now and 2050, the report highlights key government actions to best prepare for and adapt to climate impacts (referred to as “with adaptation” measures), with a particular focus on the time horizon up to 2030. The CCDR also outlines a path to net zero emissions by 2050 (referred to as “with mitigation” measures, “decarbonization,” or, simply, “net zero 2050”), highlighting associated development co-benefits.Publication Direct and Indirect Impacts of Transport Mobility on Access to Jobs: Evidence from South Africa(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2025-11-12)Access to jobs is essential for economic growth. In Africa, unemployment rates are notably high. This paper reexamines the relationship between transport mobility and labor market outcomes, with a particular focus on the direct and indirect effects of transport connectivity. As predicted by theory, wages are influenced by the level of commuting deterrence. Generally, higher earnings are associated with longer commute times and/or higher commuting costs. Local accessibility is also important, especially for individuals with time constraints. Both direct and indirect impacts are found to be significant in South Africa, where job accessibility has been challenging since the end of apartheid. For the direct impact, the wage elasticity associated with commuting costs is significant. Returns on commute are particularly high for women. Local accessibility to socioeconomic facilities, such as shops and health services, is also found to have a significant impact, consistent with the concept of mobility of care. To enhance employment, therefore, it is crucial to connect people not only to job locations but also to various socioeconomic points of interest, such as markets and hospitals, in an integrated manner. This integration will enable individuals to spend more time working and commuting longer distances.Publication Taxes, Spending, and Equity: International Patterns and Lessons for Developing Countries(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2025-11-17)Taxes and public spending underpin the basic administration of government and finance the human capital and infrastructure investments needed for economic growth. They can also have a significant and immediate impact on poverty and inequality. The question of how public finance can support longer-term growth objectives while promoting equity has become even more important in recent years, given the high fiscal deficits and debt levels most countries emerged with in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. These included the increasing cost of debt and the need to restart environmentally sustainable growth while helping households address the learning losses and other social scars caused by the pandemic. This paper examines the global evidence on which households pay which taxes and who benefits from what spending, and critically, the net effect on different households across the income distribution. The aim is to identify the patterns and lessons that emerge for designing progressive fiscal policies. A global dataset of 96 countries is assembled, spanning all regions of the world and all national income levels, grounded in the Commitment to Equity (CEQ) approach to fiscal incidence.Publication Egypt - Linking Funding to Outputs : Expenditures of the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation(World Bank, 2009-01-09)This review of the on-budget expenditure of the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation (MALR) in Egypt describes the broad outline of the MARL's expenditures and identifies key themes and issues. The report examines how the context of the agricultural sector has changed, and the adjustment challenge that such change poses for the MALR. It explains how the MALR is thinking about the future, describes the structures of the MALR, and presents expenditure trends for the MALR down to the sector or authority level. Also, the document identifies some key issues to be addressed and zooms in on the research institutions of the MALR, the Agricultural Research Centre and the Desert Research Centre.Publication Digital Africa(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2023-03-13)All African countries need better and more jobs for their growing populations. "Digital Africa: Technological Transformation for Jobs" shows that broader use of productivity-enhancing, digital technologies by enterprises and households is imperative to generate such jobs, including for lower-skilled people. At the same time, it can support not only countries’ short-term objective of postpandemic economic recovery but also their vision of economic transformation with more inclusive growth. These outcomes are not automatic, however. Mobile internet availability has increased throughout the continent in recent years, but Africa’s uptake gap is the highest in the world. Areas with at least 3G mobile internet service now cover 84 percent of Africa’s population, but only 22 percent uses such services. And the average African business lags in the use of smartphones and computers as well as more sophisticated digital technologies that catalyze further productivity gains. Two issues explain the usage gap: affordability of these new technologies and willingness to use them. For the 40 percent of Africans below the extreme poverty line, mobile data plans alone would cost one-third of their incomes—in addition to the price of access devices, apps, and electricity. Data plans for small- and medium-size businesses are also more expensive than in other regions. Moreover, shortcomings in the quality of internet services—and in the supply of attractive, skills-appropriate apps that promote entrepreneurship and raise earnings—dampen people’s willingness to use them. For those countries already using these technologies, the development payoffs are significant. New empirical studies for this report add to the rapidly growing evidence that mobile internet availability directly raises enterprise productivity, increases jobs, and reduces poverty throughout Africa. To realize these and other benefits more widely, Africa’s countries must implement complementary and mutually reinforcing policies to strengthen both consumers’ ability to pay and willingness to use digital technologies. These interventions must prioritize productive use to generate large numbers of inclusive jobs in a region poised to benefit from a massive, youthful workforce—one projected to become the world’s largest by the end of this century.