Sector/Thematic Studies
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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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Publication Sierra Leone Human Capital Review: Maximizing Human Potential for Resilience and Inclusive Development(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2024-03-13) World BankThis Human Capital Review (HCR) report presents an in-depth analysis of human capital indicators throughout a person’s lifetime, from in utero to productive aging. By examining the various stages of human capital accumulation, the report aims to provide accurate recommendations for specific groups in Sierra Leone. Thus, the report disaggregates data whenever possible. It relies on an extensive consultative process involving various stakeholders such as Government counterparts, development partners, teachers, adolescent girls, students, private sector representatives, and local representatives. The consultation process followed a Problem-Driven Iterative Adaptation (PDIA) approach, which facilitates the identification and resolution of problems by local leadership. In addition, this report aims to inform the design and implementation of human capital reforms that will respond to specific challenges identified in the report.Publication People and Plastics: The Profile, Vulnerabilities, and Role of Informal Waste Workers in Addressing Marine Plastics Pollution(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2024-03-13) World BankThe present study focuses on a particular group of actors along the plastics collection and recycling value chain—informal waste workers (IWWs)—on whom limited information has been collected at the country level. Specifically, the study examines two questions: (i) what is the profile and vulnerabilities of informal waste workers in the three countries including gender-specific vulnerabilities; and (ii) what livelihood opportunities and community-based innovation models have been piloted in the selected countries, and can be used as case study examples in future policies and interventions, with the objectives of reducing vulnerability of IWWs and contributing to improving solid waste management and recycling value chainsPublication Nepal Crisis Preparedness Gap Analysis: Technical Annex(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2024-03-13) World BankCrisis preparedness is cral to preventing shocks from becoming crises. Investments in ex ante preparedness are especially relevant in countries like Nepal that face high levels of exposure and vulnerability to a range of risks.   In seeking to identify opportunities to strengthen the Government of Nepal’s (GoN’s) capacity to prepare for crisis events in an effective and timely manner, this Technical Annex presents findings from the application of the Crisis Preparedness Gap Analysis (CPGA) diagnostic in the country. It provides details on findings and entry points across the five componnts of crisis preparedness. For a summary, please refer to the accompanying CPGA Nepal Briefing Note. Following a brief description of the CPGA methodology, the Technical Annex presents a summary of findings from each CPGA component alongside identification of entry points and opportunities to strengthen crisis preparedness in the country. To provide a holistic assessment of preparedness, the CPGA focuses on five core components of crisis preparedness. These are (i) Legal and Institutional Foundations, (ii) Understanding and Monitoring Risks, (iii) FinancialPreparedness, (iv) Primary Response, and (v) Social and Livelihood Support.Publication Tanzania Economic Update, Issue 20: Overcoming Demographic Challenges while Embracing Opportunities(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2024-03-12) World BankTanzania has managed to sustain its growth momentum despite the intensifying effects of climate change. While Tanzania’s economy continues to expand, recent growth has been concentrated in sectors that employ few workers from poor households, limiting its impact on poverty. The Bank of Tanzania (BoT) has implemented an effective monetary policy designed to curb inflation and alleviate mounting short-term demand pressure on foreign exchange. While Tanzania’s recovery continues to accelerate, several serious threats cloud its economic outlook. Key risks include the slow or incomplete implementation of structural reforms, the damaging effects of climate change on the agriculture and tourism sectors, and the possibility of a global recession caused by fiscal and monetary policy tightening in advanced economies and major EMDEs. To mitigate these risks, policymakers must accelerate structural reforms as part of a sustained effort to attract greater private investment and spur resilient and inclusive private-sector-led growth. Over the longer term, one of the country’s key challenges will be to complete its structural economic transformation, which will require creating a more favorable business climate to support the growth of the industrial and services sectors while boosting agricultural productivity. Another key long-term growth challenge will be achieving more balanced and inclusive growth.Publication Clean and Climate Resilient Transport: Identifying Policy Priorities for Indonesia(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2024-03-12) Gupta, Nupur; Chesheva, Elena; Diaz, Thomas HerreroAt five percent of energy emissions, transport is one of the major contributors to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Indonesia. The rapid growth in vehicle fleet-personal passenger vehicles in particular is driving road transport emissions. Indonesian cities are suffering from severe congestion, air quality issues, and increasing numbers of road accidents and fatalities. Private transport dependence is increasing in Indonesian cities. The growth in Indonesia’s urban population has led to a growth in urban area boundaries, suboptimal spatial patterns, and increased travel distances. The availability and quality of public transport is highly deficient and largely left to fragmented unorganized players with old and poorly maintained minivans (angkot). Electric vehicle mobility has been identified as a major prospective area of development for Indonesia. The market response has been timid so far and, despite the government electrification plans, the EV market uptake as a fraction of total vehicle sales is small Large gains in both economic development and climate mitigation benefits are possible through a more structured approach towards urban mobility.Publication Charting a Blue Course: Investment Projects for the Blue Economy Transition in São Tomé e PrÃncipe(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2024-03-12) World BankThe Democratic Republic of São Tomé e PrÃncipe (STP) is the smallest independent island state in Africa, having gained independence in 1975, following the Seychelles. STP has a predominantly young population. However, as an island micro-state, the country faces many development problems specific to islands and small countries, such as weak governance capacity, the inability to provide basic services to the population, and a lack of adequate infrastructure (ports, electricity, airports). Additionally, high production and distribution costs of goods and services, including food products, exacerbate the poverty level of the population. The virtually nonexistent corporate structure and undiversified, highly dependent economy make the country vulnerable to exogenous shocks. To address these challenges, STP developed and adopted a Transition Strategy for the Blue Economy in December 2019. This strategy aims to establish the coherence of public policies linked to oceanic resources with the policies of other sectors, such as fisheries and aquaculture, tourism, and energy. The purpose of this paper is to consolidate the analysis of the three investment projects prioritized for inclusion in the National Investment Plan for the Blue Economy. While the report does not imply endorsement of these projects by the World Bank and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), its primary objective is to illuminate the drivers of cost and benefit associated with the priorities already identified by the government of São Tomé e PrÃncipe.Publication Central America Human Capital Review: Promoting More and Better Investments in Human Capital(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2024-03-12) World BankThis Human Capital Review aims to provide analytical foundations in the support of policies that improve human capital outcomes for the following four UMI countries in Central America: Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama, and the Dominican Republic. The objective of this report is to identify the key constraints to human capital growth and understand how education and labor market policies can foster a resilient recovery, promote inclusive growth, and contribute to poverty reduction in these countries. The review also estimates the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on human capital outcomes using a multi-sectoral approach. The analysis compares human capital outcomes in the decade before the COVID-19 pandemic (2010–2019) against trends during the pandemic (2020–2021). Lastly, the report focuses on these four countries, which are the only UMI in Central America to take advantage of new data collected during the pandemic, which allowed to quantify some of the impacts of COVID-19 and understand some of their long-term implications for human development outcomes.Publication Adaptive Social Protection, Human Capital, and Climate Change: Identifying Policy Priorities for Indonesia(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2024-03-12) Williams, Asha; Hadiwidjaja, Gracia; Ali, Rabia; Setiawan, ImamClimate change, and its associated impacts, threatens to reverse decades of global progress in improving people’s health, human capital accumulation, and poverty reduction. At the same time, individuals and households with more human capital and are better positioned to withstand climate change impacts. Several studies have established a correlation between higher human capital with faster disaster preparedness and recovery. These challenges are particularly pressing for Indonesia, where the poor are disproportionately affected by climate shocks. The disproportionate impact of climate change on poor households, and those vulnerable to poverty, signals the importance of social protection as a critical interlocutor to help address the pressing threat of climate change and climate shocks. This background paper outlines the important relationship between human capital development and climate change adaptation; and the needs and opportunities for improving the adaptiveness of Indonesia’s social protection system.Publication Pacific Economic Update, March 2024: Back on Track? The Imperative of Investing in Education(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2024-03-07) World BankIn 2023, growth in the Pacific islands (PIC-11) decelerated but remained robust at 5.5 percent—about two and a half times the long-term average. Fiji’s output surpassed pre-pandemic levels in 2023 despite a notable deceleration, with growth rates halving from 20 percent in 2022 to eight percent in 2023. The PIC-11, excluding Fiji, experienced a noteworthy rebound of 2.7 percent growth in 2023, after a 0.5 percent output contraction in 2022. The trajectory of accelerated and sustainable growth in Pacific Island countries depends on a workforce that is well educated and equipped with enhanced skills and capabilities. Boosting education and skills is essential for long-term growth and poverty reduction in the Pacific Island countries. While multiple factors influence learning, once a child enters school, teachers have the largest impact. A robust body of evidence guides policymakers in improving teaching quality and ensuring that all young children acquire strong foundational skills. This report outlines a three-pronged program of action based on this evidence: attracting and recruiting effective teachers, enhancing existing teachers’ capacity, and motivating greater teacher effort. Recognizing that 54 percent of teachers expected to teach in 2035 are already recruited, the report emphasizes a special focus on enhancing the capacity of existing teachers. It provides examples of rigorously evaluated interventions, such as structured pedagogy and access to pre-recorded lectures by highly rated teachers. Implementing these recommendations will aid regional countries in accelerating learning, allowing children and societies to achieve their aspirations.Publication Trading in Green: Policy Notes on Climate Change and Trade in Indonesia(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2024-03-07) Montfaucon, Angella; Lakatos, Csilla; Agnimaruto, BayuAlthough Indonesia’s economy has diversified over the past decades, natural resource extraction remains a key sector for both the domestic economy as well as international trade. Indonesia’s ability to diversify away from primary products, reduce carbon emissions, adapt to climate change, and transition to a low-carbon economy is strongly interlinked with trade and trade policy. To position itself to benefit from the global transition to a non-carbon economy, Indonesia needs to adapt to new sources of international demand, adjust its existing productive capabilities, and cultivate new green industries. This note analyzes the carbon content of Indonesia’s trade flows.