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Publication Digital Progress and Trends Report 2023(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2024-03-05) World BankDigitalization is the transformational opportunity of our time. The digital sector has become a powerhouse of innovation, economic growth, and job creation. Value added in the IT services sector grew at 8 percent annually during 2000–22, nearly twice as fast as the global economy. Employment growth in IT services reached 7 percent annually, six times higher than total employment growth. The diffusion and adoption of digital technologies are just as critical as their invention. Digital uptake has accelerated since the COVID-19 pandemic, with 1.5 billion new internet users added from 2018 to 2022. The share of firms investing in digital solutions around the world has more than doubled from 2020 to 2022. Low-income countries, vulnerable populations, and small firms, however, have been falling behind, while transformative digital innovations such as artificial intelligence (AI) have been accelerating in higher-income countries. Although more than 90 percent of the population in high-income countries was online in 2022, only one in four people in low-income countries used the internet, and the speed of their connection was typically only a small fraction of that in wealthier countries. As businesses in technologically advanced countries integrate generative AI into their products and services, less than half of the businesses in many low- and middle-income countries have an internet connection. The growing digital divide is exacerbating the poverty and productivity gaps between richer and poorer economies. The Digital Progress and Trends Report series will track global digitalization progress and highlight policy trends, debates, and implications for low- and middle-income countries. The series adds to the global efforts to study the progress and trends of digitalization in two main ways: · By compiling, curating, and analyzing data from diverse sources to present a comprehensive picture of digitalization in low- and middle-income countries, including in-depth analyses on understudied topics. · By developing insights on policy opportunities, challenges, and debates and reflecting the perspectives of various stakeholders and the World Bank’s operational experiences. This report, the first in the series, aims to inform evidence-based policy making and motivate action among internal and external audiences and stakeholders. The report will bring global attention to high-performing countries that have valuable experience to share as well as to areas where efforts will need to be redoubled.Publication Women, Business and the Law 2024(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2024-03-04) World BankWomen, Business and the Law 2024 is the 10th in a series of annual studies measuring the enabling conditions that affect women’s economic opportunity in 190 economies. To present a more complete picture of the global environment that enables women’s socioeconomic participation, this year Women, Business and the Law introduces two new indicators—Safety and Childcare—and presents findings on the implementation gap between laws (de jure) and how they function in practice (de facto). This study presents three indexes: (1) legal frameworks, (2) supportive frameworks (policies, institutions, services, data, budget, and access to justice), and (3) expert opinions on women’s rights in practice in the areas measured. The study’s 10 indicators—Safety, Mobility, Workplace, Pay, Marriage, Parenthood, Childcare, Entrepreneurship, Assets, and Pension—are structured around the different stages of a woman’s working life. Findings from this new research can inform policy discussions to ensure women’s full and equal participation in the economy. The indicators build evidence of the critical relationship between legal gender equality and women’s employment and entrepreneurship. Data in Women, Business and the Law 2024 are current as of October 1, 2023.Publication Mini Grid Solutions for Underserved Customers: New Insights from Nigeria and India(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2024-02-21) Tenenbaum, Bernard; Greacen, Chris; Shrestha, AshishTraditionally, mini grids have been viewed as “off-grid” systems that are built and operated solely for communities without electricity. The reality, however, is that millions of people in Sub-Saharan Africa and India who are connected to the main grid suffer from poor grid reliability (“weak grid”), sometimes with a power supply of less than 4 to 8 hours daily and with frequent disputes over the accuracy of billing. As a backstop, these poorly served customers often find themselves forced to rely on small fossil fuel–powered generators that are noisy, polluting, and expensive to operate. "Mini Grid Solutions for Underserved Customers: New Insights from Nigeria and India" explores another option: undergrid mini grids. These are mostly solar hybrid–powered mini grids built and operated by private companies in areas already connected with the main electricity grid but facing poor technical and commercial service. This comprehensive book examines how undergrid mini grids can create win-win-win outcomes for retail customers, distribution enterprises, and mini grid developers. Drawing on extensive discussions with pioneering developers, the book showcases detailed case studies from Nigeria and India, shedding light on the challenges and opportunities of interconnected and non-interconnected undergrid mini grids. The authors address technical issues of grid interconnection and delve into the policy and regulatory considerations crucial for the financial sustainability and success of undergrid mini grids. The book is an invaluable resource for policy makers, energy practitioners, and researchers seeking practical insights to bridge the electricity access gap, empower communities with reliable and affordable electricity, and drive environmentally and commercially sustainable development. • “The report is rich with insight, not least because the authors have been able to contrast the Nigeria and India approaches taken by the respective private sectors in each country. The five case studies are very valuable. The authors have powerfully illustrated the importance of the policy and regulatory framework and how that translates into investor behavior.” — Mohua Mukherjee, Senior Research Fellow, Oxford Institute of Energy Studies • “This great report represents a pivotal turning point in the history of energy and has global implications for the role of mini grids for communities that have been poorly served by main grid utilities.” — Peter Lilienthal, Founder HOMER Energy • “This is a tremendous addition to the literature on mini grids and an important guide for all of us practitioners working in this area.” — James Sherwood, Director of Research & Innovation, RMI | Global South Program • “This refreshingly honest and open report provides an excellent overview of interconnected and isolated mini grids, as well as a thorough analysis of key ground-level implementation issues in regulation, business, and engineering.” — Joanis Holzigel, Chief Operating Officer, INENSUSPublication Water Management in Oil and Gas Operations: Industry Practice and Policy Guidelines for Developing Countries(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2024-02-13) Bandlien, Einar H.; De Kruijf, Sander; Vik, Eilen Arctander; Ekern, Ole Fredrik; Siqueland Knudsen, Johan Bernhard; Dyce, Geoffrey; Tordo, Silvana; Bertone, FrançoisSteadily increasing demand for water poses a threat to sustainable development, and an increasing number of regions are chronically short of water. Putting caps on water consumption, increasing water use efficiencies, and supporting improved sharing of water resources are now critical to reducing the perils posed by water scarcity to biodiversity and human welfare. Although freshwater demand in oil and gas operations is a small fraction of global water demand, oil and gas fields are commonly clustered in smaller areas, where their operations often dominate freshwater abstraction and wastewater discharge. At the same time, oil production generates large amounts of produced water that may be used to reduce freshwater abstraction and possibly serve beneficial purposes outside the petroleum sector. In the most advanced countries, regulation promotes the sound use of freshwater in the oil and gas industry and incentivizes the reuse or beneficial use of treated produced water. Regulation is also used to prevent the contamination of freshwater resources from the disposal of unproperly treated produced water. In many developing and emerging economies, however, regulation to prevent water contamination is often lacking or nonexistent or, when present, is poorly enforced. Optimal policy and regulation of the use of freshwater and the reuse of water generated by oil and gas operations depend on a range of geographic, geological, technical, and economic factors. This book identifies common policy principles organized around key regulatory functions and critical links of the oil and gas value chain. This report offers practical solutions to guide policy makers and regulators seeking to minimize the environmental impacts of oil and gas operations, to promote sustainable cross-sectoral economic linkages, and to reduce competition and potential conflicts over access to and use of water resources.Publication Investing in Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health in Uganda: What Have We Learned, and Where Do We Go from Here?(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2024-02-11) eds.; Mensah, Julia; Kiirya, Stephen Kisembe; Asege Ekochu, Elizabeth; Ayiko, Rogers; Hayes, Brendan Michael; Chansa, Collins; Murindwa, Grace; Crabbe, Richard; DeFrancis, MarcIn Uganda, conditions in reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health (RMNCAH) remain the primary drivers of morbidity and mortality, accounting for 60 percent of years of life lost. The high burden of these conditions can be attributed to a poor quality of care resulting from inadequate financial, human, and material resources compounded by weak multisectoral coordination. Moreover, the country’s high population growth rate and a young population imply that RMNCAH service delivery will continue to dominate health sector reforms—even with the increasing prevalence of noncommunicable and infectious diseases. Over the past two decades, Uganda has focused on improving the quality of RMNCAH service delivery, leading to declines in the maternal, infant, and under-five mortality ratios and the increased use of modern contraception among married women. However, the neonatal mortality and teenage pregnancy rates have stagnated, and the low civil registration of births and deaths remains challenging. “Investing in Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health in Uganda: What Have We Learned, and Where Do We Go from Here?” comprises 12 studies conducted as part of the RMNCAH Operational Research Program drafted between 2019 and 2021 and finalized and disseminated in October 2022 across 45 districts of Uganda with funding from Sweden and the World Bank. These studies underscore important lessons learned and offer suggestions for enhancing the delivery of RMNCAH interventions. Each chapter represents one study and discusses service delivery, the health workforce, financing, health information systems, and governance and leadership. Two appendixes summarize key findings and recommendations and explain the roles of key stakeholders in the RMNCAH Operational Research Program.Publication Managing Seized and Confiscated Assets - A Guide for Practitioners(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2024-01-18) Bostwick, Lisa; Bartlett, Nigel; Cronje, Hermione; Abernathy III, T.J.This Guide aims to provide guidance to practitioners on asset management, from pre-seizure planning to preserving value during custody to maximizing value at disposal. It is intended to provide practitioners with the foundations to build an effective asset management function and to grow the asset portfolio to manage complex assets. Accordingly, the Guide includes recommendations and good practices derived from international studies, experience from interviews with asset management experts, and case examples. In addition, practitioners may benefit from discussions of different approaches among jurisdictions, the case examples, and the detail on managing specific asset types.Publication Victims of Corruption: Back for Payback(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2024-01-02) Falconi, Felipe Freitas; Ugaz, José; Garcia, Juanita Olaya; Soto, Yara EsquivelCorruption harms communities and impacts the global economy. It discourages business opportunities, hinders foreign aid and investment, and exacerbates inequality. It victimizes society’s most vulnerable and marginalized individuals by affecting their ability to meet their basic needs, as well as reducing their chances of overcoming poverty and exclusion. As such, anti-corruption efforts would be incomplete if damages arising from corrupt acts remain unaddressed. This publication aims at stimulating further research and exchange on the matter by providing an overview of the current state of law and practice regarding the recovery of corruption damages; outlining the different types of legal frameworks and avenues available in different legal systems; and the respective legal barriers and other challenges that may arise.Publication Working Today for a Better Tomorrow in Ethiopia: Jobs for Poor and Vulnerable Households(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2023-12-21) eds.; Chapman, Emily Weedon; Vinez, MargauxEthiopia has long prioritized creating more and better jobs as core to its sustainable and inclusive development. However, steady growth in the gross domestic product and gains in agricultural productivity in recent decades have not translated into better opportunities nor increased earnings for much of the population. The 2021 Labor Force Survey data reveal labor trends since 1999 and underscore these realities. Moreover, COVID-19 and other shocks have reinforced the disconnect between positive macroeconomic trends at national level and stagnant incomes at the household level. "Working Today for a Better Tomorrow in Ethiopia: Jobs for Poor and Vulnerable Households" outlines how Ethiopia can leverage its social safety net programs to help poor and vulnerable workers earn more in today’s labor market. The government’s latest development planning policies focus on private sector growth and structural transformation to create more and better jobs. While these long-term reforms take hold, the jobs agenda also must include near-term measures to improve worker productivity in and connect people to jobs that already exist. Complementing cash transfers with capital, training, and other services can help workers earn more in their current work, diversify into new types of employment, or connect to available wage jobs. These investments can have an immediate impact for poor people in Ethiopia while also contributing to sustainable and inclusive development.Publication Greening National Development Financial Institutions: Trends, Lessons Learned, and Ways Forward(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2023-12-20) Dalhuijsen, Emma; Gutierrez, Eva; Kliatskova, Tatsiana; Mok, Rachel; Regelink, Martijn Gert JanNational Development Financial Institutions (NDFIs) are crucial for mobilizing the required financing, including from private sources, to reach countries’ climate and environmental (C&E) objectives. Funding needed to achieve countries’ C&E goals is in the trillions of dollars, with many countries also facing significant fiscal and economic constraints. NDFIs are well positioned to overcome the market barriers associated with green investments and catalyze private-sector financing. The main purpose of “Greening National Development Financial Institutions: Trends, Lessons Learned, and Ways Forward” is to examine the current trends and recommend policy actions for “greening” NDFIs. This report identifies key steps NDFIs can take to catalyze finance toward countries’ C&E objectives and manage C&E risks. The assessment of NDFIs’ C&E practices is based on a review of key elements of NDFI operations and their institutional setup. The work draws from the results of a survey conducted by the World Bank of greening practices within NDFIs based in countries in a range of regions and income levels, as well as on in-depth case studies of four NDFIs: Los Fideicomisos Instituidos en Relación con la Agricultura, Korea Development Bank, Türkiye Sinai Kalkinma Bankasi, and Development Bank of Southern Africa.Publication Migrants, Markets, and Mayors: Rising above the Employment Challenge in Africa’s Secondary Cities(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2023-12-14) Editors; Christiaensen, Luc; Lozano-Gracia, NancyResearch on migration and urban development in Africa has primarily focused on larger cities and rural-to-urban migration. However, 97 percent of Africa’s urban centers have fewer than 300,000 inhabitants, and a sizable share of urban migrants come from other urban areas. A more holistic and dynamic perspective, incorporating migration flows along the full urban hierarchy, as well as urban-urban migrants, is needed to better understand and leverage migration for urban development. Migrants, Markets, and Mayors: Rising above the Employment Challenge in Africa’s Secondary Cities draws on demographic data, research literature, key informant interviews, and empirical research to better understand how migrants in Africa’s secondary cities fare in urban labor markets, how they affect aggregate urban productivity, and how mayors can leverage migrants’ potential to the benefit of all. It explores these questions across countries and four urban case settings: Jijiga in Ethiopia, Jinja in Uganda, and Jendouba and Kairouan in Tunisia. Although mayors in secondary cities often see migrants as a burden to their cities’ labor markets and a threat to development, the report finds that migrants contribute increasingly less to urban population growth and that they usually strengthen the resident labor force. The report also finds that labor market outcomes for migrants are at least as good as those for nonmigrants. Africa’s secondary cities are well placed to leverage migration, but evidence-based policies are needed to manage the growth and development of land and labor markets. The report reviews policy options that mayors can take to strengthen the financial, technical, and planning capacity of secondary cities and better leverage migration to benefit migrants and nonmigrants alike.