World Bank Open Knowledge Repository
Not a member yet
39632 research outputs found
Sort by
Single-Use Plastics in ASEAN: Developing a Coordinated Policy Approach
No full textPlastic waste, especially waste from single-use plastic (SUP) products, is a fast-growing crisis. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a major hotspot and is already experiencing significant consequences. In recent years, as globalization accelerates, plastic products have saturated global markets. While plastics provide benefits such as preserving food and supporting the medical industry, their waste poses a significant challenge. For low and middle-income countries (LMICs) and some upper middle-income countries (UMICs), this is particularly acute due to constrained waste management infrastructure and gaps in policy frameworks. ASEAN member states (AMS) are also experiencing a rise in plastic pollution they cannot effectively manage, especially from SUPs. SUPs pose the greatest challenge due to their short lifespan and rapid waste generation. However, restrictive and permissive policies, including targeted bans, can be effective in combating plastic pollution, reducing SUPs, and improving recycling processes. This report presents the findings of a policy analysis of the SUP policy landscape in AMS and recommends an approach to SUP policy design grounded in the ASEAN context. It outlines the theoretical frameworks that underpinned the analysis and describes the proposed design approach. It also sets out a way forward on monitoring and enforcement and lists key actions to support AMS in designing and implementing effective SUP policies. The report presents the range of plastic policy options for tackling SUPs. These include restrictive policies such as bans, phasedowns and phase-outs, taxes or fees, eco-design regulations, and extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes; and permissive policies such as prioritizing recycling, building awareness, and collaborating with industry and business
Helping Nigerians Grow: Food Security and Nutrition Impacts of Safety Nets Interventions in Nigeria
Get PDFA rigorous randomized controlled trial in Nigeria shows that integrated safety nets produce sustained improvements in nutrition and food security for poor households relative to a basic safety nets program, with effects lasting three years. Stunting rates among young children fall by 18 percent only when all three critical features are present: (i) targeting families during early childhood; (ii) substantial grant on top of a regular safety net support; and (iii) behavior change training. Scaling up these proven interventions is urgent to address Nigeria’s high burden of stunting and food insecurity and unlock future human capital
Azerbaijan Country Economic Update, October 2025
Get PDFEconomic growth decelerated to 1.5 percent in the first half of 2025, driven by contraction in the hydrocarbon sector and marked slowdown in non-hydrocarbon sector output. Hydrocarbon sector output fell 3.2 percent (you) as daily crude oil production declined 3.1 percent (yoyo) while natural gas production levelled. Non-hydrocarbon sector growth slowed to 3.9 percent in H1 2025 from 6.9 percent in H1 2024, as activity normalized in construction, transport, ICT, and retail trade following strong gains last year. Despite this slowdown, agriculture and hospitality have maintained momentum. Inflation edged down by end-June as domestic and external pressures subsided. Annual Inflation remained elevated in the first quarter at 5.5 percent due to high food and services prices fueled by direct and indirect effects of the hike in administrative prices in mid-2024 and in early 2025. In the second quarter, inflationary pressures eased, and annual inflation eased to 4.8 percent closer to the central point of CBAR’s inflation target range (4+/-2 percent). CBAR has kept the policy rate unchanged at 7.25 percent since May 2024. External and fiscal accounts retained significant surpluses, albeit moderated due to lower hydrocarbon sector inflows. The Current Account Balance surplus eased to 6.3 percent of GDP in H1 from 7.7 percent of GDP in H1 2024, reflecting subdued hydrocarbon exports and a moderate pick up in imports. The fiscal surplus eased to 7.7 percent of GDP in H1 2025 from 10.3 percent in H1 2024 as revenues levelled while expenditures expanded, though at a moderate pace. In H1 2025, non-hydrocarbon primary balance widened to 14.7 percent of non-hydrocarbon GDP from 13.9 percent in H1 2024 as non-hydrocarbon sector revenue collection slowed. Macroeconomic buffers continued to be strong, with SOFAZ reserves increasing by 13.2 percent (joy) by end June and amounting to USD 65 billion (88 percent of GDP). CBAR reserves inched up to USD 11.5 billion equivalent to 5.6 months of imports. Looking ahead, economic growth is projected to remain low in 2025 and in the medium-term, as domestic demand eases on the back of slowing fiscal spending. Growth is projected to average 1.7 percent in 2025-2027 as the fiscal policy is expected to become tighter in the face of declining crude oil prices. Inflation is expected to stay within the Central Bank’s target range. Lower projected hydrocarbon prices will put downward pressure on fiscal and external balances. Downside risks include protracted low growth of the economy and steeper fall in energy prices which could affect macroeconomic stability. While macroeconomic buffers remain sufficient to counter the risks looming, the resilience of the economy in the medium to long term will be largely determined by the degree of success in moving towards a more diversified growth model, which requires significant structural reforms
Hypertension and Diabetes Care in Azerbaijan: A Mixed Methods Cascade Analysis
Get PDFAzerbaijan is at a critical juncture in its development journey towards universal health coverage. Reforms of the health financing and organization of the health system have aimed to increase efficiency and progress towards equal access to health services, financial protection, and quality. Key health indicators have shown improvements in the last two decades. However, the population of approximately 10.5 million faces a mounting challenge posed by noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Among these, diabetes and hypertension stand out as significant contributors to the nation’s health burden. Nearly 1 in 3 adults has hypertension (30 percent), and approximately 7 percent have diabetes. This burden is further aggravated by high prevalence levels of NCD risk factors. For instance, 21 percent of adults are obese, and 55 percent are overweight or obese. The cost of managing diabetes and hypertension, including medication, monitoring, hospitalization, and associated complications, poses a considerable financial burden on individuals, families, and the healthcare system. As a step towards strengthening NCD care and addressing the burden, a cascade analysis was conducted in Azerbaijan in 2023–2024 to enhance the understanding of the coverage, quality, and continuity of care for diabetes and hypertension. This report presents the results of an analysis of NCD care provision and outcomes among hypertension and diabetes patients, a technical assistance activity provided by the World Bank to the Azerbaijan health sector. It documents findings of the two research phases of the analysis, one which assessed the care cascades using existing medical record data of patients, and the other, which comprised primary data collection with qualitative methods. The study was motivated by the State Mandatory Insurance Agency’s interest in monitoring the care pathways of patients with hypertension and diabetes, and in gaining a better understanding of the care currently provided under the health insurance scheme
Addressing a National Challenge: How the Philippines is Strengthening Sustainable Plastic Waste Management with Support from the World Bank Group
Get PDFThis note synthesizes the World Bank’s approach to supporting the Philippines in addressing the plastic waste crisis. As one of the largest contributors to marine plastic pollution globally, the Philippines is estimated to leak more than 0,3 million metric tons of plastic waste into the ocean per year, 8.8 percent of its total of mismanaged plastic waste. The country has long faced challenges in establishing a circular and sustainable solid waste management system, due to gaps in infrastructure, governance, policy, and technical capacity. Although there has been strong political will to tackle plastic pollution, the Philippines needs technical and strategic guidance, as well as funding for well-targeted projects to catalyze meaningful change. This note revisits the multifaceted engagement of the World Bank, which helped lay the foundation for tangible progress in combating plastic pollution. Through strategic interventions supported by the PROBLUE multi-donor trust fund, the World Bank raised national awareness of the crisis, pooled additional resources, and advised the government on global best practices. At the same time, it fostered the development of local knowledge and capacity while providing targeted financial assistance to drive reforms and investment
Safeguarding Financial Inclusion During Crises: Lessons for Policymaking
Get PDFSystemic crises pose pressing threats and jeopardize economic growth and prosperity. These recurrent events disproportionately affect vulnerable households as well as micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises (MSME), all of whose limited financial assets and restricted access to finance hinder their ability to cope with external shocks and manage uncertainty. Such events not only undermine financial stability; they also can reverse the hard-won gains of financial inclusion as well as deepen inequality. In typical response, financial safety-net authorities (FSNA) draw on a comprehensive toolkit—one which, depending on their objectives, may include macroeconomic stabilization policies and financial sector-specific interventions. This Working Paper represents an early effort in this area, showcasing the fact that a crisis response to restore financial stability can be effectively aligned with efforts to maintain financial inclusion. Drawing on an empirical analysis of 58 countries, microdata from more than 300,000 individuals, surveys targeting central banks, and real-world case studies from Indonesia, Lebanon, the Philippines, and Thailand, this document provides evidence that inclusion, indeed, can be safeguarded and strengthened without compromising financial stability. This will not occur by chance; it will require authorities to act with intention and in a coordinated manner
Revue des dépenses publiques agricoles de Madagascar (AgPER) : Réalignement des politiques et programmes de soutien à l’agriculture
Get PDFThis report examines Madagascar’s public agricultural expenditure from 2013 to 2022 and incorporates recent policy changes as of mid-2024. Its findings and recommendations aim to help the government allocate scarce public resources more effectively for better targeting and outcomes. The study consists of two main components: an analysis of public agricultural expenditures and an assessment of price incentives for selected commodities, which may either reinforce or counteract the intended effects of budget allocations. The methodologies follow the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program (CAADP) for expenditure analysis and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Monitoring and Analyzing Food and Agricultural Policies Program (MAFAP) for price incentive analysis. Expenditure data were sourced from the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF), while price data were gathered from multiple sources. The team faced several constraints during data collection, which limited the analysis, particularly in assessing the effectiveness and efficiency of expenditures.Ce rapport examine les dépenses agricoles publiques de Madagascar de 2013 à 2022 et intègre les changements politiques récents à la mi-2024. Ses conclusions et recommandations visent à aider le gouvernement à allouer plus efficacement les ressources publiques rares pour de meilleurs ciblages et de meilleurs résultats. L’étude se compose de deux volets principaux : une analyse des dépenses agricoles publiques et une évaluation des incitations de prix pour certaines matières premières, qui peuvent soit renforcer, soit contrer les effets attendus des allocations budgétaires. Les méthodologies suivent le Programme global de développement agricole de l’Afrique (CAADP) pour l’analyse des dépenses et le Programme de surveillance et d’analyse des politiques alimentaires et agricoles (MAFAP) pour l’analyse des incitations de prix. Les données de dépenses provenaient du ministère de l’Économie et des Finances (MEF), tandis que les données sur les prix provenaient de multiples sources. L’équipe a rencontré plusieurs contraintes lors de la collecte des données, ce qui a limité l’analyse, notamment pour évaluer l’efficacité et l’efficience des dépenses
Lao PDR Economic Monitor, December 2025: Consolidating Recent Reform Momentum for Macroeconomic Stability and Growth
No full textMacroeconomic conditions improved noticeably in 2025, supported by a more stable exchange rate, easing inflation, and gradual economic recovery. The external position strengthened in 2025, supported by a sizable current account surplus, itself driven by strong merchandise exports, and growth in tourism and transport services. The fiscal accounts show a surplus in 2025 as domestic revenues strengthened while expenditure growth remained moderate. Monetary conditions remain tight in 2025, with reserve money expanding more slowly and real interest rates rising. Looking ahead, growth is expected to remain stable in 2026, with services and resource-based sectors continuing to drive activity. Consolidating the recent reform momentum for stability and growth will require further actions in the following critical reform areas: (i) raising revenues (through reducing tax exemptions, reinstating fuel excise taxes, and reforming health excise taxes on tobacco and alcohol), while boosting spending on social services and infrastructure maintenance; (ii) establishing a strong institutional and legal framework for public–private partnerships; (iii) expediting ongoing debt renegotiations and strengthening public debt and contingent liability management; (iv) enhancing bank supervision; and (v) improving the business environment to promote investment and export diversification by digitizing business registration and licenses and streamlining non-tariff measures
Is There an Underside to Economic Growth? A Mixed-Methods Analysis of Malaysia
Get PDFThis paper sheds light on a Malaysian paradox that may have lessons for the rest of the world. Despite high GDP growth with concurrent sharp reductions in income poverty and inequality, there has been widespread discontent in the country. The paper first documents various dimensions of the Malaysian miracle with a diverse set of survey data. It then draws on a large sample of open-ended focus group discussions to delve beneath the surface of the data, analyzing how middle-class and low-income Malaysian citizens perceive these changes, the challenges they face, and their sources of discontent. The findings reveal a broad consensus that while material living standards have improved, they have been accompanied by an underside, including a significant imbalance between income and expenses, a need to rely on dual incomes and multiple jobs, growing indebtedness, increased stress, and polarization across ethnic groups. Furthermore, people in poorer regions of Malaysia demonstrate a greater concern for social status, with a preference for relative over absolute income, compared to those in richer regions, indicating that growth may reduce social connectedness. The paper then draws on the work of Karl Polanyi and Fred Hirsch to argue that the Malaysian paradox may reveal something more general about the social embeddedness of economic life and its implications for why some people may experience the downsides of economic growth
Data Governance in Mozambique: Findings and Recommendations Based on a Rapid Diagnostic
Get PDFThis report presents observations from a rapid diagnostic of the state of data governance and the data ecosystem in Mozambique. The diagnostic aims to provide an overall assessment of the country’s data governance framework, and to generate actionable recommendations for the Government of Mozambique