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The Gambia Circular Economy Diagnostic
No full textThis report identifies circular
economy (CE) opportunities in the tourism sector in Cabo
Verde, The Gambia, and Säo Tomé & Principe. The project
aims to enhance circularity by advocating for policy
changes, phasing out single-use plastics (SUP), and
fostering innovative infrastructure and financing solutions.
It focuses on boosting business models for SMEs that offer
alternatives to SUPs or goods and services based on CE
principles. The report presents potential opportunities to
improve resource use efficiency and circularity, considering
the local geographic and economic context in The Gambia. It
includes comprehensive firm audits within the tourism sector
and an extensive market assessment to determine the scope
and size of CE products. Additionally, the report showcases
the outcomes of the Multi-Criteria Analysis (NICA), which
prioritizes potential business cases for further evaluation
of their financial and technical feasibility
India’s Best Investment
No full textReducing communicable diseases is a key plank of development infrastructure, and little effort is required to build a strong public health system in India, within its existing administrative structures and budgetary outlays. This would go far toward improving people’s well-being and productivity, and avert losses of billions of dollars annually due to various economic impacts of poor health conditions. The national-level technical institutions required are already in place, but their functioning is severely constrained by a lack of autonomy. State-level public health systems need much strengthening, and the central government can incentivize states to do this by tying its budgetary support to the following action by states: (1) Separate their Directorates for Public Health and for Medical Services, with separate budgets to avoid marginalizing public health services in favor of medical services — following the simple model of the state of Tamil Nadu, whose impressive system of public health management generates very good health outcomes despite spending no more than the national average. (2) Adopt modern public health legislation, providing the legal basis for action to protect public health. (3) Revitalize the grassroots male health worker cadre, responsible for environmental and public health — following the model of Sri Lanka’s Public Health Inspectors, with its outstanding training curriculum, manuals, and supervisory guidelines. (4) Assure a steady flow of needed supplies, modelled on the Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation. Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka offer simple low-cost models for strengthening public health systems across India, within current health budgets and administrative structures. This would greatly improve people’s health in India and support the country’s effort to become a developed economy
The Energy Progress Report 2024
No full textSince its inception in 2018, "Tracking SDG 7: The Energy Progress Report" has become the global reference for information on progress toward the achievement of SDG 7 of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The aim of SDG 7 is to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all. This report thus summarizes global progress on energy access, energy efficiency, renewable energy, clean cooking, and international cooperation to advance SDG 7. It presents updated statistics for each of the indicators and provides policy insights on priority areas and actions needed to spur further progress on SDG 7.
Despite some progress across the indicators, the current pace is not adequate to achieve any of the 2030 targets
for SDG 7. As in previous years, rates of progress vary significantly across regions, with some regions making
substantial gains and some slowing their progress or even moving backward. Among the major economic factors
impeding the realization of the goal are the uncertain macroeconomic outlook, high levels of inflation, debt
distress in a growing number of countries, inequitable distribution of finance and other resources, supply chain
bottlenecks, and soaring prices for materials. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and the
steady rise in energy prices since summer 2021 have been a further drag on progress, particularly in the most
vulnerable countries and those that were already lagging behind
The Economic and Health Impacts of Increasing Salinity
No full textThe composition of flora and fauna in
low-lying coastal regions worldwide is being altered by
sea-level rise in a changing climate, favoring
saline-tolerant species. These shifts are projected to have
significant implications for nature-based livelihoods,
resource availability, market prices, and the food and
nutrition security of coastal populations, particularly
those with limited choices and affordability. The
vulnerabilities arising from these changes underscore the
critical need for adaptation planning to build resilience.
In the southwest coastal region of Bangladesh, rising sea
levels and upstream changes in freshwater flux are
intensifying riverine salinity, with annual flux dynamics
driving substantial salinity changes and providing insights
into future trends as high-salinity water encroaches further
inland. In this study, river salinity monitor data were
combined with fish sales records from nearby wholesale
markets to evaluate the magnitude, spatial distribution, and
fishing impact of salinity changes throughout 2023.
Significant impacts on fish quantities were observed, and
analysis of associated child health data revealed that
salinity-related health challenges persist despite steady
poverty reduction. Econometric analysis of fish catch
records demonstrated that salinity changes differentially
affect the availability of fish species with varying
salinity tolerances, reflecting the interplay of
species-specific salinity aversion and fishers’ adaptive
strategies to optimize profitable catches. These findings
highlight the importance of complementing technical
assessments of species-specific salinity tolerances with
empirical salinity and catch data to improve projections of
salinity impacts on fish consumption in affected regions.
The results provide actionable insights into the dynamic
interactions between environmental change, ecological
responses, and human adaptation in coastal settings
Brazil - Scoping Note on Reassessing and Updating Brazil’s Financial Consumer Protection Regime
No full textThis document highlights major
advancements in financial inclusion, especially with the PIX
payment system. However, financial consumers are
increasingly at risk from fraud, scams, over-indebtedness,
and mis-sold bundled insurance products. It calls for a
structured approach to reforming the legal and institutional
framework to better protect consumers. The document outlines
the current financial sector landscape, existing FCP
framework, and roles of regulatory bodies. It stresses the
importance of cooperation, integration, and information
sharing among authorities and recommends immediate steps,
including developing a problem statement, terms of
reference, and a roadmap for reassessment
FY 2024 Maldives Country Opinion Survey Report
No full textThe Country Opinion Survey in
Maldives assists the World Bank Group (WBG) in better
understanding how stakeholders in Maldives perceive the WBG.
It provides the WBG with systematic feedback from national
and local governments, multilateral/bilateral agencies,
media, academia, the private sector, and civil society in
Maldives on 1) their views regarding the general environment
in Maldives; 2) their overall attitudes toward the WBG in
Maldives; 3) overall impressions of the WBG’s effectiveness
and results, knowledge work and activities, and
communication and information sharing in Maldives; and 4)
their perceptions of the WBG’s future role in Maldives
A World Bank Group Approach
Get PDFDPI is an approach to digitalization focused on creating “foundational, digital building blocks designed for the public benefit.” By providing essential digital functions at society scale that can be reused across sectors, DPIs enable public and private service providers to build on these systems, innovate, and roll out new services more quickly and efficiently. Common systems built as DPIs include digital identity and electronic signatures, digital payments, and data sharing. However, to provide DPI functionality, these systems must embed principles such as inclusion, openness, modularity, inclusivity, user-centricity, privacy-by-design, and strong governance.
This paper provides a common framework and primer on DPI for policymakers, practitioners, WBG staff, and the broader development community, including:
• DPI Concepts and Theory of Change: This includes a working definition of DPI and its core characteristics, including the role of the private sector, how DPI differs from past approaches to digitalization, and the relationship between core DPI systems, sector-specific systems, other digital technologies, and broader ecosystem enablers and safeguards. The paper also articulates the potential benefits of DPI across a range of public and private sector services, as well as risks and challenges for implementation and adoption.
• Considerations for Implementation: Drawing on the experiences of a diverse set of countries across different regions, income levels, and DPI approaches, the paper identifies common trends for building, scaling, and using DPIs that are safe and inclusive. This includes identifying what we know (and do not yet know) around different DPI design choices and models, implementation strategies, procurement, issues around use case integration and sequencing of DPI, and more.
• Principles and Practical Lessons: Finally, it summarizes key lessons from countries’ experiences with DPI to date, highlighting critical success factors and risk mitigation strategies for policymakers, practitioners, and development partners. A separate volume provides examples of DPI from countries around the globe.
By leveraging the opportunities presented by DPI, countries can accelerate their digital transformation journeys and achieve more inclusive and sustainable development. The World Bank Group is committed to supporting this crucial endeavor. The WBG’s new Global DPI Program will address key knowledge gaps and support countries in building safe, inclusive, and transformative DPI
People, Progress, and Planet - Reaching Upper Middle Income Status by 2029 : Policy Notes 2024
No full textBhutan’s broad-based growth has reduced poverty and inequality over the past decades. To respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and multiple global and domestic crises, the country adopted unorthodox policies such as using foreign reserves to invest in crypto-mining, which slashed reserves by half and exacerbated macroeconomic and financial vulnerabilities. External vulnerabilities combined with longstanding structural weaknesses have intensified the negative economic impact of a surge in outmigration. Private sector job opportunities are limited, especially for young people like Karma, who are now emigrating in large numbers. The lack of economic diversification and limited private-sector business activity poses risks to long-term growth and job creation. The hydropower sector contributes substantially to the economy but employs less than 1 percent of the labor force. And growth in other sectors has been intensive in capital and labor, with limited productivity improvements. There is a future for Bhutan in which young, talented people like Karma decide that they can achieve their dreams by staying in the country. Businesses like Dorji’s can attract and retain skilled workers and find the financing needed to expand. Bhida receives a good education in her rural school from qualified teachers who set her up for higher education and a bright future in which Dechen and her parents can launch their handmade furniture industry and find wealthy foreign buyers, enabling them to live an independent, comfortable life. With careful planning and mindfulness, Bhutan can protect its culture and nature while providing good opportunities and infrastructure for its people
Situacion Actual y Perspectivas Futuras de Drones Para el Desarrollo de Guatemala
No full textThis report aims to evaluate the current status of the drone ecosystem in Guatemala and considers ways to unlock the potential of drones by encouraging wider adoption. To this aim, following the methodology utilized by PwC, a mapping of the current ecosystem was conducted, along with an analysis of the regulatory framework, a calculation of the market potential, and finally, an evaluation of the initiatives necessary to ensure the expansion of the drone ecosystem over the next five years. The first part of the report analyses the current status of the drone ecosystem in the country, identifying the main stakeholders and key players present in Guatemala and the roles that they currently play in the sector. Additionally, this section explores the maturity of the sector in the country, focusing particularly on the components of the UAS ecosystem, including an evaluation of the current situation regarding the regulatory framework, identifying main bottlenecks, challenges, and opportunities for improvement that can unlock the industry’s potential in the country. The second part looks at UAVs' growth and market potential, specifically regarding use cases and the sectors that are most relevant and have the most potential for investment and industry development. The third section describes the non-commercial drone applications currently present in the country and assesses which has the most potential for successful development and growth. Here it is also showcased the relevance of drones in tackling social and environmental problems in the country. The last section provides an overview of key initiatives that need to be implemented by the government and the relevant regulators to ensure the development of the drone ecosystem and the broader adoption of UAVs across key sectors in Guatemala. Recommendations are made for activities and initiatives that aid the sector’s growth, increasing digitalization, raise drone awareness, and accelerate the formalization of the industry in Guatemala.Este informe tiene como objetivo evaluar el estado actual del ecosistema de drones en Guatemala y considerar formas de liberar el potencial de estos mediante el fomento de una adopción más amplia. Para ello, siguiendo la metodología utilizada por PwC, se realizó un mapeo del ecosistema actual, un análisis del marco regulatorio, un cálculo del potencial de mercado y, finalmente, una evaluación de las iniciativas necesarias para garantizar la expansión del ecosistema de drones en los próximos cinco años. La primera parte del informe analiza el estado actual del ecosistema de drones en el país, identificando los principales actores y actores clave presentes en Guatemala y los roles que desempeñan actualmente en el sector. Además, en esta sección se explora la madurez del sector en el país, centrándose especialmente en los componentes del ecosistema de UAS, incluida una evaluación de la situación actual en relación con el marco regulatorio, identificando los principales cuellos de botella, desafíos y oportunidades de mejora que pueden liberar el potencial de la industria en el país. La segunda parte analiza el crecimiento y el potencial de mercado de los vehículos aéreos no tripulados, específicamente en lo que respecta a los casos de uso y los sectores que son más relevantes y tienen el mayor potencial para la inversión y el desarrollo industrial. La tercera sección describe las aplicaciones de drones no comerciales actualmente presentes en el país y evalúa cuál tiene el mayor potencial para un desarrollo y crecimiento exitosos. Aquí también se muestra la relevancia de los drones para abordar los problemas sociales y ambientales del país. La última sección ofrece una descripción general de las iniciativas clave que deben implementar el Gobierno y los reguladores pertinentes para garantizar el desarrollo del ecosistema de drones y la adopción más amplia de los drones en sectores clave en Guatemala. Se hacen recomendaciones de actividades e iniciativas que ayuden al crecimiento del sector, aumentando la digitalización, aumentando la concientización sobre los drones y acelerando la formalización de la industria en Guatemala
An Overview of the Indian Health Labor Markets
Get PDFThis report presents a comprehensive analysis of India’s health labor markets using data from the Periodic Labor Force Survey, the country’s largest labor dataset. It updates estimates of the size, composition, and characteristics of the active health workforce and examines employment dynamics in the sector, including estimates of labor supply elasticities, job quality, and projections of workforce needs and demand. India’s health workforce comprises about 5 million active workers when considering only core occupations. Although workforce density remains below global, regional, and structural benchmarks, efforts to scale up training capacity have led to a 60 percent increase in the number of health workers since 2017. Despite this progress, persistent shortages remain in key medical specialties, and informality is still widespread, both in employment arrangements and training requirements. The workforce also remains concentrated in urban areas, although rural representation has improved, particularly among associate nurses and midwives. The health sector plays a vital role in providing quality employment, especially for women, accounting for 1.3 percent of the total workforce and 2 percent of female employment in the country. Medical training increases female labor force participation by 24.6 percentage points. However, challenges persist: a 30 percent gender pay gap and the disproportionate burden of household responsibilities continue to limit women’s participation, over one-third of women with undergraduate-level medical training are outside the labor force. Labor supply elasticity estimates suggest that wage increases alone do not significantly increase the working hours of health workers. This underscores the importance of compensation structure and non-pecuniary benefits, such as training opportunities, career advancement, housing, and access to childcare, healthcare, and maternity benefits, especially for female workers. While projections indicate India may need up to 10 million additional health workers by 2035 (depending on the benchmark), current trends suggest the supply-demand gap is gradually narrowing, largely due to major healthcare reforms. As India expands health coverage and mobilizes resources to fund healthcare services, more healthcare jobs will be needed to support progress toward universal health coverage