World Bank Open Knowledge Repository
Not a member yet
39632 research outputs found
Sort by
Accelerating Investment: Challenges and Policies
Get PDFInvestment is the engine that expands productive capacity, modernizes infrastructure, creates jobs, and drives progress toward development and climate goals.
Yet developing economies face an investment shortfall of historic proportions. Even as development needs rise, investment growth has slowed to about half its pace in the 2000s. Public investment alone cannot fill this gap. Private investment must play the leading role in reigniting growth, creating jobs, and supporting the transition to a more sustainable and resilient future.
This book presents the World Bank’s most comprehensive assessment of investment in emerging and developing economies. It examines why investment matters, why it has stalled, and what it will take to revive it. The analysis highlights that countries that have successfully triggered investment booms combined sound macroeconomic frameworks with reforms that improved the business climate, strengthened governance, and mobilized private capital.
History shows that when investment surges, economies grow faster, job creation accelerates, and poverty declines more rapidly. Reversing today’s slowdown is within reach — through credible fiscal and monetary policies, well-targeted public investment that attracts private capital, and stronger international cooperation to mobilize finance at scale.
Reigniting investment is not just a national priority — it is a global imperative
Au-delà des industries extractives : Libérer le potentiel de la Mauritanie pour une croissance durable, inclusive et résiliente
Get PDFMauritania’s extractive-led development path has run its course. A comprehensive and actionable set of reforms can unlock job creation and deliver a diversified, resilient, and inclusive growth path to reach Upper Middle-Income Country (UMIC) status by 2050. These are centered on three main pillars: (i) building a robust foundation of physical, human, and natural capital; (ii) creating a predictable regulatory environment; and (iii) fostering a dynamic private sector, that will foster stronger and better job creation by the non-extractive sectors, such as energy, agribusiness, and tourism (Table O.1). Strengthening Mauritania’s foundational infrastructure requires modernizing payment systems, scaling-up investment in early childhood education, boosting women’s workforce participation, and expanding fiscal resources for climate adaptation and mitigation investments. Also, reforms such as establishing and operationalizing an independent anti-corruption agency, revising the 2004 Labor Code to simplify hiring and eliminate gender bias, implementing an electronic land management system, and enforcing the new competition law will help create a stable regulatory environment that supports business and job growth. To support a dynamic private sector, policies should focus on better access to finance, smoother technology transfer, and innovation-friendly environments. This includes investing in STEM, creating efficient credit bureaus and registries, and developing demand-driven skills training systems (TVET).La voie de développement de la Mauritanie, axée sur l’extraction minière, a atteint ses limites. Un ensemble complet et réalisable de réformes peut stimuler la création d’emplois et ouvrir la voie à une croissance diversifiée, résiliente et inclusive afin d’atteindre le statut de pays à revenu intermédiaire
supérieur (PRIS) d’ici 2050. Ces réformes s’articulent autour de trois piliers principaux : (i) l’établissement d’une base solide en matière de capital physique, humain et naturel ; (ii) la création d’un environnement réglementaire prévisible ; et (iii) la promotion d’un secteur privé dynamique, qui favorisera la création d’emplois plus nombreux et de meilleure qualité dans les secteurs non extractifs, tels que l’énergie, l’agroalimentaire et le tourisme (tableau O.1). Le renforcement des infrastructures de base de la Mauritanie passe par la modernisation des systèmes de paiement, l’augmentation des investissements dans l’éducation de la petite enfance, la promotion de la participation des femmes au marché du travail et l’augmentation des ressources fiscales consacrées aux investissements dans l’adaptation au changement climatique et l’atténuation de ses effets. En outre, des réformes telles que la création et la mise en place d’une agence indépendante de lutte contre la corruption, la révision du Code du travail de 2004 afin de simplifier le recrutement et promouvoir l’égalité des sexes sur le marché du travail, la mise en œuvre d’un système électronique de gestion foncière et l’application de la nouvelle loi sur la concurrence contribueront à créer un environnement réglementaire stable qui favorise la croissance des
entreprises et de l’emploi. Afin de soutenir un secteur privé dynamique, les politiques devraient se concentrer sur un meilleur accès au financement, un transfert de technologie plus fluide et des environnements favorables
à l’innovation. Cela comprend l’investissement dans les Sciences, Technologie, Ingénierie et Mathématiques (STEM), la création d’agences d’évaluation du crédit et de registres efficaces, et le développement de systèmes de formation professionnelle axés sur la demande (EFTP)
Mauritania Country Partnership Framework for the Period FY2026-FY2030
Get PDFThe World Bank Group (WBG) Country Partnership Framework (CPF) will support Mauritania's efforts toward economic transformation and resilience through diversification and private investment, with the goal of promoting growth and job creation. The CPF is aligned with the government’s national priorities stated in the ‘Stratégie Nationale de Croissance Accélérée et de Prospérité Partagée (SCAPP, 2016-30) and coincides with its third five-year action plan (2025-30). The WBG Mauritania CPF focuses on job creation through four interrelated Outcomes: (i) more and better jobs, (ii) strengthened institutions and improved governance, (iii) connected communities, and (iv) resilient populations. Through these, the WBG seeks to focus on creating the fundamentals for quality jobs through strengthened institutions and governance, improving the business environment for private sector development (notably in mining, agribusiness, and fisheries with emphasis on SMEs and access to finance), and enhancing skills for youth. A stronger focus on prevention to build social cohesion and resilience to climate and fragility risks runs through all four pillars
Croatia - Management of Wildfire Risk
Get PDFWildfire risk is increasing in Croatia. Between 2010 and 2021, the cost of damage due to wildfires across the country totaled over Euro 249 million; the 2017 fire season burned 67,666 ha of land and caused an estimated Euro 109 million in losses; and the 2022 season recorded 149 fires. Even within the span of one year, in 2024, 21 percent more open-air fires were recorded compared to 2023 for the same period. In fact, Croatia experienced over a thousand additional wildfires in 2024 compared to the previous year. This increase highlights both the rising frequency and severity of wildfires, with 29 precent more vegetation fires and a burned area of 26,807 ha, over four times larger than the previous year. The 2024 Croatian National Risk Assessment (NRA) reports that Split-Dalmatia County, a popular tourist destination, faces very high wildfire risk, while the counties of Istria, Sibenik-Knin, Zadar, and Dubrovnik-Neretva all face a high risk. The sectors most affected by wildfire include forestry, tourism, infrastructure, and public services. Across the country, an average of 73 percent of critical assets, including 94 percent of power lines and 97 percent of road segments, are located in areas with high or very high wildfire hazard. In the context of the country’s Mediterranean climate, changing agricultural land use, and tourism, wildfire risk is intensifying, particularly in coastal areas, hinterlands, and islands, and particularly during the spring and summer months. It is expected that wildfire risks and impacts will compound with heat and other extreme meteorological conditions arising from changes, leading to increased socioeconomic and environmental impacts. This report summarizes the results of a rapid review of wildfire risk and management capacity in Croatia, and it highlights potential risk management priorities to inform policy dialogue and future research. The review considers capacity across multiple dimensions, including governance, understanding of earthquake risk, risk reduction and mitigation, early warning and public awareness, preparedness and emergency response, recovery and post-disaster financing, and cross-cutting topics such as social resilience and the role of the private sector. For each of these dimensions, the report draws on available information to review the general context and current arrangements, including key challenges and opportunities for improvement
The Economic Impacts of Weather-Related Shocks in Nigeria: A First Step Toward the Quantification of Fiscal Risks
Get PDFThe objective of this report is to provide an initial assessment of the economic impacts of weather-related shocks in Nigeria, focusing on three key dimensions: (i) damage to physical assets, (ii) growth impacts, and (iii) household-level impacts. In addition, this study discusses how these economic impacts put pressure on public finances and constitute a considerable source of fiscal risk. Specifically, from a fiscal perspective, the growth effects of weather-related events can be approached as traditional macroeconomic shocks that slow down economic growth and result in lower-than anticipated fiscal revenues. On the other hand, potential damage to assets and well-being impacts constitutes contingent liabilities that can translate into additional public expenditure when weather-related shocks materialize. These effects must therefore become an essential dimension of fiscal policy making and be incorporated into the broader fiscal risk management framework to ensure an adequate budgetary response. This assessment aims to establish a foundation for engaging a policy dialogue with the Federal and State governments on the management of fiscal risks associated with weather-related events. This report is organized as follows: section 1 presents an overview of disaster and weather-related shocks in Nigeria, summarizing historical trends and focusing on the large floods of 2012 and 2022, before briefly discussing key structural characteristics that hamper Nigeria’s capacity to face weather-related events. Section 2 is the core of the report and seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of the threats that weather-related shocks pose to the country’s macro fiscal position. Section 3 presents a discussion on the historical and future trends of key risk drivers: climate change and urbanization, which may increase weather-related risks in the future. Section 4 outlines policy options aimed at strengthening financial preparedness to be further refined through stakeholder consultations and future policy dialogue
Viet Nam Macro Monitoring, August 2025
Get PDFAugust data presented a mixed picture for the Vietnamese economy, showing signs of both resilience and underlying challenges. While industrial production and retail sales saw robust growth, supported by strong performance in key sectors like electronics and a rebound in tourism, external demand appeared to be weakening. This was evidenced by a moderation in exports and a contraction in new export orders, suggesting potential headwinds for the manufacturing sector. Inflation increased slightly, driven by housing costs. Interventions to stabilize the depreciating currency highlighted ongoing monetary and exchange rate pressures. On fiscal policy, despite some progress, the government continues to face challenges in effectively disbursing public investment, a key component of economic growth
Service Delivery Indicators Health Survey for Ghana: Survey Report 2024
Get PDFThe Service Delivery Indicators (SDI) health survey in Ghana serves as a vital tool for assessing and benchmarking the performance of primary health care service delivery. This comprehensive evaluation provides policy-relevant evidence to enable governments, citizens, and other stakeholders to pinpoint successes and bottlenecks in health service delivery, monitor progress over time, and make cross-country comparisons. The results of the assessment are designed to inform action to improve population health outcomes. The Ghana SDI Health Survey is the first in the Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region to be implemented following the survey’s comprehensive content and methodological revamp. This revamp both strengthened methodological rigor - reducing potential sources of bias - and expanded the scope and depth of the content, aligning it with current literature and best practices for measuring health service delivery. The Ghana SDI Health Survey was conducted through a partnership comprising of the World Bank, the Ministry of Health (MoH) of Ghana, and Ghana Health Service (GHS). With data collection spanning March - September 2024 (seven-months), the Ghana SDI Health Survey included surveys at 500 health care facilities, and interviews with 1,227 health care providers and with 2,409 patients at these facilities. The results presented in this report are not only nationally representative but also representative of facility tiers that provide primary health care in Ghana
Artificial Intelligence In Bulgarian School Education
Get PDFThis World Bank report presents a comprehensive analysis and strategic roadmap for integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) within Bulgaria’s educational sector, focusing on primary and secondary education The primary objective of the study is to map the existing AI and EdTech landscape, assess the nation’s readiness for AI adoption, and provide actionable recommendations to guide policymakers toward an equitable, scalable, and responsive adoption of AI technologies. Conducted between April and June 2025, the data collection approach for this report was multi-faceted. The methodology included in-depth interviews with key stakeholders (education experts and senior policymakers), an analysis of secondary data sources such as existing reports on AI for education, digital infrastructure and educational outcomes in Bulgaria, and a systematic literature review of national and international education policie
FY 2025 Indonesia Country Opinion Survey Report
Get PDFThe Country Opinion Survey in Indonesia assists the World Bank Group (WBG) in better understanding how stakeholders in Indonesia 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 Indonesia on 1) their views regarding the general environment in Indonesia; 2) their overall attitudes toward the WBG in Indonesia; 3) overall impressions of the WBG’s effectiveness and results, knowledge work and activities, and communication and information sharing in Indonesia; and 4) their perceptions of the WBG’s future role in Indonesia
A Healthy Future: Primary Health Care and the Chronic Disease Epidemic in East Asia and Pacific
Get PDFIn East Asia and Pacific (EAP), people are living longer but not necessarily
healthier lives. As populations age and urbanize, an epidemic of chronic
diseases including diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease is taking hold,
affecting workers in their prime, eroding productivity, and escalating health care costs. The most effective strategies to address this health crisis—prevention, screening, early diagnosis, and care management—are best implemented bya strong primary health care system. However, many EAP countries are using outdated models, focusing on cure rather than prevention, and monitoring inputs instead of patient outcomes. Providers lack the capacity and incentives to deliver quality services, and patients lack the knowledge and motivation to adopt healthy lifestyles.
Drawing on proven approaches, "A Healthy Future: Primary Health Care and the Chronic Disease Epidemic in East Asia and Pacific" proposes reforms of primary health care to help deliver a healthier and more prosperous future for people in the EAP region