Brazil

The World Bank Group’s mission to help free the world of poverty has been translated into two clearly articulated goals. The first goal is a moral imperative to end extreme poverty for the 1.2 billion... Show More + people who continue to live with hunger and destitution.Along with lingering poverty, groups of people are fall behind in some developing countries that enjoyed strong economic growth over the past decade – in many cases with widening inequality as a result. The second goal established by the World Bank Group is therefore to promote shared prosperity.Jaime Saavedra-Chanduvi, the Bank’s Director for Poverty Reduction and Equity, explains why the institution decided to focus on shared prosperity, and how this will guide its work in coming years.What does the term “shared prosperity” mean for the Bank?The shared prosperity goal captures two key elements, economic growth and equity, and it will seek to foster income growth among the bottom 40 percent of a country’s population. Without sustained economic growth, poor people are unlikely to increase their living standards.  But growth is not enough by itself. Improvement in the Shared Prosperity Indicator requires growth to be inclusive of the less well- off. Why is the Bank focusing on shared prosperity at this time?We know that economic growth is sometimes accompanied by greater inequality and social exclusion. Our focus on shared prosperity reflects the fact that many countries are seeking rapid and sustained increases in living standards for all of their citizens, not just the privileged few. While ending extreme poverty by 2030 is a clear target and priority, our mission is not just about the poorest developing countries. We care about poor people wherever they are.Our focus on shared prosperity reflects the fact that many countries are seeking rapid and sustained increases in living standards for all of their citizens, not just the privileged few.Does the shared prosperity goal imply reducing inequality by redistributing wealth?No. We need to focus first on growing, as fast as possible, the welfare of the less well off. But we’re not suggesting that countries redistribute an economic pie of a certain size, or to take from the rich and give to the poor.Rather, we’re saying that if a country can grow the size of its pie, while at the same time share it in ways that boost the income of the bottom 40 percent of its population, then it is moving toward shared prosperity. So the goal combines the notions of rising prosperity and equity.We’ll be tracking growth in incomes of the bottom 40 percent, and due to the fact that that this will be done alongside national income growth monitoring (which countries already do), countries will see directly how the less well-off are faring.We do not use as an indicator of the shared prosperity goal the growth of the bottom 40 percent relative to the average growth rate, because there are periods in the development process when incomes of the poor are rising fast, and that is a good outcome even if there is some increase in inequality. But we also recognize that steady increases in inequality are not socially and politically sustainable over long periods.It’s a fact that no country has transitioned from middle to high-income status with high levels of inequality. A persistent rise in inequality (or being stuck at high levels of inequality) will ultimately limit income growth of the less well-off and, eventually, limit economic growth itself.How can the new Shared Prosperity Indicator measure progress over time?Tracking the incomes of the bottom 40 percent of a nation’s population is a departure from how economists have traditionally measured progress – by focusing mainly on growth in the gross domestic product (GDP) per capita.The assumption in the past was that a growing GDP would trickle down to the poor – well, now we know that’s not always the case. The Shared Prosperity Indicator will instead take the direct route of measuring income growth of those we are concerned about: the less-well off.What will it take for a country to achieve shared prosperity?The path to shared prosperity for a country will depend on both context and time.  There are many pathways to shared prosperity, and they often complement one another. Plus, different societies assign specific roles to the government, firms, civil society and citizens in general.  Let me mention a few examples.First, prosperity can be broad-based if growth generates jobs and economic opportunities for all segments of the population. The private sector is typically the main engine job creation, but the government plays a critical role by implementing policies and regulations that promote a favorable environment to maintain high investment rates, and by investing in labor skills needed to build a modern and dynamic workforce.However, the pattern of growth has to be such that it generates income opportunities for the poor. So the poverty impact of natural resources-based growth that does not pull the rest of the economy will be very different than growth sustained by agricultural productivity increases, for example.Second, there is a need for a healthy and stable “social contract” in every country that commits to investments that improve and equalize opportunities for all citizens.For children and youth, for example, this would mean providing universal access to early childhood development, health, nutrition, education and basic infrastructure. For women in many societies, it would mean dismantling barriers to their participation in economic, social, and political life.A social contract would also commit to investments in safety nets that protect the poor and vulnerable against deprivation and shocks. And it should offer mechanisms that support the government’s commitments – most importantly, a tax system that creates incentives for economic growth and fairness.Are countries interested in implementing social contracts to promote greater and more equal access to opportunities?All countries have different histories and needs and no one solution will fit all. Progress toward equitable access to opportunities for all citizens requires long-term vision, willingness to build solid institutions, social change and strong political will.The Bank can help shape programs and policies that meet our shared prosperity goal. We will continue to work closely with our partners and client countries to develop solutions that fit their specific needs.  Show Less -

Haciendo hincapié en el notable progreso alcanzado por Haití desde el fatídico terremoto de 2010, Sean Penn, gerente general y fundador de J/P Haitian Relief Organization (J/P HRO), instó a la comunid... Show More + ad internacional a continuar apoyando a la nación caribeña ahora que experimenta una suerte de renacimiento.Haciendo uso de la palabra en la sede del Banco Mundial, Penn dijo que este es el momento de aprovechar las oportunidades en Haití, una nación capaz de brindar una “oportunidad económica increíble” a otros países y también a sí mismo, particularmente gracias a su sector privado.“Los haitianos están preparados y dispuestos a convertirse en los soldados del cambio”, apuntó. “Debemos identificarlos, trabajar con ellos y estar dispuestos a aceptar sus consejos”. Penn, quien fundó J/P HRO a raíz del terremoto de 2010, habló con franqueza con Hasan Tuluy, vicepresidente del Banco Mundial para América Latina y el Caribe, respecto a su experiencia en el país.Llegando a Haití una semana después del terremoto con el único objetivo de distribuir morfina y ketamina entre las unidades de traumatismo del país, Penn en un principio tenía previsto quedarse dos semanas. Sin embargo, una vez que la situación comenzó a revertirse y las organizaciones humanitarias a irse, decidió quedarse y trabajar junto a ciudadanos locales en la construcción de J/P HRO.J/P HRO se dedica a salvar vidas y a llevar programas sostenibles a la población haitiana de manera rápida y efectiva. J/P HRO trabaja junto a agencias gubernamentales y no gubernamentales para conseguir resultados allí donde las necesidades son mayores. Sus actividades principales incluyen la prestación de servicios de emergencia médica y de atención primaria, proporcionando equipamiento médico y medicamentos necesarios, remoción de escombros para facilitar la regeneración comunitaria, gestión de campamentos de desplazados internos, distribución de alimentos y sistemas de purificación de agua, mejoramiento de los sistemas de comunicación y construcción de viviendas e instalaciones educativas.El objetivo de J/P HRO es apoyar a los residentes de los campamentos bajo su gestión y áreas circundantes en la transición desde una etapa marcada por la pérdida del hogar a causa del terremoto a una con comunidades duraderas, sostenibles y prósperas.Con un personal de casi 400 personas, 98 por ciento del cual es haitiano, J/P HRO sigue evolucionando como una organización reconocida por el desarrollo comunitario sostenible. Los haitianos están preparados y dispuestos a convertirse en los soldados del cambio. Debemos identificarlos, trabajar con ellos y estar dispuestos a aceptar sus consejosLas alianzas son clavesEn su intervención de hoy, tres años después el terremoto, Penn reconoció que si bien no existe una respuesta perfecta a los desastres naturales, lo más importante es que las organizaciones trabajen juntas.“Nada ocurre sin estas alianzas”, dijo. Describiendo los inconvenientes que observó cuando transitaba por las áreas afectadas en las primeras dos semanas posteriores al terremoto, expresó su frustración con la ausencia, ya desde un comienzo, de una cooperación funcional y colaborativa entre diferentes organizaciones. Sin embargo, recalcó que las alianzas no solo son necesarias a nivel organizacional, sino que los beneficiarios también deben ser incorporados como socios.“Si alguien está pasando grandes necesidades y su experiencia con aquellos que quieren ayudarlo es de una palmadita en la espalda para sentirse bien consigo mismos. Entonces le pedirá el dinero de sus bolsillos. Pregúntele de nuevo qué necesita y una vez más le pedirá dinero. Pregúntele por tercera vez y convénzalo de que está ahí para quedarse y recibirá una respuesta diferente. Entonces podrá sembrar, regar junto a esas personas y podrá ver un cambio real”.Ahora que la respuesta en Haití se transforma y se orienta a la reconstrucción y el desarrollo, tanto Penn como Tuluy reconocen que esto representa un nuevo desafío. Sin embargo, Penn aclaró que existen tantas oportunidades como personas en el país.Para resaltar este punto, mencionó el ejemplo de un centro comunitario establecido en el campamento de desplazados de Petionville, gestionado por J/P Haitian Relief Organization. Con fondos de la primera donación del Banco Mundial, se reconvirtió un edificio en una comunidad vecina para albergar actividades infantiles y clases para adultos, todas ellas gestionadas por la comunidad para la comunidad.Sin embargo, este espíritu de asociación y cooperación, tan importante para la recuperación de Haití, no se limita a aquellos que viven en él. La diáspora haitiana también tiene un papel clave que jugar, como explicó el vicepresidente Tuluy.“La diáspora alberga un enorme capital humano, inteligencia, energía, capacidad de relacionamiento”, resaltó. “Debemos generar las condiciones para que la diáspora regrese y haga su contribución, algo que desean fervientemente”.De esta manera ayudarían a fomentar el tan necesario crecimiento del sector privado, señalado por Penn como uno de los desafíos más importantes para el desarrollo del país, a pesar de las enormes ganas de trabajar.“Esta no es una cultura mendicante, cuando las personas se me acercan es para pedirme un trabajo”, dijo. “[Pero] no van a haber inversiones si no hay electricidad o si uno tiene que lidiar con problemas de seguridad, que están relacionados con la salud”.El crecimiento del sector privado también terminaría con la fuga de cerebros, un punto que Penn considera sería un problema si el foco de atención se centra únicamente en la educación.“Hay una emergencia educativa. Si uno no ha alimentado o ejercitado estas mentes para cuando cumplen cinco años de edad, entonces nunca las podrá aprovechar. Pero si el único objetivo es la educación, entonces esto solo servirá para que se vayan del país. También se necesitan puestos de trabajo”, advirtió.Resumiendo, Penn manifestó que “este es un momento importante para Haití. Es el momento de aprovechar las oportunidades”. El crecimiento de la Internet y los medios sociales significa que los jóvenes ahora ven el desarrollo como un derecho humano, es decir que “Haití no recaerá en viejas prácticas”.“Ya basta de esperar”, concluyó, “es hora de actuar”.Penn también se reunió con el presidente del Banco Mundial Jim Yong Kim y personal del Banco.ACERCA DE J/P HAITIAN RELIEF ORGANIZATIONJ/P Haitian Relief Organization se dedica a salvar vidas y a llevar programas sostenibles a la población haitiana de manera rápida y efectiva. Tras del trágico terremoto de 2010, J/P HRO comenzó inmediatamente a trabajar para obtener resultados en Haití. J/P HRO trabaja junto a agencias gubernamentales y no gubernamentales para conseguir resultados allí donde las necesidades son mayores. Las cuatro principales áreas programáticas de J/P HRO son Medicina, Gestión de campamentos y reubicaciones, Ingeniería y Construcción y Desarrollo comunitario; sus actividades incluyen pero no se limitan a la prestación de servicios de emergencia médica y de atención primaria, remoción de escombros y deshechos para reconstruir de una mejor manera, ofreciendo programas educativos y de enriquecimiento comunitario y construcción de viviendas e instalaciones educativas. Para más información, visitar jphro.org. Usted puede seguir a J/P HRO en Twitter, agregar a J/P HRO a su círculo Google+, y encontrar a J/P HRO en Facebook.  Show Less -

World Press Freedom Day was a global trending topic for most of the day on Twitter in Spanish. Among the thousands of messages published, that of Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos stood out. Fro... Show More + m his account, @JuanManSantos, he tweeted: “We defend the freedom of the press with a passion because it is a basic right. We reaffirm that commitment on World Press Freedom Day.”The World Bank in Latin America contributed to promoting the day by supporting and rebroadcasting the conference “Press Freedom, Press Standards and Democracy in Latin America” on its website. At the conference,  organized by the Columbia School of Journalism, a group of experts discussed the role of the public and private communications media in social development and the strengthening of institutions in the countries of the region.In Latin America, freedom of expression and the press is a recognized value and the strengthening of democratic institutions through increased pluralism and diversity is a topic on the regional agenda.“With so many conflicts between governments and the press in some countries, we thought it would be a good time to examine the issue,” said Edward Schumacher, who is an Ombudsman at National Public Radio, a U.S. public radio station and Conference Organizer. Media representatives and experts participated in the conference, including Joseph Stiglitz, Nobel laureate in economics. A media system that is plural in terms of content, vision and ownership, ensures more active participation of public opinion in development processes and involves citizens in decision-making associated with defining a country’s development priorities.A panel of academics opened the event with a discussion on the challenges presented by the implementation of new regulations for media systems in some countries.Roberto Saba, from Palermo University in Argentina, and Mexican Alejandro Madrazo from the Center for Economic Research and Teaching and Georgetown Law School, both shared case studiesfrom their countries.They were joined by Ricardo Trotti, from the Inter-American Press Association, who recalled the words of former World Bank President James Wolfensohn: “Press freedom is fantastic for the economic development of communities. To reduce poverty, we must liberate access to information and improve its quality because information empowers people and when people are empowered, they can make better choices.”The Press and developmentStiglitz offered a master class on how, from an economist’s viewpoint, the press plays an important role in “calling attention to the abuses of governance in both the public and private sectors,” as well as how information is a type of public good, which should benefit everyone.He spoke of impediments to the traditional press, including media concentration, the lack of diversification, difficulty in accessing information in some cases and the competition with new digital media. According to Stiglitz, these challenges must be overcome in order to have strong communication media who give a voice to all types of people and help to reduce inequalities.Two country case studies were analyzed during the conference: Argentina, in which executives of the Clarín and La Nación newspapers discussed media systems with legal experts, including the law which regulates audiovisual media in that South American country.A panel on Mexico discussed the recent legislation that opened up the market to increased competition and conceded a new role to the government.Another panel discussed trends in media self-regulation, concentration and political impact.On that subject, Sergio Jellinek, World Bank Manager of External Affairs for Latin America stressed the importance of ensuring social inclusion through new media such as digital television and its regulation.A media system that is plural in terms of content, vision and ownership, ensures more active participation of public opinion in development processes and involves citizens in decision-making associated with defining a country’s development priorities,” said Jellinek.At Columbia University today, Schumacher announced that the conference will have a second part, to be held on October 21 and 22, in conjunction with the 75th edition of the Maria Moors Cabot Prizes, the most prestigious awards of the Columbia School of Journalism for journalists in the Western hemisphere. On that occasion, participants will discuss the role of the Internet, social networks and media systems, with case studies from Venezuela and Brazil.  Show Less -

In less than a year, Georgia Santos has really moved up in the world. The mother of three from Salvador, Bahia in Brazil moved with her family to a brick house, with an uninterrupted water and electri... Show More + city supply, leaving behind the family’s precarious wooden shack in the poor Sao Bartolomeu neighborhood. This life-changing event came courtesy of a government effort to create sustainable infrastructure for 200,000 local families living in poverty. “My family faced the constant risk of landslides. Also, we had no sewerage service or property deeds for the house,” says Georgia, adding that she can now sleep peacefully.Her case is an eloquent example of how urbanization has become a driving force for reducing poverty and promoting development, as discussed in the Global Monitoring Report 2013. The report assesses countries’ progress in meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).Given that more than 80% of global goods and services are produced in cities, highly urbanized countries, from China to those of Latin America, have played a crucial role in reducing poverty. However, the report cautions that if urbanization is not adequately managed, it can also result in the uncontrolled growth of slums, pollution and crime.According to the report, the region has made notable progress towards achieving the nine MDGs. Nevertheless, like other regions, Latin America still lags behind in the goals associated with maternal health and access to sanitation.My family faced the constant risk of landslides. Also, we had no sewerage service or property deeds for the houseAdvances and setbacksDespite the fact that 32 million Latin Americans continued to live on less than US$ 1.25 a day in 2012, the region managed to reduce the percentage of people living in extreme poverty from 12% (in 1990) to 6% (in 2010). Seventy-two million people escaped from poverty and 50 million joined the ranks of the middle class.At a country level, the most urbanized nations – such as Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico and Peru – have made the most progress toward meeting the MDGs.According to the report, no country has achieved the goal regarding maternal health and only Peru has achieved the required reduction in child mortality. Today, 14 countries have met targets for access to safe drinking water whereas just 10 have achieved targets associated with access to sanitation. This is mainly due to limited progress in recent years. Projects such as the one that benefitted Sao Bartolomeu residents remain the exception rather than the rule. In addition, out of a group of 30 countries, only 18 achieved gender equality in primary education.A double challengeGlobally, extreme poverty declined rapidly in several countries. Nevertheless, the World Bank estimates that 970 million people will still be living on US$ 1.25 a day in 2015.Given that the MDGs reflect the basic needs of all citizens, both urban and rural areas face the challenge of reducing poverty and improving living conditions of the poor.Around the world, slums are growing rapidly in cities both large and small. If urbanization is not well managed, slums could proliferate.In Asia, 61% of its 828 million inhabitants currently live in slums; in Africa, the figure is 25.5%, whereas in Latin America, 13.4% of the population reside in these areas. This means that one in every four Latin Americans lives in a slum. Women – like Brazilian Georgia Santos – and children bear a disproportionate burden of poor service delivery in the slums.Rural areas and citiesSeventy-six percent of the world’s 1.2 billion poor live in rural areas of the developing world. And so, achieving the MDGs is crucial for closing gaps between rural and urban areas.While addressing the challenges of rural development is no easy task, the report notes that they can be tackled with complementary rural-urban development policies.For residents of small cities and towns who have few prospects for moving, for example, it is crucial to implement measures to better connect local activities with the economies of large urban areas to promote non-agricultural employment. Show Less -

End poverty in a generation? People from more than 80 countries weighed in on that difficult goal in a special event, Global Voices on Poverty, with World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim and United ... Show More + Nations Secretary Ban Ki-moon on the eve of the World Bank-IMF Spring Meetings.“We think that people living under $1.25 a day is frankly a stain on our conscience and we’re going to do everything we can to get that number down to 3%,” said Dr. Kim.Added Ki-moon: “Almost 1 billion people go to bed hungry every night. This is an unacceptable situation. That is why MDG [Millennium Development Goal] number one is to eradicate poverty and hunger and it is at the heart of our efforts to build the future we want.”Sitting side-by-side under a banner displaying “#ittakes” and “end poverty,” the two leaders told a live audience in Washington and around the world via webcast that they will work closely to reduce the number of people living on $1.25 day to 3% or less of the global population – a plan that will be taken up by the Bank’s Board of Governors this weekend.The event, and the closer collaboration of the Bank and UN, caps Dr. Kim’s months-long drive to ask people all over the world what it will take to end poverty, while developing a strategy to do it.“Having goals changes the way you do work,” said Dr. Kim. “We're actually changing what we’re doing by saying we’re not going to measure poverty every three years with two-year-old data, we’re going to measure it every year. We’re going to have that data to present every year.”Besides poverty, the conversation covered empowerment of the poor, women’s financial inclusion, ending hunger and promoting food security, peace in fragile and conflict-affected areas, and sustainable development and other issues raised in questions and comments from the global audience and from moderator Tumi Makgabo, known for her award-winning work on CNN’s Inside Africa. Questions were submitted in Arabic, English, French and Spanish through World Bank Live, Facebook and Twitter with #ittakes.The conversation also drew on the wisdom of four special guests in the Washington audience: Gunilla Carlsson, Sweden’s Minister of International Development, Uganda Minister of Finance Maria Kiwanuka, Trevor Manuel, South Africa Minister in the Presidency in charge of the National Planning Commission, and Nobel Laureate and Grameen Bank founder Muhammad Yunus.Many comments reflected concerns dominating social media conversations, such as poverty, girls’ education, shared prosperity, and, in Arabic, justice.People asked why poverty is still prevalent, where can we start to end it, what should be done about corruption, and what more needs to be done to reach global goals beyond ending poverty, and, from Ghana, How can we ensure the involvement of the poor themselves in ending poverty?“We talk of leaders and governments, but not of active citizens, and that is the essential ingredient that nobody focuses on sufficiently,” said Manuel. “Because effective government has to be an outcome not just of free and fair elections, but of a different kind of participation. We must rehabilitate the word empowerment.” Show Less -

An Amazonian legend has it that the pirarucu, one of the world’s largest freshwater species, is an evil indigenous warrior turned fish. This species, which can reach 10 feet and 485 pounds, has a long... Show More + and narrow body, a rounded tail, and a big mouth – believed to scare ancient fishermen.In modern days, however, the fish is known to have another superpower: the power to lift at least 1,500 indigenous families from poverty. They carry out a sustainable fishery management initiative in the Alto Solimões region.  While illegal fishing activities start to fall, the population of pirarucus (among other species) is on the rise again, thanks to the effort. “Lakes used to be almost fished-off”, says fisherman Ataíde Gonçalves.The initiative is part of a greater project that seeks to improve livelihoods in one of the poorest Amazonian regions. It is conducted by state government of Amazonas and the World Bank.Every breath countsIn this remote region, Pirarucus can be found in lakes connected to the Solimões River and located mostly inside indigenous lands. Project technicians and fishermen unions classified these lakes according to their usage:•         Conservation lakes are used for breeding and cannot be touched;•         At the fishery management lakes, fishermen can work from March to November and have a catch share;•          At the “maintenance” lakes, there isn’t a close season and fishermen are allowed to work year-round.Environmental agents offer grassroots training on the environmental laws. Once the communities have been trained, fishermen and their families take shifts watching the lakes – and reporting illegal activities via radio. In August, the communities also carry out the fish count.Every 20 minutes, pirarucus swim up to breathe air, and while doing so, they make a particular noise. Experimented fishermen are able to analyze these signs and precisely estimate the fish population.The figures are then handed to Ibama, Brazil’s environmental authority – and the catch quota for each season is defined accordingly.Lakes used to be almost fished-offChanging small townsWhen the season comes, fishermen tag their catch (to make sure the pirarucus were legally caught) before sending them to the local markets.“Some families are now able to make up to BRL 1,000 (US$ 500) a month,” explains Geraldo Araújo, project sub-coordinator at the government of Amazonas.In addition to that, small cities such as Tonantins now have a regular economic activity. “We can not only feed our town, but many others around here,” proudly says José Oliveira, from the local fishermen’s union.“This is a great outcome in such an isolated and environmentally important area, where sustainable management of natural resources is pivotal,” says Agnes Velloso, project environmental specialist at the World Bank.Free from a heavy loadYears ago, the men had to carry the catch on their backs for miles in paths inside the deep forests. With project help, they could afford to buy small tractors, which enable them to reach the local markets in less time. “This is something we’re so grateful for,” says fisherman Mário Andrade.Now, to reach for bigger markets, they need more access to refrigerated chambers, in and out their vehicles. “This is a need we found out as the implementation evolved,” Velloso comments.The team currently analyzes how to help them fill the demand – either within this project or with a supplemental initiative.Still, the results so far can be considered positive. “More than having a regular source of income, the beneficiaries have more control over their lands and feel the need to preserve their culture and the forest,” Araújo concludes. Show Less -

From the vast Amazon Basin to the extensive Guaraní aquifer, to the frozen glaciers high in the Andes, Latin America is rich in water -a key resource in the region’s development.  Enormous progre... Show More + ss has been made in the last two decades in extending water access across the region, with 70 million more people served in the urban centers than at the turn of the millennium. Furthermore, many countries within the region, and especially Brazil, have become examples for managing water resources.“There are several examples where Latin America is fairly advanced with respect to water governance and the fact is that other countries are looking towards Latin America in order to learn,” explained World Bank Water Expert Karin Kemper.  One such example is the management of Brazil’s many river basins. Accepting that all users have an interest in how water is managed, over the past 15 years Brazil has paved the way for participatory approach to managing water supplies.Consequently, users from across the spectrum – water supply companies, irrigators, energy providers and representatives  from both state and federal government as well as civil society - are involved in the decision making process, in order to take into consideration their differing water needs. Initially pioneered in São Paulo, this inclusive approach to water governance is particularly successful in the state of Ceará and is today enshrined in both federal and state law.The poorest are most affected by droughts and floods, they are the least able to organize themselves against such occurrences, and have little access to financial tools, such as savings and insurance.A water-rich region, Latin America is home to nearly 31% of the world’s freshwater resources, but it also has large arid and semi-arid areas with recurring droughts common from Mexico to Chile. Water scarcity is expected to increase in several areas due to climate change, including in the Andes, where the melting glaciers will have a great effect on the water supply.The full impact of these changes is still unknown, but experts agree that changes in water supply will be one of the first, and most dramatic, effects.Consequently, preventing the region’s poorest and most vulnerable populations from falling back into poverty will need a regional yearly investment. Ede Ijjasz-Vasquez, World Bank Regional Director for Sustainable Development, estimates that climate change adapting measures have a cost of US$15 billion to US$20 billion a year for Latin America and the Caribbean.“The poorest are most affected by droughts and floods, they are the least able to organize themselves against such occurrences, and have little access to financial tools, such as savings and insurance," Ijjasz explained.Access to water services is still highly unequal. Rapid urbanization in the region means water and sanitation services have been heavily weighted towards the urban populations, to the detriment of interior, rural communities. But despite enormous progress over the past 20 years, 30 million Latin Americans are still without access to safe drinking water..Consequently, a key challenge for many Latin American countries is to further improve the way this scarce resource is managed. Infrastructure, such as storage and distribution systems, needs to be put into place, along with ways to allocate water across sectors to enable economic growth to be maintained in an environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive manner.While the region has already met the Millennium Development Goal target for water, rural sanitation is lagging behind. Currently, 100 million people still lack access to any sanitation, with rural access at just 60%. Additionally, only 20% of waste water in Latin America is treated, leading to the pollution of rivers and coastal areas, which not only exposes the resident population to toxins and disease but also causes billions to be lost in potential tourism and real estate revenues.By extending access to water and improving governance, Latin America has made clear progress over the past two decades. And while inequalities remain, 96% of Latin American’s now have access to a clean, safe water source. However, if water security is to be protected in the future, now is the time for the region to prepare for a changing climate.   Show Less -

Women are proving to be Latin America’s best partner in the region’s quest for economic growth for all. Millions of families have been saved from poverty thanks to the region’s women. With more than 7... Show More + 0 million joining the workforce over the past 20 years, their income alone reduced extreme poverty by 30%. And by proving themselves to be less vulnerable during the last financial crisis than their male counterparts, women have been pivotal in shaping the region’s development over the past decade..“It is very clearly shown in the 2012 World Development Report, gender equality is not just imperative from an ethical standpoint, it is also smart economics,”  explains Elizaveta Perova, Economist and Regional Gender Coordinator for the World Bank in Latin America and Caribbean.Indeed proof of this is seen throughout the Bank’s work in the region. Making a conscious effort to ensure projects don’t exacerbate existing inequalities, many projects have seen gender equality improve as a result. For example:Involving women in a rural infrastructure project in Peru led to more small and medium businesses in the area as they use their new skills to improve economic opportunities.Freed from the daily burden of fetching water, women in north-east Brazil have been able to reinvest this time and increase their family's’ income.An opportunity to start their own business has enabled women in Guatemala to challenge patriarchal structures and play an important role in their town’s development.Challenging stereotypesWith as many girls in Latin America finishing primary school in 2011 as boys, the future is looking brighter for the next generation too. In Haiti, for example, young women are breaking down gender stereotypes and carving out an independent future for themselves in ‘non-traditional’ professions. With high-quality, technical training, over a thousand young women have been given chance to build themselves a career while changing attitudes to women in the workplace.However, employment within the region is still far from equal. Women are overwhelmingly employed in the service sector, domestic services and not within the high tech, construction or skilled fields. Furthermore, a persistent wage gap, particularly in Chile, Brazil, Mexico and Peru, means male professionals can earn up to a quarter more than their female counterparts.“Labor force participation among women increased dramatically, but the gender wage gap remains high, and women continue to work in traditional sectors, such as services. So there has been progress on one hand, but not sufficient to see the same labor opportunities,” clarifies Perova.Labor force participation among women increased dramatically, but the gender wage gap remains high, and women continue to work in traditional sectors, such as services. So there has been progress on one hand, but not sufficient to see the same labor opportunitiesOver the past 10 years, Latin America has made major headway in improving healthcare access, and a sustained focus on maternal care has had significant results. Across the region, maternal mortality dropped 30% between 1990 and 2005, helped by a 25% increase in the number of births attended by skilled health personnel in the same period.Domestic ViolenceGender violence, however, remains a leading cause of injury to women. Worldwide, one in three women will become a victim of violence within her lifetime and in certain parts of Latin America, recent figures released by PAHO put this figure closer to one in two.  However, progress in tackling the issue differs greatly from country to country.By improving infrastructure and passing innovative legislation to address violence in the home, Brazil has shown a strong commitment to eradicating this scourge. Seven years after passing the Maria da Penha law, the country has seen a 78% increase in the number of police stations and courts specialising in gender and domestic violence. However, with 29% of women reporting abuse, prevalence in the country is still high.A new social media campaign, run via the World Bank’s channels, has highlighted his stark figure. In an attempt to break down societal stereotypes  they enlisted the help of male celebrities to reiterate the message that ‘real men don’t hit women.’ So far, the images have elicited a huge response, with over 3000 shares on Facebook alone and numerous fans adding their own images to the campaign via Twitter and Instagram.These digital tools were also central to the first hackathon against domestic violence, held in six cities across Central America as well as Washington DC at the beginning of the year. For 36 hours straight, more than 300 hackers gave up their weekend, collaborating with experts in the field, to design and develop digital solutions to some of the most common problems facing victims in the region.Pushing through reforms, contributing to economic development and lifting their families out of poverty, women in Latin America have been monumental in shaping the continent over the past decade. However, with discrimination still rife in many sectors, true gender equality remains a challenge for the region.  Show Less -

Ahead of International Women’s Day, Brazilians are getting a closer look at the ugly reality of domestic violence, which affects one in three women worldwide. A series of documentaries portr... Show More + aying the plight of victims in painful detail of high-definition, debuted last night in Congress as part of an awareness campaign against gender violence in Brazil. Five filmmakers took center-stage as their work received awards as well as the recognition of Brazilian lawmakers, who have been instrumental in passing tough laws against gender violence. All the documentaries tell dramatic stories of women struggling with abusive relationships with their spouses. But the silent protagonist of it all was there only in spirit: Maria da Penha, a biochemist by training who became paraplegic after repeated attacks by her husband. She served as inspiration for key legislation against domestic violence in Brazil.True storiesTwenty-two films entered the competition. Some of the true stories which made it to the finals include:Silvia, an activist for women’s rights, murdered by her son in law, who used to beat her daughterVeronica, Carmen, and Sara, who managed to free themselves from abusive husbandsLucilia, an indigenous woman, who repeatedly tried to file a report against her ex-partner, but the police never investigated A group of women working against gender violence in Sao PauloWinners were awarded a prize of BRL 10,000 (US$ 5,038) each.Their work will be available in English, French and Spanish and streamed for free on the World Bank’s website and social media channels. The movies will also be exhibited by TV Câmara, as well as by Brazilian cable TV channel GNT.Real men give emotional security to their partners and childrenImproving lives“The documentary contest allowed us to evaluate how the Maria da Penha Law is perceived by society and how it’s helping to improve lives,” said Congresswoman Elcione Barbalho, Head of Office at the Procuradoria da Mulher.“Some of them even point to flaws in implementation, which is also important,” Barbalho said.Since the law passed in 2006 the number of specialized police stations and courts increased by 78 percent, according to a study by the National Justice Council. A lot still remains to be done. One in five Brazilian women still suffer some form of violence – a vast majority by their husbands and partners.Alongside with the documentary contest, the World Bank is running the “Real Men don’t Beat Women” campaign,  launched on the Bank’s online channels in late February, engaging with male celebrities as well as Brazilian social media users.Both on Twitter and Instagram, supporters have been posting self-pics holding a sign featuring the campaign slogan. All the posts have then been tagged #souhomemdeverdade, which is Portuguese for “I‘m a real man“.For Maria da Penha herself, this campaign, inspired by her struggle, should be used as an opportunity to understand what should be the role of men in their relationships. "Real men give emotional security to their partners and children," she said. Show Less -

Outside Bahia’s Hospital do Surburbio, all seems tranquil: white stucco buildings, manicured lawns, and palm trees swaying in the gentle breeze. Inside, it’s another story.The hospital, a state-of-the... Show More + -art medical facility, has provided more than 1.8 million medical procedures since opening in 2010, offering much needed health care services to low-income families in Salvador, Bahia.  Hospital do Suburbio, a public-private partnership assisted by the International Finance Corporation, the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, has also created 1,200 local jobs in a successful business model that six other Brazilian states have begun to adopt.   Results-driven and client oriented, the medical facility has been named one world’s most innovative projects by global consulting firm KPMG.“This is an example of what we can do by working with the state and bringing the expertise of the private sector to provide high quality health services to those without access”, said World Bank Group President Jim Kim after touring the facilities. Salvador was Kim’s first stop in a three-day official visit to Brazil. He said he’d made the northeastern state his first port of call because the Bank’s partnership with the state of Bahia “reflects well the vision and results that we can achieve together, with one shared goal: helping reduce poverty, while creating opportunities for all citizens.”Kim was accompanied by Governor Jaques Wagner, and International Financial Corporation CEO Jin-Yong Cai.It is an example of what we can do by working with the state and bringing the expertise of the private sector to provide high quality health services to those without access.Keeping its hard-earned reputation as a prime healthcare provider is at the top of the hospital agenda.A recent incident that took place during Bahia’s legendary Carnival is testament to this.At the height of the festivities, when, as Brazilians like to say, the world stops to celebrate for a week,  lab technicians found out that blood test equipment, used to perform about 1,600 analysis each day, had broken down.As it turned out, they needn’t have worried for long.  “The machine was fixed in just 18 hours,” recalls Doctor Lícia Cavalcante, the Managing Director. “Meanwhile, we were able to keep running tests and delivering results on time because the consortium operator owns another hospital in Salvador.”Hospital do Subúrbio opened in September 2010. It’s the first one working under a public-private partnership model in Brazil. It was also the first state hospital built Salvador’s metropolitan area in 20 years.More than 1 million low-income residents from eleven neighborhoods live nearby – making up about 25 percent of Salvador’s population.   Over the past two years, 283,000 people have been treated and about 1.1 million tests have been carried out, doubling the projected goals.“These figures show how high-quality health services are in demand among Salvador’s poorest,” says Cavalcante, while adding that critical patients make up more than 40 percent of cases. “Many people look for us because they know we have good facilities and staff,” he said.Blood test labs, for example, feature top-notch equipment according to Coordinator Tatiana Rodrigues.“I’m happy that we have this hospital in the suburbs because now we don’t have to wait so long,” said student Luã Carvalho. “The lack of public transport is the only bad thing.”All aspects of the PPP structuring were assisted by the International Finance Corporation.The project was structured as a 10-year concession contract, which can be renewed for an additional 10 years. Over this period, the concessionaire will be responsible for equipping, maintaining and operating both clinical and non-clinical services at the hospital. Show Less -