• Case study : Bayport financial services - how can businesses tap local capital markets to expand?
    Bond markets, though still underdeveloped in Africa, are beginning to emerge as a realistic financing option for private companies looking to invest or expand their operations on the continent. Multilateral...
    Type: Brief Report#: 106018 Date: April 1, 2016 Author: Shi, Lin
  • Strengthening regional collaboration and integration
    West Africa’s coastal area is critical to the region, home to a third of its people and the source of about half of its gross domestic product (GDP). Because most of it is composed of mangroves and sand...
    Type: Brief Report#: 101183 Date: April 1, 2016
  • Can wage subsidies boost employment in the wake of an economic crisis?
    The rise in unemployment during an economic crisis poses a significant concern to policy makers. Moreover, layoffs could slow down the economic recovery, since re-hiring and training workers may be costly...
    Type: Brief Report#: 104562 Date: April 1, 2016 Author: Bruhn,Miriam
  • How do people in MENA evaluate their economic prospects?
    In the global environment with the risk of prolonged low growth, the short-term economic outlook for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region remains “cautiously "pessimistic”, according to the World...
    Type: Brief Report#: 105732 Date: April 1, 2016 Author: Mottaghi,Lili
  • Gaza Strip - Crisis assessment series
    In the aftermath of the 2014 Gaza War, a number of rapid assessments were conducted to assess the situation following the ceasefire announced on August 26, 2014. These included Palestinian Authority-led...
    Type: Brief Report#: 115106 Date: April 1, 2016
  • Infrastructure financing trends : what are the current trends in emerging market infrastructure spending?
    Emerging markets need twice the infrastructure investment they now receive. East Asia has the greatest needs, while Africa’s requirements are large in comparison to its economic size; power generation...
    Type: Brief Report#: 106021 Date: April 1, 2016 Author: Suzuki,Tomoko ; Miyaki,Keita ; Pace,Jordan Townswick
  • Blending public and private finance : what lessons can be learned from IFC’s experience?
    Following international agreement on the sustainable development goals, governments are now confronting the critical issue of funding the enormous investments - especially in infrastructure - required...
    Type: Brief Report#: 106019 Date: April 1, 2016 Author: Klein, Michael
  • Ukraine economic update (April 1, 2016)
    The economy contracted by almost 10 percent in 2015 due to unprecedented shocks from the conflict in the East and lower global commodity prices, as well as considerable fiscal and external adjustment....
    Type: Brief Report#: 106040 Date: April 1, 2016
  • Stitches to Riches? Apparel Employment, Trade, and Economic Development in South Asia
    This brief focuses on the launch of “Stitches to Riches: Apparel employment, trade and economic development in South Asia” on March 24, 2015, at the World Bank in Washington, DC. The book, which is part...
    Type: Brief Report#: 179353 Date: April 1, 2016 Author: World Bank
  • Supporting local bond market development : how can development banks foster domestic capital markets?
    Domestic capital markets are a vital source of stable, sustainable finance, and underpin a private sector associated with employment and economic growth. Yet capital markets are underdeveloped across the...
    Type: Brief Report#: 106017 Date: April 1, 2016 Author: Molders, Florian ; Pace,Jordan Townswick
  • Health Center Brings Vital Health Care to Isolated Villages of Bamyan Province
    A Basic Health Center (BHC) in a mountainous area in Bamyan Province is providing healthcare to villagers, bringing about significant improvements to their health. The health center is supported by the...
    Type: Brief Report#: 179045 Date: March 30, 2016 Author: World Bank
  • Media Information Note: Update on Country Partnership Framework Consultations
    This brief provides an update on Country Partnership Framework consultations for Sri Lanka. The CPF is a strategic plan that defines the Word Bank Group’s support for the country’s development program...
    Type: Brief Report#: 179403 Date: March 29, 2016 Author: World Bank
  • Mining Leaders from Argentina, Mexico and Peru Focus on Building Trust with Communities
    This story highlights the World Bank convenes mining leaders to discuss challenges during the commodities downturn. Leaders agree the commodities downturn is an opportune moment to improve mining sector...
    Type: Brief Report#: 166585 Date: March 25, 2016
  • Pakistan - Current status
    Pakistan ranks fourth in terms of value (4.2 billion dollars) with the same global market share as Sri Lanka, although apparel’s share of total country exports is lower at 19 percent. Foreign direct investment...
    Type: Brief Report#: 104609 Date: March 23, 2016
  • Bangladesh - Current status
    Bangladesh has the largest apparel export industry of the four South Asian sample countries (22.8 billion dollars), and the largest market share of global apparel exports. The apparel industry is also...
    Type: Brief Report#: 104608 Date: March 23, 2016
  • Sri Lanka - Current status
    Sri Lanka ranks third in terms of value (4.4 billion dollars) and global market share, although apparel has a relatively high share of total country exports at 45 percent. Similar to Bangladesh, foreign...
    Type: Brief Report#: 104610 Date: March 23, 2016
  • India - Current status
    India ranks second in terms of value (12.5 billion dollars) and global market share, although unlike Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, apparel’s share of total county exports is quite low at 5 percent. Foreign...
    Type: Brief Report#: 104597 Date: March 23, 2016
  • Flower Making Changes Lives for Business Women in Balkh Province
    Micro and small businesses in Balkh Province are being given the opportunity to expand as a result of a government initiative to provide them greater access to financial services. The initiative, the Microfinance...
    Type: Brief Report#: 178972 Date: March 22, 2016 Author: World Bank
  • Empower Forest Communities
    Who owns forests and why does it matter? Clear ownership, access, and management rights over forests are vital to build forest-dependent communities’ assets, create jobs and manage forest resources more...
    Type: Brief Report#: 166366 Date: March 20, 2016
  • Open Data for Sustainable Development
    The open data principle is becoming an increasingly important part of the data revolution, which is recognized worldwide as a key engine for achieving the post-2015 United Nation (UN) sustainable development...
    Type: Brief Report#: 166342 Date: March 17, 2016
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