Investment Rating - The report emphasizes the importance of investing in Early Childhood Development (ECD) as a critical strategy for transforming human capital in Uganda, indicating a positive investment outlook in this sector [17][34]. Core Insights - Uganda's economy demonstrated resilience with a recorded growth of 6.1 percent in FY2023/24, supported by strong performance in the services and industrial sectors, particularly manufacturing and construction [23][70]. - The report highlights the significant role of ECD in harnessing Uganda's demographic dividend, suggesting that investments in early years can lead to healthier, more skilled, and productive adults, ultimately driving economic growth [17][35]. - The current Human Capital Index indicates that a child born today in Uganda will be only 39 percent as productive as a child who receives complete education and enjoys full health, underscoring the urgent need for enhanced investment in human capital [39][40]. Summary by Sections Recent Economic Developments - Uganda's economy continues to strengthen, with net exports being a key driver of growth, showing a substantial 46.4 percent increase in real exports in FY2023/24 [69]. - Inflation has significantly decreased, averaging 3.2 percent in FY2023/24, down from 8.8 percent the previous year, positioning Uganda among the East African nations with the lowest inflation rates [24][25]. - The current account deficit stood at 6.7 percent of GDP, reflecting improvements in merchandise trade performance, particularly in gold, coffee, and metals [26][27]. Economic Outlook, Risks, and Key Structural Issues - The medium-term outlook for Uganda remains positive, with projected real GDP growth of 6.2 percent in FY2024/25, although risks such as delays in oil production could impact this outlook [30][31]. - The report stresses the need for Uganda to prioritize jobs-rich economic transformation, particularly through investments in its future labor force [2][30]. Investing in Early Childhood Development - The report outlines the critical importance of ECD for Uganda's future prosperity, emphasizing that early investments can significantly shape labor market outcomes and drive economic growth [34][35]. - Recommendations include increasing public expenditure on ECD, strengthening quality assurance mechanisms, and enhancing the ECD workforce to improve service delivery [46][47]. - Key investment priorities identified include expanding primary healthcare facilities, introducing publicly financed pre-primary education, developing affordable childcare models, and scaling up parenting support programs [47][48].

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the industry. Core Insights - Positive rainfall shocks increase agricultural productivity by approximately 7 percent compared to negative shocks, with irrigation infrastructure significantly moderating this effect [3][47] - Weather-induced agricultural productivity changes have substantial spillover effects on rural non-farm enterprises, particularly in retail trade, with enterprise revenues increasing by 25.7 percent and value addition by 30.3 percent during positive rainfall shocks [3] - Rural household consumption responds positively to favorable rainfall conditions, with monthly per capita expenditures increasing by 6 percent during positive rainfall shocks, primarily driven by higher spending on luxury goods [3] Summary by Sections Introduction - Agriculture contributes around 18 percent of India's GDP and engages nearly 42 percent of the total workforce, indicating its importance in the rural economy despite low productivity [7] - Agricultural growth has a strong impact on rural poverty reduction, with a 1 percent rise in agricultural growth reducing rural poverty by 0.45 percent [7] Data and Summary Statistics - The study utilizes data from three sources: agricultural statistics from ICRISAT, non-farm enterprise data from the National Sample Survey Organisation, and household consumption data from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy [17] - Summary statistics indicate that 54 percent of district area is used for agricultural activities, with a probability of receiving a positive rainfall shock at 15 percent and a negative shock at 19 percent [22] Empirical Strategy - The analysis examines the impact of rainfall shocks on agricultural productivity, non-farm enterprise performance, and household consumption using various empirical specifications [32][41] - The study defines positive and negative rainfall shocks based on annual rainfall falling in the top and bottom quintiles of the district's long-term rainfall distribution [35] Results Precipitation Shocks and Farm Productivity - Positive rainfall shocks significantly increase farm productivity, with an increase of approximately 6,700 INR per hectare during positive shocks [47] Precipitation Shocks and Rural Non-Farm Enterprise Performance - A positive rainfall shock increases monthly enterprise revenues by an additional 9,000 INR and value addition by 3,038 INR [50] - The positive impact of rainfall shocks is particularly pronounced in retail trade enterprises, which benefit from increased local demand for non-tradables [57] Precipitation Shocks and Household Consumption - A positive rainfall shock increases per capita monthly household consumption by 6 percent, translating to an increase of approximately 8,000 INR per household annually [60] - The increase in consumption is primarily driven by luxury expenditures, with little impact on essential food expenditures [61] Policy Implications - Strengthening legal mechanisms for rural non-farm enterprises could ease cash flow issues, as these enterprises face inadequate demand and recovery of financial dues [63] - Government policies aimed at boosting aggregate rural growth and consumption would significantly benefit rural non-farm enterprises [64] - Increasing irrigation investment is crucial, as less than 50 percent of the cropping area in Rajasthan is irrigated, which mitigates the negative impact of rainfall shocks on agricultural productivity [66]

Investment Rating - The report does not provide a specific investment rating for the industry Core Insights - Accurate measurement of intimate partner violence (IPV) is challenging due to concerns about anonymity and privacy, which can deter disclosure [3][9] - The study adapted self-interviewing tools for rural-poor contexts and found that audio computer-assisted interviewing (ACASI) significantly increases subsequent disclosure of IPV by 41% to 57% when questions are asked privately first [3][31] - The research involved over 6,000 currently married women from rural-poor households in Punjab, Pakistan, with a focus on improving data collection methods for sensitive topics [14][31] Summary by Sections Introduction - Collecting accurate data on IPV is difficult due to under-reporting driven by fear, stigma, and shame [9] - Face-to-face interviews lack anonymity, while self-completed surveys are impractical for illiterate populations [9] Experiment 1: Understanding ACASI - The first experiment tested respondents' comprehension of ACASI and found high agreement in responses to non-IPV questions, indicating effective understanding [11][23] - The randomization of response options did not affect reporting, suggesting that respondents accurately understood the mapping of images to answer choices [21] Experiment 2: Impact of ACASI on Disclosure - The second experiment demonstrated that answering sensitive questions privately via ACASI first led to significantly higher IPV reporting in subsequent face-to-face interviews [26][31] - Specifically, the frequency of reported slaps increased by 57% and cuts by 47% when questions were asked via ACASI first [26][31] Conclusion - The study concludes that introducing private questioning enhances openness and consistency in reporting sensitive topics, making it a viable method for improving data collection on IPV [31]

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the industry Core Insights - The inadequately educated workforce is identified as the top obstacle for firms in the EU-27, with 27% of firms in typical NUTS2 regions citing it as their primary challenge [2][8] - Economic development alone is unlikely to resolve the issue of inadequately skilled and educated workers, indicating a need for targeted policies to improve education and training [65][66] - Training provided by firms is positively correlated with labor productivity and helps reduce disparities in productivity among firms [27][65] Summary by Sections Inadequately Educated Workforce - Firms in the EU-27 rank inadequately educated workers as their most significant operational obstacle, particularly among medium and large firms [2][8] - The incidence of firms citing this issue varies significantly across NUTS2 regions, highlighting the importance of regional factors [3][10] Economic Development and Education - Higher income levels correlate with a greater share of skilled workers, but this relationship diminishes beyond a certain income threshold [9][12] - Policy focus should shift towards ensuring the availability of adequately educated workers as economies develop, especially in lower-income regions [12][65] Training and Productivity - Approximately 43% of firms in typical NUTS2 regions provide training, with larger firms more likely to do so [22][25] - Training is associated with a significant increase in labor productivity, particularly benefiting less productive firms [27][35] - The relationship between training and the share of university-educated workers suggests that training complements higher education rather than substituting it [26][63] Manager Education and Firm Performance - Firms with highly educated top managers exhibit higher labor productivity, more exports, and greater likelihood of engaging in R&D activities [63][64] - The probability of having a highly educated manager increases with the share of tertiary-educated adults in the region, but not significantly with income levels [51][63] Policy Recommendations - Targeted policies aimed at improving education and skills among workers and managers are essential for enhancing firm performance, particularly for less productive firms and those in poorer regions [66]

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the industry. Core Insights - Political engagement among private firms in the EU varies significantly, influenced by cross-country differences and institutional frameworks [2][9][10] - Membership in business associations is prevalent, with 51% of private sector firms in the EU-27 belonging to such organizations, although this varies widely by country [10][11] - Firms with higher political influence scores tend to perform better relative to their peers, indicating a correlation between political engagement and firm performance [1][37] Summary by Sections Political Engagement Patterns - Private firms in the EU engage in political activities through business associations, trade groups, and labor unions, with varying levels of engagement across different countries [2][3] - The historical context of political action in Europe has shaped the current landscape of business associations and their influence [9] Business Association Membership - Membership in business associations is mandatory in some countries, leading to passive engagement among firms [9][10] - Countries like Austria, Croatia, and Germany have membership rates exceeding 75%, while Romania and Poland have rates below 25% [11][12] Services Provided by Business Associations - Business associations offer services such as lobbying, regulatory information, and networking, which firms find useful to varying degrees [13][16] - In public law countries, where membership is compulsory, firms report lower perceived usefulness of these services compared to those in private law systems [21][22] Political Connections - Political connections are another form of engagement, with 4% of firms in the EU reporting such connections, which are less common than business association membership [32] - The prevalence of political connections varies by region, influenced by the attractiveness of private sector employment relative to public sector jobs [34][35] Political Influence Index - The report introduces a Political Influence index that combines various forms of political engagement, showing that firms with higher scores are more likely to report positive business outcomes [37][44] - Higher political influence is associated with better performance metrics, including sales growth and productivity [44][49] Peer Influence on Political Engagement - The political engagement of a firm's peers significantly impacts its own political actions, indicating a competitive dynamic in political engagement [56][59]

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the industry analyzed Core Insights - The analysis focuses on the adoption of management practices in the private sector across the EU-27, revealing significant variations in management practices and their correlation with productivity [2][4][60] - A consolidated index of management practices is developed, encompassing monitoring, target setting, and creating incentives, which shows a positive correlation with firm-level productivity [2][4][48] Summary by Sections Management Practices Index - The management practices index is constructed using eight variables categorized into monitoring, target setting, and incentives, with scores ranging from 0 to 100 [5][10] - The average management score across the EU-27 is approximately 47, with Malta and Bulgaria scoring the highest, while Portugal and Italy score the lowest [19][27] Geographical Distribution - Management scores vary significantly across EU countries, with Northern European regions generally outperforming Southern regions [21][24] - Regions hosting administrative capitals tend to have higher management scores, indicating a correlation between economic centers and management practices [25][30] Firm-Level Characteristics - Larger firms, those with external management, and higher education levels of top managers are associated with better management practices [32][33][47] - Family-managed firms tend to have lower management scores compared to those with external management, highlighting the impact of management structure on performance [36][37] Management Practices and Productivity - A strong positive correlation exists between management practices and productivity, with a 10-percentage point increase in management scores linked to a 20% increase in sales per worker [54][55] - The report emphasizes that structured management practices contribute to better economic performance, supporting the need for improved management practices across firms [52][64]

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the industry Core Insights - South Africa is experiencing a severe learning crisis in its education sector, with low education outcomes compared to the resources invested and the country's level of development [21][33] - The report emphasizes the need for comprehensive reforms in basic education to transform the education system into a driver of inclusive growth [22][32] Summary by Sections Part 1: The State of the Economy - In 2024, South Africa's GDP growth was estimated at 0.8%, which is below the average growth rate of 4.1% for middle-income countries [24][45] - The fiscal deficit reached 6% of GDP, the highest level since 2009, leading to an increase in public debt to 74.9% of GDP [26][28] - Economic growth is projected to gradually improve towards 2% over the next three to five years, driven by better infrastructure services and a favorable external environment [27][44] Part 2: The Overdue Reform and Emerging Priorities in the Basic Education Sector - The education sector faces three key challenges: a learning crisis, increasing financing constraints, and limited efficiency and equity in public spending [35][40] - The report suggests three actions for better learning outcomes: focusing on foundational learning, leveraging the private sector for education service delivery, and improving efficiency and equity in public spending [38][41] - South Africa's government traditionally spends about 4.3% of GDP on basic education, which is higher than most upper-middle-income countries, but the current financing model is under threat due to reduced fiscal space [40][41]

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the industry. Core Insights - The Republic of Yemen is facing severe humanitarian and development crises exacerbated by climate change, with a projected GDP growth of 2% in 2024, still significantly lower than the 2014 GDP of USD 22.7 billion [18] - The assessment identifies key climate-related health risks, including food insecurity, waterborne diseases, vector-borne diseases, heat-related morbidity, and risks from flooding [84] Section Summaries Section I: Climate - Yemen's climate is characterized by extreme temperatures and variable rainfall, with an average national warm season maximum of 36.5°C and annual rainfall averaging 190 mm [33][34] - The mean annual temperature has increased by 0.42°C per decade from 1971 to 2020, with projections indicating further increases under high greenhouse gas emission scenarios [35] - Floods are the most significant climate hazard, accounting for 87% of economic losses from natural disasters between 1971 and 2013 [49] Section II: Climate-Related Health Risks - The report assesses six primary climate-related health risks, including food insecurity, waterborne diseases, vector-borne diseases, heat-related health issues, direct exposure to floods, and risks to health infrastructure [84] - Yemen ranks as the 11th most food-insecure country globally, with 17 million people food insecure as of 2022 [90] - Waterborne diseases have been exacerbated by climate-related hazards, with a history of cholera outbreaks affecting millions [102] Section III: Adaptive Capacity and Readiness - The report discusses the need for improved leadership and governance, health information systems, service delivery, and financing to enhance adaptive capacity [31][32] - The assessment highlights the importance of targeting vulnerable populations, particularly internally displaced persons, to increase resilience against climate impacts [21][22] Section IV: Proposed Actions - Proposed actions include strengthening health information systems, improving health service delivery, and enhancing health financing mechanisms to address climate-related health risks [40][41][42] - Further research is recommended to better understand the economic costs of health impacts due to climate change [43]

Investment Rating - The report rates the Sierra Leonean education system's readiness to adopt educational technology as low, indicating significant opportunities for improvement within the EdTech ecosystem [35]. Core Insights - The assessment highlights a substantial lack of policies aimed at integrating technology in education, accompanied by minimal on-the-ground technology usage [35]. - There is a critical need to develop and communicate relevant policies specifically concerning Teachers and Students, along with increased awareness and capacity building in various areas [39]. - The report identifies six key pillars for evaluating EdTech integration: School Management, Teachers, Students, Devices, Connectivity, and Digital Education Resources (DER) [22]. Summary by Sections Introduction - The government of Sierra Leone established the Directorate of Science, Technology, and Innovation (DSTI) in 2018 to leverage technology for national development, with education as a key focus area [15][16]. - The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the importance of digital technologies for remote learning and the need for a better EdTech ecosystem [16]. Methodology - The Education Technology Readiness Index (ETRI) evaluates EdTech integration through de jure policies, de facto understanding, and practical implementation across six pillars [22]. - Data was collected through surveys conducted in 2022, covering 300 primary schools across various provinces [24][28]. Results Overall Findings - The ETRI assessment reveals a significant lack of policies for technology integration in education, with minimal technology usage observed [35]. - De jure policies were established for Digital Education Resources and somewhat for Connectivity and School Management, but severely lacking for Teachers, Students, and Devices [36]. Findings Across the Six Pillars 1. **School Management** - Received the highest score among the six pillars but is still at a critical stage, with a lack of specific guidelines for ICT integration [48]. - Only 60% of head teachers recognized their responsibility to integrate ICT, with limited training opportunities available [51]. 2. **Teachers** - Policies supporting teachers' use of ICT are weak, with no official digital competency framework in place [58]. - Only 5% of teachers reported confidence in using ICT for various applications, indicating a dire need for policy development and implementation [61]. 3. **Students** - There are no policies for integrating ICT into the curriculum for primary school students, leading to zero access to ICT [68]. - Teachers reported that students' use of EdTech was non-existent, reflecting inadequate ICT skills among students [70]. 4. **Devices** - Less than 3% of surveyed schools had any digital devices available, highlighting a critical lack of access [76]. - There are no policies mandating student access to digital devices, and monitoring of device availability is insufficient [78]. 5. **Connectivity** - Basic policies exist, but the lack of digital devices and electricity in schools poses significant challenges to connectivity [85]. - Only 5% of head teachers believed that the internet connectivity was adequate, with 96% of schools lacking digital devices to connect [87]. 6. **Digital Education Resources (DER)** - The report indicates that while policies exist, access and effective use of DERs remain limited [21].

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the home-based childcare (HBC) industry Core Insights - Home-based childcare (HBC) is a crucial yet often neglected childcare option for low-income families, providing affordability, flexibility, and a familiar environment [6][12] - Enhancing the quality of HBC is essential for improving child developmental outcomes and increasing female labor force participation [6][14] - Recognizing HBC as a public good is vital for its sustainability and impact, necessitating incorporation into policies and financing [6][15] Summary by Sections Workforce Development - Developing the HBC workforce involves providing accredited training programs, mentoring, and coaching opportunities to enhance skills [3][10] - Training initiatives like those from OneSky in Vietnam and BRAC in Bangladesh focus on ongoing professional growth for HBC providers [27] Nutritional Support - Integrating nutrition support into HBC programs is critical, with examples of state-funded programs providing meals and training for providers [3][32] - Colombia's HBC program ensures that children receive daily meals meeting their nutritional needs [71] Quality Assurance System - Establishing a quality assurance system is necessary to formalize HBC services, including registration and oversight [3][29] - Quality standards should be flexible and adaptable to the context of HBC, focusing on responsive care and safe environments [30] Access to Financial Support - Access to finance is crucial for HBC sustainability, with models like public-private partnerships and microcredit being explored [3][28] - Innovative financial mechanisms in Colombia, such as government subsidies covering 75% of HBC-related expenses, demonstrate effective funding strategies [28] Global Overview - HBC is increasingly recognized as a viable childcare option, with significant demand in low-income communities [23][34] - The scale of HBC is rising globally, with notable examples in the USA and Colombia, where state-supported models serve millions of children [23][67] Country Case Studies - In Bangladesh, HBC is emerging as a solution for urban low-income mothers, addressing the lack of access to formal childcare [40][44] - Kenya's HBC initiatives, such as Kidogo and Tiny Totos, are empowering women and improving childcare quality through innovative models [55][60] - Colombia's Hogares Comunitarios de Bienestar (HCB) program serves over 1 million children, integrating health, nutrition, and early education [67][70]