Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly state an investment rating for the industry Core Insights - The World Bank Group (WBG) aims to support Romania's development priorities, focusing on sustainable growth, resilience, and the green transition, while addressing disparities and enhancing institutional capacity [2] - WBG financing, although modest at approximately 1.4% of Romania's GDP in 2023, has a significant impact by unlocking additional public and private funds [2] - There is a strong demand for WBG's advisory services and financial instruments, particularly in climate finance and private capital mobilization [2][5] Summary by Sections Development Priorities - Romania's long-term goals include addressing disparities, enhancing resilience, and accelerating the green transition, with short to medium-term priorities focused on reforms and investments supported by EU resources [2] - The WBG is viewed as a neutral partner, fostering trust and cooperation to implement sustainable solutions for Romania's challenges [2] Financial Sector Engagement - The International Finance Corporation (IFC) collaborates with major banks to ensure compliance with regulations while promoting climate and inclusion financing [5] - IFC has facilitated significant green and sustainable bond issuances, including a €100 million green bond for Banca Comercială Română and a €100 million blue loan for Banca Transilvania [5] Capacity Building and Institutional Support - The WBG's Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for FY25-29 emphasizes the importance of strengthening institutions and governance to support Romania's development [6] - The CPF aims to enhance public financial management, strategic planning, and policy coordination to improve service delivery and investment efficiency [13] Private Sector Development - The WBG will promote private investment in infrastructure and connectivity, supporting policy reforms to enhance market access and attract private capital [11] - The focus on digitalization and technology adoption is crucial for improving productivity and competitiveness in Romania's economy [20] Climate and Sustainability Initiatives - The WBG is committed to supporting Romania's transition to a low-carbon economy, emphasizing investments in renewable energy and climate resilience [16][38] - The report highlights the need for substantial public and private investments in decarbonization and the development of innovative financial products to support Romania's climate goals [36][43]

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the industry Core Insights - Colombia has made significant strides in reducing poverty, with a decline from 49.7% in 2002 to 28.2% in 2019, although the COVID-19 pandemic caused a sharp increase in poverty rates [219][220] - The report emphasizes the importance of addressing territorial inequalities and the unequal capacity of the state to provide public services, which affects opportunities for asset accumulation [215][216] - Poverty rates are significantly higher among indigenous populations and other marginalized groups, highlighting systemic disparities in access to resources [321][322] Summary by Sections Chapter 1: Introduction - The report focuses on the disparities in opportunities for different population groups in Colombia, particularly in relation to poverty and asset accumulation [290][291] Chapter 2: A Falling Yet Unequal Poverty Trend - Economic growth in Colombia has been stable but moderate, with a significant reduction in poverty rates prior to the pandemic [304][305] - The pandemic reversed some of the progress made, with a notable increase in poverty and extreme poverty rates [220][221] Chapter 3: Increasing Equity in People's Access to Assets - Access to quality education, health care, and other essential services varies greatly across regions and population groups, contributing to persistent poverty [224][225] - The report highlights the need for targeted policies to improve access to assets and services for marginalized communities [268][270] Chapter 4: The Need to Boost the Dynamics that Can Reduce Spatial Gaps - Internal migration patterns often reflect a search for better opportunities, but many migrants are forced to relocate due to conflict or lack of services [257][258] - The report calls for investments in infrastructure and connectivity to improve access to economic opportunities [258][259] Chapter 5: Charting the Trajectory: a Policy Agenda - The report proposes differentiated, coordinated, and integrated policy approaches to address the unique needs of various regions and groups [260][262] - Specific policy recommendations include improving access to health and education, enhancing local governance, and promoting associative schemes among municipalities [268][276]

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the industry Core Insights - The poverty gap in South Sudan is 42.9 percent, indicating that the average consumption of the poor is about 57 percent of the national poverty line [2] - The average poverty incidence rate varies significantly across counties, with rates ranging from 52.0 percent in Magwi County to 94.8 percent in Fangak County [15] - The Gini coefficient decreased from 0.45 to 0.41 between 2016–17 and 2022, indicating a narrowing of consumption inequality [31] - Food insecurity has reached high levels, with 53 percent of households experiencing moderate food insecurity and 20 percent facing severe food insecurity in 2022 [71] Summary by Sections Chapter 1: Poverty and Inequality: Profile and Trends - The average consumption of the urban poor is 74.9 percent of the national poverty line, while it is 55.4 percent for the rural poor [2] - The adjusted headcount ratio for national poverty is 0.794, with urban areas at 0.443 and rural areas at 0.83 [11] - Multidimensional poverty is influenced by access to public goods, asset ownership, and housing quality, each contributing over 27 percent to overall poverty [11] Chapter 2: Food Security - Food insecurity has increased significantly since 2010, with a 25 percentage point rise in moderate food insecurity from 28 percent to 53 percent [71] - Households relying on market purchases for food are particularly vulnerable, with 76 to 95 percent of urban households depending on market purchases across various food categories [67] - In camp settings, 69 percent of households receive staple foods through food assistance, highlighting the vulnerability of these populations [116] Chapter 3: Shocks and Resilience - Households in South Sudan face multiple shocks, with the mean number of shocks ranging from 1.0 in Western Bahr el Ghazal to 2.0 in Northern Bahr el Ghaza [42] - The impact of conflict-related shocks significantly affects food access, with over 70 percent of severely food-insecure households experiencing declines in their ability to acquire food due to violence [104] - Drought and climate-related shocks disproportionately affect food-insecure households, with 20 percent of highly food-insecure households located in drought-affected areas [108]

Investment Rating - The report indicates an increasing demand for analytical and lending activities related to Long-Term Care (LTC) in the coming years [1]. Core Insights - The demand for LTC is rapidly increasing due to population aging, socioeconomic factors, and diminishing familial support, necessitating robust LTC systems to address market failures and gender inequalities while creating employment opportunities [24][28]. - The World Bank is actively engaged in supporting countries to develop LTC strategies, focusing on analytical work, operational models, and knowledge generation tailored to specific country contexts [16][71]. Summary by Sections Why Care About Long-Term Care? - The rationale for developing LTC systems extends beyond individual well-being to encompass reducing catastrophic costs and addressing market failures [24]. - By 2060, the global population aged 80+ is projected to exceed 400 million, significantly increasing the demand for LTC services [26]. Components of a Dialogue on LTC - Key questions for developing LTC systems include determining beneficiaries, types of services, government roles, financing, quality assurance, workforce development, and integration with health care [32][39]. Lessons from World Bank Engagements - Aging in place is a preferred and cost-effective option for many countries, promoting home and community-based care [108]. - Effective coordination of care requires collaboration across health and social protection agencies, emphasizing the need for clear roles and responsibilities [109]. Impact: What the World Bank is Doing on Long-Term Care - The World Bank has published regional reports and developed analytical tools to assist countries in policymaking related to LTC [74][94]. - Recent engagements include supporting the implementation of new LTC components in countries like Chile and Colombia, enhancing service delivery and caregiver support [90][92].

Cover and Layout Design: Umaima Mughal Cover Illustration: © Freepik | (Freepik standard image license) Zaineb Majoka | Christina Wieser | Maria Qazi | David Guzman Fonseca Thomas Pave Sohnesen | Ibrahim Khan | --- | --- | |-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------| | | | | Acknowledgments. | 7 | | Abbreviations | | | ExecutiveSummary | | | 1. Context | | | 2. NSER Completeness | | | 2.1 How Complete is NSER?. | | | 2.2 Are the Poor Inclu ...

FIGURE 3: Digital Sustainability Journey to Achieve Vision 2030's Aspirations and Beyond Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Some rights reserved. RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS The Digital Sustainability Framework defines the digital sustainability pillars and dimensions, and the measuring indicators to track the progress of each dimension. On the other side, the ICT enablement process is used to identify the right investment opportunities through IT rationalization and consolidation to achie ...

Investment Rating - The report indicates a weak outlook for the EU in the near term, with downside risks dominating the economic landscape [2][8]. Core Insights - The report highlights that many EU member states have faced reform delays, which could hinder long-term growth and fiscal consolidation efforts [3][4]. - The Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) is available until the end of 2026, with expected absorption rates of RRF grants projected to reach 0.4% of GDP in 2024 and 0.5% in 2025 [3]. - Despite some progress in reforms, challenges remain in areas such as digitalization, public pension sustainability, and labor force participation [3][4]. - The report emphasizes the importance of managing the green transition, with both public and private investments being crucial for a sustainable economy [4][5]. Summary by Sections Economic Outlook - The EU's economic outlook remains weak, with potential growth rates revised down for several member states due to various challenges, including the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine [3][8]. - Specific potential growth estimates include Bulgaria at 2.3%, Croatia at 2.9%, Poland at 2.4%, and Romania at 2.4% [3]. Policy Challenges - The implementation of the revised Economic Governance Framework will test policymakers' ability to balance fiscal sustainability with growth [4]. - The report discusses the need for concrete expenditure and revenue measures to meet fiscal consolidation targets while addressing pressures from defense spending and climate change [4]. Social Safety Nets - Effective social safety nets are crucial for protecting low-income households from rising food and energy costs amid inflationary pressures [11]. - The report outlines various policy measures adopted by EU countries, such as food vouchers and price caps, to alleviate inflationary pressures on households [11][12]. Labor Market Dynamics - The labor market has shown resilience, but recovery has been uneven, particularly affecting less educated individuals who continue to struggle with employment levels [35][36]. - Employment growth has been concentrated among highly educated workers, highlighting a polarization in job opportunities [35][36].