/ORLD BANK GROUP P QBLUE BELIZE 2024 A BLUE CARBON READINESS ASSESSMENT Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized © 2024 The World Bank Group 1818 H Street NW, Washington DC 20433 Telephone: 202-473-1000 | Internet: www.worldbank.org Disclaimer The content of this report does not reflect the official opinion of the project sponsors or their partner organization. Responsibility for the information and views expressed therein lies entir ...

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the industry Core Insights - The report highlights a significant decline in government health spending (GHS) per capita across 63 low- and lower-middle-income countries (LICs and LMICs) from 2019 to 2023, indicating a troubling trend for public health investments [12][38] - The analysis emphasizes the need for increased prioritization of health in government budgets to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and address funding shortfalls [41][45] Summary by Sections Executive Summary - The report presents trends in GHS across 63 countries, covering nearly 90% of the population in these income groups, and compares data from 2019 to 2023 with pre-pandemic trends [36][37] - It identifies a steady decline in GHS per capita post-pandemic, raising concerns about the long-term trajectory of public health investments [38] Trends in Government Spending on Health - Average real GHS per capita in LICs fell to approximately US$10.0 in 2023, while LMICs saw spending revert to around US$55 [77] - The average annual growth rate of GHS per capita was only 0.4% in LICs and 0.9% in LMICs from 2019 to 2023, significantly lower than pre-pandemic growth rates [79][80] Risks to Health Spending Sustainability - The report identifies 35 countries facing intensified risks to GHS sustainability, with declines in health spending share and per capita amounts [40][114] - It emphasizes that without decisive policy action, many countries will struggle to meet health-related SDGs [44][45]

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the industry Core Insights - Climate change is significantly impacting human health, with increasing frequency of extreme weather events, emergence of infectious diseases, and disruptions to food systems. The health impacts are expected to worsen over time, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) which will face a disproportionate burden due to poverty and weak healthcare systems [30][43][15] - The report emphasizes the urgent need for action to address the health crisis arising from climate change, highlighting that the economic cost of inaction could reach between USD 8.6 trillion and USD 15.4 trillion by 2050 under different socioeconomic scenarios [36][37] - The analysis covers 69 LMICs, representing 96% of the total population of all LMICs, and provides estimates for health impacts and economic costs associated with climate change for the years 2026-2030, 2026-2050, and 2026-2100 [33][46] Summary by Sections Introduction - Climate change is accelerating health impacts, including heat-related illnesses and vector-borne diseases, with LMICs expected to face significant increases in morbidity and damage to health facilities [43][44] Methods - The report utilizes climate scenarios from the IPCC's Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) to project health impacts and economic costs, focusing on selected health risks such as extreme heat, waterborne diseases, and vector-borne diseases [46][50] Impacts of Climate Change on Health - Between 2026 and 2050, climate change is projected to cause between 4.1 billion and 5.2 billion cases of health impacts across LMICs, with deaths potentially reaching between 14.5 million and 15.6 million by 2050 [35][36] - Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia are expected to bear the brunt of these health impacts, with SSA projected to experience approximately 71% of all cases and nearly half of all deaths caused by climate change [37][40] Economic Cost of Inaction - The economic cost of health impacts due to climate change is projected to reach between USD 11.0 trillion and USD 20.8 trillion under different scenarios, translating to 0.7% to 1.3% of GDP in LMICs [36][37] Policy Implications and Future Directions - The report calls for urgent, transformative action to strengthen health systems and limit the impacts of climate change, advocating for a health systems approach rather than a focus on specific diseases [16][40]

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the industry analyzed Core Insights - The report highlights a paradox in Malaysia's economic growth, where high GDP growth and significant reductions in income poverty and inequality coexist with widespread public discontent [3][8][19] - Despite improvements in material living standards, citizens report challenges such as income-expense imbalances, reliance on dual incomes, growing indebtedness, and ethnic polarization [3][8][19] Summary by Sections Introduction - The paper discusses Malaysia's economic success juxtaposed with social discontent, particularly following the 2018 elections [8][19] - It documents the Malaysian "miracle" through diverse data and qualitative focus group discussions to understand citizen perceptions and challenges [3][8] Economic Success: Miracle vs. Paradox - Malaysia transitioned from a low-income country to an upper-middle-income country, with GDP per capita rising significantly and poverty rates dropping from 49.3% in 1970 to 0.4% in 2016 [19][21] - The New Economic Policy (NEP) aimed to eradicate poverty and restructure society, leading to improvements across ethnic groups [31][35] Focus Group Analysis - The report includes findings from 56 focus group discussions, revealing both positive and negative aspects of intergenerational change, including improvements in education, poverty levels, and infrastructure [46][55] - However, a significant number of participants reported an imbalance between income and expenses, indicating that rising costs of living have outpaced income growth [66] The Downside of Progress - A majority of focus group participants expressed feelings of economic strain despite visible progress, citing the need for multiple jobs and dual-income households to meet basic needs [66] - The qualitative data suggests that while material conditions have improved, many Malaysians feel worse off due to rising living costs and social disparities [66]

Investment Rating - The report emphasizes the potential for state-owned financial institutions (SOFIs) and state-owned enterprises (SOEs) to drive green investments in Uzbekistan, suggesting a positive outlook for their role in climate action financing [14][15][26]. Core Insights - The Government of Uzbekistan is committed to a green economic transition, recalibrating investment policies and introducing incentives to spur climate investment, with a target of allocating 30% of state funding to green projects by 2026 [14][41]. - SOFIs and SOEs collectively hold significant financial power, with nine SOFIs providing 70% of all loans in the economy, and state investment funds expected to finance about 10% of GDP in 2024 [15][54]. - The report identifies three prime candidates for green financing: the Entrepreneurship Development Company (EDC), Business Development Bank (BDB), and Uzbekistan Mortgage Refinancing Company (UzMRC), each with specific strategies and goals for green investments [19][20][21]. Summary by Sections Executive Summary - Uzbekistan's government has initiated a green economic transition, aligning investment policies and introducing incentives for climate investment [14]. - SOFIs and SOEs are seen as crucial for mobilizing private sector investments by reducing market risks associated with green technologies [16][26]. Purpose and Approach - The study aims to identify SOFIs and SOEs that can effectively adopt climate change and environmental targets in their financing operations, with a focus on readiness to implement the National Green Economy Taxonomy (NGET) [40][41]. The Footprint of Public Finance - A long list of 26 state funds and 37 SOEs was compiled, with significant government spending projected for 2024, including UZS 99 trillion (7.7% of GDP) from state funds [54][55]. - SOEs are expected to play a vital role in enhancing infrastructure and promoting technological advancements, with a budget allocation of UZS 28.1 trillion (2.2% of GDP) for investments [55]. Priority Entities - EDC aims for 35% of its financing to be green by 2026, while BDB is developing a Sustainable Finance Framework and plans to join international green finance platforms [20][21]. - UzMRC is positioned to lead in green housing finance and is preparing to issue green bonds, contingent on the adoption of industry-wide standards for green buildings [22]. Recommendations - The Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) should leverage its shareholder rights to mandate green investment strategies across SOFIs and SOEs, ensuring alignment with national climate goals [17][25]. - A central coordination function for climate finance is recommended to streamline resources and optimize synergies between public incentives and private capital [16][17].

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the World Bank Group's activities in Mauritania Core Insights - The World Bank Group (WBG) is perceived as a long-term partner in Mauritania, with improved accessibility and effectiveness ratings compared to previous years [50][51] - Familiarity with the WBG has decreased among stakeholders, impacting their perceptions of its effectiveness [12][26] - Key development priorities identified by stakeholders include education, agriculture, and water/sanitation, with a notable increase in the importance of social protection [36][39] Objectives - The survey aimed to understand stakeholder perceptions of the WBG, focusing on familiarity, effectiveness, development priorities, and engagement [4] - It explored how stakeholders view the WBG's alignment with Mauritania's development needs and its overall impact [4] Methodology Overview - Conducted from January to March 2024, the survey included 320 participants with a 46% response rate [5][6] - The survey utilized a mix of face-to-face, courier, and online methods for data collection [5] Overall Context - Stakeholders expressed a need for the WBG to decentralize its activities and focus on local community engagement to combat corruption and improve development outcomes [10] - Trust in the WBG has improved, particularly among civil society organizations, while academia reported lower trust levels [19][20] Key Performance Indicators - The WBG's effectiveness in helping Mauritania achieve development results received a mean rating of 7.3, an increase from 6.1 in FY21 [21] - Ratings for the WBG's relevance and alignment with development priorities were moderately positive, with mean scores of 6.6 and 6.5 respectively [20][30] Development Areas for Focus - Stakeholders prioritized education (51%), agriculture/food security (49%), and water/sanitation (42%) as key areas for WBG investment [36][39] - Climate change emerged as a significant concern, with 15% of respondents identifying it as a priority area [37] Effectiveness of WBG's Sectoral Support - The WBG received high effectiveness ratings in health and agriculture/food security, with notable improvements in social inclusion ratings compared to FY21 [45] - Perceptions of the WBG's financial instruments and project monitoring have improved significantly, indicating a positive trend in stakeholder satisfaction [65][66] Future Role of the WBG - Stakeholders emphasized the importance of transparency, local engagement, and tailored development initiatives to enhance the WBG's effectiveness in Mauritania [73]

Public Disclosure Authorized TUNISIA ECONOMIC MONITOR Equity and Efficiency of Tunisia Tax System Fall 2024 Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Tunisia Economic Monitor Equity and Efficiency of Tunisia Tax System Fall 2024 Middle East and North Africa Region © 2024 International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank 1818 H Street NW Washington DC 20433 Telephone: 202-473-1000 Internet: www.worldbank.org This work is a product of the staff ...

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the industry Core Insights - The Job Quality Index (JQI) shows significant variation across countries in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), with Chile and Costa Rica at the forefront, while Guatemala, Honduras, and Peru rank the lowest [2][14] - Job quality disparities exist within countries, particularly affecting women, youth, and rural workers [2][31] - Economic growth correlates with both job creation and improvements in job quality, as evidenced by the employment-to-GDP elasticity [2][20] - Increases in job quality are often associated with reductions in poverty and inequality [2][17] Summary by Sections Motivation and Methods - Job quality is a critical factor in reducing poverty and inequality in LAC, extending beyond mere earnings to include social insurance and job satisfaction [4] - The JQI incorporates four dimensions: earnings, benefits, security, and satisfaction, to assess job quality [6][10] Findings - The JQI reveals substantial differences in job quality across LAC, with countries like Uruguay and Chile performing well in benefits coverage, while Guatemala and Honduras lag behind [11][14] - Job quality improvements were noted in most countries from the first to the latest available years, with Argentina, Colombia, and Peru showing the most significant gains [14] - A 0.01 increase in the JQI correlates with a 0.9% increase in GDP per capita and a decrease in poverty rates [17] Job Quality Dimensions - The JQI is constructed based on labor income above the poverty line, provision of benefits, job security, and job satisfaction [7][8][10] - Job quality is closely linked to labor productivity, with higher productivity associated with better job quality across sectors [23] Demographic Disparities - Gender gaps in job quality are prevalent, with the widest disparities in Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador [26] - Young workers (15-24 years) experience the lowest job quality, while prime-age workers (25-54 years) have better job quality [27][28] Final Remarks - The report highlights the heterogeneity in job quality across and within countries in LAC, emphasizing that better jobs are linked to economic development and structural transformation [31]

WORLD BANK GROUP Public Disclosure Authoriz Public Disclosure Authorize blic Disclosure Authoriz blic Disclosure Authori | --- | --- | |---------------------------------------------------|-------| | | | | nigeria development update \| October 2024 | | | aying the course: ogress amid pressing challenges | | | | | Nigeria Development Update October 2024 Staying the course: Progress amid pressing challenges WORLD BANK GROUP NIGERIA DEVELOPMENT UPDATE | OCTOBER 2024 © 2024 International Bank for Reconstruction ...

lic Disclosure Authori Policy Research Working Paper 10967 Can Facebook Ads Prevent Malaria? Two Field Experiments in India Dante Donati Nandan Rao Victor Orozco-Olvera Ana Maria Muñoz-Boudet WORLD BANK GROUP Development Economics Development Impact Group November 2024 A verified reproducibility package for this paper is available at http://reproducibility.worldbank.org, click here for direct access ic Disclosure Authori Policy Research Working Paper 10967 Abstract This study uses a cluster randomized contr ...