The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) building in Wellington, New Zealand, on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023.New Zealand's central bank on Wednesday cut benchmark interest rates by 50 basis points to 2.5%, bringing the policy rate to its lowest level since July 2022 as growth worries loom.The cut to the overnight cash rate was larger than the 25 basis points expected by economists polled by Reuters.In its statement, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand said inflation was likely to return to its 2% target by the first ...

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the industry Core Insights - The physical characteristics of learning spaces significantly impact education quality and student learning outcomes, explaining approximately 16 percent of the variation in student performance for children aged 5 and older [19][44] - Quality early learning environments are essential for children's development, ensuring they feel safe, empowered, and free to learn actively [19][44] - Play-based learning is crucial for young children's knowledge and skills acquisition, emphasizing the need for environments that promote play, exploration, and hands-on learning [20][45] - There is a robust demand from country governments to expand access to quality pre-primary education through infrastructure investments, with 40 percent of the World Bank's education portfolio dedicated to upgrading or introducing new education facilities [23][41] Summary by Sections Executive Summary - The report highlights the significant impact of physical learning environments on educational outcomes, particularly in early childhood education [19] - It emphasizes the importance of play-based learning and the need for environments that support such educational approaches [20] Introduction - The guidance note aims to assist World Bank teams in supporting governments in designing and building environmentally sustainable pre-primary education facilities that promote quality early education [31] Quality Physical Learning Environments - Quality physical learning environments are linked to improved educational outcomes, with specific characteristics influencing learning [44] - The report identifies five principles for quality early learning spaces: safety, pedagogical organization, spatial flexibility, empowerment, and child-centered design [44] Play-based Approach - Play is a fundamental method for young children to gain knowledge and skills, with various forms of play contributing to cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development [45] - The report discusses the importance of well-planned play environments, such as corner play, in enhancing child development [45] Environmentally Sustainable Educational Infrastructure - The report outlines the need for environmentally sustainable infrastructure in education, linking it to climate resilience and reduced greenhouse gas emissions [50][52] - It emphasizes the importance of integrating green design practices in educational infrastructure projects to create healthier environments and conserve natural resources [51] The Role of Key Stakeholders - Key stakeholders in World Bank projects include government entities, communities, and experts in relevant fields, all of whom play a role in the planning and implementation of pre-primary education infrastructure [55][56] Preparation and Planning - The preparation phase involves assessing the need for early childhood care and education (ECCE) facilities, determining scope and costs, and establishing criteria for site selection [25][26] - A design brief is prepared to guide architects and designers, ensuring alignment with educational and environmental goals [70] Design - The design phase focuses on developing standards and criteria for pre-primary facilities, considering safety, accessibility, and environmental sustainability [71] Construction - The construction phase includes preparing bid packages and selecting contractors, with an emphasis on environmentally efficient practices [72] Operations and Maintenance - Sustainability of educational facilities relies on proper maintenance and usage, with a focus on planning and budgeting for ongoing operations [73]

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the industry. Core Insights - The report aims to provide actionable recommendations to enhance women's participation in the Croatian labor market, addressing barriers and leveraging successful international practices [17][60]. - Women's labor market participation in Croatia has improved but still lags behind EU averages, particularly for younger and older women [18][68]. - The gender pay gap in Croatia is 7.4% in 2023, lower than the EU average of 12.0%, but still significant in certain sectors [24][26]. Summary by Sections Executive Summary - The report identifies barriers to women's employment and outlines opportunities for enhancing their contributions to the labor market [17][18]. - It highlights the need for targeted strategies to address employment gaps, particularly for women aged 15-24 and 55-64 [18][68]. Introduction and Objective - The report emphasizes the importance of increasing women's contributions to the labor market for Croatia's economic growth, especially in light of an aging population and labor shortages [59][60]. - It aims to inform policymakers with evidence-based recommendations to close gender gaps in employment [60][61]. Barriers to Female Labor Force Participation - The report categorizes barriers into individual, sociocultural, structural, and institutional factors that hinder women's employment [27][31]. - Key issues include unequal sharing of family responsibilities, limited childcare access, and insufficient flexible work arrangements [29][30][31]. Government's Planned Initiatives - The report reviews government measures aimed at supporting women's labor market participation and identifies gaps in implementation [29][30]. Actionable Recommendations 1. **Transforming Social Norms**: Promote shared parental responsibilities and gender-neutral career guidance [35][36]. 2. **Improving Childcare Access**: Expand early childhood education and care (ECEC) facilities and align operating hours with working hours [38][39]. 3. **Facilitating Transitions Back to Work**: Enhance flexible work options and provide salary support after parental leave [41][42]. 4. **Supporting Women in Entrepreneurship**: Increase access to financial products and mentorship for women entrepreneurs [44][45]. 5. **Expanding Long-Term Care Facilities**: Develop innovative care solutions and promote women's entrepreneurship in the care sector [50][51]. 6. **Designing Gender-Sensitive Policies**: Implement active labor market policies that address the unique barriers faced by women [53][54].