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].