Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized BURUNDI Beyond Connections Energy Access Diagnostic Report Based on the Multi-Tier Framework BURUNDI Beyond Connections Energy Access Diagnostic Report Based on the Multi-Tier Framework Nicolina Angelou, Aditi Sadia Rahman, and Bryan Bonsuk Koo About ESMAP The Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP) is a partnership between the World Bank and over 20 partners to help low- and middl ...

Sudan's mineral sector has expanded sharply in recent years, with gold becoming one of the country’s most valuable exports. The country achieved record gold output of 64.4 tonnes in 2024, generating approximately $1.6 billion in government revenue despite the ongoing civil war. Last year, Sudan’s gold production set yet another record at 70 tonnes, generating about $1.8 billion, or nearly 4% of GDP. This production was largely driven by continued operations in 90% of mining areas and increased regulation.Th ...

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the dual apprenticeship program in Côte d'Ivoire, but it indicates that the program is effective in improving youth employment outcomes and reducing working poverty, suggesting a positive outlook for investment in similar initiatives. Core Insights - The dual apprenticeship program leads to a 14 to 20 percent increase in youth earnings two to five years after completion, with significant gains across the earnings distribution [4][14][62] - The program reduces the share of youth in extreme working poverty by 7.3 percentage points and working poverty by 6.9 percentage points, indicating a substantial impact on poverty reduction [14][40][64] - The earnings gains primarily arise from self-employment rather than wage employment, highlighting the program's effectiveness in enhancing skills and productivity in informal labor markets [15][50][63] Summary by Sections Introduction - The report addresses the challenges of low-paying jobs and high working poverty in low- and middle-income economies, emphasizing the need for effective skills training programs [11][12] Experimental Design and Data - The dual apprenticeship program was implemented as a randomized controlled trial targeting youth aged 18 to 24 in Côte d'Ivoire, combining on-the-job training with technical skills training [22][24] Results - Earnings increased by 9,394 FCFA (15%) two years post-program, with sustained increases of 11,505 FCFA (19.6%) and 12,127 FCFA (13.5%) three and five years post-program, respectively [40][60] - The program significantly reduced the incidence of extreme working poverty and improved task complexity and productivity among participants [40][43][64] - The increase in earnings was primarily driven by self-employment, which rose by 6,138 FCFA (26.7%) post-program, while wage employment did not show significant gains [50][52] Conclusion - The findings suggest that dual apprenticeships can effectively reduce working poverty and improve employment outcomes in informal economies, providing a viable pathway for skill upgrading and better-paying jobs [62][63][64]

World Bank’s investment arm will help global investors set up India-focused funds, as it increases capital commitments in the country’s private equity space, said Neha Grover https://t.co/SC1vqbYt9e ...

GDP actually understates it.In GDP-PPP terms: China is already #1, India is #3, and Russia is #4.Balaji (@balajis):@Teawisher If they're so weak, then how did Russia (with help from China) fight all of NATO to a standstill in Ukraine?The alternative view is this: the World Bank reported that Russia flipped Japan in 2023 to become the fourth largest global economy in GDP PPP terms.[1]: https://t.co/n1OkW9ObzP ...

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the industry Core Insights - Digital transformation is reshaping economies and labor markets, creating opportunities and challenges for Zambia, which has a young population that needs to be equipped with digital competencies [9][10] - The assessment of digital skills among TVET teachers and students reveals significant gaps in digital proficiency, indicating a need for systematic integration of digital competencies into education [12][15] Summary by Sections I. Introduction - Zambia has a youthful population with 80% under 35 years old, and 400,000 youth enter the labor market annually [17][18] - Despite educational reforms, learning outcomes remain poor, necessitating strategic investments in education quality [19] II. The Digital Skills Assessment - A task-based digital skills assessment was conducted among TVET teachers and students using the Pix platform, measuring proficiency across five domains [11][28] - The assessment covered a representative sample of 103 teachers and 877 students from 19 institutions [35][40] III. Findings on Teachers' Digital Skills - Teachers achieved an average proficiency score of 2.4, indicating beginner-level skills [12][46] - 46% of teachers reached Level 2, while 22% achieved Level 3, indicating a significant gap in their ability to guide students effectively [12][48] IV. Findings on Students' Digital Skills - Students scored an average of 1.9, corresponding to very beginner-level skills, with 11% scoring below Level 1 [15][66] - Only 8% of students attained intermediate proficiency, highlighting the need for enhanced digital skills training [67][72] V. Comparison of Results - Teachers consistently outperformed students across all competence areas, with the largest gaps in areas such as attachment recognition and methods for connecting to the internet [82][84] VI. Implications and Next Steps - Recommendations include prioritizing foundational digital skills training for both teachers and students, developing structured blended training programs, and integrating digital literacy into the curriculum [14][16][19]

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the industry. Core Insights - The evaluation assesses the World Bank Group's support to Jamaica from FY 2014 to FY 2025, focusing on macrofiscal stability and public sector resilience, as well as household and community resilience to shocks [2][3]. - Jamaica's economy has faced persistent low growth, averaging 0.8% from 2014 to 2024, below the regional average of 1.3%, due to structural constraints and external shocks [4]. - The report highlights the interconnectedness of Jamaica's weak growth, poverty, and high crime rates, with crime costing the economy approximately 4% of GDP annually [4][5]. - The World Bank Group's engagement aligns with Jamaica's Vision 2030, focusing on empowering citizens, building a prosperous economy, and sustaining a healthy environment [17]. Summary by Sections Evaluation Purpose and Audience - The evaluation aims to inform future Bank Group engagement in Jamaica, particularly for the next Country Partnership Framework expected in FY 2028 [1]. Country Context and Development Challenges - Jamaica's economy is vulnerable to various shocks, including climate-related events, with a high exposure to natural disasters [4]. - The country has implemented macrofiscal reforms since 2013, reducing public debt from 139% of GDP in 2013 to 68% in 2024 [9]. World Bank Group Engagement in Jamaica - The World Bank approved 24 lending operations totaling US$1.1 billion during the evaluation period, with a focus on macrofiscal stability and resilience [31]. - The FY24–27 Country Partnership Framework emphasizes improved human capital, job quality, and resilience to climate shocks [27]. Evaluation Focus Areas - The first focus area evaluates macrofiscal stabilization and public sector resilience, with support for reforms in budget management and disaster risk financing [41]. - The second focus area assesses household and community resilience, emphasizing social protection programs and climate resilience initiatives [50]. Evaluation Questions and Scope - The evaluation will address the relevance, effectiveness, and coherence of the Bank Group's contributions to macrofiscal sustainability and household resilience [58][62].

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the carbon market and climate finance in Gabon's forest sector Core Insights - Gabon is positioned to deepen its engagement in international carbon market mechanisms, particularly following the finalization of the Article 6 rulebook of the Paris Agreement at COP29, linking this opportunity to its broader development agenda of transitioning from a hydrocarbon-dependent economy to a diversified, sustainable model [26][27] - The Strategic Roadmap for Climate Finance and Carbon Markets aims to operationalize access to carbon markets and climate finance mechanisms, focusing on the forestry sector where Gabon has a comparative advantage as a High Forest, Low Deforestation (HFLD) country [27][30] - Gabon's forests contain over 8.1 billion tons of carbon, representing almost 86 percent of annual global CO₂ emissions from the energy sector, yet the country currently realizes only a minor share of this value domestically [29][12] - The roadmap outlines immediate priorities for the forest sector to enhance Gabon's involvement in carbon markets and climate finance, emphasizing the need for legal clarity, institutional frameworks, and stakeholder capacity [30][44] Summary by Sections Executive Summary and Recommendations - Gabon is at a critical juncture to engage in international carbon markets, with carbon markets serving as a strategic lever to mobilize climate finance [26] - The roadmap emphasizes the need for readiness in technical systems, institutional frameworks, and legal clarity to operationalize access to carbon markets [27] Background and Objective - The report provides a detailed framework for advancing carbon finance initiatives within Gabon's forest sector, complementing the Gabon Forest Ecosystem Accounts [11] Key Decisions and Requirements for Carbon Markets Participation - The roadmap identifies strategic and regulatory foundations necessary for carbon market participation, including governance, integrity, and reporting [6][7] HFLD Specificities, Forest Offsets Standards and Climate Finance - Gabon aims to mobilize climate finance through results-based payments and participation in international carbon markets under Article 6, particularly through Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes (ITMOs) [34][35] Priority Recommendations and Action Areas - The roadmap outlines six key policy pillars and priority action areas to strengthen participation in results-based payments and leverage climate finance [58][65] - Key actions include establishing a national carbon registry, defining carbon rights, and integrating carbon markets into the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) [59][60] Conclusion and Next Steps - The report concludes with a call for immediate actions to address gaps in Gabon's legal and institutional frameworks, emphasizing the importance of stakeholder engagement and capacity building [45][50]

Investment Rating - The report indicates a steady progress in implementing evaluation recommendations, with a notable improvement in the quality of evidence supporting these recommendations [12][15]. Core Insights - The FY25 Management Action Record (MAR) reflects the World Bank Group's (WBG) commitment to accountability, learning, and adaptation in implementing recommendations from Independent Evaluation Group (IEG) evaluations [12]. - The report covers progress on 72 recommendations from 28 evaluations, with 13 new recommendations introduced in the FY25 cycle [12]. - A significant reduction in the percentage of recommendations assessed as "limited evidence" (LE) from 34% in FY24 to 13% in FY25, while "emerging evidence" (EE) assessments increased to 71% [12][15]. - The highest level of assessment, "change of direction" (CD), saw a slight decline from 22% to 17% [12][15]. - No recommendations were classified as "progress constrained" (PC) in FY25, compared to two in FY24 [12][15]. Summary by Sections Overview of Performance - The report highlights the distribution of recommendations across assessment levels, showing significant improvement in evidence quality [12][15]. - The total number of recommendations decreased from 77 in FY24 to 72 in FY25, with a projected further reduction to 68 in FY26 [22]. Evidence of Progress and Self-Assessment: Highlights - Implementation progress varies by recommendation, with some achieving CD in less than four years [19]. - The report notes that 12 recommendations reached CD in FY25, with eight of these achieving it before the standard four-year reporting period [19][20]. - Management proposed the retirement of 19 recommendations from 14 evaluations, reflecting confidence in the sustainability of implemented systems and structures [22]. Evaluation Themes - The evaluations cover various themes, including Prosperity, Planet, Infrastructure, Digital, and Cross-Cutting issues, with specific recommendations for each theme [27]. - The report emphasizes the importance of cross-organizational collaboration in addressing complex challenges, such as climate action and gender equality [12][22].

Broken monitors. Failed ventilators. Equipment problems at a World Bank-backed hospital in Kenya allegedly put patients at risk and raised questions about oversight https://t.co/o9LO3HZv7P ...