ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE STRATEGY The Independent Evaluation Group's Journey of Discovery Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Acknowledgments The content of this strategy was prepared by a working group of Independent Evaluation Group staff led by Estelle Raimondo (Head of Methods, Methods Advisory Function), and composed of Jenny Gold (senior evaluation officer, Human Development and Economic Management), Kristin Strohecker (pro ...

Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Independent Evaluation Group FY27 Work Program and Budget and FY28-29 Indicative Plan 0 Contents | Executive Summary | 3 | | --- | --- | | 1. Introduction: IEG in a Global Development Context and Mandate | 5 | | 1.1. Global Development Context | 5 | | 1.2. IEG's Mandate | 5 | | 2. IEG Products | 7 | | 2.1. Project-Level Validation Products | 7 | | 2.2. Other Products – MAR Validation, RAP, Syn ...

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]

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the industry Core Insights - The Subnational B-READY project aims to enhance the business environment across various regions in the European Union, focusing on actionable reform pathways to empower governments and entrepreneurs [16][30] - The study covers 66 cities across six EU Member States, including Czechia, and emphasizes the importance of addressing regional disparities in regulatory environments to promote private-sector growth and job creation [30][33] - Key findings indicate that while the regulatory framework is harmonized, significant variations exist in the implementation of business regulations and public service delivery across Czech cities [40] Summary by Relevant Sections Executive Summary - The Subnational B-READY series assesses the business environment in different EU regions, building on previous studies and aiming to provide actionable insights for policymakers [30][31] Findings from the Enterprise Surveys Data - Business Entry is the strongest-performing area with an average score of 88.1 out of 100, indicating a well-functioning registration process [40] - Dispute Resolution scores the lowest at 67.1 points, highlighting issues such as lack of specialized commercial courts and slow judicial processes [40] - Business Insolvency shows significant disparities among cities, with scores ranging from 81.8 in Brno to 68.0 in Ústí nad Labem, indicating varied efficiency in liquidation and reorganization procedures [40] Business Entry - The process is fully digitalized and inexpensive, but there are opportunities to streamline requirements further, such as eliminating the need for specific bank accounts for capital deposits [42][43] Business Location - Property Transfer processes are hindered by a mandatory 20-day block period, suggesting the need for a fast-track option to improve efficiency [44] - Building Permitting is affected by fragmented regulations, and further digitalization is needed to enhance coordination among agencies [47] Utility Services - Electricity provision is generally well-regulated, but improvements are needed in service reliability and infrastructure coordination [50] - Water connection processes could benefit from enhanced transparency and digitalization, with Brno serving as a model for best practices [51] Dispute Resolution - The legal framework is sound, but stronger case-management practices and specialized commercial courts are recommended to improve efficiency [55][56] Business Insolvency - The report highlights the limited use of reorganization procedures and suggests fostering a stronger reorganization culture to preserve viable businesses [57]