Djibouti | World Bank

New World Bank Report Calls for a Level Playing Field for Business in the Middle East and North Africa Region

2009-11-09T14:26:21.000Z

Contacts:
In Washington:
Najat Yamouri, +1-202-458-1340
nyamouri@worldbank.org

In Cairo:
Eman Fouad Wahby, 202 2574 1670
ewahby@worldbank.org

Cairo, November 9, 2009 – A new report released by the World Bank’s Middle East and North Africa (MNA) region, From Privilege to Competition: Unlocking Private-Led Growth in the Middle East and North Africa, finds that the private sector is not yet generating enough jobs and sustaining higher growth in the region. A stronger private sector is needed as an estimated 40 million new jobs have to be created in MNA in the next decade. For this to occur, countries in the region need to reduce discretion in the business environment to encourage more entrepreneurs to invest. The playing field must be leveled for the region’s businesses. It will require increasing transparency and strengthening institutions that enforce the rules.

Reforms implemented over the past two decades allowed private enterprises to become the principal source of wealth generated in MNA economies outside hydrocarbons and mining. However, the private sector has still not been able to transform MNA countries into diversified, vibrant economies with sustainable high growth record. With private investment averaging around 15 percent of GDP, MNA remains far behind more dynamic regions. Export diversification has increased recently. Yet, the best performers in the region export around 1,500 goods—most of them low in technological content—compared with close to 4,000 in countries like Poland, Malaysia or Turkey.

Although investment climate reforms have accelerated in many countries, the issue is not only the extent of reforms, but how they’re implemented. The report estimates that in response to previous reforms, private investment in the MNA region had increased by a modest 2 percentage points of GDP, compared to 5 to 10 points in Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America. The limited impact of reforms in MNA is due to the unequal and unpredictable way in which policies are implemented, resulting in a lack of reform credibility in the eyes of many investors. Close to 60 percent of business managers surveyed do not think that the rules and regulations are applied consistently and predictably. These surveys also show that policy uncertainty, unfair competition and corruption appear as major concerns for investors.

As the business environment does not apply equally to everyone, new generations of entrepreneurs have been slow to emerge and compete with incumbents. The report estimates that the number of registered businesses per 1,000 people is less than a third of that in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. And with less entry and exits of firms, the average business is ten years older than in East Asia or Eastern Europe.

According to the report, unleashing the entrepreneurship potential of the region will require moving from deeply rooted privileges to a level playing field for all investors. “MNA is a region endowed with considerable human capital, creativity and resources, and its growth potential is immense. Meeting that potential will require a credible commitment to reduce discretion and ensure a more equal enforcement of the rules, so that more entrepreneurs can invest and create jobs.” said Shamshad Akhtar, MNA Vice President.

The report calls for a three pillar strategy for building a stronger foundation for longer term growth: First, governments need to remove formal and informal barriers to competition. Where they exist, privileged positions and conflicts of interests between public servants and private investors should be reduced. Second, policy reforms must be supported by strengthening the institutions that regulate markets and interact with firms, in order to reduce interference and discretion in the enforcement of rules and regulations. “To really improve the business environment for all in the region, transparency, accountability and quality of service in public agencies should be at the core of the reform agenda” added Shamshad Akhtar. Third, the region must foster a new partnership between the private and the public sectors, one that mobilizes all stakeholders in the design, implementation and evaluation of economic policies. Only then will consensus be built around the reforms, and their credibility and effectiveness reinforced. A more open dialogue between governments and the private sector will also help guard against narrow interests taking over the public interest. As Shamshad Akhtar notes: “The private sector has also a responsibility in this agenda. Too often, its voice has been dominated by proponents of the status quo in order to maintain their privileges. Already, a new generation of entrepreneurs is slowly emerging in MNA. Their ability to influence the future direction of reform will be crucial”.

The report emphasizes that the private sector in the MNA region needs to be a stronger agent of change. Its needs to be more inclusive and better organized to demand reforms that benefit all firms.

For more information on the World Bank please visit
www.worldbank.org/mna
www.worldbank.org/eg

And to read Louis Kuijs’s blog on the Chinese economy, go to:
http://blogs.worldbank.org/eastasiapacific/team/louis-kuijs/

The Marseille Center for Mediterranean Integration is launched

2009-10-09T12:53:53.000Z

Contacts:
In Marseille/Paris
Valérie Chevalier
vchevalier@worldbank.org
+ 33 1 40 69 30 48

In Washington DC
Najat Yamouri
nyamouri@worldbank.org
+ 1 202 458 1340

Marseille, October 9, 2009 – The World Bank launches, together with the European Investment Bank, the Governments of Egypt, France, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco and Tunisia, and the City of Marseille, the Marseille Center for Mediterranean Integration (MCMI). The Center will facilitate access to best knowledge and practices and improve cooperation to support development policies geared towards greater integration and convergence in the Mediterranean Region.

Development challenges in the Mediterranean region are increasingly complex and have to deal with interdependence in many areas. The Center will offer a platform for public and independent institutions from the region to discuss these challenges learn from each other and strengthen local, national and regional capacities to manage interdependence.

“MCMI is an integral part of World Bank and European partnership to promote regional integration through knowledge sharing, innovation and harmonization of standards, regulation and laying ground work for regional development project. More than ever national development strategies need to take interdependence into account. Mediterranean countries need to make informed policy choices to realize the potential of interdependence. Our partner countries are therefore keen to learn from each other’s experiences, successes and development challenges. We are striving to ensure this partnership results in concrete deliverable for the benefit of the region to reduce unemployment and poverty.” says Shamshad Akhtar, World Bank Vice President for the Middle East and North Africa region.

The MCMI areas of engagement include five clusters with 14 programs focusing on:
(i) urban and spatial development;
(ii) sustainable development;
(iii) transport and logistics;
(iv) skills, employment and labor mobility challenges including youth and;
(v) knowledge economy, innovation and technology.

“In the Mediterranean Basin which is one of the most populated arid region, we need to look together for the means to preserve the common space and public goods we are sharing in order to ensure sustainability for the population of the region. This is indeed what the MCMI aims at, and the meaning we ambition to convey concerning "the Mediterranean integration". says Christian Masset, General Director of Globalization, Development and Partnerships, French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs.

Coordinating these programs through the Center’s platform will allow for more efficiency and better synergies notably through sharing of experiences, policy strategies, highlighting lessons learned and case studies, and proposing analytical tools to benchmark countries’ progress.

“The Marseille Center for Mediterranean Integration brings innovation in the field of technical assistance to Mediterranean countries. On the one hand, multilateral donors such as the World Bank and the EIB, and bilateral donors mutualize their assistance effort to the modernization of Country Members public policies. On the other hand, they enrich their respective approaches by linking to other non-financial development players such as academic networks, United Nations agencies and civil society representatives. The countries of the Southern rim of the Meditarean are fully on board as founding members, and participate both to the design and implementation of activities, thus laying the ground for an equal partnership.” says Philippe de Fontaine Vive, EIB Vice President.

The MCMI is a World Bank administered platform for multi-partner programs. It will be guided by a 12-member Strategic Council, representing various partners, who will provide strategic orientation.

The City of Marseille is a key partner and can facilitate innovative cooperation by hosting other institutions for Mediterranean cooperation including United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and Plan Bleu.

“As a Founding Member of the MCMI, the City of Marseille will have the opportunity to upgrade its skills and know-how through multilateral cooperation programs. The developed programs will benefit from a leverage effect thanks to the pooling of financial means carried out by each partner. The Phoecean City thus reinforces its strategic position in the Mediterranean Basin” says Jean-Claude Gaudin, Senator – Mayor of Marseille.

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For more information on World Bank’s program in the Middle East and North Africa, please visit:
http://www.worldbank.org/mena

Djibouti: Supporting the Education Sector

2009-09-29T20:38:53.000Z

Last Updated: Sept 2009

Links:
- What is IDA?
- Our Work in Djibouti

More on Djibouti:
- Borrowing History
- Data & Statistics
- Research
- Contact Us

Two-thirds of the inhabitants of Djibouti, a small country in the Horn of Africa, live in the capital city. The rest, mostly nomadic herders, live in stony desert. There are wide disparities in the quality of education and learning outcomes between urban and rural areas. The government is also grappling with high dropout rates, high teacher wages and lack of data hindering expenditure management and policy decisions. In addition, youth are graduating with low skills for the labor market. Recent large projects in the country (for example, port expansion and hotel construction projects) have not generated many jobs for Djiboutians, failing to solve the country’s extremely high unemployment.

IDA is helping Djibouti devise several distinct strategies: (i) to provide schools for nomadic children in isolated rural areas, increase access and improve the quality of basic education; (ii) to ensure that training and education are aligned with the needs of the economy; and (iii) to improve the management and efficiency of the education system.

The percentage of students who have completed primary school without repeating a grade went from 52 percent in 2003/2004 to 71 percent in 2008/2009.

Highlights:
- Dropout rates have decreased overall. However, the dropout rate of 1.6 percent for girls is still greater than that of boys (0.8 percent).

- The Gross Enrollment Rate at the primary level reached 71 percent (67 percent for girls) in 2008/2009 compared to 52 percent in 2003/2004, according to the Planning Department of the Ministry of Education. At the middle school level, girls’ enrollment increased from 24 percent in 2003/2004 to 45 percent in 2008/2009. In 2008/2009, 86 percent of the 100,000 students in school were enrolled at the basic education level.

- Progress on improving the management and efficiency of the education system has been more mixed. Almost all schools now have a Parents Association or a School Management Committee. A surprising 90 percent of teachers have received in-service training between 2006 and 2009. However, non-salary recurrent expenditures have reached only 9.2 percent of the Ministry of Education’s budget in 2009, from a baseline of 6.6 percent in 2006 (failing to reach the Ministry’s 15 percent target), meaning teacher wages still dominate expenses.

- The education sector remains a government priority, receiving 23.3 percent of the state budget in 2009 (or 8.4 percent of GDP), very high relative to comparable countries.

- Investments in school infrastructure are bearing fruit but disparities remain. The current percentage of schools with electricity in urban areas is 97 percent, compared to only 49 percent in rural areas. In urban areas, 92 percent of schools have access to water vs. 73 percent in rural areas. The percentage of schools with separate restrooms for girls is 79 and 75 percent respectively for urban and rural areas.

- IDA’s Second School Access and Improvement Project (2006-2010), phase II of a US$30 million credit, is supporting the implementation of the Government’s education reform agenda. A third phase is expected to be in place in 2011, and will incorporate a greater focus on reaching the most underprivileged populations and improving skills for youth.

- IDA also provided over US$100,000 in technical assistance in 2008 to help the government prepare a skills development strategy in collaboration with the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) to improve the relevance of vocational training to the needs of the labor market and to improve the post-primary education and training possibilities so that Education For All (EFA) goals can be met.

In addition to IDA lending, the government received US$8 million under the Catalytic Fund of the Education for All-Fast Track Initiative Program (EFA/FTI) (2006-2010) to support activities complementary to the IDA project. The World Bank is managing this Trust Fund and monitoring its progress.

The Education Program Development Fund (EPDF), part of the EFA/FTI program is also providing US$150,000 to finance studies that have begun to improve data collection and analysis and will begin to address the efficiency and quality issues noted earlier.

A joint education donor-government technical committee meets regularly to monitor the progress in implementation of the education reform agenda and the Catalytic Fund (CF). In addition to IDA and CF, several partners (African Development Bank, Islamic Development Bank, France, Japan, US, the World Food Program and UNICEF) provide financial resources or technical support for the implementation of the education reform agenda, especially with regard to expanding access.

IDA will continue to work with the Ministry of Education and international donors to prepare the next Catalytic Fund request (2010) which will continue the focus on improving the quality of education by providing children with school supplies and provide schools with wells, solar panels, and dormitories for nomadic children, and put in place support for special needs children and school feeding programs.

Reinforcement of private sector partnerships has become a priority for the government in the past year. The Ministry of Education recently entered into a partnership with the Brazilian construction firm that built the new port in Djibouti to arrange for work/study internships for students in one of their technical/vocational high schools. The Ministry of Education is looking to expand this type of partnership in other sectors (likely to include tourism) with World Bank technical assistance.

Second School Access and Improvement (2005-2010)
Project documents

Djibouti Catalytic Fund for Education (2006-2010)
Project documents

Djibouti: Responding to the Challenge of HIV/AIDS

2009-09-06T18:27:41.000Z

Last Updated: Sept 2009

Links:
- What is IDA?
- Our Work in Djibouti

More on Djibouti:
- Borrowing History
- Data & Statistics
- Research
- Contact Us

The first AIDS cases were reported in Djibouti, a small country strategically located in the Horn of Africa on the Red Sea, in 1986. Since then, the situation has been steadily worsening: at the end of 2000, there were 2,179 registered AIDS cases. Between 1994 and 2000 several surveys, including on pregnant women and blood donors, showed that prevalence was particularly high in some groups; but information for the general population was discordant. Closer analysis in 2002 revealed that prevalence was highest among 20-to-35 year olds (5 percent); transmission was mostly heterosexual; and persons aged 15-29 represented 47.4 percent of registered AIDS cases, with women infected at a younger age than men.

Building on rigorous situation analysis, IDA supported the implementation of Djibouti’s HIV/AIDS National Strategic Plan, the National Malaria Strategic Plan, and the National Tuberculosis Strategic Plan through a wide variety of public sector agencies, private and nongovernmental organizations, and community-based organizations. Launched in 2003, the HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis Control Project sought to: (i) prevent HIV infection by contributing to changes in behavior among the Djiboutian population, particularly among young people, using social communication, peer education and multi-sectoral, civil society, and community initiatives; (ii) provide care, support, and treatment to people with HIV in Djibouti and (iii) treat and control the spread of malaria and tuberculosis.

Between 2004 and 2007, the HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis Control Project helped improve disease prevention, detection, care and treatment in Djibouti.

Highlights:
- More than 620 persons infected with HIV received comprehensive integrated care, including clinical, nutritional, social, and psychological care.

- After starting with a small pilot antiretroviral (ARV) treatment program for 200 people in 2004, treatment access was scaled up and more than 1,200 patients received treatment with ARV drugs, based on clinical eligibility criteria.

- Social support was provided to 80 percent of the families of people with HIV, reaching a total of more than 3,000 beneficiaries in 2006.

- Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) was offered in about 20 prenatal care clinics. Pregnant women who test HIV positive are offered treatment free of charge to reduce the risk of HIV transmission to their babies, and then ARV treatment to maintain their own health, as needed.

- HIV/AIDS prevalence among young pregnant women aged 15 – 24 was reduced from 2.7 percent to 2.1 percent, suggesting the stabilization of the epidemic.

- The number of people treated for STIs almost doubled from 1,338 in 2004 to 2,593 in 2005.

- Starting from scratch, a widespread condom distribution network has been set up, with over 350 sales points. More than 1 million condoms were distributed in 2005, up from only 30,000 condoms in 2003. Condom use among commercial sex workers reached 94 percent.

- 81 percent of 1,200 TB patients were successfully treated.

- Eleven ministries have developed yearly plans that were implemented, although with different degrees of achievements.

- Awareness about HIV/AIDS among the general population increased from 5 to 95 percent. Between 2004 and 2006, about 1,000 awareness sessions were conducted, and 550 community leaders, locally elected officials, parliamentarians and religiou s leaders were trained in social mobilization and/or social communication about HIV. Innovative approaches were used to inform young people and provide condoms in a discreet way.

- The community-based component was carefully planned. Rigorous criteria for selecting subprojects were developed, to ensure that they respond to the needs identified.

- Six large NGOs were selected to work with and help smaller Community-Based Associations (CBAs) to develop sound proposals.

- In the first year, 30 subprojects were approved, 75 in the second year, and 156 in the third year. CBAs worked, through these subprojects, on increasing awareness and prevention of AIDS among all vulnerable groups. High-risk groups were also trained using the peer education approach.

- A US$12 million IDA grant for the HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis Control Project. The project supported the national coordinating structure for the three diseases and strengthened public, private, and nongovernmental institutions.

- A Health Sector Development Project, also financed by IDA, approved in 2002, helped jump-start implementation of the HIV/AIDS project: fiduciary staff, procedures and mechanisms were already in place.

In 2005, a grant from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria used the structures set up under the IDA-funded project to rapidly increase access to ARV treatment. The Global Fund agreed to use the existing national authority as the grant recipient, to channel the funds through the existing structures and processes, and to rely on the existing national HIV monitoring and evaluation system to track progress. From the start, all three organizations – IDA, the Global Fund and the national program authority – were committed to working together in a fully cooperative, harmonized way.

The project established a good foundation and results-oriented focus, but the HIV prevalence remains high and more work will be needed in the future. IDA will continue supporting the HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculoses activities for the coming three years under the recently approved Additional Financing to the ongoing Health Sector Development Project, thus drawing on the lessons learned from the project and consolidating the implementation into one program.

HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis Project
Project documents

The World Bank Group Reinforces its Support to MENA Countries in response to the Global Financial Crisis

2009-07-24T20:02:08.000Z

Contacts

In Washington:

Najat Yamouri

Office: 202-458-1340

nyamouri@worldbank.org

Dina Elnaggar

Office: 202-473-3245

delnaggar@worldbank.org

WASHINGTON, July 24, 2009 — The World Bank Group (the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the International Development Association, the International Finance Corporation, and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency) committed US$ billion 3.2 in fiscal year 2009 to MENA countries as they continue to manage the impact of the global financial crisis while maintaining the pace of reforms for economic growth, job creation and poverty reduction.

“In MENA, the need for rapid interventions and an early response to governments in the region was critical to ensure speedy recovery, and to mitigate the impact of the crisis on growth and poverty particularly in countries undergoing economic transition, political change and conflict affected countries,” said Shamshad Akhtar, Vice President for the Middle East and North Africa region. “Looking ahead, we will continue to build on the pace and momentum of our assistance to ensure that MENA countries broaden and deepen economic and social reforms to adhere to macroeconomic stability, achieve social cohesion and have the opportunity to benefit from global economic integration. Our focus will remain on supporting key macroeconomic policy reforms, investing in critical infrastructure as well as in human capital, and strengthening social safety nets, so that the hard-fought gains of reforms are not jeopardized.” The World Bank is also starting to foster regional cooperation through the Arab World Initiative which would facilitate greater economic stability and growth.

During fiscal year 2009 (July 1, 2008-June 30, 2009), the World Bank Group placed high priority on helping countries respond to the food, fuel, financial and economic crises. In terms of results, a number of operations were delivered which have already helped mitigate the impact of these crises on the poor. Examples include: financial support for the food crisis in Djibouti, Yemen and West Bank & Gaza in addition to the rapid response to the Yemen flood emergency situation, for which IDA provided a $35 million grant. In addition, several projects and technical assistance was provided to address bottlenecks and shortages as well as capacity development in the financial, infrastructure, food security, education and social protection sectors in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Tunisia. Commitments from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA) to middle income and low income countries respectively totaled US$1.9 billion in fiscal year 2009, a record high for the World Bank portfolio in the MENA region.

“The rising demand from countries across the region for the World Bank’s financial and technical assistance is evidence of the enhanced partnerships that we are developing with countries across MENA, “ said Emmanuel Mbi, Director of Strategy and Operations in the MENA region. “We are doing our best to tailor our responses and instruments to the needs of our partners and to contribute to their efforts to encourage economic growth and to reduce poverty under such challenging conditions.”

IFC

IFC's investments in the Middle East and North Africa were around US$1.3 billion in 46 projects in 12 countries in fiscal year 2009. IFC's Advisory Services increased its expenditure to more than $19 million, up substantially from $5.7 million four years ago to support private sector–led growth in the region. To address the effects of the financial crisis in the region, IFC offered investment and advisory services products to support clients in these challenging times. For example, IFC worked closely with many of its client banks across the Middle East and North Africa region to assist them in structuring robust risk management systems to help reverse the decline in trade flows in the region, IFC provided around US$500 million of trade finance to banks in Afghanistan, Jordan, Lebanon, Pakistan, West Bank/Gaza, and Yemen.

“In laying out his vision for the World Bank Group, President Robert Zoellick has suggested six strategic themes. One of them is to help advance development and opportunity in the Arab world. During this year we focused our financial strength and global expertise to bring investment and advisory solutions where they are needed most, especially in less developed countries and countries affected by conflicts. The success of our investments is demonstrating the viability of these markets. This in return contributes to the broader goal of spurring economic growth and creating much needed jobs in a region with high unemployment rates," said Michael Essex, IFC Director for the Middle East and North Africa.

MIGA

In the MENA region, MIGA is facilitating investments that can help countries overcome their over-reliance on oil income, while creating jobs and supporting the private sector as they make investments inside and outside the region. Since 1988, MIGA has issued nearly US$1 billion in guarantees in the Middle East and North Africa region, as well as some US$881 million in guarantees to MENA-based companies and banks investing in developing countries outside the region.

In October, 2008, Iraq joined MIGA. "There is a growing business interest in investing in Iraq. However the business climate is not yet there,” said Izumi Kobayashi, MIGA’s Executive Vice President. “We are tailoring our instruments to enhance our responsiveness to support Iraq and other MENA countries in managing a stable economy and promoting private sector investments in a developing business environment,” she added.

New Regional Vice President for the Middle East and North Africa Region to Take up her Appointment on July 6

2009-07-02T19:53:49.000Z

Contact

In Washington: Dina El Naggar
delnaggar@worldbank.org

Washington, D.C., July 2, 2009 - The World Bank has announced that Shamshad Akhtar, a Pakistani National, will be the new Vice President for the Middle East and North Africa Region. She will take up her appointment on July 6. "I welcome the opportunity to work in the Middle East and North Africa region at this point in the region's development,” said the new MENA Vice President. “I am struck by how much progress the countries of the region are making on reforming governance and strengthening economic management. However this region also faces a number of common challenges. These include the need to accelerate economic growth as well as the pace of job creation, integrate more with the global economy, and support those populations suffering from the adverse effects of conflict. In addition the region must be prepared to tackle emerging global problems such as climate change. I see enormous continuing scope for the World Bank to work with its clients on addressing these complex challenges and developing its human resource capital."

Prior to becoming a Vice President in the World Bank, Shamshad Akhtar served as Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan (2006-2009), a Federal Ministerial level ranking. During this period she was also a Governor of the IMF. In 2006 and 2007 she was nominated Asia’s Best Central Bank Governor by Emerging Markets and the Banker’s Trust. Prior to her leadership of the Pakistan Central Bank, she worked as Director General of the South East Asia Region of the Asian Development Bank. From 1998-2002 she was Director of the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Governance, Finance and Trade Division. She also served as ADB’s Coordinator of the APEC Finance Ministers Process. Between 1980 -1990 she worked as a Country Economist at the World Bank’s Resident Office in Islamabad. She is the recipient of a Post Doctoral Fellowship from Harvard University and holds an MA in Development Economics from the University of Sussex and an MSc in Economics from the Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan .

The World Bank serves 24 client countries in the Middle East and North Africa Region. Bank lending to the region reached $1.8 billion in fiscal year 2009 (July 2008-June 2009) for energy, infrastructure, water, financial and private sector development, public sector governance, education and social protection projects, among others. The Bank’s portfolio of projects under implementation in the region totals $8 billion. It also provides a range of knowledge services, including analytical work, technical assistance and facilitates the sharing of global development experience with client countries. In addition, it works closely with partner organizations on a variety of services to the countries of the MENA Region.

Djibouti: Health Sector Development Project (HSDP)

2009-05-26T20:16:14.000Z

IDA Grant: US$ 7.0 million equivalent

Project Description: The Health Sector Development Project aims to improve the quality of health services in a sustainable manner to contribute to the progress toward achieving the health-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of reducing child and maternal mortality and combating communicable diseases. The three-year Additional Financing (AF) will continue to support the HSDP by scaling up selected interventions, and will finance activities that were being implemented under the HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis Control Project (HAMTCP). This AF draws on the experience gained from implementing these two projects, and activities are designed to improve the performance of the health service delivery and strengthen the health systems.

Media Contact

Dina El Naggar

(202) 473-3245

delnaggar@worldbank.org

For more project information, please visit:

http://web.worldbank.org/external/projects/main?pagePK=64283627&piPK=73230&theSitePK=40941&menuPK=228424&Projectid=P107395

World Bank Discusses A New Country Assistance Strategy To Support Djibouti’s Development Efforts

2009-05-01T20:51:02.000Z

Contacts:

Guido Ruranqwa

gruranqwa@worldbank.org

Najat Yamouri

nyamouri@worldbank.org

WASHINGTON, May 1^st, 2009--The World Bank's Board of Executive Directors discussed a new Country Assistance Strategy (CAS) for the Republic of Djibouti on April 30^th, 2009. The new CAS will guide the Bank Group's overall program in the country for the period of 2009-2012 and focuses on sustaining economic growth, improving access to basic social services, and supporting governance and public sector management reforms.

For the last four years, Djibouti had a strong economic growth with a GDP that accelerated from an annual average of 3 percent in 2001-2005 to 5.3 percent in 2007, and further to an estimated 5.9 percent in 2008. Growth has been driven mainly by fiscal expansion and large foreign direct investments (FDI). While domestic investment more than doubled in three years rising from 23.2 percent in 2005 to 50.5 percent in 2008, FDI share of GDP grew from 8.3 percent in 2005 to 31.3 percent in 2008.

Djibouti’s economic growth has, however, not been sufficient to address the country’s structural poverty and break the cycle of low social and economic outcomes. The new CAS, in line with Djibouti’s new Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper, the National Initiative for Social Development (INDS), which provides a comprehensive vision for economic growth and poverty reduction, sets three strategic themes:

- Supporting growth. The Bank will support the Government’s efforts to strengthen the business environment, with a focus on reducing constraints and costs to private sector development, especially in the power, telecommunications, and financial sectors.

- Supporting human development and access to basic services. The Bank will help Djibouti increase access to and quality of education and health services, and strengthens social protection and direct support to the poor.

- Supporting governance and public sector management. The Bank will continue to engage in policy dialogue and technical assistance to strengthen the budget process and improve monitoring and evaluation.

The Bank's Executive Directors welcomed Djibouti’s strong growth performance over the last four years and emphasized the importance of increasing focus and efforts on poverty reduction and gender related issues. “In these times of economic and financial turmoil, the WBG is even more determined to support Djibouti’s development efforts and institutional reforms in order to strengthen the country’s capacity to reduce poverty despite the financial crisis challenges” said Emmanuel Mbi, Country Director for Egypt, Yemen and Djibouti.

The 2009-2012 CAS emphasizes the importance of coordination and complementarity with the donor community and the participation and dialogue with other development stakeholders. IFC and MIGA, as part of the World Bank Group are supporting private investment that can lead to a more sustainable and diversified growth. Also, during the CAS preparation phase, extensive consultations were conducted with government, civil society and donors on the country’s development priorities.

For more information on the World Bank please visit www.worldbank.org

Arab World Can Play Bigger Role in World Economy, Zoellick says

2009-01-19T09:15:00.000Z

Contacts:

In Kuwait: Dina El Naggar

+1 443 554 6136

Delnaggar@worldbank.org

Kuwait, January 19. 2009—The Arab world can play a bigger role in the response to the global economic crisis and offer greater opportunities for its people, said World Bank Group President Robert B. Zoellick.

Addressing the Arab Economic and Social Summit held in Kuwait, Zoellick said the World Bank wants to help the Arab world play a bigger global role by partnering with it on development and South-South cooperation, expanding social and economic opportunities for countries within or neighboring the region, and helping with climate change challenges such as desertification and water scarcity.

Zoellick said it was even more important that the Arab world continue to prioritize economic, social, and human development; the alleviation of poverty and illiteracy; protection of the environment; creation of job opportunities and health care. These priorities of the Arab world were well aligned with those of G20 leaders considering a response to the global crisis.

“The Arab World must be part of this global response,” Zoellick told delegates at the High Level Economic Summit which focused on regional economic integration and the impact of the global financial and food crisis on Arab countries. “It is a region that can – and should – play a larger role in the global economy. This is necessary if the Arab World is to offer greater opportunities to its own citizens – especially young people. But it is also necessary if international partners are to make progress on shared challenges, from assisting fragile and post-conflict states, to promoting peace, to addressing climate change.”

Zoellick met with several Arab leaders on the sidelines of the summit to discuss opportunities for economic growth and address a range of development challenges. In his speech, Zoellick noted that many of the challenges that the region faces pre-dated today’s global economic crisis. These testing times call for stepping up country level reforms and regional efforts to cut high levels of unemployment, especially among youth and women, improve education, enhance investments by the private sector, and diversify economies.

Within the context of the Arab World Initiative, the World Bank has been engaged with the Arab League and a number of regional development organizations to advance and exchange knowledge and experiences on a range of development issues. These include education quality, water scarcity, infrastructure investment, trade and private sector development as well as managing food price shocks that accompanied the global food crisis.

“With effective, accountable institutions; strong support for the business environment; world-class education; full participation of women in society and the economy; and sustainable management of scarce water resources, the region is ready to contribute to, as well as benefit from, an inclusive and sustainable globalization,“ said Zoellick.

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For more information on the World Bank Program in the Middle East and North Africa Region, please visit www.worldbank.org/mna

Consultations on the Bank Web Site

2008-12-09T15:37:38.000Z

Dear reader,

A few years ago, the World Bank’s Web site was noted as a leader among development organizations’ websites. As technology has rapidly advanced and user expectations evolved, our Web site too needs to change and adapt.

You come to our Web site because you are looking for the latest information on development. Our project information, data and research assist you in tackling your challenges or keeping up on the Bank’s activities.

Now we’re catching up. We are revamping our Web site and expanding our online capabilities to better satisfy our business needs and meet audience demands.

We’re examining all aspects of the site—content, technology, business needs and audience demands—to figure out what needs to stay, be improved or be removed.

This is a complex undertaking. We are currently gathering information to determine requirements for our future site.

Through our open online consultation, we are looking for comments from anyone who wishes to discuss their information needs and any difficulties they encounter with the site. The online consultation period ends on December 31, 2008.

All feedback we receive will inform the future design and functionality of the Web site by informing Bank management on audience needs.

Our ultimate goal is to make the Web site better support the institution’s mission of fighting global poverty and helping countries develop.

Your feedback will bring us closer to this goal.

Thank you,

Angie Gentile
Managing Editor, www.worldbank.org

Global Food and Fuel Crisis Will Increase Malnourished by 44 Million

2008-10-08T17:30:00.000Z

Contacts:
In Washington :Carl Hanlon 202-473-8087; chanlon@worldbank.org;
Philip Hay 202-473-1796
phay@worldbank.org

WASHINGTON, October 8, 2008 – High food and fuel prices will increase the number of malnourished people around the world in 2008 by 44 million to reach a total of 967 million, a report from the World Bank says.

While food and fuel price increases may have moderated in recent months, prices remain much higher than previous years and show few signs of declining significantly, according to the report entitled “Rising food and fuel prices: addressing the risks to future generations”. Poor families around the world are being pushed to the brink of survival, causing irreparable damage to the health of millions of children. As families cut back on spending, there are also grave risks for the educational performance of poor children.

“While people in the developed world are focused on the financial crisis, many forget that a human crisis is rapidly unfolding in developing countries. It is pushing poor people to the brink of survival,” said World Bank Group President Robert B. Zoellick. “The financial crisis will only make it more difficult for developing countries to protect their most vulnerable people from the impact of rising food and fuel costs.”

The report, due to be presented on Sunday to the Development Committee at the Annual Meetings of the World Bank and IMF, says the food and fuel crisis could have long term effects on poor people and countries. Malnourished children cannot develop into healthy adults and become productive members of society who can contribute to the growth needed to lift themselves and their country out of poverty.

The report says priority should be given to a series of targeted measures. These include:

Making existing targeted cash (or near cash) transfer programs more generous;
Getting nutrition to infants and pregnant women;
expanding so-called ”in-kind” food distribution programs including school feeding and the distribution of fortified calorically dense food;
using fee waivers, lifeline-pricing and other forms of targeted subsidies for poor users/consumers; and
introducing additional measures to prevent children from dropping out of school, such as fee waivers, subsidies for school inputs, or cash transfers.

The report also argues that allocating the necessary amount of budget to finance an expansion of safety net programs may require pruning less-priority spending in other areas. But it notes that well-designed safety net programs do not have to be prohibitively expensive to be effective. Some of the most successful programs in the world cost well under 1 percent of Gross Domestic Product. Moreover, investing in safety net programs now will give governments new tools to address not just the current crisis, but future ones as well.

In May, the World Bank launched a $1.2 billion rapid financing facility to help poor countries cope with the food crisis. Since then, around US$850 million has been committed to finance seeds, plantings, and feeding programs. In April, Zoellick called for a New Deal for Global Food Policy that included short, medium and long-term measures to provide immediate help to poor people and farmers while increasing food production.

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For more information on the Bank's work in nutrition, please visit: www.worldbank.org/nutrition

and for more on social safety nets, click here: www.worldbank.org/safetynets

MENA Economies Are Growing but Need to Continue With Structural Reforms to Keep Up In an Increasingly Competitive World

2008-06-30T18:00:00.000Z

Contact:

Omer Karasapan

(202) 473-8177

okarasapan@worldbank.org

Washington June 30, 2008 — According to MENA Economic Prospects and Developments 2008, the GDP of the MENA region grew by 5.7 percent in 2007, marking the fifth year in a row that average growth was above 5 percent. While this is impressive in relation to past performance, it is lower than growth achieved in most other parts of the developing world. To keep up in an increasingly competitive global environment, the region will have to continue to make structural reforms in business climate, trade policy and governance.

"Despite notable improvements in the business climate in some countries such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia, as a whole the region has failed to keep pace with business climate reforms elsewhere," said Carlos Silva (Lead Economist). He added: “Regardingtrade reforms, substantial progress has been made in reducing tariffs and the time required for import and export processing yet non-tariff barriers remain high and many aspects of trade logistics performance, reflecting the quality of customs, ports and transport arrangements, still need to be addressed.”

The report notes that progress with regard to governance has been mixed. On the one hand, the quality of public administration remains relatively high in MENA, ranking above East Asia, Latin America, South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. On the other hand, the quality of public accountability remains relatively low in MENA, ranking below all other regions of the world. However, in terms of reform efforts devoted to improving accountability, MENA ranked in the 67^th percentile, above all other regions. This reflects a range of recent improvements in combating corruption, addressing weaknesses in the judiciary, improving property rights, and streamlining bureaucracy, especially among the GCC countries.

On the impact of rising food prices, Farrukh Iqbal (Sector Manager) said that this varies from country to country: "Low income countries that are relatively big food importers in terms of proportion of imports and consumption are at highest risk: examples include Djibouti and Yemen.” He added: “Some countries are feeling the pressure of increasing food prices directly in national budgets. For example Egypt, Iran, and Syria have seen food subsidies claim shares of between 4 - 8 % of their budgets in 2007. Among GCC countries, the main manifestation of food price increases has been in inflation."

The thematic focus of this year’s report is intra-regional integration. This is viewed not just as a set of preferential trade agreements but also as a means to foster the flow of labor, capital and investment. The report suggests the adoption of a paradigm of open regionalism in which regional preferences would be used as stepping stones for global integration and competitiveness.

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Djibouti: Food Crisis Development Policy Grant (Global Food Crisis Response Program -GFRP)

2008-05-29T23:15:22.000Z

WASHINGTON, May 29, 2008- The following project was approved today by the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors:

GFRP Grant: USD$5 Million

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The Food Crisis Response Development Policy Grant aims to support the Government’s program to mitigate the impact of the food prices on the poor, while maintaining fiscal stability. Achieving these goals will reduce hunger, help avoid an increase in poverty, help prevent social unrest, and ensure the fiscal stability needed to foster social and economic development. The policy measures supported by this grant are a) a reduction to zero of the domestic consumption taxes on five basic food items consumed by the poor (rice, sugar, cooking oil, wheat flour and powder milk); b) an expansion of food aid and existing social assistance programs (e.g. school feeding, mother-child programs and workfare programs); c) a ramping up of programs which help to improve food security and access to water of the drought-affected population; and d) the developing of an action plan to improve targeting of the poor and create more cost-effective, direct social protection mechanisms.

For more information, please call Dina El Naggar at (202) 473-3245 or e-mail here at delnaggar@worldbank.org

For project information on World Bank projects in Djibouti, please visit: www.worldbank.org/djibouti

World Bank Supports Efforts to mitigate Food Prices Crisis in Djibouti

2008-05-29T22:48:59.000Z

Contacts:
In Washington: Dina El Naggar (202) 473-3245
Delnaggar@worldbank.org

WASHINGTON, May 29, 2008 — The World Bank’s Board of Directors approved today a US$5 million development policy grant in response to the Djibouti Food Prices Crisis. The grant will be funded through the Food Price Crisis Response Trust Fund which was also approved by the Bank’s Board of Directors today.

“This grant will help the Government mitigate the social and fiscal consequences of the current food crisis. This support is critical to sustain social and economic development under the current conditions” said Claudia Nassif, World Bank Task Team Leader.

The policy measures supported by this grant are:

· Elimination of the domestic consumption taxes on five basic food items predominantly consumed by the poor (rice, sugar, cooking oil, wheat flour and powder milk).

· Expansion of food aid and existing social assistance programs (e.g. school feeding and workfare programs); scaling up of programs which help to improve food security and access to water of the drought-affected population.

· Development of an action plan to improve targeting of the poor and create more cost-effective, direct social protection mechanisms.

“We are pleased to be able to help Djibouti face the immediate needs of vulnerable population groups and to supplement the ongoing efforts of the government to mitigate the risks of the food crisis, “ said Emmanuel Mbi, World Bank Country Director for Egypt, Yemen and Djibouti.

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For more information on World Bank activities in MENA, please visit

www.worldbank.org/mna

New report on economic growth offers lessons on achieving sustained, high economic growth

2008-05-21T17:11:32.000Z

Contacts:

In Washington:

Maya Brahmam at +1-202-473-6231 or email at mbrahmam@worldbank.org

WASHINGTON, May 20, 2008 – The World Bank Group welcomes a new report by the independent Commission on Growth and Development, a global panel of eminent experts, which reveals important lessons from countries that have achieved high, long-term economic growth. The experts say the lessons learned could help policy makers in developing countries as they seek to set their countries on a steady growth path.

The Growth Report: Strategies for Sustained Growth and Inclusive Development says integration into the world economy, maintaining high rates of savings and investment, and committed, capable governments are among the key features of countries that have sustained growth rates above 7 percent for 25 uninterrupted years since World War II.

"This report underscores to the development community that one size doesn’t fit all." said World Bank Group President Robert B. Zoellick. I am especially pleased that it draws on input from first class practitioners and leaders who have hands-on pragmatic and practical experience of making inclusive development a success. This will help enrich the thinking and practice of the World Bank Group as well as others in the development field.” “

High, long-lasting growth is not easily achieved, but the report by some of the world’s top policy-makers and thinkers, believes it can be reproduced in developing countries, giving them a chance to reduce poverty and improve opportunity and quality of life for their citizens.

“We are acutely aware that there are no silver bullets to create long-running, inclusive growth, and that no single paradigm exists,” says Commission Vice Chair Danny Leipziger, who is also Vice President for Poverty Reduction and Economic Management at the World Bank. “While seeking to identify those key elements that can lead to long running and inclusive growth, the report is clear that policy makers will need to customize and experiment with polices rather than follow any rigid set of guidelines.”

Commission Chairman Michael Spence said: " What makes the report so unique is that it was prepared by policymakers, many from developing countries, who have been in the trenches themselves and have learned what works and why. It is these commissioners who are now providing their insights to the next generation of policymakers on ways to improve growth prospects and the quality of life in the poor parts of the globe."

Spence is one of two Nobel Laureates on the 21-member commission comprising leaders from business, government and academia. The Commissioners come from 18 countries that include a broad mix of developing, emerging and developed economies, as well as small island states and populous, large countries.

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To download full report click here:

http://www.growthcommission.org/

World Bank Broadens Transport Agenda

2008-05-21T17:00:00.000Z

Contacts
In Washington:
Roger Morier (202) 473 5675, rmorier@worldbank.org
Anna Piasecka (202) 458 7027, apiasecka@worldbank.org

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 21, 2008 – The World Bank Group today launched a new transport business strategy for 2008-2012 that will help partner countries establish the governance, strategies, policies and services to deliver transport for development in a way that is economically, financially, environmentally and socially sustainable.

Called Safe, Clean, and Affordable… Transport for Development, the business strategy strengthens the alignment of the transport sector approach with the Millennium Development Goals adopted by the United Nations in 2000. At the same time, it widens the directions and deepens the routes that will be taken to meet the evolving development agenda. It gives more attention to emerging trends, such as trade globalization, urbanization of populations; rising concerns about climate change, the increase in traffic congestion; and the recognition of access as a key to both economic opportunity and good governance.

“In striving to achieve its development objectives—and foremost to eradicate poverty—the World Bank Group is mobilizing the transport sector to the fullest possible extent,” said Katherine Sierra, World Bank Vice President for Sustainable Development. ”To that end, the transport business strategy aligns Bank Group instruments along a few key strategic directions that will pave the way to truly sustainable development, one where transport plays a crucial role.”

“In a world with rising levels of greenhouse gases, poor road safety, and the too-frequent spread of communicable diseases along international routes, transport must be looked at anew. A coherent way forward requires innovative thinking and cooperation among sectors to optimize the role of transport without jeopardizing personal and commercial mobility.”

The Bank Group consulted widely in preparing its new business strategy, seeking contributions from over 75 transport development partners, governments, professional institutions, civil society organizations, multilateral and bilateral donors, and putting an early draft on its external website for four months to elicit public comments.

Safe Transport
Acknowledging the importance of transport for achieving public health outcomes within the Millennium Development Goals, the strategy stresses the need to mitigate the spread of HIV/AIDS, and to address safety in all transport modes, especially road transport. It also addresses the safety issue in air transport which, although globally much safer, still shows a safety record significantly affecting growth and investment prospects in some regions, in particular Sub-Saharan Africa. Transport and supply-chain security has also become a major issue in ensuring fair access of developing country exports to developed markets, and needs to be addressed as a new global public good.

“Road crashes kill an estimated 1.2 million people a year and injure 50 million more, disproportionately affecting the poor,” said Anthony Bliss, Lead Road Safety Specialist, Program Coordinator for the World Bank’s Global Road Safety Facility. “We are placing special emphasis on road safety, extending our support to include not only road safety components embedded in road infrastructure projects, but also larger stand-alone projects to formulate national policies and strategies that would improve road safety across the board. We will also pursue cross-sectoral approaches, such as including pre-hospital components in road programs and road safety components in health programs.”

Clean Transport
Urban air pollution, 90 percent of it generated by motor vehicles, kills an estimated 800,000 people each year. Transport now produces approximately 15 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Reflecting the contribution of transport to the wider environmental aims of the Millennium Development Goals, the strategy encompasses the transport-energy-environment nexus, from the energy consumption to the emissions and climate change impact perspectives. Going forward, the World Bank Group will be working to help restrain transport energy consumption. It will be assessing and controlling transport projects emissions, favoring shifts to low carbon modes.

“We are setting guidelines for environmentally effective transport planning and decision making,” said Jamal Saghir, Director, Energy, Transport and Water Department and Chair of the Transport Sector Board. “We are seeking ways to mitigate the effects of transport on the climate—and the effects of climate change on transport asset. We intend to build climate change issues into transport project appraisals where appropriate.”

Affordable Transport
An estimated 1 billion people in low-income countries lack access to an all-weather road. Affordable transport can enhance mobility and inclusion. It can promote social, economic, and political integration, by keeping a country together despite geographic disparities, by overcoming potential disputes over access to resources, and by defusing the seeds of conflict that sometimes arise from feelings of isolation.

Marc Juhel, Sector Manager for Transport stressed the fact that affordability concerns not only the rural and urban poor, but also the whole freight economy, aiming at improving competitiveness to foster stronger economic growth:

“The strategy stresses the need for better knowledge and control of transport costs, for both passengers and freight, on domestic and regional, urban and rural settings. The implementation of an effective urban transport strategy, reaching out to the growing urban poor population, is a key element of this approach. On the freight side, the cooperative work on trade and transport facilitation—in particular on customs and transit issues—will be strengthened.”

World Bank contribution to transport over previous decade
Since the Bank’s 1996 transport strategy, Sustainable Transport, was endorsed by the World Bank’s Board of Directors, the Bank Group has committed around US$42 billion for more than 530 dedicated transport operations and transport components in over 500 non-transport specific projects in more than 100 client countries. Lending in fiscal year 2007 (July 1, 2006 – June 30, 2007) reached over US$5 billion, amounting to 20 percent of World Bank Group new annual commitments.

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View the transport business strategy—Safe, Clean, and Affordable… Transport for Development at: http://www.worldbank.org/transport

World Bank Group President Appoints Vice President of Institutional Integrity

2008-05-05T18:00:00.000Z

Contacts:
In Washington: Carl Hanlon (202) 473 8087
chanlon@worldbank.org

WASHINGTON, D.C. May 5, 2008 – World Bank Group President Robert B. Zoellick has named South African Leonard McCarthy to head the Bank’s Department of Institutional Integrity (INT). McCarthy has earned international recognition for investigations and prosecutions of individuals engaged in corruption as head of South Africa’s Directorate of Special Operations.

“Leonard McCarthy is recognized worldwide for his integrity, independence, and effectiveness in fighting corruption and strengthening good governance,” says Zoellick. “This is the first time that the Department of Institutional Integrity will be headed at the level of Vice President, and McCarthy brings to the post stature, skill, and tested experience. This post is critical for our work, reputation, and fiduciary duty. I am confident that he will bring effective leadership to our highest obligation to protect the Bank’s assets and hold people, businesses, and governments responsible if they steal from the poor.”

McCarthy’s work with South Africa's National Prosecuting Authority has included investigating and prosecuting high profile cases of financial crime, organized crime, and high-level corruption. He has worked closely with African governments and law enforcement officials across the globe to expose and prosecute transnational financial crime. McCarthy was formerly a Director of Public Prosecutions appointed by President Nelson Mandela.

An experienced trial lawyer, he has held numerous positions in government, including Investigating Director in the Office for Serious Economic Offenses, Deputy Attorney General in Cape Province and Senior Public Prosecutor. He holds a Bachelor of Laws Degree from the University of South Africa in Cape Town.

Following talks with the South African government, President Mbeki has agreed to release McCarthy from service, to take up the position at the World Bank on June 30, 2008.

“I am honored to receive this appointment and to be joining the World Bank, I believe strongly in its vision, said McCarthy. “President Zoellick has made clear to me the strong emphasis he places on INT’s role, its need for strong, highly skilled people who will both pursue investigations and integrate anti-corruption work into Bank projects across the world. I am committed to delivering results and building on INT’s work to strengthen financial due diligence and ensure that precious development resources benefit people who need them most.”

McCarthy was selected from a list of candidates assessed by an internal search committee with the addition of former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker, who led a review of INT last year. In his report Volcker called for greater attention to protect against corruption in designing and implementing Bank programs.

Mr. Volcker has welcomed the fact that: “the Bank is now implementing the recommendations of the Panel he chaired, importantly including elevating the head of INT to the level of vice president.”

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World Bank Marks World Press Freedom Day with Study on Broadcasting and Development

2008-05-02T12:30:00.000Z

Contact:

In Washington: Christopher Neal, (202) 473-2049

Cneal1@worldbank.org

MAPUTO, May 2, 2008—The World Bank marked World Press Freedom Day by launching a study outlining conditions under which radio, television and online broadcasting can fulfil a vital role in development by making governments accountable, and giving voice to the world’s poor.

“Huge numbers of people, including those who can’t read, have access to broadcast media,” said Kreszentia Duer, of the World Bank Institute (WBI), who presented the study, Broadcasting, Voice and Accountability, at a conference here on freedom of expression hosted by UNESCO. “In countries with strong oral traditions, community broadcasting can enable people to share information and raise issues with a large audience, and hold government officials to account. This makes broadcasting a powerful tool for enhancing governance and promoting development.”

The 400-page study, subtitled A Public Interest Approach to Policy, Law and Regulation, is the result of five years of research by six media experts, including Ms. Duer, Steve Buckley, president of the World Association of Community Broadcasters; Toby Mendel, ARTICLE 19, Global Campaign for Free Expression; Seán Ó Siochrú, founder of the Campaign for Communication Rights in the Information Society; Monroe E. Price, of the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania; and Marc Raboy, of Canada’s McGill University.

The study reviews broadcasting practices and regulations around the world, and identifies those which produce an “enabling environment” for broadcasting that is free, independent and pluralistic. These characteristics are essential, the report says, for broadcasting to perform an effective role in giving people voice, and ensuring government accountability.

Drawing from their research, the authors propose standards on freedom of expression, access to information, use and misuses of defamation law, content rules and limits to free speech, and the regulation of journalists. The study also offers guidelines on best practice for broadcast regulators, as well as the respective roles of public service, community non-profit, and commercial private sector broadcasters, all of which, it argues, should be present in a healthy media environment.

Co-author Steve Buckley notes that increased movement towards democracy in developing countries opens the way to build broadcasting that serves the public interest.

“Countries that are opening their economies, democratizing, and decentralizing public service delivery are looking for guidance on how to involve citizens in decisions that affect them,” he said. “Broadcasting, enabled by the right regulation and conditions, can empower groups through bottom-up participation.”

The book cites countries that have developed systems to enhance the quality and diversity of media content, while fully respecting freedom of expression, and identifies ways in which government regulation can expand access to broadcast media. Community broadcasting, for example, can be encouraged through special licensing arrangements that guarantee fair and equitable access to radio frequencies and financial support.

“This book focuses on useful proactive approaches to setting up, sustaining, and governing broadcasting systems across the world,” said Ruth Teer-Tomaselli, UNESCO Chair in Communication for Southern Africa at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. “It’s based on sound scholarship and provides practical advice for policymakers, media scholars and broadcasters alike.”

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For more information, please visit:

http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/WBI/0,,contentMDK:21747844~pagePK:209023~piPK:207535~theSitePK:213799,00.html

To order: http://publications.worldbank.org/ecommerce/catalog/product?item_id=8100893

Djibouti: Djibouti Urban Poverty Reduction Project

2008-04-29T22:01:43.000Z

IDA Grant: US$3 Million

Project Description: The Djibouti Urban Poverty Reduction Project aims to increase access to basic economic and social infrastructure and to community development opportunities within Quartier 7, the largest and one of the poorest neighbourhoods in the capital city. Planned activities include: (a) rehabilitation of key access roads and drainages, upgrading of sanitation systems, construction of community facilities and provision of public spaces; (b) support to community development services and capacity building of community associations, non governmental organizations and local authorities in order to improve environmental management, literacy levels, and employment opportunities.

For more information, please call Dina El Naggar at (202) 473-3245 or email Delnaggar@worldbank.org

For project documents, please visit:

http://web.worldbank.org/external/projects/main?pagePK=64283627&piPK=73230&theSitePK=40941&menuPK=228424&Projectid=P088876

World Bank Supports Poverty Reduction in Djibouti

2008-04-29T20:33:28.000Z

Contact:
In Washington: Dina El Naggar (202) 473-3245
Delnaggar@worldbank.org

Washington29 April, 2008- The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved today a grant in the amount of US 3 million to finance the Djibouti Urban Poverty Reduction Project. The proposed project is part of an overall Urban Poverty Reduction Program that was launched by the Government of Djibouti and is co-financed by other donors including the Agence Française de Développement, African Development Bank and Islamic Development Bank

“The overall program is part of a broader effort to help respond to one of Djibouti’s key development challenges which is to find ways of making growth more equitable and responsive to the needs of the poor,” said Emmanuel Mbi, World Bank Country Director for Egypt, Yemen and Djibouti. “We are very pleased that we were able to work together with other development partners to support the program and ensure its effective targeting of the most vulnerable urban communities,” he added

Urban poverty in Djibouti is very high, with about 70% of the population of the capital city living below the official poverty line. Using World Bank resources, the project aims at increasing access to basic economic and social infrastructure and to community development opportunities within Quartier 7, the largest and one of the poorest neighborhoods in the capital city. Planned activities include: (a) rehabilitation of key access roads and drainages, upgrading of sanitation systems, construction of community facilities and provision of public spaces; (b) support to community development services and capacity building of community associations, non governmental organizations and local authorities in order to improve environmental management, literacy levels, and employment opportunities..

“We worked closely with the government and our development partners during the design phase to ensure complementarity of our expertise and resources,” said Anthony Bigio World Bank Task Team Leader. “Another key feature of the project will be to engage targeted communities in the implementation process and develop local capacity required to ensure its sustainability,” he added.

The project is in line with the Djibouti Country Assistance Strategy (2005-2008),which aims to accelerate the development of human resources through social programs aimed at reducing poverty and gender disparities and in particular to reduce unemployment through the development of labor-intensive activities, micro-finance provision and job training.

For additional information on the World Bank Program in the Middle East and North Africa Region, please visit www.worldbank.org/mna