Guyana | World Bank

Status of projects in execution (SOPE) - FY09 : Latin America and the Caribbean region - Guyana

The Status of Projects in Execution (SOPE) report for FY09 provides information on all International Bank and Rural Development (IBRD)/International Development Association (IDA) projects that were active on June 30, 2009. The report is intended to bridge the gap in information available to the public between the project appraisal document, disclosed after the Bank approves a project, and the implementation completion report, disclosed after the project closes. In addition to the project progress description, the FY09 SOPE report contains project level comparisons of disbursement estimates and actual disbursements, and a table showing the loan/credit/grant amount and disbursements to date for all active projects.

Guyana - Country assistance strategy for the period FY 2009-2012

Guyana's poverty reduction strategy paper focuses on accelerating and sustaining economic growth through enhanced competitiveness and social development. It is committed to addressing the various challenges that constrain growth: (i) protecting the environment and managing natural resources with simultaneous sustainable social and economic development; (ii) managing the sea level rise and changes in rainfall patterns through disaster mitigation; (iii) improving infrastructure to promote growth and private sector development; (iv) improving the quality of education; (v) improving the quality of health services which is hampered by the emigration of skilled health personnel; (vi) deepening governance and modernizing the state, while building on progress already made; and (vii) preventing crime and enhancing citizen's security. The Government has indicated its commitment to continue fiscal consolidation in the medium term, targeting an overall deficit after grants averaging about 3.5 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This fiscal strategy is crucial to achieve healthy public finances and a sustainable debt burden in the medium term, but it is also a very ambitious strategy. The authorities envisage a reduction in the overall fiscal deficit to about 3.5 percent of GDP by 2012, based on spending discipline and prioritization of public investment. Tax revenues would stabilize at about 33.5 percent of GDP in the medium term (around 2012).

Doing business 2010 : Guyana - comparing regulation in 183 economies

Doing Business 2010 is the seventh in a series of annual reports investigating regulations that enhance business activity and those that constrain it. Doing Business presents quantitative indicators on business regulations and the protection of property rights that can be compared across 183 economies, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, over time. This paper presents the summary Doing Business indicators for Guyana. The paper includes the following headings: introduction and aggregate rankings, starting a business, dealing with construction permits, employing workers, registering property, getting credit, protecting investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts, closing a business, and Doing Business 2010 reform.

Status of projects in execution (SOPE) - FY08 : Latin America and Caribbean region - Guyana

The Status of Projects in Execution (SOPE) report for FY08 provides information on all International Bank and Rural Development (IBRD)/International Development Association (IDA) projects that were active on June 30, 2008. The report is intended to bridge the gap in information available to the public between the project appraisal document, disclosed after the Bank approves a project, and the implementation completion report, disclosed after the project closes. In addition to the project progress description, the FY08 SOPE report contains project level comparisons of disbursement estimates and actual disbursements, and a table showing the loan/credit/grant amount and disbursements to date for all active projects.

Doing business 2009 : country profile for Guyana - comparing regulation in 181 economies

Doing Business 2009 is the sixth in a series of annual reports investigating regulations that enhance business activity and those that constrain it. Doing Business presents quantitative indicators on business regulations and the protection of property rights that can be compared across 181 economies, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, over time. This paper presents the summary Doing Business indicators for Guyana. The paper includes the following headings: introduction, starting a business, dealing with licenses, employing workers, registering property, getting credit, protecting investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts, and closing a business.

Guyana - Public Sector Technical Assistance Credit (PSTAC) Project

Ratings for the Public Sector Technical Assistance Credit (PSTAC) Project for Guyana were as follows: outcomes were satisfactory, the risk to development outcome was substantial, Bank performance was satisfactory, and Borrower performance was moderately satisfactory. Some lessons learned included: Continuity of project fiduciary staff has positive outcomes for financial management and procurement aspects of the project. Staff continuity facilitated the disbursement of needed funds and procurement procedures. Having a good local consultant in the Bank office was crucial to working on the ground in Guyana. It was particularly helpful for understanding the domestic culture and politics, and for helping to move the agenda forward. Technical assistance loans (TALs) characteristically produce studies and recommendations, whose implementation are often left uncertain or long delayed by the absence of follow-up resources. In future operations, it might be useful to have provisions for contingent funds for such purposes.

Earnings inequality within and across gender, racial, and ethnic groups in four Latin American Countries

Latin American countries are generally characterized as displaying high income and earnings inequality overall along with high inequality by gender, race, and ethnicity. However, the latter phenomenon is not a major contributor to the former phenomenon. Using household survey data from four Latin American countries (Bolivia, Brazil, Guatemala, and Guyana) for which stratification by race or ethnicity is possible, this paper demonstrates (using Theil index decompositions as well as Gini indices, and 90/10 and 50/10 percentile comparisons) that within-group earnings inequality rather than between-group earnings inequality is the main contributor to overall earnings inequality. Simulations in which the relatively disadvantaged gender and/or racial/ethnic group is treated as if it were the relatively advantaged group tend to reduce overall earnings inequality measures only slightly and in some cases have the effect of increasing earnings inequality measures.

Guyana - Skeldon Sugar Modernisation Project (SSMP) : environmental assessment

The Guyana, Bagasse Cogeneration Project consists of the addition of a more efficient co-generation plant to the ongoing Skeldon Sugar Modernization Project (SSMP) - a modern sugar factory will manufacture Very High Pol (VHP) raw sugar and requires the expansion of the existing sugar cane area. Guysuco's environmental management responsibilities include wildlife conservation, water quality, waste management, worker health and safety, and agricultural pest management. The project mitigation factors are following: Water from construction operations would be routed to temporary sediment ponds, the bases of stockpiles of dust-generating construction materials would be enclosed in wooden or other suitable support structures, bush clearing debris would be kept away from watercourses, material will be stockpiled in a way to reduce slope failure, and there will be no washing of machinery in canal.

Executive Summary and Update of the Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIA) and the Environmental Management Plan (EMP)

Guyana: Government, Civil Society and International Community Representatives Met Amerindian Communities to Foster Climate Change Partnership

2009-10-13T21:30:20.000Z

Contacts:

In Georgetown: Alejandro Cedeño (592) 223-5036

acedeno@worldbank.org

In Washington: Patricia da Camara (202) 473-4019

pdacamara@worldbank.org

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, October 13, 2009 – Government, civil society, and donor representatives met with 16 Amerindian communities at Iwokrama, Nappi and Kamarang to discuss the Government’s proposed REDD strategy to keep forests standing, store carbon, and in return, receive payments from the international community.

Guyana is a lead participant in the Global Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF), which involves 50 donor and forest countries and is administered by the World Bank to help countries develop REDD strategies.

Guyana is currently refining its Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), which provides an overarching development framework. REDD would be the main financing mechanism for LCDS. Since its launch in June 2009, the LCDS has followed an extensive process of national engagement with stakeholders across the country, including Amerindian communities.

“Adopting a REDD strategy is a key priority for Guyana. The resources garnered from REDD will be used to make Guyana’s economy more climate resilient, provide alternative economic opportunities for all Guyanese, and reduce the long-term pressure on forests,” said Guyana’s President Bharrat Jagdeo at a press conference today. “Together, in a partnership, the Government, and people of Guyana, including our Indigenous Peoples, and the international community will ensure the adoption of a transparent and successful REDD initiative that will benefit us all,” he added.

The multi-stakeholder visit is part of the World Bank’s due diligence process as requested by the FCPF Participants Committee, to approve a preparation grant for Guyana aimed at financing the REDD design phase.

“Communities visited expressed interest in participating in the design of the REDD strategy. They also identified some issues to be further addressed such as deepening and expanding the consultation process; land related matters; the establishment of a revenue sharing mechanism that is mutually acceptable; and the application of World Bank safeguard policies throughout the process,” said Giorgio Valentini, World Bank Country Representative in Guyana. “These matters were raised during the consultations on the LCDS and the government has already committed to addressing them,” he added.

A US$200,000 seed grant will be provided to support further REDD formulation efforts. The grant will fund technical studies coordinated by the Forestry Commission and information efforts and community awareness activities coordinated by the National Toshao’s Council.

“We welcome the mission’s interest to include Amerindian communities in the dialogue and fully participate in the design phase of REDD. We look forward to a fruitful collaboration for the good of the Amerindian people taking into account the issues they raised,” said Yvonne Pearson, Chair of the National Toshao’s Council.

Leaders of 187 countries will meet in Copenhagen, Denmark, in December to discuss a new global agreement to reduce climate change, which hopefully will include forests, providing a new opportunity for income for the people of Guyana.

In Guyana, the specific rules for REDD will need to be defined through a participatory process, and REDD would be the funding mechanism of the LCDS.

The joint multi-stakeholder mission was led by Pauline Campbell-Sukhai, Minister of Amerindian Affairs; James Singh, Guyana’s Forestry Commissioner; and Yvonne Pearson, Chair of the National Toshao’s Council. It included representatives of the Guyana REDD Secretariat, the World Bank, the United States and the United Kingdom (two main FCPF contributors), the Amerindian Action Movement of Guyana, the National Amerindian Development Foundation, the Amerindian Peoples Association, the Guyanese Organization of Indigenous Peoples, Conservation International, World Wildlife Fund, Iwokrama, and the two national LCDS monitors from the International Institute of Environment and Development (IIED).

A report of the field trip will be posted shortly on http://www.forestry.gov.gy. Guyana’s draft REDD proposal is also available there and is open for comments and suggestions.

For more information about the work of the World Bank in Guyana, please visit:
http://www.worldbank.org/gy

Guyana/WB: New Country Assistance Strategy for 2009-2012

2009-05-26T17:26:24.000Z

Contacts:

In Washington: Alejandro Cedeño (202) 473-3477

acedeno@worldbank.org

Cristina González (202) 473-4634

cgonzaleza@worldbank.org

WASHINGTON, May 26, 2009 – The World Bank’s Board of Directors endorsed today the new Country Assistance Strategy (CAS) for Guyana between 2009 and 2012 to support the country’s development agenda.

“Guyana has made significant progress in laying the foundations for macroeconomic stability and higher pro-poor growth. The CAS continues this partnership and supports the country in areas where the Bank's support could strategically complement other donors’ areas of engagement.” emphasized Yvonne Tsikata, the World Bank’s Country Director for the Caribbean.

The Bank’s program of lending, technical assistance and analytical work supports the Government’s objective of accelerating and sustaining growth, and was developed in collaboration with the Government. It benefited from consultations with civil society, the private sector and other development partners. The two main strategic areas of support identified in the CAS are:

Strengthening environmental resilience and sustainability: the Bank will support the Government’s efforts and leadership in this area by helping to establish pilot forest areas that are protected and sustainably managed by local communities, and helping to strengthen the Government’s ability to reduce exposure to natural disasters and global climate risk.

Improving education quality and social safety nets: The Bank will help Guyana improve the quality of education through reform of teacher training and better service delivery, and help strengthen the capacity of Government to deliver an enhanced social protection program.

The Bank’s Executive Directors commended Guyana for its macroeconomic performance over the past decade and recognized the progress made in improving fiscal discipline. They emphasized the importance of accelerated broad-based and shared growth in order to mitigate the development challenges of high poverty and inequality. They also underlined the importance of Guyana’s economic diversification through private sector development, and stressed the need to have the International Finance Corporation, the arm of the World Bank Group that supports the private sector, actively involved in the country.

For more information on the CAS, please visit this website

For more information on the World Bank’s work in Latin America and the Caribbean, please visit: http://www.worldbank.org/lac

Caribbean Policy Makers to Discuss Regional Trade Integration in Jamaica

2009-02-18T01:05:10.000Z

Contacts:
In Washington:
Alejandro Cedeño (202) 473-3477
acedeno@worldbank.org
Patricia da Camara (202) 473-4019
pdacamara@worldbank.org

KINGSTON, Jamaica, February 17, 2009 - Representatives of 13 Caribbean countries met in Jamaica today to discuss the study: Accelerating Trade Integration in the Caribbean: Policy Options for Sustained Growth, Job Creation, and Poverty Reduction and to adopt a concrete action plan for its implementation in the region.

The report was produced jointly by the Organization of American States (OAS) and the World Bank, with the participation of key regional stakeholders such as CARICOM, the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (CRNM) and the governments of the region. It outlines important policy options critical for improving growth and competitiveness in the region, for which concrete actions supported by governments and development partners should be adopted.

“This study comes against the background of sustained efforts to consolidate regional integration under the umbrella of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy,” said Jamaican Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Kenneth Baugh during his opening remarks. “The Economic Partnership Agreement has been signed, but this is not the end. There remains a huge gap between signing and implementation,” he added.

“We need a regional trade strategy, and the OAS, the World Bank and other development partners are here to assist you,” highlighted OAS Executive Director Ambassador Alfonso Quiñonez at the opening ceremony.

During this time of global financial turmoil, trade is more crucial than ever. The current global environment is particularly challenging due to: (i) the current global recession--to sustain growth, countries need to break into new markets, increase efficiency and lower costs of trading; and (ii) preferential access for traditional products is being eroded--the region needs to reposition itself to be a dynamic exporter of services to key markets.

Through the recently signed Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and the imminent expiration of the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Agreement (CBTPA), the region is in the process of redefining relations with its main trading partners. This offers a unique opportunity for the Caribbean to use the relevant provisions of the EPA framework to reinforce competitiveness and lower trading costs. This involves accelerating the implementation of the Caribbean Single Market Economy and seizing the new trade opportunities in services exports.

OAS Trade and Tourism Director Pamela Coke-Hamilton and World Bank Caribbean Director Yvonne Tsikata are moderating the two-day policy discussions, which aim at the adoption of an action plan and identifying next steps towards its implementation.

The project GUYANA - Education for All - Fast Track Initiative has changed to Closed

2009-01-28T05:00:00.000Z

The project GUYANA - Education for All - Fast Track Initiative has changed to Closed. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

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

Guyana: Poverty Reduction and Public Management Operation

2008-10-15T14:59:32.000Z

Last Updated: Sept 2008

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

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

At the beginning of the 2000s, Guyana’s economy had stagnated, exacerbated by a difficult security situation and political tensions between the two major political parties deeply divided along racial lines. This weakened investor confidence and accelerated Guyana’s brain drain.

To address the nation’s problems, the Government of Guyana committed to reorienting its economic and social policies towards poverty reduction. In 2001, a Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) was approved that prioritized the need to improve transparency and public sector accountability, expand access to basic services, support private-sector growth, and protect Guyana’s environmental assets. Lessons from the first Poverty Reduction Support Credit (PRSC) in 2002 indicated that Guyana lacked the capacity to implement a PRSC every year and that reform should be simplified and focused. The volatility of the political situation and the need for a flexible instrument led to the Poverty Reduction and Public Management Operation (PRPMO). PRPMO focused on four main areas: better linking of public spending to poverty priorities and more effective investments; improving transparency and efficiency in public resource use; enhancing the Government’s ability to monitor and evaluate its poverty reduction efforts; and improving environmental management and regulations in the key sectors of sugar, mining, and forestry.

In a difficult economic and political context, the Guyana Poverty Reduction and Public Management Operation helped the Government put in place reforms that strengthened economic governance, increased the transparency and efficiency of public investments, improved poverty monitoring and introduced environmental protections in the areas of forestry, sugar, and mining.

PRPMO was disbursed after the Government implemented key reforms, for which there was strong ownership and broad-based consensus, including:
- Improved programming of public investments. A five-year rolling public investment program was adopted as part of the yearly budgetary process. A methodology for selecting and ranking projects was put in place to prioritize investments in the 2006 and 2007 national budgets in line with PRS objectives.
- More transparent and efficient public financial management and procurement. An assessment by the World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the European Union found that management of public finances in Guyana improved considerably in the last five years, in part as a result of the PRPMO. New laws and regulations were enacted to address systemic financial management weaknesses and close loopholes. A new Audit Act was enacted giving the Auditor General legal powers to carry out effective and independent audits. The Lottery Fund was audited. In public procurement, regulations and standard bidding documents were introduced for use by national and regional tender boards. PRPMO supported the launching of the first phase of the fiduciary oversight strengthening program.
- Better monitoring and evaluation enabled the Statistics Bureau to publish the 2002 census data, carry out the 2007 Household Budget Survey, and prepare a poverty report to orient a new Poverty Reduction Strategy.
- Stronger environmental regulations. The Government adopted an Environmental Management Plan for the new sugar mill and sugarcane fields being developed. The 2007 Guyana Forestry Commission Bill empowered the Guyana Forestry Commission to oversee sustainable forest development practices. A strategic environmental assessment of the mining sector was completed to guide future legislation.

The Bank contributed to the analytical basis for the PRPMO policy reforms, including preparation of a Development Policy Review, a Public Expenditure Review, a Country Financial Accountability Assessment, a Country Procurement Assessment Report, and two poverty and social impact analyses of the bauxite and sugar sectors. The Bank provided grant resources for technical assistance, including a PHRD grant, to prepare the fiduciary oversight report and standard procurement bidding documents, as well as train public officials in procurement, monitoring, and evaluation.

The preparation of the PRPMO benefited from a consultative process that included a broad range of stakeholders, such as the opposition parties, which helped create strong ownership of, and commitment to, the reforms proposed in the program. A difficult political consensus was achieved on key policy issues. For example, the Government consulted with and found common ground with opposition parties to define an action plan for the fiduciary oversight reforms, which the Parliament subsequently unanimously approved. A single-tranche operation better reflected Government capacity and was timed to the speed of the Government’s implementation performance. This focus on deepening a narrower reform agenda was consistent with country realities.

Strong donor coordination generated agreement on the reform agenda and created consistent policies between key donors in Guyana, including the World Bank, the IDB, the International Monetary Fund, the European Union, Canada, Britain, and the United States. Technical assistance was critical. Complementary capacity building helped agencies across Government better design and monitor reforms.

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.

###

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

The project Bagasse Cogeneration is now in the pipeline.

2008-06-29T04:00:00.000Z

The project Bagasse Cogeneration is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The project Guyana National Statistics Strategy and Statistical Development has changed to Closed

2008-06-29T04:00:00.000Z

The project Guyana National Statistics Strategy and Statistical Development has changed to Closed. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

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.

###

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.

###

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.”

###

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.”

###

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

World Bank President Calls for Plan to Fight Hunger in Pre-Spring Meetings Address

2008-04-02T15:53:10.000Z

April 2, 2008—In a speech today, World Bank President Robert B. Zoellick called for a "new deal" to combat world hunger and malnutrition through a combination of emergency aid and long-term efforts to boost agricultural productivity in developing countries.

The "New Deal for a Global Food Policy" is part of a suite of initiatives Zoellick outlined to advance development in the face of skyrocketing food and oil prices. He also called for a global trade deal to be agreed as soon as possible, detailed an initiative to help countries manage their wealth earned from high energy and mineral prices in a more inclusive way, and encouraged sovereign wealth funds to create a "One Percent Solution" for equity investment in Africa.

Agricultural Assistance

The World Bank will nearly double agricultural assistance to US$800 million in Africa. Zoellick also urged wealthy nations to help the UN’s World Food Program meet some $500 million in emergency food needs.

"The United States, the European Union, Japan and other OECD countries must act now to fill this gap – or many more people will suffer and starve," Zoellick said in an address sponsored by the Center for Global Development in Washington.

Zoellick said the "New Deal for a Global Food Policy" is needed to combat the "forgotten" Millennium Development Goal of overcoming malnutrition. Only about a tenth of the resources directed at HIV/AIDS goes to fight malnutrition, which causes 3.5 million deaths a year in children under 5 and has long-lasting impacts on health and achievement.

"Hunger and malnutrition are a cause, not just a result, of poverty," said Zoellick.

The World Bank estimates 33 countries face social unrest because of soaring food and energy prices.

The New Deal requires a shift from traditional food aid to a broader concept of food and nutrition assistance, such as cash or vouchers that can help build local food markets and farm production,.and create a "Green Revolution" for Sub-Saharan Africa, said Zoellick.

"This New Deal should focus not only on hunger and nutrition, access to food and its supply, but also the interconnections with energy, yields, climate change, investment, the marginalization of women and others, and economic resiliency and growth," said Zoellick.

"Food policy needs to gain the attention of the highest political levels, because no one country or group can meet these interconnected challenges."

Zoellick said the World Bank Group can help by:

Backing emergency measures that support the poor while encouraging incentives to produce and harvest food
Offering access to technology and science to boost yields
Helping countries counter weather-related risks, such as drought
Facilitating land-titling, local currency financing, working capital, distribution and logistics, and support for services on which farmers rely

"Income gains in agriculture have three times the power in overcoming poverty than increases in other sectors, and 75 percent of the world’s poor are rural, with most involved in farming," said Zoellick.

Trade Also Key to Lower Food Prices

Zoellick said the time was "now or never" to break the impasse in global trade talks. A "fairer and more open trading system" would encourage developing country farmers to expand production, he said.

"The poor need lower food prices now. But the world’s agricultural trading system is stuck in the past. If ever there was a time to cut distorting agricultural subsidies and open markets for food imports, it must be now."

An accord would give developing countries, big and small, more opportunities to become more productive and lower prices through trade. It would also infuse confidence in an economic system stressed by financial anxiety, he said.

However, "powerful voices across the political spectrum, including in my own country, are calling for, rationalizing, protectionism," Zoellick said. "This economic isolationism signals a defeatism that will reap the losses, not the gains, of globalization."

The trade talks are also a "critical test" for striking a global deal on climate change. "If negotiators of 150 economies cannot manage the political tradeoffs of the Doha Round to reap the clear benefits, it does not auger well for bringing developed and developing countries together on a new accord for climate change."

Sovereign Wealth Funds

Zoellick also outlined a plan to encourage emerging economies such as China, India and Brazil to invest about US$30 billion in African nations through government-sponsored wealth funds.

Such sovereign wealth funds currently hold about US$3 trillion in assets. They have come under scrutiny recently because of investments outside their own countries. Zoellick noted they need transparency and should be guided by best practices to avoid politicization, but "where some see sovereign funds as a source of concern, we see opportunity," said Zoellick.

The World Bank’s "One Percent Solution" involves creating the equity investment platforms and benchmarks to attract these investors, and allocating 1 percent of the assets to African growth, development and opportunity.

"This one percent could be the start of something much bigger, across more types of funds and countries, because the investment of wealth into equity for development offers opportunity, not something to fear."

Extractive Industries Initiative

Zoellick announced a new approach to help ensure that high energy and commodity prices translate into improvements in the lives of the poor.

The EITI++ builds on the transparency and good governance concepts of the existing multi-stakeholder Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). EITI publicizes and verifies company payments and government revenues from oil, gas and mining. But many governments are emphasizing that transparent revenue reporting, while important, is not enough. The World Bank is therefore working with developing countries and other partners to frame a "comprehensive approach to supplement the original project."

EITI++ will include providing technical assistance to countries on the awarding of contracts, monitoring operations, collecting taxes, improving resource extraction and economic decisions, better managing price volatility, and investing revenues effectively in sustainable development.

An EITI++ approach will be launched in Guinea. "The successful development of Guinea’s rich resources can strengthen sustainable development for the entire region," Zoellick said.

"The EITI++ can advance inclusive and sustainable globalization by broadening the beneficiaries of resource development."

The project Guyana National Statistics Strategy and Statistical Development is now in the pipeline.

2007-10-27T04:00:00.000Z

The project Guyana National Statistics Strategy and Statistical Development is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The project GUYANA - Education for All - Fast Track Initiative is now in the pipeline.

2007-10-27T04:00:00.000Z

The project GUYANA - Education for All - Fast Track Initiative is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The project HIV/AIDS PREVENTION & CONTROL PROJECT is now in the pipeline.

2007-10-25T04:00:00.000Z

The project HIV/AIDS PREVENTION & CONTROL PROJECT is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Project for Guyana is part of the third phase of the Bank's Caribbean Multi-Country HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Adaptable Program Lending (APL) approved in June 2001. (Guyana is the seventh country to obtain support under the APL after Dominican Republic, Barbados, Jamaica, Grenada, St. Kitts, and Nevis and Trinidad and Tobago.) This project intends to slow the increase of or reverse this trend by: (a) preventing and controlling the transmission of HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs); (b) prolonging and improving the quality of life of people living with AIDS; and (c) mitigating the negative impact o f HIVIAIDS on persons infected and affected by the disease. There are three main project components. Component 1 will support institutional capacity building for scaling up the response through financing of technical advisory services, training, staffing, equipment, goods and general operating costs. It also funds monitoring, evaluation, and research, Component 2 supports the scaling up of the response to HIV/ATDS by line ministries, civil society organizations, and the private sector. Component 3 expands health sector prevention, treatment and care services for HIV/AIDS.

The project Public Sector Technical Assistance Credit (PSTAC) is now in the pipeline.

2007-10-25T04:00:00.000Z

The project Public Sector Technical Assistance Credit (PSTAC) is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The Public Sector Technical Assistance Credit Project will assist the Government in building its capacity to meet the governance, and poverty reduction objectives, set out in the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP), namely, by strengthening fiscal, and financial management, while improving coverage of social safety nets, and developing institutional capacity to improve PRSP implementation. The project components will: 1) strengthen the Revenue Authority, and contribute to the reform of tax policy, by improving tax, and customs systems, procedures and training. Likewise, new procurement laws and regulations will be drafted to strengthen the Procurement Administration, administrative rules on standard bidding documents will be established, and management information systems implemented. Additionally, the Parliament's fiduciary oversight will be strengthened, human resources and payroll databases integrated, and, the privatization process of the Guyana National Cooperative Bank will be supported, as will the monitoring and management of other state owned corporations, and entities; 2) strengthen capacities, and the existing social safety net programs, by improving systems, processes, and training, in addition to recommending labor market regulations, including safety net recommendations on sector restructuring, particularly in the sugar industry; and, 3) develop an institutional capacity to manage, monitor, evaluate, and accomplish the PRSP implementation, through improved processes, systems, and training.

The project El Nino Emergency Assistance Project is now in the pipeline.

2007-10-25T04:00:00.000Z

The project El Nino Emergency Assistance Project is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The El Nino Emergency Assistance Project will help a) restore the country's agricultural capacity in drought-stricken areas; b) provide safe and reliable potable water service to marginal urban and remote hinterland and riverine communities affected by droughts; and c) restore flood protection in low-lying areas of city of Georgetown. The project consists of four components. First, Agricultural Production Capacity Recovery and Regeneration Program will support strengthening the drainage and irrigation, and upgrading facilities in selected stations nationwide of the hydrometeorological network. Second, Potable Water Service Recovery and Restoration Program will finance restoring the complementary distribution and transmission facilities, and other drought mitigation measures, such as draining of wells and installation of water pumps. Third, Georgetown Flood Protection Program will support the rehabilitation of two main sluices and the installation of two supplementary pumps. The fourth component will finance the establishment of a project coordination unit.

The project Financial and Private Sector Institutional Development Project is now in the pipeline.

2007-10-25T04:00:00.000Z

The project Financial and Private Sector Institutional Development Project is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The Financial and Private Sector Institutional Development Project, will support institutional reforms, and, improve regulatory frameworks on the overall financial sector, thus, supporting private sector development, and, enhancing banking, insurance, and financial operations. The three main components are: 1) financial sector development, where expertise, and technology upgrade will be developed, for processing banking liquidity/solvency problems through technical assistance; regulatory frameworks will be updated, covering financial institutions as a whole; and, the financial conditions of state-owned banks, will be restructured, to include an assessment on privatization options; 2) private sector development, to transfer state enterprises to the private sector. The component will provide funds for technical assistance, training, and equipment, in support of the privatization process. Additionally, a framework for facilitating public offering of shares, of those privatized enterprises, will be developed, and, socially equitable policies, will ensure sound safeguards' protection; 3) development of public business services, to establish a national contractors registry. Funding will be provided to revise, and develop public procurement procedures, and guidelines, and, update the external auditing capacity of the public sector.

The project GY (CRL) Water Sector Consolidation Proj is now in the pipeline.

2007-10-25T04:00:00.000Z

The project GY (CRL) Water Sector Consolidation Proj is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The Water Sector Consolidation Project aims to support the achievement of sustainable universal access to safe and affordable water for the population of Guyana, especially the poor. The project consist of the following components: Component 1) will finance the following three subprojects: Anna Regina area water supply system in Division 1 of Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI); Parika area water supply system in Division 2 of GWI; and Rosignol area water supply system in Division 4. Component 2) will finance staff, consultant services and equipment to strengthen the capacity of GWI and its Asset Development Team to execute, supervise and monitor the results of the Project. Component 3) will finance technical assistance architecture around the management contract to bring the needed specialized skills and expertise to support GWI. Component 4) will finance minor capital works targeted at the distribution systems and small equipment repairs and replacements, household connection replacements, and other minor investments.

The project Debt Reduction Operation Project is now in the pipeline.

2007-10-25T04:00:00.000Z

The project Debt Reduction Operation Project is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The project PRIV SEC DEV/IDA REF is now in the pipeline.

2007-10-25T04:00:00.000Z

The project PRIV SEC DEV/IDA REF is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The project PRIV.SCTR.DV/IDA REF is now in the pipeline.

2007-10-25T04:00:00.000Z

The project PRIV.SCTR.DV/IDA REF is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The project PRIVSECDEV (IDA REFL is now in the pipeline.

2007-10-25T04:00:00.000Z

The project PRIVSECDEV (IDA REFL is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The project National Protected Areas (GEF) is now in the pipeline.

2007-10-25T04:00:00.000Z

The project National Protected Areas (GEF) is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The project PSD SUPPL - IDA REF is now in the pipeline.

2007-10-25T04:00:00.000Z

The project PSD SUPPL - IDA REF is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The project Financial Sector and Business Environment Project is now in the pipeline.

2007-10-25T04:00:00.000Z

The project Financial Sector and Business Environment Project is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The objectives of the Financial Sector and Business Environment Project are to implement sustainable institution building mechanisms supporting the financial and private sector, and to facilitate the effective implementation of policy measures supported by the private sector development adjustment credit. The project will achieve these objectives through the following components. The first component will seek to strengthen financial sector operation and regulation through: a) support to the Central Bank in banking supervision through regulatory advice, training and equipment; b) support the Central Bank in improving monetary management through assistance in developing procedures and related staff training; and c) support in restructuring of state-owned financial institutions. The second component seeks, through privatization, to transfer public ownership of a majority of public enterprises to private hands and in this manner, to also stimulate investment. The third component aims to strengthen the business environment through support to the Office of GO-INVEST (the Guyana Office Investment) with training of staff to help simplify procedures for foreign investors, and b) consultant support in the development of regulations under the Companies Act and training of staff of the Registry of Companies to strengthen its capacity to implement this Act.

The project SAC SUPLM IV (IDA REFLOW) is now in the pipeline.

2007-10-25T04:00:00.000Z

The project SAC SUPLM IV (IDA REFLOW) is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The project Secondary Towns Infrastructure Development Project is now in the pipeline.

2007-10-25T04:00:00.000Z

The project Secondary Towns Infrastructure Development Project is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The project Guyana Water Supply Technical Assistance and Rehabilitation Project is now in the pipeline.

2007-10-25T04:00:00.000Z

The project Guyana Water Supply Technical Assistance and Rehabilitation Project is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The overall objectives of the project are to improve the quality and reliability of potable water in selected regions in Guyana and enhance the efficiency of water sector institutions. The project, together with other donor-financed projects in the sector, will: (i) initiate the process of upgrading water supply facilities; (ii) establish appropriate procedures and methods for ensuring proper system operation and maintenance (O&M) and promote the involvement of the private sector in water operations; (iii) enhance sector technical, financial and managerial skills through training; and (iv) rationalize sector organization and strengthen sector finances by instituting tariff reforms and improving cost recovery. The project consists of the following key concepts: (a) facilities rehabilitation, comprising some 45 major and 100 minor upgrading schemes nationwide, and improvements to New Amsterdam distribution systems; (b) O&M improvements, supporting a systemwide preventive maintenance program, standardization of electro-mechanical equipment and contracting out of certain support activities to the private sector on a pilot basis; (c) human resources development, enhancing manpower skills in the water sector; (d) institutional strengthening of Guyana Water Authority (GUYWA), improving the capabilites of GUYWA in management, financial and technical areas; (e) project management and evaluation, emphasizing the establishment of a Project Management Unit; and (f) future projects preparation.