El Salvador | World Bank

El Salvador - Income Support and Employability Project

El Salvador - Fiscal Management and Public Sector Performance Technical Assistance Loan Project

El Salvador - Sustaining Social Gains for Economic Recovery Project

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

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.

El Salvador - Fiscal Management and Public Sector Performance Project

El Salvador - Income Support and Employability Project

El Salvador - Fiscal Management and Public Sector Performance Technical Assistance Loan Project

El Salvador - Sustaining Social Gains for Economic Recovery Project

El Salvador - Supporting Crisis Response and Policy Development in Social Protection Project

Doing business 2010 : El Salvador - 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 El Salvador. 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.

Globalization, wages, and the quality of jobs : five country studies

The country studies in this volume analyze the link between globalization and working conditions in Cambodia, El Salvador, Honduras, Indonesia, and Madagascar. These countries vary significantly in population, economic circumstances, region, history, and institutions. All have experienced liberalization and globalization in the last 20 years. The heterogeneity of these countries provides the basis for a useful comparison of the effects of globalization on working conditions. As suggested in the framework, each country study has three main components: a description of the country's experience with globalization, a qualitative part that analyzes country-specific aspects of working conditions, and an analysis of changes in interindustry wage differentials (IIWDs) that can be compared across countries. In general, globalization has been characterized by export-driven foreign direct investment (FDI) concentrated in relatively few sectors. Export-driven FDI in the apparel sector plays a prominent role in each country, although to varying degrees. In Cambodia, apparel made up 82 percent of all merchandise exports in 2003. Nearly two-thirds of that total was destined for the U.S. market. Virtually all factories in the Cambodian garment sector are foreign owned. Honduras rose from being the 34th largest supplier of apparel to the United states (U.S.) market in 1990 to fourth place in 2003. In 2003, two-thirds of all Honduran exports to the U.S. were garments and more than 82 percent of all Honduran workers worked in foreign-owned factories. A similar pattern emerges for El Salvador. For Madagascar, apparel exports from the Zone Franche were the primary force behind the country's remarkable export growth and its transition from exporting primary products to exporting manufactured products between 1990 and 2005. By 2001, Madagascar had become the second most important clothing exporter in Sub-Saharan Africa as measured by total export value.

El Salvador - Public Finance and Social Sector Development Policy Loan Project

The objectives of the Public Finance and Social Sector Development Policy Loan (DPL) Project are to: (i) help El Salvador strengthen medium-tern fiscal sustainability; (ii) support good governance and transparency in the use of public resources; and (iii) maintain steady improvements in social protection and education. The current administration, in office since June 2004, has made good progress in moving forward its reform agenda, but emerging challenges associated with present global economic conditions compounded by the debt profile could threaten gains or hinder continued progress. The government's program for the period 2004-2009 was built on three main pillars: (i) accelerating broad-based, equitable economic growth and increase employment; (ii) improving equity through building human capital and expanding access to socioeconomic infrastructure, assets and markets; and (iii) enhancing security and reducing vulnerability. As a result of good performance, and despite a difficult political situation, progress has been made in each of these priority areas, with development targets being exceeded in many instances. In the medium-term, however, the country faces pressures on the fiscal front particularly in 2011 as a result of the unfavorable debt profile that year, in turn affecting the country's ability to make continued steady socio-economic progress in the medium-term.

El Salvador - Public Finance and Social Sector Development Policy Loan Project

El Salvador - Public Finance and Social Sector Development Policy Loan (DPL) Project

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

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.

Alagados : the story of integrated slum upgrading in Salvador (Bahia), Brazil

The cities alliance was created in 1999 as a global coalition of cities and their development partners committed to scaling up successful approaches to urban poverty reduction. By promoting the positive effects of urbanization, the alliance supports learning between cities, as well as between cities and governments, international development agencies and financial institutions. The cities alliance mainly focuses on providing technical assistance for projects to upgrade slums. In this respect, the alliance approved in 2001, the project known as Technical and Social Support Project (PATS) with the support of the Italian government and the World Bank. Chapter one aims to give a general idea of the social and geographical situation of the area where the project is being taken forward. It also seeks to draw attention to pre-PATS development initiatives in Alagados where thousands of people living in virtually total poverty and highly insalubrious conditions, occupied stilt shacks perched over stretches of fetid water. Chapter two outlines the general objectives of the PATS project and its modus operandi. It also contains an explanation of how the various working partnerships have progressed over the past few years. Chapter three summarizes the direct results of the project. It refers to the main achievements of the physical and social interventions and to the encouragement of a genuine participatory process in the formulation of an overarching vision. The chapter then deals with the environmental question, the introduction of a monitoring and evaluation system, and the project's success in scaling up the scope of the intervention. Chapter four presents the challenges and lessons learned in the spheres of community participation, shared management, and the building of an international partnership. Finally, this chapter addresses what is probably the most crucial of all the challenges: the contribution of the project intervention to local economic development by helping to generate employment and income for the people living in the very poorest areas.

Doing business 2009 : country profile for El Salvador - 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 El Salvador. 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.

El Salvador - First Broad-Based Growth Development Policy Loan Project

Ratings for the First Broad-Based Growth Development Policy Loan (DPL) Project for El Salvador were as follows: outcomes were satisfactory, the risk to development outcome was moderate, Bank performance was highly satisfactory, and Borrower performance was satisfactory. Some lessons learned included: The government's strong ownership of the program was critical for a successful outcome. The satisfactory outcome of the DPL I and the completion of the DPL II actions were to a large extent a consequence of the government commitment to achieve the medium-term targets and to present to the National Assembly the legal reforms necessary for its successful implementation. The latter were achieved through a consensus-building process with the Opposition at the beginning of the new administration. As this Implementation, Completion and Results Report (ICR) review has demonstrated, the government has made substantial progress toward achieving the medium-term objectives established for the programmatic series of four DPL despite the fact that only one of them was approved and executed. The Bank should examine the possibility, when the risk of a political gridlock is high, to approve the total amount of the DPL series which will be activated and disbursed gradually once compliance of the relevant medium term triggers occur. This policy will facilitate negotiations between the Executive and Legislative branches of Government, when the opposition has control over the latter, avoiding lengthy and costly negotiations every year.

El Salvador - Second Broad-Based Growth Development Policy Loan Project

Ratings for the El Salvador Second Broad-Based Growth Development Policy Loan Project (DPL II) were as follows: Bank performance was satisfactory, and Borrower performance was also rated satisfactory. The factor leading to the cancellation of the project was the non-ratification of the loan by the national assembly of El Salvador, and not due to weak implementation or reversal of the policy reforms supported by the loan. The DPL II project was approved by the Board on December 13, 2005 and the loan agreement was signed on March 15, 2007. Subsequently, in various sessions, the loan was presented to, and discussed by, the national assembly of El Salvador, but due to the political gridlock, the loan was never ratified within the 18 months deadline after Board approval. As a result, the Bank terminated the loan agreement as of June 13, 2007. Some of the lessons learned from the project are: (i) Bank operations are planned and prepared with the Executive branch of the Government and the Legislative branch is never informed nor consulted during the process of project preparation. While this is a good approach to ensure prompt project preparation, the fact that loans could end up trapped in congress due to political reasons is increasingly present. Just like it is done during Country Assistance Strategy (CAS) preparation and in coordination with main government counterparts, a project level consultation process should take place at the congressional level making sure that relevant views are received and, if technically appropriate for the project, taken into account. At the very least, such an approach would convey the message that the Bank is an objective, technical player, ready to work with any given Government as long as the common goals of poverty reduction are pursued as well; (ii) One broad lesson learned to reflect on is the changing socio-political environment in Latin America. The region is today characterized by an increasingly polarized political environment. The Bank continues to have a role to play in this context; however, it needs to define a strategy to work with clients across the political and ideological spectrum existent in Latin America today.

The project Income Support and Employability Project is now in the pipeline.

2009-10-01T04:00:00.000Z

The project Income Support and Employability Project is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The objectives of the Income Support and Employability Project for El Salvador are to: (i) provide temporary income support to the urban vulnerable poor; (ii) improve the coverage of labor intermediation and training services, to the urban vulnerable poor; and (iii) improve the institutional capacity of the Borrower to develop an integrated social protection system. There are three components to the project: (1) the design and implementation of a temporary income support program (PATI) that will ensure that a number of poor and vulnerable urban dwellers will receive benefits in exchange for their participation in a community activity and training; (2) the strengthening of labor intermediation, information, and occupational training systems, by expanding the network of intermediation services, and developing a national strategy for occupational training; and (3) the design and development of a universal social protection system (SPSU), by strengthening the organizational and technical capacity of the STP (Secretaria Tecnica de la Presidencia - Technical Secretariat of the Presidency).

The project Fiscal Management and Public Sector Performance is now in the pipeline.

2009-09-19T04:00:00.000Z

The project Fiscal Management and Public Sector Performance is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The objective of the Fiscal Management and Public Sector Performance Technical Assistance Loan Project for El Salvador is to strengthen the institutional capacity of specific government processes and agencies to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of revenue and expenditure management, and enhance accountability and transparency in the public sector. There are four components to the project. The first component of the project is strengthening tax collection agencies. This component will provide support to the Ministry of Finance (MoF) to implement a short-term tax collection package and strengthen the MoF's institutional capacities in tax administration. The second component of the project is modernizing of public expenditures and financial management. This component will help the MoF to review and further modernize existing budget and financial management systems, including the public procurement system. The third component of the project is enhancing and piloting information management and public sector transparency initiatives. This component will support government efforts to modernize its institutional framework for Public Financial Management (PFM), and to develop policies and instruments to improve statistics and information management and transparency. The fourth component of the project is project coordination and strengthening of the MoF. This component will provide support to the MoF to adequately coordinate and monitor project implementation.

The project Sustaining Social Gains for Economic Recovery is now in the pipeline.

2009-09-17T04:00:00.000Z

The project Sustaining Social Gains for Economic Recovery is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The Sustaining Social Gains for Economic Recovery (SSGER) Program Development Policy Loan (DPL) will assist the Government of El Salvador (GoES) to undertake immediate measures in the anti-crisis plan to protect the poor, while supporting the process of economic recovery through the design of new initiatives and institutional strengthening in the social sectors. Apart from providing a part of the financing for the anti-crisis plan, the DPL will also enable the Bank to provide technical assistance in the area of institutional strengthening and policy development to a new Government with limited experience in the executive branch. The SSGER DPL will contribute to building a fiscally sustainable medium term development policy and serve as a platform for dialogue with the GoES, opposition parties and civil society on the reform agenda. The DPL is structured around three pillars: a) protecting fiscal space for social expenditures. The DPL will help to protect non-personnel recurrent spending and essential investments that are required to sustain the quality of education and health services, while generating resources from the reduction of the transport subsidy; b) protecting income and consumption of the vulnerable populations. The DPL will support the launch of essential social programs including the protection and extension of access to basic health and education services and the provision of temporary income support to unemployed persons in poor municipalities; and c) strengthening institutional capacity for policy formulation and implementation in the social sectors for economic recovery. The DPL will support specific actions to build the capacity of the Ministries of Education and Health, as well as the Technical Secretariat of the President (Secretaria Tknica de la Presidencia - STP), which is in charge of coordinating and monitoring the implementation of social policy.

The project Addressing Youth Violence through Cultural and Music Learning is now in the pipeline.

2009-08-21T04:00:00.000Z

The project Addressing Youth Violence through Cultural and Music Learning is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

World Bank Executive Directors visit Honduras

2009-02-27T18:05:09.000Z

Contacts:
In Washington:
Alejandro Cedeno (202) 458-5054
acedeno@worldbank.org
In Tegucigalpa: María Amalia San Martín (504) 239-4551
Msanmartin@worldbank.org

Tegucigalpa, MDC, February 24, 2009 – A delegation of seven World Bank executive directors arrived in Honduras today to see firsthand the programs and projects implemented by the Government and the private sector with World Bank funding. The delegation is accompanied by World Bank Director for Central America Laura Frigenti, the Honduran governor to the World Bank, Rebeca Santos, and other of the organization’s employees.

During their visit, the delegates will meet with President Manuel Zelaya Rosales, government officials, business leaders, and civil society members. They will also visit the Land Management and Disaster Mitigation project in Tegucigalpa, as well as the “My First Job” project and a private agribusiness food preparation company in the city of San Pedro Sula. There, they will also meet with project beneficiaries.

The executive directors represent their respective governments to the World Bank. They direct general operations and make policies that guide the organization. They are also responsible for analyzing loan, credit, and grant proposals presented by the World Bank CEO and for implementing decisions regarding these proposals.

The World Bank supports the Government of Honduras and its people in their struggle to develop and reach social equity by providing credits with a 10-year grace period for payment and 20 years for reimbursement. The World Bank has provided Honduras with over US$2.5 billion, helping to fund different projects, such as El Cajón, Cañaveral, and Río Lindo hydroelectric projects, as well as highways and health and educational reform programs. Presently, the World Bank’s portfolio in Honduras amounts to US$411 million for 17 projects in several strategic sectors, as well as other financial support offered to entrepreneurs in the financial, industrial, energy, and telecommunications sectors.

For more information about the work of the World Bank in Honduras, please visit: http://www.bancomundial.org/hn

El Salvador: World Bank Approves US$450 Million to Support Social Development and Public Finances

2009-01-23T17:51:14.000Z

Contact:

In Washington: Gabriela Aguilar

gaguilar@worldbank.org

Tel. (202) 473-6768

WASHINGTON, January 22, 2009 – The World Bank Board of Directors approved today a US$450 million Public Finance and Social Sector Development Policy Loan (DPL) for El Salvador, which will help the country strengthen its fiscal sustainability, governance, accountability and transparency in the use of public funds, as well as maintain improvements in social protection and education.

“This DPL will increase macroeconomic stability and further strengthen public sector efficiency,” said Laura Frigenti, World Bank Director for Central America. “In the social sphere, the measures aimed at expanding the coverage of the Red Solidaria program to lower-income households and increasing access to secondary education are expected to help to close the income gap in the future,” she added.

This operation will support the following:

Increase fiscal space through administrative and tax measures to fight fiscal evasion.
Streamline public financial management through the expansion of integrated financial systems and the improvement of budget management.
Improve public sector accountability and transparency by fostering access to information.
Expand the coverage of the social safety program Red Solidaria.
Improve the quality of primary education through a strategy that addresses the outcomes of underperforming schools.
Increase access to secondary education.

The measures agreed among the stakeholders are key to the future development of El Salvador.

“The development of this DPL is based on broad consultations with policymakers and civil society stakeholders, among which a high level of consensus was found. Notwithstanding, we still need the approval of the Legislative Assembly to move forward in its implementation,” said Alberto Leyton, World Bank Representative in El Salvador.

The DPL requires two approvals from the Congress. The first approval allowed the government to negotiate the operation, but a second approval is required to proceed with its implementation.

The loan will be disbursed in two tranches: the first for US$200 million and the second for US$250 million. Both are repayable in 30 years, including a five-year grace period.

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For more information on this project, please visit:

http://web.worldbank.org/external/projects/main?pagePK=64283627&piPK=73230&theSitePK=40941&menuPK=228424&Projectid=P114910

For more information on the World Bank’s work in El Salvador, please visit:

http://www.worldbank.org/elsalvador

The project El Salvador Public Finance and Social Sector DPL has changed to Active

2009-01-23T05:00:00.000Z

The project El Salvador Public Finance and Social Sector DPL has changed to Active. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

El Salvador: Public Finance and Social Sector Development Policy Loan

2009-01-22T22:37:17.000Z

WASHINGTON, January 22, 2009 - The following project was approved today by the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors:

IBRD Loan: US$450 million

TERMS: Maturity = 30 years; Grace= 5 years

Project Description: The main objectives of the Public Finance and Social Sector DPL are to:

(i) help El Salvador strengthen medium-tern fiscal sustainability; (ii) support good governance and transparency in the use of public resources; and (iii)maintain steady improvements in social protection and education.

Media Contact

Gabriela Aguilar

(202) 473-6768

gaguilar2@worldbank.org

For more information on El Salvador, please visit this website

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

The project El Salvador Public Finance and Social Sector DPL (formerly El Salvador Fiscal and Institutional DPL) is now in the pipeline.

2008-11-26T05:00:00.000Z

The project El Salvador Public Finance and Social Sector DPL (formerly El Salvador Fiscal and Institutional DPL) is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The project SV - EARTHQUAKE EMERGENCY REC. & HEALTH SERVICES EXTENSION PROJECT has changed to Closed

2008-11-03T05:00:00.000Z

The project SV - EARTHQUAKE EMERGENCY REC. & HEALTH SERVICES EXTENSION PROJECT has changed to Closed. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The Earthquake Emergency Reconstruction and Health Services Extension Project seeks to restore hospital operations, and improve the provision of health assistance, specifically to vulnerable groups in the country's earthquake-damaged areas, in particular the underserved populations of the poverty-stricken Northern Region. The components will support: 1) an emergency reconstruction of the Ministry of Health (MOH) hospital network in the earthquake affected areas, through a phased construction that will meet current seismic structural codes. Equipment supply will include computerization, medical waste disposal equipment, and medical equipment. Technical assistance (TA) will be financed to cover environmental impact studies, topographical analyses, and engineering drawings; 2) the extension of essential health and nutrition services to damaged, and poor areas, by forming partnerships with nongovernmental organizations, and local government agencies, to strengthen MOH capacity, towards an integrated service delivery of health and nutrition services. Participatory outreach programs with communities will be established, including the development of management reforms in those reconstructed hospitals, to establish accountability systems, and health coverage in rural areas; 3) strengthening of MOH's capacity to perform public health programs, with improved quality and disease surveillance, regulation and performance-based monitoring; and, 4) project management, including the project's overall impact evaluation, and financial audits.

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

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

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 Ensuring SME Participation in International Trade has changed to Dropped

2008-01-21T05:00:00.000Z

The project Ensuring SME Participation in International Trade has changed to Dropped. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The project GEF - El Salvador Environmental Services Project has changed to Closed

2008-01-10T05:00:00.000Z

The project GEF - El Salvador Environmental Services Project has changed to Closed. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The Environmental Services Project will focus on reducing land degradation, conserving forested areas, reverting marginal agricultural areas to forest, and encouraging more sustainable land use in agriculture. It would create payment for environmental services (PES) mechanisms to provide incentives to hillside farmers and other land users in at least two pilot areas, and could be expanded to three more sites. The objective of the Design and Implementation of a Program of Payments for Environmental Services component is to implement an environmental services fund, create several pilot mechanisms to implement the approach in two to five priority watersheds, and, develop procedures to replicate the approach widely. Payments will be provided for activities such as agro-forestry, forest management and conservation, reforestation, afforestation, and sustainable agricultural production to generate valuable environmental benefits such as improving water quality, regulating groundwater and surface flows, maintaining or enhancing biodiversity, and increasing carbon sequestration. Key outputs include establishing a functioning environmental services fund - FONASA, designing a program of payments for environmental services, and providing technical assistance and monitoring contract compliance by the environmental service providers. The second component - Institutional Strengthening - will strengthen the capacity of all market participants, including national institutions, market intermediaries, community associations, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to support long-term development of environmental service markets. The Project Management and Monitoring and Evaluation component will focus on project management mechanisms, including planning and monitoring and evaluation (M&E).

The project El Salvador Environmental Services Project is now in the pipeline.

2007-10-25T04:00:00.000Z

The project El Salvador Environmental Services Project is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The project JUDICIAL MODERNIZATION PROJECT is now in the pipeline.

2007-10-25T04:00:00.000Z

The project JUDICIAL MODERNIZATION PROJECT is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The Judicial Modernization Project will improve the country's judicial system to enhance the effectiveness, accessibility, and credibility of its judicial branch, by strengthening the capacity for monitoring and evaluation aspects, through a participatory process involving judges, technical and administrative staff, and users of the judicial system. The components will: 1) strengthen the institutional management capacity of the judicial branch, through the provision of technical assistance (TA) for the design, and implementation of an integrated planning system, to facilitate decision making, improve administrative quality, and coordination, and reduce delays in user feedback. Procedures will be developed, training provided to judges, and administrative staff, and, updated equipment supplied, to develop information, and communication technology systems. An international grant resources management program will be developed, to centralize, and manage grant resources to modernize, and strengthen the judicial branch. Additionally, consulting services, training, and partnership assistance will be provided to link the judicial branch with the law and justice module; 2) modernize the court system, through TA, and investments to upgrade their efficiency, and resource utilization, and services, by developing a court re-mapping plan, strengthening the automated judicial, and administrative case management program.

The project Land Administration II is now in the pipeline.

2007-10-25T04:00:00.000Z

The project Land Administration II is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The Second Land Administration Project for El Salvador aims at improving land tenure security and land transactions by providing efficient, equitable, and accessible land administration services. This will facilitate better land-related investments and more productive and environmentally sustainable land use. The project has the following three components: Component 1) will complete land regularization within El Salvador. In the context of LAP II, regularization refers to the systematic and massive dissemination campaign, mapping, verification of rights, delimitation of properties, resolution of field conflicts, notification of results, transfer of information to Property Registry and Cadastre Information System (SIRyC), and legalization and/or titling of lands in areas of social interest. Component 2) will improve the execution of day-to-day registry and cadastre services at local level (e.g., registration of titles, cadastral certificate emissions). Component 3) although National Registry Center (CNR) will be the sole implementing agency, it will deal with various participating institutions and partners.

The project Social Protection project is now in the pipeline.

2007-10-25T04:00:00.000Z

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

The Social Protection Project for El Salvador will improve the education, health, and nutrition of Salvadoran children living in the rural areas of 100 poorest municipalities. Project components: (i) This component will support the implementation of a conditional cash transfer program to encourage extremely poor families to send their children 5-15 years old to pre-school and primary education, maintain the full immunization package in children younger than 5 years, and regularly monitor the growth and development of children aged 0-24 months. (ii) This component will support the expansion of the existing basic package of maternal and child health services, and the strengthening of nutritional interventions. (iii) This component will support the National Civil Registry (RNPN) in expanding legal access to basic education and health services in the 100 municipalities targeted under the Red Solidaria. (iv) The Project also will support the implementation of the Red Solidaria Program through the establishment and strengthening of an appropriate institutional structure.

The project Education Reform Project is now in the pipeline.

2007-10-25T04:00:00.000Z

The project Education Reform Project is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The Education Reform Project aims at improving and expanding coverage, quality, and efficiency of initial, preschool, and basic education systems, especially in rural and marginal urban areas. There are four project components. 1) Expansion of access to preschool and basic education will include construction of new classrooms and payment of teachers on a declining basis; develop an innovative initial education program with parent participation; and establish accelerated education modalities to meet the needs of over-age children in rural and marginal urban areas and expand alternative (multigrade) classrooms. 2) Quality improvements will support the revision of curriculum for initial and special education, basic education for adults, and accelerated programs to address the special needs of over-age students; review, design, and provide educational materials for teachers and students for all levels and modalities; strengthen teacher training programs; improve health and nutrition school programs; and provide infrastructure and furniture to schools. 3) Institutional strengthening and modernization will establish a financial planning and monitoring system; developing a sustainable system for on-going school-based management initiatives; and further develop communication strategies to increase public awareness of the basic education reform. 4) Project administration will finance operation costs, equipment, and office supplies.

The project Promotion of Biodiversity Conservation within Coffee Landscapes (GEF-MSP) is now in the pipeline.

2007-10-25T04:00:00.000Z

The project Promotion of Biodiversity Conservation within Coffee Landscapes (GEF-MSP) is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The project Secondary Education Project is now in the pipeline.

2007-10-25T04:00:00.000Z

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

The Secondary Education Project for El Salvador aims to expand coverage with improved quality and efficiency of public and private secondary schools, building on the successes and new demands generated by the basic education reform process; to upgrade the quality of entrants to the labor market to increase the country's competitiveness in the global market; and to strengthen managerial capacity in secondary education. Access will be expanded by establishing a scholarship program for low-income students; building classrooms, and providing furniture and equipment; and expanding current distance education programs. Quality will be improved by developing the curriculum, including providing educational materials, books, laboratory equipment, teacher training, and innovative social formative projects; establishing learning resource centers; rehabilitating schools and equipment; developing a national assessment system; and establishing a national school accreditation and supervision system. Institutional capacity will be built by strengthening and modernizing management at the central and department levels, training local councils and providing local finance as part of the school-based management scheme; and increasing public awareness and support by using communication strategies and waging campaigns. Project administration comprises the last of the four components.

The project SV - LOCAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT is now in the pipeline.

2007-10-25T04:00:00.000Z

The project SV - LOCAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The project Competitiveness Enhancement Technical Assistance Project is now in the pipeline.

2007-10-25T04:00:00.000Z

The project Competitiveness Enhancement Technical Assistance Project is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The Competitiveness Enhancement Technical Assistance Project will support the Government's program to accelerate outward-oriented private sector development and raise productivity. To start moving toward these desirable long-term objectives, the project will facilitate change by improving the enabling environment in three areas: 1) the business environment, lowering the cost of doing business in El Salvador; 2) the environment for technological capabilities of private sector enterprises and labor, in order to raise productivity and international competiveness; and 3) the environment for building consensus on economic competitiveness issues, by facilitating the flow of public information and public sector-private sector dialogue.

The project Telecommunications Project (03) is now in the pipeline.

2007-10-25T04:00:00.000Z

The project Telecommunications Project (03) is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The project consists of: (a) installation of about 41,000 additional lines of local automatic telephone exchange equipment; (b) expansion of the local cable network and subscriber facilities to provide about 36,000 additional individual connections, as well as about 320 additional public call boxes to be installed in low-income urban areas with total population of over 200,000; (c) installation of two long-distance automatic exchanges with about 2,200 terminations; (d) installation of long-distance equipment on various routes to provide about 2,400 additional circuits; (e) expansion of the telegraph network by 300 channels; (f) installation of 600 teleprinters at subscribers premises; and, (g) installation of about 200 long-distance public call offices in municipalities and rural areas with populations of 2,000 or more, currently without service, in order to provide telephone access to about an additional 400,000 people.

The project Urban Development Project (02) is now in the pipeline.

2007-10-25T04:00:00.000Z

The project Urban Development Project (02) is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The Second Urban Development Project will include: (A) approximately 8,000 serviced lots provided by FSDVM; about 70 percent of the units will be located in San Salvador and training.he remainder in secondary cities or smaller towns. All plots will be provided with water, storm drainage, sewerage, streets, paved foot paths, and optional electricity. A range of service levels extending from a plot with basic infrastructure to a plot with completed dwelling will be made available. The project will provide for the development of about 400 sites for small industrial or commercial as well as residential use. Community facilities including multipurpose community centers, public markets, sports fields, health clinics and schools will be provided at the project sites; (B) a pilot scheme to be executed by IVU which will involve the improvement of living conditions for about 800 households living in a squatter settlement, through provision of secure tenure, basic infrastructure, community facilities, and credit for dwelling improvements; (C) credit and training.echnical assistance designed to reach proprietors of small enterprises living within marginal communities. Loans will be provided by FEDECCREDITO for working capital, equipment and workshop construction or improvement; and (D) technical assistance and training.