Turkey | World Bank

Turkey - Performance based contracting scheme in family medicine : design and achievements

2013-05-23T04:00:00.000Z

Prior to 2003, health outcomes in Turkey, including maternal and child health outcomes, lagged behind those of Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries and of those in other middle income countries. This report aims to add to this body of evidence through the conduct of a comprehensive review of the scheme within the context of the overall family medicine program. It describes and assesses Turkey's performance based payment scheme in family medicine with regard to design, institutional arrangements, governance, monitoring and evaluation, implementation, results and financial implications. Potential areas for improvement are identified and further refinements of the current system are suggested. The report will also contribute to the current body of knowledge on the experience with pay for performance in primary care for the interest of other countries. The study methodology uses both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Further as the scheme was rolled out among Turkey's provinces gradually, the quantitative assessment uses before-and-after comparisons for providers/provinces in the scheme as well as comparison of providers/provinces in the scheme and outside the scheme where feasible. Three focus groups were conducted with Family Medicine Practice (FMP) doctors, FMP health personnel and division chiefs (or deputies) from the provincial administration/Community Health Centers (CHC) to obtain their views about the performance-based contracting scheme and to complement the information gathered from other sources.

Micro dynamics of Turkey's export boom in the 2000s

2013-05-20T04:00:00.000Z

This paper examines the microeconomics behind the dramatic export boom experienced by Turkey during the 2000s. Using disaggregated customs data covering the universe of export transactions for Turkey during the period 2002-2011, it characterizes firm-level dynamics in the export sector and decomposes export growth at the aggregate, sector, and destination market levels to identify the role of firm turnover, destination turnover, and product turnover. The paper shows that in the short-run, aggregate export growth is dominated by growth in continuous exporters, and for these, growth is dominated by exports to their continued destinations and of their continued products. However, the observed high degree of churning across firms, destinations, and products accounts in the long run for a substantial part of Turkey's export growth. The patterns of micro-dynamics of export growth are verified across sectors and across groups of destination markets with some exceptions regarding exports to new emerging markets where net entry by Turkish-based exporters plays a more critical role for long-run growth.

Turkey - Municipal Services Project : P081880 - Implementation Status Results Report : Sequence 12

2013-05-16T04:00:00.000Z

Resettlement policy framework

2013-05-15T04:00:00.000Z

The objective of the Anatolia Watershed Rehabilitation Project (AWRP) for Turkey is arresting environmental (and economic) degradation in 60 micro-catchments (MC) of its five watersheds and implement community selected priority interventions to rehabilitate the MCs. Negative impacts include: soil erosion, poor drainage, loss of vegetation, poor irrigation, and water pollution. Mitigation measures includes: (1) issuing directives about re-vegetation of exposed areas, replacing cut trees, explosives use, disposal of excavated soils, etc.; (2) enforcing standards for terracing and providing maintenance budget ; (3) providing farmer training; (4) applying appropriate gully plugging methods and terracing standards; (5) ensuring reservoir plans and construction are approved by Ministry of Environment (MoE) and comply with World bank safeguard requirements; (6) fencing and enclosing rangelands; (7) undertaking biodiversity monitoring over lifetime of project; (8) undertaking soil and water monitoring of selected areas.

The project Renewable Energy Integration is now in the pipeline.

2013-05-12T04:00:00.000Z

The project Renewable Energy Integration is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

Project Information Document (Concept Stage) - Renewable Energy Integration - P144534

2013-05-11T04:00:00.000Z

Turkey - Nutrition at a glance

2013-05-10T04:00:00.000Z

Though Turkey is currently on track to meet Millennium Development Goals (MDG) 1c (halving 1990 rates of child underweight by 2015), it has seen a recent increase in adult obesity. Low-birth weight infants and stunted children may be at greater risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease than children who start out well-nourished. There can be further improvements in population health measures to reduce under nutrition; at the same time, the adoption of Western diets high in refined carbohydrates, saturated fats and sugars, as well as a more sedentary lifestyle are commonly cited as the major contributors to the increase in overweight and chronic diseases. The World Bank's lending program supports the governments health transformation program has a strong focus on improving maternal and child health. In addition to supporting the governments efforts to strengthen its public health system to address ongoing and emerging challenges, a results-based financing component specifically focuses on incentives for physicians to improve detection and treatment of non-communicable diseases through risk-factor prevention, including that of obesity or overweight. The Bank also supported the government in the implementation of a conditional cash transfer program targeted at the poorest 6 percent of children, conditional on improved use of basic health, nutrition and education services which has now become a national program of the Government of Turkey with impact evaluation results showing net positive behavioral changes.

Sample guidelines : cumulative environmental impact assessment for hydropower projects in Turkey

2013-05-06T04:00:00.000Z

Guidelines to Cumulative Environmental Impact Assessment (CEIA) has been prepared within the scope of a CEIA technical assistance study (CEIA study) supported by the World Bank. The CEIA study was developed based on the need to assess the cumulative impacts of hydropower projects in Turkey and was conducted in coordination and cooperation with the relevant departments of the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization (MoEU) and the Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs (MoFWA). The Government of Turkey promoted investments in hydroelectric power plant (HEPP) projects as a policy priority in response to concerns about the environmental and climate change impact of other power generation technologies, as well as with an eye to compliance with EU regulations and targets. The rapid growth in investments raises concerns about the associated impacts (such as minimum environmental flow, temporary/permanent roads opened for the investment, etc.) and the significance of the cumulative impact of multiple HEPP projects on the river basins.

Turkey - Strengthening the Public Internal Audit Function : P128662 - Implementation Status Results Report : Sequence 01

2013-04-23T04:00:00.000Z

Project Information Document (Appraisal Stage) - TR Third Access to Finance for SMEs (SME III) - P130864

2013-04-22T04:00:00.000Z

The project Gas Sector Development Additional Financing is now in the pipeline.

2013-04-17T04:00:00.000Z

The project Gas Sector Development Additional Financing is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

Health equity and financial protection datasheet : Turkey

2013-04-12T04:00:00.000Z

The health equity and financial protection datasheets provide a picture of equity and financial protection in the health sectors of low-and middle-income countries. Topics covered include: inequalities in health outcomes, health behavior and health care utilization; benefit incidence analysis; financial protection; and the progressivity of health care financing. The tables in this report show how health outcomes, risky behaviors and health care utilization vary across asset (wealth) quintiles and periods. The quintiles are based on an asset index constructed using principal components analysis. Benefit-Incidence Analysis (BIA) shows whether, and by how much, government health expenditure disproportionately benefits the poor. The distribution of subsidies depends on the assumptions made to allocate subsidies to households. Under the constant unit cost assumption, each unit of utilization is assumed to cost the same and is equal to total costs incurred in delivering this type of service divided by the number of units of utilization.

Integrated Safeguards Data Sheet (Appraisal Stage) - TR Third Access to Finance for SMEs (SME III) - P130864

2013-04-10T04:00:00.000Z

Official Documents- Amendment to the Loan Agreement for Loan 7537-TR

2013-04-04T04:00:00.000Z

Official Documents- Supplemental Letter Ref. Financial Data for Loan 7537-TR

2013-04-04T04:00:00.000Z

Turkey - Third access to finance for Small and Medium Enterprises Project : environmental assessment

2013-04-04T04:00:00.000Z

The main development objective of the Third access to finance for Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Project for Turkey is to enhance access to medium and long term finance for SMEs. The environmental impact assessment process is carried out to determine the possible positive or negative impacts of proposed sub-projects; to evaluate the precautions to be taken in order to prevent or minimize negative impacts which may damage the environment (for example by construction and mitigation measures); and for supervision and inspection of sub-project implementation.

PPIAF assistance in Turkey

2013-04-01T04:00:00.000Z

Public-Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility (PPIAF) has been active in Turkey since 2000; three projects were funded to assist with Turkey's decade-long effort to reform its electricity sector; one project to strengthen and consolidate the public-private partnership (PPP) framework; and one project restructuring Istanbul subsidiary enterprises. This is assistance was requested in 2000 to support the provision of legal and regulatory advice to the government in order to establish an independent electric energy regulatory agency-officially named the energy market regulatory authority-to coincide with the passage of Turkey new electricity market law. PPIAF funded three activities to support the country electricity sector reform. PPIAF support played a vital role in increasing private participation in Turkey electricity sector, reducing power shortages, and creating jobs and economic growth.

Turkey - Project in Support of Restructuring of Health Sector : P102172 - Implementation Status Results Report : Sequence 07

2013-03-31T04:00:00.000Z

The project Turkey SME　Energy Efficiency Project is now in the pipeline.

2013-03-29T04:00:00.000Z

The project Turkey SME　Energy Efficiency Project is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The project SME ENERGY EFFICIENCY has changed to Active

2013-03-29T04:00:00.000Z

The project SME ENERGY EFFICIENCY has changed to Active. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The development objective of the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Energy Efficiency Project for Turkey is to improve the efficiency of energy use in small and medium enterprises, by scaling-up commercial bank lending for energy efficiency investments. The global environmental objective is to reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions through the removal of barriers to energy efficiency financing in the SMEs sector. There are two components to the project. This component consists of investment lending and includes support for sub-project development, appraisal and monitoring: International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) on-lending, and loan loss reserve fund. The second component of the project is policy support and technical assistance to General Directorate of Renewable Energy (GDRE). Two sub-components are envisaged under this component: market development and information dissemination, and policy dialogue and capacity building within Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources (MENR).

Integrated Safeguards Data Sheet (Concept Stage) - Renewable Energy Integration - P144534

2013-03-27T04:00:00.000Z

Turkey - Comercializing sustainable energy finance program : case study

2013-03-22T04:00:00.000Z

Financial intermediaries in Turkey do not typically have the expertise and technical capacity to evaluate or identify sustainable energy projects. They also have limited access to the long term funding needed to finance renewable energy projects. As a result of these hurdles, financial intermediaries are hesitant to provide financing to energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. With the support of the Clean Technology Fund (CTF), International Finance Corporation (IFC) provided US$75 million in loans to two Turkish leasing companies, to encourage energy efficiency and renewable energy lending, in order to establish a track record of successful investments, which is expected to promote uptake of similar investments by other financial intermediaries. The project will help the partner financial intermediaries develop financial leasing products targeting sustainable energy projects, and build internal capacity to properly market and evaluate this new asset class.

Turkey - Land Registry and Cadastre Modernization Project : procurement plan

2013-03-19T04:00:00.000Z

Turkey-Competitiveness and Savings Development Policy Loan (CSDPL)

2013-03-19T04:00:00.000Z

The project TR Third Access to Finance for SMEs (SME III) is now in the pipeline.

2013-03-01T05:00:00.000Z

The project TR Third Access to Finance for SMEs (SME III) is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

Economy Will Improve in 2013, says World Bank in Latest Forecast

2013-01-15T09:39:26.000Z

Press Release: 2013/01/TR

Following a soft landing in 2012 – a first in the country’s recent economic history -- accelerated structural reforms are key to increase potential growth.

Ankara, January 15, 2013 – Economic growth in 2013 is forecast to accelerate to 4 percent according to the World Bank’s latest Turkey Regular Economic Brief issued today in Ankara, but prospects for sustained growth over the medium-term depend on accelerating structural reforms the international lender cautions.

The brief analyzes Turkey’s recent economic developments, prospects, and risks. Highlighting the significant improvement in external imbalances, the brief points out that the current account deficit remains high and Turkey remains dependent on short-term financing.

Against this background, World Bank support in 2013 will focus on enhancing Turkey’s competitiveness and domestic savings through a proposed Development Policy Loan; improving energy efficiency in small and medium enterprises through a proposed Credit Line; proposed additional financing to BOTAŞ for the completion of the Tuz Gölü Gas Storage Facility; and further financial support for Turkish SMEs.

The World Bank’s work in Turkey is based on a joint Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) for the period of 2012-2015. The CPS aims to support Turkey’s transition to high income with financing of up to US$ 4.45 billion during the four year period, as well as policy analysis and technical advice. Key objectives include enhanced competitiveness and employment, improved equity and public services and deepened sustainable development.Turkey’s successful economic and social reforms have attracted increasing attention in the region and globally. Hence the World Bank’s partnership with Turkey is evolving to include the sharing of knowledge and experience with a wider international audience.

Please click here for Turkey Regular Economic Brief.

Contacts:
In Ankara: Tunya Celasin, +90-312-4598343, tcelasin@worldbank.org

For more information on the World Bank’s work in Turkey, please visit: http://www.worldbank.org/turkey
Visit us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/worldbank
Be updated via Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/worldbank
For our YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/worldbank

-------------

The project Electricity Distribution Rehabilitation Project has changed to Closed

2013-01-04T05:00:00.000Z

The project Electricity Distribution Rehabilitation Project has changed to Closed. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The objective of the Electricity Distribution Rehabilitation Project of Turkey is to help improve the reliability of power supply to consumers in Turkey by supporting the implementation of the electricity distribution network rehabilitation and expansion program. This restructuring paper for the project recognizes a cancellation in the amount of Euro 113 million from the undisbursed amount of the loan, allocated to disbursement category one, 'goods (including supply and installation)' for the implementation of group three and four subprojects. The cancellation was made at the request of TEDAS (Turkiye Elektrik Dagitim A.S. - Turkish Electricity Distribution Corporation) (the Borrower) through a letter dated July 27, 2012 and in accordance with its right under the applicable general conditions. The cancellation became effective as of the same date, on July 27, 2012. This restructuring paper also acknowledges the removal of one sub-project due to the transfer of the relevant regional distribution company (Menderes) to the private sector; and the introduction of a disbursement grace period of four months after the loan closing date, until April 30, 2013.

Turkish Minister of Development Cevdet YILMAZ: “Turkey will lend an ear to the calls made in the report ‘Turn Down the Heat’"

2012-11-20T09:45:51.000Z

New Report Examines Risks of 4 Degree Hotter World by End of Century

ANKARA, November 19, 2012 – The world is barreling down a path to heat up by 4 degrees at the end of the century if the global community fails to act on climate change, triggering a cascade of cataclysmic changes that include extreme heat-waves, declining global food stocks and a sea-level rise affecting hundreds of millions of people, according to a new scientific report released yesterday that was commissioned by the World Bank.

All regions of the world would suffer – some more than others – but the report finds that the poor will suffer the most.

Turn Down the Heat, a snapshot of the latest climate science prepared for the World Bank by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and Climate Analytics, says that the world is on a path to a 4 degree Celsius[1] (4°C) warmer world by end of this century and current greenhouse gas emissions pledges will not reduce this by much.

“The issue of climate change facing our globe leads to problems that negatively affect the sustainable development of countries, such as desertification, drought, land degradation, hurricanes and floods. For this reason, urgent measures must be taken to contain climate change,” said Turkish Minister of Development Cevdet Yılmaz. “The report ‘Turn Down the Heat’ clearly lays down the damages that may be caused by climate change and highlights this requirement once more. There is a need to ensure a global collaboration whereby all countries will make contributions to the fight against climate change in line with the principle of shared but differentiated responsibilities, to the extent of their relative capabilities.”

“As one of the countries that will be affected most severely from climate change, Turkey is contributing to this process with policies and projects implemented for the solution of this problem directly and indirectly, in sectors such as industry, transportation, energy and waste management. As compared with the no-action scenario where Turkey would have continued implementing the policies in 1990, Turkey has achieved a cumulative emission reduction of 1.4 billion tons between 1990 and 2007. While Turkey’s GDP grew by 171 percent, her emission intensity declined to 036 during the same period. Turkey will lend an ear to the calls made in the report ‘Turn Down the Heat’ and will sustain her commitment to fighting climate change.” added Minister Yılmaz.

“A 4 degree warmer world can, and must be, avoided – we need to hold warming below 2 degrees,” said World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim. “Lack of action on climate change threatens to make the world our children inherit a completely different world than we are living in today. Climate change is one of the single biggest challenges facing development, and we need to assume the moral responsibility to take action on behalf of future generations, especially the poorest.”

The report says that the 4°C scenarios are potentially devastating: the inundation of coastal cities; increasing risks for food production potentially leading to higher under and malnutrition rates; many dry regions becoming dryer, wet regions wetter; unprecedented heat waves in many regions, especially in the tropics; substantially exacerbated water scarcity in many regions; increased intensity of tropical cyclones; and irreversible loss of biodiversity, including coral reef systems.

"The Earth system's responses to climate change appear to be non-linear," points out PIK Director, John Schellnhuber. "If we venture far beyond the 2 degrees guardrail, towards the 4 degrees line, the risk of crossing tipping points rises sharply. The only way to avoid this is to break the business-as-usual pattern of production and consumption."

The report notes, however, that a 4°C world is not inevitable and that with sustained policy action warming can still be held below 2°C, which is the goal adopted by the international community and one that already brings some serious damages and risks to the environment and human populations.

“The world must tackle the problem of climate change more aggressively,” Kim said. “Greater adaptation and mitigation efforts are essential and solutions exist. We need a global response equal to the scale of the climate problem, a response that puts us on a new path of climate smart development and shared prosperity. But time is very short.”

The World Bank Group’s work on inclusive green growth has found that with more efficient and smarter use of energy and natural resources opportunities exist to drastically reduce the climate impact of development without slowing poverty alleviation or economic growth.

“While every country will take a different pathway to greener growth and balance their own need for energy access with energy sustainability, every country has green growth opportunities to exploit,” said Rachel Kyte, World Bank Vice President for Sustainable Development.

Those initiatives could include: putting the more than US$ 1 trillion of fossil fuel and other harmful subsidies to better use; introducing natural capital accounting into national accounts; expanding both public and private expenditures on green infrastructure able to withstand extreme weather and urban public transport systems designed to minimize carbon emission and maximize access to jobs and services; supporting carbon pricing and international and national emissions trading schemes; and increasing energy efficiency – especially in buildings – and the share of renewable power produced.

“This report reinforces the reality that today’s climate volatility affects everything we do,” Kyte said. “We will redouble our efforts to build adaptive cacpacity and reslience, as well as find solutions to the climate challenge.”

Turn Down The Heat: Why a 4°C Warmer World Must be Avoided summarizes a range of the direct and indirect climatic consequences under the current global path for greenhouse gas emissions. Key findings include:

• Extreme heat waves, that without global warming would be expected to occur once in several hundred years, will be experienced during almost all summer months in many regions. The effects would not be evenly distributed. The largest warming would be exptected to occur over land and range from 4° C to 10° C. Increases of 6° C or more in average monthly summer temperatures would be expected in the Mediterranean, North Africa, Middle East and parts of the United States.

• Sea level-rise by 0.5 to 1 meter by 2100 is likely, with higher levels also possible. Some of the most highly vulnerable cities are located in Mozambique, Madagascar, Mexico, Venezuela, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam.

• The most vulnerable regions are in the tropics, sub-tropics and towards the poles, where multiple impacts are likely to come together.

• Agriculture, water resources, human health, biodiversity and ecosystem services are likely to be severely impacted. This could lead to large-scale displacement of populations and consequences for human security and economic and trade systems.

• Many small islands may not be able to sustain their populations.

The report states that the science is unequivocal that humans are the cause of global warming, and major changes are already being observed. The global mean temperature has continued to increase and is now about 0.8°C above pre-industrial levels.

While a global warming of 0.8°C may not seem large, the report notes that many climate change impacts have already started to emerge, and the shift from 0.8°C to 2.0°C warming or beyond will pose much larger challenges. But a global mean temperature increase of 4°C approaches the known historic level of change for the planet, which harks back to the last ice age when much of central Europe and the northern United States were covered with kilometers of ice and global mean temperatures were about 4.5°C to 7°C lower. And this contemporary human-induced climate change, the report notes, is occurring over a century, not millennia.

Kyte said, “The Bank commissioned the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and Climate Analytics to make a summary analysis of the latest climate science, as a means to better understand the potential impact of a 4°C warmer world in developing countries.”

Today, the Bank is helping 130 countries take action on climate change. Last year, it doubled its financial lending that contributes to adaptation. While the Bank administered US$ 7.2 billion Climate Investment Funds are now operating in 48 countries, leveraging an additional US$ 43 billion in clean investment. Increasingly, the Bank is supporting action on the ground to finance the kind of projects that help the poor grow their way out of poverty, increase their resilience to climate change, and achieve emissions reductions.

For a copy of Turn Down The Heat go to: http://climatechange.worldbank.org

A number of global leaders reacted to the report and the climate challenge including United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Click here for a full list of the quotes (approved for attribution).
http://climatechange.worldbank.org/sites/default/files/Testimonials.pdf

Contacts:
Washington: Robert Bisset, (202) 458-5191, Cell: (202) 415-9646, rbisset@worldbank.org;
For Broadcast Requests: Natalia Cieslik, (202) 458-9369, ncieslik@worldbank.org

Visit us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/worldbank
Be updated via Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/worldbank
For our YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/worldbank

Read the Development in a Changing Climate blog: http://blogs.worldbank.org/climatechange/
For climate issues, follow us on twitter http://www.twitter.com/wbclimatechange

Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Bullish on International Climate Finance to Boost Investments in Clean Energy

2012-11-07T14:15:00.000Z

US$250 million from Clean Technology Fund expected to attract additional US$2.25 billion, with green light given in Istanbul for a second phase of CTF funding of US$140 million

ISTANBUL: November 7, 2012, The Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources addressed the closing plenary of the Climate Investment Funds (CIF) 2012 Partnership Forum this afternoon in Istanbul, and celebrated the collaboration of the Government and private sector of Turkey, with the EBRD, World Bank and International Finance Corporation to boost investments in clean energy in the country. He said, “Partnering with the multilateral development banks through the CIF has contrıbuted to Turkey’s efforts to scale up investments in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and smart grids by empowering its own national private and banking sector. The fact that Turkey has been a first mover in achieving results on the ground has inspired investors and emboldened us to be even more ambitious not only in the scale of investments we seek to achieve but also in the types of renewable technologies we are considering. In Turkey, renewables are no longer tomorrow’s dream but today’s opportunity.”

Over the past decade, growing energy demand and concerns about the security of natural gas imports have pushed Turkey to rethink how its power is generated and consumed. Turkey’s national development plan supports investments to harness the country’s wealth of renewable energy resources. Turkey’s strategy is to increase the share of renewable energy to 30% of total energy production by 2023.

Benefiting from the Clean Technology Fund are Turkish companies. They can access finance for energy efficiency and renewable energy investments through the EBRD's Turkey Sustainable Energy Financing Facility, a US$ 285 million facility supported by US$ 50 million of CTF concessional co-financing. "We have invested over €2.5 billion in Turkey since starting operations in the country in 2009. Half of our investments promote the sustainable use of energy, " said Mike Davey, EBRD Director for Turkey.

Another program for Commercializing Sustainable Energy Finance is providing Turkish equipment manufacturer Toskar with financing through Yapi Kredi Leasing, Turkey’s leading leasing company, for equipment upgrades that cut the firm’s energy costs by 20% and boosted productivity by 50%. Aftab Ahmed, IFC Director for Financial Markets and Private Equity Funds in Europe, Central Asia, Middle East and North Africa said: "This project in the relatively new sector of energy efficiency financing in Turkey has the potential to set a role model and encourage other local financial institutions to develop lending programs for energy projects by small and medium enterprises. Energy efficiency investments and upgrades help the local companies to improve their competitiveness, as well as their technical and financial capacity, while addressing climate change through reduced energy consumption and emissions."

"We are very pleased with the CTF's support and endorsement of Turkey's efforts to scale up energy efficiency investments by penetrating the more challenging market segments such as SMEs, residential housing and municipalities" said Martin Raiser, Country Director of the World Bank in Turkey. "We will redouble our joint efforts to ensure that the additional USD 140 million in CTF funding help transform the market for financing of energy efficiency and frontier renewable energy technologies, because we believe that growing green is both necessary and makes good business sense."

The total CTF investments are expected to reduce 56.6 million tons of CO2 over 20 years, which will contribute significantly in achieving our objective of increasing the competitiveness of Turkish economy while contributing to mitigation of climate change.

The two-day Partnership Forum and associated meetings have brought together over 400 representatives of governments, civil society, indigenous peoples, the private sector, multilateral development banks and U.N. agencies to learn from each other about implementing their CIF programs, and to contribute to deepening global understanding of the linkages between climate change and development as they have been addressed within the CIF context.

CIF financing is channeled to countries through the public and private sector arms of the five multilateral development banks – the African Development Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Inter-American Development Bank and the World Bank Group. A mix of grants, highly concessional and near-zero interest credits, and risk mitigation instruments from the CIF are expected to leverage over US$43 billion in co-financing.

For more information contact
CIF Administrative Unit  Istanbul/Washington DC Jeffrey Brez, jbrez@worldbank.org +1-202-489 2028
    +90 531 853 0533
European Bank for  Istanbul/London Marjola Xhunga, xhungam@ebrd.com; +442073386994
Reconstruction & Development
World Bank Group  Washington Robert Bisset (Washington), rbisset@worldbank.org
                             Istanbul/Ankara Tunya Celasin (Ankara), tcelasin@worldbank.org
International Finance  Istanbul Basak Ulgen bulgen@ifc.org
Corporation (IFC)

Turkish Photographer Wins 2012 CGAP Photo Contest

2012-10-23T09:45:00.000Z

Washington, D.C., 23 October 2012: The winner of the 2012 CGAP Photo Contest is Yavuz Sariyildiz of Turkey. His photo won out over 2,500 entries from professional and non-professional photographers from over 80 countries around the world. The photo, “Smoke of Charcoal,” depicts men separating charcoal to scale in order to sell at a local market.

For a full gallery of the winning photos, please visit www.cgap.org/content/2012-cgap-photo-contest
“I started photography in 2004. Immediately, it became a passion,” said Sariyildiz, who was previously assistant general manager responsible for small and medium enterprises at a leading Turkish bank. “After 25 years of my banking career I quit in 2009. Now I am a full time freelance photographer. My banking experience is helping me communicate easily with very small producers and enterprises to create new documentary projects. Now I am still working with them, but this time the subject is their lives through photography.”

The judges also selected 28 other photos from around the world as finalists, which were highlighted for their technical skill, emotional impact or ability to convey the story of financial inclusion.

For the first time this year, a popular vote on CGAP.org also determined a People’s Choice winner. The winning photo, “The Book Suffers,” portrays a bookseller in one of Baghdad’s largest markets.

Photographers from over 80 countries made this the most competitive year so far in the Contest, now in its seventh year. Entries were judged on originality, technical excellence, composition, overall impact, and artistic merit. The panel of judges consisted of Anne Farrar, Photo Editor at The Washington Post, Chris Combs, Photo Editor at National Geographic, Suzanne Lemakis, Director of Fine Art at Citigroup, and Susan Sterner, Director of New Media Photojournalism at the Corcoran School of Art and Design.

The annual CGAP Photo Contest aims to highlight stand-out photography from amateurs and professionals depicting microfinance around the world. The Contest draws thousands of entries from all regions of the world. Over the years, the photo contest has resulted in a remarkable set of images, showcasing the different ways in which poor households use microfinance and how financial inclusion can improve the lives of the poor. This year’s grand prize is a $2,000 gift certificate for photography equipment and accessories.

Email Jeanette Thomas at jthomas1@worldbank.org for further inquiries about the annual CGAP Photo Contest.

Full List of Winners of the 2012 CGAP Photo Contest

Grand Prize Smoke of Charcoal Yavuz Sariyildiz, Turkey	East Asia and Pacific Regional Winner Bean Seller Mohammad Nazri bin Sulaiman, Indonesia	Women Shop Joydeep Mukherjee, India
Second Prize Warmhouse in Siberia Andrey Rudakov, Russia	Special Mentions Shine Dinh Manh Tai, Vietnam	Miles to Go Prakash Hatvalne, India
Third Prize Happiness Wang Xiaohong, China	Craftsman of Ceramic Yavuz Sariyildiz, Turkey	The Slivery Dreams Abdul Aziz Apu, Bangladesh
People’s Choice The Book Suffers Qayssar Alwarda, Iraq	Musical Shop Kaushik Majumder, India	Drying Paddy Mohammad Moniruzzaman, Bangladesh
Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Winner Harvesting Seaweed Wim Opmeer, Tanzania	Siberian Fisherman Andrey Rudakov, Russia	Chicken Barbecue Yavuz Sariyildiz, Turkey
Middle East and North Africa Regional Winner Life Reza Golchin, Iran	Finalists Against the Wind Vo Anh Kiet, Vietnam	Hay Anvar Khodzhaniyavoz, Uzbekistan
Latin America and Caribbean Regional Winner Haitian Artist Joseph Molieri, Haiti	To Catch Fish Ngo Quang Phuc, Vietnam	Seasonal Worker Erkan Kalenderli, Turkey
South Asia Regional Winner Dry Fish KM Asad, Bangladesh	Alabio Duck Shepherd Andi Sucirta, Indonesia	Goat Feeder Omer Gencal, Turkey
	Traditional Boat Makers Andi Sucirta, Indonesia	Anchovy Season Ngo Quang Phuc, Vietnam
	Floating Market Andi Sucirta, Indonesia	Mobile Credit Officer Ariel Slaton, Nicaragua
	Thread Factory Joydeep Mukherjee, India	The Machinist Raniel Jose Castaneda, The Philippines

About CGAP
Under the World Bank Group CGAP (The Consultative Group to Assist the Poor) is the world's leading resource for the advancement of microfinance. CGAP provides the financial industry, governments and investors with objective information, expert opinion, and innovative solutions to effectively expand access to finance for poor people around the world. More information: www.cgap.org

###

Doing Business 2013 Annual Report- Turkey Findings

2012-10-23T08:15:00.000Z

Turkey remains ranked 71st among 185 countries, same as last year, in the World Bank Group’s Ease of Doing Business rankings. While this ranking is the exact same as last year’s, the previous year’s ranking was out of 183 economies in the report rather than 185 in this year’s report. The lack of improvement in ranking means that other economies were reforming as least as much to result in the lack of movement in Turkey’s ranking.

The 2013 report highlights the progress that Turkey has made to improve its investment climate. In particular, it notes that Turkey made getting a construction permit less costly, more efficient and reduced, by four, the number of procedures required. It also reflects that Turkey made enforcing contracts a less costly, in that it now costs approximately 24.9 percent of the value of the claim to enforce a contract while it cost 27.9 percent in last year’s report.

The 2013 report nevertheless also sheds light on policy areas where reforms in Turkey remain important and where progress has been more limited, particularly when compared with other emerging market economies. Specifically, Turkish businesses continue to face serious constraints in resolving insolvency. For example, exiting the market takes longer (3.3 years) and yields lower recovery rates (23.6 cents on the dollar) than in many comparator countries. In addition, while there have been improvements in the procedures required to get a construction permit to build a warehouse, Turkey still ranks 142 out of 185 economies, with respect to this procedure.

The Government of Turkey remains committed to the process of addressing business environment constraints to firms' growth and job creation. The WB is working with the Turkish authorities to improve Turkey's business climate and improve the country's competitiveness in line with the objectives of the new CPS approved in March 2012.

Doing Business 2013 is the tenth in a series of annual reports issued by the World Bank Group assessing the role of regulatory frameworks in enhancing or constraining business activity. The report highlights the importance of a strong private sector business environment for helping generate economic growth and jobs. The main objectives of Doing Business are to provide international benchmarking as a service to policymakers and private sector stakeholders alike, to motivate and inform the design of reforms, contribute to the theory and experts’ and practitioners’ understanding of private sector development, and to enrich international initiatives on development effectiveness.

The Doing Business report provides a quantitative measure of the impact of regulations, based indicators in 10 key areas: starting a business, dealing with construction permits, getting electricity, registering property, getting credit, protecting investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts, and resolving insolvency. Performance against these indicators serves to rank countries on the basis of the quality of their regulatory environment and to identify top reformers over the last year. The Doing Business 2012 report also presents data on employing workers, but does not present rankings of economies on the employing workers indicators or include the indicators in the aggregate ranking on the ease of doing business.

For more information about the Doing Business report series, please visit www.doingbusiness.org.

Crossing Boundaries

2012-09-06T23:45:00.000Z

As prepared for delivery

Friday, September 7, 2012

World Conservation Congress

Jeju, Korea

Rachel Kyte, Vice President, Sustainable Development

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen - I am honored to have been asked to make the keynote address at this vital gathering of conservation thinking, leadership and action. I am particularly delighted to be here as I had the privilege and honor to work at IUCN a number of years ago. It feels good to be back again!

This Congress brings together some of the world’s smartest thinkers on the policy and practice of conservation and environmental protection. If anyone is going to guide the world in new ways of thinking and acting, it is this group of 7,000 or more which traverses all spheres - private, public, civil society, multilateral, large, small, left, right.

You, as a group, are not at the fringes of decision-making - you are at the very heart of it. Your scientific research, dedication, pursuit of better policies and connections to community all go towards much better, more informed decision-making.

Over the last few years I have had the opportunity to cross some of the boundaries that very often define our perceptions and determine the work in our institutions. My perspectives changed as I moved from IUCN to working with private companies during my time at the World Bank’s private sector arm - the IFC - and they’re changing again now as Vice President for Sustainable Development at the World Bank.

Today, I am convinced that we will have to make a bigger effort to cross boundaries – between our organizations, across public and private sectors and within civil society - so that we reach a better future for our planet.

Let’s take a look at just some of the evidence of environmental decline before us. Evidence is one of the many things that the World Bank and IUCN share.

· The number and size of populations of the world’s species have decreased by almost a third over the last 100 years and this is projected to continue decreasing

· Over 60 percent of ecosystems are in worse shape now than 50 years ago

· 85 percent of ocean fisheries are fully exploited or over-exploited or depleted

· The condition of coral reefs has deteriorated by 38 percent since 1980

· 80 percent of people live in areas where the quality of rivers is threatened

· Climate change is worsening everything. Flood disasters increased by 230 percent and drought disasters by 38 per cent in the 20 years to the early 2000s.

At the same time that this assault on nature has been occurring, we have enjoyed an unrivalled period of economic growth which has seen 660 million people lifted out of poverty in the past 20 years. Don’t get me wrong - we are not saying we need to stop growth to protect nature. Rather, we are calling for a different kind of growth - a greener and more inclusive growth.

An indispensable part of this will be realizing the potential of ecosystems within our economies and to put nature at the foundation of economic strategies. Nature needs to be firmly on the agendas of finance ministers and discussed in board rooms with the focus on building the public-private partnerships to invest in our natural wealth.

Are we ready to do this? Increasingly the World Bank Group is. Now let me share with you three reasons for my cautious optimism that others are ready too.

Firstly, governments are increasingly stepping up - whether by increasing the number and extent of areas under protection or by better recognizing the value of nature and ecosystem services.

Governments, however, are facing daily trade-offs - for example - building a road through a park so that farmers can have better access to markets and/or conserving a road-less national park. Or, they’re weighing up a marina in a mangrove area to boost tourism versus protecting it for its fish breeding, storm protection and carbon storage values.

Effective conservation cannot and will not be driven just by conservation for conservation’s sake. Fortunately, governments increasingly recognize that maintaining and, eventually, accounting for their natural capital comes down to a question of social and economic development. There may not be simple win-wins all the time; but there may be approaches that can come close enough.

We are seeing more and more good examples. In the State of Acre in the northwestern corner of Brazil, the State Government has been making a concerted effort to bring services to its dispersed rural population and to move away from a growth model based on extraction of forest products and expansive agriculture. Where previously 90 percent of Acre’s timber extraction was illegal, now the majority comes from approved forest management plans. Real GDP has increased by over 44 percent and deforestation rates have declined by 70 percent. Acre is showing that safeguarding a state’s natural wealth will also help lift its people out of poverty.

In Liberia, the government has installed a chain of custody system for exporting logs that is helping reduce illegal logging and bringing in much-needed funding for conservation. The Government is also enforcing fishing regulations and arresting vessels found to be fishing illegally.

To manage trade-offs, governments need better information on the economic and social effects of their decisions. More and more governments are embracing the need to use natural capital accounts alongside GDP. At the World Bank Group, we are working with countries from Botswana to the Philippines to put the value of natural capital into the center of their economic decision making. After the 50:50 Campaign at Rio, 62 countries have signed on to support natural capital accounting along with the heads of close to 90 companies. These companies are doing this for competitive reasons - they need to be able to value their assets over the long term.

That brings me to the second reason for my optimism -- the growing leadership coming from parts of the private sector, be they small businesses and local entrepreneurs or Fortune 500 companies.

I see real traction emerging from the advent of rigorous performance standards and principles for corporate behavior. For example, we are beginning to see evidence that the revised IFC Performance Standard on Biodiversity is driving major change both at corporate headquarters and, more importantly, on the ground.

Companies working in developing countries are increasingly investing in biodiversity expertise, in community development, environmental restoration and long-term conservation capacity building. The big shift is that companies are beginning to see this as more than reputational risk management and rather as a way to improve their operations and manage business risk, a key part of creating value. Mainstreaming nature conservation across their operations makes good business sense. Why? Because many companies depend on freshwater, genetic resources, climate regulation, and natural hazard protection to run their businesses successfully and to see their profits grow.

As well as making good business sense, conserving nature and maintaining the resilience of ecosystems upon which people and business depend, allows companies to build trust in the communities in which they operate and among stakeholders abroad. This creates something many call a “social license to operate”.

We are beginning to see more and more companies engage with conservation organizations and external experts to better understand the environment in which they are working. This has inspired some companies to go beyond the minimization of project impacts but also to consider how they might contribute to conservation more broadly.

One example is Rio Tinto which launched its biodiversity strategy at this Congress in 2004. That strategy committed the company to making a Net Positive Impact on biodiversity through its operations. For the past seven years, the company has been piloting the strategy - working alongside government, conservation groups and civil society in Madagascar to build public sector capacity, develop livelihood alternatives, and establish offsets to conserve high biodiversity value areas.

Other examples include Shell in Gabon and Peru LNG which have been working together with the Smithsonian Institution to develop science-based assessment and monitoring of project impacts.

I also see the first few encouraging examples from the finance sector in integrating nature and ecosystem services protection into their investments.

That takes me to my third reason for optimism - that the need for action is overcoming global political sclerosis.

Rio+20 confirmed for me that while at the global level we lack political leadership today to gain consensus, global inaction is being overwhelmed by the ideas, the innovation and the real commitment to action from smart policymakers, city mayors, community leaders and CEOs.

Like-minded coalitions across sectors emerged on almost all issues. People gravitated to ideas and approaches that promised action - whether that was about ocean health, natural capital accounting, access to sustainable energy or reducing short-term climate pollutants.

For the more than 1000 business executives who attended Rio, the message was that action on sustainability is all about future markets, future products, future employees, future investors, and competitiveness linked to sustainability as shared value.

There was an almost overwhelming sense that while we need global governance for ultimate speed and scale, we cannot afford to wait for international agreements to do what everyone knows needs to be done. For every square bracket negotiated, a species is lost and that window of opportunity gets smaller and smaller.

…………………

So, while I have these reasons for cautious optimism --- I am also speaking from a place of urgency. To address the challenges ahead, each and every one of us will have to cross boundaries and we in the conservation community will need to move collectively outside our comfort zones. To this end, I have three appeals.

First to governments: Governments have responsibilities to their citizens that are measured in units of finance – jobs, tax receipts, GDP. We are not naïve: There can be and will be tensions between conservation and development; that’s why public servants need to be armed with the tools and information they need to make fully informed decisions. And that’s why those of you here who work in government should unpack the economic benefits of conservation and translate them into real numbers through natural capital accounting to transform conservation from a discrete sector to an engine of inclusive green growth.

Second to the Private Sector: To be part of the solution, companies need to raise the profile of nature conservation in their boardrooms and recognize the value of nature to their bottom lines. On the ground, companies need to commit to best management practices which will sometimes mean working beyond their immediate project areas to offset impacts and to secure supply chains. This raises technical, political and governance challenges which is why companies need to reach out and offer a hand in partnership to governments, to conservation organizations and even to each other. We hear from the private sector the need for a level playing field when it comes to best practice in biodiversity management. A coordinated and loud voice from industry groups towards government regulators might be part of the solution.

We also need to find ways to bring to scale financial instruments like green bonds, conservation banking, subsidy reform, license to operate agreements for generating new potential sources of support so that good practice can be rewarded with access to capital.

Third to Civil Society: Very often, civil society, conservation organizations and academic institutions are the backbone of any commitment to conserving nature.

But it is important to remember that it’s governments that have the main responsibility for the stewardship of natural assets. These are their citizen’s natural assets; governments must manage them. The rest of us – civil society, donors and philanthropists – must work together, provide them support while demanding transparency and holding them to account, so that they can do more and do it better.

We in the conservation community need to see the private sector as full partners for solutions and not just a threat or a fundraising opportunity. For example, in public private partnerships - if we were able to develop aggregated offsets, is the conservation community collectively ready to provide the means for verification?

Across all these areas of engagement, the World Bank Group stands ready to do its part and to do more:

We entered the debate on green growth in May 2012 through our report ‘Inclusive Green Growth: The Pathway to Sustainable Development’. We want to contribute, in particular by focusing on the inclusiveness of green growth, on the importance of sound fiscal policies - like the removal of inefficient fuel subsidies - and on ensuring that nature considerations are taken into account in economic decision-making. Our work on green growth is, importantly, supported by the Korean Government.

With new energy and emphasis around Natural Capital Accounting stemming from Rio, it is crucial to keep up the political support and momentum, attract key new country partners, and visibly demonstrate action - including through our global partnership called WAVES.

We also want to do more to streamline nature considerations into our own operations by coordinating the implementation of the IFC’s Performance Standards and the World Bank’s operational policies. And I expect that the Bank Group will work more on aggregated offsets as a means of bringing public and private interests together to conserve at scale within a transparent framework.

We are also working on enhancing environmental law enforcement to ensure that the benefits of nature accrue to national economies and local communities - not thugs and organized crime.

Conclusion

Ladies and Gentlemen, as we begin this Congress:

· Let’s agree that we need to do more, better and with more far-reaching consequences

· Let’s together move away from our ardent attachment to old ideologies, old attitudes that stop us from finding solutions together. What we need today is innovation, communication and partnerships between governments, communities, financial institutions, companies and conservation organizations.

· The type and range of solutions will be as diverse as species and ecosystems. Just as nature is not just a set of charismatic species, we will need more than a set of boutique projects and anecdotes to show large-scale impact. We will need to prioritize without devaluing any one community’s chance of life. We will need brave thinkers at the table, all types of partnerships, people with the humility and patience to make them work. Who better than those of us already humbled by the glory of nature and the complexity of its life support?

· Let’s cross our boundaries together.

· I look forward to being with you every step of the way.

The project EU/IPA Energy Sector Technical Assistance Project is now in the pipeline.

2012-08-03T04:00:00.000Z

The project EU/IPA Energy Sector Technical Assistance Project is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The project PMR TURKEY has changed to Pipeline

2012-07-20T04:00:00.000Z

The project PMR TURKEY has changed to Pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

In Turkey: New Jobs for a New Economy

2012-07-10T15:08:35.000Z

In Turkey: New Jobs for a New Economy

Photo Gallery

In Turkey: Boosting Growth Depends on Boosting Savings

2012-07-10T15:06:23.000Z

In Turkey: Boosting Growth Depends on Boosting Savings

Photo Gallery

In Turkey: Citizens' Report Card

2012-07-10T15:03:54.000Z

In Turkey: Citizens' Report Card

Photo Gallery

The project Anatolia Watershed Rehabilitation Project has changed to Closed

2012-07-02T04:00:00.000Z

The project Anatolia Watershed Rehabilitation Project has changed to Closed. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The overall development objective of the Anatolia Watershed Rehabilitation Project for Turkey is to support sustainable natural resource management practices in 28 micro-catchments in Anatolia and Turkey's Black Sea Region and thereby raise incomes of communities affected by resource degradation. The proposed project will build and expand on a community-based approach to natural resource management. The project has five components. Component 1: Rehabilitation of degraded natural resources The component's primary objective is to protect degraded areas from further degradation, erosion and pollution. Rehabilitation interventions are focused around four sub-components 1) The main sub-components are as follows: 1) Rehabilitation of forest land including soil conservation by afforestation, protection and improvement of poor & degraded soils, gallery plantation, rehabilitation of oak coppices and of degraded high forests, participatory replanting and inventory of non-wood forest products; 2) Rangeland rehabilitation, including improved management of forest rangelands and rehabilitation activities on rangeland outside the forest land; 3) Rehabilitation of agricultural land, including: fallow reduction, appropriate use of marginal agricultural land, wild tree grafting, river bank protection, and construction and production on agricultural terraces; and 4) Environment-friendly agricultural practices, including demonstrations of improved crop production practices, organic farming and integrated pest management and nutrient reduction activities implemented. Component 2 supports Income generating activities designed to provide participating communities with the incentives to undertake conservation efforts. Component 3 strengthens policy and regulatory capacity towards meeting EU Standards including support for the application of the EU Nitrates Directive, development and promotion of a code of good agricultural practices, and institutional support for organic farming. Component 4 supports awareness raising in micro-catchment development, capacity building and replication strategy. Component 5 supports project management and support services, including a fund for applied research and technology dissemination.

The project Railways Restructuring Project has changed to Closed

2012-07-02T04:00:00.000Z

The project Railways Restructuring Project has changed to Closed. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The development objective of the Railway Restructuring Project is to: improve the effectiveness of railway operations on the Mersin-Toprakkale and Yenice-Bogazkopru lines by increasing capacity and improving service quality, and lay the groundwork for restructuring Turkish State Railways (TCDD) by developing experience with financially viable contract arrangements for loss making public services and access pricing of infrastructure. The restructuring is needed to address land acquisition and building renovation activities that trigger Bank policies on involuntary resettlement and physical cultural resources. The project was restructured for the first time in 2009. The purpose of that restructuring was to amend the project development objective and results framework to align them more closely with project activities and realistic outcomes. No further adjustments to these aspects are required.

Zoellick to Join Harvard’s Belfer Center, Peterson Institute

2012-06-27T13:00:00.000Z

WASHINGTON, June 27, 2012—Robert B. Zoellick today said he would join the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard University and the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington DC after he steps down as World Bank Group President on June 30.

Zoellick will become the Peterson Institute’s first Distinguished Visiting Fellow as well as also becoming a Senior Fellow at the Belfer Center at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard.

“I appreciate the opportunity to engage with the scholars and practitioners at Harvard’s Belfer Center and the Peterson Institute for International Economics,” said Zoellick. “I hope to work on the intersection of economics and security, applying history to policy questions of today. Both institutions have been at the cutting edge of research and policy development, and I have benefited greatly from both in the past.”

As the 11th president of the World Bank, Mr. Zoellick turned around an institution in trouble in 2007, recapitalized the Bank, and expanded financing for the poorest countries following the food, fuel and financial crises of recent years. He modernized the Bank by making it more accountable, flexible, fast-moving, transparent, and focused on good governance and anti-corruption. He has increased representation of developing countries in governance and staffing and encouraged developing countries to set their own priorities rather than have them dictated from the Bank. His record has also been marked by an increased role for the private sector through the bank’s International Finance Corporation (IFC), which under his leadership has recruited sovereign wealth funds and pension funds to invest in poor countries, especially in Africa.

Before his term at the Bank, Mr. Zoellick served as Vice Chairman, International, of the Goldman Sachs Group as well as Managing Director and Chairman of Goldman Sachs’ Board of International Advisors from 2006-2007. Previously, he was Deputy Secretary of State in 2005-2006 and a member of the Cabinet as U.S. Trade Representative from 2001 to 2005.

From 1985 to 1993, he served at the Treasury and State Departments in various posts, as well as White House Deputy Chief of Staff. He was the lead U.S. official in the "Two-plus-Four" process of German unification in 1989-90 and served as "sherpa" for the preparation of the G-7/8 Economic Summits in 1991-92.

Mr. Zoellick graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Swarthmore College in 1975 and earned a J.D. magna cum laude from the Harvard Law School and a Master of Public Policy (MPP) from the Kennedy School of Government in 1981.

Contacts:

In Washington: Frederick Jones, (202) 473-9336, fjones@worldbank.org

For Broadcast Requests: Mehreen Sheikh, (202) 458-7336, msheikh1@worldbank.org

The project Environmental Sustainability and Energy Sector (ESES) DPL3 has changed to Closed

2012-06-20T04:00:00.000Z

The project Environmental Sustainability and Energy Sector (ESES) DPL3 has changed to Closed. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The development objective of the Third Programmatic Environmental Sustainability and Energy Sector (ESES) Development Policy Loan (DPL) Program to be supported by ESES DPL3 is to help: a) enhance energy security by promoting private sector clean technology investments and operations; b) integrate principles of environmental sustainability, including climate change considerations, in key sectoral policies and programs; and c) improve the effectiveness and efficiency of environmental management processes. The program supported by this ongoing DPL series has a focus on the energy sector and greenhouse gas emissions. There are four main risks to the program's outcomes: 1) economic risks; 2) political risks; 3) implementation and social risks in the energy sector; and 4) program and implementation risks in the climate change and environmental management areas.

Innovative Fund to Boost Food Security and Farmer Livelihoods is Launched

2012-06-18T19:04:43.000Z

New Approach to Financing Innovations in Food Security and Agricultural Development Unveiled at G20 Summit in Mexico

AgResults: Innovation in Research and Delivery

LOS CABOS, Mexico (June 18, 2012) – An innovative initiative that will enhance global food security and improve the livelihoods of developing country farmers through prizes and other market-based incentives was announced today by G20 Leaders. With a results-driven funding model that rewards innovators for tackling some of the biggest problems in food security and agricultural development, AgResults addresses global challenges in food security and agriculture by generating market-oriented solutions. The initiative aims to achieve significant improvements in the wellbeing of the poor and vulnerable in developing countries with a fund of up to $100 million, to be administered by the World Bank. The governments of Australia, Canada, Italy, the United Kingdom, the United States, as well as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, are supporting this effort.

AgResults uses pull mechanisms to encourage innovation through results-based payments such as prizes that are typically paid out when certain objectives or milestones have been met. Such financing mechanisms have seen success in generating innovation and market-oriented solutions in other domains such as healthcare, and AgResults aims to deliver similar gains in global food security and agricultural development.

AgResults was born out of the realization that there is a great need for increased investment in global food security and agriculture, in particular from the private sector. The FAO estimates that world food production must double by 2050 to feed a growing world population, while nearly a billion people suffer from a lack of crucial micronutrients in their diet—a hidden hunger that inhibits the development of children and reduces adult productivity. Recognizing these gaps, leaders at the June 2010 G20 Summit in Toronto committed to exploring innovative, results-focused ways of harnessing private sector innovations in food security and agricultural development in developing countries. This commitment involved a two-year effort by committed partners to develop AgResults, culminating in today’s launch of the initiative in support of the Summit priority of enhancing global food security. AgResults addresses this priority directly through new funding and a focus on bringing new, innovative approaches to bear on global food security issues.

In the coming years, AgResults will launch a series of pilots that address some of the biggest problems in global food security and agricultural development. The initiative’s portfolio of pilots will represent a diverse mix of agriculture and food security issues, testing different types of pull mechanisms in different regions globally. The initial set of pilots, focusing on maize production in Sub-Saharan Africa, include:

· Incentivizing the adoption of on-farm storage technology for smallholder farmers;

· Encouraging innovative distribution of a breakthrough technology to reduce aflatoxin contamination; and

· Building a market for new vitamin A-enhanced varieties of maize.

Additional pilots will be explored in the coming years, potentially including livestock vaccines and fertilizer innovation as well as new ideas related to increasing crop yields, decreasing post-harvest losses, increasing livestock productivity and improving nutrition.

For further information, please visit www.worldbank.org/cfp/agpm

Contacts:

In Washington: Amy Stilwell, (202) 458-4906, astilwell@worldbank.org

In Mexico: Fernanda Zavaleta, 52-55-5480-4252, fzavaleta@worldbank.org

For Broadcast Requests: Natalia Cieslik, (202) 458-9369, ncieslik@worldbank.org

Global Mobility Unaffected by Financial Crisis, as Remittances Remained Resilient

2012-06-13T13:00:00.000Z

WASHINGTON, June 14, 2012 – The global financial crisis of 2008/09 has not sent migrant workers streaming back home, despite worsening employment prospects and anti-immigration rhetoric in some destination countries, says a new book on migration and remittances, published by the World Bank.

In fact, migrants may have mitigated some of the pain of the crisis as they tend to work for lower wages, receive fewer benefits and rely relatively little on the state, says the ‘Migration and Remittances during the Global Financial Crisis and Beyond’ book.

“During the crisis, remittances continued to provide a steady source of foreign currency to developing country economies at a time when foreign aid remained flat and foreign direct investment declined sharply,” said Otaviano Canuto, Vice President, Poverty Reduction and Economic Management, at the World Bank.

Removing restrictions on human mobility may help enhance financial flows among nations and alleviate some of the adverse effect of the crisis, says the book. With migrant workers projected to remit about $399 billion to their home countries during 2012, compared to $372 billion in 2011, remittances are the most tangible link between migration and development.

Although many of the 215 million international migrants are facing worsening employment prospects in some destination countries, particularly high-income Europe, their cash support to families in their home countries has remained resilient, posting, in 2009, the only decline in recent memory. Even then, remittances decreased by a modest 5.2 percent, in sharp contrast with the precipitous declines seen in global private capital flows.

“The resilience of remittances is good news for developing countries as they remain one of the less volatile sources of foreign exchange earnings, particularly for the less developed countries. At the household level, these cash transfers are, in many cases, the only lifeline for families in the home countries,” said Hans Timmer, Director of Development Prospects at the World Bank.

However, despite many years of recording ever-increasing volumes of remittances, leveraging this rather large and growing source of funds for socio-economic development remains a key challenge, with the vast majority of remittances used for maintaining families and for the purchase of consumer goods.

The book, which is the first comprehensive study of remittances during the global financial crisis, is a compilation of 45 separate studies that identify and discuss remittance practices across the world and possibilities for the future. Each study is authored by a different expert who analyzes certain countries and certain aspects of remittances, ranging from patterns of remittance flows to usage of remittances received by communities and households.

The book is co-edited by Dilip Ratha, Manager of the Bank’s Migration and Remittances Unit; Ibrahim Sirkeci, Professor of Transnational Studies and Marketing at Regent’s College, London; and Jeffrey Cohen, Associate Professor of Anthropology at the Ohio State University, USA, who also co-author the book’s first chapter on remittance flows and practices during the crisis.

“Contrary to expectations, we found no evidence of return of migrants, even as the financial crisis reduced employment opportunities in the United States and Europe, with many countries, such as Spain, offering financial incentives to encourage migrants to return,” said Sirkeci.

Migration, in fact, was a strategic response to the financial crisis. Like any political or environmental catastrophe, the financial crisis caused human insecurity and people in developing countries responded by crossing borders or moving domestically to survive the impact of the crisis.

“Remittances have remained resilient and, barring the decline in 2009, have maintained a healthy growth momentum. However, since the book went to press, the global economy continues to experience serious bouts of volatility, which could affect migrant earnings and, hence, remittances,” said Ratha.

For receiving countries, a key factor behind the resilience in remittances is the diversification of migrant destinations.

Countries in South Asia and East Asia with many migrants in the United States, Europe and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries continued to register increased remittance inflows. One study in the book concludes that only a prolonged global slowdown would cause a decline in remittance flows to India, the largest recipient of remittances in 2011, with $64 billion.

In contrast, Latin America and the Caribbean region, whose migrants are concentrated in the United States, suffered a dramatic decline in remittances throughout the financial crisis. Mexico, the world’s third largest recipient of remittances ($24 billion in 2011), saw a significant decline in remittance inflows from the United States during the crisis. A similar strong impact was found in El Salvador. Both cases underline the fact that many Latin American countries were vulnerable to the effects of crisis, with a special impact on the urban youth in these countries, who face more difficult labor market prospects and declining opportunities to migrate.

Studies related to the effect of the crisis in the European Union on remittance-receiving countries found that Spain has been the fastest-growing immigration destination for the past decade and is now the fifth largest remittance-sending country, after the United States, Saudi Arabia, Russia and Switzerland.

In the East Asia and Pacific region, remittances account for as much as 12 percent of GDP, as in the case of New Zealand and Pacific island economies, while remittances have been keeping the national economy afloat in the Philippines for the past three decades.

Also, due to the depreciation of local currencies of many remittance-recipient countries, such as India, Mexico, and the Philippines, migrants from those countries turned to investment-oriented remittances in South Asia and East Asia where goods, services, and assets suddenly became significantly inexpensive and affordable.

The book recommends that countries develop policies that reduce restrictions on human mobility and develop programs to facilitate the use of remittances for long-term investments and promoting entrepreneurship. Such changes, tailored to both host and recipient country needs, can strengthen the contribution of remittances to development.

Eliminating the complexity of transactions and reducing transaction costs would also help increase the volume of remittances utilizing official channels, to enable many small nations, in particular, to reap the socio-economic benefits of migrant earnings.

The book is available for purchase at http://publications.worldbank.org/18826

The latest migration and remittances data are available at www.worldbank.org/migration

Interact with migration experts at http://blogs.worldbank.org/peoplemove/

Contacts:

In Washington: Indira Chand +1 (202) 458-0434, +1 (703) 376-7491, ichand@worldbank.org

For TV/Broadcast: Natalia Cieslik +1 (202) 458-9369, ncieslik@worldbank.org

WB Urges Developing Countries to Strengthen Domestic Fundamentals, to Weather Global Economic Turmoil

2012-06-12T17:00:00.000Z

WASHINGTON, June 12, 2012 – Developing countries should prepare for a long period of volatility in the global economy by re-emphasizing medium-term development strategies, while preparing for tougher times, says the World Bank in the newly-released Global Economic Prospects (GEP), June 2012.

A resurgence of tensions in high-income Europe has eroded the gains made during the first four months of this year, which saw a rebound in economic activity in both developing and advanced countries and an easing of risk aversion among investors. Since May 1^st, increased market jitters have spread. Developing and high-income country stock markets have lost some 7 percent, giving up two-thirds of the gains generated over the preceding four months. Most industrial commodity prices are down, with crude and copper prices down by 19 and 14 percent, respectively, while developing country currencies have lost value against the US dollar, as international capital fled to safe-haven assets, such as German and U.S. government bonds.

Video Platform Video Management Video Solutions Video Player

So far, conditions in most developing countries have not deteriorated as much as in the fourth quarter of 2011. Outside of Europe and Central Asia and the Middle-East and North Africa, developing country credit default swap (CDS) rates, a key indicator of market sentiment, remain well below their maximums from the fall of 2011.

“Global capital market and investor sentiment are likely to remain volatile over the medium term – making economic policy setting difficult. In this environment, developing countries should focus on productivity-enhancing reforms and infrastructure investment instead of reacting to day-to-day changes in the international environment,” said Hans Timmer, Director of Development Prospects at the World Bank.

Increased uncertainty will add to pre-existing headwinds from budget cutting, banking-sector deleveraging and developing country capacity constraints. As a result, the World Bank projects that developing country growth will slow to a relatively weak 5.3 percent in 2012, before strengthening somewhat to 5.9 percent in 2013 and 6.0 percent in 2014. Growth in high-income countries will also be weak, 1.4, 1.9 and 2.3 percent for 2012, 2013 and 2014 respectively – with GDP in the Euro Area declining 0.3 percent in 2012. Overall, global GDP is projected to rise 2.5, 3.0 and 3.3 ⁽¹⁾ percent for the same period.

This baseline scenario remains the most likely outcome. However, should the situation in Europe deteriorate sharply no developing region would be spared. Developing Europe and Central Asia is especially vulnerable because of its close trade and financial ties with high-income Europe, but the world's poorest countries will also feel the fall out – especially countries that are heavily reliant on remittances, tourism or commodity exports or that have high-levels of short-term debt.

“Where possible, developing countries need to move to reduce vulnerabilities by lowering short-term debt levels, cutting budget deficits and returning to a more neutral monetary policy stance. Doing so will provide them with more leeway to loosen policy, should global conditions take a sharp turn for the worse,” said Andrew Burns, Manager of Global Macroeconomics and lead author of the report.

The full report and accompanying datasets are available at www.worldbank.org/globaloutlook

Regional Highlights

Growth outlooks for each country are available in the full report at:

www.worldbank.org/globaloutlook

Growth for the East Asia and Pacific region is on a moderately easing trend, with GDP gains for the region dropping to 8.3 percent in 2011 from 9.7 percent in 2010. The recent deterioration in global financial conditions is expected to add to pre-existing headwinds, including relatively weak demand from the high-income world, and a slowing phase in China to moderate regional growth to 7.6 percent in 2012, before broader global recovery lifts exports and growth for the region in 2013 to 8.1 percent, easing to 7.9 percent in 2014. China’s GDP is expected to accelerate from 8.2 percent in 2012 to 8.4 percent by 2014.

Notwithstanding the economic downturn in the Euro Area in the fourth quarter of 2011, developing Europe and Central Asia posted strong (5.6 percent) growth in 2011, driven by robust domestic demand and good harvests in countries such as Russia, Romania and Turkey. However, severe weather conditions in early 2012, capacity constraints in some countries, deleveraging by European banks, and the renewed turmoil in high-income Europe are projected to slow regional GDP growth to 3.3 percent this year, before a modest recovery begins with growth firming to 4.1 and 4.4 percent in each of 2013 and 2014.

Growth in the Latin America and the Caribbean region eased to 4.3 percent in 2011, from 6.1 percent in 2010, due to the pronounced slowdown in the region’s larger economies. In Brazil, GDP slowed sharply to 2.7 percent in 2011 (7.5 percent in 2010), as investment growth and private consumption eased. The region’s short-term outlook is clouded by a weak external environment, and capacity constraints in select economies. Regional GDP is expected to decelerate to 3.5 percent in 2012, firming to 4.1 percent and 4 percent in 2013 and 2014, respectively, while growth in Brazil is projected to remain below potential at 2.9 percent in 2012, before accelerating to 4.2 percent in 2013 and 3.9 percent in 2014.

Uncertainty, volatility, and political change continue to characterize conditions in the Middle East and North Africa region. Aggregate GDP grew by 1 percent in 2011, down from 3.8 percent in 2010. Regional growth is projected to remain weak at 0.6 percent for 2012, mainly reflecting the influence of sanctions on growth in Iran, and continued GDP declines in Syria and Yemen. As these elements fade in importance, growth for the region should step up to 2.2 percent in 2013 and 3.4 percent in 2014. Egypt’s economy is projected to move out of negative territory to 1.4 percent growth in 2012, rising to 4.6 percent in 2014. Growth is also expected to pick up strongly in Jordan and Lebanon, while oil prices, which are projected to average near $107/bbl in 2012, will benefit the region’s oil exporters.

Growth in South Asia slowed to 7.1 percent in 2011, from 8.6 percent in 2010, as headwinds from the Euro Area crisis caused a steep deceleration in exports and a reversal of portfolio inflows. Growth in India was particularly weak due to monetary policy, stalled reforms, and electricity shortages, which, along with fiscal and inflation concerns, cut into investment activity. Policy uncertainties, fiscal deficits, entrenched inflation, and infrastructure gaps will continue to weigh negatively on investment activity and are expected to limit regional growth to a relatively modest 6.4 percent in 2012, 6.5 percent in 2013, and 6.7 percent in 2014. India will see growth (measured at factor cost) increasing to 6.9, 7.2 and 7.4 percent in fiscal years 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15, respectively.

Economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa remained robust in 2011 at 4.7 percent. Excluding South Africa, growth in the rest of the region was stronger, at 5.6 percent, making it one of the fastest growing developing regions. Higher commodity prices and improved macroeconomic and political stability in recent years has supported increased private investment flows to the region, with promising prospects in the medium term. As global demand firms and domestic demand remains robust, regional growth is expected to strengthen to 5 percent in 2012, 5.3 percent in 2013 and 5.2 percent in 2014.

Contacts

In Washington: Merrell Tuck-Primdahl +1 (202) 473-9516, +1 (202) 476-9897, mtuckprimdahl@worldbank.org;

Indira Chand +1 (202) 458-0434, +1 (703) 376-7491, ichand@worldbank.org

In London: Derek Warren + 44 (20) 7592-8402 , dwarren1@worldbank.org

For TV/Broadcast: Natalia Cieslik +1 (202) 458-9369, ncieslik@worldbank.org

(1) Using purchasing power parity weights, global growth would be 3.3, 3.9 and 4.2 percent for 2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively.

Globalization: Made in the Americas

2012-06-08T00:30:00.000Z

AS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY

Inter-American Dialogue 30^th Anniversary Dinner

Remarks of Robert B. Zoellick, President, World Bank Group

June 7, 2012

Introduction

Thank you for the honor of your invitation to commemorate the 30^th Anniversary of the Inter-American Dialogue.

The origins of this Dialogue stretch back to a discussion between Peter Bell and Abe Lowenthal on a park bench.

Peter and Abe were disturbed by the breakdown in inter-American exchanges during the Falklands/Malvinas war, and by the lack of ties with the rising democrats of Latin America. So they discussed bringing together leaders from across the hemisphere to set a new inter-American agenda. The Dialogue held its first ad hoc conference in late 1982.

Today, 30 years later, Latin America’s very success offers the opportunity to remake that Hemispheric partnership around new pillars:

· A revived free trade policy that will aid structural reforms for growth in all our countries;

· An energy transformation, ending the Hemisphere’s energy dependency;

· A new diplomacy infused with private sector pragmatism to solve public problems;

· Shared security; and

· The first Democratic Hemisphere.

For the United States, this new agenda could enable us to rely on a great, home-grown asset – Hispanic-Americans – as the vanguard of U.S. connectivity in a new Western Hemispheric economy.

This Dialogue can – and I believe will – help drive this change: to create a “Globalization: Made in the Americas.”

Under Peter Hakim’s and now Michael Shifter’s energetic leadership, the Inter-American Dialogue has become the leading U.S. center for policy analysis, exchange, and communication in the Western Hemisphere.

The idea at the heart of the Dialogue remains very much the same as that which emerged from the conversation on the park bench: that through dialogue and shared vision, interested citizens across the hemisphere together can plant the seeds of new policy ideas and practical proposals for progress in the Americas.

So tonight, let’s put that idea to work.

A Different Vantage Point

Just two months ago, the leaders of the Western Hemisphere met in Cartagena for the Summit of the Americas. Colombia was an excellent host, and the Summit showcased the country’s many hard-won achievements.

But the news reports were, frankly, disappointing. Aside from the behavior of some Secret Service agents, the coverage focused on disagreements about Cuba and drugs. Some even suggested this would be the last Summit of the Americas. The agenda seemed stuck in a time warp.

So when Carla Hills asked if I could join you this evening, I thought the best way to celebrate the Dialogue’s Anniversary was to offer new possibilities for the Americas in a fast-changing global economy.

My vantage point on our hemisphere is different from many U.S. contributors to the Dialogue. I am not a specialist in Latin America.

Like many of my U.S. foreign and security policy colleagues, much of my energy has been concentrated on the issues of Europe and the Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and Southwest Asia.

Yet because of my economic background, Latin America and Canada have loomed larger on my global map.

In the 1980s and early 90s, working with Secretary of Treasury and State James Baker, we were immersed in issues of Latin American debt and reforms for growth, the Canadian and North American FTAs, and Central American security and democracy.

In 2001, as U.S. Trade Representative, we were fortunate to build on that experience, negotiating FTAs with Chile, Colombia, Peru, Panama, the five countries of Central America and the Dominican Republic. Together with NAFTA, these FTAs cover 54 percent of the economy of our hemisphere, not including the United States, offering an underutilized web of free traders that could support deeper integration in the Americas – even hemispheric free trade and democracy.

Five years as President of the World Bank Group has added to this perspective.

Why am I stressing this global outlook on Latin America? Because, while working on the issues of our region, I have urged my Latin counterparts to look globally, too.

Instead, for too many years, the dialogue within our hemisphere seemed constrained by a North-South framework. The United States loomed large – whether as a hegemon, source of support, market, model, danger, or even frustrating land of inattention.

On development, debt, investment, competition, and trade, Latin Americans need to see the wider horizon – especially to benchmark with East Asia. And beyond East Asia, Latin America has a new role to play in building multiple engines of growth with other emerging markets. It is time to break out of that North-South construct.

Consider Canada’s experience in combining regional integration with global reach: of course, Canada’s FTA with the United States in 1988 deepened the two countries’ economic integration – but in addition, the competitive adjustment driven by that accord made Canadian business more competitive globally.

A new hemispheric partnership requires leaving old habits, old mindsets, and old models of dependency behind.

That partnership will necessitate a new mix of partners, public and private.

That partnership should be the next challenge for the Summit of the Americas and this Dialogue.

Latin America’s Record of Gains

Latin America’s recent record of gains now puts it in a position to remake the Hemispheric partnership.

The numbers tell the story.

Between 2003 and 2010, the income of the average Latin American increased by more than 30 percent. A silent revolution in macro-financial policy has strengthened the economic immune system of many countries. We saw the payoff after the fall of Lehman Brothers: Sound policies in Latin America enabled expansions to offset the downturn without the aftershocks that now threaten Europe.

About 73 million Latin Americans have been lifted out of poverty since 2003. Today, almost a third of the region’s population is considered middle class.

Latin America is breaking a pattern of persistent inequality, including through an increase in women’s involvement in the economy, particularly from poor families. Colombia and Peru have buttressed this trend by boosting opportunities for people of African and indigenous origin, seeking to overcome divisions that populists have exploited.

Mexico and Brazil have led in developing well-targeted conditional cash transfer programs that have revolutionized public assistance. These programs couple income grants for poor families with incentives for health check-ups and keeping children in school. Mexico’s Oportunidades program has probably done more for women’s health than anything in the country’s history.

These are safety net programs that appeal to a fiscal conservative: They cost only about half a percent of GDP. The World Bank has helped export this model to 40 other countries, ranging from Pakistan to the Philippines.

Latin America is “going global.” As the global trade negotiations have stalled, leading Latin American free traders have tried to keep up the momentum. Mexico has FTAs with 59 countries; Chile with 43.

Colombia offers a leading example of how a democracy can combine security, development, and good governance to overcome narco-traffickers, kidnappers, and terrorists. Peru demonstrates how sound economic policy and political commitment across administrations can reverse years of stagnation.

Brazil’s influence is expanding – through its companies, agricultural and mining experience, development work, peacekeeping in Haiti, and interest in Africa. Brazil’s leaders of the left have also turned a page in history by sticking with democracy. Rising leaders of the left in other Latin American countries have seen the benefits for the poor of Brazil’s example, compared to authoritarians who tear down institutions to consolidate personal or party power.

Looking Ahead

So what’s ahead for Latin America?

Latin America’s per capita income is still only at 30 percent of the U.S. level.

To climb higher, Latin American economies will need to leap beyond the so-called middle income trap. Many developing economies make early rapid gains. But then productivity and growth tend to slow.

This is a global challenge. In 1960, the World Bank ranked 101 economies as middle income; by 2008, almost half a century later, only 13 had made it to high income levels – and one was Greece.

Many Latin American countries will need to translate the commodity boom into broader, more diversified economies. This region has lived through roller-coaster booms and busts before.

Higher productivity is the antidote to the middle income trap.

Since the 1980s, Latin America has underinvested in infrastructure – electricity, roads, bridges, ports, transport – and maintaining and operating these services. Currently, Latin America spends 2 to 3 percent of GDP on infrastructure, less than half the rate of investment in East Asia.

Public-private infrastructure partnerships not only offer a source of financing, but also better design, maintenance, and operations to deliver high-quality services on time.

Colombia has experimented with PPPs in urban water supply and sanitation. Mexico’s new Highway Concession Program has mobilized PPP projects of around $11 billion, expanding the country’s major toll roads network by some 25 percent.

Latin America has to anticipate its human capital needs. The region is aging rapidly: today, about 11 percent of Brazil’s working age-population are seniors; by 2050, it will be nearly half.

Latin America also needs to improve the results of its investments in education. By age 15, the learning achievement of the average Latin American student lags two years behind his or her developed country counterparts.

Latin America is recognizing that gender equality is smart economics. Today, women in Latin America outnumber men in schools and universities. Working age women represent roughly 40 percent of the entire labor force in the region.

To continue to grow, the region will need more competition and innovation in the service sector. Competitive services increase productivity. They supply the ‘software’ of integration: transport, where delays and losses can impose significant costs; information technology, because accurate data and effective communication is vital; financial services, to create a supportive business environment; and logistics systems, which are a driver of business competitiveness.

A New Agenda

What do these challenges mean for a new hemispheric partnership? What should have been the news coming out of Cartagena?

Let me offer five ideas.

First, the Western Hemisphere needs to revive an activist free trade and economic reform policy, globally and regionally. We need fresh approaches.

The United States will be cutting agricultural subsidies, especially given high prices, and eliminating protection for ethanol. Why not deploy these to prod others?

Service sector liberalization can boost productivity, open new businesses, create new jobs, and cut the “Latin cost” that many countries impose on their own businesses. Why not deploy this economic need to revive a mutual interest in negotiation?

A strong self-interest can drive this renewed call for liberalization. Latin American economies still need much investment and more robust capital markets – especially in local currencies – that can help Latin American entrepreneurs and family-owned businesses to expand.

Infrastructure investments require capital goods and services, as Panama’s 21st Century Canal project is demonstrating. Why not dismantle barriers to lower the cost of infrastructure expansion?

Better logistics make economies more competitive. The World Bank’s 2012 Logistics Performance Index estimated that Latin American logistics costs are between 16 and 26 percent of GDP – that’s two to four times the average in Europe or East Asia.

The World Bank has helped Colombia and Peru to implement a “single window” approach to customs clearance and border management. In Brazil and Peru, the Bank has worked with international freight forwarders to connect rural, remote villages and small businesses to export through national postal services; in the first six months, more than 300 small firms in Peru became exporters, most for the first time.

Even as the WTO works toward a Trade Facilitation agreement, the Americas could develop an accord that points the way.

Brazilian officials are focused on exchange rates. Yet to really boost growth the target should be productivity. Better infrastructure can help, and so can more efficient and effective public services. The World Bank Group has launched a deeper partnership with the Governors of the Northeastern states of Brazil to overcome these impediments. Over time, however, the United States and its free trade partners should be working with Brazil to rebuild the case for a hemispheric initiative to realize the benefits of trade liberalization and economic reforms.

It takes two to tango, and this agenda requires changes on the part of the United States, too. The United States is no longer leading the open trade agenda, as it relies increasingly on defensive measures. The United States has its own high costs of trade – antiquated ports and laws to protect special interests.

The United States should work with its current free trade partners in the Americas to deepen ties of development, reform, and investment.

The current architecture of US FTAs in the hemisphere offers a solid legal framework, but it needs to evolve into a home for an ongoing dialogue – across countries and with business, academic, civil society, and environmental communities – to see what else can be done to lower costs and barriers and create opportunities.

The United States and its partners could explore progressive integration across the FTAs, for example by expanding provisions to cumulate inputs among partners while qualifying for free trade.

The United States needs to make its hemispheric FTA network dynamic, linked to business and investment policies, and improved governance.

A new concept of an FTA network in the Americas could also support inclusive and sustainable development as the foundation for open societies and borders.

Second, innovation in the energy sector, led by the United States, could transform energy security for North America, the Hemisphere, and the world.

In 2008, imports supplied 70 percent of US oil demand. By 2020, PFC Energy estimates that imports could be down to 40 percent of US oil demand – or even 20 percent if Canadian oil is counted as part of the home market. If natural gas for Canada and the United States is added, U.S. net energy imports from the rest of the world could drop to five percent of U.S. demand. That’s an amazing game-changer in energy.

If Mexico opens PEMEX to real outside investment, the outlook is even brighter. With the discovery of the giant deep offshore PRESAL oil and gas fields, Brazil can play a major role in supplying oil and gas in the region.

Yet there is a need to connect these energy supplies – through infrastructure – with countries in Central America and the Caribbean that have suffered from high prices and limited access. Increased efficiency and alternative sources could help the energy poor, too. It’s long past time for a hemispheric energy policy – blending consideration of inclusive growth, the environment, and indigenous communities’ interests.

Third, this new Hemispheric partnership needs to break old patterns of diplomacy. There are now vibrant private sectors all across the hemisphere. The challenges of overcoming the middle income trap and structural reforms to boost productivity need private sector advice and solutions. All across the developing world, the World Bank is encountering a new pragmatism about involving the private sector in areas that used to be public monopolies: infrastructure; education; healthcare; skills training; delivery of public social services. Advanced economies such as the United States should be taking note, too.

Yet government-business dialogues can be stilted showcases. The Summit of the Americas – and perhaps the Dialogue – should review which approaches work better and why. With some guidance, businesses can better connect possibilities with policies. Governments can commit to responses, commitments, openness, and results.

Fourth, the new Hemispheric agenda should help all 35 countries overcome security threats to growth and opportunity.

The fragile governments of Central America are at risk of being overwhelmed by crime and violence linked to drug trafficking, organized crime, gangs, and firepower. Spain, which has roughly the same population as Central America, has about 400 murders per year; in 2010, Central America had over 18,000.

The region pays a heavy economic price for this insecurity – as much as 8 percent of GDP. The basic legitimacy of governments and institutions is fraying: About half of Central Americans say a military coup could be justified when crime levels are high.

Experiences from Medellin and Rio de Janeiro have shown that the best way to attack criminal insecurity is through an integrated approach: combining stepped-up policing, prevention, and community investments. Quick turnarounds are possible. Strong regional cooperation is indispensable.

The United States has an unfortunate pattern of ignoring dangers in Central America until they explode. This time U.S. diplomacy should work with Mexico, Colombia, and Panama to develop a coherent strategy – not band-aids. As in Colombia, the Central American private sector must also be part of the solution. And the United States should also take responsibility for the drug habits of its public that fuel demand for narcotics from the south.

Fragility in the Caribbean is another soft spot. But small economies can be competitive in many sectors. Accelerating integration in the Caribbean can share services, add to resilience, and boost economic prospects.

Latin America should also be looking toward a greater role in global security – through practical steps, not the old G-77 policies of the past. My friend and former colleague, Bernie Aronson has proposed, for example, that Brazil could lead by voluntarily ending its uranium enrichment program and then calling on other nations – including Iran – to follow its example. If Brazil wants to help shape the 21^st Century, leadership in preventing the spread of nuclear weapons – with an idea and action – would send a powerful signal.

Fifth, the debate over Cuba at Cartagena sounded like hollow echoes from another era. Look ahead, not back.

Chavez’s days are numbered. If his subsidies to Cuba and Nicaragua are cut, those regimes will be in trouble. The democrats of Latin America – left, center, and right – should be preparing. The calls for democracy – for an end to intimidating thugs, human rights, fair elections, and rule of law – should come from all its capitals.

There will soon be an opportunity to make the Western Hemisphere the first Democratic Hemisphere. Not a place of coups, caudillos, and cocaine -- but of democracy, development, and dignity.

This transformation will not be achieved by the Calvo doctrine. By divisive populists. By corruption. By acquiescence. By silence.

You know well that if Latins leave the work to Washington and Ottawa, the opponents of liberty and human rights will play the cards of gringoism and neo-imperialism. Trump them.

Conclusion

For the United States, a new partnership in the Western Hemisphere offers opportunities for renewal at home, too.

All the debates about macroeconomic issues – fiscal and monetary policies – as important as they are, risk inattention to microeconomic incentives, structural reforms in the United States.

Energy. Infrastructure. Education. Human capital. Competition. Environment. Innovation. The United States also needs to clear away old rigidities on these new fundamentals.

The United States also needs to draw on the energies, intelligence, and drive of all its citizens.

As my friend Luis Alberto Moreno of the Inter-American Development Bank has pointed out, the 50 million strong Hispanic community in the United States is a growing market, source of entrepreneurship, and resource for a Hemispheric economic strategy. At over $1 trillion, the purchasing power of Latinos in the United States is larger than the economies of every Latin American country except Brazil.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are between two and three million Hispanic-owned businesses in the United States. Many are small. But they create jobs, earn revenues, and pay taxes.

As Latin America grows, the Hispanic businesses in the United States offer an incredible asset. Hispanics in the United States could be in the vanguard of a new Western Hemispheric economy.

Small and medium-sized Hispanic-American businesses will need help to expand their entrepreneurialism – information about markets, financing, and risk management services. To be most effective, this assistance should be decentralized – perhaps drawing on local chambers of commerce in cities and states where most Hispanic businesses can be found. The Small Business Administration, OPIC, Ex-Im Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, and the World Bank could then deploy their resources to help.

The world economy is still struggling to recover from the worst blows since the 1930s. Europe is a danger zone. U.S. leadership remains vital to get through the storm, to reach a new world economy of multiple poles of growth.

This is why the news coming out of the Cartagena Summit was disappointing.

This is not a time for drift, for old North-South debates, for retreat behind borders, old mindsets, or out-dated dependencies.

This is a time for the New World to again inspire novel thinking – about development, growth, structural reforms, rule of law and human rights, democracy, and security.

This Dialogue should aim high: To have the Western Hemisphere shape this next era of globalization – so that future historians will title the next chapter, not “The Passing of the New World,” but “Globalization: Made in the Americas.”

Cities to Face Sharply Rising Costs for Garbage Treatment

2012-06-06T15:30:00.000Z

New report points to 70% global increase in urban solid waste

WASHINGTON, June 6, 2012 – A new, far-reaching report on the state of municipal solid waste around the world predicts a sharp rise in the amount of garbage generated by urban residents between now and 2025. The report estimates the amount of municipal solid waste (MSW) will rise from the current 1.3 billion tonnes/year to 2.2 billion tonnes/year, with much of the increase coming in rapidly growing cities in developing countries. The annual cost of solid waste management is projected to rise from the current $205 billion to $375 billion, with cost increasing most severely in low income countries.

The report, What a Waste: A Global Review of Solid Waste Management, for the first time offers consolidated data on MSW generation, collection, composition, and disposal by country and by region. In itself, this is an accomplishment because, as the report states, reliable global MSW information is either not available or incomplete, inconsistent, and incomparable. Nevertheless, the authors of the report point to a looming crisis in MSW treatment as living standards rise and urban populations grow.

“Improving solid waste management, especially in the rapidly growing cities of low income countries, is becoming a more and more urgent issue,” said Rachel Kyte, Vice President, Sustainable Development at the World Bank. “The findings of this report are sobering, but they also offer hope that once the extent of this issue is recognized, local and national leaders, as well as the international community, will mobilize to put in place programs to reduce, reuse, recycle, or recover as much waste as possible before burning it (and recovering the energy) or otherwise disposing of it. Measuring the extent of the problem is a critical first step to resolving it.”

The report notes that municipal solid waste management is the most important service a city provides. In low-income countries, MSW is often the largest single budget item for cities, and one of the largest employers. A city that cannot effectively manage its waste is rarely able to manage more complex services such as health, education, or transportation. Improving MSW is one of the most effective ways of strengthening overall municipal management.

The report shows that the amount of municipal solid waste is growing fastest in China (which surpassed the US as the world’s largest waste generator in 2004), other parts of East Asia, and part of Eastern Europe and the Middle East. Growth rates for MSW in these areas are similar to their rates for urbanization and increases in GDP. There is a direct correlation between the per capita level of income in cities and the amount of waste per capita that is generated. In general, as a country urbanizes and populations become wealthier, the consumption of inorganic materials (e.g. plastics, paper, glass, aluminum) increases, while the relative organic fraction decreases.

“What we’re finding in these figures is not that surprising,” said Dan Hoornweg, Lead Urban Specialist in the Finance, Economics, and Urban Development Department of the World Bank and eco-author of the report, “What is surprising, however, is that when you add the figures up we’re looking at a relatively silent problem that is growing daily. The challenges surrounding municipal solid waste are going to be enormous, on a scale of, if not greater than, the challenges we are currently experiencing with climate change. This report should be seen as a giant wake-up call to policy makers everywhere.”

The authors of the report say an integrated solid waste management plan is needed in cities to approach solid waste in a comprehensive manner. Key to such a plan is consultation and input from all stakeholders, including citizen groups and those working on behalf of the poor and the disadvantaged. Public health and environmental protection aspects of any such plan are also critical.

The report also spells out policy recommendations for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, many of which emanate from inefficient solid waste management practices. Post-consumer waste is estimated to account for almost 5% of total global GHG, while methane from landfills represents 12% of total global methane emissions. The report says that a number of practical approaches could be applied in most cities, including:

· Public education to inform people about their options to reduce waste generation and increase recycling and composting;

· Pricing mechanisms (such as product charges) to stimulate consumer behaviour to reduce waste generation and increase recycling;

· User charges tied to the quantity of waste disposed of, with (for example) consumers separating recyclables paying a lower fee for waste disposal; and/or

· Preferential procurement policies and pricing to stimulate demand for products made with recycled post-consumer waste.

For a link to the report, click here: http://go.worldbank.org/BCQEP0TMO0

Contacts:

In Washington: Roger Morier, +1 202 473 5675, rmorier@worldbank.org

For Broadcast Requests: Natalia Cieslik, +1 202 458 9369, ncieslik@worldbank.org

The project Anatolia Watershed Rehabiliation GEF Project (Black Sea) has changed to Closed

2012-06-06T04:00:00.000Z

The project Anatolia Watershed Rehabiliation GEF Project (Black Sea) has changed to Closed. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

World Bank Group Unveils New Focus on ‘Green, Clean, Resilient’ Development

2012-06-05T04:00:00.000Z

WASHINGTON, June 5, 2012 -- The World Bank Group today released its ambitious, new Environment Strategy for 2012-2022 aimed at supporting countries to pursue sustainable development pathways that are green, inclusive, efficient, and affordable. The new Strategy responds to calls from governments and the private sector for new approaches to development in light of unprecedented environmental challenges and lays out a vision for “a green, clean and resilient world for all”.

“We’re seeing that working through the nexus of food crises, water insecurity, and energy needs is being made all the more complicated by environmental degradation and climate change,” said World Bank Vice President for Sustainable Development Rachel Kyte. “Countries and communities and the ecosystems they depend on need to build resilience while moving to more efficient growth paths. This Strategy lays out the areas where we will put emphasis as we work to respond to countries’ needs.”

As countries seek to reduce poverty in the face of climate change and other major environmental challenges, the Bank Group is providing knowledge, solutions and financing to foster an environment that is:

· Green where natural resources are sustainably managed and conserved to improve livelihoods and ensure food security;

· Clean in which cleaner air, water and oceans enable people to lead healthy, productive lives and where development strategies emphasize low-emission, climate-smart transport, energy, agriculture and urban development;

· Resilient in which countries are better prepared for shocks and less vulnerable to natural disasters, volatile weather patterns and other impacts of climate change.

World Bank commitments addressing environment and natural resource management have grown from $1.5 billion or 8.4 percent of World Bank lending in FY01 to $6.3 billion or 14.3 percent in FY11.

“The Strategy acknowledges the vital role of the private sector in achieving sustainable and inclusive economic growth and development,” said International Finance Corporation (IFC) Vice President for Business Advisory Services Nena Stoiljkovic. “IFC works with the private sector as an advisor, financier, and standard setter to help unlock this potential.”

The IFC invested $1.7 billion in climate-friendly projects in FY11, up 6 percent from $1.6 billion in FY10.

Under the “green” agenda, a key priority is the Wealth Accounting and Valuation of Ecosystem Services (WAVES) global partnership which supports countries’ efforts to factor natural capital into national accounting systems and through the Global Partnership for Oceans, the focus is on restoring the world’s oceans to health and optimizing their contribution to economic growth and food security. The “clean” agenda prioritizes pollution management through river clean-up and legacy pollution projects while also encouraging low-emission development strategies and financing for renewable energy, climate-smart agriculture, and lower-carbon cities.

The “resilience” agenda, targets support to countries to adapt to climate change, improve disaster risk management, with a focus on vulnerable Small Island Developing States to reduce dependence on oil imports, build sound infrastructure, and restore protective coastal ecosystems such as mangroves.

The Strategy includes action plans for the specific environmental challenges in each developing region of the world.

· In Africa, work will focus on strengthening governance for natural resource management given growing pressure on the region’s agriculture, mining, forests, and water basins. In partnership with other agencies, the private sector, and civil society, the Bank Group is seeking to expand access to clean energy across the region.

· In East Asia and the Pacific the Bank Group is supporting renewable energy and energy efficiency, sustainable urban development and transport, as well as prioritizing the phase-out of numerous industrial pollutants; advising on carbon markets and adaptation in agriculture and coastal infrastructure; scaling up forest management; and strengthening regional partnerships to preserve biodiversity.

· In Europe and Central Asia where many countries are faced with energy shortages and a legacy of industrial pollution, the Bank Group is promoting clean energy and production while supporting programs to dispose of pollutant stockpiles, rehabilitate watersheds and improve disaster preparedness.

· In Latin America and the Caribbean where pressure continues on coastlines, wetlands, and the world’s largest forest cover, the Bank Group is supporting the management of protected areas, the integration of biodiversity conservation into productive landscapes and in some countries, the use of payments for environmental services. It is also providing the world’s most urbanized region with policy advice on cleaner development paths, supporting industrial pollution abatement, and promoting “green cities”.

· In Middle East and North Africa where high population density, water scarcity, and overfishing tend primarily to affect the poor, the Bank Group is supporting programs to strengthen the capacity of countries with shared seas—the Mediterranean, the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Gulf—to reduce marine pollution and manage fisheries. Other focus areas include desert ecosystems and livelihoods; improved urban and industrial planning; scaled-up solar power generation; and efforts to reduce vulnerability to drought.

· In South Asia where the poorest live in areas of high soil erosion, variable rainfall, and degraded forests, the Bank Group is helping to strengthen the role of natural resource management in the development agenda, strengthen environmental management in industry and reduce the costs to countries of environmental degradation.

Meeting the challenges of a green, clean, and resilient world requires leveraging the comparative advantage of all development partners. The new Strategy recognizes the growing role of the private sector in addressing sustainability concerns, developing sustainability standards, and ensuring that global markets can and do promote sustainable development.

The Strategy also encompasses the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) - the arm of the World Bank Group that promotes responsible foreign direct investment into developing countries by offering political risk insurance to the private sector.

"MIGA is pleased to have contributed to this strategy and to advance the notion that the private sector is absolutely crucial to affect change with respect to environmental issues," said Michel Wormser, MIGA's Vice President and COO.

To measure and monitor progress the Environment Strategy includes a results framework to track progress over time. The new Strategy also advances work to assess greenhouse gas emissions from the Bank Group’s portfolio of development projects with pilots being undertaken in a number of World Bank energy, transport and forestry sector projects.

Contacts:
In Washington: Elisabeth Mealey, +1 202-458-4475, emealey@worldbank.org

Vanessa Bauza, +1 202-458-1603, vbauza@ifc.org
Mallory Saleson +1 202-473-0844 msaleson@worldbank.org

For Broadcast Requests: Natalia Cieslik, +1 202-458-9369, ncieslik@worldbank.org

To read the World Bank Group Environment Strategy 2012-2022, click here.

For more information on Sustainable Development at the World Bank click here.

For more information on the IFC Sustainability: www.ifc.org/sustainability

For more information on MIGA: www.miga.org

Supporting growth in South-East Europe: Financial reporting and auditing play a critical role

2012-05-31T15:55:10.000Z

World Bank conference convenes ministers and senior officials in Vienna

VIENNA, May 31, 2012 – Ministers and senior officials from seven countries of South-East Europe and Moldova, participating in the Road to Europe - Program of Accounting Reform and Institutional Strengthening (REPARIS), as well as representatives from the EU, other European countries and international bodies, gathered in Vienna for the third REPARIS Ministerial Conference on 31 May.

Participating ministers and senior officials reviewed the progress that their countries have made in enhancing their financial reporting systems and aligning them with EU legislation.

As part of their efforts to support economic growth and to integrate more closely with the EU, most countries in the program have introduced new accounting laws. Countries are also strengthening their educational systems as well as the capacity of their accounting professions. Several countries are now moving to the next stage of reform by setting up the systems of public oversight and quality control that are needed to ensure that the new accounting rules are implemented consistently and reliably in practice.

The ministers and senior officials discussed how improved financial reporting helps reduce the barriers to business investment, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), thus helping to boost competitiveness and economic growth. They also discussed what further measures with regard to the EU’s new accounting directive (including special provisions for microenterprises), audit oversight and quality assurance need to be taken and how REPARIS can help them implement financial reporting reform.

In his opening address to the conference, World Bank Vice President for Europe and Central Asia, Philippe Le Houerou, acknowledged that the financial crisis had left the countries of Europe and Central Asia with higher levels of public debt, weakened financial sectors, and historically high levels of unemployment. The crisis unveiled weaknesses that called for deep structural reforms. In response to these challenges, one of the main pillars of the World Bank´s strategy has been support for reforms to improve competitiveness.

“Good public and corporate governance is not a luxury, but a necessity for sustainable growth. The work of REPARIS on financial reporting is critical to the competitiveness agenda. It is also an important aspect of good governance, which requires transparency and integrity both in the public and the private sector”, said Le Houerou

The Governments of Austria, Switzerland and Luxembourg are the main supporters of REPARIS.

“One program cannot tackle all the challenges we are facing. It must be selective to use its limited resources most effectively to deliver upon its agreed objectives. REPARIS is able to achieve just that. REPARIS helps to build and strengthen institutions to make the financial system more stable and to create a business climate conducive to promote growth and employment.”, highlighted Andreas Schieder, State Secretary in the Austrian Ministry of Finance in his opening remarks.

Ms. Biljana Šćekić, Deputy Minister of Finance of Montenegro, underlined the following: “Montenegro has been a part of the REPARIS program from its very beginning, and as a candidate country of the European Union, we are serious about completing our Accounting and Audit Reform journey.

This is important […] to deliver a climate that will enable our small young country to compete for investment and jobs in the new reality that is the Europe of today.”

Gerhard Schumann-Hitzler, Director, Financial Instruments and Regional Programmes at the European Commission’s Directorate General for Enlargement emphasized the importance of regional initiatives like REPARIS in improving the business environment, especially for SMEs, in the countries of the Western Balkans.

The conference was organized as part of the REPARIS program, which supports the efforts of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, FYR Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro and Serbia to introduce effective and EU-compliant systems of financial reporting. REPARIS was launched in 2009 for a period of five years. The program is managed by the World Bank Centre for Financial Reporting Reform (CFRR), based in Vienna.

On the occasion of the Ministerial Conference, the CFRR is organizing in Vienna three technical workshops covering key aspects of the corporate financial reporting agenda relevant to policymakers, financial regulators, and professional accountancy organizations in the REPARIS countries.

World Bank Increases Transparency through Inaugural Publication of Sanctions Board Decisions

2012-05-30T13:30:00.000Z

Milestone in anti-corruption agenda unmatched by any other IFI

WASHINGTON, May 30, 2012 - Marking another advance in openness and accountability in its anti-corruption work, the World Bank Group today published for the first time a set of decisions issued by the World Bank Group’s Sanctions Board in cases of alleged fraud and corruption.

"The World Bank Group takes a hard line against corruption, and we believe that greater transparency must be part of that effort,” said World Bank Managing Director Sri Mulyani Indrawati. “By publishing Sanctions Board decisions, we are making all parties involved in the sanctions process more accountable. This move should deepen the deterrent effect of debarments and enhance the educational value of the Sanctions Board’s findings."

The first published decisions were announced at a panel discussion hosted by the World Bank Group Sanctions Board Secretariat to take stock of recent developments and consider ongoing challenges for the Bank Group’s sanctions system. At the discussion, the Bank Group also announced the appointment of two new Sanctions Board members: Mr. Yves Fortier, an international arbitrator and former Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations, who will serve as Chair of the Sanctions Board; and Ms. Catherine O’Regan, President of the International Monetary Fund Administrative Tribunal and former Judge of the South African Constitutional Court.

The Sanctions Board, an independent administrative tribunal with a majority of external members, serves as final decision-maker in all contested sanctions cases. Decisions are taken based on an adversarial process that includes written arguments and evidence and, where requested, an administrative hearing. More than 530 firms and individuals have been sanctioned by the World Bank Group for fraud, corruption and collusion since the sanctions system was established in 1999. Most of these sanctions have been in the form of debarments, where firms or individuals are rendered ineligible to participate in Bank Group-financed operations.

From December 2011, the Sanctions Board Law Digest has made publicly available summaries of past cases and the legal principles applied over time. The publication of full Sanctions Board decisions goes a step further and creates an unprecedented level of transparency by presenting the Sanctions Board’s detailed review of each new appeal to determine whether misconduct occurred and if so, what sanctions should apply.

"Publication of our decisions furthers the Sanctions Board's goal to fight fraud and corruption through the rule of law," said Fathi Kemicha, the first external Chair of the Sanctions Board. "Parties that come before the Sanctions Board, as well as our partners in the international community, will now have a more robust understanding of our process, case law, and careful examination of each case."

The decisions published today can be accessed on the World Bank’s external website, and explain the rationale for sanctions imposed in eight cases recently considered by the Sanctions Board:

· Sanctions Board Decision No. 46 (Sanctions Case No. 151): Income Electrix Limited debarred for six months for fraud.

· Sanctions Board Decision No. 47 (Sanctions Case No. 121): M/s. Concept Pharmaceuticals Limited debarred for fraud, with conditional release after three years.

· Sanctions Board Decision No. 48 (Sanctions Case No. 118): Zhonghao Overseas Construction Eng. Co., Ltd. debarred for two years for fraud, with conditional early release after one year.

· Sanctions Board Decision No. 49 (Sanctions Case No. 130): De Lorenzo of America, Corp., S.A. de C.V., and its affiliate Marketing Enterprises Latin America, LLC., each debarred for fraud, with conditional release after two years.

· Sanctions Board Decision No. 50 (Sanctions Case No. 117): ASDECON Corporation Company Limited debarred for corrupt practices, with conditional release after five years.

· Sanctions Board Decision No. 51 (Sanctions Case No. 145 and Sanctions Case No. 146):

- Sanctions Case No. 145: General Consulting Training (GCT) and Mr. Ali Safi each debarred for one year for fraud.

- Sanctions Case No. 146: TEAM Engineering & Management Consultants (TEAM) debarred for fraud, with conditional release after two years.

· Sanctions Board Decision No. 52 (Sanctions Case No. 134): Contransimex Nigeria Limited debarred for fraud, with conditional release after two years.

All sanctions are reflected on the World Bank Listing of Ineligible Firms & Individuals (www.worldbank.org/debarr).

For more information, please visit: www.worldbank.org/sanctions

Contacts:

In Washington: David Theis, (202) 458-8626, dtheis@worldbank.org;

For Broadcast Requests: Natalia Cieslik, (202) 458-9369, ncieslik@worldbank.org

New Initiatives Give Hope to a Carbon Market Facing Challenges

2012-05-30T12:30:00.000Z

World Bank releases State and Trends of the Carbon Market report 2012

COLOGNE, GERMANY, May 30, 2012 – The total value of the carbon market grew by 11 percent in 2011, to $176 billion, and transaction volumes reached a new high of 10.3 billion tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) according to a new report from the World Bank.

According to State and Trends of the Carbon Market 2012 this growth took place in the face of economic turbulence, growing long-term oversupply in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) and plummeting carbon prices.

The report, released here at the Carbon Expo in Cologne, describes how even as prices declined, the value of the global carbon market increased in 2011, driven predominantly by a robust growth in financially motivated transactions. By far, the largest segment of the carbon market was that of EU Allowances (EUAs), valued at $148 billion. There was also a substantial increase in the volume of secondary Kyoto offsets (which grew by 43 percent, to 1.8 billion tons of CO₂e, valued at US$23 billion) fueled by increased liquidity in the Certified Emission Reduction (CER) market and in the nascent secondary Emission Reduction Unit (ERU) market. Following the same pattern observed in previous years, the global carbon market in 2011 was primarily driven by the EU ETS.

With the end of the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol in 2012, the value of the pre-2013 primary CER, ERU and AAU markets declined once again in 2011. Not surprisingly, however, the market is starting to look beyond 2012 and consequently the post-2012 primary CDM market increased by a robust 63 percent, to US$2 billion, despite depressed prices and limited long-term-visibility. Although China remained the largest source of contracted CERs, African countries – largely bypassed in the pre-2013 market – emerged stronger in 2011 and accounted for 21 percent of post-2012 CERs contracted during the year.

Against this backdrop, several new domestic and regional carbon market initiatives gained traction in both developed and developing economies in 2011. Five new jurisdictions passed legislation adopting cap-and-trade schemes.

“It is heartening to see that, while leading economies continue to experience difficulties and the carbon market faces major challenges, we see increasing interest in, and support for, new market-based mechanisms to mitigate climate change in the long term,” said Joëlle Chassard, Manager of the Carbon Finance Unit of the World Bank.

The Australian Parliament passed the Clean Energy Act, the California Air Resources Board adopted a cap-and-trade regulation, and Québec adopted its own cap-and-trade program. The province is now working toward linking it with California’s starting in 2013. Last month, both Mexico and the Republic of Korea passed comprehensive climate bills, laying the foundation for future market-based mechanisms.

“Together, these initiatives will drive substantial resources towards low-carbon investments and they have the potential to unleash a truly transformational carbon market, in support of a global solution to the climate challenge,” said Alexandre Kossoy, Senior Financial Specialist, World Bank Carbon Finance Unit.

Contacts:

In Cologne: Isabel Hagbrink, +1 202 458 0422, ihagbrink@worldbank.org

In Washington DC: Elisabeth Mealey, +1 202 458 4475, emealey@worldbank.org

For an electronic version of the report and more information on the Carbon Finance Unit and its carbon funds, please see: www.carbonfinance.org

Turkey Discusses “Growing Green” The Economic Benefits of Environmental Policies

2012-05-30T12:08:57.000Z

News Release
2012/TR/12

ANKARA, MAY 30, 2012 – The Ministry of Development and the World Bank are hosting an International Conference on the opportunities and challenges of green growth. The one-day Conference comes only weeks before the Rio+20 Earth Summit. Participants are hearing from high ranking Turkish officials and international guests on their strategies and implementation experiences to date in greening economic development. Minister of Development Cevdet Yılmaz is attending the Conference.

In his opening remarks, Martin Raiser Country Director of the World Bank in Turkey said: “Around the world, countries are looking for ways to make economic growth compatible with environmental sustainability and social inclusion. Turkey has experienced impressive economic progress over the past decade and has introduced progressive environmental regulations, driven by the ultimate objective of compliance with the European Acquis. Today we have a chance to review to what extent ‘growing green’ presents Turkey and other middle income countries with new opportunities for jobs and wealth creation.”

Greening the developmental trajectory aims to attain a balance between economic growth, social inclusion and environmental sustainability. During the course of the Conference, many national and international experts on this subject will look into the need to have inclusive green growth – growth that is efficient in its use of natural resources, clean in that it minimizes pollution and environmental impacts, and inclusive for the population. Specific experiences from Asian countries such as China and South Korea will be shared by senior experts. The role of Energy Efficiency in Green Growth as well as addressing the Social Impacts of Green Growth Policies will also be discussed.

The International Conference in Turkey is the first in a series of discussions on green growth and climate action sponsored by the World Bank in the Europe and Central Asia Region.

Contacts:
In Ankara, (312) 4598300, tcelasin@worldbank.org

For more information, please visit: www.worldbank.org.tr
Visit us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/worldbank
Be updated via Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/worldbank
For our YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/worldbank

The project Secondary Education Project has changed to Closed

2012-05-02T04:00:00.000Z

The project Secondary Education Project has changed to Closed. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The Secondary Education Project for Turkey aims at improving the quality, economic relevance, and equity of secondary education to support lifelong learning. The project has the following two components: Component 1) Secondary Education Programs: will revise and implement new general education and vocational education curriculum programs to provide students with core skills for the knowledge economy and lifelong learning. Information and Communications Technology (ICT): will provide ICT training as a core competency for youth to function in a modern knowledge economy. Career Guidance and Counseling: will provide youth and adults with access to career information and guidance services to promote informed career choices and related education and training decisions, and facilitate lifelong learning. Component 2) Student Assessment and Evaluation: will improve the quality and outcomes of secondary education by developing systems to collect and disseminate reliable information on student learning and outcomes, and on the performance of the education system staff and institutions, and to use information from these assessments to improve system performance and student outcomes. School Development: will help secondary schools staff, parents, and students improve the performance and outcomes, educational achievement, and quality in education through school development activities to be designed and implemented within the school development process. Project Management: will ensure effective administration and coordination of the overall project.

The project Access to Finance for SMEs - Second Additional Financing has changed to Closed

2012-04-25T04:00:00.000Z

The project Access to Finance for SMEs - Second Additional Financing has changed to Closed. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The objective of the Additional Financing for the Access to Finance for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Project is to 'to increase Turkish SME access to medium-term finance'. It will scale-up SME financing not only during the implementation period (2008-2012), but also beyond that period as the Borrower will use the reflows repaid from the initial sub-borrowers to finance new investments before the funds are returned to the World Bank. Such expanded financing responds in particular to the financing constrains due to the impact of the global crisis. The project is being successfully implemented and has proven effective in achieving its objectives by providing financing for over 435 small and medium firms so. The loans are well dispersed both sectorally and geographically. SMEs representing more than twenty sectors from varied areas such as printing, plastic processing, solar energy, tourism, and food processing have utilized funds from the project. The geographical coverage extends to most parts of Turkey with an emphasis on underserved areas. The additional financing for Halkbank is expected to enable further expansion of the sectors covered and broaden the coverage of the project. Such expansion of access to finance for SMEs is especially important during the time of constrained financing due to the impact of the global economic crisis.

The project Access to Finance for SMEs - Additional Financing has changed to Closed

2012-04-25T04:00:00.000Z

The project Access to Finance for SMEs - Additional Financing has changed to Closed. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

This project paper concern to provide an additional loan to Halkbank guaranteed by the Republic of Turkey for the Access to Finance for Small and Medium Enterprises Project, which is being successfully implemented. The additional financing will scale-up the project's impact and development effectiveness and continue to support the project's development objectives to increase Turkish small and medium enterprises (SME) access to medium-term finance'. It will scale-up the achievements of the original project not only during the implementation period (2008-2012), but also beyond that period as the Borrower will use the reflows repaid from the initial sub-borrowers to finance new investments before the funds are returned to the World Bank. In addition, given the reduced financing available as a result of the current crisis, the additional financing will ensure continued access to finance for SMEs.

The project SME ENERGY EFFICIENCY is now in the pipeline.

2012-03-15T04:00:00.000Z

The project SME ENERGY EFFICIENCY is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The project PMR TURKEY is now in the pipeline.

2011-12-15T05:00:00.000Z

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

The project Private Sector Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Additional Financing is now in the pipeline.

2011-11-30T05:00:00.000Z

The project Private Sector Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Additional Financing is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The objective of the Private Sector Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Project is to help increase privately owned and operated energy production from indigenous renewable sources within the market-based framework of the Turkish Electricity Market Law, enhance energy efficiency, and thereby help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This project paper seeks the approval of the Executive Directors of the World Bank to provide an additional loan in the amount of US$500 million equivalent to Turkiye S?nai Kalk?nma Bankas? (TSKB) and to Turkiye Kalk?nma Bankas? (TKB), guaranteed by the Republic of Turkey, for the project The additional loan would help finance the costs associated with scaled-up activities to enhance the positive impact of the project. TKB and TSKB, the two Financial Intermediaries (FI) under the project, have disbursed almost the entire original loan amounts, and more than 80 percent of the Clean Technology Fund (CTF) allocation, and are in need of resources to meet the additional demand for both renewable energy (RE) and energy efficiency (EE) investments. The development objective and implementation arrangements will remain the same as under the original project. Other changes to the original project, have been made as follows: 1) updates of the project operational manuals to revise the thresholds and eligibility criteria for RE and EE investments; 2) amendment of the project results framework to account for scaled-up activities, and 3) addition of four river basins to the list of eligible basins. The closing date for the additional loan will be December 31, 2016.

The project Environmental Sustainability and Energy Sector (ESES) DPL3 is now in the pipeline.

2011-06-15T04:00:00.000Z

The project Environmental Sustainability and Energy Sector (ESES) DPL3 is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The project ISMEP - ADDITIONAL FINANCING is now in the pipeline.

2011-06-15T04:00:00.000Z

The project ISMEP - ADDITIONAL FINANCING is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The objective of the Additional Financing for the Istanbul Seismic Risk Mitigation and Emergency Preparedness Project for Turkey is to assist the Borrower improve the city of Istanbul's preparedness for a potential earthquake, through enhancing the institutional and technical capacity for disaster management and emergency response, strengthening critical public facilities for earthquake resistance, and supporting measures for better enforcement of building codes. The additional loan provides the opportunity for the Istanbul Special Provincial Administration (ISPA) to accelerate implementation of urgent and high priority seismic retrofitting of key public buildings such as schools and hospitals. The following additional adjustments to the project will also be made: a) a further extension of the closing date of the original loan by 12 months until December 31, 2012, in order for additional retrofitting contracts initiated under the original loan to be completed; b) reallocation of proceeds under the original loan; c) amendment of the project results framework; and d) revision of the procurement plan and national competitive bidding threshold for works.

Turkey | World Bank

Turkey - Performance based contracting scheme in family medicine : design and achievements

Micro dynamics of Turkey's export boom in the 2000s

Turkey - Municipal Services Project : P081880 - Implementation Status Results Report : Sequence 12

Resettlement policy framework

The project Renewable Energy Integration is now in the pipeline.

Project Information Document (Concept Stage) - Renewable Energy Integration - P144534

Turkey - Nutrition at a glance

Sample guidelines : cumulative environmental impact assessment for hydropower projects in Turkey

Turkey - Strengthening the Public Internal Audit Function : P128662 - Implementation Status Results Report : Sequence 01

Project Information Document (Appraisal Stage) - TR Third Access to Finance for SMEs (SME III) - P130864

The project Gas Sector Development Additional Financing is now in the pipeline.

Health equity and financial protection datasheet : Turkey

Integrated Safeguards Data Sheet (Appraisal Stage) - TR Third Access to Finance for SMEs (SME III) - P130864

Official Documents- Amendment to the Loan Agreement for Loan 7537-TR

Official Documents- Supplemental Letter Ref. Financial Data for Loan 7537-TR

Turkey - Third access to finance for Small and Medium Enterprises Project : environmental assessment

PPIAF assistance in Turkey

Turkey - Project in Support of Restructuring of Health Sector : P102172 - Implementation Status Results Report : Sequence 07

The project Turkey SME Energy Efficiency Project is now in the pipeline.

The project SME ENERGY EFFICIENCY has changed to Active

Integrated Safeguards Data Sheet (Concept Stage) - Renewable Energy Integration - P144534

Turkey - Comercializing sustainable energy finance program : case study

Turkey - Land Registry and Cadastre Modernization Project : procurement plan

Turkey-Competitiveness and Savings Development Policy Loan (CSDPL)

The project TR Third Access to Finance for SMEs (SME III) is now in the pipeline.

Economy Will Improve in 2013, says World Bank in Latest Forecast

The project Electricity Distribution Rehabilitation Project has changed to Closed

Turkish Minister of Development Cevdet YILMAZ: “Turkey will lend an ear to the calls made in the report ‘Turn Down the Heat’"

Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Bullish on International Climate Finance to Boost Investments in Clean Energy

Turkish Photographer Wins 2012 CGAP Photo Contest

Doing Business 2013 Annual Report- Turkey Findings

Crossing Boundaries

The project EU/IPA Energy Sector Technical Assistance Project is now in the pipeline.

The project PMR TURKEY has changed to Pipeline

In Turkey: New Jobs for a New Economy

In Turkey: Boosting Growth Depends on Boosting Savings

In Turkey: Citizens' Report Card

The project Anatolia Watershed Rehabilitation Project has changed to Closed

The project Railways Restructuring Project has changed to Closed

Zoellick to Join Harvard’s Belfer Center, Peterson Institute

The project Environmental Sustainability and Energy Sector (ESES) DPL3 has changed to Closed

Innovative Fund to Boost Food Security and Farmer Livelihoods is Launched

Global Mobility Unaffected by Financial Crisis, as Remittances Remained Resilient

WB Urges Developing Countries to Strengthen Domestic Fundamentals, to Weather Global Economic Turmoil

Globalization: Made in the Americas

Cities to Face Sharply Rising Costs for Garbage Treatment

The project Anatolia Watershed Rehabiliation GEF Project (Black Sea) has changed to Closed

World Bank Group Unveils New Focus on ‘Green, Clean, Resilient’ Development

Supporting growth in South-East Europe: Financial reporting and auditing play a critical role

World Bank Increases Transparency through Inaugural Publication of Sanctions Board Decisions

New Initiatives Give Hope to a Carbon Market Facing Challenges

Turkey Discusses “Growing Green” The Economic Benefits of Environmental Policies

The project Secondary Education Project has changed to Closed

The project Access to Finance for SMEs - Second Additional Financing has changed to Closed

The project Access to Finance for SMEs - Additional Financing has changed to Closed

The project SME ENERGY EFFICIENCY is now in the pipeline.

The project PMR TURKEY is now in the pipeline.

The project Private Sector Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Additional Financing is now in the pipeline.

The project Environmental Sustainability and Energy Sector (ESES) DPL3 is now in the pipeline.

The project ISMEP - ADDITIONAL FINANCING is now in the pipeline.

The project Turkey SME　Energy Efficiency Project is now in the pipeline.