Economics & Development

This methodological note presents the updated framework for measuring poverty in Tajikistan, developed through collaboration between the Government of Tajikistan and the World Bank following the modernization of the national Household Budget Survey (HBS). The report explains the methodology used to estimate welfare, establish national and extreme poverty lines, and measure poverty using internationally recognized standards adapted to Tajikistan’s economic and demographic context. Key methodological innovations include the use of household consumption per adult male equivalent, spatial and temporal price adjustments, caloric-based equivalence scales, and the Cost of Basic Needs (CBN) approach for deriving poverty thresholds. The note also documents the modernization of the HBS, including improvements to survey design, sampling, and data collection methods, and evaluates the robustness of poverty estimates through extensive sensitivity analyses. Using HBS 2021 data, the methodology estimates a national poverty rate of 25.62 percent and an extreme poverty rate of 9.44 percent, while highlighting significant regional and rural-urban disparities. The report provides a transparent and evidence-based foundation for poverty monitoring, policy formulation, and future assessments of living standards in Tajikistan.

On May 29, 2026, the Executive Directors approved, on an absence-of-objection basis, the Rules for the 2026 Regular Election of Bank Executive Directors as set out in document R2026-0125 dated May 20, 2026, thereby establishing the procedures governing the upcoming regular election of Bank Executive Directors; the document also notes that its distribution is restricted for official use only in accordance with World Bank Group authorization protocols.

BlueTech Knowledge resources have designed and developed by the World Bank as part of the deliverables for the Global Biodiversity Data and Analytics Project, P179309 financed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Medium-Sized Project (MSP) and the ProBLUE Trust Fund. The objective was to develop innovative resources for facilitating learning, discussion, and outreach on the changing technology for the Blue Economy.

Digital Trade Regulatory Readiness database spreadsheet.

Ratings of the Strategic Irrigation Modernization and Urgent Rehabilitation Project for Indonesia were as follows: outcome was satisfactory; Bank performance was moderately satisfactory; monitoring and evaluation quality was substantial. Lessons and recommendations are as follows. Irrigation modernization works best when infrastructure, institutional development, accountable monitoring, and participatory irrigation management are integrated and carefully sequenced; future operations should ensure pre-appraisal technical readiness so that service agreements, farmer engagement, and digital tools are launched once reliable water delivery is in place. Ownership and continuous farmer participation are critical to sustain reforms; participation strategies should be tailored to local social dynamics and land tenure, supported by early awareness campaigns and targeted capacity building for Water Users Associations and their federations. Cross-ministerial designs can generate strong synergies but require streamlined coordination; future projects should establish simplified frameworks with clear roles, harmonized planning cycles, high-level steering committees with decision authority, joint secretariats, memorandums of understanding, and continuity mechanisms to mitigate turnover. Pairing advanced digital monitoring and independent validation with outcome-focused indicators strengthens accountability; irrigation projects should complement satellite and supervisory control tools with indicators that directly measure service delivery quality, including farmer satisfaction and system performance such as the Irrigation Performance Index (IKSI). Embedding dam safety from the design stage is essential; projects should integrate dedicated expertise, clear accountability, defined requirements from preparation, and specific budget and staffing to conduct timely independent assessments and implement any remedial measures.