Economics & Development

Ratings of the Emergency Medical Services Project for Uzbekistan were as follows: outcome was satisfactory; Bank performance was moderately satisfactory; monitoring and evaluation quality was modest. Lessons and recommendations are as follows. Clarify dispatch governance early by defining institutional hosting, operational authority, and data ownership for call intake and dispatch functions at project design, using Uzbekistan’s model as a reference, to avoid later delays. During institutional transitions, intensify engagement across government levels to sustain reform momentum and build buy-in, treating leadership changes as opportunities to re-anchor ownership rather than risks to be endured. Sequence physical investments with enabling regulatory and governance reforms so that clinical protocols, referral rules, and training are adopted before equipment and technology arrive, ensuring rapid operational use. Anticipate data interoperability and data governance at design by specifying data standards, interfaces, ownership, quality assurance, and cross-system reconciliation as requirements for all digital components, and fund a dedicated data governance function from effectiveness. Treat procurement in multi-agency approval environments as a core risk by mapping each clearance step, setting realistic timelines, and adopting mitigations such as early bid document support, pre-agreed interagency protocols, and use of framework or partner-facilitated procurement for complex equipment. Strengthen fiduciary supervision of major equipment contracts through milestone-based management that covers delivery, installation, and user training, with explicit remedies for non-performance—including performance security calls and referral to the Integrity Vice Presidency—applied in a timely manner rather than relying on closing date extensions.

Анализ пробелов в готовности к кризисам (CPGA) был подготовлен межотраслевой группой экспертов Всемирного банка. Целями CPGA является: (a) проведение общей оценки готовности к различным типам потрясений на высоком уровне; (b) выявление пробелов и возможностей для повышения готовности к кризисам на страновом уровне; (c) информационное обеспечение диалога по вопросам политики, а также предоставление технической и финансовой поддержки по обеспечению готовности к кризисам в рамках страновых и региональных программ. Определяя приоритетные мероприятия, CPGA может стать полезным инструментом для разработки концепций партнерства со странами (КПС) и страновых программ в целом. В данном Техническом отчете представлены подробные результаты работы ЦПС в Кыргызской Республике. CPGA представляет собой независимую от шока оценку потенциала Кыргызской Республики по преодолению кризисных явлений в целом ряде основных систем, независимо от того, вызваны ли они стихийными бедствиями, отсутствием продовольственной безопасности, вспышками заболеваний или иными угрозами. После краткого описания методологии CPGA и обзора контекста рисков в Кыргызской Республике в настоящей записке представлены выводы высокого уровня из оценки готовности в стране с акцентом на отправные точки и возможности для укрепления готовности к кризисам. ЦПС может служить важным аналитическим вкладом в диалог с Правительством Кыргызской Республики (Правительство КР). Для обеспечения целостной оценки CPGA анализирует готовность к кризисам по пяти основным компонентам, которые можно рассматривать как важнейшую основу готовности к кризисам - актуальным в большинстве контекстов и полезным для подготовки к различным потрясениям. Существует пять уровней зрелости, в диапазоне от 0 как недостигнутый (практически ничего не было сделано для активного содействия обеспечению готовности к кризисам) до 4 как продвинутый (обычно отражающий статус регионального лидера в области обеспечения готовности к кризисам с комплексным и межотраслевым подходом, требующим значительных ресурсов и потенциала). Основное внимание в CPGA уделяется определению отправных точек для целевой технической и финансовой поддержки в целях укрепления готовности к кризисам во всех пяти компонентах.

The analysis draws primarily on the World Bank report Warm Homes, Cold Realities: Housing Conditions and Energy Vulnerability in the European Union (2026), which examines housing and energy poverty patterns across the 4CEE countries using EU-SILC data, including the 2023 special module on energy efficiency of the household, alongside data from the Life in Transition Survey (LiTS) and Eurostat indicators. The note is complemented by Croatian national policy documents and programs, including renovation and energy poverty initiatives led by the Ministry of Physical Planning, Construction, and Housing, the Ombudswoman's Annual Report for 2024, the OECD Economic Survey of Croatia 2026, and the European Commission's European Affordable Housing Plan (2025). The note is structured as follows: Section 2 examines housing tenure patterns and affordability challenges in Croatia relative to its regional peers and the broader EU; Section 3 assesses housing conditions, renovation gaps, and energy efficiency; Section 4 analyzes energy poverty and household energy vulnerability; Section 5 reviews Croatia's renovation programs and evolving policy framework; and Section 6 presents prioritized policy recommendations.

Ce rapport présente la mise à jour économique 2026 pour le Burkina Faso et examine les performances économiques récentes, les tendances de la pauvreté et le rôle de la participation économique des femmes dans la promotion d’une croissance inclusive. L’économie du Burkina Faso a connu une croissance estimée à 5,3 % en 2025, soutenue par une forte production agricole, une amélioration des conditions de sécurité, une reprise des activités minières et une croissance des services. L’inflation est tombée à -0,5 %, les taux de pauvreté ont fortement diminué, le déficit budgétaire s’est réduit à 1,8 % du PIB, et le compte courant a enregistré un excédent dû à des exportations d’or plus élevées et à la baisse des prix du pétrole. Cependant, des risques subsistent liés à l’insécurité, aux chocs climatiques et à la hausse des coûts mondiaux de l’énergie liés au conflit au Moyen-Orient. La croissance est prévue à 4,9 % en 2026, avec une inflation attendue pour revenir à des niveaux positifs. Ce chapitre spécial met en lumière les disparités persistantes entre les sexes qui limitent les opportunités économiques des femmes. Malgré des progrès dans l’éducation des filles et la santé maternelle, les femmes continuent de faire face à des taux d’emploi plus faibles, à une plus grande informalité, à un accès limité à la terre et aux finances, à des charges de soins non rémunérées élevées et à des salaires inférieurs à ceux des hommes. Le rapport soutient que réduire les écarts entre les sexes par des investissements dans l’éducation, le développement des compétences, l’inclusion financière, les services de santé, la garde d’enfants, les droits fonciers et la protection contre la violence basée sur le genre augmenterait la productivité, réduirait la pauvreté et soutiendrait une croissance économique plus résiliente et inclusive.

Desde o primeiro dia de suas carreiras docentes, todo professor deve possuir os conhecimentos e as competências essenciais para o ensino, juntamente com uma forte identidade profissional. Essas qualidades aumentam a eficácia da educação, resultando em melhores resultados de aprendizagem básica. A formação inicial de professores (ITE) constitui a base do aprendizado profissional ao longo da vida, fornecendo os conhecimentos e as competências essenciais para o ensino, bem como uma identidade profissional sólida. Globalmente, os programas de formação inicial de professores baseados em instituições (em faculdades de formação de professores ou universidades) são o caminho mais comum para se tornar professor. O fortalecimento da qualidade desses programas institucionais por meio de investimentos sustentados é essencial para que todos os países garantam um fluxo contínuo de professores bem preparados.

Promoting competitive markets is fundamental to achieving inclusive growth and broad-based welfare gains. Competition enhances efficiency, drives innovation, and fosters productivity growth. It also amplifies the impact of complementary policies—from trade liberalization to industrial and labor reforms, while supporting consumer welfare, job creation, and poverty reduction. This note summarizes empirical evidence on how competition and competition reforms can shape dynamic and resilient economies, particularly in developing country contexts.

This policy note assesses Morocco’s readiness to compete in the digital economy by analyzing real-time labor market data on digital skills demand. It finds that digital hiring surged during the COVID-19 period and has since stabilized, reflecting a maturing digital ecosystem. Demand for digital skills is expanding beyond the ICT sector into industries such as logistics, renewable energy, manufacturing, and finance, highlighting the widespread adoption of digital technologies. While employers emphasize both technical and soft skills, hiring decisions remain primarily driven by concrete technical competencies. Morocco’s current skills base is concentrated in foundational web development, which provides entry into digital jobs but limits competitiveness in higher-value global markets. At the same time, demand for advanced skills, including artificial intelligence, is growing. To fully capitalize on digital transformation, Morocco must align education and training systems with evolving market needs, strengthen advanced and transversal skills, and enhance workforce readiness for global opportunities.

Pension spending in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is often one of the largest and increasing public expenditure items, averaging around 2 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in the early 2000s and currently about 4 percent of GDP. Morocco, Iran, Tunisia, Algeria, Malta, and Jordan already spend more than 5 percent of their GDP on pensions. Expenditures in the social protection (SP) sector in many countries in the region keep being dominated by social insurance and pensions. Basically, pension arrangements represent a growing financial burden on the financial resources of many countries in the region.