Economics & Development

This paper examines how federal science and engineering research funding—although intended to advance research—affects degree production and programs offered in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Using data from 1971–2016, the study implements a triple-difference design that exploits variation across colleges, time, and fields of study. The findings show that federal grants generate 27.4 percent of doctorates and 14.7 percent of undergraduate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics degrees, as well as 6.3 percent of doctoral programs and 3.7 percent of undergraduate programs in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics annually across 200 U.S. research universities. The impacts are concentrated in biology and engineering, aligning with the priorities of major funders such as the Department of Health and Human Services, the National Science Foundation, and the Department of Defense. These findings suggest that research grants to universities may generate a “double dividend,” simultaneously expanding the supply of skilled labor in targeted fields while also advancing scientific discovery.

Digital Eswatini Project for Eswatini has the development objectives to increase access to affordable broadband internet and improve government capacity to deliver digital public services. Component 1: Affordable Broadband will expand access through a sequenced blend of sector reforms and targeted backbone investments. Sub-component 1.1: Eswatini Post and Telecommunications Corporation (EPTC) Stabilization and Reform will support EPTC’s financial stabilization and performance improvements, including transitioning from a legacy defined benefit pension to a defined contribution scheme through payments for pensioners and active members under supervisory oversight, reinforced by performance-based conditions. Sub-component 1.2: National Broadband Market Expansion will build or upgrade open-access, climate-resilient fiber backbone and middle-mile links and connect public institutions such as schools, health centers, government offices, and Tinkhundla Centers; it will competitively procure last-mile connectivity packages, including public wireless hotspots and devices, operated by licensed network operators including EPTC and Eswatini Electricity Company (EEC), consistent with green ICT standards. Sub-component 1.3: Enabling Legal, Regulatory and Institutional ICT Environment will provide technical assistance and capacity building to the Eswatini Communications Commission (ESCCOM) and the Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology (MICT) to revise the Communications Act, implement open-access and infrastructure sharing guidelines, establish a price glide path for wholesale services, and strengthen market oversight. Component 2: Government in Your Hand will accelerate secure, inclusive, user-centric digital service delivery anchored in interoperable platforms. Sub-component 2.1: Developing Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) will strengthen whole-of-government coordination and deliver foundational building blocks, including upgraded biometric civil registration and digital identification with authentication and verifiable credentials; trust services; operationalization of a national Cybersecurity Incident Response Team (CIRT) and a Security and Network Operations Center; implementation of the Data Protection Act through a compliance platform and sector guidelines; a government data governance and interoperability framework with a shared data exchange; and a whole-of-government e-payment gateway integrated with the e-services portal. Sub-component 2.2: Digitalization of Priority Government Services will redesign the e-services portal for multichannel access (web, mobile, USSD or SMS), integrate with digital ID and payments, digitize legacy records, reengineer processes, and deploy ICT equipment to deliver end-to-end digital services in Education, Health, Home Affairs, and Commerce, complemented by change management, outreach, and capacity reinforcement for the Royal Science and Technology Park (RSTP). Sub-component 2.3: Developing Digital Skills will scale digital literacy and advanced skills programs, including scholarships and targeted training with labor market linkages, prioritizing women, youth, and persons with disabilities. Component 3: Project Management and Capacity Building will finance project coordination, fiduciary management, monitoring and evaluation, environmental and social risk management, stakeholder engagement and grievance redress, independent verification of performance-based conditions, procurement and quality assurance, climate adaptation integration in infrastructure roll-out, and training and knowledge exchange to strengthen institutional capacity for sustained delivery.

This technical note aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of Guinea-Bissau’s agriculture sector and its impact on natural resources and proposes sustainable development solutions grounded in agroecological principles and nature-based approaches. The recommendations outlined in this document seek to inform potential investments to enhance agricultural productivity, expand market access, and strengthen climate resilience by leveraging successful examples from the country and other comparable contexts. This note aligns with Guinea-Bissau’s strategic development priorities. These include: (i) the Guinea-Bissau Compact for Agriculture and Food which focuses on sustainably improving productivity and value addition in agriculture, livestock, and aquaculture; (ii) the National Agricultural Investment Plan (PNIA), which prioritizes food crop development (notably rice and horticulture), market access, and livelihood diversification; and (iii) the National Sustainable Development Plan (PNDS), which emphasizes increasing agricultural and livestock productivity through the adoption of improved technologies and practices. This note is intended for a diverse audience, including policymakers, technicians, and the broader development community. It was developed based on literature review, analysis of secondary data, field visits, and interviews with key informants and national stakeholders. The rest of the note is organized as follows: chapter 1 presents introduction. Chapters 2 and 3 provide an overview of the agriculture sector in Guinea-Bissau and its associated farming systems; chapters 4 and 5 outline nature-based solutions at the community and farm levels, as well as options for sustainable access to inputs; and chapter 6 concludes with key recommendations.

On June 8, 2026, the Committee on Governance and Executive Directors Administrative Matters (COGAM) convened in the Board Room to review the FY27 Executive Directors Budget (COGAM2026-0012/1). The committee discussed the budget parameters and related administrative considerations, and prepared a report to the Board summarizing the discussion and conveying recommendations. The meeting adjourned at 11:33 a.m.