This book, arising from over twenty years experience of working with the world's major faiths, draws extensively upon joint World Bank and ARC (Alliance of Religion and Conservation)/WWF (World Wildlife Fund for Nature) projects world wide. It shows, through stories, land management, myths, investment policies, legends, advocacy and celebration, the role the major faiths have, do and can play in making the world a better place. The major faiths are the oldest institutions in the world and have survived essentially because they are constantly evolving and changing. There is much to be learnt...

Many countries have undertaken public administration reform projects over the last ten to fifteen years. This book analyzes the experiences and outcomes of these reforms. The analysis starts with 'what was broken'; and then moves on to assess what reformers actually did and what they achieved and why reformers faced with similar problems in different countries in fact did very different things. The conclusion is that the level and type of reform activity was determined primarily by the degree of traction available to reformers--the leverage available to reformers and the malleability of basic...

Building Market Institutions in South Eastern Europe - a study of impediments to investment and private sector development in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Moldova, Romania, and Serbia and Montenegro - yields fundamentally new insights for improving the region's business environment, economic development, and prospects for growth. It focuses on four core topics: - Business competition and economic barriers to entry and exit - Access to regulated utilities and services - Corporate ownership, transparency of business accounts, and...

Ante la explosion demografica de las ciudades de los paises en desarrollo, el control de la gestion urbana se ha vuelto aun mas dificil debido a que las colectividades locales, a menudo no pudieron dotarse de los medios necesarios para hacer frente al crecimiento de la poblacion. En este contexto, los sistemas de identificacion de las vias y las construcciones no han seguido el ritmo de la urbanizacion, y en muchos paises la mayoria de calles no tienen ni nombre ni direccion, principalmente en los barrios mas pobres, produciendose asi una situacion preocupante para el funcionamiento de los...

The urbanization of Latin America has also lead to the urbanization of its poor. Today about half of the region's poor live in cities. Yet the phenomenon of urban poverty is not one that is well studied or well understood and policy makers across Latin America are increasingly interested in policy advice on how to design programs and policies to tackle poverty. 'Urban Poor in Latin America' argues that the causes of poverty, the nature of deprivation, and the policy levers to fight poverty are to a large extent site-specific. As such, the book looks at strategies to assist the urban poor in...

The Niger River Basin, home to 100 million people, is a vital yet complex asset for West and Central Africa. It is the continent's third largest river basin, traversing nine countries Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Niger, and Nigeria. The River embodies both these nations' livelihoods and their geopolitics. It is not simply water but rather an origin of identity, a route for migration and commerce, a source of conflict, and a catalyst for cooperation. Cooperation among decision-makers and users is crucial to address the threats to water resources. The Niger...

Persistent malnutrition is contributing not only to widespread failure to meet the first MDG to halve poverty and hunger but to meet other goals in maternal and child health, HIV/AIDS, education, and gender equity. The choice is now between continuing to fail, or to finally make nutrition central to development. Underweight prevalence among children is the key indicator for measuring progress on non-income poverty and malnutrition remains the world's most serious health problem and the single biggest contributor to child mortality. Nearly a third of children in the developing world are either...

'This study provides a balanced and serious evaluation of the trade and development challenges facing Central America in the next decade, especially those associated with DR-CAFTA. And there is a sobering and timely message within these pages. DR-CAFTA offers great opportunity, but it is no magic potion. Capitalizing on the opportunities andd mitigating the costs depends critically on the success by the Central Americans in developing an effective domestic agenda and handling the ensuing economic and social restructuring. The study provides useful guidance toward this objective, including how...

In order to face the challenge of disappointing returns on public investment in irrigation and drainage, new solutions have emerged. These solutions are based on widely available technology and new management and governance options. The main message of 'Re-engaging in Agricultural Water Management' is that the irrigation and drainage sector should not continue to be dealt with as a standalone sector, but should be integrated into a broader perspective, one that embraces the objectives of productivity growth, poverty reduction, natural resources management and environmental protection.

This book contains a wealth of information and analysis relating to mineral royalties. Primary information includes royalty legislation from over forty nations. Analysis is comprehensive and addresses issues of importance to diverse stakeholders including government policymakers, tax administrators, society, local communities and mining companies. Extensive footnotes and citations provide a valuable resource for researchers.