Education in Sub-Saharan Africa: Comparing Faith-Inspired, Private Secular, and Public Schools is part of the World Bank Studies series. These papers are published to communicate the results of the Bank's ongoing research and to stimulate public discussion. The purpose of this study is to build a stronger evidence base on the role of faith-inspired, private secular, and public schools in sub-Saharan Africa using nationally representative household surveys as well as qualitative data. Six main fi ndings emerge from the study: 1. Across a sample of 16 countries, the average market share for...

Tajikistan suffers severe energy shortages in winter, caused by a combination of low hydropower output during winter, when river fl ows are low, and high demand driven by heating needs. Shortages affect some 70 percent of the population, costing about 3 percent of annual GDP. This fi gure excludes human and environmental costs, as well as the serious negative effect on the business investment climate. If no measures are undertaken to address this problem, then current electricity shortages, estimated at about one-quarter of winter demand (2,700 GWh), could increase to more than one-third of...

Climate change and migration are major concerns in the MENA region, yet the empirical evidence on the impact of climate change and extreme weather events on migration remains limited. Information is broadly lacking on how households in vulnerable areas perceive changes in the climate, how they are affected by extreme weather events, whether they benefit from community and government programmes to help them cope with and adapt to a changing climate, and how these conditions influence the decision of household members to migrate, either temporarily or permanently. This introductory chapter...

In the wake of the recent global financial crisis and against the backdrop of the ongoing global financial sector reforms, macroprudential policy is being increasingly seen as a "must-do" reform. At the same time, some policy makers are keen on having a better understanding of what it is and how it works before they embark on implementing it. This Guide attempts to meet this need by providing easy-to-comprehend inputs and practical guidance for establishing and operating macroprudential policy framework as appropriate for relevant jurisdictions. While the elements discussed here can be...

Seizure and confiscation of proceeds of crime, and funds intended to finance terrorism, are key objectives of the global initiative to combat money laundering and terrorism financing. The timely identification and immobilization of such funds are critical to permit the action necessary to prevent the flight of illicit assets beyond the reach of national law enforcement and prosecutorial authorities. Among the measures and tools that have been developed is the power for Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs) to order the postponement of transactions involving funds suspected of being related to...

Traditionally piracy has produced sentimental notions of adventure, freedom, and independence. However, piracy is a criminal act and often involves high levels of violence that can have a devastating impact on the victims. 21st Century piracy has evolved into a highly complex system involving a cast of characters, each motivated by a mix of economic and social reasons. While the focus of the international community has been on dealing with piracy through counter piracy operations that include naval, air, and military operations, this book attempts to understand the illicit financial flows...

The Federal Government of Nigeria has adopted Vision 20: 2020--an ambitious strategy to make Nigeria the world's 20th largest economy by 2020. In the absence of policies to accompany economic growth in key carbon-emitting sectors with a reduced carbon footprint, emission of greenhouse gases could more than double in the next two decades. To evaluate how to achieve the objectives of Vision 20: 2020 with reduced carbon emissions, the Federal Government of Nigeria and the World Bank undertook a multiyear program of analytical work. The summary results of this program are contained in a separate...

Reducing the Vulnerability of Uzbekistan's Agricultural Systems to Climate Change: Impact Assessment and Adaptation Options is part of the World Bank Studies series. These papers are published to communicate the results of the Bank's ongoing research and to stimulate public discussion. Agriculture is one of the most climate-sensitive of all economic sectors. Uzbekistan is one of the many countries where the majority of the rural population depends on agriculture--directly or indirectly--for their livelihood. The risks associated with climate change pose an immediate and fundamental problem in...

The 2008 financial crisis has highlighted the challenges associated with global financial integration and emphasized the importance of macro financial linkages. Specifi cally it has shown how the real sector (business cycles) can interact with and be amplifi ed by the fi nancial sector, resulting in high procyclicality and a buildup of systemic risk in the fi nancial sector that manifests itself during economic downturns. Although boom-bust cycles in asset prices and credit were observed prior to the recent global crisis, they did not seriously challenge the prevailing paradigm. In the macro...

Mainland Tanzania exemplifies the developing world's struggle to achieve middle-income status while confronting widespread poverty and substantial health challenges. Tanzania's struggle with HIV/AIDS, reproductive and child health, malaria, and tuberculosis are characterized by both positive recent trends and persistent challenges. A high disease burden coupled with finite public sector resources has led the government of Tanzania to increasingly seek innovative tools to protect the health and wellbeing of its citizens. Previous reform efforts have included decentralizing decisionmaking...