There is an ongoing debate over the future of the Amazon in Brazil. Part of this debate involves the question of whether or not it is possible to ensure development in the region while conserving its immense natural heritage. This report adds to the discussion of land use in the Brazilian Amazon. It analyzes the harmful effects of increasing levels of rainfall on agricultural settlement and productivity. The aim of this report is to assist decision-makers, civil society, and the private sector in their attempts to ensure that natural resources will be maintained in such a way that best...

'The TB and HIV/AIDS Epidemics in the Russian Federation' describes the socioeconomic conditions in the Russian Federation and examines how they are influencing infectious disease epidemics. It also discusses the impact of the epidemics on the population, including the incidence and prevalence in the general and prison populations. Finally, this paper presents a description of a mathematical model of improvements in health status possible under various TB control strategies, with implications for HIV/AIDS as well.

'Urban Air Quality Management' examines the contribution of vehicles to urban air pollution which is a growing problem in many cities in developing countries. It evaluates the priorities for air quality management programs, and reviews national, municipal, and World Bank experience with pollution-reduction efforts. This book draws lessons from this assessment and offers recommendations for priorities in developing coordinated assistance strategies in the environment, urban transport, and energy sectors.

This book summarizes the responses of Bangladeshi class I (highest level) public-sector officials to a survey on a number of civil service issues, from personnel management practices to rewards and disciplinary actions, and from employees' sources of income to the budget environment and procurement processes. It examines the public sector in Bangladesh, highlighting pay and employment in the civil service. The report also reviews the survey instrument, sampling, and the survey implementation methodology and discusses the findings of the survey. It also describes how the institutional...

This report presents the findings of a survey of public officials in Guyana, on a wide range of civil service issues from personnel management practices to rewards and disciplinary action, and from budget environment to corruption. The objective of the study is to draw conclusions about those institutional weaknesses that should be the immediate target for reform.

This book provides a treasury reference model (TRM) to give guidelines for the design of automated treasury systems for governments.

This book is comprised of a collection of essays on extreme poverty. It focuses on what it means to live in extreme poverty, how to reach the very poor through programs and interventions, and how to make private and public institutions more responsive to their needs. This book also analyzes the relationship between extreme poverty and human rights. It places emphasis on the contribution made by the International Movement ATD Fourth World, and its founder, Joseph Wresinski, to the understanding of the very poor and what is required to fight extreme poverty.

'Utility Pricing and the Poor' evaluates the 1999 electricity tariff increase and the potential for improved water-sector cost recovery, with a particular focus on service accessibility and affordability for the poor. A two-stage approach is recommended. In the first stage, revenues should be increased by ensuring payment from households that have reliable service but are not paying their bills. After collection capacity is strengthened, the utility should implement a program of tariff adjustment, based on improved service and meter-based billing.

Cities and towns are increasingly becoming the primary locus of poverty in many countries. Rural-urban migration and low urban mortality rates have contributed to the rapid population growth of cities in many parts of the world. With such rapid growth comes an increasing concentration of poverty in urban areas. In parallel, more countries assign local governments increased responsibility in fighting poverty. With decentralization, the responsibility of local social policy goes beyond the execution of centrally designed and funded education and health programs. In many countries, local...

During the last decade, infrastructure finance and provision graduated from traditional means to more innovative ones, primarily initiated by private companies and supported through their equity and debt. Capital markets increasingly became the main funding source for infrastructure projects worldwide, including investments in developing and transition countries where infrastructure penetration still falls considerably short of needs. Infrastructure bonds served as the most popular method of oil, gas, electricity, telecommunications, and transport project financing in these countries...