The purpose of this ex post thematic evaluation is to review 1999-2001 Phare environment programmes and post-2001 allocations to Phare environment programmes. Its overall objective is to provide accountability with respect to the use of European Commission funds,and lessons learned for...

Phare support to SME development has mainly consisted of technical assistance and advisory services to national institutions, support to SME policy and legislative development and financial support for SME development. Progress has been made in tackling problems inherited from the past, as well...

The purpose of this evaluation is to assess the contribution of the statistics multi-beneficiary programme to improvements in the performance of National Statistics Offices in the candidate countries relating to the production and dissemination of statistics in key areas (comparable with EU...

The European Union (EU) sets the policy framework for municipal solid waste management that drives reform initiatives in new EU member states and candidate countries. The EU policies, implementation targets, and grant funding establish the enabling environment that transforms the solid waste...

As gains in basic health care increase life expectancy, more people live past the age of 65, a time when the risk of dementia and other degenerative diseases is higher and people are more likely to require long-term care (LTC) services. Whether at home or in an institution, such care is an...

The World Bank is developing a Sustainable Cities Implementation Framework for Europe and Central Asia to inform World Bank and other development partners' ongoing support to national and sub-national authorities in pursuit of Sustainable Cities. As part of this work, preliminary assessments...

Cities are key to unlocking a climate-smart future for all, as they account for more than 50 percent of the global population, about 70 percent of global energy-related CO2 emissions and 80 percent of global GDP. Urban centers' share of emissions is expected to grow as the urban population is...

This policy note examines how five countries: England, Finland, the Netherlands, New Zealand and the Republic of Korea organize the supervision and support of schools and teachers at the primary and secondary levels. Countries are compared and contrasted according to a framework consisting of...