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 Bulgaria approaches European Union accession, it has the opportunity to narrow the income gap, and raise productivity and investment, and set the economy on a higher growth path. To address these challenges and accelerate convergence with the European Union, this report proposes a reform...

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...

The Systematic Country Diagnostic Update examines the key constraints to and opportunities for sustainably accelerating inclusive growth and boosting shared prosperity in Bulgaria. It builds on the first Systematic Country Diagnostic (SCD) published in 2015, entitled "Bulgaria’s Potential for...

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...

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...

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...