The objectives of the study are to: a) increase understanding of the effects and effectiveness of the implementation of the local government reform launched in 2006; and b) assess the impact of a World Bank-supported intervention that aimed to enhance effectiveness of the reforms by increasing local...

This report addresses key structural, institutional, and sectoral policy impediments to achieving a higher, and sustained economic growth in the sector, and poverty reduction in rural areas of Iran. It focuses mainly on an assessment of agricultural development outcomes, a discussion of the...

On Boxing Day morning, 2004, a 9.3 magnitude earthquake struck the Indian Ocean. The quake unleashed a blast of energy and created a tsunami three stories high. The disaster claimed more than 228,000 lives, affected 2.5 million others and caused close to US $11.4 billion of damage in 14...