In accordance with the goals of the innovation grant, World Bank staff undertook a study tour to Turkey to observe Turkey's innovative system to deliver farmer-focused weather alerts by cell phone. The regional priority on climate change adaptation highlights an adaptation mechanism that has...

The report reviews basic growth, as being one of four pillars for Nicaragua's poverty reduction strategy. The well-being of the rural poor will continue its dependence on - to a great extent - agriculture. The study analyzes main agricultural development aspects, and stipulates the broad basic...

The global economy has become increasingly complex and competitive. Many countries have turned to knowledge-based growth to transition from labor-intensive sectors to new and emerging economic activities that require higher skills and intellectual capital. In Thailand, higher education...

In an increasingly competitive, globalizing world, Bangladesh needs to rationalize its tariff structure and lower overall protection so that its exports can compete in world markets. At the same time, the government needs to protect revenues in a fiscally-constrained year. This note proposes a...

The conclusions of the recently-conducted Kenya Investment Climate Assessment (ICA), based on a survey of 368 firms, have a bearing on the country's growth agenda. The results have a bearing on the key issue of labor productivity and its implications on firm performance, revealing that...

Kazakhstan has made substantial progress in its economic transition, and faces a potentially bright future thanks to its oil wealth. The challenge is to increase the country's competitiveness, and expand the benefits of growth, while avoiding the economic and social risks typically associated...