This report describes the findings from an educational evaluation carried out in Timor-Leste early in the school year of 2017. The primary purpose of the evaluation was to develop preliminary insights into the effectiveness of the New Curriculum and a second supporting educational innovation,...

Moldova, like many other countries in the region, is facing rapid economic and demographic transitions. Employers report that inadequate levels of workforce skills hamper their productivity. Recognizing the importance of workforce development to improve the country's socioeconomic prospects, the...

Demand-driven training (DDT) and results-based contracting (RBC) are two mechanisms used to enhance the effectiveness and impact of skill training programs. DDT links skills development explicitly with the job market, typically through employer engagement. Private sector employers define what...

This policy brief highlights the key messages for policy makers from the World Bank report "Seeing the Invisible: A Strategic Report on Groundwater Quality" (Ravenscroft and Lytton 2022a). This report and "A Practical Manual on Groundwater Quality Monitoring" (Ravenscroft and Lytton 2022b)...

This study summarizes the first five years (1991-96) of agrarian reforms in Ukraine, presenting the results of a farm-level survey conducted in 11 provinces between January and March 1996. The findings show that the growth of private farming has slowed down after a vigorous start and that the...

What can be done to rapidly and effectively contain systemic risks, restore the solvency and profitability of financial institutions, minimize the impact of financial sector distress on the economy and limit the fiscal costs of a crisis? What set of policies contribute to a rapid and successful...

In an effort to meet the continuing demand of the power sector and ensure stability of fuel supply sources, the State Power Corporation asked for World Bank assistance to assess the viability of imported liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a fuel source for coastal provinces. In response to their...