Inexpensive, relatively uninhabited land still exists in many Latin American countries. This land continues to act as a magnet for both squatters and entrepreneurs in search of new economic opportunity. The current pattern of development often results in violent conflict and wasteful...

This report is a critical review of the technical, economic, and institutional constraints to improving soil fertility in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), and actions recommended to address them. The report is a review of selected literature, illustrated by a synthesis of the most important lessons...

For the use of water markets to introduce improve water resources management, the existence of adequate institutional arrangements is one of the key elements of success. The papers compiled in this publication describe and analyze three cases from very different settings. The papers point out...

Many developing countries sharing water resources of international river basins are facing serious problems in meeting their rapidly growing demandes for domestic, irrigation, industrial, power, and other uses due to riparian conflicts. This report decribes the Bank's successful interventions in...

Severe air pollution is threatening human health and the gains of economic growth in Asia's largest cities. This report aims to assist policy makers in the design and implementation of policies, monitoring and management tools to restore air quality in Mumbai (bombay), India's financial and...

Water resources in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have become a strategic commodity, with supply limited in terms of quantity and quality, and demand increasing due to population growth and economic development. The strategy developed in this document is based on the principle that water is a scarce...

Water users' organizations are one example of community participation at work in the sectors of irrigation, drinking water supply, and sanitation. This paper looks at the conditions under which these organizations are most effective in managing water systems. It identifies key external factors...

Although the physical aspects and agrocultural impacts of drought and government and donor responses as well as household coping and survival strategies in the event of drought have been well studied, little research has occurred on either its nonagricultural or economywide macroeconomic impacts...

Water pricing is an important way of improving water allocation and encouraging users to conserve scarce water resources. This work presents water pricing experiences across 22 countries in various sectors and over time. Country cases studies are presented in a structured form allowing easy...