Download or read book The Pharmaceutical Industry in India and Hungary written by Greg Felker and published by . This book was released on 1997 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book The Pharmaceutical Industry in India and Hungary written by Shekhar Chaudhuri and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 1997-01-01 with total page 56 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: World Bank Technical Paper No. 376. Roads are agents of change and can be responsible for both benefits and damage to the existing balance between people and their environment. This handbook examines specific road projects ranging from minor rehabilitation and maintenance activities on existing roads to major works on new alignments. It provides a description of practical methods for designing and executing effective environmental assessments that are useful to those who are involved in various aspects of road projects, from planning to construction to maintenance.

Download or read book The Indian Pharmaceutical Sector written by Ramesh Govindaraj and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 2002-01-01 with total page 78 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Indian pharmaceutical market ranks as the world's third largest in terms of volume, and has been growing at an annual rate of over 10 per cent over the last decade. Pharmaceutical policy in India is perceived primarily from an industrial perspective rather than a health sector priority, and is governed by a complex variety of laws and policies. This report reviews recent policy initiatives and their economic and health sector implications. It considers the profound gap that exists between the benefits which pharmaceuticals have to offer, and the reality that for millions of poor people in India medicines are often unaffordable, unsafe or improperly used. The report outlines some strategic options that could strengthen India's ability to ensure the availability, affordability, quality and rational use of essential medicines on a sustainable basis, using a mix of public and private sector resources.

Download or read book Designing Rules for Demand driven Rural Investment Funds written by Thomas B. Wiens and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 1998-01-01 with total page 100 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The demand-driven rural investment fund (DRIF) is a new mechanism for decentralizing decisionmaking authority and financial resources to local governments and communities to use for investments of their choice. To counteract the local government's weak capacity to choose and implement projects well, central governments have often constrained the choices of communities by limiting the types of projects eligible for financing and requiring specific procedures for procurement and disbursement. This study explores the extent to which well-designed DRIF rules and incentive structures can substitute for central control. It looks at the different and often conflicting motivations of donors, central governments, and communities and explores how rules can be devised to allow actors to achieve their objectives.

Download or read book Groundwater written by Salman M. A. Salman and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 1999-01-01 with total page 280 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Water is becoming an increasingly scarce resource for most of the world's citizens. The current trends indicate that the overall situation is likely to deteriorate further, at least for the next decade, unless the water profession eschews "business as usual" practices, which can only allow incremental changes to occur." Groundwater is the least understood and least appreciated, yet the most important, natural resource available to mankind. Groundwater represents about 97% of the existing fresh water resources, excluding the resources locked in polar ice. More than one and a half billion people in the urban parts of the world today depend on groundwater. Groundwater supply is more reliable than the seasonal, and sometimes erratic, surface water and provides the main line of defense against drought. Moreover, the quality of groundwater is, by and large, superior to surface water and cheaper to develop. However, when available, data on groundwater is very scanty. As a result, the World Bank is now paying increasing attention to this valuable resource, through both operations and sector work. This publication represents the proceeding of the seminar "Groundwater: Legal and Policy Perspectives" that was organized by the Legal Vice Presidency of the World Bank. It explains some basic technical aspects of groundwater, surveys the regulatory framework for it, and discusses the World Bank experience and international law regarding this precious resource. It is a timely publication and should also assist in a better understanding and appreciation of this valuable source. It will be of interest to Bank staff, borrowing country officials, international agencies and research organizations working on groundwater.

Download or read book Non payment in the Electricity Sector in Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union written by and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 1999-01-01 with total page 136 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "In Albania, consumers with guns stolen from the government threatened to shoot the utility officials who attempted to disconnect defaulting customers." This situation and others less dramatic, but every bit as corrupt, aggravated the utility non-payment issue and pushed it into the foreground. This study reviews the non-payment problem in the electricity sector in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union during 1990-1997. In addition to non-payment, the review also covers the problem of low cash collections and the preference in some countries for the use of cash substitutes such as barters, offsets, and promissory notes. The objective of the study is to identify which policies and measures addressing the problem of non-payment in the electricity sector worked in practice and which did not. Therefore, it includes stories of both success and failure. It is aimed at equipping Bank staff and decision makers with a set of practical tools that can be of use when the political will exists to tackle the problem.

Download or read book Identification of Joint Management Structures for Shared Aquifers written by Eran Feitelson and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 1998-01-01 with total page 42 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Overcoming the scarcity and temporal variance of water availability in semi-arid regions, or the excess of water in temperate regions, often requires cooperation. This paper describes the approach taken by an Israeli-Palestinian team to identify joint management structures for the aquifers shared by these two parties, and some of the lessons learned from the experience of this team.

Download or read book Subnational Budgeting in Russia written by Lev M. Freinkman and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 1999-01-01 with total page 146 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Not only are Russia's regions economically diverse, but the policies that regional governments have adopted to deal with the strains of economic transition also vary widely. Some regions have generally embraced market reforms, while others have sought to preserve enclaves of socialism, with price restrictions, large subsidies, and barriers to trade." Reforms of Russia's budgetary system at the subnational level are vital to preserve macroeconomic stability, improve the efficiency and accountability of government, and enhance incentives for local and regional governments to vigorously support economic growth. Previous analytical and reform efforts have focused on possible changes at the federal level and in the system of center-region relations. An opportunity now exists to make progress by providing reform advice and conditional aid to policymakers at the regional and subregional level. This report focuses on opportunities for reform at the subnational level. It reviews recent trends in fiscal adjustment, budgeting, and government debt at the regional and local levels in Russia. It analyzes major problems and suggests a number of measures and performance indicators that could form part of a reform strategy initiated by the Government of Russia.

Download or read book Toward a Financially Sustainable Irrigation System written by K. J. Langford and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 1999 with total page 112 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Water resource management policies worldwide are at a crossroads. On the one hand, a remarkable consensus on the principles of reform has emerged. On the other hand, it has turned out to be difficult to transfer the principles into reality. This document describes the distinctive experience of water reform in the state of Victoria, Australia, which has been a leader in the field. The document is a compelling "insiders' view" by three professionals who played central roles in the process. Although the Victoria experience emerges from a specific natural, cultural, historical and political context, the generic lessons on the technical and political reform procedures and the links between them are of profound relevance to those engaged in the water reform process throughout the world.

Download or read book DeMIStifying MIS written by Luc Lecuit and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 1999-01-01 with total page 84 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Managers are often far from the real action, so they need something that will tell them what is going on... Luckily, the rapid evolution of tools for collecting, analyzing and diffusing information has greatly improved our ability to manage from a distance. However the speed of technological change means that changes in management practices and tools are inescapable." Development of Management Information Systems (MIS) for social funds has become essential due to some of the characteristics unique to these types of projects or organizations. Among these unique characteristics are the need for transparency and efficiency because of the highly visible nature of the activities. These guidelines define MIS and underscore its importance. They also outline specific tools to assist in selection of an MIS and summarize its design and implementation. These guidelines are meant to be a practical tool to help those who are setting up or managing a social fund navigate in MIS waters. Technical jargon is kept to a minimum and a glossary of technical terms is provided to assist readers who do not have a technical background. However, special Technical Boxes have been included for the "experts" in this field.

Download or read book Southern African Agribusiness written by Steven Jaffee and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 1999-01-01 with total page 212 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Recent economic reforms and political changes within Southern Africa have opened up new opportunities for intra-regional agricultural trade and other forms of agribusiness collaboration. This collaboration is vital, given the relatively small size of individual country markets and the fact that no single country in the region has the resources and capacity to mount a sustained drive to achieve international market prominence and competitiveness. This study examines private sector perceptions regarding the agribusiness investment environment and the scope for regional collaboration in Southern Africa. It then presents a series of case studies highlighting experiences in such collaboration as well as additional opportunities and constraints. The case studies illustrate the varied forms that this intra-regional collaboration has or could take, including the transfer of technologies and management systems, joint logistics and international marketing, cross-border investment, product research and development, human resource development, raw material sourcing, and regional trade in inputs and consumer products. Both the agribusiness company survey and the industry case studies include recommendations for policymakers, agribusiness managers/representatives, and agricultural and private sector development practitioners.

Download or read book Forest Management in Nepal written by Ian Hill and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 1999-01-01 with total page 70 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Forests play a vital role in maintaining Nepal's impressive biodiversity, which has global significance: With only 0.1 percent of the world's total area, Nepal contains 2 percent of the planet's flowering plants, 8 percent of its birds, and 4 percent of its mammals. As Nepal develops its forest resources, it needs to minimize the biotic pressures affecting the structure and dynamics of forest plant communities and wildlife populations and thereby reverse the current destructive pressures on the country's biodiversity. The study aims to provide a better understanding of the ways in which forest resources are used in Nepal. Its focus is to examine systematically the costs and benefits of present and possible future sustainable and biodiversity-friendly management practices from household, national, and global perspectives. The authors define the analytical framework and the costs of financial and economic alternatives. They also present the economic, social, institutional and legal issues, and recommend strategies for change. The report should be of use to national and donor agencies concerned with the management of natural resources and conservation of biodiversity in Nepal, providing a framework for possible future donor support to the sector. It highlights issues that are of importance in the formulation and implementation of natural resource management programs by government and non-government agencies.

Download or read book Soil Fertility Management in Sub Saharan Africa written by W. Graeme Donovan and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 1998-01-01 with total page 76 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: World Bank Technical Paper No. 408. This report is a critical review of the technical, economic, and institutional constraints on improving soil fertility in Sub-Saharan Africa, and the actions recommended to address them. Action plans prepared for Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, and Mali examine the demand for and supply of mineral fertilizers, the exploitation of local mineral resources, the prevention of soil erosion and increasing soil-water retention, and soil fertility management using organic technologies and management practices.

Download or read book Financial Integration Vulnerabilities to Crisis and EU Accession in Five Central European Countries written by Mustapha K. Nabli and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 1999-01-01 with total page 80 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 'A major source of vulnerability in the CE5 is their nascent financial systems and their ability to handle large and increasing volume of capital. As the experience of East Asia demonstrates, a high priority should be given to improving the quality and performance of the banking system.'- From 'Financial Integration, Vulnerabilities to Crisis, and EU Accession in Five Central European Countries'The objective of this study is to help assess the possible vulnerabilities in a number of Central European countries as they proceed with global financial integration and EU accession. The report focuses on those countries slated to be the first in the region to join the EU, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Poland, Slovenia (CE5). The study: • Discusses the context and presents a short description of the CE5 countries' experience in attracting capital flows • Analyzes the manifestations of vulnerability to financial crises and sustainability of foreign capital flows to the CE5 • Interprets the results and draws implications in view of the initial conditions of the various countries • Compares the EU accession of the CE5 to the Southern Mediterranean countries' accession to the EC in the 1980s • Draws conclusions and makes recommendations

Download or read book Successful Conversion to Unleaded Gasoline in Thailand written by Philip Sayeg and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 1998-01-01 with total page 82 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Government of Thailand within a five-year period (1991-95) introduced a series of initiatives that resulted in the elimination of leaded gasoline and reduction of ambient lead by a factor of 10. This report describes the strategies the government employed: educating about the dangers of airborne lead; setting a lower at-pump price for unleaded gasoline; helping the oil companies establish a system to distribute unleaded gasoline throughout the country; conducting monitoring and follow-up studies; and adjusting environmental regulations as necessary to support these policies.

Download or read book Reforming Education in the Regions of Russia written by Mary Canning and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 1999-01-01 with total page 110 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Russia's educational system, with broad access, and high levels of scholarly achievement, has long been a source of strength. The Soviet system, however, was grossly overcentralized, inefficient, and lacking in accountability. In the last decade, attempted rapid decentralization has not been well designed, since there has been no commensurate transfer of resources and levels of responsibility have remained unclear. Unless corrected soon, the harmful impact on educational quality and equity could be very serious. The purposes of this report are to analyze the nature of the current problems and to discuss policy options open to the Russian Government in its efforts to improve educational efficiency, preserving and even improving equitable access, without sacrificing traditions of academic excellence. This report is based on analysis of trends across the 89 Russian regions and case studies. In its conclusions, the report draws on this regional experience to suggest reform options. Among other proposals, efficiency could be increased by giving schools increased financial autonomy, using of per capita financing formulae, and beginning to rationalize the teaching force and improve its quality. A national system of student assessment might help both to raise quality and improve the equity of access to highly selective institutions. Reforms are required to improve the market responsiveness of first-level vocational education, and especially to avoid excessive and premature specialization. Education practitioners and policy makers will find this publication of interest.

Download or read book Poland written by Gordon Hughes and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 1999 with total page 78 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "The prospect of joining the European Union defines much of Poland's current policy agenda. The political and economic consensus in favor of joining the EU as quickly as possible is very strong, and indeed, most of the adjustments required are likely to be in Poland's immediate interest. However, the changes required to comply with EU directives in the environment sector involve sustained high levels of investment and significant uncertainty about the timing and nature of the associated benefits."The European Commission's Opinion on Poland's application for EU membership acknowledges the severity of the environmental problems in Poland and comments on the challenges the country will have to face, especially in the areas of wastewater treatment and air pollution. The Opinion concludes that while full transposition of the environmental acquis in Poland could be expected in the medium term, effective compliance with a number of pieces of legislation would require sustained high levels of investment and considerable administrative effort. Full compliance in areas such as drinking water and certain aspects of waste management could be achieved only in the long term and will necessitate increased levels of public and private investment.This paper aims to address some of the issues involved in planning compliance with EU environmental directives. The paper has three principal objectives: • Highlight major issues that Poland is likely to face in implementing the requirements; • Estimate the total costs of compliance for the public sector in certain key sectors, and outline possible options for reducing those costs; and • Assess where the burden of those costs is likely to fall, and the options for financing the investments.