This paper reviews Bangladesh’s Interim Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (I-PRSP). The paper addresses the question as to “what are the broad lessons from the past development experience.†It captures the salient features of social progress notwithstanding the challenging odds...

This paper discusses implementation of the Fifth National Development Plan (FNDP) in Zambia. The planning process of the FNDP integrated views from the Provincial and District Development Plans approved by the respective provincial and district level organs. The FNDP’s goals are...

Despite international support for adolescent and youth sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and rights (SRHR) (for example, the 1994 International Conference on Population in Development), young people consistently face high levels of unmet need for contraception, unplanned pregnancies, unsafe...

Nigeria is the most populous country in sub-Saharan Africa. It also has a very young population. The majority of the population is below the age of 25 years, with 22 percent of the country?s population between the ages of 10-19 years. Data on sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes in...

An analysis of data from six countries showed that adolescent childbearing is closely tied to marital status. Around half (ranging from 42 percent in Nepal to 55 percent in Nigeria) of ever-married adolescent women have given birth. In comparison, non-marital adolescent childbearing is rare in...

Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH) is one of five areas of focus of the World Bank's Reproductive Health Action Plan 2010-2015 (RHAP), which recognizes the importance of addressing ASRH as a development issue with important implications for poverty reduction. Delaying childbearing...

This paper discusses Mozambique’s Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper—Economic and Social Plan for 2005. In the international context, the paper presents the evolution of the international economy so as to understand under what economic conditions the country will have to implement...

This Annual Progress Report reviews Mozambique’s Economic and Social Plan for 2004. The report states that in 2004, public sector reforms were continued and consolidated. There was notable growth in social and economic infrastructure. The government was able to honor its budget execution...

This Annual Progress Report focuses on The Gambia’s Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP). It provides information and analysis regarding the achievements and shortfalls experienced between July 2002 and December 2003 with respect to the poverty targets, priority public actions, and the...

This paper focuses on the National Strategy for Accelerated Poverty Reduction for Bangladesh. The paper discusses that accelerating growth and bringing a pro-poor orientation in the growth process would be achieved through emphasizing four priority areas: accelerated growth in rural areas and...