This report analyses options to make international public climate finance more transformative. The report identifies eight sets of levers to drive climate action: project-based investments, financial sector reform, fiscal policy, sectoral policies, trade policy, innovation and technology...

This note looks at the experience countries have had in introducing reforms that improved the business environment. Instead of examining what was done (that is, the content of reforms), the focus is placed on how reform programs came to be successful. The note aims to provide an overview of...

The Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC), which consists of Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon, is one of the oldest regional groupings in Africa. Urbanization and growing population will put increasing pressure on...

China’s recently established Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) has been given the task of developing the country’s first National Territorial and Spatial Plan (NTSP). This Plan will replace four separate sectoral plans previously prepared by different ministries. The NTSP is meant to...

The report reviews recent economic developments in the real, fiscal and banking sectors, while providing a near-term outlook that highlights critical challenges facing the Palestinian economy. Additionally, it looks at the opportunities and constraints facing digital infrastructure in the...

Vietnam’s development strategy requires an urgent upgrade. Past growth has been impressive. But as a favorable domestic and international environment changes, future growth must be productivity-driven—obtaining more and higher quality output from firms, infrastructure, workers and natural...

The global epidemiological and economic crisis unleashed by COVID-19 (Coronavirus) poses the greatest threat to Cambodia’s development in its 30 years of modern history. The three most affected sectors - tourism, manufacturing exports, and construction - contributed more than 70 percent of...

Governments around the world are designing and implementing rapid responses to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. In this effort, they are faced with three extraordinary challenges: (1) a public health emergency to contain the virus including identifying and treating infected populations; (2)...

The country brief provides an overview of tobacco legislation, use, and taxation in Kazakhstan. Tobacco taxation policy practiced in Kazakhstan in 2003-2013 resulted in increased tobacco excise revenues, but was not effective in terms of public health, as cigarette consumption did not decrease....