Rural livelihoods in Tajikistan heavily rely on natural resources and the agriculture sector. A large proportion of the rural population depends on agriculture, and weather-related calamities are exerting increasing pressure on natural resources and agricultural sectors, the major contributors...

The fallout of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has hit the economy more than the crises in 2008 and 2015. The pandemic is projected to shrink by 2.5 percent this year. The economy is expected to grow modesty by 2.5 percent next year, based on an improved global economic outlook. This report...

Mangroves provide essential ecosystem functions and services that support coastal communities. Despite their importance, they have been degraded and removed globally resulting in loss of resilience of coastlines, their communities, and economies. Myanmar in particular has suffered from high...

Public sector auditing provides unbiased, objective assessments of public sector programs, policies, operations, and results to detect whether public resources are managed responsibly and effectively to achieve intended results and to instill confidence among citizens and stakeholders. Supreme...

he COVID-19 pandemic has abruptly interrupted more than two decades of sustained socio-economic progress in Morocco. In 2020 the country will suffer its first recession since mid-1990s, and the economic contraction registered in the second quarter (broadly coinciding with the confinement) is the...

E-commerce, defined broadly as the sale of goods and services facilitated through the internet, is a key growth opportunity for Albania. Sellers can benefit from internet marketing, 24-hour online shopping and remote transaction settlement to reach more customers. Buyers, including both...

The Iranian economy entered a third consecutive year of recession following the triple-shock of sanctions, oil market collapse and Coronavirus (COVID-19). High inflation placed additional economic stress on lower income households following a sharp depreciation of the currency. As Coronavirus...

In September 2017, Hurricane Irma devastated housing on the island of Sint Maarten. Between January and March of 2019, a World Bank team carried out this Rapid Housing Sector Diagnostic. The Diagnostic is based on information gathered during a one-week mission to Sint Maarten, desktop research,...

This study provides an early assessment of the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on e-commerce platforms and digital financial services, identifying the opportunities, good practices, and key challenges that have emerged in different regions. The focus of the study is to evaluate the impact of...

This El Salvador country forest note (CFN) presents a forward-looking business case for the World Bank to invest in forest management, conservation, and restoration (FMCR) in El Salvador. The CFN demonstrates why forest resources (trees, soil, water) are important for economic development,...