This report provides an overview of the
World Bank Group’s engagement in the Middle East and North
Africa (MENA) region, highlighting the new operating model
of the World Bank Group. In particular, the report provides
insight on the key challenges and strategic engagement of
each sector (Global Practice) in MENA and details some of
the key cross-cutting challenges that countries face. This
report serves as a basis to convene international thought

India’s sustained and rapid economic
growth offers an opportunity to lift millions out of
poverty. But this may come at a steep cost to the nation’s
environment and natural resources. This insightful book
analyzes India’s growth from an economic perspective and
assesses whether India can grow in a “green” and sustainable
manner. Three key issues are addressed. The first is the

This joint report on MDB Climate Finance
captures a particular context of activities that
Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) carry out in
developing and emerging economies. The context is built on
the premise that development finance is being provided in a
world shaped by climate change. This is the fourth edition
of the Joint Report on MDB Climate Finance. The report
covers financing for climate change mitigation and

The agricultural sector plays a key role in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). As the backbone of the economy, it affects society at many levels since national economies and people’s jobs, incomes and food security depend upon it. Climate change and variability pose a major threat to farmers in the region, which is already experiencing rising temperatures, shifting precipitation patterns, and increasing extreme events.

Le secteur agricole joue un rôle primordial au sein de la Communauté économique des États d’Afrique de l’Ouest (CEDEAO). En tant que pilier de l’économie, il touche à la vie de la société à plusieurs niveaux, dans la mesure où les économies nationales et les emplois, les revenus et la sécurité alimentaire des populations en dépendent.

Burma has been ranked by a German think tank as the second worst country with regards to the effects of climate change between 1994 and 2013.

The Global Climate Risk Index 2015, published by Germanwatch, listed Honduras as the country suffering most from the effects of extreme weather events in the 20-year period. Burma’s neighbours Bangladesh, Vietnam and Thailand were ranked as fourth, sixth and ninth worst affected, respectively.

Costa Rica stands out for being among the most politically stable, progressive, prosperous, and environmentally conscious nations in the Latin America and the Caribbean region. Its development model has brought important economic, social, and environmental dividends, with sustained growth, upward mobility for a large share of the population, important gains in social indicators, and significant achievements in reforestation and conservation. However, there are a number of development challenges that need to be addressed to maintain the country’s successful development path.

The Africa Competitiveness Report 2015
comes out at a promising time for the continent: for 15
years growth rates have averaged over 5 percent, and rapid
population growth holds the promise of a large emerging
consumer market as well as an unprecedented labor force that
- if leveraged - can provide significant growth
opportunities. Moreover, the expansion of innovative
business models, such as mobile technology services, is

Across equatorial and east Africa, climate change is affecting the frequency, intensity
and variability of regional climate patterns.1 Changes in rainfall patterns, temperatures
and storm intensity are having significant effects on national economies, regional
infrastructure, land use and local livelihoods. These changes are forcing national and
local governments to adjust and adapt how they plan, prepare and implement day to
day operations today and larger visions for the future. The ability of governmental

This Working Paper summarizes projected climate change impacts on livestock across
Africa, using a combination of literature review and some new results on the projected
impacts of climate change on the rangelands of Africa. Findings show that there are
many options that can help livestock keepers adapt, but there appear to be no options
that are widely applicable which do not have constraints to their adoption. An
enabling technical and policy environment will thus be needed to ensure livestock

We apply a systematic review of peer-reviewed literature to assess constraining and enabling

factors to the uptake of medium- to long-term climate information in a wide range of sectoral

investment and planning decisions. Common applications of climate information are shown to

relate to adaptation of environmental policy and planning, urban planning and infrastructure,

as well as flood and coastal management. Analysis of identified literature highlights five

According to the IPCC’s Fifth Assessment Report, changes in the climate over the last 30 years have already reduced global agricultural production by 1 – 5 % per decade relative to a baseline without climate change. In addition, recent studies indicate that even a 2 degrees increase in global temperature will affect agricultural productivity, particularly in the tropics, and this impact will rise with increases in temperature.