Nepal depends entirely on imports for
meeting its demand for petroleum products, which account for
the largest share in total import volume. Diesel is the main
petroleum product consumed in the country and accounts for
38 percent of the total national CO2 emissions from fuel
consumption. There is a general perception that the country
would economically benefit if part of imported diesel is
substituted with domestically produced jatropha-based

This report reflects upon the consolidated findings from the baseline and scoping studies conducted under the auspices of Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS) Adaptation Programme in Africa. It identifies gaps in climate information access and use at the local level, type of climate services farmers and pastoralists need in Tanzania, relevant channels to reach farmers with requested services, lead-time and gender specific requirements.

This report reflects the summary of baseline findings in Malawi, under the auspices of the Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS) Adaptation Programme in Africa. It identifies gaps in climate information access and use at the local level, types of climate services farmers and pastoralists need in Malawi, relevant channels to reach farmers with requested services, lead-time and gender-specific requirements for the design and delivery of climate services that matter to farmers.

To evaluate and reflect the
sustainability of services in the region, an overall sector
maturity assessment was done taking into account four main
dimensions: access to services, quality of services,
efficiency of services, and financing of services. Each of
these dimensions is measured through three simple and
objective indicators. For each indicator, best practice
values are established by looking at the best performers in

Permitting, licensing, and other
authorization procedures are an integral part of investing
in renewable energy. For private companies, the quality of
these procedures can drastically affect transaction costs
and project risk. Optimal regimes are tailored to country
specifics and depend on the way in which private investors
access the market in the first place—from auctions to
site-specific tenders to standardized contracts on a

Pakistan’s trade indicators reflect low
outward orientation, concentration on low value added
activities and an undiversified product mix which out of
line with the fastest growing areas of world demand. The
export share of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has remained
low and falling—fro

This issue includes the following
headings: infrastructure - A new direction for New Zealand
schools, Primary schools, primary importance, Sustainable
school buildings, and PPPs build the future; services - A
charter for change, vouching for the future, Low fees, high
hopes, Private schools for the poor, and Governments and
business schools; innovation - Education for the 21st
century, Access for all, Bricks and clicks, Open education

Air and sea transport power the global
economy. Since the vast majority of trade is physical, it
must travel by plane or ship to reach its market. In fact,
high value, time-sensitive goods usually fly through at
least two airports, and almost every container passes
through at least two seaports. When ports are efficient,
people receive the goods theyre waiting for, sellers receive
payment, and global economic development is strengthened.

This issue includes the following
headings: seeds and soil: smallholder agriculture;
innovation: pairing commercial buyers with rural producers;
grain storage: a ready role for public-private partnerships
(PPPs); agricultural clusters: powering Africas agricultural
potential; and interviews: AgDevCo, bill and Melinda gates
foundation, earth policy institute.

This issue includes the following
headings: mass rapid transit: a tool for urban expansion;
financing: beyond sovereign guarantees; and low-income
housing: lessons from Latin America.

This issue includes the following
headings: renewable energy: wind and solar; energy
efficiency: green building; and green finance:
infrastructure finance.

Globally, an estimated 24 percent of the
disease burden (healthy life years lost) and an estimated 23
percent of all deaths (premature mortality) are attributable
to environmental risks (World Health Organization, or WHO
2006). The burden of disease is unequally shared, with the
children and the poor being particularly affected. Among
children between the ages 0 and 14, the proportion of deaths
attributable to environmental risks, such as poor water and