World Bank Institute Alumni Newsletter (Issue 6, June 2008)
June 20, 2008.
The World Bank Institute (WBI) Alumni Newsletter aims to reach participants in WBI activities who want to stay in contact with WBI and/or other WBI Alumni.
This newsletter, issued quarterly, provides a concise selection of WBI news with related links. Let us know what YOU would find most useful for us to include in upcoming issues of the WBI Alumni Newsletter by sending an email with "Comments" in the subject line to: wbialumni@worldbank.org.
If you would like to request information, please include "Info Request" in the subject line of your email. We also invite you to visit the WBI Alumni webpage at: www.worldbank.org/wbi/alumni.
In this issue:
1. Launch of New Governance Matters Blog
2. Interview on Climate Change with Habiba Gitay
3. JJ/WBGSP African Regional Conference
4. Practicing Agricultural Innovation in Africa
5. Joint Japan-World Bank Scholarship Funding Renewed
6. Capacity Building for Policy Makers is Vital to Achieving Health Goals
7. Public-Private Partnerships in Uganda
8. World Malaria Day
9. Leadership Program Stirs Small Revolution in Burundi
10. New WBI Publications
11. New Development Outreach on Business and Poverty (June 2008 issue)
12. WBI Websites in Arabic, French, and Spanish
13. To Receive this Newsletter or Manage Your Subscription
1. Launch of New Governance Matters Blog
This new blog, moderated by Daniel Kaufmann, Director of Global Programs for WBI, addresses governance and other related issues, but also seeks to create a debate about the new directions in which our quest for a better understanding of governance issues should take. In doing so, it relies on existing and upcoming research, analysis, news and experiences from across the world.
Related Link: Governance Matters Blog (http://governanceblog.worldbank.org/)
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2. Interview on Climate Change with Habiba Gitay
The April issue of Development Outreach magazine examines how climate change has affected development and what actions are needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (mitigation), and what can be done to adjust to ongoing and potential impacts of climate change (adaptation). Habiba Gitay was invited to be the executive and technical editor of the climate change issue. She is Senior Environmental Specialist at the World Bank Institute (WBI). Previously, she was the capacity building coordinator for the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, and was also the Vice-Chair of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel (STAP) of the Global Environment Facility (GEF). We interviewed Gitay to learn more about WBI’s climate change initiatives and to seek her perspectives on the goals of this work, and its progress to date.
Related Link: Read interview with Habiba Gitay (http://go.worldbank.org/PKE239M7C0)
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3. JJ/WBGSP African Regional Conference
The Joint-Japan World Bank Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP) held its third African regional conference in Yaoundé, Cameroon on May 7, 2008. This one-day conference was a part of the JJ/WBGSP scaling-up activities which aim to promote knowledge sharing with the JJ/WBGSP community and beyond. Cameroon has many JJ/WBGSP alumni: as of today, there are 47 Cameroonian alumni and 5 scholars currently pursuing their Master’s degrees at the University of Yaoundé which is one of the country’s top ranking universities and a JJ/WBGS partner. The conference brought together 90 participants from the JJ/WBGSP community and from relevant agencies, including the alumni, scholars, representatives from universities and from the Ministry of Higher Education of Cameroon, NGOs, and the World Bank’s country office.
Related Link: JJ/WBGSP African Regional Conference (http://go.worldbank.org/ZOAEPS2460)
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4. Practicing Agricultural Innovation in Africa, Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania, May 12-14, 2008
The overall objective of this forum held over 3 days in Tanzania, was to facilitate learning on key policies, practices, and actors that help enable innovation and technology development in agriculture, food industry, rural energy and physical environment in African countries. Analytical materials in the form of case studies, were used to stimulate dialogue and debate. The forum informed representatives from the private sector including small and medium enterprises (SMEs), universities, research institutes, government agencies, and civil society on crucial agricultural innovation and technology development issues. The emphasis was on identifying and discussing technological advancements in these sectors and replicating and scaling up success in African countries. A final objective was to establish tangible next steps, offer support to the participants in their technology-related work, and continue learning on these critical topics.
Related Link: Forum Webpage (http://go.worldbank.org/1COXQU6BT0)
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5. Joint Japan-World Bank Scholarship Funding Renewed
The World Bank plans is renewing a scholarship program partnership to enable 32 scholars from developing countries to obtain Masters’ degrees in Public Administration in International Development from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Under the renewal agreement, the Bank has earmarked $5 million from the Joint Japan-World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program to finance scholarships at Harvard Kennedy School over five academic years, from 2008-2013, for students from developing countries, all of whom are selected for admission through a competitive process.
Related Link: Press Release (http://go.worldbank.org/0HEW66Q780)
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6. Capacity Building for Policy Makers is Vital to Achieving Health Goals
Health challenges are central to development, expressed in three of the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), namely saving children’s lives, making motherhood safe, and stopping HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases. This story highlights the importance of ensuring that developing-country health policymakers and health administrators have the skills and knowledge needed to achieve these goals. The World Bank Institute offers courses aimed at building their capacity.
Related Link: Read the story on courses that WBI is delivering in the area of Health & AIDS.(http://go.worldbank.org/E99OKKV2O0)
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7. Public-Private Partnerships in Uganada
Public private partnerships (PPPs) are often associated with large-scale national-level infrastructure undertakings such as utilities, national roads and highways, and airports with services provided by large and well established enterprises. While this image of PPPs may reflect the majority of investments undertaken through PPPs, it also ignores some important areas of opportunities especially in emerging PPP markets such as in the sub-Saharan Africa region. While established infrastructure providers which are normally large firms, are likely to continue to play a dominant role in PPPs, there is also significant scope for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to become involved in PPPs. This is particularly true for sub-contracting in national-level projects and even in lead roles in some-sub national projects. While national-level utilities and infrastructure represent the bulk of PPP investments, the growing trend toward decentralization of service delivery introduces numerous PPP opportunities in non-traditional areas such as health, education, and other social services.
Related Link: Public Private Partnerships in Uganda Web Page(http://go.worldbank.org/VBL8647NZ0)
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8. World Malaria Day
Launched in September 2005, the World Bank’s Global Strategy and Booster Program for Malaria Control in Africa helps countries most afflicted by malaria receive resources they need to fight the disease. The program seeks to cut malaria deaths by at least 75 percent by 2015 through the distribution of medicines, nets, and strengthening health systems.
Related Links: World Malaria Day (http://go.worldbank.org/ULGMXB20X0)
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9. Leadership Program Stirs Small Revolution in Burundi
Burundi’s political leaders embraced a new approach at a high-level retreat in May, 2007, empowering operational managers to set priorities under a “rapid results” model where specific objectives are reinforced with close tracking of progress, and active efforts are taken to address obstacles and institutional constraints. This movement has now encouraged the development of eleven pilot projects within a larger leadership development project spearheaded by the World Bank Institute. WBI’s Leadership Development Program builds on the idea that high-level leaders can make a measurable difference if they can project a clear vision, make government operations more effective, and be fully accountable for delivering tangible results.
Related Link: Leadership Program Stirs Small Revolution in Burundi
(http://go.worldbank.org/8A8ZQ6UBM0)
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10. New WBI Publications
* Broadcasting, Voice, and Accountability (April 2008) (http://publications.worldbank.org/ecommerce/catalog/product?item_id=8100893)
(Read about the research behind the book) (http://go.worldbank.org/TO5KDCMGS0)
* Parliaments as Peace Builders in Conflict-Affected Countries (May 2008)
(http://publications.worldbank.org/ecommerce/catalog/product?item_id=8104374)
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11. New Development Outreach on Business and Poverty (June 2008 issue)
This latest issue of Development Outreach features a special report on Business and Poverty, examining the realities of private sector operations at the base of the economic pyramid and the potential risks and benefits for local development. The key question addressed in this issue is: How can companies operate profitably in emerging market economies, while enhancing the well-being of the poor by nurturing them as producers and consumers?
Related Link: Development Outreach Website (http://www1.worldbank.org/devoutreach/)
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12. WBI Websites in Arabic, French, and Spanish
WBI's language websites are available in Arabic, French, and Spanish. These language sites provide general information about WBI and highlight materials currently available in these languages, and do not duplicate the WBI English website. We look forward to your feedback about the WBI language sites.
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