The IMF’s April 2025 Regional Economic Outlook for Sub-Saharan Africa presents a clear warning: regional growth is slowing, debt pressures are mounting, and donor assistance is declining. Yet the report outlines critical opportunities particularly in domestic revenue mobilization, structural reform, and private sector activation that can shape a more resilient …
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO)has set up a Rs 20,000 crore project to reach broadband connectivity to an estimated 2,50,000 villages. The aim of the project is to accelerate the delivery of government services in the villages. The proposal to establish the National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN) to provide broadband …
The significance of Rio + 20 does not lie in any document but in the new direction provided to global governance, whose focus should be on patterns of natural resource use, and not just on natural capital, to ensure human well being. The sequel to the 1992 Earth Summit, once …
A comparative evaluation of one-stop, computerised citizen service centres in various Indian states has been carried out in this paper to assess their efficacy. It is found that the outcomes of policies related to e-governance in India are not correlated to conventional variables such as economic development. Instead the extent …
The Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development marks 20 years since the historic Earth Summit1 that was instrumental in laying the foundations and charting the course for contemporary sustainable development. This report looks at the issues that pertain to the management, development and use of fresh water resources. Its …
Communities can conserve forests and make a living out of it. Then why is the government playing spoilsport? EARLIER THIS year, the tiny village of Mendha-Lekha in Maharashtra’s Adivasi-dominated district of Gadchiroli made headlines when it reported sales of bamboo worth more than Rs 1 crore. The source of the …
The Andhra Pradesh is one of the two states in the country to initiate democratic decentralisation process on the lines of Balawanta Rai Mehata Committee Report in 1959. The process of decentralisation in the state can be broadly divided into six phases. In every phase, the successive government, except during …
Asian chief justices and judges recognize that they have much to gain by exchanging experiences with judges across borders. Their professional ties with fellow judges are often strong, given their shared professional challenges. ADB has recognized the unique and distinct leadership role the judiciary plays in the environmental enforcement chain. …
This study examines how energy needs for human and economic development can be met in a way that is compatible with long-term sustainable development at the global scale. The study pulls together insights from global energy and sustainability scenarios, case studies of socio-technical transformation of energy systems on both the …
This publication aims to formulate a broader framework of integration which is required for cities to transition to sustainable, resource efficient development and to realise green urban economic growth trajectories that are equitable and sustainable. It frames the question of urban sustainability in a conceptual foundation and language that places …
Urban transport determines the shape of a city and its ecological footprint. Many cities in low- and middle-income countries are at a crossroads. Policy decisions taken now, while car use is still relatively low and cities retain a relatively transit friendly, compact urban form, will affect how people will live …
A number of REDD+ countries have begun to develop their own national safeguard standards, a development that – if carried out in a participatory, transparent manner and in compliance with international obligations – is to be strongly encouraged. While taking into account national circumstances, common ground is needed at international …
This report forms part of the GEF-funded project on “Groundwater Governance: A Global Framework for Country Action” under the International Waters focal area, and includes partners from the FAO, GEF-IW, IAH, UNESCO-IHP and the Bank. The project includes a broad review of issues, challenges and lessons drawing from national and …
The State of the environment Maldives 2011 report addresses the objective of providing an analytical overview of state of the environment focusing on 10 key environmental challenges confronting today. New issues including energy, chemical and toxicology and environmental governance have been included in this report widening the information and data, …
This approach paper analyses the performance of Andhra Pradesh in different sectors and makes an assessment of future prospects. It then attempts to lay down the approach in terms of targets and strategies for the key economic sectors for the 12th Five Year Plan based on analysis of the past …
Oxford University hosted the first International Conference on Water Security, Risk and Society on 16-18 April, which brought together over 200 of the world’s leading thinkers and practitioners from relevant science, policy and enterprise communities. The conference took place at a key moment of wider reflection on uneven progress and …
This report proposes a set of governance criteria to assess the greening of urban processes that go beyond the decision-making procedures, and includes the capacity to implement change, the results in greening the economy, and final outcomes on the ground. The authors also look at the obstacles, achievements and lessons …
The purpose of these Voluntary Guidelines is to serve as a reference and to provide guidance to improve the governance of tenure of land, fisheries and forests with the overarching goal of achieving food security for all and to support the progressive realization of the right to adequate food in …
Despite a series of measures initiated by the state government, there seems to be no end to suicides by farmers in the state. Unable to bear huge financial losses due to poor crop, mounting debts and other related reasons, 12 farmers have committed suicide in a span of two months …
In 2007, the world became a predominantly urban society. An estimated three-quarters of economic production now takes place in cities. Urbanization brings with it the possibilities of improved access to jobs, goods, and services for poor people in developing countries and beyond as globalization trends connect cities worldwide. However, new …
The Asia-Pacific region continues to face a deeply challenging external environment. The V-shaped recovery from the depths of the 2008-2009 global financial crisis in 2010 proved to be short-lived, as the world economy entered the second stage of the crisis in 2011, due to euro zone debt concerns and the …
