Infrastructure for a Seamless Asia


Book Description

This study examines major challenges and issues associated with developing regional infrastructure through the fostering of regional cooperation in Asia, and provides a framework for pan-Asian infrastructure cooperation. The study's long-term vision is the creation of a seamless Asia (an integrated region connected by world-class, environmentally friendly infrastructure) in terms of both "hard" (physical) and "soft" (facilitating) infrastructure. The soft part supports the development and operation of the hard component. Findings indicate that the benefits of upgrading and extending Asia's infrastructure networks are substantial, and that all countries in the region would benefit. A logistics network is only as good as its weakest link; each country in a regional supply chain gains from infrastructure improvements made in others. Improving connectivity in the region would bring Asia large welfare gains through increased market access, reduced trade costs, and more efficient energy production and use. According to the study, to achieve this Asia needs to invest approximately $8 trillion in overall national infrastructure between 2010 and 2020. In addition, Asia needs to spend approximately $290 billion on specific regional infrastructure projects in transport and energy that are already in the pipeline




Shock Waves


Book Description

Ending poverty and stabilizing climate change will be two unprecedented global achievements and two major steps toward sustainable development. But the two objectives cannot be considered in isolation: they need to be jointly tackled through an integrated strategy. This report brings together those two objectives and explores how they can more easily be achieved if considered together. It examines the potential impact of climate change and climate policies on poverty reduction. It also provides guidance on how to create a “win-win†? situation so that climate change policies contribute to poverty reduction and poverty-reduction policies contribute to climate change mitigation and resilience building. The key finding of the report is that climate change represents a significant obstacle to the sustained eradication of poverty, but future impacts on poverty are determined by policy choices: rapid, inclusive, and climate-informed development can prevent most short-term impacts whereas immediate pro-poor, emissions-reduction policies can drastically limit long-term ones.




Guidelines on the Use of Consultants by Asian Development Bank and Its Borrowers


Book Description

Энэхүү журам нь Азийн Хөгжлийн Банк (АХБ)-наас олгосон аливаа зээл, буцалтгүй тусламж, эсхүл АХБ-наас захиран зарцуулдаг сангаас бүрэн ба хэсэгчлэн санхүүждэг зээлийн болон техник туслалцаа (ТТ)-ны төслийн зөвлөхийг сонгон шалгаруулах, гэрээ байгуулах, түүнд хяналт шинжилгээ хийх үед дагаж мөрдөх АХБ-ны бодлого, горим журмыг тодорхойлно.




Pakistan's Water Economy


Book Description

Water sustenance and management are central development challenges facing Pakistan today. This report argues for dramatic changes in policy and approach to enable Pakistan to maintain and build new infrastructure, besides securing the water required for future generations. Focusing on two basic issuesthe countrys major water-related challenges, and ways of addressing themthe report calls for reinvigorated public water policies and institutions to sustain water development and management in the future by: Exploring the evolution of water management in Pakistan Describing past achievements and their relevance in the current context Analyzing existing challenges Suggesting ways of evolving a sustainable water management system The report draws heavily on a set of companion reports by Pakistan water experts and policy analysts. These reports are presented in the accompanying CD and provide in-depth analyses of: The interface between water and agriculture, energy, environment, growth, and poverty Drinking water, sanitation, drainage and salinity, flood, dams, groundwater, and water balance management Water-related rights and entitlements, reforms, and resources and institutions




The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2018


Book Description

New evidence this year corroborates the rise in world hunger observed in this report last year, sending a warning that more action is needed if we aspire to end world hunger and malnutrition in all its forms by 2030. Updated estimates show the number of people who suffer from hunger has been growing over the past three years, returning to prevailing levels from almost a decade ago. Although progress continues to be made in reducing child stunting, over 22 percent of children under five years of age are still affected. Other forms of malnutrition are also growing: adult obesity continues to increase in countries irrespective of their income levels, and many countries are coping with multiple forms of malnutrition at the same time – overweight and obesity, as well as anaemia in women, and child stunting and wasting.




Greening Growth in Pakistan Through Transport Sector Reforms


Book Description

Greening Growth in Pakistan through Transport Sector Reforms: A Strategic Environmental, Poverty, and Social Assessment identifies reforms that can help Pakistan manage its environmental priorities given transport's impacts on air quality, noise pollution, road safety, hazardous-materials transport, climate change, and urban sprawl. The policy options are contextualized in light of the government of Pakistan's 2011 Framework for Economic Growth and its strategic objectives. This analytical work examines the poverty, social, and environmental aspects associated with reforms that would increase the freight transport sector's productivity to meet the Framework's goals. It focuses on the following areas: - Analyzing the policy and institutional adjustments required to address the environmental, social, and poverty aspects of increased transportation efficiency in Pakistan - Identifying policy options for the government of Pakistan to better serve the population, to enhance social cohesion, and to foster equitable benefit sharing with low-income or other vulnerable groups - Developing a broad participatory process to give a voice to stakeholders who could be affected by enhancements of freight transport productivity - Making robust recommendations to strengthen governance and the institutional capacity of agencies to manage the environmental, social, and poverty consequences of freight transportation infrastructure The book also presents information on the economic and institutional analyses undergirding this report and details its methodology. Greening Growth in Pakistan through Transport Sector Reforms is intended for policy makers, civil society, the private sector, and academics who wish to participate in dialogues on Pakistan's trade and transport sectors' priorities. It is hoped that this report will stimulate debate that steers these sectors and their participants in the direction of greening economic growth.




Climate Change Profile of Pakistan


Book Description

Catastrophic floods, droughts, and cyclones have plagued Pakistan in recent years. The 2010 flood killed 1,600 people and caused around $10 billion in damage. The 2015 Karachi heat wave led to the death of more than 1,200 people. Climate change-related natural hazards may increase in frequency and severity in the coming decades. Climatic changes are expected to have wide-ranging impacts on Pakistan, affecting agricultural productivity, water availability, and increased frequency of extreme climatic events. Addressing these risks requires climate change to be mainstreamed into national strategy and policy. This publication provides a comprehensive overview of climate change science and policy in Pakistan.