Second Series of Poverty Reduction Support Operations in Laos

This Report is a document of the World Bank and it assesses and rates the Fourth Poverty Reduction Support Operation (PRSO) Project for Laos. The Ratings were as follows: outcomes were satisfactory, the risk to development outcome was moderate, the Bank performance was satisfactory, and the Borrower performance was also satisfactory.

Some lessons learned included: complementarity between policy and institutional dialogue through PRSO and existing investment and technical assistance projects is critical for the success of reforms. In order to assist in effective implementation of the policy reforms, complementary technical assistance have been provided through projects and coordinated technical support by other development partners.

          Reducing Poverty Laos

Opening the dialogue and flexibly adapting to the political economy for reforms will be critical for success. These include local governments such as provinces and the national assembly economic and budget committee. Supporting a reasonably well defined reform agenda of a senior champion in Government is equally important for success.

In areas where sector working groups are active, it is important that PRSO engage in and maintain direct communications with existing sector working groups to ensure a constructive and consistency to the existing reform dialogue. It is equally important that PRSO coordinates closely and maintains contact with other development partners who do not participate in the PRSO modality but are involved in areas relevant to PRSO dialogue.

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The United Nations Refugee Agency: 2013 Global Appeal Update

The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has just released the Global Appeal 2013 Update. The Global Appeal is an invaluable guide for general readers to UNHCR’s worldwide operations, which is categorised into Regions; Africa, Middle East & North Africa, Asia & the Pacific, Europe and the Americas.

                     UNHCR Assistance pic

The Humanitarian situation in a number of UNHCR’s operations has evolved considerably in 2012 with many emergencies and new situations arising. At the same time, the organization is focusing attention on the strategic priorities in 2010 and 2011 that pointed to areas for sustained efforts, particularly nutrition, education and water supply. Responding effectively will involve ever greater balancing between competing priorities, a necessary yet difficult task.

Operations have updated their comprehensive needs assessments and plans for 2013, using the GSPs to prioritize what is central to UNHCR’s mandate. They will continue to pursue the relevant objectives and indicators from UNHCR’s results-based management framework. Targets for achievement in 2013 have also been updated and operations will monitor progress at the field level.

While the GSPs have multiple aspects, UNHCR will provide an overview of results based on indicators that are commonly used by operations. By grouping the situations using these common indicators, UNHCR has established levels of “Global Engagement” for the operational GSPs to provide a lens through which to view and measure developments in priority areas.

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Georgia Demographic Change : implications for social programs and poverty

This Study, which is funded by the World Bank, provides an overview of demographic changes and their policy implications in Georgia, with particular reference to the poor.


Georgia Demographic Change

Georgia’s population is expected to decline between 2010 and 2050, and this trend will be accompanied by a growing elderly cohort and a rising total dependency ratio.  The note emphasizes four interrelated policy topics.  These are labor force participation, labor force productivity, and potential cost pressures arising from the pension system and from the health sector.  In each area, special attention is given to the linkages between these issues, social spending programs, and opportunities for targeting the poor.  The note does not present specific policy recommendations, but instead outlines broad areas where future analytical work might be undertaken to arrive at more precise policy options. 


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International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

One-day social media action to raise awareness of MDG successes and push for achievement of the Goals by 2015 

The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty has been observed every year since 1993, when the General Assembly, by resolution 47/196, designated this day to promote awareness of the need to eradicate poverty and destitution in all countries, particularly in developing countries - a need that has become a development priority.

At the Millennium Summit, world leaders committed themselves to cutting by half by the year 2015 the number of people living in extreme poverty - people whose income is less than one dollar a day. 

This years theme is  ”Ending the Violence of Extreme Poverty: Promoting Empowerment and Building Peace”.

UN Resources:


World of Work Report 2012.

World of Work

According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), the just released  flagship report titled World of Work Report: Better jobs for Better Economy provides a comprehensive analysis of recent labour market and social trends, assesses risks of social unrest and presents employment projections for the next five years.

The report addresses the following questions:

• To what extent has the slow recovery aggravated social conditions, including falling incomes, deepening poverty and worsening inequality?
• Have countries gone too far, too fast with fiscal consolidation? How should they support recovery while meeting fiscal goals in the medium term?
• What can be expected from recent labour market reforms?
• How can investment be boosted so as to ensure a long-lasting recovery in both the economy and jobs?
• What have been the barriers to implementing a more job-centred and equity-enhancing policy approach? Why has the business-as-usual scenario maintained its centrality despite the increasing risk of social unrest?

The full report is available in English pdf format.

Previous reports

UN envoy confident that the use of child soldiers can be eradicated

The Security Council process of naming and shaming groups that recruit and use child soldiers has been effective in combating the scourge, the United Nations envoy working on the issue says, adding that, like slavery, this horrible practice can be eradicated with concerted action.
UN Resources:

UNFPA: Urbanization, gender and urban poverty

UNFPA has published a report on Urbanization, gender and urban poverty.This collaborative working paper, and the shorter technical briefing  note derived from it, discuss hidden dimensions of urban poverty, and the different ways in which they impact men and women. 

Press Release

International Women’s Day 2012

Today is International Womens day.

The official United Nations theme for International Women’s Day 2012 is “Empower Rural Women — End Hunger and Poverty.

UN RESOURCES: 

Other Related Days

15 October - International Day of Rural Women [observed pursuant to A/RES/62/136

25 November - International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women designated by A/RES/54/134


Photo Source: UN Photo Library.08 March 2011Monrovia, Liberia Photo # 466126

Social Protection Floor for a Fair and Inclusive Globalization

This report, Social Protection Floor for a Fair and Inclusive Globalization, prepared under the guidance of Ms Michelle Bachelet and members of the Advisory Group, shows that the extension of social protection, drawing on social protection floors, can play a pivotal role in relieving people of poverty and deprivation. 

UN Habitat: Economic Role of Cities

This report examines the economic role of cities. It illustrates the important contributions of cities to national economic development and poverty reduction. It looks at the agglomeration economies, city clusters, city regions and mega city regions.

17 October - International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty has been observed every year since 1993, when the General Assembly, by resolution 47/196, designated this day to promote awareness of the need to eradicate poverty and destitution in all countries, particularly in developing countries — a need that has become a development priority.

UN Resources:

At the Millennium Summit, world leaders committed themselves to cutting by half by the year 2015 the number of people living in extreme poverty — people whose income is less than one dollar a day.

The theme of the 2011 observance is “From Poverty to Sustainability: People at the Centre of Inclusive Development”. With global attention focused on the upcoming Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), it is critical to draw attention to the importance of poverty eradication for building sustainable futures for all.