empleo

Challenge Deforestation levels in Paraguay were very high, and the country faced some of the most significant forest losses compared to global averages. The Atlantic Forest, considered Latin America’s most important biome for biodiversity after the Amazon Forest, is almost gone, even though it was flourishing in Paraguay, Brazil, and Argentina as recently as the 1970s. Today, only about 7 percent of the original forest remains in Paraguay. Paraguayans have witnessed this change with despair, but the nation has had limited opportunities to arrest or alter this trend. Approach The Conservation of Biodiversity and Sustainable Land Management in the Atlantic Forest of Eastern Paraguay project, commonly referred to as the Paraguay Biodiversity Project, was designed to serve as Paraguay’s first conservation model to use a landscape management approach based on a biodiversity corridor to support the restoration of the Atlantic Forest. ITAIPU Binational, considered the largest energy generator in the world, worked with the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture, the National Indigenous Peoples Institute (INDI), farmers, and NGOs to develop this large-scale restoration program aimed at providing the last refuge for many threatened species displaced by conversion of forest into agricultural land. A major challenge was the large size of the proposed corridor, covering one million hectares, and the distance between forest remnants. The implementation model developed in response had two key elements: (i) it included the participation of regional implementing agencies (among them NGOs, women’s groups, indigenous peoples’ associations and farmers’ cooperatives) to increase local ownership, and (ii) it instituted interventions designed by the same constituents. The emphasis was placed on engaging people to work together on restoration actions, rather than on cash transfers or results payments.  The Bank-financed project helped build capacities at all levels, including government agencies, grassroots groups and farmers. Goals included improving reforestation with fast growing species for income and wood, restoring stream banks, reducing use of toxic agrochemicals, supporting new regulations and policies for watershed conservation, and constructing infrastructure for protected areas lacking basic services for park rangers and visitors. The participation of indigenous communities and INDI in the range of project activities was critical to reaching the desired project outcomes. Indigenous peoples, though often excluded and lacking basic services, hold some of the largest forest areas in the Atlantic Region, and their interest and engagement in the project was essential to its success. The project planners were committed to overcoming these challenges and to including INDI in the project structure, adjusting project methods to their languages, culture, vision and interests. Results Many outcomes were achieved throughout project implementation. Particularly fruitful developments included the declaration by the Ministry of Environment that the corridor was a national public priority and the formation of a trusted civil society–government network encompassing 55 municipalities, 30 regional implementing groups, and more than 20,000 people working toward restoration of the Atlantic Forest. Other results included the following:     · Protected areas, private reserves, and ITAIPU reserves (80,000 hectares owned by the governments of Paraguay and Brazil) implemented sustainable conservation practices. In total, 233,353 hectares in the Mbaracayú–San Rafael Conservation Corridor were converted for this purpose.     · Biodiversity conservation efforts under the project supported the protection of the habitat of 296 bird species, including endangered and endemic species such as the Gray-bellied Hawk, Saffron Toucanet, Bare-throated Bellbird, Helmeted Woodpecker, Vinaceous Parrot and Rusty-barred Owl, all of which use the corridor’s habitats.     · New infrastructure for parks and the Ministry of Environment of Paraguay was constructed.     · Income and food security for small farmers and indigenous communities was supported through implementation of tailored subprojects, such as planting yerba mate, the traditional staple energy drink of Paraguayans, and installing bee hives to produce honey for family consumption and sale.     · A total of 130 staff from the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture benefited from specialized training on best international practices for managing protected areas, certifying forest production, and monitoring biodiversity, as well as focused studies in environmental economics, agroforestry, apiculture, integrated pest management, watershed conservation, and application of the environmental safeguards policies.     · A total of 5,445 teachers from180 schools in the corridor area benefited from an environmental education program that provided them with materials outlining the threats to the Atlantic Forest. These materials inspired these teachers and their students to participate in planting trees and promoting environmental awareness campaigns. Bank Group Contribution The World Bank, through the Global Environment Facility, provided a grant in the amount of US$4.5 million to finance the Conservation of Biodiversity and Sustainable Land Management in the Atlantic Forest of Eastern Paraguay project. Additional funds were provided by ITAIPU Binational in the amount of US$9.74 million, by the Paraguayan government in the amount of US$3.5 million, and by local beneficiaries in the amount of US$830,000.   Partners This project set up a unique and unprecedented partnership to foster ecological restoration in Eastern Paraguay’s biodiversity corridor in the Atlantic Forest. With the agreement of the Paraguayan Ministry of the Environment, the Bank and GEF selected ITAIPU, a hydropower plant, as the executing agency for this grant. ITAIPU is a Guarani word meaning “the sounding stone,” and it suggests the sound of the Parana River in the project site. ITAIPU’s previous experience working on the reforestation of the reservoir shore informed its work on the much larger corridor territory. Deforestation intersects with complex sectoral agendas, so ITAIPU was supported in strategic implementation decisions by a multisectoral team, comprised by representatives from the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture and INDI.  The project also established innovative partnerships for technical assistance and support for restoration initiatives with medium and larger producers in Eastern Paraguay. These producers included, for example, the cooperatives Yguazu, Agro-silo Ybyporá, and Chololo SRL in an innovative partnership to support sustainable heart of palm production within forestlands. Altogether, the local network extended to more than 50 organizations, including local NGOs, farmers’ associations, indigenous groups, cooperatives, and others. The network became the critical link for implementing more than 1,100 subprojects to enhance ecological restoration of the Atlantic Forest, increase food security and conserve water.   ITAIPU contributions, combined with financing from the government of Paraguay and in kind contributions from beneficiaries increased local ownership.  The collaboration of many different sectors working together to protect their gran casa, or great house, inspired many government agencies, communities, and stakeholders across the country with the possibility of rebuilding the connectivity of the forest and the home habitat of many threatened species and of increasing the area’s resiliency to climate change.  Beneficiaries The increased connectivity of remnants of the Atlantic Forest had four primary types of beneficiaries: (i) farmers (large- and medium-sized as well as 2,500 small campesinos), (ii) 2,283 indigenous families, representing approximately 10,636 indigenous people; (iii) government agencies; and (iv) local and international NGOs. Indigenous peoples were the project’s largest beneficiary group, with about 40 percent of the funds allocated to implement subprojects in these communities. The indigenous communities as well as organizations working with indigenous peoples (IP) in the region partnered with the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) in implementing the project. The local IP implementing groups included Asociación Cultural Popular Canindeu, Asociación Yvy Marane’y, Asociación Madre Tierra, Comunidad Ache Puerto Barra, and Asociación Nande Ru Simeon Delgado, among others. The beneficiaries in the government include staff at central ministries and local governments, including the Secretariat of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, National Indigenous People Institute, National Forestry Agency, Public Ministry, Ministry of Education, and 55 municipalities. Twenty NGOs, including long-standing organizations dedicated to conservation and sustainable production at local and national levels, were also beneficiaries. The project enabled them to advance their sustainability and conservation objectives and to function as service providers. Moving Forward Itaipu Binational has incorporated a landscape and conservation corridor approach to its reforestation program and expanded its watershed protection programs. ITAIPU continues to support the Paraguay Biodiversity Project and the indigenous communities and producers that participated in the project through the provision of additional technical assistance to ensure the sustainability of investments. To this end, a Reimbursable Advisory Services agreement was signed with the World Bank, valued at US$850,000, to continue ITAIPU’s work in consolidating and restoring the Atlantic Forest Corridor. Additional funds from the Program on Forests and other trust funds have also been leveraged to further the sustainability efforts initiated with this GEF grant. Furthermore, the results achieved under this project played a role in UNESCO’s decision to include this corridor as part of a ITAIPU Biosphere Reserve, as it recently declared in Paris.

Washington, October 31, 2017 — Economies in Latin America and the Caribbean continue to reform their business climate for small and medium enterprises, says the 15th anniversary edition of the World Bank Group’s annual Doing Business report. Released today, Doing Business 2018: Reforming to Create Jobs, finds that half of the region’s 32 economies implemented reforms in the past year, bringing to a total of 398 the number of reforms enacted in the past 15 years. El Salvador earned a notable spot in this year’s global top improvers, with four reforms adopted during the past year. These included improving the reliability of electricity by introducing a better outage management system and maintenance planning and making it easier for businesses to pay taxes by implementing an online platform for filing and payment of taxes. Other reforms covered the Doing Business areas of Dealing with Construction Permits and Trading Across Borders. Joining El Salvador in implementing multiple reforms were Jamaica and the Dominican Republic, with three reforms each. Both economies reduced the time to start a business and improved the reliability of electricity supply. Brazil, the region’s largest economy, implemented one reform to facilitate cross border trade by reducing the time for documentary compliance for both exporting and importing. In the past 15 years, Brazil has implemented a total of 18 reforms, above the regional average of 12 reforms. Mexico, the region’s second largest economy, also implemented one reform in the past year. The reform, in the Doing Business area of Getting Electricity, is aimed at improving the reliability of electricity supply. Mexico has implemented a total of 26 reforms in the past 15 years. The region’s top ranked economies are Mexico (in 49th place), Peru (58) and Colombia (59). “Reforms implemented by economies in Latin America and the Caribbean continue to improve the business environment for entrepreneurs,” said Santiago Croci Downes, Program Manager of the Doing Business Unit. “As the impact of these reforms spreads, we are likely to see a more dynamic private sector which will boost economic growth in the region.” Latin American economies perform best in the areas of Getting Electricity and Getting Credit. For example, nine of the region’s 32 economies are among the top 20 in the area Getting Credit, thanks to well-developed public registries and credit bureaus. In addition, obtaining an electricity connection in the region takes 66 days on average, which is faster in than in the OECD high-income area, where the average is 79 days. However, the cost to connect to the electricity grid in the region remains significant with an average of 927.4 percent of the income per capita, compared to 63 percent in OECD high-income economies. One of the biggest challenges for the region is the time it takes to pay taxes. On average, this takes 332 hours per year in Latin America and the Caribbean, compared to the average of 161 hours per year in the OECD high-income economies. The region also underperforms in the areas of Registering Property and Starting a Business. It takes on average 63 days to transfer property in the region, which is significantly more than across OECD high-income economies where it takes 22.5 days. Highlights of the region’s successes over the past 15 years include:With 34 reforms, Colombia has implemented the most reforms in Latin America and the Caribbean. In Starting a Business, Colombia has reduced the number of days to register a new business to 11 days, from 44 days in 2003.Mexico and Jamaica are second and third in the region in the number of reforms implemented over time, with 26 and 25 reforms respectively. Fifteen years ago, it took 31.5 days to start a business in Mexico City, compared to 8.5 days today. While in Jamaica, which is in the top five ranked economies in Starting a Business, it takes just three days to register a business, compared to 31 days 15 years ago.Economies in the region have significantly reduced the time to start a business by introducing online systems, simplifying procedures and launching one stop shops for business registration. Now, on average, starting a business in the region takes 38 days, compared to 78 days 15 years ago. Nevertheless, the current average is still significantly above the global average of 20 days. The full report and its datasets are available at www.doingbusiness.org

Washington, 31 de outubro de 2017— As economias da América Latina e Caribe continuam a empreender reformas no ambiente de negócios para pequenas e médias empresas, afirma a 15ª edição do relatório Doing Business do Grupo Banco Mundial. Lançado hoje, o Doing Business 2018: Reformar para Gerar Empregos constata que metade das 32 economias da região implementaram reformas no ano passado, perfazendo um total de 398 reformas promulgadas nos últimos 15 anos. El Salvador conquistou um local de destaque entre os países do mundo que mais melhoraram este ano, com quatro reformas adotadas em 2016-17. As reformas incluíram melhorias na confiabilidade do sistema elétrico com a introdução de um sistema aprimorado de gestão de apagões e novas facilidades no pagamento de impostos por parte das empresas mediante a implementação de uma plataforma on-line para declaração e pagamentos de impostos. Outras reformas abrangeram as áreas do Doing Business referentes à Obtenção de Alvarás de Construção e Comércio Internacional. Outros países que, como El Salvador, implementaram várias mudanças no ambiente regulatório dos negócios, foram a Jamaica e a República Dominicana, com três reformas cada. Essas economias reduziram o tempo necessário para abrir uma empresa e melhoraram a confiabilidade do serviço de eletricidade. O Brasil, a maior economia da região, implementou uma reforma para facilitar o comércio transfronteiriço reduzindo o tempo para conformidade com documentos de exportação e importação. Nos últimos 15 anos, o Brasil implementou um total de 18 reformas, acima da média regional de 12 reformas. O México, segunda maior economia da região, também implementou uma reforma no ano passado. A reforma implementada da área do Doing Business referente à Obtenção de Eletricidade está voltada para melhorar a confiabilidade do serviço de energia elétrica. Nos últimos 15 anos, o México implementou um total de 26 reformas nas leis e regulamentações das pequenas e médias empresas. As economias mais bem classificadas da região foram o México (49º lugar), Peru (58º) e Colômbia (59º). “As reformas implementadas pelas economias da América Latina e Caribe continuam a melhorar o ambiente de negócios para os empreendedores”, afirma Santiago Croci Downes, Gerente de Programa da Unidade do Doing Business. “À medida que essas reformas se diversificam, provavelmente veremos um setor privado mais dinâmico que dará um impulso no crescimento econômico da região”. As economias da América Latina e Caribe tiveram melhor desempenho nas áreas referentes à Obtenção de Eletricidade e Obtenção de Crédito. Por exemplo, nove das 32 economias da região estão entre as 20 primeiras no tópico sobre a Obtenção de Crédito, graças ao bom desenvolvimento de registros e informações de crédito. Além disso, na região leva em média 66 dias para se obter uma ligação elétrica, um prazo médio mais curto do que nas economias de alta renda da OCDE, onde a média é de 79 dias. No entanto, o custo de uma ligação à rede elétrica continua alto na região, com uma média equivalente a 927,4% da renda per capita, comparada a 63% nas economias de alta renda da OCDE. Um dos maiores desafios da região é o tempo que leva para pagar impostos. Em média, são necessárias 332 horas por ano para pagar impostos na América Latina e Caribe, comparado com a média de 161 horas por ano nas economias de alta renda da OCDE. A região também apresenta um desempenho mais baixo nos tópicos sobre o Registro de Propriedades e Abertura de Empresas. Na região, leva-se em média 63 dias para registrar uma tranferência de propriedade, um prazo mais alto do que nas economias de alta renda da OCDE, onde o prazo médio é de 22,5 dias. Entre os sucessos alcançados na região nos últimos 15 anos, destacam-se os seguintes:Com 34 reformas, a Colômbia implementou o maior número de reformas da região da América Latina e Caribe. No que se refere à Abertura de Empresas, a Colômbia diminuiu o número de dias necessários para registrar um novo negócio de 44 dias em 2003 para atualmente 11 dias .O México e a Jamaica ficaram em segundo e terceiro lugar na região em termos do número de reformas implementas, com 26 e 25 reformas respectivamente. Quinze anos atrás, levava 31,5 dias para abrir um negócio na Cidade do México, em comparação com 8,5 dias atualmente. Ao passo que na Jamaica, que ficou entre as cinco primeiras economias do mundo com relação à área da Abertura de Empresas, são necessários apenas três dias para registrar um negócio, em comparação com 31 dias há 15 anos.  As economias da região reduziram significativamente o tempo necessário para abrir uma empresa mediante a introdução de sistemas on-line, simplificação de procedimentos e lançamentos de guichês únicos para registro de negócios. Agora, abrir um negócio na região leva, em média, 38 dias, comparado com 78 dias há 15 anos. No entanto, a média atual da região ainda está significativamente acima da média global de 20 dias. O relatório completo, juntamente com seus conjuntos de dados, está disponível em www.doingbusiness.org

Challenge In mid-2013, Honduras was facing macroeconomic challenges related to significant increases in its already high fiscal deficit and public debt, circumstances that threatened the country’s macroeconomic stability and its ability to fund social programs geared toward poverty reduction. A fragile macroeconomic and fiscal outlook, combined with the country’s high levels of crime and criminal impunity, exacerbated outward migration, foremost the phenomenon of unaccompanied child migration, triggering a humanitarian crisis. Fiscal adjustment was urgently needed to reestablish macroeconomic stability while addressing the needs of the poor and vulnerable. With the inauguration in early 2014 of a new government and the prevailing momentum for change, new possibilities opened in Honduras for the design and implementation of a reform process.  Approach The Fiscal Sustainability and Enhanced Social Protection Development Policy Credit helped Honduras close the financing gap, increase investors’ confidence, and support the design and implementation of structural reforms. Strengthened public-sector staff payroll management and enhanced efficiency of public acquisitions and public debt administration was key to restore fiscal sustainability. The loan supported the creation of a registry of public employees, which facilitated the elimination of ghost workers and improved public-sector wage bill management. The loan also supported efforts to ensure that the poor were not disproportionately affected by the fiscal retrenchment. World Bank resources were thus used to support improved efficiency in social spending by (i) prioritizing the conditional cash transfer program Bono Vida Mejor, (ii) adopting a new targeting formula to eliminate errors of inclusion, and (iii) creating a Single Registry of Participants.  Results Bank Group Contribution The World Bank, through the International Development Association, provided US$ 55 million to finance Honduras’s Fiscal Sustainability and Enhanced Social Protection Development Policy Credit. The reforms supported by the credit were underpinned by analytical work. Policy dialogue on fiscal consolidation measures and the efficiency of social public spending was informed by Honduras Public Expenditure Review: Towards Restoring Fiscal Consolidation (World Bank 2013). Government reforms in the areas of social assistance and energy were influenced by recommendations from 2013 policy notes on strengthening social protection systems and building an efficient and sustainable energy sector. Partners A strong partnership among key development partners in Honduras and the Bank was part of the broader support for the government’s reform program among the international community. In December 2014, an International Monetary Fund Stand-By Arrangement/Credit Facility, negotiated in parallel with the project credit, was signed and a US$ 130 million Inter-American Development Bank budget support operation focused on the power sector was approved. All three institutions also worked in close coordination to provide technical and advisory services supporting the Honduran government in implementing the policy reforms. Beneficiaries Macroeconomic stability is the main precondition for inclusive and sustained economic growth, and from that perspective project benefited all Hondurans. In addition to this broad effect, a significant success of the Honduran reforms can be seen in the fact that fiscal austerity did not lead to increased poverty rates, and key social programs were scaled up to cover a higher share of the extreme poor. Moving Forward Following the project, the Bank continued to support Honduras’s fiscal reform efforts under the First Fiscal Sustainability and Enhanced Competitiveness Development Policy Financing operation in the amount of US$ 50 million, approved in December 2015. The new engagement continued support for government efforts to strengthen institutional arrangements furthering fiscal sustainability and to enhance the regulatory framework promoting competitiveness by fostering competition and improving trade facilitation. Learn More Implementation Completion and Results Report Press Release Honduras Public Expenditure Review: Towards Restoring Fiscal Consolidation   

ROSEAU, The Commonwealth of Dominica, October 31, 2017 – Prime Minister Skerrit and World Bank Vice President Jorge Familiar met today to discuss the initial findings of the Post Disaster Needs Assessment and the World Bank support for resilient recovery and reconstruction. World Bank Vice President Familiar reaffirmed his deepest solidarity and support to the people of Dominica. “We welcome the World Bank’s assistance and solidarity in our endeavours to build the first climate resilient nation. We are working hard and quickly at the task but recognise that it is of a scale and global importance that requires significant international support”, said Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit. The visit, following the high-level Caribbean roundtable in Washington on October 13, signals the World Bank’s continued commitment to fast track assistance to Dominica in building back better and more resilient in the wake of Hurricane Maria.  A World Bank team was deployed to Dominica, working with partners, to assist the government in assessing the damages and start planning the reconstruction. As part of the Hurricane response, the World Bank is preparing a financial package of over US$100 million for Dominica to provide immediate support to farmers, rebuild resilient public infrastructure, strengthen resilience, and help create financial buffers. “In the face of a disaster such as the one faced by Dominica where every small town, every street, every person has been affected, recovery requires support from all partners for reconstruction and resilience”, said World Bank Vice President Jorge Familiar. “I commended Prime Minister Skerrit for his vision of making Dominica the first climate resilient nation in the world and assured the Prime Minister that Dominica can count on our full support in turning this tragic event into an opportunity to build back stronger and plan for a more sustainable future”. Preliminary results from the rapid damage and loss assessment jointly conducted with the World Bank, the UN, the Caribbean Development Bank, the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, and the European Union, estimate that Hurricane Maria brought damage and losses of over 200 percent of annual GDP, equivalent to approximately US$ 1.3 billion. Public infrastructure, electricity and telecom networks, housing and agriculture sectors suffered the biggest damages. During the meeting, Prime Minister Skerrit requested support for providing small grants to farmers and small businesses impacted by the Hurricane. In response, World Bank Vice President confirmed the immediate availability of US$10 million to help support small farmers rebuild their livelihoods. Concluding the meeting, World Bank Vice President reaffirmed the institution’s strong coordination with international partners including at the upcoming partners conference led by CARICOM with support of UNDP on November 21 in New York. Contacts:From the Dominica Information Service, Charles Jong, (767) 276 5665, charlesjongpp@gmail.com From the World Bank: Christelle Chapoy, (202) 361 4255, cchapoy@worldbank.org

Segundo os indicadores do relatório Doing Business 2018, divulgados hoje pelo Banco Mundial, o Brasil melhorou levemente seu ambiente de negócios em comparação com 2017, e vem se aproximando das melhores práticas regulatórias mundiais. Ai…

CIUDAD DE WASHINGTON, 31 de octubre de 2017. Las economías de América Latina y el Caribe continúan reformando el entorno para los negocios en favor de las pymes, según se afirma en la edición correspondiente al 15.o aniversario del informe Doing Business del Grupo Banco Mundial, que se publica todos los años. En el documento que se dio a conocer hoy, titulado Doing Business 2018: Reforming to Create Jobs (Reformar para crear empleos), se indica que la mitad de las 32 economías de la región implementaron reformas durante el año pasado, por lo que el total de reformas aplicadas en los últimos 15 años asciende a 398. El Salvador ganó un lugar destacado entre los países que más mejoraronen el informe Doing Business 2018, pues introdujo cuatro reformas durante el año pasado. Entre ellas figuran haber mejorado la fiabilidad del suministro eléctrico mediante la introducción de un sistema más eficiente para el manejo de los cortes de electricidad y mantenimiento, así como haber facilitado el pago de impuestos de las empresas gracias a la creación de una plataforma en línea que permite presentar las declaraciones de impuestos y efectuar los pagos. Las reformas restantes se encuadraron en las categorías definidas en el informe Doing Business como manejo de permisos de construcción y comercio transfronterizo. Jamaica y la República Dominicana se unen a El Salvador en el grupo de los países que implementaron múltiples reformas, con tres reformas cada uno. En ambas economías se redujo el tiempo que se requiere para poner en marcha una empresa y se incrementó la fiabilidad del suministro eléctrico. Brasil, la principal economía de la región, implementó una reforma para facilitar el comercio transfronterizo reduciendo el tiempo que se requiere para presentar los documentos exigidos tanto al importar como al exportar. En los últimos 15 años, Brasil puso en marcha un total de 18 reformas, cifra que supera el promedio regional de 12. México, la segunda economía de la región, durante el año pasado también implementó una reforma, encuadrada en el área de obtención de electricidad, con la que se busca incrementar la fiabilidad del servicio eléctrico. En los últimos 15 años, el país introdujo un total de 26 reformas. Las economías de la región mejor ubicadas en la clasificación general son México (puesto 49), Perú (puesto 58) y Colombia (puesto 59). “Las reformas implementadas por las economías de América Latina y el Caribe continúan mejorando el entorno de negocios para favorecer a los emprendedores”, afirmó Santiago Croci Downes, gerente de programa de la unidad responsable de Doing Business. “A medida que se extienda el impacto de estas reformas, probablemente comencemos a ver un sector privado más dinámico, lo que impulsará el crecimiento económico de la región”. Las economías latinoamericanas muestran mejor desempeño en las áreas de obtención electricidad y obtención de crédito. Por ejemplo, 9 de las 32 economías de la región se encuentran entre las 20 de mejor desempeño en relación con el acceso al crédito, pues cuentan con registros públicos y organismos de verificación de antecedentes crediticios bien desarrollados. Asimismo, para lograr la instalación de una conexión eléctrica en la región se requieren, en promedio, 66 días, un plazo más breve que en los países de ingreso alto de la Organización para la Cooperación y el Desarrollo Económicos (OCDE), donde se demora en promedio 79 días. No obstante, el costo de conectarse a la red de electricidad sigue siendo significativo en la región, dado que equivale en promedio al 927,4 % del ingreso per cápita, mientras que en las economías de ingreso alto de la OCDE, representa el 63 %. Uno de los principales desafíos para la región es el tiempo que lleva pagar los impuestos. En América Latina y el Caribe se requieren en promedio 332 horas al año, mientras que en las economías de ingreso alto de la OCDE hacen falta en promedio 161 horas al año. La región también muestra un desempeño poco satisfactorio en relación con el registro de las propiedades y la puesta en marcha de empresas: la transferencia de propiedades demora aquí en promedio 63 días, un plazo significativamente más largo que en las economías de ingreso alto de la OCDE, donde se requieren 22,5 días. Entre los logros obtenidos en la región en los últimos 15 años se incluyen los siguientes:Colombia es el país de la región que más reformas ha implementado, con un total de 34. En relación con la puesta en marcha de empresas, en 2003 redujo de 44 a 11 el número de días que se requieren para registrar un nuevo emprendimiento.México y Jamaica se ubican en segundo y tercer lugar en la región en el número de reformas aplicadas a lo largo del tiempo, con 26 y 25 reformas, respectivamente. Hace 15 años, se necesitaban 31,5 días para poner en marcha una empresa en la Ciudad de México, mientras que en la actualidad se requieren 8,5 días. Por otro lado, en Jamaica, que se encuentra entre las cinco economías de mejor desempeño en relación con la puesta en marcha de empresas, solo se requieren tres días para registrar una compañía, mientras que 15 años atrás se demoraba 31 días.Las economías de la región han logrado reducir significativamente el tiempo que se necesita para abrir una empresa introduciendo sistemas en línea, simplificando procedimientos y creando ventanillas únicas para el registro de empresas. En la actualidad, este proceso demora en la región 38 días en promedio, mientras que hace 15 años se requerían 78 días. No obstante, el promedio actual es aún notoriamente superior al mundial, de 20 días. Para consultar el informe completo y los datos correspondientes, visite: www.doingbusiness.org.

Organization: ACDI/VOCA
Country: Honduras
Closing date: 01 Dec 2017

For over 50 years and in 145 countries, ACDI/VOCA has empowered people in developing and transitional nations to succeed in the global economy. Based in Washington, D.C., ACDI/VOCA is a nonprofit international development organization that delivers technical and management assistance in agribusiness, financial services, enterprise development, community development and food security in order to promote broad-based economic growth and vibrant civil society.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Senior Specialist, Honduras

ACDI/VOCA is seeking a Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Senior Specialist for the USAID-funded Honduras Transforming Market Systems (TMS) Project. The objective of TMS is to foster competitive, resilient, and inclusive market systems that provide increased economic opportunities that incorporate poor, marginalized Hondurans and reduce incentives to migrate. The MEL Senior Specialist is responsible for overall project data collection, monitoring, reporting and learning of results. The ideal candidate should have proven experience helping teams apply information and knowledge generated through M&E systems in order to inform adaptive management approaches as part of a collaboration, learning, and adaptation (CLA) approach.

Responsibilities

• Lead the baseline data collection process, develop the MEL plan, and perform other related monitoring and evaluation efforts for the Activity.
• Coordinate with the COP, other key personnel, and Activity personnel, to provide monitoring and evaluation support on all technical-related activities.
• Design and coordinate learning approaches that enable analysis of data, context and emerging experience, as well as iterative adaptive management for the Activity’s technical approaches, and its targets and indicators to unpredicted challenges and opportunities posed by the market, the socio-political environment in Honduras, institutional capacities and other influences.
• Improve Activity implementation through an iterative and dynamic learning approach that seeks to fill key knowledge gaps, inform interventions and, as needed, refine the Activity’s theory of change throughout implementation as completed through a variety of learning processes and activities (ie studies, desk reviews, analyses, learning events, stakeholder workshops, etc.).
• Lead regular strategy meetings with COP, other Activity personnel, and USAID to analyze progress and lessons learned in order to inform and update new work plans.
• Coordinate with other Mission-led MEL Activities such as MESCLA.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in organizational/management sciences, psychometrics, measurement,
• statistics, demography or other relevant field is required. A Master’s Degree in a related field is preferred. However, three years of additional experience (in addition to the eight-year experience requirement) measuring systemic change in market systems, including experience designing and utilizing monitoring and evaluation systems, may be substituted for a Master’s degree if candidate only possesses a Bachelor-level degree.
• At least eight (8) years of relevant experience designing and utilizing monitoring and
• evaluation systems for activities of similar size and scope for donors/U.S. Government agencies or international NGO or institutions, preferably with experience developing and using a Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting approach.
• At least five (5) years supervisory work experience, including direct supervision of professional and support staff and evaluation of staff performance and deliverables is preferred.
• Proven success in leading highly collaborative, dynamic teams through processes of organizational change.
• Fluent spoken, written, and reading abilities in English and Spanish is required.

How to apply:

Please apply online at https://internationaljobs-acdivoca.icims.com/jobs/5077/monitoring%2c-evaluation-and-learning-%28mel%29-senior-specialist%2c-honduras/job?mode=view). No phone calls please. Only finalists contacted. Women and minorities encouraged to apply. EOE.

Organization: Oxfam
Country: Dominican Republic
Closing date: 25 Nov 2017

Una de cada tres personas en el mundo vive en la pobreza. Oxfam está decidida a cambiar esto movilizando el poder de las personas contra la pobreza y la desigualdad. Trabajamos a nivel mundial con herramientas innovadoras y eficaces, para lograr que las personas puedan salir de la pobreza por sí mismas y prosperar. Salvamos vidas en situaciones de emergencia y ayudamos a recuperar medios de vida. Impulsamos campañas para que las voces de las personas en situación de pobreza puedan influir en las decisiones que les afectan en el ámbito local y global.

En todo lo que hacemos, desde Oxfam trabajamos creando alianzas con otras organizaciones y junto a mujeres y hombres en situación de vulnerabilidad, para acabar con las injusticias que provocan pobreza.

¿Quieres formar parte de nuestro equipo?

Bajo la supervisión de la Responsable del Programa de Democracia y Ciudadanía (DEyCI), la persona seleccionada será encargada de formular, ejecutar y supervisar la implementación de proyectos y actividades vinculadas al eje de Desigualdades Políticas, con alto énfasis en el trabajo con juventudes y que se desarrollan en el marco del programa país de Oxfam en la República Dominicana.

¿Cuáles serán tus funciones?

• Velar por la ejecución de los proyectos y actividades asignados, garantizando el cumplimiento de los estándares de calidad de Oxfam a nivel internacional.

• Definir estrategias de implementación de las propuestas, garantizando un adecuado seguimiento, monitoreo, evaluación y aprendizaje.

• Gestionar todos los recursos técnicos y financieros de Oxfam en los proyectos asignados, garantizando que los objetivos se cumplan en línea con los principios, las políticas y las estrategias de Oxfam en el país.

• Monitorear de forma continua, tanto a nivel programático como financiero, el desarrollo de los proyectos asignados para proponer adaptaciones en los mismos, en el caso que fuera necesario.

• Acompañar y supervisar el trabajo de aliados y copartes durante el ciclo de proyectos en curso (planificación, ejecución, evaluación y aprendizaje), asegurando que cumplen las necesidades de los cofinanciadores y los objetivos que fueron definidos a la hora de formular dichos proyectos.

• Coordinar la elaboración y asegurar la calidad de los informes de ejecución de proyectos asignados (informes intermedios e informes finales), velando por su entrega en el tiempo y la forma requerida por los cofinanciadores.

• De presentarse oportunidades de financiamiento, participar en el proceso de formulación de propuestas de proyecto para ser sometidas a cofinanciación, cumpliendo con los contenidos, formatos y plazos requeridos.

• Participar en el desarrollo de estrategias de incidencia e influencia de Oxfam y sus aliados.

• Participar en actividades relacionadas con el fortalecimiento de capacidades técnicas de Oxfam y sus contrapartes, así como otras relacionadas con proyectos en ejecución por parte de Oxfam en República Dominicana (con especial énfasis en el trabajo con juventudes).

• Implementar y asegurar el cumplimiento de los procedimientos de compras relacionados con actividades de los proyectos asignados, así como el control financiero acorde a los estándares de la institución y los donantes.

¿Qué estamos buscando?

La persona seleccionada deberá reunir los requisitos siguientes:

• Nacionalidad Dominicana

Formación:

Licenciatura en ciencias sociales, comunicación, ciencias políticas, sociología o afines.

• Idiomas: español; se valora dominio del inglés Experiencia

• Experiencia profesional mínima de 3 años desarrollando funciones en un puesto similar.

• Experiencia de trabajo con organizaciones de la sociedad civil y movimientos sociales de República Dominicana, especialmente con jóvenes.

• Experiencia de participación en procesos de incidencia política y estrategias de campaña pública, diseño de propuestas de políticas públicas.

• Experiencia de trabajo previa con donantes como cooperación descentralizada española o la Unión Europea. Competencias imprescindibles:

• Dominio de la herramienta de marco lógico y de procesos de gestión de subvenciones.

• Conocimientos teóricos y experiencia de trabajo con jóvenes y/o con políticas de juventud.

• Conocimientos y experiencia en el diseño y ejecución de campaña pública para la incidencia.

• Conocimientos teóricos y experiencia de trabajo en asuntos de género / derechos de las mujeres.

• Conocimiento y compromiso con los principios de Oxfam.

• Capacidad de gestión, liderazgo y coordinación.

• Disposición para formar parte de un equipo diverso, multicultural y multidisciplinario.

• Motivación por el trabajo de cooperación al desarrollo y la lucha contra las injusticias, la desigualdad y la pobreza.

• Fuerte compromiso con la responsabilidad, la justicia social, la reducción de las desigualdades de género y generacional.

• Excelente manejo de programas de oficina y medios de comunicación sociales. Competencias deseables:

• Estudios en género.

• Conocimientos sobre fiscalidad y/o cultura política, empoderamiento de la ciudadanía y gobernabilidad.

¿Qué te ofrecemos?

• Tipo de contrato: contrato para obra o servicio determinado de 5 meses.

• Jornada laboral: completa (40 horas semanales)

• Prestaciones sociales: Seguro médico y accidente a cargo de la institución

• Ubicación del puesto: Santo Domingo, DN.

• Incorporación: Enero, 2018

How to apply:

Si te interesa envía un correo con tu CV actualizado, poniendo como referencia en el Asunto del correo: RD/DEyCI/OP/2017 a SeleccionDominicana@oxfamintermon.org antes del 25 de noviembre 2017. Los/as candidatos/as preseleccionados/as podrán ser contactados/as antes de la finalización del plazo indicado. Debido a la cantidad de candidaturas que solemos recibir solo se tomarán en cuenta las que indiquen la referencia RD/DEyCI/OP/2017.

Organization: ACDI/VOCA
Country: Honduras
Closing date: 01 Dec 2017

Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Honduras

ACDI/VOCA is an economic development organization that fosters broad-based economic growth, raises living standards, and creates vibrant communities. Based in Washington, D.C., ACDI/VOCA has worked in 146 countries since 1963. Its expertise is in catalyzing investment, climate smart agriculture, empowerment & resilience, institutional strengthening, and market systems.

ACDI/VOCA is currently seeking Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for the USAID-funded Honduras Transforming Market Systems (TMS) Project. The objective of TMS is to foster competitive, resilient, and inclusive market systems that provide increased economic opportunities that incorporate poor, marginalized Hondurans and reduce incentives to migrate. The CFO will oversee all financial transactions occurring under the Activity. The CFO will ensure full financial and contractual compliance of all program activities with USAID regulations. The CFO will be responsible for supervising the overall management, since inception to successful completion, of any the alliances and other private-public partnerships geared towards achieving the Activity’s targets. The CFO reports directly to the COP.

Responsibilities

• Establish internal control systems as well as accounting and financial reporting protocols for local subcontractors.
• Supervise Activity financial staff and program budget matters, managing accounting and disbursement needs, verifying that procurements comply with USAID and Contractor’s financial guidelines, overseeing the training of staff and partner NGOs in financial systems, ensuring adherence to management policies, and ensuring timely financial reporting to USAID.
• Perform strategic thinking on the sectors, actors and mechanisms to explore how USAID Honduras can leverage expertise, capabilities, networks, and other resources to address business challenges and opportunities in Honduras while also fostering / accelerating sustainable and transformational development impact.
• Liaise with the private and public sector to co-create, co-develop, and co-implement business relationships which would improve sales, increase jobs and promote inclusive development in Honduras.
• Foster, through alliances, market-based or market-driven approaches to development, including but not limited to “shared value” approaches that promote sustainable development results.
• Coordinate with COP, other key personnel and activity personnel, to support Activity’s targets through alliance building and leveraging resources.

Qualifications

• An undergraduate degree from an accredited university in accounting, preferably in business administration, marketing, finance, or economics is required. A Master’s Degree in a related field is preferred.
• At least ten 10 years of progressive experience in financial management of international development projects of similar size and complexity as this Activity, preferably focusing on economic growth and / or business development, including MSME and value chain development and broad enabling environment for economic growth.
• At least five (5) years of public-private alliance building and management, preferably on economic growth, international-donor funded activities.
• Fluency in written and spoken Spanish, English preferred.

How to apply:

Please apply online at https://internationaljobs-acdivoca.icims.com/jobs/5132/chief-financial-officer-%28cfo%29%2c-honduras/job?mode=view. No phone calls please. Only finalists contacted. Women and minorities encouraged to apply. EOE.

Organization: Institute of IT and Enterprise Excellence
Country: Portugal
Closing date: 10 Nov 2017

Responsibilities:

• Creating and designing Website concepts and creatives
• Providing design elements, material and guidance during projects for the marketing and IT departments
• Deliver artwork and design components required on time
• Ensure that any web pages are responsive and that web page content is laid out properly to increase on-screen readability
• Ensuring design work is up to the standards required and adheres to brand guidelines
• Research, evaluate and organize ideas and facts pertinent to the type of content/topic assigned
• Contributing towards improving processes for increased efficiency

How to apply:

Application Email: Please apply with a covering letter and up-to-date CV to: ‘vanessa.77885.3830@spoton.aplitrak.com‘

Organization: GOAL
Country: El Salvador
Closing date: 06 Nov 2017

GOAL has been working in Central America since 1998 and enjoys strategic and productive relationships with government, civil society, INGO actors and the private sector. GOAL employs approx. 80 staff and operates from a central office in Tegucigalpa, Honduras and two regional offices in La Moskitia and La Ceiba.

GOAL’s programmes focus of development of small scale fisheries market system, promoting sustainable urban development in high risk informal settlements, providing technical assistance for the development of improved public services and food security in the dry corridor region and the development of critical disaster early warning and response systems. GOAL also provides technical services in systems and resilience programming to a range of clients. GOAL applies four key pillars to how it carries out all its programmes including resilience, systems, inclusion and social and behaviour change. The GOAL programme has grown in recent years utilizing Honduras as a hub in the Central American Region.

The current donors are InterAmerican Development Bank, Swiss Development Cooperation, USAID, Development Alternatives International, European Union, GIZ, private foundations and the Honduran Government.

General Description of the Role

The Project requires a special technical expertise to lead biocommerce activities that conserve biodiversity and improve livelihoods through a sustainable, climate-smart approach. The Biocommerce Specialist will be focused on conservation but possess significant experience in developing environmentally sustainable economic opportunities, connecting to markets, and forming private sector partnerships.

Key Duties

• Directly manage the GOAL project team assigned to the Regional Coastal Biodiversity Programme and ensure the proper execution of GOALs scope of works under the contract.
• Liaise and coordinate with Consortium lead (UICN) including Chief of Party and other Consortium members for the proper execution of the project.
• Provide technical advice on all issues relating to biocommerce to the RCBP project as described in GOALs scope of works under the contract.
• Support and direct other project staff providing technical assistance to the consortium under GOALs scope of works.
• Coordinate the delivery of technical and progress reports to the Consortium.
• Manage GOALs allocated project budget in coordination GOALs Senior Management Team in Central America.
• Ensure compliance with all USAid policies and procedures
• Facilitate the execution of cofunding activities in coordination with MiPesca programme manager and GOAL Regional Coordinators and other GOAL staff as necessary.
• Lead weekly and monthly team progress meetings of GOAL staff assigned to the project and circulate notes to GOAL SMT in Central America.
• Represent GOAL at all meetings in relation to RCBP project. All media communications must be where feasible be notified and approved by GOALs Honduras Country Director in advance.
• Facilitate all investigations, internal audits, evaluations, site visits etc by GOAL in relation to GOALs scope of works and responsibilities. Immediately report any wrongdoing in accordance with GOAL policies.
• Liaise with GOALs logistics and procurement department in relation to execution of the project.
• Ensure the proper use and maintenance of all GOAL assets and other resources assigned to or procured under the project.
• Lead the development of a project specific security plan and oversee compliance with this plan and other safety and security measures in coordination with GOALs security focal point.
• Ensure compliance with all GOAL policies and procedures

Requirements (Person Specification)

• A minimum of 10 years’ experience in natural resource management, biodiversity conservation, economic growth, economic development, trade, or climate change, preferably including Latin America.
• At least a Bachelor’s degrees (Master’s degree or higher preferred) in economics, natural resource management, business administration, environmental management, ecology, environmental science, or other relevant field.
• Extensive experience working in conservation and/or economic development with international donors.
• Fluent in written and spoken English and Spanish.

Applications will close on Monday 6th November. Our package includes a competitive salary, shared accommodation, health and travel insurance and 20 days annual leave. Additional benefits are available after 12 months of service.

GOAL has a Staff Code of Conduct and a Child Protection Policy, which have been developed to ensure the maximum protection of programme participants and children from exploitation. GOAL also has a confidentiality policy ensuring the non-disclosure of any information whatsoever relating to the practices and business of GOAL, acquired in the course of duty, to any other person or organisation without authority, except in the normal execution of duty. Any candidate offered a job with GOAL will be expected to adhere to these policies any job offer made is also subject to police clearance. GOAL is an equal opportunities employer.

This Job Description only serves as a guide for the position available. GOAL reserves the right to change this document. Any published closing dates are estimated. Due to the nature of GOAL’s work we aim to fill vacancies as quickly as possible. This means that we will close adverts as soon as we have found the right candidate and this may be before the published closing date. We would therefore advise interested applicants to submit an application as early as possible.

How to apply:

https://www.goalglobal.org/careers?gh_jid=907634