empleo

Organization: UN Children’s Fund
Country: Panama
Closing date: 11 Sep 2017

Locations: Panama CityWork Type: ConsultancyClosing Date: September 10th, 2017

PURPOSE

The purpose of this individual contract is to support the ongoing initiatives on Early Education and Child Development in the Regional and Country Offices of UNICEF Latin America and The Caribbean and their link to the Education program of UNICEF’s Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (LACRO). In particular, the individual contractor will support: the revision of analyses, evaluations and documentation of policies, with a focus on a) integrated ECD System Development; b) the knowledge Management and Data Generation for the EDU/ECD section in LACRO, c) support in the implementation of the initiatives regarding to Care for Child Development Strategy, Early learning, pre-schooling and other ECD initiatives, d) Provide inputs for communication and advocacy materials on ECD, and e) completion of technical papers and reports related to ECD. The individual contractor will also provide technical support to UNICEF COs based on their requests made to UNICEF LACRO, in coordination with the Education and ECD specialists.

1. Background and Rationale

Global and regional discussions

In previous years, priority has been given to the expansion of early childhood development and education programmes for children under the age of six – as part of EFA and OEI initiatives – that had promoted an increase in coverage of both formal and non-formal preschool programmes in the region. However, coverage remains limited for the most vulnerable children and their families – especially for children under the age of three. The latestadvances in neuroscience show how a child’s development (including brain development) is fundamentally shaped by its environment (adequate health, nutrition, early stimulation, learning opportunities, care and protection) in the earliest years of its life. Nevertheless, governments and other key partners have not matched the importance of investments in early childhood development, with an integrated approach.

ECD is part of the Development Agenda for the United Nations Member States through 2030, making it an international priority for the 21th century. Global targets in education (SDG 4.2); health (SDG 3.2); nutrition (SDG 2.2); and protection (SDG 16.2) address key outcomes to realize young children’s developmental potential. ECD also adds value to different strategic frameworks and partnerships, working towards the SDG goals, such as Every Woman Ever Child, Global Partnership for Education, Scaling up Nutrition and End Violence Against Children: Global Partnership.

In this sense, the UNICEF Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean is committed to contribute with the country offices to: a) provide support to governments and counterparts to design and implement relevant systems and services for young children that are up-to-date with the recent compelling neuroscience evidence; b) to enable better monitoring and management program tools, as well as, to strengthen their implementation, c) to identify relevant practices and promote inter-country knowledge exchange, d) to promote within office collaboration and cross-sectoral planning given the diversity in the location and governance of pre-schooling and ECD in the countries; in order to improve outcomes for young children, particularly the most disadvantaged and vulnerable.

UNICEF Strategic Plans and Targets

Within the framework of the UNICEF Strategic Plan, critical elements to promote and implement an integrated approach to ECD are found in the outcomes of every area. Those that are considered of high importance are related to: strengthening family competencies for supporting early care and child development; expanding early inclusive learning opportunities; guaranteeing timely enrolment for first grade; and appropriate transitioning from ECD and pre-schooling services/home to and through the first grades of primary.

2. Description of major Activities

Contribute to the implementation of the Regional Initiative on “Preventing and responding to neglect, abuse and violence in early childhood”: coordinate the editing and publication process of the regional materials; finalize a regional resource package on this topic; provide technical assistance on the implementation of this initiative to the countries in the region.

Contribute to the rollout and implementation process of the Care for Child Development (CCD) Initiative (at the regional and country level): organize training workshops, prepare training materials and document the implementation process; coordinate the editing and publication process of CCD materials; provide technical support to specific countries; and act as a liaison with regional partners on this initiative.

Contribute to strengthen regional capacities on ECD and DRR: act as a liaison with key regional partners in the implementation and dissemination of training tools. Contribute to update the training package on the ECD and emergencies; and provide technical assistance to regional countries on ECD and DRR.

Provide regular information to udpate the structure and content on ECD for the Share point and LACRO webpage.

Provide inputs to develop materials on ECD for communication and advocacy purpose in line with the regional strategy on communication in ECD.

Follow up with regional partner to develop and implement a regional methodology on ECD policy costing in 3 regional countries.

Draft a brief policy paper on the importance of adequate pedagogy, learning environment and smooth transition, at pre-schooling and the early years of primary.

Provide techinical support to the desk review process of existing innovative programs on Early learning in 5 LAC countries.

3. DELIVERABLES

Date:

Deliverables:

15 Oct 2017

Finalized and upload on Share Point the regional resource package on “Preventing and responding to neglect, abuse and violence in early childhood”.

Organized one country TOT workshop on the Care for Child Development (CCD) approach.

Provided technical support to one country office for the rollout of the CCD Strategy.

Compiled and elaborated materials based on the ECD Global and Regional Report for advocacy purpose in line with the regional strategy on communication in ECD (informative brochure, talking points, key messages, background materials).

Provided support to key regional partners in the implementation and dissemination of training tools in ECD and DRR.

Prepared the TOR for the desk review process of existing innovative programs on Early learning in 5 LAC countries

15 Nov 2017

Provided technical assistance to one country office on the implementation of the Regional Initiative on “Preventing and responding to neglect, abuse and violence in early childhood”.

Provided technical support to one country office on for the rollout of the CCD Strategy.

Contributed to the finalization, editing and publishing of CCD materials.

Uploaded all CCD materials on the Share Point platform.

Updated the structure and content on ECD in the Share Point and LACRO webpage.

Compiled and elaborated materials based on the ECD Global and Regional Report for advocacy purpose in line with the regional strategy on communication in ECD (informative brochure, talking points, key messages, background materials).

On track the implementation of the regional methodology on ECD policy costing.

15 Dec 2017

Provided technical assistance to one selected country office on the implementation of the Regional Initiative on “Preventing and responding to neglect, abuse and violence in early childhood”.

Provided technical support to one selected country office on the CCD Strategy.

Updated the structure and content on ECD for Share Point and LACRO webpage.

Compiled and elaborate materials on ECD for communication and advocacy purposes in line with the regional strategy on communication in ECD.

Provided inputs to the regional report on the results of the implementation of the regional methodology on ECD policy costing in 3 regional countries.

Provided support to key regional partners in the implementation and dissemination of training tools in ECD and DRR.

Prepared a progress report on the brief policy paper on the importance of adequate pedagogy, learning environment and smooth transition, at pre-schooling and the early years of primary.

Prepared a progress report on the desk review process of existing innovative programs on Early learning in 5 LAC countries.

15 January 2017

Updated the structure and content on ECD in the Share Point and LACRO webpage.

Provided support to key regional partners in the implementation and dissemination of training tools in ECD and DRR.

Drafted a brief policy paper on the importance of adequate pedagogy, learning environment and smooth transition, at pre-schooling and the early years of primary.

Delivered a progress report on the desk review process of existing innovative programs on Early learning in 5 LAC countries.

15 February 2017

Updated the structure and content on ECD for Share Point and LACRO webpage.

Compiled and elaborate materials on ECD for communication and advocacy purposes in line with the regional strategy on communication in ECD.

Contributed to the finalization, editing and publishing of the regional methodology on ECD policy costing in 3 regional countries.

Organized a peer review of the draft brief policy paper on the importance of adequate pedagogy, learning environment and smooth transition, at pre-schooling and the early years of primary.

15 March 2017

Organized one country workshop on the Care for Child Development (CCD) approach.

Organized one regional workshop on the Care for Child Development (CCD) approach.

Updated the structure and content on ECD for Share Point and LACRO webpage.

Compiled and elaborate materials on ECD for communication and advocacy purposes in line with the regional strategy on communication in ECD.

Contributed to the finalization, editing and publishing of the brief policy paper on the importance of adequate pedagogy, learning environment and smooth transition, at pre-schooling and the early years of primary.

Contributed to the finalization, editing and publishing on the desk review process of existing innovative programs on Early learning in 5 LAC countries.

4. QUALIFICATIONS AND SPECIALIZE KNOWLEDGE/EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

Five years of experience working in international development or preferable with UNICEF or any other UN agencies.

Advanced university degree in the Social Sciences or other related field.

Previous work experience and knowledge on UNICEF/supported priorities in ECD.

Knowledge of the LAC region and its context in ECD will be an asset.

Also, the consultant should be familiarized with the Care for Child Development Strategy and a range of ECD learning-based research and policies focusing on quality, innovative and equity issues, including but not limited to those based on Early Learning Standards, ECD readiness instruments and specific child developmental monitoring tools. A good understanding of ECD indicators is needed.

7. LENGTH OF CONTRACT AND START DATE

18 of September 2017 to 15 of March 2018

8. CONSULTANT’S WORK PLACE

The individual contractor will work from UNICEF Regional Office in Panama City, Panama. The individual contractor may be asked to work weekends and holidays, as required.

9. HONORARIA & FEES

Qualified candidates are requested to submit a financial proposal. Proven past experience and financial proposal will be taken into consideration during selection process. Please include a sample of relevant work (e.g. reports for organizations or government agencies authored by the applicant).

If travel is needed in the region, costs will be covered by UNICEF as per policy.

10. CLOSING DATE AND MODALITY TO APPLY

The deadline to receive applications is10/September/2017.

The pre-selection of candidates will be done after closing date. Please note only selected candidates will be contacted.

How to apply:

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization. To apply, click on the following link http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/?job=506839

Organization: UN Children’s Fund
Country: Paraguay
Closing date: 02 Oct 2017

How can you make a difference?

Under the close supervision and guidance of the supervisor, the programme assistant supports the respective section through providing a range of procedural, administrative, operational support in developing, implementing, executing and monitoring their country programme, ensuring timely and effective delivery that is consistent with UNICEF rules and regulations.

1. Assists in preparing programme status reports required for management, board, donors, budget reviews, programme analysis, annual reports, etc. Contributes to the preparation of reports, project documents by providing information. Prepares and attends internal meetings and technical cooperation meetings, taking notes and preparing corresponding minutes. Undertakes follow-up action related to the implementation. Identification of problems or alternative courses of action to accelerate/improve programme delivery. Provides supervisor with quantitative and qualitative information on programme implementation. Supports the elaboration of reports.

3. In the frame of HACT, assists partners (Government, CBOs, and NGOs) authorities to plan and organize training. Briefs and debriefs for the purpose of capacity building in programme financial monitoring. Undertakes field visits according to section/office’s schedule. Assists in monitoring of project/programme activities by reviewing a variety of records, including control plans, progress reports, project inputs, budget and financial expenditures, donor reports, annual work plans and presentations and field visits. Carries out all administrative operational control tasks for the project activities.

4. Produces periodic or ad-hoc reports according to office, HQ or donor demands. Reconcile programme accounts differences. Review historic information of every programme/project, their administrative and financial environment, and produce forecasts for specialist’s action.

5. Elaborates transactions according to office’s table of authority and cooperation agreements terms. Within established timeframes, processes information documentation for supervisor’s action. Carries out transactions in VISION ensuring programme results, activities and programme coding are as per annual work plans (AWPs), and makes amendments and alterations as per section revisions when necessary.

6. Coordinates all necessary logistics for staff members’ official travel, inside and outside the country, or special meetings (hotel reservations, itineraries, briefing materials, notes, speeches, presentations, security clearance, etc). Coordinates all administrative arrangements for meetings, workshops, seminars, luncheons and other events, including coordination of transportation logistics, hotel accommodations for participants or visitors, conference room reservations and audio-visual equipment as required. Ensure that all details are covered.

7. Perform other duties as required.

To qualify as achampionfor every child you will have…

Completion of secondary education. Technical or university studies in finance, administration, economics, monitoring, social science and related areas will be considered an asset.

Knowledge of computer management and applications, processing, spreadsheet and graphics presentation packages, word processing and WINDOWS is required. Knowledge in SAP will be considered an asset.

Five years of progressively responsible administrative or clerical work experience is required; experience in support of programme, finance, supply and office services will be considered an asset. Programme and project experience will be considerate an asset.

Proficiency in Spanish and very good knowledge of English is required. Knowledge of Guarani, will be considered an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

Our core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity,core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results, andfunctionalcompetencies, Analyzing, Learning and Researching, Following Instructions and Procedures, and Planning and Organizing.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply.

How to apply:

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization. To apply, click on the following link http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/?job=506851

CIUDAD DE WASHINGTON, 16 de agosto de 2017.- El presidente del Grupo Banco Mundial, Jim Yong Kim, llegará el jueves a Buenos Aires en una visita de dos días para discutir la agenda de desarrollo y las reformas económicas que ha implementado Argentina, y para reiterar el apoyo de la institución al país en la reducción de la pobreza y la desigualdad. Kim se reunirá con el presidente Mauricio Macri, el ministro de Finanzas, Luis Caputo, otros miembros del gabinete presidencial, líderes del sector privado y miembros del Congreso, a fin de discutir sobre oportunidades para invertir en infraestructura y capital humano con el propósito de incrementar la competitividad del país e impulsar la creación de empleos. “Estoy muy entusiasmado de visitar Argentina en este momento crucial de transformación económica”, dijo el presidente del Grupo Banco Mundial, Jim Yong Kim. “En un país tan prometedor y con tanto potencial, es vital continuar trabajando para fomentar el crecimiento y la inversión, y a la vez incrementar los esfuerzos para reducir la pobreza y la desigualdad”. Junto con el ministro de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación Productiva, Lino Barañao, el presidente Kim participará en el foro titulado "Invirtiendo en los Empleos del Futuro". En este evento, que reunirá a estudiantes, emprendedores y líderes de opinión, se examinará el cambio tecnológico y la forma más adecuada para preparar a las personas para los empleos del futuro. También se tratarán temas como la próxima Conferencia Ministerial de la Organización Mundial del Comercio (OMC), a realizarse en diciembre en Buenos Aires, y la presidencia del G-20, que Argentina ocupará el año próximo. El Grupo Banco Mundial trabaja con el país en diversas áreas clave, tales como energías renovables, agricultura, desarrollo humano, medio ambiente, infraestructura y desarrollo del sector privado. Biografía del presidente del Banco Mundial, Jim Yong Kim: http://presidente.grupobancomundial.org/ ———————-   Para conocer el trabajo del Banco Mundial en Argentina visite: http://www.bancomundial.org/es/country/argentina Visítenos en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BancoMundialArgentina/ Manténgase informado via Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/BancoMundialLAC Nuestro canal de YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/BancoMundialLAC  

Jefe de Gobierno de la Ciudad de México, Miguel Ángel Mancera, Distinguidos representantes de la banca de inversión y autoridades del gobierno capitalino, Señoras y señores, Buenos días. Antes que nada, quiero agradecer al Jefe de Gobierno de la Ciudad de México, Miguel Ángel Mancera, su atenta invitación a este evento. Desde hace más de 15 años, el Banco Mundial ha mantenido un diálogo abierto y productivo en materia de transporte público con las autoridades de la ciudad de México, el cual se ha materializado en la provisión de diferentes formas de apoyo técnico y asesorías. Entre estos, destacan los que se han destinado a la implementación del Sistema de Corredores Estratégicos de Transporte, hoy conocido en el mundo entero como el METROBUS de la Ciudad de México. En 2002, el Gobierno de la Ciudad de México gestionó con el Banco Mundial la obtención de recursos del Fondo para el Medio Ambiente Mundial (GEF por sus siglas en inglés) para financiar el desarrollo de una Estrategia Integral de Transporte Sustentable. Con los recursos del GEF, la Ciudad de México desarrolló los estudios base que aportaron la información necesaria para el diseño de la Primera Línea del METROBUS.  En 2010, también apoyamos el desarrollo de la Línea 4 de este sistema por medio de un financiamiento para autobuses híbridos, así como con servicios de asistencia técnica para determinar la viabilidad de esta nueva tecnología en la Ciudad de México. El diálogo con las autoridades de la Ciudad de México no solo se ha concentrado en temas relacionados con el METROBUS, sino en una amplia agenda que incluye también el desarrollo de estudios que han apoyado al sistema público de bicicletas, conocido como ECOBICI y otros relacionados con el uso de tecnologías de información en los sistemas de movilidad. Recientemente, el Banco Mundial también apoyó a la Ciudad de México en el desarrollo de medidas para atender el problema de violencia de género, por medio de un proyecto piloto cuyo lema de campaña pública es “Hazme el paro”, el cual busca detonar una respuesta comunitaria al acoso sexual que sufren las mujeres en el transporte público. Igualmente, hemos contribuido para mejorar la seguridad vial en los sistemas de transporte público. Hoy existe la posibilidad de que para la Extensión de la Línea 5 del Sistema METROBUS, la Ciudad de México acceda a un financiamiento del Banco Mundial ya existente, pues podría disponer de los recursos del Programa de Transformación del Transporte Urbano (PTTU), que fue aprobado en el 2010 y que está alojado en BANOBRAS. El PTTU cuenta con recursos del Fondo de Tecnología Limpia, instrumento financiero que se diseñó para apoyar este tipo de proyectos, y su objetivo es impulsar el desarrollo de sistemas de transporte urbano que contribuyan a disminuir las emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero en el país.  El Banco Mundial, a través de BANOBRAS, ha calificado la Extensión de la Línea 5 como un proyecto elegible para acceder a los recursos del PTTU. Esto no se da por casualidad: es el resultado del trabajo que el equipo del BANOBRAS, FONADIN, la Secretaría de Hacienda y Crédito Público y el Banco Mundial realizaron con las diferentes Secretarías del gobierno de Ciudad de México dedicadas al desarrollo de la agenda de movilidad para hacer que el proyecto cumpla con la normatividad del Banco Mundial y el FONADIN. Los trabajos del PTTU se iniciaron en enero de 2015, cuando una misión integrada por autoridades de la Ciudad de México, encabezada por el doctor Mancera, viajó a Washington, DC para reunirse con funcionarios del Banco Mundial y exponer la necesidad de contar con apoyo técnico y financiero en materia de transporte. En marzo del mismo año, en una reunión en este mismo recinto, el Jefe de Gobierno instruyó a sus secretarios a trabajar en la conceptualización del proyecto. Ha sido un trabajo intenso y en equipo. Agradecemos el esfuerzo realizado por las Secretarías de Obras y Servicios, del Medio Ambiente, de Finanzas, de Movilidad, de Gobierno, y del organismo público METROBUS, así como el apoyo de las delegaciones que se verán beneficiadas con este proyecto, que contribuirá a mejorar la calidad de vida y de transporte de miles de habitantes de la ciudad. Por parte del gobierno federal, BANOBRAS, FONADIN y la Secretaría de Hacienda y Crédito Público han contribuido en temas técnicos y de financiamiento. A estas instituciones, así como al Centro de Transporte Sustentable —hoy WRI (por sus siglas en inglés)—, extiendo nuestro agradecimiento por su apoyo. Todas han participado en diferentes etapas y han hecho posible que la conceptualización del proyecto sea una realidad. Quiero enfatizar que la colaboración entre los diferentes niveles de gobierno que se ha dado en México en temas de movilidad urbana sustentable es reconocida a nivel internacional. Los proyectos que mejoran el transporte masivo son claramente instrumentos que contribuyen a mitigar los efectos del cambio climático y que optimizan la calidad de vida de los habitantes de las zonas urbanas. La Ciudad de México es un referente internacional en estrategias de transformación del transporte público y de mitigación de cambio climático. Sin duda el proyecto Extensión de la Línea 5, contribuirá a consolidar este reconocimiento. Por nuestra parte, mantenemos el compromiso que tenemos para seguir colaborando y trabajando con México en esta y en otras áreas que contribuyan al desarrollo del país y al bienestar de su gente. Muchas gracias.  

Cada día usamos las redes sociales para intercambiar mensajes, noticias, fotos, vídeos. ¿Por qué no usarlas también para compartir recomendaciones de salud? En México, donde uno de cada tres niños o adolescentes tiene sobrepeso o sufre obesidad, cualquier medio es útil para llegar al objetivo: tener chicos más sanos y mejor alimentados. Las enfermedades derivadas de la obesidad en la infancia o la adolescencia están asociadas a problemas como la artrosis, cardiopatías y la diabetes. Esta última es la principal causa de muerte en México y uno de los males que afecta a la población mundial; tan solo en América Latina uno de cada 10 adultos ya la padecen. En Elegir mejor para comer más sano, la tecnología y la salud van de la mano. Esta iniciativa piloto desarrollada en escuelas primarias de Guadalajara, en el oeste de México, los chats de WhatsApp y las pláticas introductorias fueron las herramientas principales para informar y dialogar con los padres de familia sobre las consecuencias de la obesidad y la importancia y necesidad de una adecuada alimentación. La idea fue promover una cultura alimenticia con valor nutricional, a bajos costos, con ingredientes accesibles para todos y basándose en platillos tradicionales de la localidad. De modo que fuera más factible preparar los alimentos y mejorar así la comida diaria de los participantes modificando sus hábitos alimenticios. Una de las principales causas de la obesidad es la alimentación inadecuada y la falta de hábitos alimenticios sanos. En parte estos hábitos se transmiten de padres a hijos, por ello la relevancia en este programa de promover la información nutricional y los talleres con los padres y madres de familia de los colegios participantes para desde ahí lograr el cambio en la alimentación de los hogares.  

WASHINGTON DC, August 16, 2017 – World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim arrives in Buenos Aires Thursday for a two-day visit to discuss Argentina’s development agenda and economic reforms, and to reaffirm the institution’s support to reduce poverty and inequality in the country. Kim will meet with President Mauricio Macri, Finance Minister Luis Caputo, several other members of the President’s cabinet, private sector leaders, and congressional representatives  to discuss opportunities to invest in infrastructure and human capital to increase the country’s competitiveness and job creation. “I look forward to visiting Argentina at this crucial time of economic change,” World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim said. “In a country with so much promise and potential, it is critical to keep working to boost growth and investment, while increasing efforts to reduce poverty and inequality.” Together with the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Lino Barañao, Kim will participate in a forum on Investing in the Future of Work. This event will examine technological change and how best to prepare people for the jobs of the future, bringing together students, entrepreneurs and opinion leaders. Other topics to be addressed include the upcoming World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference in Buenos Aires in December, and Argentina’s Presidency of the G20 next year. The World Bank Group is working with Argentina in key areas such as renewable energy, agriculture, human development,  the environment, infrastructure, and private sector development. Biography World Bank Group President, Jim Yong Kim: http://president.worldbankgroup.org/ ———————-   Learn more about the work of the World Bank in Argentina: http://www.worldbank.org/en/country/argentina Visit us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BancoMundialArgentina/ Be updated via Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/BancoMundialLAC For our YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/BancoMundialLAC

Nicaragua is a clear example of the increasing awareness about the importance of investing in quality Early Childhood Education (ECD) to support development in low and middle-income countries. Previous research in other countries has shown that investments on quality ECD and daycare yield relevant social returns (Naudeau & Hasan, 2015: 4). Also, our work in the country is an example of how these kinds of programs can produce multiple positive spillovers and results; from a growing commitment within the National Government to boost the expenditure per student, to a reduction of the gaps in quality between rural and urban preschools nationwide.Historically, Nicaragua has struggled to make investment in preschool education in rural areas a policy priority, creating a gap between rural and urban areas, both in terms of coverage and quality. In 2013, only 47 percent of the rural children were enrolled in preschool education, compared to 70 percent in urban areas. Additionally, preschool education in rural areas was mostly provided through a “community-based modality” (covering 70% of the students enrolled in rural areas in 2016), operating in private locations, without quality standards and taught by volunteers who most of the times lack official certification [1] (70% of total preschool teachers are not graduated), resulting in very low quality education.This reality begun to change since 2011, with the approval of the new National Early Childhood Policy, the new Education Sector Strategy (2011-2015) and the Education Sector Strategy Support Project (ESSSP).  The ESSSP, financed by the European Union, the Global Partnership for Education and the World Bank and managed by the latter, focused on a holistic transformation of the preschool education supply through the design and implementation of a new preschool education quality model (PEQM).  As presented in figure 1, the quality standards of the PEQM comprise a range of areas, on which the project has made significant contributions.Curriculum. As a foundation to the new model, and in order to address inequalities in preschool education between rural and urban areas, a new, unified, curriculum for preschool was created in 2013, providing universal guidelines and standards for children in both formal and community preschools. Furthermore, new curricular instruments were developed and distributed to every preschool (community preschool and formal) nationwide.Teacher training. 100% of preschool teachers nationwide, from both formal and community preschools, have received training on the new curriculum, on the use of learning materials, and participated in monthly Evaluation, Programming and Educational Training Workshops (TEPCEs) that provide them with new tools to improve the learning process. Also, more than 2,300 un-certified pre-school teachers (20% of the total) were part of an in-service certification program over the course of 3 years, thereby reducing the percentage of uncertified teachers.Pre-school infrastructure. To improve the physical learning environments, a new adapted design for preschool classrooms was prepared and in 2015 and 2016 a total of 56 preschool classrooms were rehabilitated and equipped with proper preschool furniture, elevating the quality standards of preschool infrastructure. Assessments. To measure improvements in the system due to the new policies, the national government, with technical assistance from the World Bank, has created a new Integrated Early Childhood Development Monitoring and Evaluation System (SEIDI) as a way to assess the development and learning of children attending preschools as well the quality of the preschool learning environment. The instruments, developed with the support of the Measuring Early Learning and Quality Outcomes (MELQO) Consortium, which includes experts from UNICEF, UNESCO and the Brookings Institution among other notable institutions, measure various aspects related to child development and the quality of learning environments. This is an innovative approach that puts Nicaragua at the forefront of preschool quality monitoring and the assessment of children’s development and learning.                    Figure 1: The Preschool Education Quality Model (PEQM) being implemented in Nicaragua The story of Maria del Carmen Herrera, a preschool teacher in preschool Ruben Dario, in San Dioniso Matagalpa, illustrates the progress made by the government´s support to teacher´s training. She has 25 years of experience as a preschool community educator, but she is now a professionalized teacher with specialization in preschool education. She now works in the new preschool that has been rebuilt after an investment supported by the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) through the ESSSP project. This preschool, located 124 km north of Managua, Nicaragua´s capital, was ergonomically designed to meet the needs of children between 3 to 5 years of age. It includes a classroom, sanitary services and playgrounds. Herrera, who has 41 pupils, says that the new preschool has motivated attendance and parent´s commitments to their children´s education. ResultsAlthough improving early childhood education and reducing the urban/rural gap is still a work in progress, some of the results achieved so far are encouraging. For example, from 2009 to 2016, preschool enrollment in Nicaragua has increased from 53% to 65% among children aged 3 to 5. In addition, the national government’s overall investment has increased by boosting the coverage of school meals for preschool and primary students from 24 to 44% in the period 2009-2014 and expanding access to school kits from 10 to 23% of preschool and primary students.  Furthermore, because of the increased investment in educational materials, teacher training and school infrastructure the National Government yearly per student expenditure in preschool education increased in at least 229% between 2013 and 2014 (Ministry of Hacienda, 2015). Per year preschool per student expenditure was calculated to be US$22.1 in 2013, US$63.7 in 2014 and US$61.2 in 2015 (Codeni, 2017), showing an increasing trend in a three-year period (2013-2015). We are encouraged by the progress we have seen and we believe that this new preschool model of education will enhance Nicaragua’s future. For this reason, the World Bank’s commitment with the Government of Nicaragua will continue over the next five years on this front with the new Alliance for Education Quality project, which will begin in 2017. Other articles related to this projectIn Nicaragua new school buildings make preschool more exciting for childrenGiving children a strong foundation in Nicaragua

Se busca reducir la contaminación ambiental y sus efectos en la salud pública LA PAZ, 23 de agosto de 2017 – El Curso Internacional “Selección de Tecnologías y Diseño de Plantas de Tratamiento de Aguas Residuales” capacita a profesionales que trabajan en las áreas de tratamiento de aguas residuales e ingeniería sanitaria sobre aspectos de diseño, construcción, operación y mantenimiento de plantas de tratamiento de agua residual. El curso es organizado por el Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y Agua (MMAyA) y cuenta con el apoyo del Banco Mundial, la Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo (AECID), el Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo (BID), el Banco de desarrollo de América Latina CAF y la Unión Europea (UE). Del 23 al 25 de agosto se imparte en La Paz el cuarto módulo, referido a la gestión de lodos, con la participación de 50 técnicos de instituciones estatales y sub nacionales. Los expertos españoles Ana Marta Lasheras, directora de Residuos de Navarra de Infraestructuras Locales S.A. (NILSA), y Alfonso Amorena, director de Infraestructuras y Medio Ambiente de la Empresa de Servicios de la Comarca de Pamplona, son los capacitadores invitados.  “Para el Banco Mundial es muy importante apoyar al MMAyA en este esfuerzo. En toda la región, a la par del acelerado crecimiento urbano, existen carencias en el tratamiento de aguas residuales, lo cual produce altos niveles de contaminación. Destacamos que se haya priorizado el fortalecimiento de capacidades técnicas, ya que tan importante como la infraestructura es asegurar una buena gestión”, dijo Nicola Pontara, representante del Banco Mundial en Bolivia. Este curso está asociado al pilar de formación y capacitación de profesionales como parte de la Estrategia Nacional de Tratamiento de Aguas Residuales (ENTAR), formulada por el MMAyA a través del Viceministerio de Agua Potable y Saneamiento Básico (VAPSB). La cooperación internacional viene apoyando esta y otras iniciativas en este ámbito a fin de colaborar al Gobierno Nacional a alcanzar las metas trazadas en la Agenda 2025.

El estudio concluye que poner fin al matrimonio infantil y las uniones tempranas en la República Dominicana reduciría la proporción de niñas que tienen hijos antes de los 18 años y el crecimiento de la población. También mejoraría el alcance educativo de las niñas, así como los ingresos que tendrían esas niñas cuando sean adultas.   SANTO DOMINGO, 23 de agosto de 2017 – El matrimonio infantil y las uniones tempranas están costando a la República Dominicana miles de millones de dólares y mantienen la pobreza intergeneracional, según un nuevo estudio publicado por el Banco Mundial y el Fondo de las Naciones Unidas para la Infancia (UNICEF). Revela que poner fin al matrimonio infantil tendría un gran efecto positivo en el alcance de un mayor nivel educativo de las niñas, contribuiría a que las mujeres tuvieran menos hijos y a tenerlos más tarde en la vida, y aumentaría las ganancias de estas en su vida adulta. El estudio fue dado a conocer durante un acto realizado en el Palacio Nacional encabezado por la vicepresidenta de la República, doctora Margarita Cedeño; el Ministro de Economía, Planificación y Desarrollo, Isidoro Santana; la directora regional de UNICEF para América Latina y el Caribe, María Cristina Perceval; el representante del Banco Mundial en el país, Alessandro Legrottaglie; y el principal autor de la investigación y economista del Banco Mundial, Quentin Wodon. La investigación señala que las niñas casadas o en unión temprana son más propensas a abandonar la escuela y completar menos años de educación que las que se casan más tarde. Por el contrario, mantener a las niñas en la escuela es una de las mejores maneras de evitar el matrimonio infantil. También se ha observado que el matrimonio infantil y las uniones tempranas se asocian con mayor riesgo de maltrato a sus hijos en la primera infancia y con una menor tasa de registro de nacimiento de los mismos. Debido a sus efectos sobre la educación de las niñas, el matrimonio infantil también afecta al desarrollo de sus hijos en los primeros años de vida. "El matrimonio infantil y las uniones tempranas no solo ponen fin a las esperanzas y los sueños de las niñas, también obstaculizan los esfuerzos para acabar con la pobreza y lograr el crecimiento económico y la equidad de República Dominicana. Poner fin a esta práctica no es solo lo que hay que hacer en el plano moral y ético, sino también lo más inteligente desde el punto de vista económico", dijo Quentin Wodon, el principal autor del estudio y economista principal del Banco Mundial. Se estima que una niña que se case antes de los 18 años tendrá en promedio más hijos a lo largo de su vida que si se hubiera casado a los 18 años o más tarde. Como resultado, poner fin al matrimonio infantil y las uniones tempranas, reduciría la fertilidad total en un 10 % a nivel nacional y el crecimiento de la población. Asimismo, terminar el matrimonio infantil y las uniones tempranas reduciría sustancialmente la proporción de niñas que tienen hijos antes de los 18 años. Agrega que otro beneficio importante de terminar con el matrimonio infantil y las uniones tempranas sería un aumento de los ingresos esperados de las mujeres en el mercado de trabajo. Debido en gran parte al impacto del matrimonio infantil en la educación, las mujeres que se casan antes de los 18 años tienen, en promedio, ingresos que son 17 % más bajos que si se hubieran casado más tarde. Señala que estas menores ganancias en la edad adulta para las mujeres que se casan o unen a temprana edad, sumado a mayores tasas de fecundidad, conducen a mayores riesgos de pobreza. Indica que si se pusiera fin al matrimonio infantil se reduciría la pobreza en las familias de estas mujeres de 41 a 32 % y a nivel nacional de 31 a 28 %. “Las pautas culturales que promueven la desigualdad de género, la pobreza, las brechas de educación y la violencia intrafamiliar influyen en la percepción de las niñas, o de sus madres, de que el matrimonio precoz o unión temprana es un proyecto de vida aceptable, e incluso deseable como ‘la mejor opción económica’ si la pareja es un hombre mayor con ingresos. Planes nacionales intersectoriales, que incluyan empoderamiento de las niñas y fomento de pautas culturales familiares y sociales que las apoyen en la búsqueda de alternativas de vida, están teniendo buenos resultados en varios países”. señaló María Cristina Perceval, directora de UNICEF para América Latina y el Caribe. Por otro lado, debido a la reducción del crecimiento de la población, si se hubiera puesto fin a los matrimonios infantiles y uniones tempranas en 2014 hubiera supuesto un beneficio equivalente a aproximado de 171 millones de dólares en 2015 y en el año 2030 un beneficio anual de 4,800 millones de dólares. “Demostrar los costos del matrimonio infantil y las uniones tempranas tanto para las niñas que se casan o unen antes de los 18 años, como para todo el país, podrá ayudar a generar mayor inversión, y por tanto empoderar a todas la niñas y mujeres jóvenes”, declaró Alessandro Legrottaglie, representante del Banco Mundial en la República Dominicana. El estudio Impacto económico del matrimonio infantil para la República Dominicana forma parte de un estudio global y fue financiado por la Fundación del Fondo de Inversión para Niños, la Fundación Bill & Melinda Gates y la Alianza Mundial para la Educación. ### PRESS RELEASE NO: 2018/015/LAC ### Para obtener más información: Aileen Ceballos, UNICEF República Dominicana, (829) 659 9653, aceballos@unicef.org Christelle Chapoy, Banco Mundial, (202) 458 2656, cchapoy@worldbank.org

Santiago, 21 de agosto 21 de 2017. La Alianza del Pacífico anunció que está realizando un estudio analítico para modelar la exposición ante desastres naturales de sus países miembros.  El estudio se concentrará inicialmente en el riesgo sísmico y también está evaluando la posibilidad de emitir un bono catastrófico (Cat Bond) conjunto para transferir parte del riesgo a los mercados financieros. Este estudio se está llevando a cabo con el apoyo técnico y financiero del Programa de Financiamiento y Aseguramiento ante Desastres del Banco Mundial, en colaboración con la firma mundial modeladora de riesgos catastróficos AIR Worldwide, y financiado por la Secretaría de Estado para Asuntos Económicos -Cooperación Suiza (SECO). El estudio consiste en la modelación de terremotos para estimar las pérdidas potenciales que podrían incurrir los países de la Alianza del Pacífico (Chile, Colombia, México y Perú), proporcionando a los países miembros la capacidad técnica para tomar decisiones informadas sobre los beneficios potenciales de la transferencia del riesgo a los mercados financieros. El estudio está programado para ser finalizado en agosto del 2017 y se espera que, durante el cuarto trimestre, el Banco Mundial presente una propuesta para la posible emisión de un bono conjunto para riesgos sísmicos de los países miembros de la Alianza del Pacifico, la cual deberá ajustarse a las consideraciones fiscales y presupuestarias de cada país. Durante el mes de junio, el Banco Mundial y la empresa modeladora Air Worldwide se reunieron con los equipos técnicos de Chile, Colombia y Perú, con el fin de presentar los primeros resultados y afinar detalles que aseguren que la modelación y el diseño del Cat Bond cumplan con las necesidades de cada país. De forma paralela al trabajo sobre la cobertura de riesgos de terremotos, los países evaluarán la posibilidad de crear instrumentos financieros para cubrir otros desastres naturales, tales como los producidos por riesgos climáticos.  Los resultados iniciales del estudio demuestran que algunos de los costos de transferencia de riesgo a los mercados pueden verse reducidos en más de 50% debido a los beneficios de la emisión conjunta de los cuatro países. El diseño preliminar del Cat Bond intenta cubrir terremotos importantes en cada país.  Por ejemplo, la cobertura está diseñada para incluir un rango amplio de eventos similares al terremoto del año 2010 en Chile (terremoto del 27F con magnitud de 8.8 Mw). La Alianza del Pacifico se beneficia de la experiencia de México en la utilización de los Cat Bonds, contando con cuatro transacciones ejecutadas desde el año 2006.  La cuarta serie de Cat Bonds emitida por México fue ejecutada el 4 de agosto del presente año, proveyendo una cobertura de US$360 millones contra el riesgo de terremotos y huracanes. Esta última emisión demuestra un trabajo innovador en el diseño y la ejecución de un Cat Bond para obtener protección de manera eficiente.     "El Banco Mundial ha sido determinante en brindarnos su experiencia global en la gestión del riesgo catastrófico en beneficio de nuestros países miembros", dijo Rodrigo Valdés, Ministro de Finanzas de Chile y Presidente de la Alianza del Pacífico bajo la presidencia Pro Tempore de Chile entre julio 2016 y junio 2017. "El trabajo realizado es un paso importante en el fortalecimiento de la resiliencia financiera de los países de la Alianza del Pacífico ante eventos catastróficos".  “La Alianza del Pacífico es un ejemplo exitoso de integración económica regional", dijo Jorge Familiar, Vicepresidente del Banco Mundial para América Latina y el Caribe. "Ahora los países de la Alianza están tomando la iniciativa de gestionar su exposición financiera ante desastres naturales, trabajando juntos, como grupo, y nos complace tener la oportunidad de apoyar este esfuerzo". La región de América Latina y el Caribe tiene una de las tasas más bajas de cobertura de seguros a nivel mundial y la diferencia entre las pérdidas aseguradas y las pérdidas económicas en toda la región son muy significativas. Los bajos niveles de adquisición de seguros pueden resultar en que los gobiernos terminan haciéndose cargo de gastos mayores después de un desastre natural, lo que ejerce una presión indebida sobre el gobierno y su estabilidad financiera. Los miembros de la Alianza del Pacífico comparten una visión común sobre la necesidad urgente de gestionar los costos inesperados que surgen de los terremotos. Como consecuencia de los desastres naturales, los gobiernos afrontan un aumento de las necesidades financieras para cubrir los servicios de emergencia, alimentos, refugio y escasez de agua, así como las operaciones de limpieza y reconstrucción. Esto puede traer efectos devastadores, causando potencialmente inestabilidad fiscal y la desestabilización de los planes de inversión nacionales, junto con interrupciones de los servicios a los ciudadanos y la disminución de la actividad económica. Un bono catastrófico, o Cat Bond, reduciría la exposición combinando los riesgos de los cuatro países (logrando beneficios significativos en términos de costo y cobertura), otorgando un importante alivio financiero y ayudando a los países a responder rápidamente ante un desastre. Este proyecto asiste en el fortalecimiento de las capacidades técnicas de los países de la Alianza del Pacífico para gestionar mejor los riesgos y adoptar mecanismos de transferencia de riesgos más eficientes. Un bono catastrófico es un instrumento financiero que pretende proteger a su emisor frente a posibles pérdidas derivadas de desastres naturales, como terremotos, huracanes, tsunami, y otras amenazas, transfiriendo el riesgo a los mercados financieros. Los bonos catastróficos son una parte importante de un conjunto más amplio para la gestión de riesgo, asegurando la resiliencia fiscal y la rápida recuperación de los gobiernos. Los Cat-Bonds complementan otros instrumentos tales como fondos de emergencia, líneas de crédito contingentes y asistencia de donantes internacionales. La Alianza del Pacífico es una iniciativa de Chile, Colombia, México y Perú, creada en 2011 para promover la integración regional económica y comercial a través de la libre circulación de bienes, servicios, recursos y personas, para impulsar el crecimiento, desarrollo y competitividad de sus economías. El Banco Mundial es un proveedor global de servicios de asesoría, analíticos y financieros para sus clientes estatales con la finalidad de apoyar la reducción de la pobreza y la desigualdad. Para lograr estos objetivos, entre muchos otros esfuerzos, el Banco Mundial apoya la mejora de la gestión financiera de los riesgos climáticos y de desastres. Los servicios incluyen la asistencia en el diseño e implementación de estrategias, políticas e instrumentos de financiamiento del riesgo de desastres, y la ejecución de transacciones financieras para transferir los riesgos a los mercados de capitales y reaseguro. AIR Worldwide ofrece soluciones de modelaje de riesgos catastrófico haciendo que los individuos, las empresas y la sociedad sean más resiliente. AIR se inició en la industria de modelaje catastrófico en 1987 y actualmente modela el riesgo de catástrofes naturales, terrorismo, pandemias y ataques cibernéticos en todo el mundo.

Challenge El Salvador is the smallest country in Central America, and one of the most densely populated in the world. With a per capita gross domestic product of US$8,602 (in purchasing power parity terms) in 2015, and a population of 6.1 million, the country is largely urban (about 66 percent) and ranks in the 83rd percentile worldwide for population density. Since the end of the Salvadoran Civil War in 1992, the country has advanced on both social and political fronts. In health, El Salvador has already achieved the Millennium Development Goal for reducing child mortality. In addition, the poorest segments of the population have been increasingly making use of healthcare facilities, aided in part by a policy of free primary care services. Immunization rates have also increased from 86 percent in the 1990s to 91 percent in recent years (2010-13). Similarly, access to improved sanitation and water resources increased from 79 percent to 90 percent, and the share with access to improved sanitation expanded from only 56 percent to over 70 percent during the same period. In education, both access to education, particularly at the primary level, and literacy rates have increased, with the most significant advances in urban areas. Finally, El Salvador has forged ahead in consolidating democracy since the end of the Civil War, with six consecutive democratically-elected governments and peaceful transitions of power. Despite this progress, poverty remains high, in part due to the country’s anemic growth. Using international poverty and extreme poverty lines of US$4 per day and US$2.5 per day, respectively, 31.4 percent of the Salvadoran population is considered poor (compared to 23.3 percent in the Latin America region), and 12.3 percent extremely poor (compared to 10.8 percent in the Latin America region). The country’s anemic growth is the main reason for the relative stagnation in poverty reduction. With an average growth rate of 1.5 percent (2001-15), El Salvador stands out as one of the slowest growing economies in the Latin America region. El Salvador faces numerous challenges, calling for action on many fronts. Political polarization, high levels of crime and violence, low levels of savings and investment, poor educational attainment and lack of skilled labor, and high rates of migration and remittances —among other factors—prevent the country from growing at a faster pace, and reducing poverty and increasing shared prosperity for its citizens. Approach In the face of these challenges, the WBG program has focused on ensuring social inclusion of the vulnerable segments of the population, while building foundations for inclusive growth. The WBG has been a key partner in supporting the country’s efforts to protect vulnerable households and expand effective and well-targeted safety net programs, as well as to increase access to basic health and education services. Moreover, the World Bank program has been promoting the creation of safer communities to boost economic development and focusing on providing at-risk youth and vulnerable groups with training, job readiness, and work experience to build their skills and assist their efforts to join the labor market. In addition, the World Bank is helping the country to foster sustainability and resilience, particularly by promoting the efficiency of public spending and building government capacity to manage natural disasters and environmental challenges. The International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) complement the World Bank support by focusing on sectors and areas that contribute to enhancing the country’s economic growth. IFC has been helping the country improve its investment climate, increase access to finance, and foster regional trade and financial inclusion. MIGA has provided guarantees in the manufacturing and financial sector. Results WBG financing helped achieving the following results from 2010 to 2016: Providing income support and contributing to the establishment of an integrated social protection system: By supporting the implementation of the Temporary Income Support Program (PATI) through the Income Support and Employability Project, the WBG helped channel resources to more than 40,000 beneficiaries (of which 70 percent were women and 30 percent between the ages of 16-24) in poor urban areas, preventing them from falling deeper into poverty. The PATI also included activities to promote opportunities for the urban poor by improving the coverage of labor intermediation, providing skills training, and organizing employment fairs, among other. As a result, one year after the completion of PATI, participants’ monthly income increased on average by US$18 per month. The WBG also helped improve the institutional capacity of the Government to develop an integrated social protection system by helping develop a Unified Registration System for social protection programs and design a Universal Social Protection System. Improving Access, Retention and Graduation Rates for Lower and Upper Secondary Education: By supporting the adoption of the Inclusive Full Time School (IFTS) Model, the WBG through the Education Quality Improvement Project has been helping the country improve access, graduation, and retention rates for lower and upper secondary education. The IFTS Model addresses the problems of quality and exclusion of economically disadvantaged students, and tackles problems of early drop out, repetition and poor learning outcomes. It does this by providing stimulating and diverse learning experiences, a safe learning environment, teaching that is responsive to the social and developmental needs of young adolescents from diverse backgrounds, and school accountability for student results. To date, the WBG-financed Project has supported the renovation of seventeen schools and 209 school facilities (including classrooms, libraries, study rooms, teacher rooms, sports and recreation spaces) and has benefited around 40,000 students with new facilities, learning materials, and pedagogical activities. The Project is also supporting the improvement of pedagogical skills of around 1,997 teachers through a series of certified trainings. Expanding Coverage of Health Services: With support from the Strengthening Public Health Care System Project, El Salvador has been expanding the coverage of health services provided by the Integrated Health Care Services Network to the 82 poorest municipalities of the country. This Network is critical for delivering high quality health services and aims to reduce fragmentation, inefficiencies, and coverage gaps by providing health services through three levels of care: (i) the primary level includes family and community health units; (ii) the secondary level includes basic and general hospitals; and (iii) the third level includes specialized hospitals. To date, a total of 21 hospitals, 52 community health units and 19 administrative offices have benefited from infrastructure renovation projects, the acquisition of medical equipment, medicines and medical supplies, and the procurement of ambulances, among other. Moreover, the Project has provided training to about 900 medical staff on maternal health, reproductive and sexual health, teenage pregnancy, child health, and nutrition, and promoted compliance with medical waste management systems. Finally, the Project has proven to be a practical tool for the Government particularly in response to national emergencies, such as the Ebola and Zika outbreaks. Enhancing the Capacity of Local Governments to Deliver Services: WBG support sought to strengthen municipalities’ institutional and technical capacity to design and implement municipal sub-projects through the Local Government Strengthening Project, benefitting around three million people across 262 municipalities through the development of more than 500 infrastructure projects. These projects for electrification, clean water and sanitation, waste management, construction and improvement of roads and bridges, and renovation of sports and recreation spaces generated around 12,000 temporary jobs. Moreover, the WBG supported a number of certified training programs in the areas of decentralization, fiscal management, and territorial development, improving the technical skills of more than 500 local government staff. Finally, the WBG supported the implementation of a municipal management information system, contributing to enhanced transparency and increased access to information.   Bank Group Contribution The World Bank’s current active portfolio in El Salvador includes two investment projects in the education and health sectors, totaling US$140 million in net commitments, This investment portfolio is complemented with trust funds and analytical and advisory services focusing on fiscal management, capital and financial markets development, climate change and disaster risk management. IFC seeks to facilitate access to credit and improve availability of finance through IFC credit lines tailored to small entrepreneurs and households. As of July 2017, IFC’s investment program was US$160 million. MIGA has US$129.3 million in gross exposure across three projects in the financial and services sectors. Partners Donor cooperation and partnerships play a fundamental role in achieving the development outcomes of El Salvador. To ensure complementarity of its activities, the WBG is closely coordinating with the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Central American Bank for Economic Integration, the European Union, the United Nations Development Program, and other bilateral donors, including the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the German Development Bank (KfW), the German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GIZ), and Spain, among others. For example, the MCC is currently expanding the IFTS Model to 80 additional schools in the eastern region of the country, complementing the WBG’s support. In the area of increasing access to finance for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), in addition to IFC, IDB is providing technical assistance to MSMEs and KfW is supporting SMEs through special credit lines for renewable energy. The climate change and the resilience agenda is also being supported in close coordination with other partners, including JICA, GIZ and IDB.    Moving Forward The WBG will continue its partnership with El Salvador in line with the Country Partnership Framework 2016-2019 that focuses on building the foundations to promote inclusive growth, and fostering sustainability and resilience. To this end, the World Bank will continue implementing its investment portfolio in the education and health sectors, and complement its support with knowledge products, advisory services, and technical assistance focusing on youth employability, crime and violence, financial sector development, fiscal management, and climate change resilience. In addition, IFC will continue bolstering private sector development by: (i) focusing on measures to improve the investment climate and trade facilitation; (ii) improving infrastructure and renewable energy sources; and (iii) increasing access to finance for MSMEs, with particular emphasis on agribusiness. MIGA will continue to explore opportunities to meet requests from investors.    Beneficiaries Carolina Silva, a young student from the la Libertad department in El Salvador, is more eager to learn as a result of the financial assistance she received through the Income Support Employability Project. When asked what made a difference, she replied: “The only thing that I needed to have perfect attendance in school was the possibility to afford to pay for the bus fare and not miss a day of school.” This financial aid not only helped secure bus fares for those children in need, but also helped to improve the safety of Carolina and other children, by ensuring safe arrival to school as children no longer had to walk alone through dangerous neighborhoods. Learn More Links to key related sites The web site of the World Bank for El Salvador offers in-depth information on all projects and programs in the country. Links to partner websites Ministry of Economy and Finance Multimedia A school bus full of opportunities for children and youth in El Salvador Trabajar deja de ser un sueño para miles de salvadoreños Música, escuelas y empleo para un mayor desarrollo de El Salvador  

Challenge Panama’s economic growth has been faster than any other country in the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region over recent years, averaging 7.2 percent from 2001-2013. The country’s rapid growth has translated into significant poverty reduction. Between 2007 and 2012, poverty declined from 39.9 percent of the population to 26.2 percent, and extreme poverty from 15.6 to 11.3 percent. During the same period, income growth of households in the bottom 40 percent of population increased 8.2 percent, compared to the average per capita income, which grew by 6.6 percent. Although growth at the aggregate level has been largely pro-poor and inequality has declined, not everyone has shared equally in Panama’s prosperity. The indigenous peoples living in semi-autonomous territories (comarcas) and groups living in remote rural areas suffer from higher poverty levels and significant gaps in access to basic services than the rest of the country. For instance, in the poorest comarca with the largest population, Ngäbe Buglé, poverty rates reach 93 percent and extreme poverty 83 percent. In addition, most of the poor are settled in vulnerable areas, exposed to natural disasters. In order for Panama to maintain its growth model and for all Panamanians to benefit from it, economic, social, and environmental challenges must be addressed. These include ensuring a well-educated workforce with relevant skills to sustain economic growth, inclusion of marginalized groups and indigenous peoples, adequate and modern infrastructure to support a high performing economy, strengthened public sector institutions that promote efficiency and transparency, compliance with international financial standards to maintain investment flows, and sustainable natural resource management and resilience to natural disasters. Approach Given Panama’s unique development challenges and the sophistication of its economy, the World Bank Group (WBG) has supported the country’s efforts to maintain high growth, while ensuring that benefits reach all. The World Bank has been a key partner on policy reform for fiscal sustainability, enhanced targeting of social protection programs, and modernization of the public sector planning and budgeting system with enhanced transparency. Moreover, the World Bank program has had a clear focus on poverty and shared prosperity, supporting social inclusion by building productive alliances to help increase producer incomes, increasing the percentage of women receiving pre-natal care, and improving water and sanitation services in rural and poor communities. In addition to financing, the WBG has provided high-quality technical assistance and cutting-edge knowledge, particularly in managing fiscal risks stemming from natural disasters. WBG engagement in Panama also includes International Finance Corporation (IFC) investments and Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) guarantees, which have supported the core growth sectors of the economy, centered on the Panama Canal, urban transportation, energy, trade, and financial services. Results World Bank (IBRD) financing helped achieved the following results from 2008 to 2015: Increased Income and Productive Capacity of Small-Scale Producers: Financing and technical assistance for access to markets was provided to 152 productive alliances of small-scale producers in high-poverty areas, including indigenous areas. Producers benefitted from increased agricultural productivity and a 23 percent increase in sales. Around 4,600 producers (30 percent women) received investment and technical support through 130 sub-projects covering a range of agro activities. Improved Targeting of Social Transfer Programs and Increased Social Security Coverage: By improving the targeting of the Red de Oportunidades program (translated as “Network of Opportunities”), the Government channeled resources to the poor in remote geographic areas, largely excluded in the past, increasing coverage in the indigenous comarcas (from 50% in 2008, to 70% in 2014) which represented 46 percent of beneficiary households. Improved Households Access to Quality Basic Health and Nutrition Services: Through the provision of a basic package of health services under the Coverage Extension Strategy, mobile health units provided regular access to a basic package of health services to 149,028 beneficiaries from 47 poor rural communities by 2014, with 86 percent of pregnant women receiving at least three prenatal controls (compared to 20 percent in 2010), and 96 percent of children under age one receiving full vaccinations (compared to 26 percent in 2010). Enhanced Capacity for Disaster Risk Management and Adaptation to Climate Change: The Disaster Risk Management Development Policy Loan with a Catastrophe Risk Deferred Drawdown Option has been a quick and flexible instrument in addressing a national drought emergency triggered by El Niño phenomenon (2015-2016), including support to the Water Security High Level Committee in the development and implementation of the National Water Security Plan. Most of the World Bank disaster risk management support has been provided through technical assistance activities with key results including the development of the first Disaster Risk Finance and Insurance Framework in Latin America, and a strengthened emergency preparedness and response capacity at the subnational level. Bank Group Contribution Following a decade of limited engagement, the World Bank Group partnership with Panama was rejuvenated in 2005.  Since then, the World Bank has delivered US$1.1 billion including operations in education, health, social protection, land administration, rural productivity, rural and urban water and sanitation, disaster risk management, public sector efficiency, and environment. Along with financial assistance, the World Bank has provided high-quality technical assistance and cutting-edge knowledge — in urban planning, urban transport system reform, disaster risk management, and logistics — to leverage increased economic activity resulting from the reversion of the Panama Canal in 1999. IFC and MIGA have provided support for private sector investments and employment generation.  IFC’s investment in Panama grew from nine projects totaling US$166 million over 2002–2006, to 28 projects representing US$ 1.2 billion gross investment during 2007–2014. These include support for the Panama Canal Expansion Project and the Penonomé Windfarm. The role of MIGA has been critical for improving urban mobility through the provision of the guarantee for the Metro Line 1. Partners Several operations have been implemented jointly or in close coordination with other donors. This was done successfully with the water program, providing, in part, a platform for dialogue on policy reform. Both the Metro Water and Sanitation Project and the Water Supply and Sanitation in Low Income Communities Project were coordinated with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) to cover distinct geographical areas. This proved to be a good model, allowing each multilateral to manage and develop its project activities in focalized areas. In terms of knowledge services, the Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability (PEFA) assessment was conducted jointly with IDB to identify challenges in Panama’s public financial management system. Moving Forward The WBG will continue its partnership with Panama in line with the Country Partnership Framework (CPF) under implementation to help reduce extreme poverty and promote shared prosperity by supporting Panama’s growth while ensuring inclusion and opportunities for marginalized groups, and bolstering resilience and sustainability. The CPF features a mix of instruments, drawing on the strengths of the institutions of the World Bank Group to provide Panama with a package of assistance to best address the country’s development needs. Leveraging the comparative advantages of the World Bank, IFC, and MIGA will facilitate the delivery of a complementary suite of services and greater partnership with the private sector. The World Bank and IFC are already collaborating strongly in the energy sector where the World Bank is supporting the modernization of the sector through the elimination of distortions, as well as new legislation to diversify the generation matrix, and IFC is investing in renewable energy (wind). MIGA will explore providing guarantees for energy and other infrastructure investments. During the CPF period, the WBG institutions will further explore potential synergies to accelerate progress towards the WBG’s twin goals. Beneficiaries Hilaria Palacios is a mother of five children and is four months pregnant with her sixth. Previously, it was very difficult for Hilaria to access health services because it required walking long distances or paying prohibitive transport costs just to reach the local clinic. Thanks to community visits by a mobile team of health professionals, including a doctor, a nurse, a technician, nutritionist, an environmental health sanitation specialist, and a driver, health comes to Hilaria. This approach allows Hilaria to have monthly access to quality basic health services during her pregnancy. Hilaria Palacios, project beneficiary commenting on the difficulty of accessing care prior to the mobile health teams:  “I had to walk or take a boat to receive check-ups.  It was very difficult.”  Today, Hilaria receives care from the mobile health teams:  “Here, I receive monthly check-ups from the Doctor.”   Learn More Links to key related sites The web site of the World Bank for Panama offers in-depth information on all projects and programs in the country. Links to partner websites Ministry of Economy and Finance Multimedia  Ya no hace falta esperar a que llueva en Panamá  Providing better health quality for moms and their children in Panama  ¿Cómo se pueden reducir riesgos ordenando el territorio? BLOG A Tale of Two Panamas: How Results-Based Financing improves Health for Rural Mothers and Children