Noticias de otros medios

Quase metade dos países pôs em prática políticas anticíclicas: gastos nas épocas ruins e economia de recursos nas épocas boasOs observadores do mercado estimam que, neste ano, o crescimento médio da região voltará a ser positivoAs contas fiscais, no entanto, ficaram deterioradas depois de seis anos de desaceleração econômica WASHINGTON, 18 de abril de 2017 – Em um desdobramento positivo, hoje mais do que nunca, os países da América Latina e Caribe estão implementando políticas fiscais anticíclicas – gastando mais em épocas ruins e economizando nas épocas boas, de acordo com um novo relatório semianual do Banco Mundial sobre a região. O relatório "Apoiando-se contra o Vento: uma Perspectiva Histórica da Política Fiscal na América Latina e Caribe" argumenta que essa transformação é importante para uma região que, com frequência, lançou mão de gastos pró-cíclicos – aumentando o risco de superaquecer a economia em períodos de prosperidade e entrar em recessões mais profundas em períodos de baixa atividade econômica. De acordo com o Consensus Forecasts, o Produto Interno Bruto da região deverá crescer 1,5% este ano e 2,5% em 2018, pondo fim a seis anos de desaceleração econômica e à recessão dos últimos dois anos. Se essa previsão se concretizar, as recuperações esperadas no Brasil e na Argentina serão fundamentais para estimular o novo ciclo de crescimento na região. A previsão de crescimento para o México é de, aproximadamente, 1,4%; na América Central e Caribe, a previsão é de uma taxa de crescimento estável em cerca de 3,8%. No entanto, as contas fiscais de vários países sofreram com a desaceleração prolongada. Em 2016, 29 dos 32 países enfrentavam déficits fiscais, em grande parte decorrentes do aumento dos gastos. A média da dívida bruta na região é de 50% do PIB. Ainda assim – em uma importante ruptura com o passado – vários países agora se encontram em melhor posição para escapar dessa complexa situação fiscal, de acordo com o relatório. “Tradicionalmente, os países da América Latina e Caribe agem de forma pró-cíclica, seja por pressões políticas para gastar durante os períodos de prosperidade ou por falta de acesso a capital internacional durante os períodos de desaceleração”, afirma Carlos Végh, Economista-Chefe do Banco Mundial para a América Latina e Caribe. “O resultado é que, muitas vezes, esses países acabam presos na armadilha da pró-ciclicidade fiscal – com o aumento da dívida pública e dos déficits fiscais e rebaixamento da classificação de crédito – e ficam sem opções para reverter a situação.” Em resposta à crise financeira global de 2008, a parcela de países com políticas fiscais anticíclicas na região aumentou de 10 para 45%. Países como Chile, Colômbia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, México, Paraguai e Peru começaram a aumentar os gastos públicos e / ou baixar os impostos em uma tentativa de estimular a economia. Embora essas medidas tenham produzido déficits fiscais, elas fizeram parte de um esforço concertado para minimizar a desaceleração econômica. Por outro lado, afirma o relatório, os países que continuaram com políticas pró-cíclicas agora precisam consolidar ainda mais as suas contas fiscais para minimizar os riscos de rebaixamento da classificação de crédito e de encarecimento dos empréstimos. “Embora os países achem tentadora a ideia de gastar – em vez de poupar – no próximo ciclo de crescimento, os acontecimentos na política fiscal da última década nos trazem a esperança de que os países serão prudentes e optarão pelo caminho seguro,” afirma Végh. “Em um ambiente externo caracterizado por volatilidades e choques frequentes, esse comportamento prudente possibilitará aos países transformar a política fiscal em instrumentos para ajudar a atravessar a próxima crise e preservar os ganhos sociais.” — Para mais informações, por favor, visite: www.worldbank.org/lac Visite a nossa página no Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bancomundialbrasil Receba atualizações via Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/bancomundialbr Visite o nosso canal no YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/bancomundiallac

Casi la mitad de los países aplicaron políticas contracíclicas: gastando en los momentos difíciles y ahorrando en los buenosLos analistas de mercado esperan que el crecimiento promedio de la región se torne positivo este añoDe todas manera…

Nearly half of the countries followed counter-cyclical policies: spending in bad times and saving in good timesMarket watchers expect that the region’s average growth will turn positive this yearYet fiscal accounts have deteriorated after six years of economic slowdown WASHINGTON, April 18, 2017 – In a positive development, today more than ever before, Latin American and Caribbean countries are pursuing counter-cyclical fiscal policies – spending more in bad times and saving in good times, according to a new World Bank semiannual report for the region. "Leaning against the Wind: Fiscal Policy in Latin America and the Caribbean in a Historical Perspective" argues that the transformation is significant for a region that has often pursued pro-cyclical spending – increasing the risks of overheating economies during boom times and making recessions deeper during the bad times. According to the Consensus Forecasts, Gross Domestic Product in the region is expected to grow by 1.5 percent this year and 2.5 percent in 2018, putting an end to six years of an economic downturn, including recession over the past two years. If they materialize, recoveries expected in Brazil and Argentina will largely fuel the return to growth in the region. Mexico’s growth is expected to hover at around 1.4 percent, while Central America and the Caribbean will maintain steady growth of around 3.8 percent. However, the fiscal accounts of many countries have suffered due to the prolonged slowdown. As of 2016, 29 out of 32 countries were facing fiscal deficits, largely due to higher spending. The median gross debt for the region stands at 50 percent of GDP. Still – in a significant break with the past – many countries now find themselves in a better position to escape this difficult fiscal predicament, according to the report. “Countries in Latin America and the Caribbean have traditionally been pro-cyclical, either because of political pressures to spend during good times or lack of access to international capital during bad times,” said Carlos Végh, World Bank Chief Economist for Latin America and the Caribbean. “As a result, they often found themselves caught in a fiscal procyclicality trap, leading to higher public debt and fiscal deficits as well as lower credit ratings that left them few options to turn things around.” In response to the global financial crisis of 2008, the number of countries with a countercyclical fiscal policy increased from 10 to 45 percent of the region’s economies. Countries such as Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Paraguay, and Peru begun to increase public spending and/or lower taxes in an attempt to stimulate the economy. While such measures produced fiscal deficits, they were the result of a concerted effort to minimize the downturn. On the other hand, countries that continued with pro-cyclical policies must now further consolidate their fiscal accounts to minimize the risks of a deterioration in their credit ratings and an increase in borrowing costs, the report argues. “While countries may still find it tempting to spend rather than save in the next boom cycle, the events of the last decade in fiscal policy give us hope that countries will play it safe instead and be prudent,” said Végh. “In an external environment characterized by frequent shocks and volatility, such prudence will allow them to turn fiscal policy into instruments to help cope with the next downturn and preserve social gains.” — For more information, please visit: www.worldbank.org/lac Visit us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/worldbank Be updated via Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/BancoMundialLAC For our YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/worldbank

Près de la moitié des pays ont suivi des politiques contra-cycliques: dépenser durant les périodes difficiles et économiser dans les bons momentsLes observateurs du marché s’attendent à ce que la croissance moyenne de la région soit positive cette annéePourtant, les comptes budgétaires se sont détériorés après six ans de ralentissement économique WASHINGTON, le 18 avril 2017 – Selon un nouveau rapport semi-annuel de la Banque mondiale pour la région, on observe un développement positif, aujourd’hui plus que jamais, les pays d’Amérique latine et des Caraïbes poursuivent des politiques budgétaires contra-cycliques, dépensant davantage dans les moments difficiles et économisant dans les bons moments. «A contre-courant: la politique budgétaire en Amérique latine et les Caraïbes dans une perspective historique» soutient que la transformation est significative pour une région qui a souvent poursuivi des dépenses pro-cycliques – augmentant les risques de surchauffe économiques en périodes de boom et rendant les récessions plus profondes durant les périodes difficiles. Selon les prévisions du consensus, le produit intérieur brut dans la région devrait croître de 1,5 pour cent cette année et de 2,5 pour cent en 2018, mettant fin à six ans de ralentissement économique, y compris une récession au cours des deux dernières années. Si elles se concrétisent, les recouvrements attendus au Brésil et en Argentine alimenteront largement le retour à la croissance dans la région. La croissance du Mexique devrait s’élever à environ 1,4 pour cent, tandis que l’Amérique centrale et les Caraïbes maintiendront une croissance régulière d’environ 3,8 pour cent. Cependant, les comptes budgétaires de nombreux pays ont souffert en raison du ralentissement prolongé. En 2016, 29 des 32 pays étaient confrontés à des déficits budgétaires, principalement en raison des dépenses plus élevées. La dette brute médiane pour la région s’élève à 50 pour cent du PIB. Toutefois selon le rapport, de nombreux pays se trouvent maintenant dans une meilleure position pour échapper à cette situation financière difficile, en rupture avec le passé. "Les pays d’Amérique latine et des Caraïbes ont traditionnellement été pro-cycliques, soit en raison des pressions politiques pendant les bons moments, soit du manque d’accès au capital international pendant les mauvais moments", a déclaré Carlos Végh, économiste en chef de la Banque mondiale pour l’Amérique latine et le Caraïbes. "En conséquence, ils se sont souvent retrouvés pris au piège dans une pro-cyclicité fiscale, ce qui a entraîné une dette publique et des déficits budgétaires plus élevés, ainsi qu’une note de crédit plus faible qui leur a laissé peu d’options pour faire avancer les choses". En réponse à la crise financière mondiale de 2008, le nombre de pays ayant une politique budgétaire contra-cyclique est passé de 10 à 45 pour cent des économies de la région. Des pays comme le Chili, la Colombie, le Costa Rica, le Salvador, le Guatemala, le Mexique, le Paraguay et le Pérou ont commencé à augmenter les dépenses publiques et / ou à réduire les impôts dans le but de stimuler l’économie. Bien que de telles mesures produisent des déficits budgétaires, elles ont été le résultat d’un effort concerté visant à minimiser le ralentissement. D’autre part selon le rapport, les pays qui ont continué avec des politiques pro-cycliques doivent maintenant consolider davantage leurs comptes budgétaires afin de minimiser les risques de détérioration de leurs cotes de crédit et une augmentation des coûts d’emprunt. «Bien que les pays puissent encore être tenté de dépenser plutôt que d’économiser dans le prochain cycle de croissance, les événements dans la politique budgétaire de la dernière décennie nous donnent espoir que les pays vont jouer la carte de la prudence », a déclaré Végh. «Dans un environnement externe caractérisé par des chocs fréquents et une volatilité, une telle prudence leur permettra de transformer la politique budgétaire en instrument pour faire face au prochain ralentissement et préserver les gains sociaux».  

WASHINGTON, April 17, 2017 – The World Bank Board of Directors approved US$100 million in additional financing for productive rural partnerships, which will benefit nearly 33,500 households. In this new phase, the Rural Partnerships II Project (PARII) seeks to improve incomes of more rural inhabitants and thus contribute to reducing poverty in Bolivia. With the additional financing, the project will reach nearly 28,000 new households in rural areas throughout the country through the establishment of approximately 768 productive partnerships. The financing will also be used to support 48 sub-projects of municipal, productive and service infrastructure, with more than 21,000 direct beneficiaries, or some 5,500 households. The PAR II will continue to finance small-scale farmers and their access to markets. Additionally, it will support the strengthening of climate change resilience in rural production systems. To this end, about 75 percent of the additional resources will be invested in irrigation and efficient water usage, as well as in technical assistance in these areas during the preparation and implementation of business plans. "We are supporting the climate-resilience efforts of the Bolivian government by incorporating this new approach in the project, which also responds to the global need to reduce vulnerability to climate change, especially in agriculture, on which food security depends. We believe that in the future, productivity will have improved, and consequently, the incomes of small-scale producers. Additionally, the capacity of this segment to respond to climate shocks will have been strengthened,” said Alberto Rodríguez, World Bank director for Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela. During implementation of the PAR Project, which began in 2006, more than 1,300 rural partnerships were financed, generating investments of some US$98 million and benefitting nearly 68,000 people. The project impact evaluation demonstrated that it is inclusive and that it has considerable impact on poverty reduction because it significantly increases farmers’ incomes. “In keeping with the approach of this initiative, the project will continue to encourage rural youth and women to play a leading role, acknowledging their value as dynamic actors in the country’s development agenda,” said Nicola Pontara, World Bank representative in Bolivia. The US$ 100 million in additional World Bank financing covers 76.6 percent of the total cost of the project. Counterpart resources will cover the remainder: Beneficiaries will contribute 20.8 percent (US$27.2 million) while municipal governments will provide 2.6 percent (US$3.4 million). This financing is a loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development with a maturity date of 21 years and a grace period of 3.5 years. — Learn more about the work of the World Bank in Latin America and the Caribbean: www.worldbank.org/lac   Visit us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/worldbank Be updated via Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/BancoMundialLAC   For our YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/BancoMundialLAC  

Unos 360.000 niños serán vacunados entre 2018 y 2020 en Ghana, Kenia y Malawi, informa la OMS

Organization: Médecins Sans Frontières
Country: Spain
Closing date: 08 May 2017

GENERAL CONTEXT

Médecins Sans Frontières is an international independent medical-humanitarian organization, which offers assistance to populations in distress, to victims of natural or man-made disasters and to victims of armed conflict, without discrimination and irrespective of race, religion, creed or political affiliation.

The MSF movement is built around five operational directorates supported by MSF’s 21 sections, 24 associations and other offices together worldwide. MSF OCBA is one of those directorates. The operations are implemented by field teams and the mission coordination teams; together with the organizational units based in Barcelona, Athens and decentralised in Nairobi, Dakar and Amman. The field operations are guided and supported by 5 Operational Cells, the Emergency Unit and other departments supporting operations, including the Communication Department.

JOB GENERAL OBJECTIVE AND CONTEXT

Accountable to the Head of Operational Communications Unit, the Communication Advisor (CA) defines and supervises the execution of MSF internal and external communication strategies for a portfolio of countries, currently including Niger, Mali and Guinea Bissau.

The post is based in Barcelona with regular international travel required.

MSF OCBA leads and manages interventions in contexts with acute humanitarian needs during crises and/or where protracted conflicts deprive populations of access to health and other basic services. Its teams intervene following outbreaks of conflicts, diseases or natural disasters. MSF needs to enhance public communication on its operations and the situation of the populations it serves while increasing engagement with civil societies and decision-makers in the area of intervention. The communication advisor will be leading this effort.

MAIN FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSABILITIES

The focus of the work is to advise the Operations staff on strategic communications based on a good understanding of the changing communications environment and to develop plans and content to reach objectives. S/he facilitates external communication with the media and public as well as internal communication. S/he contributes to MSF’s global awareness, acceptance and visibility.

1. Communications Strategy

· Together with the team in the headquarters cell unit and field operations, assesses communication needs and priorities in order to define and design a communication strategy and plan of activities to meet objectives for each country/project;

• Implements communications strategies by creating content or activities that raise visibility, increase acceptance, enhance leverage, and/or illustrate transparency of MSF, its principles and activities for the organization at the global level; liaises with CAs from other Operational Centers to maintain reasonable coherence of strategies, plans, content and activities in front of external audiences and local population.
• Develops and implements specific strategies for public communication to support advocacy efforts on topics and issues at stake in the countries covered according to the needs. This is done in coordination with advocacy staff at OCBA and, when appropriate, the network (Access Campaign, International Office, Program units.)

2. Communications Environment

· Monitors and analyzes the changing communications environment particularly on audience, segmentation, consumption of media, tools, timing, platforms, dissemination, etc.;

· Keeping abreast of the public discourse, debates, narratives around the specific countries/projects covered, and events to advise Operations on whether or not public positioning is needed. MSF’s communications are always carried out based on its medical activities.

3. Media Management As s/he is the primary source of information for the wider MSF network on the activities in the project countries and topics s/he oversees:

• Closely monitors the way contextual evolutions/MSF operations are reported in the media for each country/project to alert Operations and other CAs anytime an issue might/has come out in the media and provide guidance on how to handle it, together with Field Communications.
• As the CA is usually the entry point for any media requests and field visits, s/he assesses the relevance of the request in line with the objectives, doing so in collaboration with respective press officer and Field Communications staff.

4. Field Operations, Field Communications staff and Training

• During emergencies, the CA keeps oversight, coordinates and directs the communications activities, including traveling to the field to develop strategic plans, facilitates media, create content, collects information and write crisis updates for internal and external use, along with supporting field teams with other communications needs and issues;
• Visit the field and together with the Field Communications staff, if in place, assesses communication needs, better understands the communications/media environment, defines communication priorities with the field and coordination teams and develops a Country Communications Framework;
• Ensures that communications strategies, action plans and materials created by Field Communications staff are consistent and compliant with MSF´s identity, international guidelines and standards follow internal/intersectional validation procedures;
• Briefs and debriefs expatriates going to/from the field about MSF´s communications practices, guidelines, expectations and activities;
• Participates in the conception, preparation and implementation of communication training modules;
• Provides media/communications training to key spokespeople in the field and conduct information sessions on the role of communications to local staff, if Field Communications staff is not in place;
• Supports recruitment of Field Communications staff, establishes concrete objectives, prioritize their workload, provide guidance and training and conduct appraisals

5. Content Production

• Creates and/or oversees the production of communications content for dissemination to the public or targeted audiences and for MSF and external platforms, including press releases, updates, opinion articles, social media content, reports, etc.;
• Creates, ensures production or collects multimedia material: photos, videos, sounds, etc.;
• Writes or collects content for various MSF internal and external publications, such as the Punto Info, International Annual Report, advocacy campaigns/reports, newsletters, etc.

6. Other responsibilities

• Covers temporarily for other team members or upon request of the Head of Operational Communication on other countries or topics;
• S/he is “on-call” for emergency communications some weekends and evenings.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Training and Experience

• Degree in Journalism or communications. Master’s degree is an asset.

· Minimum four years of professional experience in media relations or communications with an international NGO

• One year of field experience and knowledge of/experience with MSF or two years of humanitarian field experience, preferably in emergency contexts.

• Experience, interest and knowledge of the West Africa/Sahel region and its different political/humanitarian contexts.

• Excellent writing, editing, and proofreading in English. French and Spanish are assets.

· Good understanding of humanitarian interventions, their principles and ethics

• Knowledge and understanding of the media scene and how it functions internationally and regionally

· Track record of developing successful communication strategies

• Experience in production of communications tools (written and multimedia)
• Ability to analyze and synthesize complex and sensitive material accurately to produce content

Others

• Good knowledge of photography and video
• Proven knowledge of digital and social media approaches and tools
• Ability to handle a large volume of work and know how to prioritize ongoing vs. immediate needs appropriately

· Strong capacity to deal with stress and short deadlines.

• Availability to travel to unstable contexts with very short notice and for periods of at least three weeks
• Possibly spends around 30% of his/her annual working time in the field.

COMPETENCES

• Commitment to MSF’s Principles
• Cross-cultural Awareness
• Behavioural Flexibility
• Analytical Thinking
• Strategic Vision
• Results and Quality Orientation
• Service Orientation
• Initiative and Innovation
• Teamwork and Cooperation

POST CONDITIONS

· Interim position based in Barcelona in Médecins Sans Frontières OCBA office.

· Duration: 6 to max. 8 months, fixed term contract (maternity leave cover)

· Full time job

· Annual gross salary: 35,608.10 € (divided in 12 monthly payments) + secondary benefits based on the MSF OCBA Reward Policy

· Starting: Around June 20th

How to apply:

To apply, all applicants should please send their CV and cover motivation letter under the reference “**COMMUNICATION ADVISOR**” to recruitment-bcn@barcelona.msf.org.

Please submit your CV and cover letter in ONE file and name the file with your LAST NAME.

La empresa Tanty nació gracias al esfuerzo de un vendedor ambulante por cambiar el mercado laboral de su país. Hoy nutre a millones

El escritor Antonio Lozano celebra el gradual acercamiento de la sociedad española a la cultura del continente

Que las mujeres se cubran y los hombres no es injusto y por tanto hay que acabar con ello. Pero sin prohibiciones

WASHINGTON, 13 de abril de 2017 –  Un millón de estudiantes de preescolar, primaria y secundaria de escuelas públicas en Nicaragua se beneficiarán de mejores prácticas docentes e infraestructura con la implementación de un préstamo por US$55 millones aprobado hoy por el Directorio Ejecutivo del Banco Mundial (BM). El proyecto “Alianza para la Calidad Educativa” (ACE) está alineado con la Estrategia de Alianza de País 2013-2017, en su objetivo de fortalecer las habilidades y el desarrollo integral de los nicaragüenses a través de una mejor calidad en la educación preescolar y básica. El proyecto también cumple con los objetivos planteados en la Estrategia del Sector Educativo 2017-2021. “El Gobierno de Nicaragua está firmemente comprometido con una educación de calidad que incluye el fortalecimiento de las capacidades pedagógicas de nuestros docentes de preescolar, primaria y secundaria; así como la mejora de los ambientes de aprendizaje de nuestros estudiantes, que contarán con escuelas más seguras y menos vulnerables a desastres naturales, avanzando así en una educación concebida como derecho y rutas educativas protagonizadas por la comunidad educativa”, dijo Miriam Ráudez, Ministra de Educación de Nicaragua. A fin de fortalecer las prácticas docentes, con este proyecto se darán cursos de formación continua y acompañamiento pedagógico a unos 52 mil educadores en servicio. Entre otros temas, se les impartirá entrenamiento enfocado en género y de desarrollo de habilidades socioemocionales en los estudiantes; reforzado con evaluaciones de aprendizaje y de desarrollo infantil. Además, estudiantes y docentes recibirán materiales didácticos, lo que asegurará la disponibilidad de instrumentos de trabajo en el aula. En cuanto a la mejora integral de los ambientes de aprendizaje, el proyecto incluye el desarrollo de infraestructura de calidad. Por un lado, se beneficiará directamente a casi 50 mil estudiantes con escuelas rehabilitadas o ampliadas. Por otro lado, se desarrollarán nuevas normas y protocolos para la construcción de escuelas a nivel nacional, que incorporarán los más altos estándares para reducir la vulnerabilidad ante inundaciones, marejadas ciclónicas y terremotos. “Este proyecto se enfoca en el fortalecimiento de la calidad educativa en Nicaragua, como un pilar clave para dar sostenibilidad a visibles progresos observados en los últimos años”, explicó Luis Constantino, representante del Banco Mundial en Nicaragua. “El proyecto contribuirá al Objetivo de Desarrollo Sostenible Nº 4 a través del fortalecimiento de la educación preescolar y el aumento del acceso a una educación básica de calidad. Asimismo, la resiliencia ante las amenazas climáticas y geofísicas es un paso vital para el desarrollo sostenible”, agregó. El crédito de US$55 millones por parte de la Agencia Internacional de Fomento (AIF), el fondo del Banco Mundial para los más pobres, es reembolsable a 20 años, incluyendo un período de gracia de cinco años. La duración del Proyecto está prevista para un período de cinco años. Contacto: En Washington: Marcela Sánchez-Bender, (202) 473-5863, msanchezbender@worldbank.org En Managua: Cynthia Flores Mora, (505) 2270-0000 x210, cfloresmora@worldbank.org Para conocer el trabajo del Banco Mundial en América Latina y el Caribe visite: www.bancomundial.org/alc   Visítenos en Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bancomundial Manténgase informado via Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/WorldBankLAC Nuestro canal de YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/worldbank Comunicado de Prensa 2017/209/LAC

WASHINGTON, April 13, 2017 – One million preschool, primary and secondary students of public schools in Nicaragua will benefit from improved teaching practices and infrastructure thanks to a US$55 million loan approved by the World Bank Board of Directors today. The project “Partnership for Quality Education” is aligned with the 2013-2017 Country Partnership Strategy in its objective to strengthen the skills and comprehensive development of Nicaraguans by improving the quality of preschool and basic education. The project also works toward the objectives of the 2017-2021 Education Sector Strategy. “The Government of Nicaragua is solidly committed to a quality education that includes strengthening the teaching skills of our preschool, primary and secondary teachers, as well as improving the learning environments of our students, who will have safer schools that are less vulnerable to natural disasters. This will help advance the idea of education as a right and education paths led by the education community,” said Miriam Ráudez, Minister of Education of Nicaragua. With a view to strengthening teaching practices, this project will offer continuing education courses and mentoring to some 52,000 practicing teachers. Teacher training will include a gender-based approach, as well as one to develop students’ socioemotional skills. Learning and child development assessments will reinforce these activities. Additionally, students and teachers will receive educational materials to guarantee the availability of classroom learning materials. To contribute to the overall improvement of learning environments, the project includes activities to develop quality infrastructure. It will directly benefit some 50,000 students by remodeling and enlarging schools. Moreover, new construction standards and protocol will be developed for schools nationwide, including the highest standards to reduce infrastructure vulnerability to flooding, hurricanes and earthquakes.  “This project focuses on strengthening educational quality in Nicaragua, as a key pillar for sustaining the visible progress observed in recent years,” said Luis Constantino, World Bank Representative in Nicaragua. “The project will contribute to Sustainable Development Goal Nº 4 by strengthening preschool education and increasing access to a quality basic education. Moreover, promoting resilience to climate and geophysical threats is pivotal for sustainable development,” he added. The US$55 million loan from the International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank’s fund for the poorest, has a 20-year maturity date, including a five-year grace period. The project will be implemented for five years. Contacts: Washington: Marcela Sánchez-Bender, +1 (202) 473-5863, msanchezbender@worldbank.org San José, Costa Rica: Cynthia Flores Mora, (506) 88220956, cfloresmora@worldbank.org Learn more about the work of the World Bank in Latin America and the Caribbean: www.worldbank.org/lac   Visit us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/worldbank Be updated via Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/BancoMundialLAC   For our YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/BancoMundialLAC   News Release 2017/209/LAC