Noticias de otros medios

WASHINGTON, 7 de abril, 2017 – A região da América Latina e Caribe (ALC) poderia melhorar significativamente a sua infraestrutura avaliando melhor as suas prioridades e melhorando a eficiência dos gastos, de acordo com um novo relatório do Banco Mundial, divulgado hoje. Repensando a infraestrutura na América Latina e Caribe – Melhorar o gasto para alcançar mais argumenta que, embora a região esteja atrasada em termos de investimento em infraestrutura, a prioridade deveria ser melhorar os gastos em vez de aumentá-los. Enquanto a América Latina e Caribe gasta, em média, 3 por cento do PIB por ano em infraestrutura, em comparação com 7,7 por cento na Ásia Oriental e Pacífico, muitos países da região aplicam mais de 4 por cento. "O investimento em infraestrutura pode servir como um poderoso motor de crescimento na América Latina e no Caribe, no momento em que a região começa a emergir após seis anos de desaceleração, incluindo dois de recessão", disse Jorge Familiar, Vice-Presidente do Banco Mundial para a América Latina e no Caribe. "No contexto atual de espaços fiscais reduzidos, é essencial que os investimentos sejam tão eficientes quanto possível, e que o potencial do setor privado seja totalmente explorado". Em vez de enfocar brechas de financiamento, muitas vezes mal definidas, o relatório defende a importância de abordar as "brechas de serviços" de acordo com as prioridades de desenvolvimento de cada país. Isto significa a implementação de mecanismos eficientes para atender a estas necessidades e o estabelecimento de regras claras para decidir o que deve ser financiado pelos contribuintes, em vez dos usuários. Prioridades e eficiência Melhorar o desempenho em um ambiente fiscal apertado exigirá prioridades bem definidas. O relatório aponta o saneamento e o transporte, áreas onde a ALC está atrasada em relação a outras regiões de renda média, como áreas potencialmente prioritárias. Além disso, a região deveria considerar fatores como as mudanças climáticas, a urbanização e as mudanças socioeconômicas, especialmente o crescimento da classe média, que estão mudando o perfil da demanda por serviços de infraestrutura, especialmente em energia e transporte. "A região da América Latina e o Caribe é inovadora na área de infraestrutura há muito tempo", disse Marianne Fay, economista-chefe da vice-presidência para Desenvolvimento Sustentável do Banco Mundial, uma das autoras do relatório. "Com sua experiência em regulação sofisticada e parcerias público-privadas, a região tem os meios para melhorar os seus serviços de infraestrutura, gastando melhor e nas coisas certas". Gastos mais eficientes poderiam trazer enormes benefícios. No setor de energia, onde as perdas com transmissão e distribuição são elevadas, a ALC precisaria de US$23 bilhões por ano, se continuasse com o atual modelo de investimento. Os custos seriam reduzidos pelo menos à metade seguindo uma abordagem que favorece a eficiência, a resistência ao clima e o uso de energias renováveis. De acordo com o relatório, muitas das causas por trás de investimentos ineficientes em infraestrutura são externos ao setor, incluindo a falta de capacidade institucional para o planejamento, a incerteza regulatória e questões de orçamento e de implementação em muitos países. Processos de licitação ineficientes, por exemplo, contribuem para custos excessivos. Outra área importante para melhorar a eficiência é a fixação adequada de preços para os serviços de infraestrutura. O relatório sugere que a determinação de preços deve ir além da mera recuperação de custos, e levar em conta questões como aceitação social, qualidade, equidade e atratividade para o financiamento comercial. Para proteger o dinheiro dos contribuintes, o relatório diz que recursos públicos e concessionais devem ser utilizados apenas quando o financiamento comercial não é viável ou rentável. Finalmente, o relatório conclui que permitir que os operadores de infraestrutura diversifiquem sua renda poderia contribuir para atenuar o custo fiscal. As estações de tratamento de água, por exemplo, podem gerar eletricidade para consumo próprio e até mesmo para venda, enquanto que o lodo higienizado pode ser vendido como adubo, em vez de acabar em aterros a custo elevado. Essas opções não estão disponíveis hoje.

WASHINGTON, April 7, 2017 – Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) can dramatically improve its infrastructure by better assessing priorities and improving spending efficiency, says a new World Bank report released today. Rethinking Infrastruc…

WASHINGTON, 7 de abril de 2017 – América Latina y el Caribe (ALC) podría mejorar notablemente su infraestructura si pudiese evaluar mejor sus prioridades y mejorar la eficiencia en el gasto, de acuerdo a un nuevo informe del Banco Mundial e…

Challenge The Bahamas, like many other island countries, was a low-volume consumer of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).  CFCs, ozone depleting substances (ODS) with high global warming potential, are used, inter alia, in refrigeration and air-conditioning. In 2000, the government of the Bahamas realized it faced a challenge to achieving the necessary reductions in CFC consumption to meet levels mandated by the Montreal Protocol, particularly given its CFC consumption to service domestic refrigerators, commercial and industrial refrigeration equipment, and, especially, mobile air-conditioning (MAC) in vehicles. High prices for alternative refrigerants and existing CFC-using equipment inventories encouraged ongoing CFC demand, and the movement toward a global phase-out of CFCs by 2010 encouraged stockpiling. Consequently, CFC consumption was 12 percent higher than the average level of the protocol-defined baseline for the Bahamas. In addition, the government was concerned that the Bahamas might become a potential dumping site for unwanted CFCs and outdated CFC-using equipment as other countries in the region phased out their use. Approach The government of Bahamas requested the World Bank’s support in developing an ODS/CFC Terminal Phase-out Management Plan (TPMP) to help the country adhere to its phase-out objectives and to help steer the implementation of an accelerated phase-out schedule. The Bank, an Implementing Agency for the project’s design, was the only agency with relevant experience in developing programmatic approaches for sustainable ODS phase-out, structured on providing coordinated technical assistance, investment activities, and strategic policy interventions. The TPMP used a flexible “umbrella project” concept permitting absorption of new subprojects in line with time-bound country and protocol priorities and predicated on a performance-based approach covering policy actions, management, technical assistance, and phase-out efforts. With the support of technical experts familiar with the sectors at issue, a robust pipeline of subprojects was developed across priority sectors.   

Washington April 7th, 2017 – More than 1.4 million people will benefit from a new loan approved yesterday by the World Bank Board of Directors for US$ 300million to strengthen flood protection in the Salado river basin within the Province of Buenos Aires. “For years we, Buenos Aires residents, have suffered every time it rains due to a decades-long lack of investment.  We are beginning to undertake works which will take time, the sort that won’t be seen in the short-term, but which will change people’s lives. Thanks to the World Bank’s input will be able to invest in improving the infrastructure and strengthening the economy of our Province,” said Maria Eugenia Vidal, governor of the Province of Buenos Aires. “This project is an example of World Bank support to Argentina to improve the standard of living of the population”, said World Bank Vice-president for Latin America and the Caribbean, Jorge Familiar. “We will continue working with the country to strengthen infrastructure and productivity, among other issues, so as to promote sustainable growth and job creation.” This loan is part of the “Salado Integrated River Basin Management Support Project”, which will finance works to adjust the river basin in order to contain rising waters and to minimize the impact of floods along 34 km of the middle course of the river and to enhance bridges so as to reduce risks to human life and economic activities. It will also finance the strengthening of institutional capacities for improved water resources management, protecting the environment, and supporting the sustainable management of infrastructure investments. The project will benefit the Basin’s entire population – 1.4 million people – and the structural work will directly and positively impact the populations in the districts of San Miguel de Monte, Lobos and Roque Pérez, an estimated 75,000 inhabitants. The Salado River Basin is situated in the central-northern part of the Province of Buenos Aires, and is of strategical importance not only to the regional economy, but also at a national level. The area’s agricultural production is responsible for 20 percent of national grains and meat production, contributing significantly to national export income. “We need more investment in infrastructure, not just to guarantee the wellbeing of the population, but also to develop a more competitive economy and to create genuine employment. For this reason, it’s fundamental that we have a strategic ally like the World Bank, who guarantees us the financing we need to grow,” said Luis Caputo, Minister for Finance in Argentina. Extreme climate events periodically and recurrently threaten the Province of Buenos Aires through floods and prolonged droughts. From 2000 to 2011, floods generated losses of US$ 4.5 billion and affected more than five million people in the Province. In 2015, the highest level of precipitation on record within the Salado River Basin caused flooding over more than 800,000 hectares, causing the death of over 6,000 cows and losses of over US$652 million. The project will be financed by a variable spread loan of US$300 million, with a 27.5-year total maturity period, including a 5-year grace period.

Challenge Peru had advanced on some health-related Millennium Development Goals outcome indicators, but improvements were not uniform and revealed persistent inequalities across socioeconomic groups and regions and between rural and urban setti…

WASHINGTON, April 7, 2017 – Tourism dependent communities in Grenada, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines will benefit from better connectivity, better infrastructure, and improved tourism market development as a result of a US$ 26 million regional project approved by the Board of Directors of the World Bank. Tourism accounts for 61 percent, 50 percent, and 45 percent of export earnings in Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Grenada, respectively, and 42 percent of employment in Saint Lucia and 19 percent both in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada. While tourism is the lead economic sector in the Organization of the Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), the region accounts for less than 0.2 percent of world tourism arrivals and receives less revenues than the rest of the Caribbean. "There is a tremendous potential to develop regional tourism in the Eastern Caribbean and the collaboration among the governments of Grenada, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is highly promising”, said Tahseen Sayed, World Bank Country Director for the Caribbean. “This is an opportunity to develop the tourism industry, generate new jobs particularly for women and young people, and attract private sector investments". The project aims at facilitating access and movement of travelers through a pilot ferry service, rehabilitating select tourism sites such as Fort George in Grenada, Fort Charlotte in St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Castries in Saint Lucia, and helping position these countries as one multi-island travel destination. Among concrete results to be achieved by the OECS tourism competitiveness project are: ·         Improved movement of people by piloting a ferry system; ·         Rehabilitation of Fort George in Grenada and Fort Charlotte in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; and the redevelopment of downtown Castries in Saint Lucia; and ·         Launch of a tourism market development and promotion in the three countries. This project is financed by a US$ 20 Million credit from the International Development Association (IDA) with a final maturity of 40 years and a 10 year grace period, and six million loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) with a final maturity of 30 years and a 9.5 year grace period.

WASHINGTON, April 6, 2017 – The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors today approved the following project: IDA Credit: US$20 million Terms: Maturity = 40 years, Grace = 10 years IBRD Loan: US$6 million Terms: Maturity = 30 years, Grace = 9.5 years Project ID: P152117 Project Description:  The objective of the project is to facilitate access and movement of travelers through a pilot ferry service, rehabilitate select tourism sites such as Fort George in Grenada, Fort Charlotte in St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Castries in Saint Lucia, and help position these countries as one multi-island travel destination   More information: http://projects.worldbank.org/P152117?lang=en

Washington, 7 de abril de 2017 – Más de 1.4 millones de personas se beneficiarán de un nuevo préstamo aprobado ayer por el Directorio Ejecutivo del Banco Mundial por US$300 millones que fortalecerá la protección contra inundaciones en la Cuenca del Río Salado en la Provincia de Buenos Aires. “Desde hace años los bonaerenses sufrimos cada vez que llueve por décadas de falta de inversión. Empezamos a hacer obras que llevan tiempo, esas que en el corto plazo no se ven pero que le cambian la vida a la gente. Gracias al aporte del Banco Mundial vamos a poder hacer la inversión para ​mejorar la infraestructura y fortalecer la economía de nuestra Provincia”, dijo María Eugenia Vidal, Gobernadora de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. “Este préstamo es un ejemplo del apoyo del Banco Mundial a la Argentina para mejorar las condiciones de vida de la población”, dijo el Vicepresidente del Banco Mundial para América Latina y el Caribe, Jorge Familiar. “Continuaremos trabajando con el país en el fortalecimiento de infraestructura y productividad, entre otros temas, a fin de promover el crecimiento sostenible y la creación de empleo”. El préstamo es parte del proyecto denominado “Apoyo a la gestión integrada de la Cuenca del Salado” que financiará obras de adecuación del cauce para poder contener las crecidas y minimizar los impactos de inundación en 34 km de su curso medio y el mejoramiento de puentes para reducir riesgos a la vida humana y las actividades económicas. También financiará el fortalecimiento institucional para mejorar el manejo de los recursos hídricos, protección del medio ambiente y apoyo a la gestión sostenible de las inversiones en infraestructura. El proyecto beneficiará a toda la población de la Cuenca – 1.4 millones de personas – y los trabajos estructurales tendrán un impacto positivo directo en las poblaciones de los partidos de San Miguel del Monte, Lobos y Roque Pérez, que tienen un estimado de 75.000 habitantes. La Cuenca del Río Salado se ubica en la zona central y norte de la provincia de Buenos Aires, de importancia estratégica no solamente para la economía regional, sino también a nivel nacional.  La actividad agropecuaria de la zona es responsable del 25 por ciento de la producción nacional de granos y carne, contribuyendo significativamente a los ingresos de exportación nacional. "Necesitamos más inversión en infraestructura, no solo para asegurar el bienestar de la población, sino para desarrollar una economía más competitiva y para crear empleo genuino. Por eso es fundamental para nosotros tener un aliado estratégico como el Banco Mundial, que nos garantiza el financiamiento que necesitamos para crecer", dijo Luis Caputo, Ministro de Finanzas de Argentina. Eventos climáticos extremos amenazan a la Provincia de Buenos Aires, en forma periódica y recurrente, con inundaciones y sequías prolongadas. De 2000 a 2011, las inundaciones generaron pérdidas de US$4.5 mil millones y afectaron más de cinco millones de personas en la Provincia.  En 2015, el nivel más alto de precipitación histórica en la Cuenca del Río Salado generó inundaciones en más de 800.000 hectáreas, causando la muerte de más de 6000 cabezas de ganado y pérdidas por más de US$652 millones.  El Proyecto será financiado por un préstamo de margen variable de US$300 millones, con un vencimiento a 27,5 años y un período de gracia de cinco años.

Organization: Chemonics
Country: Colombia
Closing date: 21 Apr 2017

Chemonics seeks insurance consultants for short-term assignments under the ongoing USAID Rural Finance Initiative (RFI) in Colombia. RFI supports financial intermediaries in increasing their rural financial services for micro, small, and medium-size producers and businesses and the inclusion of certain populations. There is strong unmet demand for rural financial services, and during the last five years regulatory reforms have improved the enabling environment by allowing movable collateral micro-insurance mechanisms. However, financial institutions lack the experience to design and implement these mechanisms to reach rural clients. RFI’s initial assistance to financial intermediaries has focused on credit and savings products, and the Initiative seeks to expand financial intermediaries’ product options to offer insurance services as well. The insurance consultants, over a period of three to four weeks in Colombia, will provide technical assistance to financial intermediaries in identifying, designing, and implementing insurance products (including micro-insurance products) that meet the demand of low-income and other customers in rural areas. We are looking for individuals who have a passion for making a difference in the lives of people around the world.

Responsibilities Include:

• Identify insurance solutions/products (outside life, accident, and funeral insurance) to meet the demands of rural area customers for RFI-supported financial intermediaries
• Apply best practices and proven models for insurance and micro-insurance products targeted to low-income populations or rural customers that have been successful in Latin America and elsewhere globally to inform work in Colombia
• Provide technical assistance to RFI partner financial intermediaries (including banks, microfinance institutions, insurance companies, and finance corporations) in assessing, designing, and implementing insurance or micro-insurance mechanisms targeted for their rural clients
• Ensure mechanisms are designed to overcome barriers to access to insurance
• Design and write detailed procedures, manuals, workflow charts, and job aids for financial intermediaries for implementing insurance products, which must be different from already well-used insurance policies such as accident and life insurance
• Review and refine RFI’s micro-insurance services strategies targeted to assist financial intermediaries (banks, microfinance institutions, and finance corporations) in designing and implementing products in RFI’s targeted seven economic corridors
• Conduct ongoing assessment of micro-insurance opportunities in the seven economic corridors, analyzing financial institutions interested in providing such services
• Produce reports with specific recommendations and strategies for enhancing micro-insurance in Colombia, including new opportunities

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in business administration, finance, trade, economic development, or a related discipline
• Minimum eight years of relevant experience working and implementing insurance or micro-insurance products for rural areas or low-income populations
• Experience working with private financial intermediaries to design and implement insurance mechanisms for vulnerable and low-income populations, including writing procedures, manuals, and job aids
• Experience in the design of marketing/commercial strategy for insurance products
• Demonstrated experience in securing support from insurance and reinsurance companies to offer insurance products designed
• Demonstrated ability to break down the barriers that insurance companies normally have to take risks, especially in the agricultural sector
• Experience delivering training and building capacity of insurance service providers, and strengthening insurance coverage in low-income and agricultural populations
• Experience working in developing country settings required; experience working in Latin America and the Caribbean preferred
• Demonstrated leadership, versatility, and integrity
• Spanish language skills preferred

How to apply:

Send electronic submissions including CV and cover letters to ColombiaRFIrecruit@chemonics.com by April 21, 2017. Please include «Insurance Consultant» in the subject line. No telephone inquiries, please. Finalists will be contacted to provide further information on relevant experience prior to selection of candidates for interviews.

Para el agricultor colombiano, vivir en zona urbana era sinónimo de estrés y angustia. Una desplazada lo explica

Cuatro antioqueñas cuentan cómo escaparon de la violencia de los grupos armados durante el conflicto de Colombia