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Achieving the Millennium Development Goal of improving maternal health : determinants, interventions and challenges

LULE, Elizabeth
et al
2005

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"This paper summarizes the importance of improving maternal and reproductive health, the progress made to date and lessons learned, and the major challenges confronting programs today. The paper highlights the progress that some countries, including very poor ones, have made in reducing maternal mortality, but cautions that progress in many countries remains slow. Relying on evidence from the most recent research and survey information, the paper also analyzes the key determinants and evidence on effective interventions for attaining the maternal health MDG. The paper finds that key interventions to improve maternal and reproductive health and reduce maternal mortality include the following mutually reinforcing strategies: (a) mobilizing political commitment and fostering an enabling policy environment; (b) investing in social and economic development such as female education, poverty reduction, and improvements in women’s status; (c) providing family planning services; (d) ensuring quality antenatal care, skilled attendance during childbirth, and availability of emergency obstetric services for pregnancy complications; and (e) strengthening the health system and community involvement. The paper emphasizes that carrying out interventions remains a challenge in environments where political commitment, policies, as well as institutions and health systems, are weak. The paper concludes with guiding lessons from some of the countries that have successfully improved maternal health and with a discussion of some of the difficulties of measuring maternal mortality and morbidity outcomes"

Educating children with disabilities in developing countries : the role of data sets

ROBSON, Colin
EVANS, Peter
2005

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This report contributes towards the availability of data for education reform of children with disabilities. The report focuses first on data sets which identify children with disabilities, and then highlights preschool and school data sets which better identify whether these children have access to education. The analysis also assesses the achievement of policy goals. This study would be useful to those who have an interest in the education of children with disabilities

Integrating mental health and psychosocial interventions into World Bank lending for conflict-affected populations : a toolkit

BAINGANA, Florence
BANNON, Ian
September 2004

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"The toolkit begins with a general introduction that sets the stage for mental health and psychosocial interventions in the context of conflict affected populations. A discussion of programming issues then follows which is then followed by two sections that outline the steps to take to operationalise mental health and psychosocial interventions"

Disability issues in East Asia : review and ways forward

TAKAMINE, Yutaka
May 2004

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This paper provides "the World Bank’s East Asia and Pacific region with information and insights necessary for improving a focus on disability in its activities. There are two major parts to this paper. The first part reviews disability related issues in the region by describing (1) the prevalence of disability and related issues; (2) major issues and challenges confronting persons with disabilities; and (3) good practices, innovative approaches, and effective organizations in the region working to meet the needs of persons with disabilities. The second part reviews the Bank’s regional level activities through examining project portfolios and AAA products, as well as through interviews with Sector managers and staff members. Based on this review, the paper recommends ways to include disability issues at the regional and sector levels"

Skills development in sub-Saharan Africa

JOHANSON, Richard
ADAMS, Arvil
2004

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This report discusses the programme Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). The aim of this programme was to support economic development through skilled technical and vocational education and training in the Sub-Saharan African region. The report provides a summary of the TVET programme and highlights the competition that results from technological changes which requires higher levels of skills and productivity. Case studies and statistical analyses from several countries are presented. This report would be useful for practitioners interested in skills development in Sub-Saharan Africa

Community-based social services : practical advice based upon lessons from outside of the World Bank

MCLEOAD, Dinah
December 2003

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The purpose of this paper is to gather information outside of the Bank, in both developed and developing countries, on design and delivery of community based social service initiatives. Recommendations are provided for practical advice on project design and to enhance the sub-project cycle for social service-type projects
Social Protection Discussion Paper Series

Mali : traditional knowledge and the reduction of maternal and infant mortality

SANOGO, Rokia
GIANI, Sergio
November 2003

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IK Notes report on indigenous knowledge initiatives in Sub-Saharan Africa and occasionally on such initiatives outside the region. It is published by the World Bank Africa region’s Knowledge and Learning Centre as part of an evolving partnership between the World Bank, communities, NGOs, development institutions and multilateral organisations. This edition outlines the high rate of maternal and infant mortality in Mali, despite interventions by the government and donors in the past ten years. It then outlines the methodology used in developing a close collaboration between the traditional system of assistance to pregnancy and childbirth (of which traditional birth assistants (TBAs) are the protagonists) and the modern system of management of obstetrical emergencies. This involved a new role for the TBAs in breaking down cultural barriers in access to modern health care. The first results appear promising, and the authors stress the importance of taking into account traditional knowledge in birthing practices when developing a national strategy for the control of maternal and infant mortality

Adolescents and youth with disabilities : issues and challenges

GROCE, Nora Ellen
2003

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"Of all people with disabilities, particularly in the developing world, the people about whom we know least are adolescents and young adults... Although research may be lacking, extrapolation from data that is available on youth in general and disability in general may provide a starting point for assessing and addressing the urgent needs and untapped potentials of young people with disabilities. This may be possible because the needs of young people who are disabled are strikingly similar to those of their peers who are nondisabled. Everyone, after all, shares a need for education, job training, and employment as well as a successful transition from childhood to adulthood through participation in social, cultural, religious, and economic affairs"

Achieving universal primary education by 2015 : a chance for every child

BRUNS, Barbara
MINGAT, Alain
RAKOTOMALALA, Ramahatra
2003

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This study assesses whether universal primary completion can be achieved by 2015, the target date set by the Millennium Development Goals. This study focuses on the following two data gaps in many developing countries: the education policies that in many countries are needed for faster progress and the incremental financing required to support this progress. This study is useful for anyone interested in universal primary completion

Improving transparency in pharmaceutical systems : strengthening critical decision points against corruption

COHEN, Jillian Clare
CERCONE,James A.
MACAYA, Roman
October 2002

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This is a diagnostic framework and methodology to evaluate a pharmaceutical system’s vulnerability to corruption and to determine which corrupt practices can have a major impact on the system’s ultimate efficiency. While developed in the context of the health systems of Latin America and the Caribbean (and implemented in a pilot study in Costa Rica), the methodology can be modified with ease so that it is applicable to other regions

The World Bank and disability

WORLD BANK

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The World Bank's disability website provides links to information about its disability related activities. It includes online documents produced by the World Bank and other key international agencies, classified under a range of topics including education, community-based rehabilitation, disability and conflict, disability and HIV/AIDS, gender, rural development, etc. It contains links to related websites, including UNESCO's inclusive education programme, the World Health Organization's social change and mental health programme.

Gender and development [formerly: Focus on gender]

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Articles in the current issue are free to download upon online registration
3 issues a year
Institutional: (print and online access) £236.00 plus VAT
Institutional: (online only) £212.00 plus VAT
Personal: (print and online access) £78.00 plus VAT
Low and middle income countries as defined by the UNDP Human Development Report: £37.00 plus VAT

Disaster risk management

THE WORLD BANK

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This website provides information about the Disaster Risk Management in East Asia and the Pacific Series which "was started as a part of World Bank East Asia and Pacific Management Unit Initiatives in collaboration with the Global Development Learning Network (GDLN) with the aim to promote capacity building and increase knowledge of professionals involved in DRM activities in the EAP client countries. The seminars cover a wide range of topics including post-disaster response, recovery planning, disaster risk assessment, prevention and mitigation, emergency preparedness and early warning systems, community and local level disaster risk management. They are designed to help DRM professionals in EAP client countries to drive the agenda for DRM activities in their respective countries and empower local partners"

 

 

Insights in DRM : a practitioner’s perspective on disaster risk management in Latin America and the Caribbean

THE WORLD BANK

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"Insights in DRM highlights the successes, challenges and lessons learned from our disaster risk management interventions in Latin America and the Caribbean. This bi-monthly, multimedia publication seeks to educate readers on various aspects of DRM, inspire development practitioners tackling similar issues, and demonstrate the impact of financing for a given project, program or initiative. The publication is geared toward DRM and development practitioners, as well as aficionados in government, private sector and civil society"

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