Category Archives: Uncategorized

From ‘Aid to Trade’ agenda in Kenya: an embassy perspective (in Dutch)

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This blog was published on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website for entrepreneurs in developing countries (www.ondernemeninontwikkelingslanden.nl) on July 28, 2015 and written by First Secretary Robert van der Hum of the Netherlands embassy in Nairobi, Kenya.

Almost summer vacation, almost a year that I have lived – with family – and worked in Kenya. A beautiful country to live in, also exciting and adventurous. And certainly very dynamic to work in Kenya: the developments occur rapidly and there is so much to do! A good moment to look back on a first year of working on the ‘Aid to Trade’ agenda, at the economic department of the embassy in Nairobi. -Remainder of article in Dutch-

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NPR: how cell phone use can help determine a person’s creditworthiness

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NPR’s social science correspondent Shankar Vedantam reports how financial institutions in countries where people lack financial records could look into using records on cell phone use to determine the likelyhood of a person paying back their loans. And predicting this with surprising accuracy. Continue reading →

Zambia – Lusaka Sanitation Project

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The Lusaka Sanitation Project for the Republic of Zambia was approved by the Board of Directors of the World Bank. This project, which will increase access to sanitation services in selected areas of Lusaka and strengthen the Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company’s (LWSC) capacity to manage sanitation services, involves a total of $68.5 million, of which $65 million is provided by the World Bank.

The project will have the following three components:  Continue reading →

India – Andhra Pradesh Disaster Recovery Project

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Original article posted on June 17, 2015 on the World Bank website.

The project is expected to benefit over 13 million people.The total value of the project is $370 million. Please find the Project Appraisal Document on the Project Website.

WASHINGTON, June 17, 2015 ─ The World Bank today approved a US $250 million credit for the Andhra Pradesh Disaster Recovery Project to restore, improve and enhance the resilience of public services and livelihoods of communities affected by cyclone Hudhud in Andhra Pradesh. The project will also increase the capacity of the state to respond promptly and effectively to an emergency.

The project will specifically benefit over 13 million people in the four severely affected districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam and East Godavari.

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Urban Logistics in the Moroccan traditional sector

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Full article in Dutch, only excerpt in English.

In developing countries the traditional marokko-272x160channel plays a very large rol, with often 50% of all commercial trade being conducted through these channels. To develop a city sustainably, city logistics is an important topic in policy and rules. However, policy also needs to be evaluated in the context of the city in question, with proper data as the basis.

Below a case-study in Casablanca, Morocco, by Alain Broft.

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Netherlands, Bangladesh and World Bank agree to protect Bangladesh delta

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Original article posted on Netherlands Government website (in Dutch) on June 16.

Ministers Lilianne Ploumen (Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation) and Melanie Schultz van Haegen (Infrastructure and Environment) have signed an agreement with the Government of Bangladesh and the World Bank Group to protect the Bangladesh delta against flooding and to ensure sufficient clean drinking water and sanitation. The Netherlands and Bangladesh will also collaborate in the field of land reclamation and port development. The Bangladesh lowlands form the largest delta of Asia and the world’s most densely populated area that faces serious water challenges (remainder in Dutch).

Learn more about the plan at http://www.bandudeltas.org/.

Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100

De samenwerking moet resulteren in het Bangladesh partnershipBangladesh Delta Plan 2100, een langetermijnvisie met niet alleen technische oplossingen maar ook een investeringsplan, inclusief private participatie, en een goede bestuurlijke inbedding. Op die manier kan het, met behoud van de unieke biodiversiteit en  fysische eigenschappen van de delta, bijdragen aan het doel van Bangladesh om in 2021 een midden-inkomensland te zijn.

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Public procurement in the context of natural disasters

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Original blog published by Felipe Goya on the World Bank website.

Nepal is coping with the consequences of a disastrous earthquake. During the next months the government will be under a lot of pressure to respond quickly to the needs of the population.

Public procurement units across the Volunteers unload relief materials in Nepalcountry will also feel this pressure. They will be deciding over the purchase of goods and services with taxpayer money. On the one hand, the purchases are urgently needed. On the other, there is a risk that taxpayer money can be wasted if decisions are taken too hastily.

One instrument that can be helpful in this kind of situation is a framework agreement. This should be part of any country’s Disaster Risk Management plan. Its aim is to have a procurement system ready that responds quickly to an emergency. But this quick response should not increase risks beyond what policymakers have defined as acceptable. Special procurement procedures for emergencies should be part of disaster management systems and should especially include tailored framework agreements.

Specific considerations:

  • Delivery capacity
  • Price speculation

Read the full article at http://blogs.worldbank.org/endpovertyinsouthasia/shaping-procurement-plan-emergencies?CID=EXT_TWBN_D_EXT.

 

Renewed support for infrastructure in developing countries

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The Netherlands has renewed its system of financial support for major infrastructure projects in developing countries. “The building and construction of, for example, ports, irrigation systems and coastal protection are crucial to economic development and improve the lives of the population. The new DRIVE program plays an important and innovative way in this,” says Minister Ploumen for Foreign Trade and Development.

It is expected that over the coming years investments in infrastructure will increase enormously in Africa. Reports speak of a ‘boom’ more than $ 100 billion in investments annually over a long period. DRIVE stands for Development and Related Infrastructure Investment Vehicle, and is the successor of the Program for Development-related Infrastructure in Developing Countries (ORIO).

Continue reading the press release (in Dutch).

More information in English at the RVO Website.

Go on a mission to the World Bank ; The future

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missionMissions are an integral part to working with the World Bank and understanding how it functions. They give companies the opportunity to meet decision makers, ask questions and attend seminars such as a “procurement” seminar which could provide you with the information to help to win future World Bank Projects.

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Tesla’s low-cost renewable battery could revolutionise Africa’s energy supply

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Makhtar Diop (  @Diop_WB  ) World Bank Vice President  Africa recently posted this article on his twitter feed and we enjoyed it so much we wanted to share it as well!

Batteries that can store renewable energy for longer and at half the current cost have been hailed as an energy revolution that could transform Africa’s power supply.