About 5 years ago we embarked on a global initiative titled “Thirsty Energy” to respond to water-energy nexus challenges around the world. The initiative, a joint effort of the Water and the Energy Global Practices at the World Bank, has finally come to an end. We wanted to reflect on the lessons learnt along the way, as our team has developed a fantastic set of material and methodologies to move the needle forward on this issue. We hope that the global community takes advantage of this to ignite change.
eC2: Technical and E&S consultant – Banjul Port PPP
Deadline: 15-May-2018 at 11:59:59 PM (Eastern Time – Washington D.C.)
Objective: – Analyses of technical and operational aspects of GPA benchmarked against comparable ports in the region and best practice, including infrastructure, superstructure, commercial and financial aspects – Analyses on the technical aspects related to an institutional reorganization/ realignment of GPA to consider the introduction of a private sector entity – Environmental and social analyses, including scoping studies of possible environmental and social impact and mitigation measures, as well as stakeholders engagement planning, aligned on IFC Performance Standards. Tasks will also include the identification of issues associated with the project, related gaps, and proposed roadmap to close such gaps in order to develop the project in line with national legislation and the IFC Performance Standards. – Analyses and assistance in social aspects: including a review and recommendations of staffing at GPA and the distribution of staff with the future Operator; the possible options and recommendations on ways to include / consider the 400+ dockers at the Port Banjul, who, today have an undefined status at the Port.
eC2: Architectural design and construction oversight for climate resilient housing in the southern coastal regions of Bangladesh
Deadline: 05-May-2018 at 11:59:59 PM (Eastern Time – Washington D.C.) 
Objective: IFC is partnering with a prominent microfinance institution (MFI) to develop and pilot a climate resilient housing microfinance product in the southern coastal regions of Bangladesh. The firm selected will support this effort through designing the architecture for and overseeing the construction of climate resilient housing renovations. The firm will be expected to: 1.Support the capacity development of the partner NGO to introduce the housing micro-finance product in the market. 2.Review various construction designs for the climate resilient low-cost housing for vulnerable communities and develop recommendations that can be piloted through micro finance. 3.Roll out pilot through the partner NGO overseeing the financial and engineering activities.
For Better Returns than the U.S. Stock Market, Invest in Education
We all know that education is a sound investment, but just how solid is it? We set to find out, with a comprehensive review that covered trends and patterns from a database of 1,120 estimates in 139 countries spanning nearly seven decades.
The result—a 9 percent average individual return for one extra year of schooling globally, or in other words, 9 percent increase in hourly earnings—is staggering, especially when compared to other investment options available. One such investment many people choose to invest in are United State stocks and bonds. However, when we learned that investors over a five-decade period from the mid-1960s collected only a mere 2.4 percent return, investing in education looks even more solid.
Q1 2018 update of World Development Indicators available
The World Development Indicators database has been updated. This is a regular quarterly update to 1,600 indicators and includes both new indicators and updates to existing indicators.
This release features updates for national accounts, balance of payments, demography, health, labor market, poverty and shared prosperity, remittances, and tourism series. New estimates are also available for electricity-related indicators from the Global Tracking Framework, adjusted net savings, law and regulation towards gender equality from Women, Business and the Law, ownership of financial accounts from the Global Findex, mobile and internet, and education series.
eC2: Design of Standards and Specifications for Mini-grids Development
Deadline: 07-May-2018 at 11:59:59 PM (Eastern Time – Washington D.C.) 
Objective: IFC seeks to hire the services of a Consulting firm to support harmonization of technical standards and specifications for private or community operating mini-grid systems in Zambia. For the purposes of this engagement, the working definition of a mini-grid is an interconnected electric power distribution system that can operate independent or/and connected to the main grid and contains some local generation. The technical standards and specifications will comprise a set of clearly documented requirements to be satisfied by mini-grid developers and operators in relation to material choice, system design and service level. These specifications should aim to create a common understanding and basis of expectations among developers, operators, regulators and consumers on the various levels of acceptable service delivery including technical, safety, cost and reliability issues. The work will include development of standards and specifications as needed, institutional arrangement recommendations, and implementation support.
Pitfalls of Patient Satisfaction Surveys and How to Avoid Them
![medical-appointment-doctor-healthcare-clinic-health-hospital-medicine[7]](https://nl4worldbank.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/medical-appointment-doctor-healthcare-clinic-health-hospital-medicine7.jpg?w=247&h=165)
A child has a fever. Her father rushes to his community’s clinic, his daughter in his arms. He waits. A nurse asks him questions and examines his child. She gives him advice and perhaps a prescription to get filled at a pharmacy. He leaves.
How do we measure the quality of care that this father and his daughter received? There are many ingredients: Was the clinic open? Was a nurse present? Was the patient attended to swiftly? Did the nurse know what she was talking about? Did she have access to needed equipment and supplies?
eC2: Private Health Sector Assessment in Sindh Province, Pakistan
Deadline: 01-May-2018 at 11:59:59 PM (Eastern Time – Washington D.C.) ![medical-appointment-doctor-healthcare-clinic-health-hospital-medicine[7]](https://nl4worldbank.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/medical-appointment-doctor-healthcare-clinic-health-hospital-medicine7.jpg?w=303&h=202)
Objective: (1) assess the status of healthcare provision by private sector entities (for profit and non-profit), including payment mechanisms. (2) analyze the level of private health sector regulations. (3) identify possible options for public private partnerships and service contracting to improve primary health care
eC2: Technical Consultant – Jamaica Solid Waste – Options Analysis
Deadline: 30-Apr-2018 at 11:59:59 PM (Eastern Time – Washington D.C.)
Objective: The objective of the assignment is for the Technical Consultant to assist IFC in its work for Phase 0 Options Analysis. The Technical Consultant will analyse the main aspects of the project, including assessment of the appropriate form of private sector participation, defining the options for an integrated waste management plan for the entire island, quantifying the cost of such options, identifying the main regulatory and legal requirements for its implementation and together with IFC assess the market interest in the proposed options. The recommended options shall be in line with IFC Environmental and Social Performance Standards that will be made available to the Consultant as part of their work. Should the GoJ decide to proceed with the implementation of the proposed options, the next phase will advance with the structuring of the PPP transaction and drafting of the technical and applicable commercial terms for the tender documents, including the PPP contract, negotiations with bidders, and supporting the implementation the tender process.
eC2: Developing Agri-finance value proposition and digitizing Agri Value Chains
Deadline: 07-May-2018 at 11:59:59 PM (Eastern Time – Washington D.C.) 
Objective: IFC advisory services program for agriculture finance, under the Financial Institutions Group (FIG) department was approved and launched in 2015. The 5-year program works with commercial banks, microfinance banks, non-bank financial institutions such as leasing, insurance companies, and commodity exchanges amongst various players to develop a broad range of financial services for the agriculture sector, including credit, savings and transactional products. The program supports IFC financial institutions clients to increase lending to the agriculture sector and to indirectly create access to finance opportunities for smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa. IFC Digital Financial Services (DFS) advisory services program, also under the FIG department, supports microfinance institutions (MFIs), banks, and mobile network operators (MNOs) across the African continent to develop and text innovative business models for financial inclusion.
Netherlands for the World Bank 
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