How can developing countries afford to invest in infrastructure?

To maintain current growth rates and meet demands for infrastructure, developing countries will require an additional investment of at least an estimated US$1 trillion a year through 2020. In the Mashreq countries, the required infrastructure investment for electricity alone is estimated at US$ 130 billion by 2020, and an additional US$108 billion by 2030.

These gigantic financing needs will continue to place a huge burden on government budgets. Simply put, they cannot be addressed without private sector participation. Public-private partnerships (PPPs) can help to close this growing funding deficit and to meet the immense demands for new or improved infrastructure and service delivery in sectors like water, transport, and energy (among others). In countries with diverse and numerous needs, PPPs can fill gaps in implementation capacity as well as the scarcity of public funds.

However, for PPPs to meet their stated purpose, governance is key. In particular, governments need to think carefully about their basic legal and institutional arrangements. It needs to be clear which ministries or local government entities are able and authorized to enter into PPP agreements, approve PPP transactions, and to monitor and regulate the project.

In addition, to ensure the best value for money, governments must have proper procedures to make sure that the PPP bidding process is competitive, objective, and transparent. Project outcomes and public-private relationships tend to be more successful when the rules of the game are fair. A 2010 IFC Survey of PPP investors in Africa found that the “appropriate legal framework for investment” was the primary factor affecting decisions to pursue investment opportunities in a particular country, ranking above even the political and economic stability.

Unfortunately, many public officials in the developing world, including those in the MENA region, often do not have the technical know-how to implement these complex, long-term arrangements. Systemic governance challenges are prevalent, and lack of transparency can open doors to corruption, delays, and inefficiencies. 

Our teams are working together as One World Bank Group to address these challenges and increase knowledge of Procurement under PPP. An October 2014 World Bank workshop in Beirut, Lebanon financed by the Iraq Technical Assistance and Capacity Building Fund (TACBF) brought together contributors from across the world to share knowledge about how to manage and execute procurement for PPP projects. Led and facilitated by the Governance Global Practice, the event combined many different angles of the World Bank’s global knowledge. The event began as a request from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) of Iraq, but eventually grew to include participants from other parts of Iraq, Lebanon, Washington, Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, and Yemen.

Recognizing that procurement under PPPs is extremely complex, participants aimed to better understand what a public-private-partnership is, and what kind of policy, legal and institutional frameworks could be put in place to ensure that PPPs are executed well. Presenters shared multiple case studies on private participation in Water and Energy projects in other low- and middle-income countries, including key success factors, and described the process for developing, appraising, and implementing a PPP procurement.

PPPs have not historically played a major role in the Middle East And North Africa Region despite clear need for private investments.

These issues are particularly relevant in the MENA region. Despite its vast needs, MENA has consistently ranked below other regions in the value of private investments in infrastructure. In recent years, the situation has started to shift. The Arab Spring exposed new opportunities to revamp traditional state-business relationships in the region and to break away from old systems of cronyism. Countries like Jordan, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Morocco have successfully implemented PPP projects, and others like Egypt, Iran, Iraq and Lebanon are actively pursuing more private participation. Unfortunately, though, the current environment has not been fully conducive to attracting private investors to the region. Uncertainty and insecurity have made it more difficult to establish adequate risk management frameworks and secure the long-term commitments that PPPs need.

However, this is an area where the World Bank can continue to play a critical role. And it’s not just through its financing. By facilitating public-private cooperation and sharing global knowledge, the Bank can help to close the infrastructure gap in the KRG and beyond, while promoting the good governance that will be needed to address it.

This post first appeared on The World Bank Blog

Authors: Rachel Lipson works in the Public Integrity and Openness Department of the Governance Global Practice. Nazaneen Ismail Ali is a Senior Procurement Specialist working in the Governance Global Practice and currently based in the World Bank Office in Beirut, Lebanon. 

Thanks https://agenda.weforum.org

Healthy Relationships

Your Blood Type Determines Your Personality

Your blood group type can reveal your personality; Bright and dark aspects of your personality. Let’s have a look that what blood types possess which kind of qualities for any person and which blood type is compatible to another.

BLOOD TYPE O

Type O’s are outgoing, and very social. They are initiators, although they don’t always finish what they start. Creative and popular, they love to be the center of attention and appear very self confident.

BLOOD TYPE A

While outwardly calm, they have such high standards (perfectionists) that they tend to be balls of nerves on the inside. Type A’s are the most artistic of the blood groups. They can be shy, are conscientious, trustworthy, and sensitive.

BLOOD TYPE B

Goal oriented and strong minded, type B’s will start a task and continue it until completed, and completed well. Type B’s are the individualists of the blood group categories and find their own way in life.

BLOOD TYPE AB

Type AB’s are the split personalities of the blood groups. They can be both outgoing and shy, confident and timid. While responsible, too much responsibility will cause a problem. They are trustworthy and like to help others.

COMPATABILITY BY BLOOD GROUPS

A is most compatible with A and AB
B is most compatible with B and AB
AB is most compatible with AB, B, A and O
O is most compatible with O, and AB

BLOOD TYPE A

Best Traits: Conservative, introverted, reserved, patient and punctual. Perfectionists.
Worst Traits: Obsessive, stubborn, self conscious and uptight.
Famous As: George H. W. Bush, Ayumi Hamasaki, O.J. Simpson, Britney Spears, Alan Alda, Adolf Hitler, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, Jet Li, Maki Nomiya, Rick James

BLOOD TYPE B

Best Traits: Creative, passionate, animal loving, optimistic, flexible and individualistic.
Worst Traits: Forgetful, irresponsible, and self-centered.
Famous Bs: Akira Kurosawa, Jack Nicholson, Luciano Pavarotti, Tom Selleck, Mia Farrow, Paul McCartney, Leonardo DiCaprio, Vince Young

BLOOD TYPE AB

Best Traits: Cool, controlled, rational, introverted and empathic.
Worst Traits: Aloof, critical, indecisive and unforgiving.
Famous ABs: John F. Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe, Mick Jagger, Thomas Edison, Bob Sapp, Miyavi, Jackie Chan, Ken Kitamura

BLOOD TYPE O

Best Traits: Ambitious, athletic, robust and self-confident. Natural leaders.
Worst Traits: Arrogant, vain, insensitive and ruthless.
Famous Os: Al Capone, Gerald Ford, Mikhail Gorbachev, John Gotti, Crystal Kay, Queen Elizabeth II, John Lennon, Paul Newman, Elvis Presley, Ronald Reagan

Blood Type A – Tend to be cooperative, sensitive, clever, passionate and smart. Often bottling up anxiety in order to get along with others, they may hold in their emotions until they explode. Many are tense, impatient and unable to sleep well. While they are capable of leadership positions, they may not take them because the stress is not good for their tightly wired systems. In Japan many “A”’s are in research. They have roles in discovering more about and refining science, economics, manufacturing, etc. Their research on microflora and other areas of medicine is some of the best and most meticulous in the world. They are perfectionists to say the least. This quality shows up in their perfecting electronics like TV’s and also less expensive more efficient cars that were originally created here in the US.

Blood type A’s tend to have more sensitive constitutions. Too much stress weakens their immunity more quickly than other blood types. Low stomach acid is common among blood type A’s even from birth, so special care should be taken when eating animal proteins. Using digestive enzymes, like Assist Dairy and Protein, along with consuming fermented foods and drinks is really a must for A’s. It is not surprising to me that fermented foods like Miso and Natto play an important role in providing easily digested protein, in the Japanese Diet. They also eat raw fish which is much easier to digest than cooked.

Blood Type B – Blood type B individuals tend to be balanced: thoughtful like A’s and yet ambitious like O’s. They are empathetic, easily understanding others’ points of view, yet often hesitating to challenge or confront. Chameleon-like and flexible, they make good friends.

Blood Type AB – Tend to be very charming and popular. They don’t sweat the small stuff and can be seen as spiritual and even at times a bit “flaky”. Only about 2 – 5% of the population are blood type AB. There is never a dull moment in a AB’s life, so if you find one for a friend, consider yourself lucky! Youll enjoy some exciting times together!

Like blood type A’s, AB’s react to stress poorly. They are stronger and more active than type A’s, but need to pay attention to stress levels so that they don’t compromise their immunity.

Sometimes it is difficult to be an AB. AB’s don’t like to fit in anyone else’s “boxes”. If they feel too confined, they’ll break out of that box and do things their own way. When it comes to food choices and AB must discover when they are more B-like or A-like. For example, dairy foods like milk kefir can be excellent for them or not good at all.

Blood Type O – Tend to be loners or leaders and are intuitive, focused, self-reliant and daring. They handle stress better than other blood types and have strong immune systems, a well developed physique and a physically active nature. Blood type O’s tend to have sluggish blood flow and feel better with vigorous exercise for about an hour each day.

So what’s your blood type? Do you think it’s true?

http://earthweareone.com/your-blood-type-determines-your-p…/