Afghanistan will experience a major security and development transition over the next three years. At the Kabul and Lisbon Conferences in 2010, NATO and the Afghan government agreed that full responsibility for security would be handed over to the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) by the end of 2014. Development progress since 2001 has been mixed. Some major achievements have been recorded, such as rapid economic growth (with large fluctuations), relatively low inflation (after hyperinflation in the 1990s), better public financial management, and gains in basic health and education. Key social indicators, including life expectancy and maternal mortality, have improved markedly (admittedly from an extremely low base), and women are participating more in the economy. Yet in other respects, particularly governance and institution building, the country has fared less well, and many indicators have worsened in recent years. Afghanistan remains one of the world's least developed countries, with a per capita gross domestic product (GDP) of only $528 in 2010/11. More than a third of the population live below the poverty line, more than half are vulnerable and at serious risk of falling into poverty, and three?quarters are illiterate. This report is intended to be comprehensive, so it also discusses the broader historical and political economy context of development in the country, and how Afghanistan compares with other countries that have undergone their own transitions over the past 30 years. This report is based on data collected from various sources in 2011, and its analysis and findings therefore comprise the team's considered assessment using the best available information available by the end of that year. In addition, projections of future trends in Afghanistan inevitably are subject to uncertainty and reflect any weaknesses in the underlying data. Thus the report's projections should be seen as subject to further adjustments and improvements as better and more recent information become available. This report is presented in two volumes. Volume one is a stand?alone Overview which highlights the main findings, projections, and recommendations of the study. Volume two consists of five chapters presenting the detailed empirical background, analytical findings, projections, and recommendations of the study, along with a concluding chapter and three technical appendices.
Doing Business in the Arab World 2010 is a regional report that draws on the global doing business project and its database as well as the findings of doing business 2010: reforming through difficult times, the seventh in a series of annual reports investigating regulations that enhance business activity and those that constrain it. This report presents a summary of doing business indicators for the Arab world. It focuses on 20 Arab economies: Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, the Arab Republic of Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, the Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, West Bank and Gaza and the Republic of Yemen.
This paper examines the experiences of the World Bank Group in other countries, and explores its work in Iraq in light of its mandate and areas of impact. It outlines the objectives the Bank Group has sought to meet and the procedures used to adapt to the Iraqi context, while focusing on transparency, inclusiveness, and sustainability. While the Bank's current focus in Iraq is on reconstruction and essential services, the near term offers a chance to lay the groundwork for credible institutions of social inclusion, in addition to supporting sustainable reconstruction and reform. This paper looks at how Iraq, a country with ample natural and human capital, can look past the immediate needs of post-conflict reconstruction to an eventual return as a middle-income country that managed its own affairs and contributed assistance to other countries. Models for reconstruction are closely looked at as to how to move Iraq to country ownership. The paper also looks at how to adopt post conflict reconstruction experience and adapting it to Iraq. The final section of the paper deals with lessons of experience and lessons learned.
En el presente proyecto de grado se analizan las medidas e iniciativas que se deben implementar en la ciudad de Bogotá, por parte del gobierno, para incentivar el uso de la bicicleta como medio de transporte, teniendo en cuenta la importancia de este elemento para reducir la congestión vial, apoyar el desarrollo sostenible de la ciudad, mejorar la salud y el bienestar de los ciudadanos reduciendo los impactos negativos causados al medio ambiente. Lo anterior, teniendo en cuenta que en la actualidad se presenta en la ciudad un notable déficit de corredores viales que satisfaga un aumento no planificado de vehículos particulares; sumado a un servicio de transporte masivo cada vez más obsoleto que no cumple con las necesidades de los ciudadanos, que se ven abocados a utilizarlos, a pesar del creciente deterioro en la calidad de aire que están padeciendo las principales ciudades colombianas en especial la ciudad de Bogotá, está motivando a los entes gubernamentales a establecer nuevas políticas, e iniciativas ciudadanas y empresariales para generar una mejor movilidad sin afectar las condiciones ambientales, como son el uso de energías limpias, combustibles menos contaminantes y seguros, uso de medios con mínima o nula producción de emisiones, es en éste punto, donde nace la necesidad de fundamentar nuestra propuesta de realizar un Análisis de la infraestructura existente de ciclorrutas para implementar una red de comunicación ciclística que articulen a través de un circuito las sedes de la Universidad Santo Tomás de las calles 51, 63, 73, la cual beneficiaria a la movilidad de la comunidad estudiantil, docente, administrativa y otros, que hacen parte de la institución quienes a su vez indirectamente deben participar de una manera más comprometida y efectiva a la mejora de la movilidad de la ciudad y el bienestar físico y mental de los ciudadanos que vivimos en ella. Para esto fue indispensable analizar la infraestructura existente, partiendo de su estado actual, problemática y dificultades encontradas a través de su operación, para posteriormente, diseñar una red de bicicarriles en los corredores donde no se contaba con la implementación de la red de conectividad de ciclorrutas con la universidad Santo Tomás sedes calle 52, calle 63 y calle 73. Una vez estructurado el circuito procedimos al diseño de la señalización horizontal y vertical para finalmente adelantar la propuesta tipo de ciclo parqueaderos a implementar en las instalaciones de la universidad y en las áreas circunvecinas. Lastimosamente en el territorio nacional no existe una debida reglamentación actualizada que regule el uso de la bicicleta como un medio de transporte, no obstante, la carencia de una reglamentación específica para la utilización de la bicicleta como medio de transporte, no ha sido un obstáculo para que la ciudad de Bogotá no incluya este medio de transporte en su plan maestro de movilidad (PMM); en donde se busca priorizar los subsistemas de transporte más sostenibles, tales como el transporte público o ir a pie o en bicicleta. Pero es en especial en su capítulo 9 donde se da la relevancia al uso de la bicicleta como un medio de transporte, alternativo que sea parte de la intermovilidad que requiere la ciudad pensada en un futuro. Debido a los esfuerzos y políticas establecidas por las administraciones distritales en la implementación de espacios adecuados (ciclorrutas, bicicarriles) para el tránsito seguro de este medio de transporte (bicicleta), se ha generado un aumento de la población pasando del 1% desde la década de los años 90 al día al 19% de la población de la ciudad en el año 2016 y del 25% en la actualidad, con una satisfacción del 84% de los bici-usuarios. Para la presente propuesta solo se utilizaría 2.6 km de los 392 kilómetros de ciclorrutas que cuenta actualmente la ciudad. Los que conectarán las sedes de calles 52, 63 y 73 de la Universidad Santo Tomas (USTA). Pero lastimosamente al momento de realizar el presente documento se ha establecido que de los 2.6 kilómetros de eje vial a utilizar, el 68% se encuentra en buen estado mientras el 32% se encuentra en mal estado, aumentando el riesgo de los bici-usuarios a sufrir algún tipo de accidente. Es así, que en el marco del desarrollo del proyecto se efectuó una encuesta a los usuarios actuales de este medio de transporte (bicicleta) en la USTA, con el fin, de conocer la percepción del usuario sobre el estado del corredor existente y seguridad del mismo, permitiendo ponderar la percepción de los posibles usuarios frente a la infraestructura que ofrece la ciudad entre las calles 73 y 51 con carrera 13. Por lo anterior, se definió realizar auscultación del pavimento de las ciclorrutas existentes, identificando las fallas existentes, con el fin, de verificar si el grado de percepción del bici usuario corresponde desde el punto de vista técnico y de funcionalidad al estado actual del corredor, una vez realizados los trabajos en campo desde la auscultación visual encontramos que las principales fallas estructurales identificadas en las zonas en mal estado se concentran fisura, grietas transversales y longitudinales que en algunas zonas superan los 3 mm de dilatación. Otras de las fallas identificadas es el desprendimiento de la capa de rodadura, baches en el pavimento flexible y tramos en adoquín, que en un alto porcentaje se concentran en las intersecciones viales a través de pompeyanos, lo que nos permite calificar el sistema actual de ciclorrutas del sector evaluado, como en regular estado. Así mismo consideramos que la movilidad en estos vehículos (bicicletas), se considera una necesidad para un desplazamiento sano, amigable con el ambiente y por qué no referirlo sería el uso más adecuado y factible en momentos de horas pico de la ciudad, funcional para la comunidad estudiantil, docente y administrativa de la Universidad Santo Tomás que diariamente se desplazan entre las sedes de las calles 52, 63 y 73. Por lo anteriormente expuesto, se hace la propuesta de la utilización de 2.624 ml de los corredores existentes en la ciudad y la implementación de cuatro sectores con Bicicarril localizados de los siguientes espacios: • Calle 52 entre las Carreras 7 y 9 con una longitud aproximada de 30 mts • Calle 52 entre las Carreras 9 y 13 con una longitud aproximada de 160 mts • Parque de Lourdes en la calle 63 entre las carreras 13 y 9ª con una longitud aproximada de 160 mts. • Calle 73 entre las carreras 9 y 11 con una longitud aproximada de 210.5 mts. Esta evaluación técnica realizada permitió establecer una propuesta de intervención a la estructura de la ciclorruta así como plantear el diseño de señalización para la misma. Adicionalmente se planteó el fortalecimiento de la capacidad de los cicloparqueaderos localizados en los parqueaderos de las sedes de la Universidad Santo Tomás de la calle 52, Calle 63 y de la calle 73, cada uno con capacidad de 70 zonas de parqueo para bicicletas que actualmente cuenta con una capacidad de 210 cupos de parqueo de bicicletas entre estas sedes ; In the present project of degree it is analyzed the measures and initiatives that must be implemented in the city of Bogota, by the government, to encourage the use of the bicycle as a means of transport, taking into account the importance of this element to reduce the road congestion, support the sustainable development of the city, improve the health and welfare of citizens by reducing the negative impacts caused to the environment. The foregoing, taking into account that there is currently a significant deficit of road corridors in the city that satisfies an unplanned increase in private vehicles; added to a mass transit service increasingly obsolete that does not meet the needs of citizens, who are doomed to use them, despite the increasing deterioration in air quality that are suffering the main cities in Colombia especially the city of Bogotá, is motivating government agencies to establish new policies, and citizen and business initiatives to generate better mobility without affecting environmental conditions, such as the use of clean energy, less polluting and safe fuels, use of means with minimal or no production of emissions, it is at this point, where the need arose to base our proposal to carry out an analysis of the existing infrastructure of bike paths to implement a bicycle communication network that articulates through a circuit the headquarters of the Universidad Santo Tomás de las streets 51, 63, 73, which would benefit the mobility of the community they study useful, educational, administrative and others, who are part of the institution who in turn indirectly must participate in a more committed and effective way to improve the mobility of the city and the physical and mental well-being of the citizens who live there . For this, it was essential to analyze the existing infrastructure, starting from its current state, problems and difficulties encountered through its operation, and then designing a network of bicycle lanes in the corridors where there was not the implementation of the network of connectivity of bike paths with the Santo Tomás University you will find calle 52, calle 63 and calle 73. Once the circuit was structured, we proceeded to the design of the horizontal and vertical signage to finally advance the proposed type of parking lot cycle to be implemented in the university facilities and in the areas surrounding. Unfortunately in the national territory there is no updated regulation that regulates the use of the bicycle as a means of transport, however, the lack of a specific regulation for the use of the bicycle as a means of transport, has not been an obstacle to that the city of Bogotá does not include this means of transportation in its mobility master plan (PMM); where it seeks to prioritize the most sustainable transport subsystems, such as public transport or go on foot or by bicycle. But it is especially in his chapter 9 where the importance is given to the use of the bicycle as a means of transport, an alternative that is part of the intermobility that the city requires in the future. Due to the efforts and policies established by the district administrations in the implementation of adequate spaces (bike paths, bicycle lanes) for the safe transit of this means of transport (bicycle), an increase in the population has been generated, increasing from 1% since the decade from the 90s a day to 19% of the city's population in 2016 and 25% today, with 84% satisfaction of bike-users. For the present proposal only 2.6 km of the 392 kilometers of bike paths that the city currently has will be used. Those that will connect the 52, 63 and 73 streets of the Santo Tomas University (USTA). But unfortunately at the time of making this document has been established that of the 2.6 kilometers of road axis to be used, 68% is in good condition while 32% is in poor condition, increasing the risk of bike-users to suffer some type of accident. Thus, in the framework of the development of the project, a survey was conducted to the current users of this means of transport (bicycle) in the USTA, in order to know the user's perception of the existing corridor status and safety of the same, allowing to weigh the perception of potential users against the infrastructure offered by the city between streets 73 and 51 with career 13. Therefore, it was defined to perform auscultation of the pavement of the existing bike paths, identifying the existing faults, in order to verify if the degree of perception of the user bike corresponds from the technical and functional point of view to the current state of the corridor, Once the field work was done from the visual auscultation, we found that the main structural faults identified in the areas in poor condition are fissures, transverse and longitudinal cracks that in some areas exceed 3 mm of dilatation. Other flaws identified are the detachment of the rolling layer, bumps in the flexible pavement and stretches in cobblestone, which in a high percentage are concentrated in the intersections via Pompeyans, which allows us to qualify the current system of bike paths of the evaluated sector, as in regular state. Likewise, we consider that mobility in these vehicles (bicycles) is considered a necessity for a healthy, environmentally friendly journey and why not referring it would be the most appropriate and feasible use during the peak hours of the city, functional for the student, educational and administrative community of the University Santo Tomás that daily move between the headquarters of the streets 52, 63 and 73. For the previously exposed, the proposal of the use of 2.624 ml of the existent corridors in the city is made and the implementation of four sectors with Bicicarril located in the following spaces: • Street 52 between Carreras 7 and 9 with an approximate length of 30 meters • Street 52 between Carreras 9 and 13 with an approximate length of 160 meters • Lourdes Park on 63rd Street between the 13th and 9th races with an approximate length of 160 meters. • Street 73 between races 9 and 11 with an approximate length of 210.5 meters. This technical evaluation made it possible to establish a proposal of intervention to the structure of the bike path and to propose the signaling design for it. Additionally, the strengthening of the capacity of the cycloparqueaderos located in the parking lots of the headquarters of the Santo Tomás University of 52nd Street, 63rd Street and 73rd Street, each with a capacity of 70 bicycle parking areas, was proposed. with a capacity of 210 parking spaces for bicycles between these venues. ; CRAI-USTA Bogotá ; http://unidadinvestigacion.usta.edu.co
Pakistan is vulnerable to a number of adverse natural events and has experienced a wide range of disasters over the past 40 years, including floods, earthquakes, droughts, cyclones, and tsunamis. The World Bank is supporting the Government of Pakistan (GoP) in building capacity in the area of disaster risk management (DRM) in order to build resilience from both humanitarian and fiscal shocks associated with natural disasters. The World Bank is providing technical assistance to the GoP for the development of a national disaster risk financing strategy. This non-lending technical assistance aims to: (i) assess the fiscal exposure of the GoP to natural disasters; (ii) present options for the development of a national strategy to improve financial response capacity for natural disasters; and (iii) promote property catastrophe risk insurance for both public and private dwellings. Disaster risk financing and insurance (DRFI) is one of the five pillars in the proactive and strategic framework for DRM promoted by the World Bank. The World Bank has been promoting a proactive and strategic framework for DRM based on five pillars: (i) risk identification; (ii) risk reduction; (iii) preparedness; (iv) financial protection; and (v) resilient recovery. Chapter one is introduction. Chapter two presents an overview of the budget processes for the financing of natural disaster losses during each of the three post-disaster phases. Chapter three provides a preliminary financial disaster risk assessment for Pakistan, focusing particularly on the fiscal impact of natural disasters. Chapter four presents an overview of the private catastrophe insurance market; and chapter five reviews the options for future financing of natural disaster recovery and reconstruction expenditures.
With most through to another four years of office, in their latest meeting Bossier Parish police jurors reverted to their typical arrogance and obtuseness. Perhaps they should pay attention to the shape of their future: what happened at the last Bossier City Council meeting.
Recent election results guaranteed nine jurors would return to office. The one runoff that remains will send a new member to the Jury since District 10 four-decade veteran Jerome Darby retired, but vying as his replacement leading into the runoff is his brother Democrat Julius Darby. Republican challenger Keith Sutton defeated incumbent Republican Mac Plummer in District 12, while the GOP's Pam Glorioso beat incumbent Democrat Charles Gray in District 9.
But over the past two years, all jurors had engaged in questionable, if not illegal, acts. They hired, knowing full well it was against the law, Butch Ford as parish administrator, because he was not a registered voter in Bossier Parish. He would not become one until ten months into his tenure, but even now some dispute remains over whether that residence qualifies for that purpose. They also filled completely the parish's Library Board of Control with themselves, a move which is of uncertain legal status and unprecedented across the state.
When at that latest meeting a couple of citizens questioned the reappointment of Republican Juror Doug Rimmer to the Board, drawing upon attorney general documents that declared sitting jurors on library boards was dual officeholding, as well as questioning why all five board members had to be jurors when in a parish approaching 130,000 residents surely there were more than enough non-jurors willing to serve, the likes of Rimmer and another juror on the Board, Republican Julianna Parks, at jury meetings and other forums have asserted the necessity of having jurors on the Board because of alleged and nebulously specified problems with the Board. As well, at this meeting Rimmer stated, on the advice of Parish Attorney Patrick Jackson, that the ability for jurors to serve on the Board was unquestioned.
The problem is, in addition to the Attorney General's office publicly taking the opposite position, case law not addressing this exact situation – at the meeting Jackson erroneously implied that it had and in favor of his interpretation – and conflicting statutes that seemingly give a parish the ability to dodge dual officeholding restrictions in this instance, Jackson himself doesn't have a good track record when it comes to understanding what the law means concerning appointments in parish government. In the past, he told jurors that, absent a court ruling otherwise which eventually happened, that Jury appointee Robert Berry to the Cypress Black Bayou Recreation and Water Conservation District could serve in that capacity and as the agency's executive director without violating dual officeholding law. And Rimmer stated at a recent Republican Parish Executive Committee meeting that Jackson also advised jurors they could appoint Ford as parish administrator despite his voter registration not being in Bossier while he looked to rectify that, which appears nowhere in the law and an action Ford showed no signs of pursuing until this space publicized his continued registration in Caddo parish ten months after his appointment.
Worst of all, Jackson either apparently was unaware of, tacitly approved of, or actually counseled in favor of the fact that the Board, then comprised of Rimmer, Republican Bob Brotherton who won reelection, and Gray illegally had made Ford interim library director in October, 2022, in contravention of R.S. 25:215 that states any head of a library system must have qualifications under R.S. 25:222, or a certification by the State Board of Library Examiners. Ford would serve six months in that job.
This unequivocally illegal action by three jurors (probably four, as minutes of that meeting never haven been made widely available, if they exist; the next meeting's minutes imply at that previous meeting Republican Juror Glenn Benton had been appointed but it's unknown whether he participated in the vote to appoint Ford) belies the argument that jurors were necessary to "clean up" the Board. In fact, they disgraced it and themselves by behaving illegally.
And the whole argument of juror necessity to respond to some problem is untenable, if not a mendacious excuse to justify the juror takeover. In fact, jurors were serving on the Board as long ago as 2016, when the Jury expanded the Board to include Rimmer and Brotherton with five other citizens (boards can have five to seven members). If there were alleged difficulties, not only have these been going on a long time, but also jurors by definition contributed to these so how can adding more jurors – and retaining the two already there – solve for problems jurors already are creating? So what's so great about juror service on the Board if they act illegally and supposedly badly enough to need outside intervention?
Of course, to clarify about whether jurors can serve on the Board, a simple request to the Attorney General's office for an opinion could be pursued. That would take a resolution passed by the Jury, but no juror has suggested this happen – perhaps because they know their policy might be in trouble. And the dismissive attitude that Rimmer and other jurors showed in the meeting towards citizen concerns on this issue illustrates their haughtiness and a belief they are above the citizenry, if not the law, emboldened now by recent electoral success.
If it stays that way. And it may not, if the latest Bossier City Council meeting indicates anything. Because three years ago, the Council was much like the Jury today. Back then five members of almost two decades or more service on the Council, actively supported by another more junior member, ran the show with little transparency, using their voting power and a compliant mayor to foist an avalanche of unneeded capital spending fueled by debt onto the backs of the citizenry.
However, the stench of that awakened enough voters so that two of the graybeards lost their jobs and eventually were replaced by newcomers Republicans Chris Smith and Brian Hammons. Since then, the pair have become increasingly vocal about use of tax dollars going to genuine needs rather than to monuments, figurative and literal, to long-serving councilors' egos.
While Hammons missed the last meeting, Smith more than made up for the both of them with a display of this critical attitude over spending. On an item for more capital expenditures for parks and recreation, Smith pointed out that in recent years over $20 million in tax dollars had gone for capital expenditures at the Tinsley Park complex, yet tax-paying citizens often couldn't use these in being crowded out instead by out-of-towners paying fees to use these.
Sparring with head of the Bossier City Department of Parks and Recreation Clay Bohanan, who with past mayoral and current Council graybeard support has pursued a model that puts revenue generation ahead of citizen ability to use certain facilities, Smith not only fought back against Bohanan's arrogance, who was joined by graybeard Democrat Councilor Bubba Williams implying that their exclusionary pay-to-play model was unimpeachably correct, but he also made the heretical suggestion that in following that model it would make more sense just to sell off the facilities to private operators.
In the larger scheme of things, Smith's argument was that instead of taxpayer dollars going to paying of the principal and interest on debt on things of little value to the citizenry, it could be reserved to fund employee raises, particularly for public safety personnel. When Williams subsequently challenged (actually calling untrue) a Smith statement that Bossier City's salaries ranked at the bottom of the region by pointing to a study done a couple of years back comparing Alexandria's public safety salaries to others in the state that put Bossier City police in the middle of the pack, Smith trumped him with his own very recent data looking at regional agencies, almost all in Texas, which had Bossier City salaries at or near the bottom.
Such argumentation would have been unheard of coming from the Council three years ago. But Smith and Hammons' elections in 2021 brought a breath of fresh air into Council debates that until then had been almost always get-along-go-along with no dissension on big spending plans with total disregard of airing out negative implications of that spending.
Hopefully, those kinds of debates will commence and flourish now that at least one reform-minded outsider, Sutton, will join the Jury. Glorioso was part of the cabal united with the Council graybeards when she served as Bossier City chief administrative officer until her boss lost reelection, so it seems unlikely that she would act differently in opening up the Jury. Perhaps Darby's opponent Democrat Mary Giles would ally with Sutton, while Julius Darby seems unlikely to.
But as the events surrounding Bossier City government over the past couple of years have shown, you don't have to have a majority to change the atmosphere. Perhaps a couple of years from now the sunshine even one dissenter can bring will have started to show results in curbing the Jury's penchant for lawless, sanctimonious behavior while deflating its members' attitude of insufferably unaccountable behavior.
The article addresses the presentation of Lithuanian and Lithuania-related documents in the digital environment in 1992–2015. One of the key factors impacting presentation of Lithuania's published documents in the digital environment was the transformation of bibliographic control. This publication focuses on this transformation, which, after the establishment of the National Bibliographic Data Bank (hereafter NBDB, Nacionalinės bibliografijos duomenų bankas), provided more opportunities for access to Lithuanian and Lithuania-related documents in the digital environment. By employing the European Commission's 2-3-6 concept for electronic publishing, the process management theory and the analysis of the qualitative content research publications as well as recommendations by the European Commission, IFLA and UNESCO for national bibliographic agencies, we conceptualized processes of bibliographic control in Lithuania and set up a model for NBDB's content, products and added value. The qualitative analysis and the analysis of this model showed that the transformation of bibliographic control in Lithuania in 1991 determined the realization of the added value of the processes of Content Creation, Complex Content Measures, Marketing, Data Transfer, Service Provision and Maintenance, and User Interface and Systems.1. The process of Content Creation has been realised by undertaking national bibliographic control, including its retrospective aspect and the additional function of current national bibliographic control. The implementation of the function of current national bibliographic control allowed creating the current national bibliographic, retrospective and authority electronic bibliographic records for Lithuania's documents. This, in turn, allowed libraries and other cultural institutions carrying out selection of Lithuanian and Lithuania-related documents to reuse extensive records for Lithuanian and Lithuania-related documents for their catalogues as well as to monitor authorship and publication history. At present, national bibliography is used not only by libraries, publishers and book commerce – it also lays the groundwork for the statistical analysis of Lithuania's publishing output, the Government's policy for education and culture programmes as wel as the calculation of the publishing production scope. The creation of NBDB also determined successful implementation of additional functions of bibliographic control (bibliographic records printed in a book; standard ISBN, ISMN and ISSN numbers), which serve as significant tools for the universal access to Lithuania's published documents. The following standard identifiers are used within NBDB: the International Standard Text Code (ISTC), the International Standard Audiovisual Number (ISAN), the International Standard Musical Work Code (ISWC), the International Standard Record Code (ISRC), the International Standard Name Identifier (ISNI) and the National Bibliography Number (NBN). The use of these identifiers improves access to published documents and their component parts in the digital environment.2. The process of Content packaging with its key functions of setting the scope of the national bibliography, application of content standards, application of identification standards and authority control ensures submission of legal deposit, which forms the basis for bibliographic control; preparation of descriptive and authority records; and identification of books, serial and music publications on the international level and providing better access to them. However, it has been proved that the Resolution of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania "On the Order of the Submission of Legal Deposit of Printed and Other Documents to Libraries" of 11 December 2006 does not sufficiently reflect all the aspects of the functionality of legal deposit within the complex system of bibliographic control and does not provide for fully implementing the main functions and remit of a legal deposit body (The new version of the document was published on 11 June 2016). Therefore, drafting a law on legal deposit remains of current interest. Such a law would clearly define the purpose of legal deposit as well as provide measures for ensuring the collection and registration of legal deposit and long-time preservation and access of the national publishing output; also, for identifying document types for legal deposit with a focus on the archiving of electronic documents and explicitly identifying measures for implementing the law.As of July 2016, the NBDB contained 3 097 144 thousand current and retrospective national bibliographic records for Lithuania related documents, 66 063 of which were retrospective records created during the process of retroconversion of bibliographic records or preparing such records within NBDB. Now records of the national retrospective bibliography are linked with the Virtual Electronic Heritage System (VEPS) containing digital copies of the documents. It meets the requirements for today's digital libraries as well as users' expectations to read publications online or on mobile devices.3. The Marketing process with its key functions of administrative management, service evaluation, distribution of products and services and cooperation with publishers provides opportunities to take responsibility for preparation and access of the national bibliography; perform analysis of marketing and competition; participating at international and national fairs and conferences directly and online; provide paid or voluntary services regarding cooperation with publishers in sharing metadata and assigning international standard numbers. Bibliographic records containing ISBN and ISMN are a reliable prerequisite for successful access to Lithuania's documents and book trade.4. The process of Data Transfer has the key functions of accessibility to networks and use of persistent identifiers. Within NBDB, these functions operate with the help of the Z.39.50, SRU/SRW and OAI-PMH protocols, and PURL identifiers. It ensures NBDB's interoperability on the national and international level and allows to send bibliographic and authority records to Lithuania's libraries and international networks. Data managers of LIBIS send initial data in the ISO 2709 format to NBDB from their local computers by means of automatic updating or export/import under agreements defining the purpose, provisions and order of data supply as well as their preservation and use. Copying NBDB records to local electronic catalogues by means of direct access is allowed for authorised clients.5. The process of Delivery support and Service process has the key functions of submitting information online and information transfer via OPAC. The databases of bibliographic records of electronic catalogues of LIBIS managers and managers of the LIBIS data are accessible to users from Lithuania and abroad via OPAC within the library or online. The publishers' database is accessible via the online public access catalogue (http://www.lnb.lt/leidejai). The publication of data is approved under agreements with publishers. The codes of natural individuals are not published online. 6. The process of User Interface and Systems has the functions of query formulation, visualization of results, provision of access points and interoperability. The linguistic supply of LIBIS adheres to the standards and protocols of ISO, IFLA and other international organisations; consequently, current and retrospective national bibliographic records, as well as authority records, satisfy all the requirements for current and retrospective national bibliography: records are extensive, multileveled and all the mandatory UNIMARC relation fields are employed, thus ensuring diverse search possibilities. When preparing analytical records, not only relation fields (linking a record for an article with the publication in which it appears) are used, but there is also an indication of its relation with the appropriate issue or volume. For personal and corporate names and uniform titles, access points (authority records) are provided, thus ensuring their control and effective access to them. The LIBIS software is based on the ORACLE system for database management and the unified system for script encoding (Unicode) used for cataloguing and information services. It allows to provide records for publications which are issued in the original script, thus making it convenient for multilingual users. The described qualities of NBDB ensure its interoperability on the national and international level. NBDB records are reused for various purposes: selection of documents, collection development and maintenance as well as copy cataloguing. It also improves access to Lithuania's documents, which are a reflection of its nature, history, sports and political and civic life as well as narratives of the national identity. ; Straipsnio objektas – Lietuvos ir su Lietuva susijusių publikuotų dokumentų teikimo į skaitmeninę erdvę raida nuo 1992 iki 2016 metų. Pagrindiniai sisteminiai mūsų šalies publikuotų dokumentų pasklidimo skaitmeninėje erdvėje veiksniai buvo bibliografinės apskaitos pertvarka, sukūrusi efektyvesnės sklaidos priemones informacijai apie mūsų šalies istorinį, politinį, socialinį ir ekonominį gyvenimą bei kultūros paveldo skaitmeninimo, grindžiamo atminties institucijų sąveika, įgyvendinimas mūsų šalyje, sudaręs prielaidas kurti vientisą publikuotų dokumentų skaitmeninį turinį ir bendrą prieigą prie jo. Šioje publikacijoje pagrindinis dėmesys skiriamas bibliografinės apskaitos pertvarkai, sukūrus Nacionalinės bibliografijos duomenų banką (NBDB), kuris sudarė geresnes informacijos apie Lietuvos ir su Lietuva susijusius dokumentus sklaidos skaitmeninėje erdvėje galimybes. Publikacijoje panaudota Europos Komisijos elektroninės leidybos pridedamosios vertės grandinės koncepcija, procesų vadybos teorija bei kokybinė turinio analizės metodologija, kurios leidžia konceptualizuoti ir vertinti NBDB sukauptą turinį ir paslaugas. Sukūrus teorinį verčių kūrimo modelį, grįstą teisiniais dokumentais, aptariamos socialinio, kultūros, inovacijų ir finansinio kapitalo pridedamosios vertės. Kitam sisteminiam veiksniui, nulėmusiam publikuotų dokumentų atsiradimą skaitmeninėje erdvėje – dokumentų skaitmeninimui ir vieningos prieigos kūrimui, bus parengta atskira publikacija. Šiame straipsnyje remiamasi Nacionalinėje Martyno Mažvydo bibliotekoje įgyvendintų projektų, kuriems vadovavo šio straipsnio autorė, rezultatais.
Wie die meisten lateinamerikanischen Großstädte zeichnet sich die Peripherie von Porto Alegre durch ein dynamisches und ungeregeltes Siedlungswachstum in Form von Landbesetzungen und illegalen Parzellierungen aus. Mit Hilfe von Methoden der qualitativen Sozial¬forschung werden anhand einer Fallstudie insbesondere die damit verbundenen städtischen Umweltkonflikte analysiert und deren Einbeziehung in kooperative Planungsverfahren untersucht. Die Prozesse des ungeregelten Siedlungswachstums am Stadtrand von Porto Alegre sind vor allem durch Wanderungsprozesse innerhalb der Stadt, die ausgrenzende Wirkung des städtischen Immobilienmarktes sowie durch fehlgeschlagene städtische Siedlungspolitik bedingt. Die Zersiedung am Standrand führt in Porto Alegre aus umweltplanerischer Sicht zu einem Raumnutzungskonflikt mit Belangen des Naturschutzes. Das hängt vor allem damit zusammen, dass sich die informellen Siedlungen auf den aus Umweltgesichtspunkten empfindlichen Bereichen konzentrieren, die für den Immobilienmarkt keinem Wert haben. Davon ist besonders die Hügelkette am unmittelbaren Stadtrand betroffen, die sich durch ein sehr artenreiches Wald-Grasland-Mosaik auszeichnet. Trotz fortschrittlicher Entwicklungen in der Stadtpolitik versagen die politischen Instrumente bisher weitgehend, diesem Landnutzungskonflikt entgegen zu wirken. Besonders die Widersprüche zwischen umwelt- und siedlungspolitischer Maßnahmen führen zu unwirksamen Verwaltungshandeln. In einem Kontext, in dem Sanktionen und restriktive Maßnahmen nicht greifen, werden kooperative Instrumente als Alternative gesehen, um in diesem komplexen Konfliktfeld staatliches Handeln zu ermöglichen. Der Schwerpunkt der dieser Arbeit liegt in der Auseinandersetzung mit den Möglichkeiten und Grenzen eines derartigen partizipativen Planungsansatzes, raumbezogene Umweltkonflikte verhandelbar zu machen. Die Bewertungen basieren auf einer umfassenden Fallstudie zu einem vom Stadtplanungsamt in Porto Alegre initiierten Verfahrens der Bürgerbeteiligung. In dem in der Fallstudie untersuchten Projekt geht es darum, in einem kooperativen Planungsprozess gemeinsam mit den Bewohnern den Stadtentwicklungsplan für ein informelles Siedlungsgebiet in der Peripherie zu aktualisieren. Es soll definiert werden, welche Bereiche für die zukünftige Besiedlung geeigneten sind und in welchen Bereichen der Schutz der natürlichen Vegetation Vorrang hat. Insgesamt kann der partizipative Ansatz als wesentlicher Fortschritt zu den in der brasilianischen Stadtplanung nach wie vor gängigen technokratischen Planungspraxis gesehen werden. Durch das Verfahren konnte bei den teilnehmenden Bewohnern und den beteiligten Behördenvertretern ein gemeinsames Problemverständnis erreicht werden. Letztere entwickelten durch die direkte Auseinandersetzung mit der Lebensrealität in den informellen Siedlungen eine realistische Problemsicht. Doch die Fallstudie zeigte auch zahlreiche Hindernisse eines derartigen kooperativen Planungsprozesses auf. Als besonders negativ stellte sich die fehlende Einbindung der Ergebnisse des Beteiligungsprozesses in die formalen Stadtplanungsprozesse und die ad¬ministrativen Routinen heraus. Es besteht weiterhin eine Kluft zwischen dem Beteiligungsverfahren und den Entscheidungsprozessen der einzelnen Fachbehörden. Die fehlende institutionelle Integration des Partizipationsprojektes in die gesamte Verwaltungsstruktur stellt ein zentrales Hindernis dar. Ein grundsätzliches Dilemma derartiger Planungsprozesse in einem so hochdynamischen Kontext wie informelle Siedlungen besteht außerdem darin, nicht auf die eigentlichen Ursachen der Siedlungsexpansion einwirken zu können. Der Handlungsdruck von zuziehenden Neusiedlern kann nicht entschärft werden. Kooperative Ansätze reichen nicht aus, um staatliche Handlungsdefizite zu kompensieren. Vielmehr bedarf es gleichzeitig zur Demokratisierung der Entscheidungsprozesse einer Stärkung der staatlichen Institutionen, um so die Umsetzung präventiver Maßnahmen des Siedlungsbaus zu ermöglichen. Dennoch lässt sich mit den Interviewdaten belegen, dass es durch Beteiligungsprozesse zu einer Eigendynamik kommen kann. Das gestärkte Selbstbewusstsein der Bürgervertreter als politische Akteure gibt Grund zur Hoffung, dass langfristig über den Weg des Empowerment der am stärksten von städtischer Umweltdegradierung betroffenen Bevölkerungsgruppen eine Verbesserung der städtischen Umweltqualität erreicht werden kann. ; Like most Latin American cities the outskirts of Porto Alegre are facing a fast growing uncontrolled urban expansion, characterized by fragmentary settlement structure, squatter settlements and unauthorized land divisions. On the basis of empirical social research using qualitative methods this study analyses the related urban environmental conflicts as well as their incorporation in a participatory planning process. The sprawl of informal urbanization in the periphery of Porto Alegre is mainly due to intra-urban migration processes, segregative effects of the local real estate market and ineffective urban policy. As the informal settlements concentrate in vulnerable areas, like steep slopes and river banks that have no value on the real estate market, the urban fragmentation in the periphery causes environmental conflicts with concerns of nature conservation. The hills adjacent to the urban area, which are characterized by a species-rich mosaic of forests and grassland are especially affected by this urban encroachment. Besides progressive changes in local governance, so far public policy widely fails in counteracting these land use conflicts. Especially contradictions between environmental and urban policies lead to ineffective regulatory action. In a context where restrictive measures are not feasible, collaborative instruments are seen as an alternative in order to influence settlement development. This study analyses the opportunities and limitations of such participatory approaches as far as environmental conflicts related to urban encroachment are concerned. These evaluations are built on an extensive case study on a pilot project of the department for urban planning in Porto Alegre. In a participatory process the local planning authority aims at the collective development of directives for further urban development in cooperation with the local population. This action plan contains a detailed zoning in areas appropriate for settlement and areas to be preserved as natural areas inappropriate for housing. Generally speaking the studied participatory planning project has to be considered a substantial progress in making urban planning in the periphery of Brazilian cities more responsive to the real problems in these areas. Particularly bearing in mind that technocratic planning attitudes are still common in Brazilian planning institutions, this pilot project means an important step forward in creating a new relationship between public agencies and the residents of the illegal settlements. It helps to develop a common understanding of the problems and a shared vision for future settlement development. According to the case study a participatory approach implies a vast potential for institutional learning and capacity building for the individual public servant. As the participating public sector officials directly are confronted with the demands of marginalized social groups in the informal settlements they obtain a more realistic perception of the most urgent problems in these areas. However, the case study identified many limitations of such a collaborative planning approach. A key problem consists in the missing integration of the participation project's results into administrative routines and formal planning processes. The institutional gap between the participatory process and the decisions of the technical authorities prevented the political efficiency of the project and can be considered as the central constraint. Furthermore a fundamental dilemma of the collaborative planning process within the highly dynamic context of informal settlements lies in its inadequacy to influence underlying driving forces for settlement expansion. For instance, the participatory approach is not able to incorporate to integrate potential future squatters, the main actors of further informal urban expansion, as participants. All in all it became clear that collaborative approaches alone are not sufficient to compensate the shortcomings in governmental action. The democratization of the decision-making process has to go along with consolidation of the institutional framework, in order to enable preventive measures of settlement development. Nevertheless the interview data proves that participatory process can instigate the local stakeholders to demand more accountability of the technical authorities regarding their needs. In the long run the strengthened self-esteem of the dwellers of informal settlements as political actors raises hope for improvement of urban environmental quality by empowering the stakeholders most affected by urban environmental degradation.Como a maioria das metrópoles latino-americanas a periferia de Porto Alegre se caracteriza por uma urbanização descontrolada e uma estrutura urbana fragmentada, composta por ocupações e loteamentos irregulares. Através de métodos de pesquisa social qualitativa, investigaram-se especificamente os conflitos ambientais urbanos relacionados bem como a integração destes em processos cooperativos de planejamento. A urbanização descontrolada na periferia de Porto Alegre resulta sobretudo de processos de migração intra-urbana, da segregação sócio-espacial devido à estrutura do mercado imobiliário, assim como de políticas urbanas fracassadas. Do ponto de vista do planejamento ambiental, a fragmentação urbana periférica leva a conflitos ambientais, pois as ocupações informais se concentram nas áreas ecologicamente mais sensíveis, que não têm valor no mercado imobiliário. Isto se reflete principalmente no processo acelerado de ocupação na cadeia dos morros que circunda o espaço urbanizado e que se caracteriza por mosaico de floresta subtropical e campos ricos em espécies endêmicas. Apesar de uma tendência progressiva na política urbana de Porto Alegre os instrumentos políticos falham ao não conseguir interferir nestes conflitos relacionados ao uso da terra. Analisando-se como as políticas urbanas e ambientais da administração local respondem à cidade informal da periferia, vêem-se claramente as contradições na atuação das instituições governamentais. Num contexto onde medidas restritivas não funcionam, instrumentos cooperativos são apontados como alternativas para viabilizar gestão urbana na cidade informal O enfoque deste trabalho é a avaliação das limitações e possibilidades de instrumentos participativos para gerenciar conflitos sócio-ambientais relacionados ao espaço urbano. Isto foi examinado através de um estudo de caso extenso sobre um projeto de planejamento urbano participativo iniciado pela secretaria de planejamento municipal de Porto Alegre (SPM). Este projeto se focaliza na atualização do plano diretor num bairro periférico em cooperação com a população atingida. O objetivo é definir as áreas que são aptas para ocupação urbana e onde para a proteção da vegetação natural é prioridade. A abordagem participativa representa um avanço significativo, uma vez que se consegue construir um entendimento comum dos problemas locais entre os moradores e os funcionários públicos. Estes últimos, sobretudo, ganharam com isso uma visão realista dos problemas das ocupações informais através da confrontação direta e contínua com os moradores. Por outro lado, a falta de integração dos resultados do processo participativo na atuação das diferentes secretarias na região restringe significativamente a eficácia do projeto. Existe um abismo entre o processo participativo e os processos decisórios das secretarias setoriais, sendo esta falta de integração institucional uma das principais limitações identificadas neste estudo de caso. Além disso, um dilema fundamental de tais processos de planejamento num contexto de urbanização acelerado é o fato de não se poder interferir nas causas desta expansão urbana informal. Não se consegue modificar a pressão dos novos ocupantes que se mudam para esta região. Processos cooperativos não conseguem compensar os déficits institucionais. Além da democratização do planejamento urbano, é necessário um fortalecimento das instituições locais, possibilitando a implementação de medidas preventivas de política urbana. Apesar disso, os dados das entrevistas sustentam que um processo participativo pode levar a uma dinâmica própria. O fortalecimento da auto-estima dos participantes como atores políticos pode, em longo prazo, levar a uma melhoria da qualidade ambiental urbana, pois desta maneira os grupos mais atingidos pela degradação ambiental conseguem reivindicar o atendimento das suas demandas pelo poder público.
This synthesis report details the process, outputs and intermediate outcomes of the Water and Sanitation Program - World Bank (WSP) Technical Assistance (TA) to Service Level Benchmarking, Citizen Voice and Performance Improvement Strategies in Urban Water Supply and Sanitation (UWSS) in India. This technical assistance (TA) sought to strengthen accountability for service outcomes in urban water and sanitation, by providing support for strengthening (i) supply and demand side monitoring processes under national programs, and (ii) integrating use of performance data into decision making by public providers in select states, with specific focus on services to the poor. This TA was a continuation of WSP's past technical assistance to the Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD) on adoption of benchmarking and accountability processes for the urban water supply and sanitation sector. During the period 2008-12, WSP had extended support to MoUD for development of the Handbook on Service Level Benchmarks (SLB), implementation of a national pilot followed by its rollout across the country. This TA was designed to provide follow up support for deepening of these performance monitoring and reporting processes, and activate demand side monitoring mechanisms to strengthen accountability. This TA has contributed to the following outcomes: (a) Demonstrated an innovative approach for ICT-based citizen feedback processes ("SLB Connect") which has been leveraged for conduct of city level ratings under a national urban program, informed preparation of city level service improvement plans, and been integrated in the design of a Bank funded project. (b) Strengthened use of performance data for planning and investment processes in one state including development of a prioritization framework to guide allocations. (c) Supported analytical work and advocacy for strengthening of performance monitoring processes at the national and state levels. Going forward, in the Indian context, it would be important to operationalize the National Performance Monitoring Cell (NPMC) at the earliest, so that it can further strengthen performance monitoring processes in the sector.
The provention consortium was created in February 2000 as a formal partnership between the World Bank, other International Financial Institutions (IFIs), bilateral donor organizations, the insurance sector, the academic community, and civil society. Designed as a think-tank to commission research and to disseminate risk reduction tools, the provention secretariat was to rotate from one partner organization to another. Thus, after three years at the Bank, the secretariat was transferred to the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in Geneva. The overall goal of provention is to reduce the social, economic, and environmental impacts of natural disasters on vulnerable populations in developing countries in order to alleviate poverty and contribute to sustainable development. This is achieved through (a) forging partnerships; (b) promoting policy; (c) improving practice; and (d) sharing knowledge. Under the Washington-based Secretariat, provention supported four types of activities: applied research studies, pilot and demonstration projects, education and training activities, and workshops and conferences. Provention was repeatedly criticized for its weak governance structure. Therefore, the secretariat commissioned a governance review in 2005. The governance review recommended reactivating the presiding council (PC); replacing the Steering Committee (SC) by a forum to discuss the impact of disasters in developing countries; and creating an Advisory Committee as the main governing body.
{EM}INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF SCIENTIFIC UNIONS - ICSU{/EM}{/p} {P}{B}SCIENCE INTERNATIONAL Newsletter No. 69, December 1998{/B}{/P} {P}{B} Code Number:NL98004 {BR} Sizes of Files: {BR} Text: 145K {BR} Graphics: Line drawings (gif) - 32K{BR} Photographs (jpg) - 52K {/B}{P} {P}{B}WORLD CONFERENCE ON SCIENCE{/B}{BR} {I}Budapest, Hungary, 26 June - 1 July 1999{/P} {/I} {P}{B}Science for the 21st century: {I}A new commitment{/B}{/P} {/FONT}{P}{/P} {/I}{P}The main goal of this important meeting, which around 2,000 participants are expected to attend, is to bring together policy makers from both the political and the administrative world, and members of the scientific community at large, to reflect together on the future of scientific research, its impact on society and the demands of society on science.{/P} {B}{P}Vostok Lake, Antarctica{/P} {/B}{P}Dr Peter D. Clarkson Research,{BR} {P}A common perception is that Antarctica is a frozen continent and that is predominantly correct. In the more northerly coastal regions of the continent, particularly in the Antarctic Peninsula, summer temperatures may rise above 0C and, on warm sunny days, streams may flow from melting glaciers and snow fields. Not surprisingly, therefore, there are many small lakes and ponds that can lose their ice cover during the summer. What is surprising, however, is that the largest known lake in Antarctica is about twenty-five times the area of Lake Geneva in Switzerland (or somewhat smaller in area than Lake Ontario on the United States-Canada border, but it has a larger volume of water) and it is sandwiched between the bedrock of the continent and about 4 km of the overlying ice sheet.{/P} {P}{B}Harmful Algal Blooms{/B}{/P} {P}A new International Programme on Global Ecology and Oceanography{/P} {/B} {P}Elizabeth Gross,{/P} {P}The last two decades have been marked by an extraordinary expansion in the occurrence of the marine phenomenon we now call "harmful algal blooms". These blooms of toxic or harmful micro-algae, often inaccurately referred to as "red tides", represent a significant and expanding threat to human health and fisheries resources throughout the world. They take many forms, ranging from massive accumulations of cells that discolor the water, to dilute, inconspicuous populations that are noticed only because of the harm caused by the highly potent toxins these cells contain. The impacts of these phenomena include: mass mortalities of wild and farmed fish and shellfish; human poisonings and fatalities from the consumption of contaminated shellfish or fish; alterations of marine ecosystem structure through adverse effects on larvae and other life history stages of commercial fisheries species; and the death of marine mammals, sea birds, and other animals. On this last point, there is now a growing appreciation of the extent to which HABs impact resources other than shellfish and fish. Human illnesses and fatalities due to five syndromes associated with harmful algae are being recorded around the world in increasingly large numbers.{/P} {B} {P}The Fifth IGBP Scientific Advisory Council Meeting{BR} Nairobi, Kenya, {/FONT}{I}1 to 7 September 1998{/P} {/B}{/I}{P}Sheila Lunter, {/P} {P}Despite a postponement and a preparation that was marked by adversity, a successful Fifth Scientific Advisory Council (SAC-V) Meeting of IGBP was held in Kenya. Many African scientists attended the meeting, which had a total participation of some 170 scientists. SAC-V was hosted by the Kenyan National Academy of Science (KNAS), with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) generously offering the use of the conference facilities at their headquarters in Gigiri, just outside Nairobi.{/P} {P}{B}NEW RESEARCH PROJECT UNDERWAY{/P} {P}Health and the environment{/P} {/B}{/FONT}{P}Heike Schroeder, {/P} {P}Health has become one of the major new integrative global change research areas, and indeed the links between environment and health are becoming increasingly visible and complex. Extreme weather patterns highlighted by the recent El Niño cycle, emergent diseases, viral mutations and environmental degradation are all contributing to this development.{/P} {P}{B}DIVERSITAS/IBOY{/B} {br}An International Biodiversity Observation Year{/P} {P} H.A. Mooney, C.S. Adam, A. Larigauderie and J. Sarukhan.{/P} {P}{B}What is DIVERSITAS?{/B}{/P} {/B}{P}DIVERSITAS is an international programme of biodiversity science which was created in 1991. It is cosponsored by six international scientific organisations: the International Union of Biological Sciences (IUBS), the Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment (SCOPE), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), the International Union of Microbiological Societies (IUMS), the International Council for Science (ICSU), and the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP).{/P} {B}{P}DIVERSITAS - START - WCRP - IGBP - IHDP{/P} {P}Chair & Directors Forum{/P} {/B}{P}Heike Schroeder,{/P} {P}Global Change System for Analysis, Research and Training (START) and the Global Environmental Change (GEC) programmes held their annual Chairs and Directors Forum on 14-16 August 1998, in Bonn, Germany. The purpose of this Forum is to provide an opportunity for the programmes' Executive Directors and Scientific Chairs to exchange information on an informal basis and discuss new and ongoing activities and ways for the programmes to enhance collaboration and streamline their research efforts.{/P} {P}{BR} {I}{B}Spotlights on science{/I}{/B} {/P} {P}{B}The International Union of Crystallography{/B}{/P} {/B}{P}M. Dacombe{/P} {P}The International Union of Crystallography (IUCr) was formed in 1947 and formally admitted to ICSU on 7 April in that year. Its main objects are: to promote international cooperation in crystallography; to contribute to the advancement of crystallography in all its aspects; to facilitate international standardization of methods, of units, of nomenclature and of symbols used in crystallography; and to form a focus for the relations of crystallography to other sciences. It does this primarily through its publications, the work of its Commissions and Sub-Committees, and its triennial Congresses.{/P} {P}{B}International Union for Pure and Applied Biophysics {br}IUPAB{/P} {/B}{P}A.C.T. North,{/P} {P}Most biophysicists have probably had the same experience as me and been faced by a look of blank incomprehension after giving the answer "biophysics, "to the question "what is your subject?".{/P} {B}{I}Meeting reports{/P} {/I}{P}ICSU/CODATA{BR} 16th Biennial International CODATA Conference and General Assembly{/P} {I}{P}Habitat Center, New Delhi, India,{BR} Nov. 8 - 14, 1998{/P} {/B}{/I}{P}Report by Professor Paul G. Mezey, {P}{B}SATELLITE MEETINGS{BR} {/B}The Conference was preceded by two CODATA Task Group Satellite Meetings and Symposia, held at the Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi. On November 6 and 7, 1998, the CODATA Task Group for Data Sources in Asia-Oceania held a Meeting and Seminar, whereas on November 7, 1998, the CODATA Task Group for Data/information and Visualization held a Study-Tutorial Workshop on "Information, Visualization, and Management of Heterogeneous Systems". Both meetings were well attended. The high scientific level and the special Tutorial feature of the Data/Information and Visualization Task Group Symposium provided inspiration for future, similar meetings.{/P} {P}{/P} {B}{P}Electronic Publishing in Science {br}Report on a joint AAAS/ICSU Press/UNESCO Workshop in Paris{/P} {/B}{P}D.F. Shaw, {BR} {P}Forty-three participants accepted invitations from the joint organising committee and represented an international range of interests covering the Universities, Learned Societies, National Science Academies, National and Institutional Libraries and STM Publishers, as well as commercial information brokers and consultants.{/P} {B}{P}Dairy Foods in Health{BR} International Conference, Wellington, New Zealand{/P} {/B} {P}Specialists from 22 countries as far apart as Canada, Finland, Japan and Thailand attended the International Dairy Federation's Nutrition Week from 9-11 March 1998. The New Zealand hosts, the Milk and Health Research Centre of Masey University and the New Zealand Dairy Research Institute, welcomed 191 participants to an ambitious programme with leading nutrition scientists from all around the world. A dinner cruise was arranged on Wellington Harbour for participants. The kind weather and the festival atmosphere in Wellington combined to make the event enjoyable for all.{/P} {B}{I}{P}Calendar{/P}{/B}{/I} Details of forthcoming events from 1 January 1999 - 25 March 1999 {B}{P}ICSU/IGFA{BR} Global Change Research{/B}{/P} {P}The International Group of Funding Agencies for Global Change Research (IGFA) is an informal body of representatives of agencies and ministries of 21 countries plus the European Union responsible for the funding of global change research.{/P} {B}{P}{I}Science and technology{/I}{/B}{/P} {P}{B}Identification of science and technology priorities for Asian Regional Cooperation{/B}{/P} {P}B. Babuji{/P} {P}The following topics were presented for discussion:{/P} {LI}Country presentations on S & T status {/LI} {LI}Current and emerging global S & T senario {/LI} {LI}Identification of priority areas for Asian regional cooperation {/LI} {LI}Modes of cooperation {/LI} {LI}Resource mobilisation and way forward{/LI} {/P} {P}{B}Easing the burden on young scientists{/B}{/P} {/B}{P}Daniel Schaffer, {/P} {P}Two of the principal aims of the Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) are to promote the careers of young scientists in the developing world and to help scientific institutions in the South to strengthen their decision-making and research capabilities. These two goals came together in the TWAS Prize for young scientists.{/P} {P}{B}South's Centres of Excellence{/B}{BR} {/B}(New volume published){/P} {P}Daniel Schaffer,{/P} {P}The Third World Network of Scientific Organizations (TWNSO), in collaboration with the South Centre and Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), has announced the publication of the second edition of Profiles for Scientific Exchange and Training in the South. With more than 430 entries, the book represents a unique inventory of the capabilities and accomplishments of the most prominent research and training centres in the developing world.{/P} {B}{I}{P}news in brief{/I}{/B}{/P} {P}{B}Fields Medal and the Nevanlinna Prize {br}International Congress of Mathematicians, Berlin 1998{/P} {/B}{P}In physics or literature they have the Nobel Prize, and in mathematics there is the "Fields Medal". This highest scientific award for mathematicians was presented at the opening ceremony of the "International Congress of Mathematicians" to Richard E. Borcherds, Maxim Kontsevich, William Timothy Gowers and Curtis T. McMullen. The International Mathematical Union also awarded the "Nevanlinna Prize" for outstanding work in the field of theoretical computer science to the mathematician Peter Shor.{/P} {B}{P}Food Security {I}{br}What have Sciences to Offer?{/P} {/B}{/I}{P}David Hall,{/P} {P}The author of this report was asked to examine what opportunities exist for the sciences to play in ensuring food security in the next century. In parallel to this, would there be a role for ICSU members and scientists of varied disciplines to play, which would be effective and not duplicate existing efforts?{/P} {B}{I}{P}Electronic Journal Publishing{/P} {/I}{P}A Reader{/P} {/B}{P}To further support our work in the strengthening and development of the dissemination of research results, we are in the process of bringing together a series of articles and Internet documents which we have found interesting and insightful.{/P} {/I}{B}{P}INASP adds new section to its web site{/P} {P}{/P} {/B}{P}INASP Links and Resources "Access to Information"{/P} {B}{P}Discovery of Polonium and Radium{/P} {P}{/P} {/B}{P}An International Conference on {I}The Discovery of Polonium and Radium: its scientific and philosophical consequences, benefits and threats to mankind {/I}was organized by the Polish Government in Warsaw in September 1998.{/P} {B}{P}TREASURER OF THE IUBMB RESIGNS{/P} {/B}{P}Dr R. Brian Beechey, the Treasurer of IUBMB, has tendered his resignation as from 31 December 1998, citing his wish to pursue other interests.{/P} {B}{I}{P}Book Marketing and Distribution:{/P} {/I}{/B}{P}A practical handbook for publishers in developing countries and related training programmes{/P} {B}{P}New edition of ICSU's blue book{/B} {br}UNIVERSALITY OF SCIENCE:{/P} {P}{/P} {P}A new edition of the handbook of ICSU's Standing Committee on Freedom in the Conduct of Science SCFCS has been printed.{/P} {B}{I}house news{/P} {/I}{P}New Environmental Science Officer appointed at ICSU{/B}{/P} {P}Anne Lorigouderie joined the ICSU Secretariat as Environmental Sciences Officer in September.{/P} {B}{P}Qiu Wei joins us from CAST{/P} {/B}{P}Qiu Wei succeeds Zhang Hong, on secondment from the China Association for Science and Technology for another period of six months as of November 1998. {/P} {B}{P}Catherine moves on{/P} {/B}{P}After four years at the ICSU Secretariat, Catherine Leonard left in December. During her time at ICSU, Catherine's responsibilities have included administering the ICSU Grants Programme and editing the ICSU Year Book. {/I}{P}{B}ICSU Grants Programme for 1999{/B}{/P} {P}ICSU is pleased to announce that around one million dollars has been awarded to ICSU bodies under the ICSU grants programme for 1999. Almost half that amount has been allocated to category I grants in the $50,000 - $100,000 range for new innovative projects of high profile potential.{/P} {B}{P}Looking ahead to the millennium{/P} {P}{/P} {/B}{P}For 2000, ICSU is opening up its Category I grants programme to all of ICSU's Joint Initiatives - as it did for the 1999 Programme- and to all ICSU Scientific Associates.{/P} {B}Obituary{/B}{/P} {/I}{P}Lars Ernster 1920-98{I} {/P} {/B}{/I}{P}Lars Ernster died in his 79th year in November. Although born in Budapest he spent almost all his working life in Sweden and most of his academic life at the University of Stockholm. He began a close and long association with ICSU in 1969 when he was appointed Secretary of the Swedish National Committee on Biochemistry and this led to greater demands on his organizational talents when shortly after this he took over the Chairmanship of the Organizing Committee for the highly successful 9th International Congress on Biochemistry, which was held in Stockholm in 1973.{/P} {B}{P}New Directions in Chemistry{/P} {P}15-17 July 1999, Hong Kong{/P} {P}{/P} {/B}{P}The first IUPAC Workshop on Advanced Materials: Nanostructured Systems (IUPAC-WAM-1) will be held on the campus of the Hong Kong University for Science and Technology from 15-17 July 1999.{/P} {P}Copyright 1998 ICSU Press
Regulatory reform has emerged as an important policy area in developing countries. For reforms to be beneficial, regulatory regimes need to be transparent, coherent, and comprehensive. They must establish appropriate institutional frameworks and liberalized business regulations; enforce competition policy and law; and open external and internal markets to trade and investment. This report examines the institutional set-up for and use of regulatory policy instruments in Zambia. It is one of five reports prepared on countries in East and Southern Africa (the others are on Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Tanzania). The report is based on a review of public documents prepared by the government, donors, and the private sector, and on a limited number of interviews with key institutions and individuals.
The public expenditure and institutional assessment (PEIA) were motivated by a number of factors. First, both the Government of Iraq (GoI) and its international development partners have recognized the critical importance of sound management of Iraq's substantial public financial resources. Both parties support the reform and modernization of public financial management (PFM), as articulated in the International Compact for Iraq (ICI). Secondly, international experience demonstrates the importance of establishing a baseline against which progress in PFM over time can be measured. This implies the need for an assessment which provides the information necessary to measure the performance of a country's PFM system. Thirdly, the devastating circumstances in Iraq during the past 5 years have made the institutional arrangements for PFM the subject of considerable uncertainty. The PEIA can help to shape and prioritize the necessary development program. The report is organized in two main parts. Volume one contains a summary of the main issues to emerge from the public expenditure and financial accountability (PEFA) assessment and a discussion of a number of specific PFM issues of current importance to Iraq, including: capital investment budgeting (CIB), oil revenue management, the Iraq financial management information system (IFMIS), public accounting and accountability, and payroll management. Volume two contains a detailed technical analysis behind the PEFA assessment.
This paper is framed as a User's Guide to help city officials and city competitiveness practitioners in implementing interventions. This guide aims to support cities in identifying collaborative configurations of actors from the public and private sector along with the management approaches that can help leadership implement interventions to support the city economy.
After more than a decade of experience and research on financing arrangements in post conflict countries and fragile states, a consensus has emerged on at least one matter. The core objective is to build effective and legitimate governance structures that secure public confidence through provision of personal security, equal justice and the rule of law, economic well-being, and essential social services including education and health. These governance structures are necessary to ensure that countries do not turn, or turn back, to violence as a means of negotiating state-societal relations. This paper discusses a number of the weaknesses in current financing arrangements for post conflict countries and fragile states, with a focus on Official Development Assistance (ODA). We argue that tensions persist between business-as-usual development policies on the one hand and policies responsive to the demands of peace building on the other. The preferential allocation of aid to 'good performers,' in the name of maximizing its payoff in terms of economic growth, militates against aid to fragile and conflict-affected states. If the aim of aid is redefined to include durable peace, the conventional performance criteria for aid allocation lose much of their force. Compelling arguments can be made for assistance to 'poor performers' if this can help to prevent conflict. Yet the difficulties that initially prompted donors to become more selective in aid allocation remain all too real. Experience has shown that aid can exacerbate problems rather than solving them.
