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This publication provides guidance for national and local policymakers on the management of their assets in support of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It introduces the reader to the basic principles of managing physical assets — like equipment and machinery, public land, buildings, and infrastructure facilities — in the most cost-effective and sustainable manner. Providing a number of practical and field-tested tools, it aids local and central governments in assessing their asset management needs and developing comprehensive and proactive asset management frameworks, policies, and strategies. The publication also places special emphasis on far-sighted and effective actions that integrate financial, lifecycle, and demand aspects of asset management. Topical deep dives cover the implications of Covid-19 and climate change on asset management, measures that help build statistical and data capacity, as well as guidance on creating an enabling environment for local asset management at the national level. Short case studies, practical exercises, and references to reading materials throughout the book aim to further contextualize the content and engage the reader.

As an innovation policy tool, business incubators (BIs) have great potential to catalyse innovative entrepreneurship by providing incentives, support, connections, and an enabling environment for people who want to develop and try out new ideas. Experimenting with ideas to create value and solve problems more systematically is essential for sustainable development and is therefore high on the policy agenda among the transition economies of the United Nations Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA), i.e. Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. This handbook reflects upon the lessons learned from incubator practices around the world and in transition economies, providing examples of initiatives in the Russian Federation and Kazakhstan, including the respective roles of universities, government, and the private sector. The recommendations and tools here target national and local governments, universities, as well as those parties involved in the development and management of business incubators and similar institutions, such as pre-incubators, accelerators, and entrepreneurship support centres in the SPECA countries.

This report analyses the state of the world economy, a year and half after the Covid-19 outbreak was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. The first part of the Report outlines key macro-financial aspects of the global economy, focusing, in particular, on the prospects for a growth recovery while analyzing possible threats from public and private debt, from inflationary spikes as well as from a return to the policies of the past. It pays particular attention to the situation of developing countries in the system of global finance, and discusses issues of debt sustainability. As this year marks its 40th anniversary, the Report also revisits the analyses provided in previous editions in response to shocks, setbacks, and crises that have hampered development during the era of hyperglobalization and underscores its abiding call for an inclusive global economic governance. The second part focuses on climate adaptation. It calls for a transformative approach to climate adaptation, with large-scale public investment programmes to adapt to future as well as current threats, and green industrial policies to drive growth and job creation. It also details reforms of the international financial system needed to get more climate adaptation funds flowing to developing countries.

Finance & Development, June 2018

Finance and Development March 2016

Finance and Development, December 2015