http://info.worldbank.org/etools/bspan/ B-SPAN is a webcasting service that presents World Bank seminars, workshops, and conferences on a variety of sustainable development and poverty reduction issues via streaming video. en-us 2007 The World Bank Group, All Rights Reserved. bspan@worldbank.org bspan@worldbank.org http://info.worldbank.org/etools/BSPAN/PresentationView.asp?PID=2366&EID=1059 Tough times call for creative measures. When applied to the worlds food price crisis, innovative ways to address complex problems is essential. On the onset of one of the worlds most profound recessions, the World Banks Agriculture and Rural Development Department hosted a daylong event to discuss groundbreaking projects that will impact farming, water sanitation and microfinance initiatives in developing countries. The event took place on September 26, 2008 at the World Bank. B-SPAN Rural Development Friday, September 26, 2008 Friday, September 26, 2008 http://info.worldbank.org/etools/BSPAN/PresentationView.asp?PID=2366&EID=1059 http://info.worldbank.org/etools/BSPAN/PresentationView.asp?PID=1940&EID=886 Bringing together students from around the world to learn about the problems of development and how the World Bank approaches them, the External Affairs Department of the Bank sponsored the Global Issues Seminar Series for a third season in the fall of 2006. In this session, conducted at Bank headquarters in Washington, DC, on November 15, 2006, experts spoke on the problems facing forestry and fishing industries, including biodiversity and poaching. Laura Ivers, Communications Officer on Forests for the World Bank, chaired the session. B-SPAN Rural Development Wednesday, November 15, 2006 Wednesday, November 15, 2006 http://info.worldbank.org/etools/BSPAN/PresentationView.asp?PID=1940&EID=886 http://info.worldbank.org/etools/BSPAN/PresentationView.asp?PID=1863&EID=872 The Annual Bank Conference on Development Economics (ABCDE) brings together every year academics, policy makers, representatives of multilateral and bilateral agencies, research institutes, civil society organizations, students, and journalists, and thus provides an excellent opportunity to foster exchange of knowledge and understanding of development issues. The 2006 edition of the Annual Bank Conference on Development Economics (ABCDE) took place in Tokyo and was coorganized by the World Bank and the Ministry of Finance of Japan and gathered nearly 900 participants over two days. The theme of the conference was Rethinking Infrastructure for Development. B-SPAN Rural Development Tuesday, May 30, 2006 Tuesday, May 30, 2006 http://info.worldbank.org/etools/BSPAN/PresentationView.asp?PID=1863&EID=872 http://info.worldbank.org/etools/BSPAN/PresentationView.asp?PID=1843&EID=865 In the wake of a report that discusses the future of agriculture in India through four basic scenarios, the World Bank held a meeting to discuss The Future of Agriculture in India on June 9, 2006. The panel was chaired by Kevin Cleaver, Sector Director for Agriculture at the Bank. B-SPAN Rural Development Friday, June 09, 2006 Friday, June 09, 2006 http://info.worldbank.org/etools/BSPAN/PresentationView.asp?PID=1843&EID=865 http://info.worldbank.org/etools/BSPAN/PresentationView.asp?PID=1839&EID=864 While technology and knowledge are accepted parts of the development equation, just as essential is the process of bringing those innovations to the people and sectors that need them. In this panel, sponsored by the Agriculture and Rural Development Department and South Asia Region of the World Bank on June 12, 2006, speakers discussed a new report titled Enhancing Agricultural Innovation How to Go Beyond the Strengthening of Research Systems. The meeting, conducted at Bank headquarters, was chaired by Connie Bernard, Sector Director for South Asia at the Bank. B-SPAN Rural Development Monday, June 12, 2006 Monday, June 12, 2006 http://info.worldbank.org/etools/BSPAN/PresentationView.asp?PID=1839&EID=864 http://info.worldbank.org/etools/BSPAN/PresentationView.asp?PID=1760&EID=839 Poverty diagnostics provide an essential foundation for creating good poverty reduction strategies. Through this analysis, economists should be able to identify the sectors most affected by poverty and lack of growth in developing countries, and formulate a solution. But have these diagnostics really helped to target development? In this workshop, convened at the World Banks headquarters on March 23, 2006, participants examined the current state of poverty analysis at the Bank, and evaluated it in terms of its effectiveness and policy relevance. Judy Baker, Senior Economist for Transportation at the Bank, chaired a session on Understanding How Households Benefit from and Contribute to Growth Analyzing Urban and Rural Poverty. B-SPAN Rural Development Thursday, March 23, 2006 Thursday, March 23, 2006 http://info.worldbank.org/etools/BSPAN/PresentationView.asp?PID=1760&EID=839 http://info.worldbank.org/etools/BSPAN/PresentationView.asp?PID=1738&EID=53 Citizens of developed countries often take electricity for granted, from the lights that brighten their homes to the devices that play music and audio like this. But in the developing world, 1.6 billion people still lack access to modern energy services. This podcast plugs into the issue of energy in the developing world, with a speech from World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz. B-SPAN Rural Development Wednesday, March 01, 2006 Wednesday, March 01, 2006 http://info.worldbank.org/etools/BSPAN/PresentationView.asp?PID=1738&EID=53 http://info.worldbank.org/etools/BSPAN/PresentationView.asp?PID=1722&EID=834 In this videoconference linking African environmental teams with experts at the World Bank headquarters in Washington, D.C., explored the problems of environmental projects and how to sustain improved environmental practices using payments for environmental services (PES). The videoconference is the 7th in a series of 8 sessions on The Ecosystem Approach to NRM. The meeting took place on February 28, 2006, and was chaired by Pietronella van den Oever, a consultant from the World Bank Institute. B-SPAN Rural Development Tuesday, February 28, 2006 Tuesday, February 28, 2006 http://info.worldbank.org/etools/BSPAN/PresentationView.asp?PID=1722&EID=834 http://info.worldbank.org/etools/BSPAN/PresentationView.asp?PID=1720&EID=832 Indigenous people represent 10 percent of Latin Americas total population, but they are also its most disadvantaged group. To address this inequality more directly, the World Bank InfoShop launched Indigenous Peoples, Poverty, and Human Development in Latin America with an expert panel on February 23, 2006, at Bank headquarters in Washington, D.C. The book is a collection of research on demographic and social changes for the regions indigenous peoples, and analyzes the data to determine where improvements are needed in development projects. B-SPAN Rural Development Thursday, February 23, 2006 Thursday, February 23, 2006 http://info.worldbank.org/etools/BSPAN/PresentationView.asp?PID=1720&EID=832 http://info.worldbank.org/etools/BSPAN/PresentationView.asp?PID=1698&EID=819 The Annual Bank Conference on Development Economics (ABCDE) serves as a leading gathering for knowledge regarding the workings of development and takes place twice per year. For the theme of Beyond Transition, ABCDE met in St. Petersburg, Russia, on January 18–19, 2006. The third session focused on economic space, and was chaired by Alan Winters, Director of the World Bank Development Research Group. B-SPAN Rural Development Thursday, January 19, 2006 Thursday, January 19, 2006 http://info.worldbank.org/etools/BSPAN/PresentationView.asp?PID=1698&EID=819 http://info.worldbank.org/etools/BSPAN/PresentationView.asp?PID=1633&EID=786 As habitats for many rare and endangered species, forests are inextricably linked to the diversity of wildlife. However, as development and industry advance, they often come into conflict with these natural areas. The Global Issues Seminar Series, sponsored by the World Banks External Affairs department, addressed this dilemma on February 22, 2006. Students joined the lecture from Bank experts by videoconference, linking the University of Amsterdam, University of Ghana, Sofia University, and Rhodes University with participants from local Washington, DCarea schools at the World Bank headquarters. B-SPAN Rural Development Wednesday, February 22, 2006 Wednesday, February 22, 2006 http://info.worldbank.org/etools/BSPAN/PresentationView.asp?PID=1633&EID=786 http://info.worldbank.org/etools/BSPAN/PresentationView.asp?PID=1271&EID=629 In this session, two of the most successful development projects in China will be presented. The Loess Plateau Watershed Rehabilitation Project has fundamentally changed natural resource management in the highly degraded middle reaches of the Yellow River. An area the size of Belgium has been restored and is now sustainably managed, providing livelihoods to several million farmers. This project is an excellent model of scaling up development. In addition, the Southwest Poverty Project has successfully introduced a multisectoral poverty reduction approach to China. Within a relatively short time period, it has significantly reduced absolute poverty by improving the lives of 2.8 million farmers in a sustainable way in some of Chinas poorest areas. The project has had an impact that goes far beyond the project itself through largescale demonstration and replication of this new approach, and its farreaching policy impact at national and local levels. B-SPAN Rural Development Tuesday, May 25, 2004 Tuesday, May 25, 2004 http://info.worldbank.org/etools/BSPAN/PresentationView.asp?PID=1271&EID=629 http://info.worldbank.org/etools/BSPAN/PresentationView.asp?PID=1148&EID=586 A World Bank sector report on fiscal decentralization in India, published in January 2004, reviewed the finances of local governments (panchayats), identified the main problems with current practices, and offered recommendations for improvements. The review focused on two of the most reformminded states in India, Kamataka and Kerala, and used their panchayats as case studies for their positions within the Indian intergovernmental system. B-SPAN Rural Development Wednesday, May 12, 2004 Wednesday, May 12, 2004 http://info.worldbank.org/etools/BSPAN/PresentationView.asp?PID=1148&EID=586 http://info.worldbank.org/etools/BSPAN/PresentationView.asp?PID=1094&EID=513 Scaling Up Poverty Reduction A Global Learning Process is an initiative that will allow key development actors to share their experiences and policy lessons learned from poverty reduction initiatives around the world. Learning events and activities over a ninemonth period will draw on leadingedge information and communication technologies to bring together participants from across the development community. A series of case studies, multicountry interactive videoconferences, online dialogues, and field visits will lead up to a working Conference in Shanghai, May 25 27, 2004. B-SPAN Rural Development Thursday, April 22, 2004 Thursday, April 22, 2004 http://info.worldbank.org/etools/BSPAN/PresentationView.asp?PID=1094&EID=513 http://info.worldbank.org/etools/BSPAN/PresentationView.asp?PID=1078&EID=513 Global Dialogue on Basic Education with Case Studies from China and Turkey B-SPAN Rural Development Thursday, April 08, 2004 Thursday, April 08, 2004 http://info.worldbank.org/etools/BSPAN/PresentationView.asp?PID=1078&EID=513 http://info.worldbank.org/etools/BSPAN/PresentationView.asp?PID=1071&EID=513 Scaling Up Poverty Reduction A Global Learning Process is an initiative that will allow key development actors to share their experiences and policy lessons learned from poverty reduction initiatives around the world. Learning events and activities over a ninemonth period will draw on leadingedge information and communication technologies to bring together participants from across the development community. A series of case studies, multicountry interactive videoconferences, online dialogues, and field visits will lead up to a working Conference in Shanghai, May 25 27, 2004. B-SPAN Rural Development Wednesday, March 31, 2004 Wednesday, March 31, 2004 http://info.worldbank.org/etools/BSPAN/PresentationView.asp?PID=1071&EID=513 http://info.worldbank.org/etools/BSPAN/PresentationView.asp?PID=1065&EID=552 The Africa Agriculture Technology Foundation B-SPAN Rural Development Wednesday, March 17, 2004 Wednesday, March 17, 2004 http://info.worldbank.org/etools/BSPAN/PresentationView.asp?PID=1065&EID=552 http://info.worldbank.org/etools/BSPAN/PresentationView.asp?PID=1050&EID=513 Scaling Up Poverty Reduction A Global Learning Process is an initiative that brings key development actors together to share their experiences and policy lessons learned from poverty reduction initiatives around the world. Learning events and activities over a ninemonth period will draw on leadingedge information and communication technologies to bring together participants from across the development community. A series of case studies, multicountry interactive videoconferences, and field visits will lead up to a working Conference in Shanghai, May 25 27, 2004. B-SPAN Rural Development Tuesday, March 02, 2004 Tuesday, March 02, 2004 http://info.worldbank.org/etools/BSPAN/PresentationView.asp?PID=1050&EID=513 http://info.worldbank.org/etools/BSPAN/PresentationView.asp?PID=1046&EID=506 Société Tunisienne de lElectricité et du Gaz (STEG), the stateowned organization responsible for electricity generation, transmission and distribution in Tunisia provides electricity to 95 percent of households in the country. This electrification level is high, particularly when compared with most of Africa. As Tunisia approaches universal access to electricity, the question is being asked whether the Tunisian experience is applicable elsewhere. B-SPAN Rural Development Wednesday, February 11, 2004 Wednesday, February 11, 2004 http://info.worldbank.org/etools/BSPAN/PresentationView.asp?PID=1046&EID=506 http://info.worldbank.org/etools/BSPAN/PresentationView.asp?PID=962&EID=498 The Development Strategy for the Mexican Southern States, was prepared by the World Bank at the request of the Government of Mexico and in cooperation with the state authorities of Chiapas, Guerrero, and Oaxaca. The strategy analyzes a range of policy alternatives that could be adopted at the federal and state levels in order to accelerate the fight against poverty in the three states, the poorest in Mexico. During this event, three background reports from the strategy were presented Economic Activity, Agglomerations, and Logistics in the Mexican Southern States; Cities of the South Challenges and Opportunities; and Infrastructure for Rural Growth and Poverty Alleviation. B-SPAN Rural Development Wednesday, November 05, 2003 Wednesday, November 05, 2003 http://info.worldbank.org/etools/BSPAN/PresentationView.asp?PID=962&EID=498