Transcript The World Bank in E. Europe and Central Asia

A Kiwi Abroad –
a view back from the
international community
Annette Dixon
Director, Regional Operations
Europe and Central Asia Region,
World Bank
Overview
The World Bank Group
Global Issues of relevance to NZ
Public Service
NZ’s contribution to the international
community
Any lessons for New Zealand?
Global Issues of Relevance
to NZ Public Service
We are connected
to the rest of the
world by :
Trade
Investment
Communications
Migration
Ideas
But we are also
connected by :
Poverty
Armed conflict
Terrorism
Environmental
degradation
Disease
Crime, illegal
narcotics and
corruption
The World Bank Group
Our objective : poverty reduction
through sustainable, pro-poor
economic growth
raising living standards and human
development outcomes
economic and financial stability
global public goods
The World Bank
Our clients :
Very poor countries –
eligible for highly
concessional financial
assistance (IDA)
middle income countries –
not able to access to
capital markets, eligible
for loans on market terms
(IBRD)
Our services :
Financial assistance –
loans, grants, debt relief,
guarantees
Analytical and technical
assistance – macro and
micro economic, public
sector reform, private and
financial sector,
infrastructure and energy,
rural, environment, human
development
Capacity building
assistance
The World Bank in E. Europe
and Central Asia
28 countries undergoing dramatic
transformation since 1990 – from central
planning to open markets, from
totalitarianism to democracies.
Many countries experienced sharp declines
in economic activity, trade and living
conditions. Armed conflicts and epidemics
of AIDS and TB in some. CIS particularly
affected by break-up of common economic
space.
Real GDP Growth in ECA:
plunging, then recovering
The World Bank in E. Europe
and Central Asia
All countries now in recovery, after major
crises, but growing at different rates
EU Accession: 8 countries in Central
Europe and Baltic states joining in May
2004 – unimaginable in 1990. Second
generation reforms and social inclusion
agenda.
Sth Eastern Europe: Post conflict
stabilisation and reconstruction,
institutional development, integration.
The World Bank in E. Europe
and Central Asia
Ukraine, Russia, and Kazakhstan: Improving
business environment, economic
diversification, public sector reform,
mitigating social and environmental risks.
Sth Caucuses and Central Asia:
Collaborative international effort to
accelerate growth and poverty reduction
Turkey: Reducing economic vulnerability,
eliminating poverty, achieving high and
stable growth.
In Many Countries, Men are
Dying Earlier
ECA – Tuberculosis Incidence
HIV—spreading rapidly
Striving for greater
global balance
Developing countries are promising to
improve governance, investment climate,
transparent legal and financial systems,
and fighting corruption
In return developed countries are
supporting through enhanced technical
assistance, aid, debt relief, and greater
trade access
Aid has never been used as effectively, but
aid flows are dropping. Trade access will
be a key determinant.
Figure 2.1: Frequency of Bribes Paid by Sample Firms by Sub-regional Grouping, 1999 and 2002
3 .3
1 = N e v e r ; 6 = A lw a y s
3 .1
2 .9
2 .7
2 .5
1999
2002
2 .3
2 .1
1 .9
1 .7
1 .5
C E E
B a ltic s
S E E
C e n tra l C IS
C IS -7
A ll
New Zealand’s contribution
to a greater global balance
Direct contributions of aid and
technical assistance
Policy ideas
Key roles played by individual NZ’ers
The view of NZ from afar
Oh, so small and far away from everywhere…
Principled, and independent (somewhat)
Supportive of multilateralism
Different from Australia
Innovative, reformer (risk-taker),
entreprenurial
Wide application of the “New Zealand” model
in developing countries (with softer face)
New Zealanders abroad
Nzers get around – in business, NGOs
and IFIs
Small number in high profile positions,
playing key roles
Many trained in NZ public sector
Valued for practical reform
experience, can-do approach, and
ability to get on with others.
New Zealand policy ideas
applied abroad
Independence of central banks
Corporatisation/privatisation of state
enterprises
Public budget management, asset and
debt management
Public sector reform
Sectoral reforms in health, education
NZ ideas applied, but some
limitations to transfer…
High transaction costs in poor,low
capacity settings
Vulnerable to corruption
Attention to mitigation of social
impacts
First generation reforms transferred
in unmodified form
Areas for further engagement???
Developing more socially inclusive
societies, reducing ethnic disparities
Agricultural and trade reform
Knowledge economy strategies
Natural resource management
Any lessons for NZ Public Service?
Data, data, data…
Look beyond the OECD
If you can’t go to the world, bring the
world to you
Set the bar high (higher) – skills,
behaviours, diversity
No room for complacency
Keep the balance – policies, institutions,
ownership
Planning for the unexpected
Staying world famous
NZ always connected – need to
increasingly balance local with global
World is rapidly changing in less
predictable and not nice ways – NZ
Public Service will be tested
Quality of leaders will make the
difference
Ma te rangitira hoki, Ka kiia
te kainga, He Kainga.
A place is known by its leaders