re

Precision Agriculture for Resilient Commercial Horticulture Sector Project

The Precision Agriculture for Resilient Commercial Horticulture Sector Project will promote horticulture commercialization by (i) catalyzing the formation of producer groups and (ii) strengthening vertical market linkages between producer groups and downstream agribusiness. The project location is in Bakhmal district in the Jizzakh region, directly benefiting at least 170 small-scale farmers while indirectly supporting at least 85 agricultural workers and their families.




re

Building Resilience and Reducing Rural Poverty Project

The proposed project will expand a targeted, nutrition-sensitive conditional cash transfer (CCT) program to up to 30,000 poor households in areas with high rates of poverty, malnutrition, and climate risks, and make social protection systems more adaptive and shock-responsive. The CCT targets poor pregnant women and mothers of children under two as adequate nutrition is critical during the first 1,000 days of a child's life.




re

Veyseloglu Modern Retail Expansion Project

The transaction involves a loan of up to $10,000,000 (or the local currency equivalent) to Araz Supermarket LLC (Araz) for the Veyseloglu Modern Retail Expansion Project in Azerbaijan, and technical assistance (TA) of $500,000 for the Building the Capacity of Smallholder Fruit and Vegetable Farmers for Climate-Resilient Farming.




re

Asia-Pacific Trade Facilitation Report 2024: Promoting Sustainability and Resilience of Global Value Chains

This report examines the progress of trade facilitation in Asia and the Pacific, highlights recent trends in paperless trade, and evaluates the impact of trade facilitation initiatives on trade costs and overall trade.




re

Blue Finance Development in Shandong Province, People’s Republic of China

This brief shows how mainstreaming blue finance hinges on developing a solid regulatory framework that drives investment toward bankable marine-based projects and analyzes how to expand the sector in the People’s Republic of China (PRC).




re

The Bond Market in the Republic of Korea: An ASEAN+3 Bond Market Guide Update

This edition of the ASEAN+3 Bond Market Guide series focuses on updates in the Republic of Korea’s (ROK) market since the publication of the previous guide for the ROK in 2018.




re

Strengthening Regional Cooperation and Integration through Economic Corridor Development: Proceedings of the 2023 Regional Cooperation and Integration Conference

This report shares insights on economic corridor development (ECD) from the 2023 Regional Cooperation and Integration (RCI) Conference, discussing how ECD can help diversify trade, cut costs, and support regional growth.




re

Innovative Finance Approaches for Addressing River Basin Pollution: Combating Aquatic Biodiversity Loss in Southeast Asia

This report outlines the cascading environmental, social, and economic impacts of aquatic biodiversity loss in Southeast Asia and recommends ways to develop scalable projects that tackle river pollution and support sustainable development.




re

The Nexus of Peer-to-Peer Lending and Monetary Policy Transmission: Evidence from the People’s Republic of China

This paper examines how booms and busts in peer-to-peer (P2P) lending in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) affect monetary policy transmission to inflation and output.




re

South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation Customs Administration Reform and Modernization Project




re

Almaty–Bishkek Economic Corridor Regional Improvement of Border Services Project

The project will build and equip 3 climate-resilient and energy-efficient border crossing points (BCP) between the Kyrgyz Republic and Kazakhstan on the Kyrgyz side of the border and a training center for the Kyrgyz Border Service (the project EA). The project with the total loan and grant financing of $37 Million will help facilitate trade and tourism between the Kyrgyz Republic and Kazakhstan and will contribute to the sustainable economic development along the Almaty-Bishkek Economic Corridor.




re

Digital Agriculture Management for Improved Food Security Project




re

Resilient and Inclusive Road Sector Improvement Project II

The project aims to establish a high-quality, climate-resilient road network in northern Armenia, which will enhance trade, and stimulate inclusive economic growth. By improving the resilience and transport connectivity, the project seeks to promote a more balanced development across the region. Additionally, it focuses on enabling the development of future roads that are sustainable, safe, inclusive, and support low-carbon mobility, ensuring long-term benefits for the environment and communities.




re

Third City Region Development Project




re

Ha Tinh City Priority Infrastructure for Climate Adaptation Project




re

Climate Resilient Urban Services Project – Tham Luong Ben Cat

The project will support Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee and their government to finance sound wastewater and drainage system in the remaining catchments, thereby strengthening its foundation as the socioeconomic growth pole of southern Viet Nam. The impact of the project will be improved surface water quality and drainage capacity in HCMC. The outcome will be increased wastewater and drainage collection and treatment capacity in key catchments in HCMC.




re

Supporting Renewable Energy Development

The project will support increased contributions of clean energy in Mongolia's energy mix while also supporting energy security, efficiency, and resilience. The project will finance the construction of a new 220 kilovolt (kV) transmission line to connect to the 90-megawatt (MW) Erdeneburen hydropower plant (HPP) to the existing grid network, which will increase supply in the Western Energy System (WES), eliminate costly and high-emission imports from the Russian Federation, and facilitate maximized utilization of wind and solar generating capacity.




re

Climate-Resilient Water and Sanitation Services Project

Project objectives. The proposed project will assist the government in addressing climate vulnerabilities and enhancing public health and economic conditions by ensuring inclusive access to safe, reliable, climate-resilient, and sustainable WSS services for the residents of Andijan, Djizzak and Fergana provinces; and the Republic of Karakalpakstan. The project will help upgrade and expand the WSS infrastructure in the project regions and support regional suvtaminots in implementing transformational changes.




re

Northern China Agriculture and Food Ecosystem Low-Carbon and Climate Resilient Development Project

The proposed Northern China Agriculture and Food Ecosystem Net Zero Transformation Project (project) will support the PRC to achieve its climate commitment through catalyzing financing and strengthening institutional capacity for net zero transformation in agriculture and food ecosystem.




re

Resilient Amu Darya River Basin Sector Development Program

The proposed project will undertake a long-term and strategic approach to deliver climate adaptive solutions for water resources management in the Amu Darya River Basins in Uzbekistan. Predicted climate change impacts include increased temperatures, increased frequency and severity of extreme events such as floods and droughts, and a reduction of water availability and increased variability of water flows in the major river basins. Decreasing availability and increased water requirements by different sectors are leading to a growing seasonal and absolute supply-demand gap.




re

Evaluation of Wind Potential for Renewable Energy Development

The TA will focus on evaluating the wind potential of various site/s for government investment in wind energy. A feasibility analysis of viable wind sites will be carried out, which will inform the government on the scale of wind projects and how best to develop this potential. The TA will also fund the equipment for measuring wind speeds and directions to confirm site selection and build capacity for wind energy development in the EA.




re

MFF: Green and Resilience Financing Facility Investment Program

The proposed program is a large-scale transformative and integrated initiative addressing the constraints. It aims to bridge the financing, capacity, institutional, and technical gaps in implementing the NAP and adaptation measures mentioned in the NDC and GRID while promoting mitigation, biodiversity, air pollution, and food security as co-benefits.




re

Preparing the Babeldaob Island Urban Resilience Project (formerly Strengthening Urban Planning and Management)

For approval in 2023.




re

The inside story of heroic efforts to save three bird species

The graft involved in trying to bring the peregrine falcon, Hawaiian crow and California condor back from the brink in the US makes for compelling reading in Feather Trails by Sophie Osborn




re

Are horses in equestrian sports being harmed by bending their necks?

Horses experience hyperflexion, or rollkur, when their necks bend far towards their chests – it could place the animal at a greater risk of physical discomfort and stress




re

Sea lion cameras record amazing predator's view of the ocean

Eight Australian sea lions were fitted with cameras and trackers to capture unprecedented insights into their behaviour and the marine habitats where they hunt




re

The science is clear: repeatedly whipping a horse won't help it learn

After the release of a shocking video showing Olympic rider Charlotte Dujardin whipping a horse, it is time for equestrians to educate themselves on the science of horse training, says Christa Lesté-Lasserre




re

The best livestream so far this year? A corpse flower slowly blooming

Forget videos by gamers or influencers. For a real online thrill, watch the world's biggest flower emerging in a former web designer's greenhouse, says Annalee Newitz




re

Intimate nature documentary is an ode to an oak

Lush and vibrant cinematography plus a "cast" of real animals make Heart of an Oak an enthralling celebration of the natural world




re

We now know how kestrels stay perfectly still while hovering

Two nankeen kestrels have been filmed flying in a wind tunnel to learn how the raptors keep their heads in a fixed position under turbulent conditions




re

How crocodiles were taught to stop eating deadly toxic cane toads

Invasive cane toads have decimated native freshwater crocodile populations in northern Australia, as the predators don't know they should avoid the toxic amphibians




re

Consumer insecticides are useless for fighting cockroach infestations

Lab-reared German cockroaches are susceptible to consumer insecticide sprays, allowing manufacturers to pass US regulatory tests, but insects taken from real-world infestations are able to shrug off the products




re

Top astrobiologist explores the possibilities of alien life

It's time to expect the unexpected, says Natalie Cabrol, one of the world's top astrobiologists and author of an authoritative book on the hunt for life's origins – and ET




re

Endangered skates saved from extinction by hatching in captivity

The Maugean skate (Zearaja maugeana) is only found in one habitat in Australia, which is under threat from human activity. Now the species has been saved from extinction by hatching in captivity




re

Spiders use fireflies as flashing lures to catch more prey

Male fireflies caught in an orb-weaver spider’s web start flashing in an unusual pattern, a deadly deception that seems to attract additional victims for the spider




re

David Attenborough's latest explores the lives of an orangutan family

The veteran presenter adds authority to Secret Lives of Orangutans, a film about a family of endangered orangutans in Sumatra. File this new entry in his vast oeuvre under lovable but lightweight




re

Backflipping springtails are the fastest spinners known in nature

High-speed camera recordings show that springtails spin at up to 368 rotations per second when they jump away from danger




re

Pregnant shark that disappeared may have been eaten by another shark

Tracking data from a pregnant porbeagle shark near Bermuda suggest it was eaten by a great white shark – a kind of predation that has never been seen before




re

Stunningly preserved pterosaur fossils reveal how they soared

The largest pterosaurs, ancient reptiles that were the first vertebrates to master flight, may have mostly soared while smaller ones flapped their wings, a pattern that persists in today's birds




re

New Scientist recommends eight-legged musical instrument Sonic Spider

The books, TV, games and more that New Scientist staff have enjoyed this week




re

Sharks leap out of the water more often than you might think

Breaching is a common behaviour in a wide range of sharks and rays, and it is thought to have functions related to courtship, birthing and hygiene




re

Endangered wombat's rare encounter with echidna caught on camera

A camera trap at an Australian nature refuge has captured a boisterous interaction between a northern hairy-nosed wombat and an echidna




re

Ants change the way they build nests to stop diseases spreading

When worker ants are exposed to a pathogenic fungus, they build nests that are more compartmentalised to reduce the risk of an epidemic




re

Cats have brain activity recorded with the help of crocheted hats

Custom-made wool caps have enabled scientists to record electroencephalograms in awake cats for the first time, which could help assess their pain levels




re

How the hidden lives of dinosaurs are being revealed by new technology

From migrating sauropods and semi-aquatic predators to doting parents, palaeontologists are finally uncovering the mysteries of the lifestyles of dinosaurs




re

Is it really cheaper to cultivate your own fruit and vegetables?

Our gardening columnist James Wong isn’t convinced, and does the maths to get some answers




re

Octopuses and fish hunt as a team to catch more prey

An octopus will work with several different species of fish to find and catch prey - and punch those that aren't helping




re

Some fish regrow injured fins and we’re closer to understanding how

Unravelling the complex biological process that allows fish to regrow injured fins could help advance regenerative medicine in humans




re

It's time to celebrate a renaissance in English nature writing

Musing on John Lewis-Stempel's latest book, England: A natural history, James McConnachie marks the flowering of other, more diverse voices in nature writing




re

Two injured comb jellies can merge to form one individual

A pair of ctenophores, or comb jellies, can fuse their bodies together, merging their digestive and nervous systems, without any issues with immune rejection