The World Economic Forum has released a new report, Inspiring Future Cities & Urban Services. The report highlights the emerging technologies and business models that are changing the way urban services are delivered and proposes a 10-step action plan to enable cities to navigate the journey of urban transformation.

The report is based on the results of the State Sample of 71st National Sample Survey on ‘Health, Morbidity’. This survey was carried out by this Directorate during January - June 2014. The survey was aimed at procuring basic quantitative information on health sector.

The performance of water and sanitation utility companies varies greatly, but many are underperforming. This is due mainly to systemic issues, which can include weak governance, lack of accountability, poor management, inadequate or aging infrastructure, and insufficient funds for operations and maintenance.

Many developing countries are about to prepare their new strategies on how to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for universal and equitable access to water and sanitation by 2030.These new roadmaps need to put a focus on rural growth centers and small towns where the majority of those without access to water and sanitation reside.

While public actors have a responsibility to deploy climate finance, it is clear that the contribution from the private sector needs to be significant. Consequently, a strong public commitment is needed to engage with the private sector and ensure climate finance is leveraged and deployed effectively.

Sri Lanka has made encouraging progress in reducing poverty to below 7 percent of the population, but pockets of severe poverty remain and future prosperity will depend on addressing chronic revenue shortfalls and fostering a more competitive and inclusive economy, say new research findings announced by the World Bank Group.

The use of irrigation in the agricultural sector, when combined appropriately with other inputs, has been key to increasing the productivity of agricultural production around the world - a vital factor in helping governments to manage the growing demand for food caused by demographic pressures and changing dietary habits.

The use of irrigation in the agricultural sector, when combined appropriately with other inputs, has been key to increasing the productivity of agricultural production around the world - a vital factor in helping governments to manage the growing demand for food caused by demographic pressures and changing dietary habits.

2015 showed that people working together can succeed in the battle against corruption. Although corruption is still rife globally, more countries improved their scores in the 2015 edition of Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index than declined.