Paying for performance : an analysis of output-based aid in education

Over the last decade, growing attention has been paid to emerging mechanisms for results-based financing (RBF) that seek to address the perceived shortcomings of traditional development aid and financing and improve its effectiveness through placing an emphasis on results. In 2003 the World Bank introduced the concept of output-based aid (OBA) through the Global Partnership on OBA (GPOBA) that now includes a consortium of international multilateral and bilateral donors, and in 2012 the World Bank developed a new RBF tool known as program-for-results (PforR). With OBA, service delivery is typically contracted out by the entity providing the public funds to a service provider (for example, a private enterprise, public utility, non-government organization (NGO), or community-based organization), and payments are linked to the achievement of pre-defined service performance or outputs (GPOBA). Mechanisms through which OBA may lead to improved results include: increased transparency (though explicitly linking subsidies to targets), increased accountability of service providers (as funds are disbursed only upon reaching targets), greater private sector engagement, greater opportunities for the service provider to be innovative and efficient (given autonomy provided to service providers), and improvements in monitoring systems. In 2014-2015, results for development institute (R4D) conducted a scoping study on the potential for OBA in education for GPOBA. This report provides the consolidated findings from the study which included: (i) a literature review of RBF schemes in education, (ii) a landscaping and analysis of existing OBA projects in education, and (iii) recommendations for applying OBA in the education sector moving forward

The Solution Structures of Two Human IgG1 Antibodies Show Conformational Stability and Accommodate Their C1q and FcγR Ligands.

The human IgG1 antibody subclass shows distinct properties compared with the IgG2, IgG3, and IgG4 subclasses and is the most exploited subclass in therapeutic antibodies. It is the most abundant subclass, has a half-life as long as that of IgG2 and IgG4, binds the FcγR receptor, and activates complement. There is limited structural information on full-length human IgG1 because of the challenges of crystallization. To rectify this, we have studied the solution structures of two human IgG1 6a and 19a monoclonal antibodies in different buffers at different temperatures. Analytical ultracentrifugation showed that both antibodies were predominantly monomeric, with sedimentation coefficients s20,w (0) of 6.3-6.4 S. Only a minor dimer peak was observed, and the amount was not dependent on buffer conditions. Solution scattering showed that the x-ray radius of gyration Rg increased with salt concentration, whereas the neutron Rg values remained unchanged with temperature. The x-ray and neutron distance distribution curves P(r) revealed two peaks, M1 and M2, whose positions were unchanged in different buffers to indicate conformational stability. Constrained atomistic scattering modeling revealed predominantly asymmetric solution structures for both antibodies with extended hinge structures. Both structures were similar to the only known crystal structure of full-length human IgG1. The Fab conformations in both structures were suitably positioned to permit the Fc region to bind readily to its FcγR and C1q ligands without steric clashes, unlike human IgG4. Our molecular models for human IgG1 explain its immune activities, and we discuss its stability and function for therapeutic applications

Aid and Poverty

SUMMARY The volume of aid received by the less developed countries, with some exceptions, is small in relation to the existing scale of poverty in those countries. Aid makes a significant but incremental contribution to available national resources. What aid can or cannot do for the poor has to be viewed and assessed within the context of overall national policies and priorities towards poverty elimination. In that context, it can be said that aid has made a smaller impact on poverty than one would expect. The reasons for this are varied and complex, and point to shortcomings in both donor and recipient policies. The aid experience, however, is by no means wholly negative. Particular forms of aid can make a positive contribution to a reduction in poverty, where national policies are directed towards the same objectives. More important for the future, perhaps, are the lessons that can be learnt from the aid experience about the do's and don'ts of aid policy. SOMMAIRE L'aide et la pauvreté Le volume de l'aide reçu par les pays moins développés, avec quelques exceptions, est petit en rapport avec la pauvreté dans ces pays. L'aide contribue substantiellement mais d'une manière incrémentale aux resources nationales disponibles de ces pays. Le potentiel de l'aide doit être évalué dans le contexte globale des politiques nationales et des priorités envers l'élimination de la pauvreté. Dans ce contexte, on peut dire que l'influence de l'aide sur la pauvreté a été plus petite de ce qu'on aurait prévu. Les raisons pour ceci sont diverses et complexes, et soulignent des défauts dans les politiques des donneurs, aussi bien que dans celles des pays recevants. Cependant, l'expérience de l'aide n'est d'aucune manière entièrement négative. Certaines formes d'aide peuvent réduire la pauvreté, lá où les politiques nationales sont formulées dans le même but. Plus important pour l'avenir, peut?être, sont les leçons de l'expérience de l'aide en ce qui concerne ce qu'on peut faire, et ce qu'on ne devrait pas faire en matière de politique de l'aide. RESUMEN Ayuda y Pobreza Con algunas excepciones, el volumen de la ayuda recibida por los países menos desarrollados es pequeño en relación a la escala de pobreza existente en esos países. La ayuda implica una contribución significativa y adicional a los recursos nacionales existentes. Lo que la ayuda puede y no puede hacer en favor de los pobres, debe considerarse y evaluarse en el contexto del conjunto de las políticas y prioridades nacionales de erradicación de la pobreza. En este contexto puede decirse que el impacto de la ayuda sobre la pobreza, es menor del que podría esperarse. Las razones son variadas y complejas y se refieren a deficiencias en las políticas de donantes y receptores. No obstante, la experiencia en ayuda está lejos de ser totalmente negativa. Determinadas formas de ayuda pueden realizar una contribución positiva en la reducción de la pobreza, en los casos en que las políticas nacionales están dirigidas a los mismos objetivos. Probablemente lo más importante para el futuro, son las lecciones que la experiencia en ayuda proporciona acerca de lo que debería y no debería involucrar la política de ayuda

Global Tobacco Economics Consortium

A 50% increase in cigarette prices would lead to millions of life-years gained through smoking cessation, across the study countries (India, Indonesia, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Vietnam, Armenia, China, Mexico, Turkey, Brazil, Colombia, Thailand, and Chile). About 15.5 million men would avoid catastrophic health expenditures and 8.8 million would avoid falling below the World Bank definition of extreme poverty. Despite differences in socioeconomic class and health finance arrangements, a 50% increase in tobacco prices strongly favours those in the bottom income group for life-years saved, out-of-pocket expenses from tobacco attributable treatment costs averted, and avoidance of catastrophic health expenditures or poverty