From : Harvard Ministerial Leadership Program <ministerialleadership@hsph.harvard.edu>
To : David Sergeenko
Subject : EMPIRICAL: Key Facts for Decision Makers from the Harvard Ministerial Leadership Program
Received On : 15.03.2017 18:32


EMPIRICAL

Monthly Brief  on Relevant Data for Decision Makers
March 2017

We are pleased to send you the first in our new monthly series EMPIRICAL presenting data-based reports of relevance to government leaders and decision makers from the Harvard Ministerial Leadership Program. The reports below, and many other useful resources are also available on our web-site https://ministerialleadership.harvard.edu/.  All these reports appear first on our Twitter account @HarvardMLP. Join us now.
Bangladesh's Projected Urban Transition from 1950-2050

Globally the Urban Poor is Growing: Tackling Newborn Health in this Environment Poses New Challenges 

With growing rates of urbanization across the world, there is increasing need to understand the nature of preventable maternal and newborn mortality in urban settings. As millions of people migrate to urban areas every year, they face new housing situations (slums, pavements or rooftops, construction sites, undeveloped land, etc.); different family and community structures; unfamiliar social institutions and basic resource access; and changed personal aspirations.
This report examines practical policy implications from programs and research on maternal and newborn health for the urban poor around the world. READ MORE>>

Human Development Essential Foundation for Economic Development 

Young people are the world’s learning generation, a unique opportunity to grow human capital rather than physical capital as a pathway to growth for developing economies. However, by 2030 – at current rates, less than 10% of people in low-income countries will be on track to gain basic secondary level skills.   SDG 4 is attainable within a generation if all countries focus on and invest in the proven strategies to improve education. For each $1 invested in an additional year of schooling, low-income countries will see a $5 earnings increase or a $10 increase in earnings and health benefits. Similarly, lower middle income countries and upper middle income countries will see a $5 and $2 increase in earnings and health, respectively.  READ MORE>>
Baseline studies find that school participation rates must improve significantly; learning must be viewed as a “lifelong pursuit,” and education systems as a whole must embrace sustainable development.                READ MORE>>
Policymakers work in a complex environment of competing political and personal agendas which often undermine governance. Good governance can mitigate, even overcome, power assymetries to bring about more effective policy interventions that achieve sustainable improvements in security, growth, and equity.  
This report suggests that this can be achieved by shifting incentives of the powerful; reshaping preferences; considering the interests of excluded actors; bargaining among elites; greater citizen engagement; and support from international actors.