Organization
IFC
Report Year
2014
1st MAR Year
2015
Accepted
Yes
Status
Active
Recommendation

RECOMMENDATION 4: Relevant WBG Management should provide guidance and quality control so that every project documents for WBG projects targeting SMEs will:

a) Define the group of firms to benefit by measurable criteria such as number of employees and annual revenues

b) Justify the definition of the beneficiary group targeted (which could be a subset of SMEs) based on country-specific evidence that this group suffers from size-specific market failures or constraints.

c) Specify and wherever appropriate embed in legal provisions the mechanism to reach the targeted group

d) Include in its results framework and M&E framework indicators of the impact of the project on the targeted group and on the constraints or market failures justifying the project.

e) Projects that describe themselves as targeting benefits to SMEs should reflect this approach. In addition, these projects should be coded accurately with regard to whether or not their benefits are in fact predominantly or exclusively available to SMEs. Coding systems and practices should be reviewed and modified to assure that targeted SME projects are correctly coded, to reduce "false positives" and "false negatives".

Recommendation Adoption
IEG Rating by Year: mar-rating-popup M S H NT Management Rating by Year: mar-rating-mng-popup S S H NT
CComplete
HHigh
SSubstantial
MModerate
NNegligible
NANot Accepted
NRNot Rated
Findings Conclusions

Selectivity is required for both efficacy of targeting and its efficiency. The definition of SMEs (both the "ceiling" and the "floor") establishes projects' relevance to development objectives and differentiates some firms from others based on criteria of employment, sales and assets. IFC and MIGA's global definitions appear ill-tuned to many local contexts, while the Bank's lack of any institutional definition can lead to project-specific definitions not firmly linked to the underlying rationale for the assistance offered. In addition, currently, only a minority of projects defines SME (who is eligible for benefits) and fewer still apply that definition through their provisions. A minority identifies the market or policy failure they are seeking to address and a smaller minority provides a solid rationale for how the project will ameliorate that failure. Limited relevant information on portfolio performance makes it difficult to learn from experience or even to establish the existence of additionality of WBG interventions.

IEG's review of project coding suggests a high degree of imprecision in coding projects, including a higher percentage of "false positives" in IFC and "false negatives" in the World Bank.

Original Management Response

WBG: Agree. Management agrees with the overall thrust of IEG's recommendations. Most of the detailed recommendations repeat previous recommendations. Thus Management comments provided on the related recommendations are also relevant in this case.

The newly established Global Practices will be accountable for enhancing guidance and quality control for SMEs work.

Coding for SME support will be reviewed as necessary. The forthcoming Guidance Note for Financial Intermediary Financing will also be useful in improving the design and consistency of TSME activities where they involve such financing arrangements.

IFC will continue to strengthen the quality of board and legal documents and will provide guidance to staff on (i) confirming in board papers where the standard definition of SME is being used or an alternative is being used (ii) strengthening the justification for targeting SMEs in Board papers and (iii) including, where appropriate, definitions and provisions in legal documents pertaining to the application of funds for SME on-lending. Regarding the justification for targeting SMEs, it should be noted that IFC's ability to provide evidence on market failures and financing gaps is dependent on the quality of data and analysis undertaken elsewhere, something which will only improve over time.

IFC will continue to improve its mechanism for flagging MSME projects to improve data quality and relevance, recognizing however that the MSME flag for IFC differs from the IEG definition in purpose and composition.

MIGA will strengthen the quality of Board and legal documents and will provide guidance to staff on: the standard definition of SME is being used or an alternative is being used strengthening the justification for targeting SMEs in Board papers and, where appropriate, including definitions and provisions in legal documents pertaining to the application of funds to for SME on-lending.

Action Plans
Action 1
Action 1 Number:
0343-01
Action 1 Title:
Action 4C [IFC FIG]: Board Papers of investment SME flagged projects to include a SME definition. Provide guidance to staff on i
Action 1 Plan:

Action 4C [IFC FIG]: Board Papers of investment SME flagged projects to include a SME definition. Provide guidance to staff on including SME definition and describing SME constraints in Board Papers
Indicator: Percent of new investment SME flagged projects that include a SME definition and constraints in compliance with the new guidance in Board Papers
Baseline: 18% of Board Papers of SME investment projects, in the sample revised by IEG, include a SME definition
Target: 75% of new investment SME flagged projects comply with the new guidance
Timeline: FY19

Action 2
Action 2 Number:
0343-02
Action 2 Title:
Action 4D [IFC FIG]: Legal Documents of SME flagged investment projects to include a SME definition. Provide guidance to staff o
Action 2 Plan:

Action 4D [IFC FIG]: Legal Documents of SME flagged investment projects to include a SME definition. Provide guidance to staff on including SME definition in Legal Documents
Indicator: Percent of new IFC (FIG) SME flagged investment projects include a SME Definition in compliance with the new guidance in Legal Documents
Baseline: 43% of Legal Documents of SME investment projects, in the sample revised by IEG, include a SME definition
Target: 75% of new SME flagged investment projects comply with the new guidance
Timeline: FY19

Action 3
Action 3 Number:
0343-03
Action 3 Title:
Action 4E [IFC FIG]: Strengthen the methodology for flagging SME investment projects. Provide guidance to staff that work on SME
Action 3 Plan:

Action 4E [IFC FIG]: Strengthen the methodology for flagging SME investment projects. Provide guidance to staff that work on SME investment projects on how to use the M/SME flag
Indicator: Percent of FiG’s SME flagged investment projects following revised methodology
Baseline: none
Target: From FY15, 90% of new FiG’s investment projects apply revised SME flag methodology
Timeline: FY19

Action 4
Action 5
Action 6
Action 7
Action 8
2018
IEG Update:
No Updates
Management Update:
No Updates
2017
IEG Update:

IEG is encouraged by the full achievement of two of the three targets.

Management Update:

0343-01 (Action 4C) Target achieved. Over 75% (or 100% target completion) of new SME flagged investment projects include an SME definition and comply with the new guidance. Since FY16, FIG has been providing guidance to Investment Staff on including the SME definitions, including constrains, in Board Papers for SME investments. FIG Strategy has been working with Investment Staff on all SME Board Papers to ensure full compliance.0343-02 (Action 4D) Indicator is at 70% of the 75% target (or 93% target completion). Since FY15, all legal templates for loans and risk sharing facilities of the Global SME Finance Facility (GSMEF) include standard language on SME definitions (under the term "Eligible sub-borrower"). In addition, IFC's Legal Department has now issued guidance for Investment Staff to include SME definitions in the legal documents of all SME targeted projects. A review of a sample of loan agreements of SME-flagged projects by FIG Strategists revealed that majority of legal agreements had SME definition.0343-03 (Action 4E) Target achieved. Over 90% (or 100% target completion) of new FIG investment projects now apply revised SME flag methodology. Since FY16, the FIG strategy team has been disseminating to Investment Staff the guidance on proper flagging of M/SME projects. Since FY16, a process has been put in place to ensure that for every investment project an appropriate SME flag is to be assigned. Furthermore, assigned portfolio staff perform additional quality checks on the MSME flag in order to ensure full compliance.(Dan Goldblum has completed the recommendation update and rating for the SME MAR as the Task Leader. As the Reviewing Manager, I , Wendy Teleki, have also reviewed and cleared the update and rating for this recommendation and has authorized Abdul-Rahman Akande to clear in the MAR system on my behalf.)

2016
IEG Update:

IEG notes the progress certified by IFC on FIG Board papers in defining SMEs and in providing guidance to FIG Staff.
IEG notes the progress in legal documents defining SMEs in SME targeted projects.
IEG notes the improved methodology for flagging SME investment projects.
IEG would appreciate further documentation of the progress (75% of new SME investments flagged, 43% of legal documents of SME investments in compliance, 90% of new FIG investment projects apply reevised SME methodology) described in the management update.

Management Update:

0343-01 Indicator is over 75% completed. In FY16, a vast majority of FIG Board Papers for SME Investments included an SME definition, as confirmed by FIG's strategy unit, who reviews all board papers. Additionally, in January of FY16, FIG provided guidance to Investment Staff on how to define SME constraints in Board Papers for SME investments. FIG Strategy has been working with Investment Staff on all SME Board Papers to ensure SME constraints are properly defined.
0343-02 Indicator is at 50% of the target. Since FY15, all legal templates for loans and risk sharing facilities of the Global SME Finance Facility (GSMEF) include standard language on SME definitions (under the term "Eligible sub-borrower"). In addition, during FY16 IFC's Legal Department has issued guidance to include SME definitions in legal documents of all SME targeted projects.
0343-03 Indicator is over 90% completed. In January of 2016, guidance was disseminated to Investment Staff on proper flagging of M/SME projects. In FY16, a process was put to ensure that an appropriate SME flag is assigned. From FY16, the vast majority of new FIG's investment projects applied the revised SME flag methodology.
(Note: Dan Goldblum has completed the recommendation update and rating as the Task Leader. The Reviewing Manager, Wendy Teleki, has also reviewed and cleared the update and rating for this recommendation and has authorized Abdul-Rahman Akande to clear in the MAR system on her behalf)

2015
IEG Update:

Based on description received, IFC has made progress, achieving its goal for the first part of 0343-01 for FY (15) on defining SME in SME flagged projects (since the time period covered is through FY19, IFC will need to maintain the 75% or higher rate of SME definition through that FY.

Based on the description received, the second part of 0343-01 awaits action -- FIG will provide guidance in the current fiscal year that should address identification of SME constraints -- i.e. this had not occurred by end FY15.

Based on the description received, regarding action 0343-02 a baseline has been established and there is progress of seven percentage points from the baseline towards the goal of an increase of 32 percentage points of progress -- i.e. 22% of target is achieved.

Based on the description received on 0343-02, no measurable progress was achieved in FY15 but progress is expected in FY16.

IEG awaits evidence supporting these descriptions -- List for FY15 of which Board Papers of FIG's SME investments include SME definition (specific page references would help). List of which Board Papers identify SME constraints. Identification of which legal templates/documents of the GSMEF and for SME flagged investments include standard language on definition of SME (and description of what is the standard language).

Management Update:

0343-01 Indicator is at 50% of the target. This action has two items to be completed for FIG's SME Investments 1) Board Papers to include a SME definition. FIG's strategy unit reviews all board papers to confirm teams include SME definitions. In FY15 more than 75% of Board Papers of FIG's SME Investments include a SME definition. 2) Board Papers to include SME constraints. In FY16 FIG will provide guidance on how to include the SME constraints and review Board Papers to confirm implementation.

0343-02 Indicator is at 50% of the target. Legal templates for loans and risk sharing facilities of the Global SME Finance Facility (GSMEF) include standard language on SME definitions (under the term "Eligible sub-borrower"). Pending are legal templates for SME flagged investments that are not part of the GSMEF.

0343-03 Indicator is at 30% of the target. The action has been initiated. Guidance is now being issued for all new projects and quality control will be implemented in FY16