Congo, Republic of - Completion and Learning Review : IEG Review
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The Republic of Congo is a lower middle-income country with a GNI per capita (Atlas method in current $) of $1,480 in 2017. Oil production had been the main driver of growth and source of government revenues, with average annual GDP growth of 5.8 percent during 2008-2012. The poverty headcount ratio at $1.90 per day (2011 PPP, percent of population) had been declining, from 50.2 percent in 2005 Show MoreThe Republic of Congo is a lower middle-income country with a GNI per capita (Atlas method in current $) of $1,480 in 2017. Oil production had been the main driver of growth and source of government revenues, with average annual GDP growth of 5.8 percent during 2008-2012. The poverty headcount ratio at $1.90 per day (2011 PPP, percent of population) had been declining, from 50.2 percent in 2005 to 37 percent in 2011. However, poverty reduction occurred mainly in urban areas, with rural areas experiencing an increase in the poverty rate. There was little change in the Gini coefficient between 2005 and 2011. During the CPS period, oil prices dropped, resulting in a decline in average annual GDP growth to 1.4 percent during 2013-2017. The Systematic Country Diagnostic (2018) for the Republic of Congo estimated the poverty rate to have declined further to 35 percent in 2016. The human development index improved from 0.57 in 2012 to 0.61 in 2017. The overarching objectives of the CPS were to promote economic diversification and improve outcomes in public services with three pillars: (i) competitiveness and employment; (ii) vulnerability and resilience; and (iii) capacity building and governance.
Kazakhstan - Completion and Learning Review : IEG Review
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The Republic of Kazakhstan is a land-locked upper middle-income country with a nominal GNI per capita of $7960 in 2017. The country depends on oil, with production and exports of hydrocarbon accounting for 21 percent of GDP and 62 percent of exports in 2017. Average annual GDP growth declined from 6.5 percent during 2006-2011 to 3.6 percent during the CPS period (2012-17), primarily due to Show MoreThe Republic of Kazakhstan is a land-locked upper middle-income country with a nominal GNI per capita of $7960 in 2017. The country depends on oil, with production and exports of hydrocarbon accounting for 21 percent of GDP and 62 percent of exports in 2017. Average annual GDP growth declined from 6.5 percent during 2006-2011 to 3.6 percent during the CPS period (2012-17), primarily due to deteriorating oil prices after 2013. The fall in oil prices reduced the growth of non-oil activities and the associated gains in wages and employment. Per capita GDP grew at 2.1 percent during the CPS period and contributed to reduce the poverty headcount ratio at national poverty line from 5.5 to 2.5 percent of the population between 2011 and 2017. Income distribution improved, with the Gini index falling from 0.28 in 2011 to 0.275 in 2017. The Human Development Index improved from 0.765 in 2010 to 0.800 in 2017. Kazakhstan key development challenges and goals set in the Strategy 2030 and Strategy 2050 include strengthening macroeconomic management (including strengthening of non-oil sources of revenues), reducing the state presence in the economy, strengthening regional economics through infrastructure and agricultural value chains, ensuring equal access to high quality education, enhancing social protection, managing natural resources, policy regarding water resources and improving governance and public sector capacity.
Philippines - Completion and Learning Review : IEG Review
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The Philippine economy has been growing rapidly over the past decade. However, performance on poverty reduction, inequality and human development has been persistently low. The country is also a natural disaster hotspot, with frequent typhoons, tropical storms and earthquakes. It has also been affected by internal unrest, predominantly the protracted conflict and violence on the southern island Show MoreThe Philippine economy has been growing rapidly over the past decade. However, performance on poverty reduction, inequality and human development has been persistently low. The country is also a natural disaster hotspot, with frequent typhoons, tropical storms and earthquakes. It has also been affected by internal unrest, predominantly the protracted conflict and violence on the southern island of Mindanao. The 2014 Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) was well aligned with the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2011-16 that aimed at reducing poverty and improving the lives of the poorest segments of the population. The subsequent PDP 2017-22 shifted some emphasis to major infrastructure investments – where the WBG has not been particularly active – but also seeks to lift about six million citizens from poverty, achieve upper-middle income status by 2022, and to deliver a comprehensive agenda for peace and development in conflict-affected areas. The WBG program as adjusted in the 2017 PLR was therefore well aligned with significant aspects of the current PDP. The CPS set out a program that was divided in five focus areas: Transparent and Accountable Government; Empowerment of the Poor and the Vulnerable; Rapid, Inclusive and Sustained Economic Growth; Climate Change, Environment, and Disaster Risk Management; and Peace, Institution-Building, and Social and Economic Opportunity – all these areas were of high priority for the country and under the PDP.
Cabo Verde - Completion and Learning Review for the Period FY15 - FY17 : IEG Review
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This country partnership strategy
(CPS) objectives are broadly congruent with Cabo Verde’s
Third Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (GPRSP
III), covering 2012-2016, which emphasized structural
reforms to improve country competitiveness, including
improving public investment, fostering private sector
development, and Show MoreThis country partnership strategy
(CPS) objectives are broadly congruent with Cabo Verde’s
Third Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (GPRSP
III), covering 2012-2016, which emphasized structural
reforms to improve country competitiveness, including
improving public investment, fostering private sector
development, and strengthening the agriculture and fisheries
sectors’ linkages with tourism. The CPS had two pillars as
follows: (i) enhance macro-fiscal stability, setting the
foundation for renewed growth; and (ii) improve
competitiveness and private sector development. During the
CPS period, the Bank Group showed flexibility and responded
to changes in country conditions, macro fiscal developments,
and government priorities by refocusing the program and
dropping several planned interventions. The completion and
learning review (CLR) highlighted six lessons. Independent
evaluation group (IEG) adds the following lessons: (i)
effective use of the performance and learning review (PLR)
is crucial in the face of evolving country contexts and
government priorities; and (ii) a focused assessment of
likely areas attractive for private investment may be
appropriate, and the government will have to cede space
convincingly for private operators to enter key sectors.
Timor-Leste - Completion and Learning Review : IEG Review
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This review of the Timor-Leste’s Completion and Learning Review (CLR) of the World Bank Group’s (WBG) Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) covers the original CPS period (FY13-FY17), and the Performance and Learning Review (PLR) of 2016. The PLR extended the original CPS period by one year to FY18 in order to synchronize the CPS strategy with the country’s political cycle. Timor-Leste is a lower Show MoreThis review of the Timor-Leste’s Completion and Learning Review (CLR) of the World Bank Group’s (WBG) Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) covers the original CPS period (FY13-FY17), and the Performance and Learning Review (PLR) of 2016. The PLR extended the original CPS period by one year to FY18 in order to synchronize the CPS strategy with the country’s political cycle. Timor-Leste is a lower middle-income country, with an oil dependent economy. With oil reserves running low, the key challenges facing Timor-Leste are to achieve greater economic diversification and diminish reliance on public sector spending. At the beginning of the CPS period,
the political environment was stable and oil prices high. The country was affected by a significant fall in oil prices that started in 2013, and political uncertainty adversely affected economic activity in 2017 and for most of 2018, as public expenditures fell by over one third. On the whole, growth was modest compared to East-Asia Pacific region peers, reflecting both the fall in oil prices and the political uncertainty towards the end of the program period.
Burundi - Completion and Learning Review : IEG Review
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This review of the World Bank Group’s (WBG) Completion and Learning Review (CLR) covers the period of the Country Assistance Strategy (CAS), FY13-16, and updated in the Performance and Learning Review (PLR) dated February 25, 2015. The World Bank Group’s (WBG) CAS had three focus areas: (i) improving competitiveness, (ii) improving resilience by consolidating social stability, and (iii) Show MoreThis review of the World Bank Group’s (WBG) Completion and Learning Review (CLR) covers the period of the Country Assistance Strategy (CAS), FY13-16, and updated in the Performance and Learning Review (PLR) dated February 25, 2015. The World Bank Group’s (WBG) CAS had three focus areas: (i) improving competitiveness, (ii) improving resilience by consolidating social stability, and (iii) strengthening governance. The CAS was broadly aligned with the Government’s Second National Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRSP II), 2012-2015, which seeks to improve governance, growth and job creation, social services, and environmental/spatial management. Specifically, the CAS focus areas and objectives supported PRSP II objectives on quality of economic infrastructure, promotion of the private sector and job creation, strengthening the social safety net, capacity building and improved
performance in the healthcare system, and fiscal management.
Myanmar – Completion and Learning Report : IEG Review
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This review of the World Bank Group’s (WBG) Completion and Learning Review (CLR) covers the period of the Country Partnership Framework (CPF), FY15-FY17, and updated in the Performance and Learning Review (PLR) dated June 2, 2017, which extended the CPF period by two years to FY19. This CPF followed the end-2012 Interim Strategy Note (ISN) that resumed WBG operations after a hiatus of about 25 Show MoreThis review of the World Bank Group’s (WBG) Completion and Learning Review (CLR) covers the period of the Country Partnership Framework (CPF), FY15-FY17, and updated in the Performance and Learning Review (PLR) dated June 2, 2017, which extended the CPF period by two years to FY19. This CPF followed the end-2012 Interim Strategy Note (ISN) that resumed WBG operations after a hiatus of about 25 years. To support the Government’s development efforts, the WBG implemented a major expansion of its activities (a seven-fold increase in the Bank’s portfolio), possibly beyond what the country could absorb. Nevertheless, this support contributed to good progress on farming productivity; on access to electricity, telecommunications, health, education, and finance; and on the business climate. IEG agrees with the lessons drawn by the CLR. These are reformulated and summarized as follows: (i) In an environment of constrained implementation capacity, projects with diverse objectives and multiple implementing agencies may become unwieldy and lead to delays in project implementation. (ii) A results framework that excludes the program’s cross-cutting issues will impede assessment of success in addressing these issues. (iii) Use of country systems, support of key reform champions, and joint analytical work are among the factors that build trust with counterparts and stakeholders. (iv) Access to and coordination of trust fund resources will encourage effective implementation and collaboration across development partners. (v) Good and timely data is critical for evidence-based policy dialogue and timely response to country developments. (vi) A “one WBG” approach is critical to leverage WBG instruments toward specific objectives such as access to electricity. Seventh, more careful attention to indicators, including their sources, baselines, targets and time frames will facilitate program monitoring. (vii) A “disconnect’ between written implementation rules and actual practices in Myanmar, e.g., on procurement, may cause implementation delays. IEG adds the following lesson: Joint Implementation Plans (JIPs5) can improve the effectiveness of the “one WBG” approach noted by the CLR lessons. WBG CPFs normally intend collaboration across the Bank, IFC, and MIGA, but more often than not, CPFs do not spell out how such collaboration is to happen. Myanmar’s CPF JIP to improve access to electricity helped ensure that joint work would materialize. IEG rates the CPF development outcome as Moderately Satisfactory and WBG performance as Good.
Sierra Leone - Completion and Learning Report : IEG Review
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This is a validation of the Completion and Learning Review (CLR) for the World Bank Group’s
(WBG) engagement in Sierra Leone covering the Country Assistance Strategy (CAS, FY10-FY13). For
completeness and learning purposes, and while the CAS formally expired in FY13, IEG has elected to
examine the period FY14-FY19 as well as no CPF was in place to replace the CAS. Owing to data
limitations and in Show MoreThis is a validation of the Completion and Learning Review (CLR) for the World Bank Group’s
(WBG) engagement in Sierra Leone covering the Country Assistance Strategy (CAS, FY10-FY13). For
completeness and learning purposes, and while the CAS formally expired in FY13, IEG has elected to
examine the period FY14-FY19 as well as no CPF was in place to replace the CAS. Owing to data
limitations and in line with relevant provisions of the Working Arrangements between the Independent
Evaluation Group and WBG, IEG’s review does not rate the CAS’s overall development outcome or the
World Bank Group’s performance.
Russian Federation - Country partnership strategy for the period FY07-FY11 : IEG CPSCR review
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This review examines the implementation of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2007-2011 Russian Federation Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) of FY 2007 and the Country Partnership Strategy Progress Report (CPSPR) of FY 2009, and evaluates the CPSCR. The strategy was Joint between IBRD, IFC and MIGA, and this review covers the program of IBRD and IFC institutions. MIGA had no project with Russian companies Show MoreThis review examines the implementation of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2007-2011 Russian Federation Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) of FY 2007 and the Country Partnership Strategy Progress Report (CPSPR) of FY 2009, and evaluates the CPSCR. The strategy was Joint between IBRD, IFC and MIGA, and this review covers the program of IBRD and IFC institutions. MIGA had no project with Russian companies during the CPS period.
The World Bank Group (WBG) strategy sought to address key aspects of Russia's own strategy, focusing on those challenges where it felt could provide solutions complementing those of the country. IEG rates overall outcomes of the WBG´s strategy as moderately satisfactory.
Jordan - Country assistance strategy completion report review for the period FY2006-11 : IEG review
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This review examines the implementation of the Country Assistance Strategy (CAS) that was issued on April 6, 2006, and was meant to cover the period from July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2010. A CAS Progress Report (CASPR) was prepared in 2009. The strategy was joint between IBRD and IFC, and this review covers the joint program of the two agencies.
Outcomes with respect to specific objectives and Show MoreThis review examines the implementation of the Country Assistance Strategy (CAS) that was issued on April 6, 2006, and was meant to cover the period from July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2010. A CAS Progress Report (CASPR) was prepared in 2009. The strategy was joint between IBRD and IFC, and this review covers the joint program of the two agencies.
Outcomes with respect to specific objectives and targets of the World Bank Group (WBG) assistance were mixed, and IEG rates the overall outcome of the WBG's assistance program as moderately satisfactory. The WBG made positive contributions on the public private partnership program, the adoption of oil subsidy reform, the improvements in the market structure of energy, the performance based block grant system to municipalities, the social protection system, and the introduction of a medium-term expenditure framework. Outcomes, however, were not as strong in export competitiveness, employment creation, the business enabling environment, the sustainable use of local endowments and assets, the small-scale entrepreneurial initiatives, the targeting of social assistance, and, especially, the public administration reform. The area of PPPs seems to be one where synergies between IBRD and IFC led to better outcomes.