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Report/Evaluation Type:Country Focused ValidationsProject Level Evaluations (PPARs)
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Brazil : Sustainable Production in Areas Previously Converted to Agricultural Use Project

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This is a Project Performance Assessment Report by the Independent Evaluation Group of the World Bank Group on the Sustainable Production in Areas Previously Converted to Agricultural Use (P143184) project in Brazil. Focusing on the Cerrado biome—a savanna-forest mosaic located in central Brazil—the project was intended to Show MoreThis is a Project Performance Assessment Report by the Independent Evaluation Group of the World Bank Group on the Sustainable Production in Areas Previously Converted to Agricultural Use (P143184) project in Brazil. Focusing on the Cerrado biome—a savanna-forest mosaic located in central Brazil—the project was intended to shed light on the best way to provide private landholders on midsize farms with the knowledge and skills needed to adopt low-carbon technologies. The project, which was designed to include 9 of the 11 Cerrado states, was an adjunct to Brazil’s Low-Carbon Emissions Agriculture (Agricultura de Baixa Emissão de Carbono; ABC) Plan, which supported technology transfer investments of $6.7 billion between 2010 and 2020, making it one of the largest climate-smart agriculture programs in the world. The project sponsored a randomized control trial to measure the effectiveness of training plus technical assistance in promoting technology adoption compared with training alone and with a control group of farmers who received no training or technical assistance. At appraisal, the project development objective was to promote the adoption of selected sustainable low-carbon-emitting agricultural technologies by midsize producers in the Cerrado region. The objective was not altered during implementation. Ratings for this project are as follows: Outcome was satisfactory, Bank performance was moderately satisfactory, and Quality of monitoring and evaluation was substantial. This assessment offers the following five lessons: (i) Agencies signed up to deliver training and technical assistance to an extensive area, such as an agricultural region, need to have a strong decentralized presence and well-established outreach to producers to deliver good results. (ii) Once they have been persuaded of the profitability of adopting improved farming practices, farmers with adequate means are likely to be willing to pay for technical assistance. (iii) Impact evaluations that rely on randomized control trials can produce compelling findings about the constraints to adopting new farming technologies; however, it is challenging to accommodate the needs of control-group farmers who are among beneficiary farmers but denied project benefits. The design of these impact evaluations may actually reduce a project’s total impact. (iv) The gains from a one-off evaluation of impact are likely less substantial than the rewards from building a systematic and well-integrated system of monitoring that remains in place for the long term. (v) This assessment confirms an age-old lesson: technology transfer depends on effective collaboration between research and extension agencies.

Albania : Competitiveness Development Policy Lending Project

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The Albania Competitiveness Development Policy Loan (DPL) was financed by an International Bank for Reconstruction and Development loan in the amount of $77.72 million and approved by the World Bank Group Board of Executive Directors on January 31, 2017. The DPL was designed as a stand-alone operation. The objective of the Show MoreThe Albania Competitiveness Development Policy Loan (DPL) was financed by an International Bank for Reconstruction and Development loan in the amount of $77.72 million and approved by the World Bank Group Board of Executive Directors on January 31, 2017. The DPL was designed as a stand-alone operation. The objective of the DPL was “to enhance Albania’s competitiveness by improving the investment regime, making it easier to do business, and facilitating trade. Ratings for the Competitiveness Development Policy Lending Project are as follows: Outcome was moderately unsatisfactory, Risk to development outcome was substantial, Bank performance was moderately unsatisfactory, and Borrower performance was moderately unsatisfactory. This assessment offers the following lessons: (i) It is crucial for prior actions to address the key binding constraints to achieving the stated objective of a DPL. (ii) Prior actions of this operation did not have a sufficient level of ambition to make a significant contribution to enhancing competitiveness. (iii) At implementation, it is crucial for IFC to determine warning signals regarding inadequate client commitment and show flexibility and patience only to those clients that show proof of trust, ownership, and commitment. (iv) For progress in the uptake of the local clearance procedure or the approved economic operator programs by businesses, it is crucial to have in place (i) a clear communication and outreach strategy, (ii) a systematic approach to educating businesses and customs about the benefits of these programs, (iii) strong engagement of customs and other border agencies with the private sector, and (iv) a culture of trust between customs and the business community. (v) Doing Business (DB) indicators as targets and metrics of reforms do not work very well, even if they are valid ways to point to a problem area. (vi) Clear assignment of responsibility for collection of particular data needs to be assigned at the outset.

Côte d’Ivoire : Agriculture Sector Support Project

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The Agriculture Sector Support Project (PSAC) in Côte d’Ivoire was conceived in 2010–12 to support government reforms to achieve a more competitive, sustainable, and private sector–led cash crop sector and to ensure sustained increases in producers’ incomes. The PSAC focused on Côte d’Ivoire’s five key export commodities: Show MoreThe Agriculture Sector Support Project (PSAC) in Côte d’Ivoire was conceived in 2010–12 to support government reforms to achieve a more competitive, sustainable, and private sector–led cash crop sector and to ensure sustained increases in producers’ incomes. The PSAC focused on Côte d’Ivoire’s five key export commodities: cocoa, rubber, oil palm, cotton, and cashew nuts. It supported value chain development for these commodities through three strategic pathways: (i) improving production technologies and smallholder farmer access to them, (ii) improving smallholder farmer access to markets, and (iii) enhancing value chain governance. An integrated package of productivity, marketing, and institutional interventions was implemented for each commodity as a pilot in its most important or representative production region. Ratings for this project are as follows: Outcome was moderately satisfactory, Bank performance was moderately satisfactory, and Quality of monitoring and evaluation was modest. This assessment offers the following lessons: (i) Project relevance and efficacy are enhanced by aligning projects with national strategies, building on existing institutional mechanisms and stakeholder consensus and supporting ongoing activities. (ii) Project efficiency and sustainability are enhanced by ensuring continuity in coordination and management staffing from design to implementation to postproject internalization. (iii) Projects with short time frames need to set realistic goals on institutional development and governance improvement, while adapting to institutional and political risks, to be effective. (iv) Effective institutional development requires elaborate methodologies and monitoring frameworks, instead of merely end goals and flexible ad hoc approaches. (v) Reinforcing the role of IPOs and producer cooperatives in agricultural value chains requires buy-in from both the state and the private sector on a well-defined and well-balanced demarcation of roles and powers, and a solid and loyal base of professionalized cooperatives ensuring true representativity. (vi) A diverse set of productivity enhancement interventions can support overcoming challenges of rural poverty, lack of competitiveness, demographic pressure, and land scarcity. (vii) Sustainability of project achievements can be compromised if contingencies among development pathways are not recognized or if they are not capitalized on by the government. (viii) Co-financing provides critical leverage and ownership; however, sustained effects require co-management and arrangements for postproject continuation.

Peru - Completion and Learning Review for the Country Partnership Framework for the Period FY17-FY21 : 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), FY17-FY21. The CPF addressed the major development constraints of low productivity and regional inequalities identified in the systematic country diagnostic through three pillars and Show MoreThis review of the World Bank Group’s (WBG) Completion and Learning Review (CLR) covers the period of the Country Partnership Framework (CPF), FY17-FY21. The CPF addressed the major development constraints of low productivity and regional inequalities identified in the systematic country diagnostic through three pillars and eight objectives. The pillars were productivity for growth, services for citizens across the territory, and natural resources and climate change for risk management. These were consistent with the job’s formalization and economic growth, opportunities, and social investment, and bringing the state closer to the citizen components of Peru’s national plan.

Rwanda : Transformation of Agriculture Sector Program Phase 3 Program-for-Results

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Ratings for the Transformation of Agriculture Sector Program Phase 3 Program-for-Results are as follows: Outcome was moderately satisfactory, Bank performance was moderately satisfactory, and Quality of monitoring and evaluation was modest. This assessment offers the following lessons: (i) PforRs should start with relatively Show MoreRatings for the Transformation of Agriculture Sector Program Phase 3 Program-for-Results are as follows: Outcome was moderately satisfactory, Bank performance was moderately satisfactory, and Quality of monitoring and evaluation was modest. This assessment offers the following lessons: (i) PforRs should start with relatively mature and ready-to-implement activities, in this case including soil erosion control and enhanced technological innovation, which led to early results in land husbandry and increased agricultural productivity. (ii) Incentivizing institutional reforms is an added value of the PforR instrument that needs to be internalized by all stakeholders across sectors and at both national and subnational levels. (iii) Any gaps in capacity and eligibility to request and execute budgets need to be addressed first to ensure the effective functioning of the fund disbursement mechanism—based on DLI achievements—from the central treasury to the line ministry and affiliated institutions.

Moldova - Completion and Learning Review of the Country Partnership Framework for FY18-FY22 : 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) FY18-21, including its update in the Performance and Learning Review (PLR) dated April 22, 2021, which extended the CPF period by one year to FY22. The main purpose of the 2018 CPF was to Show MoreThis review of the World Bank Group’s (WBG) Completion and Learning Review (CLR) covers the period of the Country Partnership Framework (CPF) FY18-21, including its update in the Performance and Learning Review (PLR) dated April 22, 2021, which extended the CPF period by one year to FY22. The main purpose of the 2018 CPF was to support Moldova’s transition towards a new, more sustainable, and inclusive development and growth model. This purpose was appropriate and fully in line with the previous SCD analysis. The CPF program underpinned this overall objective, with additional pandemic-related considerations at PLR stage. The CPF program was consistent with the government’s stated priorities and the analysis of the SCD, and reflected lessons learned from the previous country program. During much of the CPF period Moldova suffered from an unstable political environment with shifting government priorities that affected negatively policy development and decision-making, which in turn affected WBG program implementation.

Bhutan - Fiscal Sustainability and Investment Climate Development Policy Credit Series

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This Project Performance Assessment Report (PPAR) evaluates a development policy credit (DPC) series for Bhutan consisting of the First and Second Fiscal Sustainability and Investment Climate Development Policy Credits. The program development objective was to promote fiscal discipline, improve access to finance for Show MoreThis Project Performance Assessment Report (PPAR) evaluates a development policy credit (DPC) series for Bhutan consisting of the First and Second Fiscal Sustainability and Investment Climate Development Policy Credits. The program development objective was to promote fiscal discipline, improve access to finance for enterprises,1 and improve the climate for business entry and investment in Bhutan. Ratings are as follows: Outcome was moderately unsatisfactory, and Bank performance was moderately unsatisfactory. The experience with this DPC series suggests several lessons for Bhutan that may also be relevant to countries in similar situations: (i) DPCs should be more selective, focusing on fewer and better-sequenced reforms. Selectivity filters should include reforms that address critical constraints to economic growth and stability, those that have government and parliamentary support, and those for which complementary implementation support—including to address concerns of Parliament—is available. (ii) DPCs in Bhutan should have more thorough assessments of technical capacity and implementation risks and pay more attention to risk mitigation. (iii) Greater attention is needed to foster coordination across ministries and agencies. For this purpose, investment project financing with results-based (disbursement-linked) indicators or Programs-for-Results may be more efficacious instruments to support the achievement of objectives. (iv) DPCs in Bhutan that aim to address economic growth should be informed by a more rigorous assessment of major constraints to private sector development. (v) Bank Group management should consider what steps are feasible when legislation supported by development policy financing prior actions is not enacted.

Cote d’Ivoire - Completion and Learning Review of the Country Partnership Framework FY16 - FY21 : IEG Review

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Gabon - Country Partnership Framework 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 Partnership Framework (CPF) FY18-21, including its update in the Performance and Learning Review (PLR) dated April 22, 2021, which extended the CPF period by one year to FY22. The main purpose of the 2018 CPF was to Show MoreThis review of the World Bank Group’s (WBG) Completion and Learning Review (CLR) covers the period of the Country Partnership Framework (CPF) FY18-21, including its update in the Performance and Learning Review (PLR) dated April 22, 2021, which extended the CPF period by one year to FY22. The main purpose of the 2018 CPF was to support Moldova’s transition towards a new, more sustainable, and inclusive development and growth model. This purpose was appropriate and fully in line with the previous SCD analysis. The CPF program underpinned this overall objective, with additional pandemic-related considerations at PLR stage. The CPF program was consistent with the government’s stated priorities and the analysis of the SCD, and reflected lessons learned from the previous country program. During much of the CPF period Moldova suffered from an unstable political environment with shifting government priorities that affected negatively policy development and decision-making, which in turn affected WBG program implementation.

Uruguay - Completion and Learning Review of the Country Partnership Framework for FY16-FY20 : 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) FY18-21, including its update in the Performance and Learning Review (PLR) dated April 22, 2021, which extended the CPF period by one year to FY22. The main purpose of the 2018 CPF was to Show MoreThis review of the World Bank Group’s (WBG) Completion and Learning Review (CLR) covers the period of the Country Partnership Framework (CPF) FY18-21, including its update in the Performance and Learning Review (PLR) dated April 22, 2021, which extended the CPF period by one year to FY22. The main purpose of the 2018 CPF was to support Moldova’s transition towards a new, more sustainable, and inclusive development and growth model. This purpose was appropriate and fully in line with the previous SCD analysis. The CPF program underpinned this overall objective, with additional pandemic-related considerations at PLR stage. The CPF program was consistent with the government’s stated priorities and the analysis of the SCD, and reflected lessons learned from the previous country program. During much of the CPF period Moldova suffered from an unstable political environment with shifting government priorities that affected negatively policy development and decision-making, which in turn affected WBG program implementation.