This evaluation report was prepared by a team from the Independent Evaluation Group led by Daniel Nogueira-Budny (public sector specialist) and Ann Elizabeth Flanagan (senior economist). The team included Agathe Christien, April Connelly, Elizabeth Dodds, Emily Harwit, Daniel Palazov, and Kevin Russell. Methodological guidance was provided by Estelle Raimondo. Harsh Anuj provided data collection and analysis support to the team, and Carla Coles and Nadia Malalaharisoa provided administrative support.

The report was conducted under the guidance and supervision of Jeffrey Allen Chelsky (manager) and Oscar Calvo-Gonzalez (director), under the overall direction of Alison Evans (Director-General, Evaluation).

Peer reviewers for this evaluation are Professor Chris Barrett (Stephen B. and Janice G. Ashley Professor of Applied Economics and Management and International Professor of Agriculture, Cornell University), Mr. Abdelkerim Bendjebbour (former resident representative, Madagascar, African Development Bank), Mr. Lars Engstrom (senior economist, International Monetary Fund), and Dr. Ketakandriana Rafitoson (executive director, Transparency International—Initiative Madagascar).

The Independent Evaluation Group is grateful to government officials and consultants, development partners, and other stakeholders who provided valuable insights into the World Bank Group’s program in Madagascar. We are thankful to Bank Group management and country team members who willingly provided documents and information and participated in various meetings.