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Informing Policy and Decisions

Evaluation Lessons

In FY22, IEG submitted 13 thematic and corporate evaluations, 2 Country Program Evaluations, 1 synthesis report, the Validation of Management Progress on IEG Evaluation Recommendations, and the 2021 Results and Performance of the World Bank Group (RAP) to the Committee on Development Effectiveness.


Throughout FY22, IEG evaluations covered a range of themes that are critical to development. Read about a sample of them, and how they use data to draw lessons that inform positive change.

Transitioning to a Circular Economy: An Evaluation of the World Bank Group’s Support for Municipal Solid Waste Management (2010–20)

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Credit: Farhana Asnap / World Bank.

Municipal solid waste is a global challenge with public health, environmental, social, and economic costs. In a circular economy, the loop between extraction, manufacturing, and disposal is closed, and reducing, reusing, and recycling are encouraged. In Transitioning to a Circular Economy: An Evaluation of the World Bank Group’s Support for Municipal Solid Waste Management (2010-20), IEG assesses the cohesion of the Bank Group’s response across the World Bank, IFC, and MIGA, and the effectiveness of engagements to improvement municipal solid waste management.

To learn more, check out the blog, Towards a Circular Economy: Addressing the Waste Management Threat,” and read the report.

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World Bank Engagement in Situations of Conflict

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Credit: Masaru Goto / World Bank.

Conflict affects international development in complex ways, and the World Bank’s ability to reach the twin goals increasingly relies on engaging effectively in conflict-affected situations. World Bank Engagement in Situations of Conflict analyzes four aspects of engagement to draw lessons on how the World Bank works differently in situations of conflict.

To learn more, read the report.

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World Bank Support to Reducing Child Undernutrition

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Credit: Curt Carnemark / World Bank.

The negative effects of undernutrition to health, physical growth, and cognitive development in children continue into adulthood. The potential for learning and subsequent contributions to society become stymied, affecting human capital accumulation in countries. World Bank Support to Reducing Child Undernutrition uses evidence at the global, country, and portfolio levels to assess the World Bank’s contribution to improving outcomes related to child undernutrition and seeks to inform the design of nutrition support in the future.

To learn more, read the blog, How Does Nutritional Behavior Change Happen? A Tool to Help You Apply the Lessons,” and read the report.

Enhancing the Effectiveness of the World Bank’s Global Footprint

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Credit: Simone D. McCourtie.

The World Bank Group is in the process of expanding its global footprint, particularly in lower-income countries and those affected by fragility, conflict, and violence, by moving staff with operational and decision-making roles to the field. Enhancing the Effectiveness of the World Bank’s Global Footprint assesses the effectiveness of the World Bank’s previous efforts at decentralization to inform this new expansion. The report explores the benefits and challenges to staff and recommends ways to improve the process and outcomes.

To learn more, read the report.

An Evaluation of International Finance Corporation Investments in K–12 Private Schools

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Source: Shutterstock / Super star.

After the freezing of IFC’s direct investments and advisory services support to private for-profit K–12 schools in March 2021, IEG was asked to evaluate IFC’s contributions to private education provision, including impacts on educational outcomes, poverty, and inequality. An Evaluation of International Finance Corporation Investments in K–12 Private Schools analyzes the complexities of the financial viability of these investments and the constraints on their impact on access to quality education for underserved groups.

To learn more, read the blog, Six Lessons for Aligning Investments in K–12 Private Schools with the Goal of Quality Education for All,” and read the report.

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Reducing Disaster Risks from Natural Hazards

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Source: Shutterstock / AB-DESIGN.

Climate change is increasing the number of disasters related to natural hazards such as floods, earthquakes, and tsunamis, which cause billions of dollars in damage every year. Disadvantaged and vulnerable populations face the greatest risks. Reducing Disaster Risks from Natural Hazards: An Evaluation of the World Bank’s Support FY10-20 focuses on lessons from the World Bank’s support for reducing risks from such disasters.

To learn more, read the blog, Building the Evidence for More Effective Disaster Risk Reduction,” and read the report.

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Results and Performance

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Credit: Shutterstock / A_Lesik.

The Results and Performance of the World Bank Group 2021, IEG’s annual review of the Bank Group’s performance, analyzed the achievement of project and program objectives through validated ratings. A novel analysis of repetition and innovation in projects also allowed IEG to note when teams took informed risks and to determine the effect of this behavior on outcome ratings. Finally, the 2021 RAP examines the World Bank’s selection of indicators and targets to understand how this affects ratings and performance.

To learn more, check out the blog, Outcome Ratings Increase Across Entire World Bank Group,” and read the report.

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