The Development Potential of Regional Programs : An Evaluation of World Bank Support of Multicountry Operations

Independent Evaluation Group

Washington, DC:World Bank

关键词: ACCOUNTABILITY;    ADB;    BORDER CROSSINGS;    CAPACITY BUILDING;    CAS;   

DOI  :  10.1596/978-0-8213-6904-3
RP-ID  :  39991

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: World Bank Open Knowledge Repository

【 摘 要 】

This evaluation examines the trackrecord of the regional development programs that the WorldBank has supported over the past 10 years. While these arerelatively few in number, together they offer valuablelessons for how such programs can be designed andimplemented to deliver good outcomes. This evaluation, whichassesses World Bank support for regional developmentprograms over fiscal years 1995-2005, finds that a majorityof the programs evaluated have been or appear likely to beeffective in achieving most of their development objectives.Even stronger results could be achieved if support forregional programs were better developed as an internationalaid practice. These findings are based on evaluations of 19regional programs and a review of the Bank's totalportfolio of some 100 regional operations. The IEG reportassessed the World Bank's support for regionaldevelopment programs active between fiscal years 1995 and2005. These accounted for less than 1 percent of total Bankfinancing during this period. Three key findings are: (i)regional programs can deliver strong results; (ii) successand sustainability depend on strong ownership of allparticipating countries; and (iii) the Bank has beenparticularly effective in fostering country interest inregional programs through analytical work and resourcemobilization, and less effective in helping countries dealwith their conflicting interests and plan for sustainableactivities. The evaluation identified five design featuresthat have proven critical to the success of regionalprograms: strong country commitment, scope of objectivesmatched to national and regional capacities, cleardelineation and coordination of the roles of national andregional institutions, accountable governance arrangements,and planning for sustainability. The evaluation concludedthat the Bank has an opportunity to adopt a potentiallybigger role, building on examples of successful experience.To do so, the evaluation recommended that the Bank: (i)establish regional program strategies and integrate theminto Country Assistance Strategies (CASs); (ii) work withpartners to put together grant and loan financing packagesfor individual regional programs; (iii) give more attentionto improving the impact of Bank support for regionalpartnerships; and (iv) strengthen corporate incentives andcapacities to provide effective regional program support.