IEG: Annual Review of Development Effectiveness Part 1 Review

Some interesting things from Part I of the IEG Report:

>New data standards and an associated website should be coming soon in order to help ensure that data associated with development is measured the same way in all countries. The Bank is a co chair on the PARIS 21 (Partnership in Statistics for Development in the 21st Century) and the Development Assistance Committee of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development is the agency releasing a web-based tool for standardization of measurements.

>A large portion of this report deals with the gathering of base-line data for both development measures and environmental impacts. In Agriculture, Europe and Central Asia had base-line data for 71% of their projects, East Asia and the Pacific had 80% and the Middle East and North Africa had 50%. If there weren’t base-lines established before development, they are establishing them now with new projects. This is good news for those trying to examine trends in data.

>Finished projects are usually rated lower than projects at midpoint. This is likely because (according to the report) bad information is revealed toward the end of projects.

>IEG Report suggest continued resources be put into monitoring and evaluation of projects to ensure their success.

>There has been a decline in cost-benefit analysis/economic rate of return reporting for projects that are in the feasibility study stage and are later approved. Some areas (like the CIS) tend to have these studies done more than other areas and that’s likely because there other agencies and investors involved. Especially with energy and water infrastructure, most companies are going to run the financial analysis before committing to work with The Bank.

Full Report Here