Using Knowledge to Improve Development Effectiveness : An Evaluation of World Bank Economic and Sector Work and Technical Assistance, 2000-2006

In 1996, the World Bank committed itself to becoming a 'global knowledge bank,' using knowledge to improve the development effectiveness of its work. In fiscal 2008, the Bank reiterated its focus on knowledge and learning, naming it as one of its six strategic directions. This evaluation focuses on two of the analytical and advisory activities through which the Bank provides knowledge to its client countries: economic and sector work (ESW) and nonlending technical assistance (TA). This evaluation found that the majority of ESW and TA met their objectives at least to an average extent during fiscal 2000-06, although there were substantial differences across countries and tasks. ESW and TA of higher technical quality were clearly more effective in meeting their objectives. Close collaboration with clients during the process mattered for effectiveness, whether clients actually produced part of the task or not. Sustained follow-up after the completion of the tasks was important for effectiveness. Whether clients requested the tasks did not matter for effectiveness, although all tasks needed to be tailored to client needs and interests to be effective. ESW and TA were less effective in countries where government capacity was lower. Clients in middle-income countries prefer nonlending to lending services, and clients in all countries prefer TA over ESW.