Relevance of the World Bank in Knowledge-Based Partnerships

Abstract

Assesses whether the World Bank Group (WBG) remains relevant in countries with knowledge-based WBG country programs, and how it remains positioned in countries making relatively little use of its financial services. In a majority of WBG knowledge services and International Finance Corporation (IFC) Advisory Services reviewed, the issues addressed remain relevant to the client, while the activity design appropriately meets their objectives, but in more than a quarter of them, client issues remain at least partially unaddressed. Key WBG strengths include (1) the ability to benchmark against good practice, (2) reputation and credibility, (3) the ability to customize to local context, and (4) capacity to deliver multisector development solutions. Examples exist where the Bank’s knowledge services facilitate South-South exchanges, but WBG’s geographic, thematic, and organizational fragmentation prevents realizing this full potential. The Bank’s positioning as a strategic partner and policy advisor with respect to other knowledge providers does remain generally favorable.

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