The Independent Evaluation Group (IEG) review, commissioned and commenced late in 2021 by the World Bank Group’s (WBG) Board of Executive Directors (Board), was concluded in October 2022 with a presentation to the Board’s Committee on Development Effectiveness (CODE).
Florence Etta, GIC Ltd’s CEO, and Principal Consultant was one of three independent experts along with Jorg Frieden and Ravi Kanbur that conducted the IEG review. Its purpose was to assess the progress since the last review in 2015, IEG’s effectiveness during the pandemic, and provide recommendations for IEG, the Board, and the WBG on how to increase the impact of evaluations, and, in particular learning from them.
This third external comprehensive review of the Independent Evaluation Group follows the 2nd (2015), and the first which took place in 2004. This review assessed the implementation of the 2015 recommendations and, in line with its forward-looking mandate, focused on how ‘IEG can further enhance its value for the WBG and adapt to changing priorities. It also examined the utility of IEG’s work, role, and impact within the WBG evaluation and knowledge system’.
This review makes major recommendations geared towards improving the relevance of the WBG evaluation system by strengthening IEG relationships with WBG management and CODE. The review exercise itself was a learning opportunity for many of those who were closely involoved with it.
Recommendations and actionable measures suggested by the review are said to build on the gains of the last few years and set IEG on course to greater effectiveness for the WBG and to maintain its pole position as a leader in the global evaluation of development.
The 161-page full report can be found here