An Evaluation of World Bank and International Finance Corporation Engagement of Gender Equality over the Past 10 Years

© 2024 International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank1818 H Street NWWashington, DC 20433Telephone: 202-473-1000Internet: www.worldbank.org ATTRIBUTIONPlease cite the report as: World Bank. 2024.An Evaluation of World Bank and International Finance Corporation Engagement for Gender Equality over the Past 10 Years. IndependentEvaluation Group. Washington, DC: World Bank. COVER ARTWORKFred Kato Mutebi,One Man One Woman, 2005 Born in Uganda in 1967, Fred Kato Mutebi is a master in multicolor progressive reductionmethod of woodcut printmaking.“Growing up into youthfulness at a time of HIV/AIDS, jealousy, and envy, I witnessed the variousmoods of the adults who then decided to engage in marital affairs. Some were my uncles,aunties, elder brothers, and sisters. Those who chose to engage in polygamy and infidelitynever experienced happiness, and many of them succumbed to HIV/AIDS. Conversely, thosewho chose to remain loyal to each other (one man, one woman) experienced happiness, andmany are old couples now. Only loyalty will create peace, love, and calmness in the family.” EDITING AND PRODUCTIONAmanda O’Brien GRAPHIC DESIGNRafaela Sarinho This work is a product of the staff of The World Bank with external contributions. The findings,interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this work do not necessarily reflect the views ofThe World Bank, its Board of Executive Directors, or the governments they represent.The World Bank does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this work. The bound-aries, colors, denominations, and other information shown on any map in this work do not implyany judgment on the part of The World Bank concerning the legal status of any territory or theendorsement or acceptance of such boundaries. RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONSThe material in this work is subject to copyright. Because The World Bank encourages dissem- ination of its knowledge, this work may be reproduced, in whole or in part, for noncommercialpurposes as long as full attribution to this work is given. Any queries on rights and licenses, including subsidiary rights, should be addressed to WorldBank Publications, The World Bank Group, 1818 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20433, USA; fax:202-522-2625; e-mail: pubrights@worldbank.org. An Evaluationof World Bankand InternationalFinance CorporationEngagement forGender Equality overthe Past 10 Years October 29, 2024 ContentsContents Abbreviationsv Acknowledgmentsvi Overviewviii Management Responsexxii Report to the Board from the Committee on Development Effectivenessxxvii 1.Introduction���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������1 Purpose1Methodology2Limitations of the Evaluation9 2.Engagement for Gender Equality���������������������������������������������������������������������������12Evolution of the World Bank Group Engagement for Gender Equality14Toward a Country-Driven Approach35Critical Role for Knowledge48 Limitations of Monitoring and Evaluation Systems59Focus on Project Design More Than Implementation67Implementing the Theory of Change of theWorld Development Report 201270Addressing Constraints, Opportunities, and Aspirations79Achieving Owned, Sustainable, and Large-Scale Gender Outcomes84 4.Conclusions and Recommendations���������������������������������������������������������������������91Enhancing Country Engagement for Gender Equality92Focusing on Gender Outcomes94Realigning Incentives, Resources, and Accountability97Recommendations98 References�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������105 Figures Figure 1.1. World Bank Theory of Action to Achieve Gender Equality4Figure 1.2. Conceptual Framework for the Evaluation5Figure 2.1.Distribution of the Gender-Relevant Score, Fiscal Years 2012–2317Figure 2.2.Share of Gender-Relevant Projects Based on Alternative IndexCutoff Values and the Gender Tag and the Gender Flag19Figure 2.3.Share of Gender-Relevant Projects, Practice Groups, and Industries21Figure 2.4.Types of Gender Inequality Addressed by Projects beforeand after the Fiscal Year 2016–23 Gender Strategy24Figure 2.5.Gender-Relevant Projects for the International DevelopmentAssociation and the International Bank for Reconstruction andDevelopment, Fiscal Years 2012–2326Figure 2.6.Gender-Transformative Elements in World Bank and InternationalFinance Corporation Gender Stand-Alone Projects32Figure 2.7.Country Partnership Frameworks That Address Specific Typesof Gender Inequality as Prominent and Secondary Priorities37Figure 2.8.Association between Country Partnership Frameworks’ GenderPriorities and Country Gender Statistics38Figure 2.9.Prevalence of Gender-Relevant Development Policy Operationsand Type of Gender Actions41Figure 2.10.Corporate Factors Affecting World Bank Group Engagementfor Gender Equality48Figure 3.1.Type of Indicators Associated with Gender Actions in Gender-RelevantDev