Learning in World Bank Lending

Learning in WorldBank Lending An Independent Evaluation © 2025 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. 2025. Learning in World Bank Lending. IndependentEvaluation Group. World Bank. COVER PHOTO“Avenue of Indian Rubber Trees at Peradeniya, Ceylon” by Marianne North. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. CC BY-NC. EDITING AND PRODUCTIONAmanda O’Brien GRAPHIC DESIGNVonda Witley 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. Learning inWorld Bank Lending An Independent Evaluation March 24, 2025 Contents 1.Background and Context����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������1Approach and Scope4Conceptual Framework and Definitions5Methods8Report Structure and Overarching Finding92.Knowledge and Learning in the Linear Model����������������������������������������������������10Project Preparation12Project Appraisal and Approval17Project Implementation22Completion and Lesson Learning293.The World Bank’s Ecosystems for Knowledge and Learning����������������������������32Resources34Clients and Partner Contributions35Opportunities and Capacities394.Conclusions and Recommendations������������������������������������������������������������������53Areas for Management Attention54Recommendations58Bibliography���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������64AbbreviationsvAcknowledgmentsviOverviewviiManagement Responsexiii Boxes Box 1.1.Key Definitions for Learning in Lending6Box 3.1.Knowledge Reorganization of the Health, Nutrition, andPopulation Global Practice40Box 3.2.Business Units with Systematic Approaches to Link Producersand Users of Knowledge50Box 4.1.Examples of Lending Processes Where World Bank ManagementCould Infuse Learning Opportunities59 Figures Figure 1.1.Regional Results of the Two-Minute Client Survey2Figure 1.2.The Linear Model: Knowledge Entry Points in the ProjectLife Cycle5Figure 1.3.Methods9Figure 2.1.Timing of Peer Reviewers’ Advice Before Project ConceptReview Meetings19Figure 2.2.Operations with a Quality Enhancement Review byLending Instrument Type and Lead Global Practice20Figure 2.3.Share of Peer Review Advice from the Peer Reviewer Database21Figure 2.4.Task Team Leader Turnover Rates25Figure 2.5.Reviewed Multiphase Programmatic Approach LearningAgendas That Met Select Quality Criteria28Figure 3.1.Ecosystem for Learning in Lending33Figure 3.2.Processes That Knowledge and Learning Professionals Support48 Tables Table 2.1.Overview of World Bank Financing Instruments11Table 2.2.Examples of Instrumental, Strategic, and Conceptual Knowledgeby Lending Instrument13Table 2.3.Distribution of All Project and Program References by Authorship14Table 2.4.Core and Extended Core Advisory Services and AnalyticsReferenced in Project Appraisal Documents16Table 2.5.Purposes of Knowledge in Multiphase ProgrammaticApproach Programs27 Table 3.1.Functional Comparison43Table 3.2.Approaches to Country, Sector, and Operational Knowledge45Table 4.1.Knowledge and Learning Shortcomings Identified bythe Evaluation56 Appendixes Appendix A. Methods70Appendix B. Past Independent Evaluation Group Evaluations and Research87Appendix C. Deep Dive into Multiphase Programmatic Approach97Appendix D. Analysis of References in Project Design Documents100Appendix E. Analysis of Two-Minute Client Satisfaction Survey Data110Appendix F. Analysis of Project Task Team Leader Turnover120Appendix G. Analysis of Project Peer Reviewers134 Abbreviations ASAadvisory services and analyticsDLIdisbursement-linked indicatorDPFdevelopmentpolicy financingGPGlobal PracticeICRImplementation Completion and Results ReportIEGIndependent Evaluation GroupIPFinvestment project financingMPAMultiphase Programmatic App