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The Matrix System at Work - Independent Evaluation Group - World ...

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APPENDIX C<br />

RESPONSIVENESS AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE BANK’S COUNTRY PROGRAMS<br />

driven by emerging demands by the client, and in Madagascar (FY04-08), where the<br />

government showed strong backing of reforms to support the priv<strong>at</strong>e sector and a<br />

willingness to adopt new approaches suggested by the Bank.<br />

12. For the other 61 programs, country ownership was r<strong>at</strong>ed as less than s<strong>at</strong>isfactory.<br />

In an overwhelming majority of cases, government commitment to the Bank’s<br />

reform agenda embedded in its program appeared weak from the outset. For<br />

example, in Cameroon (FY04-08), political economy factors held the program back.<br />

<strong>The</strong> Bank was seen as imposing its own agenda, and while there were consult<strong>at</strong>ions,<br />

the Bank could have worked to cultiv<strong>at</strong>e ownership. In Bangladesh (FY01-04),<br />

several areas of reform did not have government support, particularly the<br />

governance reform agenda, but th<strong>at</strong> support may have been <strong>at</strong>tainable with more<br />

consistent policy dialogue.<br />

Figure C.1. Most Programs Had Weak Government Ownership from the Outset<br />

13. In a few cases, government support weakened or government priorities changed<br />

during the period. This was the case in Mauritania (FY03-07), where government<br />

interest in reform waned rapidly after the country reached the completion point<br />

under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initi<strong>at</strong>ive. In the remaining CASs, the<br />

key problem was th<strong>at</strong> the Bank’s consult<strong>at</strong>ion with stakeholders was insufficient to<br />

ensure broad-based support. For instance, in Brazil (FY 04-07) the CAS prepar<strong>at</strong>ion<br />

was highly particip<strong>at</strong>ory, but some components of the program—particularly<br />

lending to municipalities, which ultim<strong>at</strong>ely led to conflict with the Ministry of<br />

Finance—was not sufficiently discussed with all the relevant players. And in El<br />

Salvador (FY05-09), the program should have reached beyond the executive branch<br />

in order to mitig<strong>at</strong>e political gridlock.<br />

Realism<br />

14. Realism was also r<strong>at</strong>ed low. Only about a third of country programs—31 of the<br />

96 th<strong>at</strong> were r<strong>at</strong>ed—demonstr<strong>at</strong>ed moder<strong>at</strong>ely s<strong>at</strong>isfactory or s<strong>at</strong>isfactory realism in<br />

127

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