1. The Bank’s1 objective is to assist its borrowing member countries, individually and collectively, to reduce poverty and achieve sustainable growth.2 To assess the extent to which its efforts and those of borrowers are making progress toward that objective, the Bank monitors and evaluates its operational activities.3
2. Monitoring and evaluation provides information to verify progress toward and achievement of results,4 supports learning from experience, and promotes accountability for results. The Bank relies on a combination of monitoring and self-evaluation and independent evaluation. Staff take into account the findings of relevant monitoring and evaluation reports in designing the Bank’s operational activities.
Monitoring and Self-Evaluation
3. Monitoring and evaluation (M&E) requires formulating the expected results of Bank support; selecting indicators of outputs and outcomes; gathering baseline data on outputs and outcomes; setting milestones and a timeline for progress; establishing a system for collecting, analyzing, and reporting data; monitoring progress; evaluating the activity to determine its relevance, efficacy, and efficiency; and establishing a framework for using M&E findings. These elements are tailored to the scale and scope of the operational activity.
4. The designs of Bank operational activities incorporate a framework for M&E.5 The Bank monitors and evaluates its own contribution to results using this framework, relying on the borrower’s M&E systems to the extent possible and, if these systems are not strong, assisting the borrower’s efforts to strengthen them. For Country Partnership Frameworks and sector/thematic strategies, the Bank monitors and evaluates progress toward achieving the results identified in the strategy. For financing operations, see OP/BP 8.60, Development Policy Financing, OP/BP 9.00, Program-for-Results Financing, and OP 10.00, Investment Project Financing. For analytic and advisory services, the Bank monitors and evaluates results on completion.
5. In addition to working with borrowers, the Bank works with other development partners to agree on the results expected from development activities and to harmonize monitoring, reporting, and evaluation requirements.