“Unlocking the Power of Evidence: A Call to Action for Global Challenges”

The World Bank’s Role in Evidence-Based Global Development and Public Goods

In a world facing unprecedented challenges such as climate change and pandemic risks, the role of the World Bank in addressing these global issues is crucial. While much attention is given to the amounts and sources of funding, there is a lack of focus on what actually works to make measurable progress against these challenges. The need for generating and using evidence to enhance development and global impact is more important than ever.

A recent report by Amanda Glassman, Janeen Madan Keller, Julia Kaufman, and Ian Mitchell highlights the importance of evidence in improving programs and policies to achieve better outcomes. Despite some progress in the evaluation and evidence ecosystem, there are still major challenges in funding, capacity, and incentives for evidence generation and use across government and aid agencies.

The report points out that only a small percentage of development programs undergo rigorous evaluation, leading to a lack of knowledge about the effectiveness of spending on development. This is a significant issue considering the opportunity costs associated with ineffective spending in areas such as global health, education, and climate change.

One key finding is that the best social interventions are significantly more cost-effective than average interventions, with similar trends seen in climate mitigation efforts. However, there is a lack of data and evidence to support decision-making in these areas, highlighting the need for a stronger focus on evidence-based approaches.

The report also emphasizes the importance of evidence in addressing global public goods (GPG), which benefit people across countries and generations. Multilateral institutions like the World Bank play a crucial role in tackling challenges like climate change and pandemic preparedness, which require a global approach.

Specific recommendations are made to enhance the policy value and use of rigorous evidence for global development, including designing evaluations that align with policy questions, fostering evidence-to-policy partnerships, and strengthening incentives for evidence use.

In the context of climate mitigation, the report highlights the need for better data and evidence to inform resource allocation decisions. Despite significant financing for climate-related projects, there is a lack of evidence on the effectiveness of spending in this area, leading to suboptimal outcomes.

Similarly, in pandemic preparedness, there is a lack of evidence on the effectiveness of interventions and surveillance systems. The report calls for a focus on identifying the most effective strategies for preparedness to maximize health impact.

Overall, the report underscores the importance of evidence in guiding investment decisions and maximizing impact in global development and public goods. As the World Bank evolves its strategic framework and operational reforms, integrating evidence-based approaches will be essential to achieving real-world impact. By prioritizing resources for evaluation and evidence activities, the World Bank can ensure that funding is spent more effectively and efficiently, ultimately leading to better outcomes for global challenges.