The international development community acknowledges that the SDGs will not be achieved without greater participation from the private sector. Estimates for investment needs in developing countries alone range from USD 3.3 trillion to USD 4.5 trillion per year. Up to 70 percent of the investment...

This evaluation examines the World Bank Group's evolving experience in building resilience in urban areas during the period 2007-17. The focus of this evaluation is the World Bank Group's support to clients in building urban resilience-to cope, recover, adapt and transform-in the face of shocks...

World Bank Group strategy continues to position SMEs as key vehicles to promote employment, value chain development, economic and social inclusion, and resilience in the face of fragility and conflict. This note synthesizes findings regarding SMEs and SME support from recent IEG evaluations,...

In 2016, the World Bank Group stepped up its engagement in situations of conflict-induced forced displacement at the global and country levels and adopted a new approach to its engagement that recognizes displacement as a development challenge that must be addressed to attain the World Bank...

This evaluation assesses the Bank Group's effectiveness and comparative advantage in fostering regional integration during FY2003-17 and draws lessons that can be used to inform future regional integration operations. Client countries of the World Bank Group have turned to regional integration...

Climate change is a threat to global development and to the core Mission of the World Bank Group. With the recognition that human activity drives global warming, the World Bank Group has pursued a long-term commitment to curb global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for more than 20 years. The...

A large share of the world's population today has access to health services, but the health needs of a great segment of the global population remain unmet. In 2013, more than 400 million people worldwide were not receiving at least one of the seven essential health services identified as...

This evaluation is the first comprehensive assessment of World Bank Group's multisectoral engagement in pollution management with 534 projects and USD 34 billion commitment during FY04-17. It finds that the Bank Group has made significant progress in improving pollution management in client...

This evaluation assesses the World Bank Group's effectiveness in supporting improved access to adequate, reliable, and sustained water and sanitation services in client countries. It also examines how well the Bank Group is equipped to support the countries in moving toward sustained water and...

This evaluation assesses the World Bank Group's record on implementation of the shared prosperity goal since 2013 using the official definition of the goal of fostering income growth of the bottom 40 percent. It also analyzes institutional requirements for effective implementation of the goal,...