Completion and Learning Review Validation - The Republic of Costa Rica FY16-FY22 Country Partnership Framework - March 29, 2024

Jul 19, 2026

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Completion and Learning Review Validation evaluates the World Bank Group’s Completion and Learning Review (CLR) for Costa Rica across the FY16-FY20 Country Partnership Framework, including adjustments from the December 6, 2019 Performance and Learning Review that extended the framework to FY22. Ratings assess development outcome and World Bank Group performance, concluding Moderately Satisfactory overall and Good bank performance. Findings review relevance to national priorities, gaps on poverty, inequality, and underlying drivers, plus evidence on inclusion, health, education, hydropower, fiscal sustainability, and climate-related targets.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages40

Reading Time1 h 41 min

Executive Summary

Overall Ratings

Relevance and Program Design

Focus Area 1: Productive Inclusion and Growth

Focus Area 2: Fiscal, Social, and Environmental Sustainability

Implementation and Risk Management

Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Completion and Learning Review Validation The Republic of Costa Rica FY16-FY22 Country Partnership Framework March 29, 2024 Ratings | Indicator | CLR Rating | CLRV (IEG) Rating | | --- | --- | --- | | Development outcome | Moderately Satisfactory | Moderately Satisfactory | | World Bank Group performance | Good | Good | Note: CLR = Completion and Learning Review; CLRV = Completion and Learning Review Validation; IEG = Independent Evaluation Group. I. Executive Summary i. This review of the World Bank Group’s (WBG) Completion and Learning Review (CLR) for Costa Rica covers the period of the Country Partnership Framework (CPF) FY16-FY20, including its adjustments through the Performance and Learning Review (PLR) dated December 6, 2019, which extended the CPF by two years to FY22 . ii. The CPF objectives were mostly relevant but missed a stronger focus on poverty and inequality. The objectives were broadly consistent with the government strategy (National Development Plan 2015-2018) and addressed major development challenges as identified in the 2015 Systematic Country Diagnostic (SCD), especially economic growth and sustainability. However, the program did not have a strong focus on poverty and inequality or their underlying causes (according to the SCD, particularly skills) . The CPF was organized under two pillars: Reducing Constraints to Productive Inclusion and Restoring Growth, and Bolstering Fiscal, Social, and Environmental Sustainability. The “inclusion” pillar did not directly target the poor and bottom 40 percent of the income distribution or fully operationalize the SCD’s priorities for skills development and was less focused on addressing gender gaps. Some interventions had relevant aspects: the Fisheries project supported livelihoods in coastal areas but did not monitor whether its beneficiaries were poor or vulnerable. The health care project aimed to improve health care nation-wide, but again did not target or measure the poor or vulnerable. IFC’s interventions had plausibly more focus on inclusion. IFC supported expanded access to finance to micro, small and medium enterprises, and expanded access to housing finance to low-and middle-income families. The CPF was aligned especially with the WBG corporate goal of environmental sustainability. iii. IEG rates the CPF development outcome as Moderately Satisfactory. Of the six objectives, one was Achieved, three were Mostly Achieved, and two Partially Achieved. Focus Area 1 (Reducing Constraints to Productive Inclusion and Restoring Growth) was Moderately Unsatisfactory, with two objectives Partially Achieved and one Mostly Achieved. The number of students accessing tertiary education posted modest increases in line with program expectations, but the gains in quality were not measured directly (Objective 1) . IFC’s investments in some banks reached more microenterprises and SMEs than expected under the program, while its investments in other banks fell below expectations on microenterprises and SMEs reached, with an uncertain overall impact (Objective 2). Incremental access to hydropower generated electricity fell considerably below target (Objective 3). Focus Area 2 (Bolstering Fiscal, Social, and Environmental Sustainability) is Moderately Satisfactory, with one objective Achieved, and two Mostly Achieved. Fiscal sustainability has improved with gains in the ratio of taxes to GDP and longer maturities for government paper. The extent of the gains in government fiscal capacity cannot be ascertained given the lack of appropriate indicators (Objective 4) . Health outcomes improved both in quality and efficiency, but information is lacking on the gender impacts (Objective 5) . Targets were met on GHG emission reductions, policy and financial instruments for disaster risk management, policy instruments to meet the Decarbonization Plan and Nationally Determined Contribution targets, and climate fin

FAQs

What period and scope does the review cover for Costa Rica’s Country Partnership Framework?

It covers the CLR period under the Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for FY16-FY20, including adjustments through the Performance and Learning Review dated December 6, 2019, which extended the CPF to FY22.

How are the development outcome and World Bank Group performance rated?

The review rates development outcome as Moderately Satisfactory and World Bank Group performance as Good.

What key shortcoming does the validation identify in the CPF design?

The main shortcoming is limited attention to structural drivers of inequality, and insufficient focus on poverty and inequality or their underlying causes, including skills.

Jul 19, 2026

Upload by Patrick