Early-Stage Evaluation of International Finance Corporation Platforms Approach - Addressing Development Challenges at Scale - An Independent Evaluation - Report to the Board

Jul 19, 2026

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Independent evaluation findings on the International Finance Corporation (IFC) Platforms Approach are presented to the Board Committee on Development Effectiveness following a February 4, 2025 meeting. The discussion centers on whether the pilot approach met Board and client expectations and what lessons can be integrated into future processes across seven platforms plus FY23 projects. Members recognize contributions to scaling COVID-19 response, reaching new clients and sectors, and improving reach in IDA and FCS countries through operational efficiency, blended finance risk mitigation, and focus on development challenges.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Meeting Overview

Evaluation Focus and Scope

Committee Findings and Lessons Learned

Reporting Improvements and Next Steps

Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Early-Stage Evaluation of International Finance Corporation Platforms Approach: Addressing Development Challenges at Scale An Independent Evaluation Report to the Board from the Committee on Development Effectiveness ∗ Meeting of February 4, 2025 The Committee on Development Effectiveness (“the Committee”) met to discuss the Independent Evaluation Group (IEG) report entitled Early-Stage Evaluation of International Finance Corporation Platforms Approach: Addressing Development Challenges at Scale, An Independent Evaluation (CODE2024-0048 ; /2) and the Draft Management Response (CODE2025-0003) . The Committee welcomed the early-stage evaluation of the IFC Platforms Approach which was requested by the Board in 2022. Members acknowledged that the evaluation did not focus on the relevance or effectiveness of individual IFC platforms or whether these have been achieving their intended outcomes but rather aimed at assessing whether the pilot approach has met Board and client expectations and at identifying lessons learned that could be integrated in the future processes. IEG reminded the Committee that the report had recently been finalized, in the context of the Global Challenge Programs, and IEG presented its preliminary findings to CODE and Management on an exceptional basis in July 2024. The Committee appreciated that the study covered not only seven platforms introduced between FY17 and FY22, but based on the Board’s request, IEG expanded the scope of the evaluation and included also projects approved in FY23 under these platforms. Members noted their agreement with the early-stage findings that platforms generally achieved their objectives of scaling up the COVID-19 crisis response, reaching smaller and new clients, engaging in new sectors, and expanding IFC’s reach in IDA and FCS countries. They appreciated learning that (i) operational efficiency; (ii) risk pooling and mitigation of risk using blended finance; and (iii) focus on specific development challenges were features that contributed to their success. The Committee expressed its support for IEG recommendations which suggested that IFC extends the approach embodied in its pilot to new platforms, as well as for IFC and the Board to reach and implement an agreement on the level, content, format, and frequency of reporting in order to facilitate oversight of and learning from platforms. Members emphasized the importance of improving reporting and establishing a robust results framework for IFC platforms. Some suggested that a joint working group be set up to address these topics and ensure that the reporting and results frameworks for platforms meet the needs of the Board. IFC management was generally open to continuing the engagement with the Board in this respect. The Committee welcomed IFC management’s agreement with IEG recommendations and was pleased to learn that IFC has begun implementing the recommendations and intend to update its Pilot Approach taking into consideration key lessons learned. Members asked IEG to consider a full-fledge evaluation that examines development results when project completion data is available, including on individual platform projects, to geta better understanding of lessons learned, and the outcomes and development impacts achieved through the use of IFC Platform Approach. IEG explained that such an evaluation, would need to be considered from an evaluability perspective, and the topic discussed as part of the FY27-29 work program consultations, which are envisioned to start in September 2025 . IEG indicated that such an evaluation could be carried out no earlier than FY28 were it included in the work program, and suggested another option is to cover the work of individual platforms in relevant its sectoral and thematic evaluations. ∗ This report is not an approved record.

FAQs

What was the purpose of the early-stage evaluation discussed by the Committee?

To assess whether the IFC pilot Platforms Approach met Board and client expectations and to identify lessons that could be integrated into future processes.

Which aspects did members highlight as contributing to the approach’s success?

Operational efficiency, risk pooling and blended-finance risk mitigation, and a focus on specific development challenges.

What recommendations did the Committee support regarding future use and reporting?

Support for extending the pilot approach to new platforms, and for reaching an agreement on the level, content, format, and frequency of reporting to strengthen oversight and learning, including a robust results framework.

Jul 19, 2026

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