Early-Stage Evaluation of the Multiphase Programmatic Approach - Report to the Board from the Committee on Development Effectiveness - Meeting of October 16, 2024

Jul 19, 2026

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The Committee on Development Effectiveness (CODE) reviewed an Independent Evaluation Group (IEG) early-stage evaluation of the Multiphase Programmatic Approach (MPA) and the draft management response. Members recognized that outcomes are not yet assessable, but highlighted how emergency MPAs help the World Bank deliver quickly and at scale. Management emphasized scalability, replicability, and the potential to support Global Challenge Programs by delivering across countries, aligned with the One-WBG approach. CODE noted preliminary indications that MPAs outperform comparators on continuity and learning, while requesting clarity on coherence, adaptability, tradeoffs among scale, speed, and complexity, partnership design, and co-financing to achieve transformative, sustainable impact.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

Review of IEG early-stage evaluation and draft management response

Observations on early implementation and MPA potential

Preliminary findings, tradeoffs, and requests for elaboration

Emphasis on outcomes, adaptive management, and future full evaluation

Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Early-Stage Evaluation of the Multiphase Programmatic Approach Report to the Board from the Committee on Development Effectiveness ∗ Meeting of October 16, 2024 The Committee on Development Effectiveness (CODE) (“the Committee”) met to consider the Independent Evaluation Group (IEG) report entitled Early-Stage Evaluation of the Multiphase Programmatic Approach (CODE2024-0040) and the Draft Management Response (CODE2024-0042) . The Committee welcomed the findings and implications ofIEG’s early-stage evaluation of the Multiphase Programmatic Approach (MPA), which aim to help strengthen the effectiveness of the MPA. Members commended the WB’s efforts thus far on the implementation of MPAs and, while acknowledging it was too early to assess their outcomes, noted that emergency MPAs have enabled the Bank to deliver quickly and at scale. They also appreciated the timeliness ofthe evaluation, noting the growing MPA pipeline and the approach’s potential role in supporting Global Challenge Programs (GCPs). Management noted that the horizonal MPA, structured to deliver across countries, has the potential for scalability and replicability and to deliver GCPs objectives. Members also appreciated Management’s constructive response and commitment to address IEG’s suggestions, supporting the MPA’s intended outcomes-coherence of WB-financed interventions, continuity, learning and adaptability to adjust to changing circumstances and most importantly enhanced development impact and sustainability as well as improved resilience to risks and challenges. While recognizing that IEG’s preliminary findings can only be seen as indicative and partial, members took note of the evaluation’s findings that MPAs do better than comparators on continuity and learning, and that there is no evidence yet to indicate MPAs are more coherent or adaptable than non-MPAs nor do they aim for higher level outcomes. They urged the WB to carefully consider the tradeoffs between scale, speed and complexity, and asked Management to elaborate on how MPAs can leverage the One-WBG approach, be anchored in the Country Partnership Frameworks (CPFs), and be better designed to leverage partnerships, including through fostering of higher co-financing with governments, development partners and the private sector to deliver transformative and scalable outcomes. Members underscored the importance of MPA outcomes to reflect the approach's emphasis on long-term development, adaptive management, and phased scaling to ensure projects meet their intended goals effectively and sustainably, while better informing the clients about the benefits and risks of MPAs and of providing training for task teams to handle the complexity of MPAs. They also expressed their interest in a full IEG evaluation when the MPA portfolio gains maturity. ∗ This report is not an approved record.

FAQs

What did CODE discuss regarding the Multiphase Programmatic Approach (MPA)?

CODE reviewed IEG’s early-stage evaluation of the MPA and the draft management response, focusing on how the approach can strengthen effectiveness and support intended outcomes.

What did members highlight about emergency MPAs and MPA scalability?

Members noted that emergency MPAs enable quick, scaled delivery, and Management described the horizontal MPA as enabling scalability and replicability across countries, including support for Global Challenge Programs.

What preliminary evidence did CODE note about MPA performance versus non-MPAs?

CODE noted indications that MPAs do better than comparators on continuity and learning, while also stating there is no evidence yet that MPAs are more coherent or adaptable than non-MPAs or that they target higher-level outcomes.

What actions and clarifications did CODE request from Management?

CODE urged careful consideration of tradeoffs between scale, speed, and complexity, and asked for elaboration on how MPAs can leverage One-WBG, align with Country Partnership Frameworks, improve partnership and co-financing design, and inform clients about benefits and risks.

Jul 19, 2026

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