Independent Evaluation Group - Work Program and Budget (FY21) and Indicative Plan (FY22-23) - Report to the Board

Jul 19, 2026

Joint meeting notes from the Budget Committee and the Committee on Development Effectiveness review the Independent Evaluation Group’s Work Program and Budget for FY21 and Indicative Plan for FY22–23. Members praise agility in adapting to the World Bank Group COVID-19 response, alignment with strategic priorities and SDGs, and progress on MAR reform. Discussions cover evaluation pipeline planning, selection criteria for Country Program Evaluations, and a $37.3 million budget, including requests for assurances that cost savings do not reduce evaluation quality or quantity and guidance on staff diversity and coverage balance.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

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Joint Meeting of June 3, 2020

Support for FY21 and Indicative Plan FY22-23

Evaluation priorities and selection criteria

Budget allocation and management considerations

Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Independent Evaluation Group Work Program and Budget (FY21) and Indicative Plan (FY22-23) Report to the Board from the Budget Committee and the Committee on Development Effectiveness ∗ Joint Meeting of June 3, 2020 The Budget Committee and the Committee on Development Effectiveness (the committees) met to consider the Independent Evaluation Group Work Program and Budget (FY21) and Indicative Plan (FY22-23) (R2020-0111[IDA/R2020-0185, IFC/R2020-0116, MIGA/R2020-0041]) . The Committees were very supportive of IEG’s FY21 work program and budget and Indicative Plan for FY22-23. Members commended IEG for its agility and flexibility to adapt its work program to contribute to the World Bank Group (WBG) COVID-19 response, for incorporating suggestions raised by CODE members in previous meetings and for the built-in flexibility to respond to new emerging requests from both Management and the Board. They welcomed IEG’s strategic framework and its alignment to WBG strategic priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) . Members acknowledged progress made on the MAR reform and encouraged IEG and Management to continue collaborating constructively. They appreciated IEG’s focus on promoting a results-centered culture across the WBG and its commitment to work closely with Management to advance the WBG outcome orientation agenda. Members welcomed the inclusion of COVID-19-related work in the area of human capital, jobs, growth, and shared prosperity. They encouraged IEG to pay particular attention to global value chains, social protection and cash-transfer schemes, governance, institutions, climate change and environmental sustainability issues to help clients build more resilient economies. They supported IEG’s proposed evaluation pipeline and agreed to leave the FY23 evaluation pipeline as tentative so that the new CODE can discuss and adjust it as needed. Members asked about IEG’s selection criteria for carrying out Country Program Evaluations and were pleased to learn that IEG took into consideration country engagement cycles, geographic representation, and balance between IDA vs. IBRD and FCV vs. non-FCV countries. Members expressed support for the proposed budget allocation of $37.3 million, welcomed the prudent budgetary trajectory for FY21-23, asked for reassurances that cost savings were not at the expense of a reduction in the quality and number of evaluations and encouraged IEG to rebalance its diversity compact by improving the ratio of Part-2 staff. They appreciated IEG’s clarifications that it did not rely on Trust Funds for its evaluation and validation work; that it had taken into account cost savings due to COVID-19 travel restrictions and efficiencies measures; that it intended to carefully manage its overall salary and fixed based cost ratio. ∗ This report is not an approved record.

FAQs

What approvals and support were expressed for the Independent Evaluation Group’s FY21 work program and FY22–23 indicative plan?

Members expressed strong support for the FY21 work program and the FY22–23 indicative plan, commending IEG’s agility, flexibility, alignment to WBG priorities and SDGs, and focus on a results-centered culture.

How does IEG address evaluation planning and the Country Program Evaluation selection criteria?

Members noted support for the proposed evaluation pipeline while agreeing to keep the FY23 pipeline tentative for adjustment. For Country Program Evaluations, IEG considered country engagement cycles, geographic representation, and balance across IDA vs. IBRD and FCV vs. non-FCV countries.

What budget-related concerns and requests did members raise?

Members welcomed the $37.3 million budget allocation and the prudent FY21–23 trajectory, asked for reassurances that cost savings would not reduce the quality or number of evaluations, and encouraged rebalancing staff diversity by improving the ratio of Part-2 staff.

Jul 19, 2026

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