73775
                                     Liberia Country Program Evaluation (CPE)
                                                     2004-2011

                                Report to the Board of Executive Directors from the
                                                                              ∗
                                    Committee on Development Effectiveness
                                              Sub-Committee Report

                                             Meeting of September 7, 2012

           The Sub-Committee (SC) of the Committee on Development Effectiveness (CODE) considered an
       Independent Evaluation Group (IEG) report entitled the Liberia Country Program Evaluation, 2004-
       2011 (CODE2012-0033).
           Members welcomed the timeliness of the report and commended IEG and Management for
       exemplary collaboration efforts, while maintaining IEG’s due independence. They noted that the report
       will help sharpen the WBG’s focus and relevance in Liberia; and that its findings and recommendations
       will be reflected by Management in the upcoming Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) for 2013-2015.
            Concurring with IEG’s overall evaluation, the Committee recalled the severely distressed state
       Liberia was in ten years ago and noted the remarkable progress that has been achieved. Members
       supported IEG’s findings and recommendations, namely, fighting corruption by strengthening
       governance practices across the value chain of extractive industries; refocusing the growth agenda to
       make it more broad-based and inclusive; and strengthening implementation support through capacity
       development, especially in procurement. Despite progress in the country, members agreed that many
       challenges remain. Nevertheless, they were encouraged by the Bank’s recent support and actions in
       several areas: (i) shifting from emergency assistance to a long-term development mode; (ii) addressing
       security risks and fiscal challenges resulting from the planned UN mission draw-down; (iii) enhancing
       project implementation and procurement capacity without undermining efforts to strengthen
       institutional capacity; and, (iv) addressing staffing constraints.
           Members noted that the IEG report was not adequately linked to the 2011 World Development
       Report (WDR) on Conflict, Security and Development.                 Members proposed that in their
       recommendations IEG provide specific suggestions to help country teams set priorities when preparing
       Country Assistance Strategies, while taking into consideration limited IDA resources. They also
       encouraged IEG not only to present lessons learned, but also to identify successes that could possibly be
       replicated. Some members noted that gender issues did not receive adequate attention. Recognizing the
       need for further analysis on an appropriate methodology to assess the WB’s work in Fragile and
       Conflict States (FCS), IEG informed Committee members that this topic would be covered in its
       Thematic Evaluation of WB support to FCS, on which an approach paper will be presented to members
       in October.




∗
    This report is not an approved record.