The Reform of public sector management

This paper assesses the efforts of the World Bank to improve management in the public sectors of its borrower countries. It identifies the problems that created the need for Bank involvement, reviews the steps taken and the instruments used by the Bank to help correct these problems, and assesses which of these steps have accomplished their goals, and which have not. The paper's specific objectives are threefold: (a) to evaluate the Bank's practical achievements in strengthening public agencies; (b) to offer governments and Bank staff guidence on design and implementation of reform programs; and (c) to map out the issues and areas where prescription can only be partial because knowledge is insufficient, and where more work and reflection are needed.