Poverty reduction in the 1990s

In 1990, a review of global experience showed that a strategy emphasizing broad-based growth and the equitable provision of social services was the most effective route for sustainable progress of poverty. This evaluation examines the direction set by the 1990 strategy and draws lessons of experience about the relevance of the Bank's evolving policy framework for poverty reduction. The report concludes that the 1990 strategy was critical in highlighting the importance of broad-based growth for poverty reduction and in focusing operational priorities on the equitable provision of social services, impacting both the composition of Bank assistance and the priorities of other development agencies. However, the Bank has found it difficult to operationalize broad-based growth through tailor-made country assistance programs. The implementation of the strategy was insufficiently focused on measuring and monitoring results linked to Bank assistance. The report recommends that the new poverty reduction strategy include clear monitorable benchmarks for assessing implementation performance. All sector strategy papers should be integrated into the revision of the Bank's policy framework. The Operation and Evaluation Department (OED) should ensure that a poverty focus is the organizing principle of all its evaluations.