Formative assessment of the knowledge for development program
The World Bank Institute Evaluation Group (WBIEG) conducted a formative evaluation of the Knowledge for Development (K4D) Program to identify program strengths, opportunities for improvement, and demand for new products and services. Overall, the evaluation concluded that a program specifically focused on the knowledge economy (KE) agenda is essential to future Bank operations. However, the results also showed that K4D had not remained abreast of current developments to meet operational needs. Stakeholders had varying views of the program's mission or objectives and felt that implementation processes could be more effective. Thus, this evaluation recommends a three step action plan for World Bank Institute (WBI) management and K4D to improve its implementation and effectiveness: (i) establish a committee to review and clarify the K4D Program's role vis-a-vis the future work of the Bank including representatives from WBI management, the K4D team, and major stakeholders in Bank operations; (ii) develop a strategic plan for achieving the program's mission and objectives. Specifying the program's objectives and intended outcomes will have direct implications for K4D's work program and the mix of staff skills and resources required; and (iii) implement program improvements according to the project objectives and the strategic plan, considering suggestions from stakeholders examined in this report related to products and services, education and marketing, and linking to Bank operations.
The Effectiveness and Use in FY03 of WBI FY01-02 Activities: A Baseline Assessment in Five Countries
This paper analyses the level and determinants of WBI activity effectiveness and use by participants in five WBI focus countries: Brazil, Egypt, Russia, Thailand and Sri Lanka. It uses data drawn from surveys of 3,091 participants from these countries who participated in FY01-02 WBI activities; in all, a total of 793 participants from about 131 activities responded. Participant responses are supplemented by a survey of WBI Task Team Leaders (TTLs) responsible for these activities, who were asked a number of questions regarding the activity objective, features of its design and delivery, and follow-up.
The impact of WBI activities, FY01-02, on participants from Brazil: a baseline assessment
This study attempts to answer questions on the nature and causes of WBI's training relevance, effectiveness, utilization and influence for Brazilian participants during the fiscal years FY01 - FY02. Data to answer these questions were collected from a survey of 300 participants and in-depth, focus group interviews held in Rio de Janeiro and Fortaleza. The adjusted response rate for the survey was 52 percent. Descriptive statistics and a set of two-stage regression models were used to analyze the data and answer the research questions. Data from the focus groups was content analyzed and used in tandem with the survey data to help answer the research questions.