Lifting the voices of the unheard: Findings and lessons from evaluating results-based funding amongst multilateral banks

Stream: International Evaluation, Diversity, and Specific Populations

Friday, October 25, 2024

10:30 AM - 10:45 AM PST

Location: B110-112

Abstract Information: Results-based funding involves a mechanism through which a funder is willing to make payments to an agent who assumes responsibility for achieving pre-defined results. Results are defined in advance and funding is only released upon the achievement of these results that are verified independently. The rationale behind this approach is to link financing more directly with outputs and outcomes, rather than inputs and processes. The objective is to increase accountability and create incentives to improve outcome orientation of programs and their effectiveness. A considerable number of programs and pilots has been implemented. Results based funding covers a variety of applications such as: Payment by Results (PbR), Payment for Results (PforR), Results-Based Lending (RBL), Performance-driven loans (PDL), performance-based aid for REDD+, performance tranches in budget support, Cash on Delivery (CoD), Output-Based Aid (OBA). A wide range of bilateral, multilateral, and non-governmental organizations utilize the results-based funding, including UKAID, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and the World Bank. With an increased use of results-based funding, there is growing interest in the effectiveness of the results-based funding to make changes in people’s lives. Are the results-based funding designed and implemented in a way that provides sufficient incentives for systematic and behavioral change to address key challenges? Is the conditionality working effectively to target the beneficiaries who are most in need? This presentation introduces and highlights how independent evaluations of the projects World Bank's Program-for-Results Financing instrument can amplify the voices of the historically underrepresented, including poor, vulnerable, marginalized, women, youth, and ethnic minorities. This presentation discusses benefits and challenges of using conditionality in disbursements of development assistance funds and possible dangers of conditionality and why conditionality and targeting can work against amplifying and empowering people’s voices. The presentation draws on case studies in Vietnam, Rwanda, and Indonesia.

Presenter(s)

Chikako Miwa, MIA

Evaluation Analyst
Independent Evaluation Group, World Bank Group, United States

Author(s)

Chikako Miwa, MIA

Evaluation Analyst
Independent Evaluation Group, World Bank Group, United States

Facilitator(s)

Chikako Miwa, MIA

Evaluation Analyst
Independent Evaluation Group, World Bank Group, United States

Chair(s)

Chikako Miwa, MIA

Evaluation Analyst
Independent Evaluation Group, World Bank Group, United States

Disscussant(s)

Chikako Miwa, MIA

Evaluation Analyst
Independent Evaluation Group, World Bank Group, United States

Author(s)

CN

Christopher Nelson, PhD

Manager
Independent Evaluation Group, World Bank, United States

Facilitator(s)

CN

Christopher Nelson, PhD

Manager
Independent Evaluation Group, World Bank, United States

Chair(s)

CN

Christopher Nelson, PhD

Manager
Independent Evaluation Group, World Bank, United States

Disscussant(s)

CN

Christopher Nelson, PhD

Manager
Independent Evaluation Group, World Bank, United States

Presenter(s)

EK

Ebru Karamete

Evaluation Officer
Independent Evaluation Group, World Bank Group