2002年-世界发展银行全球_Recent_Trends_in_Lending_for_Civil_Service_Reform_4页_332kb

Summary of Recent Trends in Lending for Civil Service Reform

Core Content

This document provides an analysis of recent trends in World Bank lending for civil service reform, comparing them to a 1999 Operations Evaluation Department (OED) review of lending from 1980–97. It outlines changes in the volume, distribution, structure, and objectives of such lending, highlighting how the Bank's approach has evolved in response to new challenges and priorities in governance and public sector management.

Main Views

• Definition of Civil Service Reform: Civil service reform in the context of the World Bank refers to interventions that affect the organization, performance, and working conditions of administrative employees paid from central, provincial, or state government budgets. It excludes reforms related to police, armed forces, public health care workers, school teachers, and state enterprise employees.

• Trends in Volume: The number of civil service reform projects declined in real terms from fiscal 1999 to 2001, with 24, 21, and 17 projects respectively. However, the share of civil service reform lending in total Bank lending increased, indicating a shift towards larger, high-value projects.

• Regional Distribution: Sub-Saharan Africa remained the region with the most civil service reform projects, although its share of total projects decreased from 74% in 1987–93 to 37% in 1999–2001. In contrast, Europe and Central Asia and South Asia saw a significant increase in such projects.

• Structure of Lending: The Bank uses investment loans and adjustment loans for civil service reform. During fiscal 1999–2001, 40 investment loans and 22 adjustment loans were involved. A new lending instrument, programmatic loans, has been introduced to address long-term structural reforms.

• Lending Objectives: Civil service reform projects are categorized under three main objectives:

  • Correcting fiscal imbalances
  • Adjusting pay and grading structures
  • Improving accountability and service delivery

  These objectives are pursued differently depending on whether the reform is part of an investment or adjustment loan. Investment loans focus on capacity building and systemic improvements, while adjustment loans emphasize policy changes and cost reductions.

• Regional Variations in Objectives: Projects in Latin America and the Caribbean focused more on fiscal imbalances and pay/grading structures, whereas projects in other regions emphasized accountability and service delivery more.

Key Information

• Total projects: 62 new civil service reform projects were approved between fiscal 1999 and 2001.
• Project types:
  • Specific Investment Loans: 18 projects (29%)
  • Technical Assistance Loans: 13 projects (21%)
  • Adaptable Program Loans: 7 projects (11%)
  • Learning and Innovation Loans: 1 project (2%)
  • Sector Investment and Maintenance Loans: 1 project (2%)
• Adjustment operations: In fiscal 2001, 60% of civil service reform projects were adjustment operations, up from 25% in 1999–2000.
• Fiscal imbalances: Addressed through wage cuts or employee reductions in adjustment operations, and through employee redeployment or census in investment operations.
• Pay and grading structures: Improved via job reclassification, training, and payroll systems in investment operations, and via policy reforms in adjustment operations.
• Accountability and service delivery: Enhanced through management training, IT infrastructure, and organizational restructuring in investment operations, and through meritocracy and user voice initiatives in adjustment operations.

Challenges and Future Considerations

• Data Limitations: Accurate measurement of civil service reform lending is challenging due to the lack of clear separation of reform components from other interventions at the project level.
• Effectiveness Concerns: The effectiveness of civil service reform projects remains modest, with many projects still active in 1999 and 2000.
• Portfolio Structure: There is a need to assess the overall portfolio structure and its evolution over time, as well as the impact of these changes on governance and public service delivery.
• Optimal Financing Mix: The document raises questions about the optimal combination of investment and adjustment financing for civil service reform, depending on the context and objectives.

Further Reading

• OED (1999): Civil Service Reform: A Review of World Bank Assistance
• World Bank (2000a): Annual Report 2000
• World Bank (2000b): Reforming Public Institutions and Strengthening Governance: A World Bank Strategy

Authors

• Ranjana Mukherjee (Consultant, Public Sector Group, PREM Network)
• Nick Manning (Lead Public Sector Specialist, Public Sector Group, PREM Network)

Conclusion

The World Bank has increasingly associated civil service reform with larger, high-value projects, particularly through adjustment operations. While the focus has shifted, the objectives of reform remain consistent, with a growing emphasis on accountability and service delivery. However, data accuracy, effectiveness, and the optimal financing mix remain critical areas for further analysis.