2014年-世界发展银行全球_World_Bank_Support_for_Social_Safety_Nets_2007-2013___A_Review_of_Financing_Knowledge_Services_and_Results_124页_6mb

Summary of World Bank Support for Social Safety Nets 2007-2013

Core Content

This document provides a comprehensive review of the World Bank's support for social safety nets (SSNs) from FY07 to FY13, analyzing both financing and knowledge services. It highlights the increasing importance of SSNs in the global development agenda, especially during the food, fuel, and financial (FFF) crises of 2009-2011. The report outlines the Bank's role in promoting resilience, equity, and opportunities through SSNs, while emphasizing the need for better knowledge sharing and policy integration.

Main Points

• Financing Overview:

  • Total World Bank financing for safety nets between FY07 and FY13 was just over US$12 billion.
  • The Bank supported 273 financing activities across 93 countries.
  • US$118 million was spent on 281 safety net studies.
  • 129 credible impact evaluations were conducted in 24 countries.

• Country Coverage:

  • 42 countries received little or no prior support from the Bank for SSNs before FY07.
  • The FFF crises significantly influenced the expansion of the Bank's SSN portfolio.
  • The Bank has increasingly focused on low-income countries (LICs), especially those with limited SSN provision.

• Regional Focus:

  • The Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), South Asia (SAR), East Asia and Pacific (EAP), Europe and Central Asia (ECA), and Middle East and North Africa (MNA) regions were key areas of activity.
  • SSA and LAC accounted for the largest number of SSN projects and funding.

• Types of Interventions:

  • The main types of SSN interventions included cash transfers, non-cash transfers, public works, and capacity building.
  • Conditional Cash Transfers (CCTs) and public works were the most common.
  • The Bank also supported school feeding, health-related subsidies, and microcredit programs.

• Lending Instruments:

  • The Bank used three main instruments: investment project financing, development policy lending (DPL), and program-for-results (P4R).
  • Trust funds played a growing role in supporting technical assistance and policy dialogue, especially in low-income settings.

• Portfolio Performance:

  • Safety net projects generally performed better than the Bank's overall portfolio.
  • The Bank has moved towards a pro-cyclical financing model, continuing support even during periods of crisis.
  • A strong emphasis is placed on system-building rather than individual programs.

Key Knowledge Services

• Economic Sector Work (ESW) and Technical Assistance (TA):

  • These services provided tailor-made support to countries, often leading to subsequent financing.
  • South-South learning and training programs were important in sharing best practices.

• Impact Evaluations:

  • The Bank supported 129 credible impact evaluations, showing the effectiveness of SSNs in reducing poverty and inequality.
  • These studies also helped improve program administration and monitoring and evaluation processes.

• Global Knowledge Products:

  • The Bank contributed to global knowledge through research, data collection, and flagship publications.
  • Reimbursable Advisory Services (RAS) were used to support policy reforms and institutional strengthening.

Major Lessons and Implications

• The Bank's support for SSNs has grown significantly, especially in middle-income countries and low-income countries.
• Political leadership and governance are critical for the sustainability of SSN programs.
• Knowledge sharing and technical assistance have been key in improving the design and implementation of SSNs.
• The integration of SSNs into broader social protection systems is a major trend.
• There is a need for greater selectivity and flexibility in SSN programming, especially in fragile contexts.

Challenges and Outlook

• The Bank's coverage remains limited, particularly in fragile situations.
• System-building is becoming more important than supporting individual programs.
• The Bank continues to catalyze policy dialogue and support institutional reforms.
• The review serves as a benchmark for future analysis and informs ongoing debates on SSN effectiveness and design.

Conclusion

The World Bank has played a pivotal role in the expansion and development of social safety nets globally, especially during times of crisis. The Bank's approach has evolved from project-based support to a more programmatic and integrated model, emphasizing system-building and knowledge sharing. This review underscores the importance of strong governance, effective impact evaluations, and targeted technical assistance in improving the outcomes of SSN programs. It also highlights the need for continued innovation, adaptation, and global learning to address the evolving needs of developing countries.