Ralston, Laura
Success in Difficult Environments A Portfolio Analysis of Fragile and Conflict-Affected States / Ralston, Laura [electronic resource] : Ralston, Laura - Washington, D.C., The World Bank, 2014 - 1 online resource (47 p.) - Policy research working papers. World Bank e-Library. .
The World Bank Group has identi?ed support to fragile and con?ict-affected states as a strategic priority. This paper provides a systematic portfolio review of the International Development Association-funded projects in fragile and conflict-affected states during 2001 to 2013 and a detailed empirical analysis of the correlations between project and country-level characteristics with project outcome ratings. The portfolio review identi?es a decline in the proportional amount of resources directed to fragile and conflict-affected states and a decline in the number of internationally recruited staff based in these countries. The empirical analysis ?nds no statistical difference in whether projects obtain at least a moderately satisfactory outcome rating between countries that are fragile and conflict-affected states and those that are not. Examination of the distribution of project outcome ratings indicates that projects in fragile and conflict-affected states obtain slightly lower ratings conditional on being unsatisfactory or satisfactory. Detailed cross-section regression analysis ?nds that indicators of project complexity, such as supervision costs, staff time, preparation time, and ?nancing, are correlated with lower outcome ratings. Project leader characteristics are correlated with project outcome ratings, but to a lesser degree in fragile and conflict-affected states, potentially indicating that it is more difficult for project leaders to in?uence project outcomes in these environments. Last, a new approach to control for unobservable project characteristics, such as inherent complexity or ambition, shows preliminary evidence that changes in the project leader and increases in the supervision budget are correlated with improvements in project performance.
10.1596/1813-9450-7098
Banks and Banking Reform
Communities & Human Settlements
Country Strategy & Performance
Finance and Financial Sector Development
Fragile And Conflict-Affected States
Gdp Growth
Housing & Human Habitats
Poverty Monitoring & Analysis
Poverty Reduction
Project Complexity
Project Outcome Ratings
Project Performance
Rural Development
Rural Portfolio Improvement
Success in Difficult Environments A Portfolio Analysis of Fragile and Conflict-Affected States / Ralston, Laura [electronic resource] : Ralston, Laura - Washington, D.C., The World Bank, 2014 - 1 online resource (47 p.) - Policy research working papers. World Bank e-Library. .
The World Bank Group has identi?ed support to fragile and con?ict-affected states as a strategic priority. This paper provides a systematic portfolio review of the International Development Association-funded projects in fragile and conflict-affected states during 2001 to 2013 and a detailed empirical analysis of the correlations between project and country-level characteristics with project outcome ratings. The portfolio review identi?es a decline in the proportional amount of resources directed to fragile and conflict-affected states and a decline in the number of internationally recruited staff based in these countries. The empirical analysis ?nds no statistical difference in whether projects obtain at least a moderately satisfactory outcome rating between countries that are fragile and conflict-affected states and those that are not. Examination of the distribution of project outcome ratings indicates that projects in fragile and conflict-affected states obtain slightly lower ratings conditional on being unsatisfactory or satisfactory. Detailed cross-section regression analysis ?nds that indicators of project complexity, such as supervision costs, staff time, preparation time, and ?nancing, are correlated with lower outcome ratings. Project leader characteristics are correlated with project outcome ratings, but to a lesser degree in fragile and conflict-affected states, potentially indicating that it is more difficult for project leaders to in?uence project outcomes in these environments. Last, a new approach to control for unobservable project characteristics, such as inherent complexity or ambition, shows preliminary evidence that changes in the project leader and increases in the supervision budget are correlated with improvements in project performance.
10.1596/1813-9450-7098
Banks and Banking Reform
Communities & Human Settlements
Country Strategy & Performance
Finance and Financial Sector Development
Fragile And Conflict-Affected States
Gdp Growth
Housing & Human Habitats
Poverty Monitoring & Analysis
Poverty Reduction
Project Complexity
Project Outcome Ratings
Project Performance
Rural Development
Rural Portfolio Improvement