October 2023 FY 2023 Republic of Congo Country Opinion Survey – Pulse Report ECR Business Intelligence Team Acknowledgements The Congo Country Opinion Survey is part of the County Opinion Survey Program series of the World Bank Group. This report was prepared by the Business Intelligence (BI) team, led by José De Buerba (Senior External Affairs Officer) and Svetlana Markova (Senior External Affairs Officer). Yulia Danilina, Jessica Cameron, Nan Lin, and Sofya Gubaydullina oversaw design, reporting, and analysis. Noreen Wambui and Irina Popova provided data support. BI acknowledges the significant contribution from the Congo country team. In particular, BI is grateful for the support from Franck Sidney Chrysantheme Bitemo (Communications Consultant) who coordinated the survey related activities from Brazzaville, Republic of Congo. Contents Objectives Overall Context Overall Attitudes toward the World Bank Group World Bank Group’s Support in Development Areas World Bank Group’s Work and Engagement on the Ground Communications and Outreach Sample Demographics Methodology 3 Objectives This survey was designed to assist the World Bank Group (WBG) in gaining a better understanding of how stakeholders in Congo perceive the WBG. The survey explored the following questions: 1. What opinion do key stakeholders have of the WBG when it comes to its effectiveness, relevance, alignment with Congo’s development priorities, and other key indicators? Are opinions improving or declining? 2. What areas of development are perceived to be the most important? Have the priorities changed over the past five years? 3. How the WBG is perceived as a development partner? Are opinions improving or declining? 4. What key topics the WBG communicates around do stakeholders recall? Is there a relationship between message recall and views of the WBG’s work? 4 Overall Context 5 Familiarity with the World Bank Mean Familiarity Rating 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Year comparison: Respondents in this year’s Country All Respondents 6.1 Survey reported significantly higher levels of familiarity with the World Bank Group compared to FY18: Mean familiarity: FY23 = 6.0; Academia 7.5 FY18 = 5.3. Government Institutions 6.8 Collaboration: Respondents who indicated that they collaborate with the WBG in FY23 reported significantly Bilateral/Multilateral 6.6 higher levels of familiarity with the institution’s work: Mean familiarity: Collaborate with WBG = 7.3 Others 6.2 Do not collaborate = 4.9 Government Principals 5.8 The number of respondents who indicated that they collaborate/work with the WBG was comparable in the FY23 and FY18 Country Surveys. Please refer to the Civil Society Organization 5.1 FY23 vs FY18 data comparisons for those respondents who closely collaborate with the Bank in the Appendix. Private Sector 4.3 Significantly different between stakeholder groups Q How familiar are you with the work of the World Bank Group in the Republic of Congo? Scale: 1: Not familiar at all – 10: Extremely familiar (FY23 N=216; FY18 N=297) Government Principals includes respondents from Office of the President, Prime Minister, 6 Minister, and Office of a Parliamentarian. Trust in Institutions Mean Trust Rating 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 The World Bank Group 7.1 The most trusted institutions in Congo were the WBG Other donor institutions 7.1 and other donor institutions (overall mean rating for both = 7.1) . The United Nations 6.8 The media, youth organizations, and syndicates were Bilateral organizations 6.6 the least trusted institutions among respondents Civil society 6.4 (overall mean ratings = 4.9, 4.8, and 4.6, respectively). Academia 6.4 Regional development banks (BDEAC) 6.3 Private sector 6.2 Faith-based institution 6.1 The national/federal government 5.8 The International Monetary Fund 5.8 Parliament/legislative branch 5.3 Local government 5.2 Private Foundations 5.1 Media 4.9 Youth organizations 4.8 Syndicate 4.6 To what extent do you trust each of the following groups to do what is right? Q Scale: 1-10 (1: To no degree at all – 10: To a very significant degree) 7 Overall Attitudes toward the World Bank Group 8 Key Performance Indicators In FY23, respondents gave significantly higher ratings for the WBG’s alignment with their development priorities, its relevance, and its effectiveness in achieving results in Congo compared to FY18. Percentage points change from FY18 FY23 FY18 Mean Mean -11 +3 +8 Alignment 37% 27% 36% 7.0* 6.3 -5 -2 +7 Relevance 40% 26% 34% 7.0* 6.5 Influence 48% 22% 29% 6.4 End extreme poverty 53% 25% 22% 6.0 -11 +1 +10 Effectiveness in achieving results^ 54% 25% 21% 6.2* 5.6 Low (1-6) Medium (7-8) High (9-10) *significantly different between years The World Bank Group currently plays a relevant role in development in the Republic of Congo. Scale: 1-10 (1: Strongly disagree – 10: Strongly agree) The World Bank Group’s work is well aligned with what I consider the development priorities for the Republic of Congo. Scale: 1-10 (1: Strongly disagree – 10: Strongly agree) Q To what extent does the World Bank Group influence the development agenda in the Republic of Congo? Scale: 1-10 (1: To no degree at all– 10: To a very significant degree) The World Bank Group’s work helps end extreme poverty in the Republic of Congo. (1: Strongly disagree – 10: Strongly agree) How effective has the World Bank Group been in achieving development results in the Republic of Congo? 1-10 (1: Not effective at all– 10: Very effective); ^In FY23, Effectiveness was compared with the mean score of the two questions asked in FY18: Overall, please rate your impression of the World Bank Group’s effectiveness in the Republic of Congo. Scale: 1 -10 (1: Not effective at all– 10: Very effective) and 9 To what extent does the World Bank Group’s work help to achieve development results in the Republic of Congo? Scale: 1 -10 (1: To no degree at all– 10: To a very significant degree) Academia and Government Stakeholders 6.7 7.4 Have More Positive Trust in the WBG 6.7 6.5 7.4 Perceptions of the WBG 7.7 6.6 7.8 Comparing ratings of key performance indicators 6.8 Relevance* between stakeholder groups, distinct patterns emerge 6.8 in their perceptions of the WBG and its work in that 5.6 7.3 Government respondents from academia and government Principals institutions tend to hold more favorable views. 6.4 Conversely, respondents from the private sector 7.7 Government Alignment with 6.7 consistently provided lower ratings of the WBG and its Employees development priorities 7.0 work (they also exhibit the lowest level of familiarity with 6.1 the WBG). 7.3 Bilateral / Multilateral 5.8 7.4 Civil Society Influences the 6.5 development agenda* 6.0 4.9 Private Sector 6.6 To what extent do you trust the WBG to do what is right? Scale: 1 To no Q degree at all – 10 To a very significant degree 5.7 The World Bank Group currently plays a relevant role in development in 7.0 Academia the Republic of Congo. Scale: 1: Strongly disagree – 10: Strongly agree) The World Bank Group’s work is well aligned with what I consider the Effectiveness in achieving 6.6 development priorities for the Republic of Congo. Scale: 1: Strongly results* 5.8 disagree – 10: Strongly agree) 4.5 To what extent does the World Bank Group influence the development 7.0 agenda in the Republic of Congo? Scale: 1 To no degree at all – 10 To a very significant degree 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 How effective has the World Bank Group been in achieving development *significantly different Mean Rating results in the Republic of Congo? Scale: 1: Not effective at all – 10: Very between stakeholder groups 10 effective Overall Ratings for Indicator Questions Mean Rating 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.9 Year comparison: Respondents in this year’s Country Collaboration with the national/federal government 8.0 Survey reported significantly higher aggregated mean How significant the WBG's knowledge work contribute 7.6 ratings for the twelve indicator questions compared to to development results in the Republic of Congo? 7.7 FY18: Collaboration with other donors and development 7.3 Mean overall ratings: FY23 = 7.0; partners* 6.7 FY18 = 6.2. To what extent do you trust the WBG to do what is 7.1 right? Collaboration: Respondents in FY23 who indicated that The WBG’s work is well aligned with development 7.0 they collaborate with the WBG had significantly higher priorities for the Republic of Congo.* 6.3 mean ratings for the twelve indictor questions compared The WBG currently plays a relevant role in 7.0 to respondents who do not collaborate with the WBG: development in the Republic of Congo.* 6.5 FY23 Mean overall ratings: Responsiveness to needs* 6.9 FY18 6.2 Collaborate with WBG mean = 7.3; 6.9 Access to WBG staff and experts* Do not collaborate mean = 6.7. 5.3 6.5 Collaboration with civil society* 5.7 6.4 Collaboration with private sector* 5.5 To what extent does the WBG influence the 6.4 development agenda in the Republic of Congo? How effective has the WBG been in achieving 6.2 development results in the Republic of Congo?* 5.6 *significantly different between years Mean Ratings for the twelve COS Indicator Questions by Stakeholder Q Groups on a Scale from 1 to 10. 11 These selected indicators are listed at the end of this report. World Bank Group’s Support in Development Areas 12 Development Priorities Health Agriculture and food security^ 61% 71% for the WBG Water supply and sanitation infrastructure Education 49% 47% Health, agriculture and food security, water Public sector governance 38% supply and sanitation infrastructure, and Transport 34% education were the top areas in FY23 where Job creation / employment 27% stakeholders would like the WBG to focus its Private sector development 20% resources. Energy / Extractives 18% The percentages of stakeholders emphasizing Judiciary reform 14% health and agriculture and food security as a Climate change 12% priority have increased substantially, rising from 17% and 28% in FY18, respectively. Water supply Gender equity 12% and sanitation and transport also witnessed a Digital Development^^ 12% remarkable growth, surging about tenfold from both Social protection 11% 4% in FY18. Environment / Natural resource management 11% Macroeconomic stability 10% Social Inclusion 9% Note: The overall increase in percentages is partially Crime and violence 7% attributable to the change in the methodology. In FY18, Youth development 6% respondents could select up to three priorities, while in FY23 they could select up to five. Urban development 6% Debt sustainability 5% Disaster risk management 4% FY23: Which areas should the WBG prioritize in its work in the Q Republic of Congo to have the most impact on development results Financial markets development 4% in the country? (Choose no more than 5) (N=188) Trade 3% ^Compared to the mean of “Food security” and “Agriculture and rural development” asked in FY18. Regional integration 3% ^^Compared to “Information and communications technology” Tourism development 2% asked in FY18. Effectiveness of WBG’s Finance / Institutions / Economic Growth 6.1 Support in Sectoral Areas Debt sustainability The WBG’s work in the area of health in Congo received the highest Public sector governance* 5.9 5.1 effectiveness ratings. Ratings for the WBG’s work in several sectors have seen significant increases this year compared to FY18, including top priority areas 5.9 such as health, agriculture and food security, and job creation. Macroeconomic stability 6.9 Health* 6.2 5.7 FY23 Crime and violence 5.2 FY18 6.7 Education 6.3 5.4 Job creation / employment* 4.6 6.6 Social protection* Human Development 4.5 5.3 6.5 Private sector development 5.2 Gender equity 6.2 FY23 5.0 Social Inclusion 5.9 FY18 Trade* 4.3 5.5 6.4 Digital development^^ 6.4 Environmental Sustainability 6.0 Agriculture and 6.2 Urban development* 5.3 food security*^ 5.6 6.0 Water security Infrastructure 5.5 Climate change 5.9 FY23 5.7 6.0 Transport FY23 5.4 FY18 FY18 4.9 Environment / Natural 5.7 *Significantly different Energy / Extractives 5.2 resource management 5.7 between years 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Mean Rating of Effectiveness Mean Rating of Effectiveness How effective do you believe the WBG is in terms of the work it does in the following areas of development in the Republic of Congo? Scale: 1 Not effective at all – 10 Very effective (If you have NO Q exposure to/experience in working in any of the sectors listed below, please respond “Don’t know”) ^The mean of effectiveness of agriculture development and food security asked in FY18 was taken for this 14 comparison analysis. ^^Compared to “Information and communications technology” asked in FY18. World Bank Group’s Work and Engagement on the Ground 15 The WBG’s Accessibility and Responsiveness Perceptions regarding the WBG’s responsiveness to needs and access to WBG staff have shown Mean Level of Agreement significant improvement compared to FY18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ▪ Respondents from academia gave the highest ratings 6.9 for the WBG’s responsiveness to needs (mean = 7.4) whereas Government Principals gave significantly Access to WBG staff and experts* lower ratings (mean = 5.7). 5.3 FY23 ▪ Respondents from academia indicated the highest ratings for accessing to WBG staff and experts (mean FY18 = 7.9) whereas private sector respondents reported the lowest rating for accessing the WBG’s staff (mean 6.9 = 5.7). Responsiveness to needs* 6.2 *Significantly different between years To what extent is the World Bank Group an effective development partner in the Republic of Congo, in Q terms of each of the following? Scale: 1-10 (1: To no degree at all – 10: To a very significant degree) 16 WBG as a Development Partner and Collaborator Mean Level of Agreement 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.9 National government Respondents gave the highest mean ratings for the 8.0 WBG’s collaboration with the national government, followed by other donors and development partners. 7.3 Other donors and development partners* 6.7 In FY23, there was significant improvement in perceptions regarding the WBG's collaboration with other 7.1 Regional development banks (BDEAC)^ donors and development partners, civil society, and the private sector compared to FY18. 6.5 Civil Society (e.g., NGOs, CBOs)* 5.7 ▪ Respondents from government institutions gave higher ratings for the WBG’s collaboration with the national 6.4 government in Congo (mean = 8.6) whereas private sector Private Sector* 5.5 respondents gave significantly lower ratings (mean = 6.6). 6.0 Media^ 5.9 Parliament/legislative branch^ FY23 5.8 Academia^ FY18 5.7 Local government^ *Significantly different between years Q To what extent is the WBG an effective development partner in the Republic of Congo, in terms of collaborating with the following groups: (1-Strongly disagree, 10-Strongly agree) ^Not asked in FY18 17 Stakeholders would like the Bank to Collaborate The national / federal government 60% Civil society 48% More with the Government, Local government 42% Civil Society, Private Sector Private sector 40% Academia 20% Respondents in this year’s survey indicated that the Other donors and development partners 14% WBG should collaborate more with the national / federal Parliament / legislative branch 12% government, civil society, local government, and the private sector. Youth organizations 11% Collaboration with the private sector was the top priority Faith-based institution 10% for respondents in FY18 (38%). Increased collaboration Bilateral organizations 9% with the private sector is recommended because respondents from the private sector reported the lowest UN 8% levels of familiarity with the WBG and gave some of the Regional development banks 7% lowest ratings for the WBG’s performance indicators. Media 7% IMF 5% Peace keeping forces 2% Private Foundations 1% Emerging donors 1% Other <1% Q Which THREE of the following groups should the WBG collaborate with more in the Republic of Congo? (Choose no more than 3) 18 (Percentage of Respondents, N=204) Communications and Outreach 19 Recent Engagement with the WBG 79% of respondents recalled seeing or hearing something about the WBG in the last 30 days. Three quarters of respondents recalled seeing/hearing about the WBG from television, and more than half of respondents recalled seeing/hearing about the WBG through radio. About 4 in 10 respondents reported seeing/hearing about the WBG on social media, most often using Facebook. Percentage of Respondents Television (TV) 74% Radio 57% Newspapers (Print or online) 46% Event / conference / seminar (in person or online) 43% 73% WBG Website 40% Social media 39% 41% Direct contact with WBG staff 38% 31% Blogs 20% 27% 20% Podcasts 12% e-Newsletters 6% Facebook WhatsApp YouTube LinkedIn Twitter Direct messaging 4% Other 3% Do you recall seeing or hearing anything about the WBG in the last 30 days? (N=208) Q Where do you recall seeing or hearing this information? (Check all that apply) (N=162) 20 On what social media platforms do you recall seeing this information on? (Check all that apply) (N=70) Topics Recalled Percentage of Respondents WBG work to strengthen human capital Among respondents who reported recalling through improving health care, nutrition, 54% education, jobs, and skills seeing/hearing about the WBG in the last 30 days, over half recalled seeing/hearing about WBG work to WBG work to help alleviate the impacts of the 39% COVID-19 pandemic strengthen human capital through improving health care, nutrition, education, jobs, and skills. WBG work or research on food insecurity 37% Approximately 4 in 10 respondents recalled WBG WBG work to improve gender equity and work to help alleviate the impacts of the COVID-19 37% empower women and girls pandemic, its work or research on food insecurity, WBG work or research on climate change and its work to improve gender equity. (mitigation, adaptation) 34% WBG global economic forecasts 31% WBG work to provide debt relief for 31% developing countries WBG work to create more and better jobs 28% WBG work or research on rebuilding trust between citizens and the state to create a 17% new social contract in the Republic of Congo WBG work or research on energy 16% Other 16% Q What topics were included in what you saw or heard? (Check all that apply) (N=160) 21 Climate Change Communications can be More Impactful when Related to Stakeholders’ Top Concerns: Floods and Unsafe Drinking Water Nearly half of all respondents were very concerned about more frequent and severe floods (48%) and unsafe drinking water (46%) when it comes to the potential impacts of climate change in Congo. Respondents were also very concerned about decreased crop yields/food insecurity. More frequent and severe floods 48% Unsafe drinking water 46% Decreased crop yields/food insecurity 43% Loss of jobs 38% Effects on public health 35% Increase erosion of shoreline 33% Land and forest degradation 30% Diminished water supply for people and the economy 28% Very concerned Extinction of plant/animal species 28% Air pollution 25% Increase in natural disasters 20% Climate-driven migration 20% Forest fires 15% More frequent and severe droughts / heatwaves 12% What is your level of concern for each of the potential impacts of climate change as it affects your country? (N=~200) Q (Only those who responded “Very concerned” are shown.) 22 Message Recall and Perceptions of WBG Work Mean Level of Agreement 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Agreement that the WBG is working with The WBG is working with governments and other partners governments, the private sector, and other to support critical facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic, 7.2 partners to support critical facilities during while increasing vaccinations and reducing health impacts. 6.9 the COVID-19 pandemic, while increasing The WBG helps strengthen human capital in the Republic 7.2 vaccinations and reducing health impacts of Congo through improving health care, nutrition, 5.5 received the highest rating (mean = 7.2), education, jobs, and skills.* regardless of whether respondents had The WBG helps the Republic of Congo strengthen 6.9 economic management to create an improved climate for recalled seeing/hearing about the WBG in the sustainable private sector-led growth.* 5.5 last 30 days. The WBG helps the Republic of Congo boost climate 6.7 resilience and mitigate the effects of climate challenges.* 5.7 For all other messages, respondents who had recalled seeing or hearing something about The WBG helps address the current food crisis and 6.5 the WBG in the last 30 days had significantly enables greater preparedness to future food security crises.* 4.9 higher levels of agreement with the message compared to respondents who did not recall The WBG is committed to comprehensive debt solutions 6.4 seeing or hearing anything recently. that bring real benefits to people in the Republic of Congo.* 4.6 The WBG helps improve gender equity and empower 6.4 women and girls in the Republic of Congo.* 4.9 The WBG supports countries to ensure transition to more 6.1 diversified and cleaner sources of energy.* 5.1 Heard about the WBG in the last 30 days The WBG helps create more and better jobs in the 5.7 Republic of Congo.* 3.9 Haven't heard The WBG helps the Republic of Congo rebuild trust about the WBG in 5.5 the last 30 days between citizens and the state to create a new social contract.* 3.8 *Significant difference between groups Do you recall seeing or hearing anything about the WBG in the last 30 days? (N = 208) Q To what extent do you agree with the following statements: Scale: 1-10 (1: To no degree at all – 10: To a very significant degree) 23 Sample Demographics 24 Respondent Profile: Affiliation, Gender Current Affiliation Percentage of Respondents Government Institution 27% Civil Society Organization 19% Gender Bilateral / Multilateral Agency 13% 18% Private Sector 10% Female Office of the President / PM/ Minister 10% Male Office of a Parliamentarian 9% 82% Academia 7% Media 4% Other 1% Local Government 1% Q Which of the following best describes your current affiliation? (Select only 1 response) (N=222) What’s your gender? (N=221) 25 Respondent Profile: Collaboration with the WBG Collaboration with the WBG Collaboration Institution Yes The World Bank (IBRD/IDA) 97% 48% 52% No The International Finance Corporation (IFC) 3% Currently, do you professionally collaborate/work with the World Bank Group (IBRD, IFC, MIGA, ICSID) in your country? (N=215) Q Which of the following agencies of the World Bank Group do you primarily collaborate/work with in the Republic of Congo? (Select only 1 26 response) (N=97) Methodology 27 Methodology Statistical Analysis From April 2023 to June 2023, a total of 669 stakeholders of the Scale bucketing: WBG in Congo were invited to provide their opinions on the When mentioning Low, Medium, and High in the scales WBG’s work in the country by participating in a Country Opinion throughout this report: 1-6 is low; 7-8 is medium; and 9- Survey (COS) . Participants were drawn from the Office of the 10 is high. President, Prime Minister, or Minister; the Office of a Parliamentarian; government institutions; local governments; Statistical significance: bilateral / multilateral agencies; private sector; civil society; Key statistically significant findings are denoted with an academia, research institutes, and think tanks, and the media. asterisk (*) throughout the report or discussed in the descriptions to the charts. Significance is measured at A total of 222 stakeholders participated in the survey (33% p-value < .05 response rate). Respondents completed the questionnaire through an online platform, via email, or by receiving paper questionnaires from a local fielding consultant. Every country that engages in the COS must include specific indicator questions; several of them are aggregated for the World Bank Group’s annual Corporate Scorecard (please refer to the Indicator questions section of this report. 28 Comparison of FY18 and FY23 Percentage of Respondents FY 2018 FY 2023 The results of this year’s Country Survey were High-level government office: Office of compared to those of the Country Survey conducted the President, Prime Minister, Minister, 7% 18% in FY18 (response rate of 82%, N=326). Parliamentarian Comparing responses across Country Surveys reflect Government institutions: institutions of a changes in attitudes over time, as well as changes in Ministry / Ministerial department / Project respondent samples and changes to the survey implementation unit / Independent 32% 27% government institution (e.g., Central bank, instrument itself. To reduce the influence of the latter regulatory or oversight agency) / Judiciary / factor, only those questions with similar response State-owned enterprise scales/options are analyzed. Local government 8% 1% The distribution of the stakeholder groups in the final samples for the FY18 and FY23 Country Surveys are Bilateral/multilateral agency: embassy, development organization, 5% 13% listed in the table on the right. development bank, UN agency Additionally, in this year, the COS project utilized the Civil Society Organization: NGO/ Pulse Survey format, which is a shorter version community-based organization, conducted online by the COS team and distributed in private foundation, faith-based group, 18% 19% hard copies by a local fielding consultant. The list of professional/trade association, and youth group respondents was identified and provided solely by the country team, which indicates a shift in the stakeholder Private Sector: private company, financial 15% 10% composition compared to FY18. In the previous survey, sector organization, private banks up to 20% of the respondents were provided by a local Academia/Research Institute/Think Tank 4% 7% fielding agency. Media 6% 4% These differences in the stakeholder composition between the two years should be taken into Other 5% 1% consideration when interpreting the results of the Total Number of Respondents 306 222 past-year comparison analyses. 29 Indicator Questions A1_2. To what extent do you trust the World Bank Group to do what is right? – Scale: 1-10 (1: To no degree at all – 10: To a very significant degree) A2. How effective has the World Bank Group been in achieving development results in the Republic of Congo? A3. The World Bank Group currently plays a relevant role in development in the Republic of Congo – Scale: 1-10 (1: Strongly disagree – 10: Strongly agree) A4. The World Bank Group’s work is aligned with what I consider the development priorities for the Republic of Congo – Scale: 1-10 (1: Strongly disagree – 10: Strongly agree) A6. To what extent does the World Bank Group influence the development agenda in the Republic of Congo? – Scale: 1-10 (1: To no degree at all– 10: To a very significant degree) A7. How significant a contribution do you believe the World Bank Group's knowledge work and activities make to development results in the Republic of Congo? Scale: 1-10 (1: Not significant at all – 10: Very significant) To what extent is the World Bank Group an effective development partner in the Republic of Congo, in terms of each of the following? – Scale: 1-10 (1: To no degree at all – 10: To a very significant degree) B1. Responsiveness to needs, B2. Access to WBG staff and experts, To what extent is the WBG an effective development partner in the Republic of Congo, in terms of collaborating with the following groups: – Scale: 1-10 (1: To no degree at all – 10: To a very significant degree) B3. Collaboration with the national government B4.Collaboration with the private sector B5.Collaboration with civil society B6. Collaboration with other donor and development partners Note: Corporate Scorecard questions are highlighted RED 30