Publication: An Evaluation of the World Bank Group Strategy for Fragility, Conflict, and Violence, 2020–25
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2025-11-04
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2025-11-10
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The Bank Group launched the 2020–25 Fragility, Conflict, and Violence (FCV) Strategy with the aim of strengthening its engagements and operations in countries affected by fragility, violence, and conflict. The strategy aimed to address the drivers and consequences of FCV and to build resilience, especially among the most vulnerable populations. It proposed changes to the Bank Group’s operational framework, including in its programming, personnel, partnerships, policies, and financing tools, towards engaging more effectively in FCV contexts. This evaluation examines the relevance and implementation of the strategy’s adjustments to the Bank Group’s operational approaches in FCS. It seeks to inform the revised World Bank Group FCV strategy by integrating insights and lessons learned from the 2020–25 strategy. Three recommendations include: (i) Publish an implementation plan for the FCV strategy to link strategic intent with action. (ii) Enhance FCV-sensitive programming and approaches. (iii) Revamp Bank Group financial and personnel resource frameworks and data systems to better align with the operating requirements in FCV.
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World Bank. 2025. An Evaluation of the World Bank Group Strategy for Fragility, Conflict, and Violence, 2020–25. Independent Evaluation Group. World Bank.
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Publication An Evaluation of the World Bank Group Strategy for Fragility, Conflict, and Violence 2020-2025 (Approach Paper)(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2025-02-10)Fragility, conflict, and violence (FCV) have upended development progress. Overlapping and mutually reinforcing crises, including worsening climate challenges, ideological polarization and extremism, growing economic disparities, and weak governance and corruption, have all exacerbated the frequency and severity of conflicts. Civil wars, interstate conflicts, and violence and crime in both low- and middle-income countries have profound welfare impacts inside affected countries and destabilizing effects across borders through irregular migration and forced displacement and the disruption of trade and supply chains. Global poverty reduction and shared prosperity have slowed since 2014 with significant risks of reversing, which the World Bank attributes to lower economic growth, the COVID-19 pandemic, high inflation, and increased conflict and fragility. As a result, global extreme poverty is above the level of 2018, calling into question the achievement of the World Bank Group’s objective of ending extreme poverty by 2030. The Bank Group introduced its Strategy for Fragility, Conflict, and Violence 2020–2025 (FCV strategy) in February 2020 to enhance its effectiveness in supporting countries in addressing the drivers and impacts of FCV The evaluation responds to a request by the Bank Group Boards of Directors to inform the development of a new Bank Group FCV strategy. It seeks to distill findings and lessons from the Bank Group experience with the implementation of the 2020–25 FCV strategy to inform the preparation of a new Bank Group FCV strategy. Given this objective and to optimize IEG’s value add, this evaluation is focused on providing timely findings and lessons for the new strategy.Publication World Bank Group Strategy for Fragility, Conflict, and Violence 2020–2025(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2020-02-27)By 2030, more than half of the world’s extreme poor will live in countries characterized by fragility, conflict, and violence. Preventing and mitigating fragility, conflict, and violence (FCV) is central to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the World Bank Group’s (WBG) twin goals of ending extreme poverty and promoting shared prosperity. 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The operationalization of the World Development Report 2011: Conflict, Security, and Development (2011 WDR) is also assessed, to see how the framework has been reflected in subsequent analytical work, country assistance strategies, and the assistance programs. The evaluation framework was derived from the concepts and priorities articulated in recent WDRs, policy papers, and progress reports issued by Bank Group management, to draw lessons from FCS. The framework is organized around the three major themes emerging from the 2011 WDR: building state capacity, building capacity of citizens, and promoting inclusive growth and jobs. The evaluation focuses on International Development Association (IDA)-only countries, which are deemed to have certain characteristics such as very low average income and no access to private finance, making them eligible for special finance tools and programs. 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The Bank's medium-term response for agriculture significantly increased lending and focused on expanding productive capacity and resilience.
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Publication Gabon Country Climate and Development Report(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2025-11-01)Gabon has a unique opportunity to drive inclusive growth, reduce poverty, and build a resilient post-oil economy, with climate action accelerating progress toward these goals. The country’s main development challenge is achieving higher growth and poverty reduction, as stronger growth is needed regardless of projected climate shocks to create jobs, raise living standards, and enable a viable post-oil economy. While pursuing growth-promoting economic reforms, climate action that prioritizes people must remain central to its development pathway. However, climate change risks exacerbating poverty and regional inequalities in a country already facing long-term challenges in expanding economic opportunities and basic public services, especially in rural areas. 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Each CCDR starts from the country’s development priorities, opportunities, and challenges, and is developed in close consultation with governments, businesses, and civil society, ensuring the recommendations reflect national priorities. By combining evidence on adaptation, resilience, and emissions pathways, CCDRs highlight where climate action can reinforce development and job creation, and where targeted policies are needed to manage risks and smooth labor market transitions. 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Between 2018 and 2023, as many as 11 tropical depressions or cyclones impacted the country, with Cyclone Kenneth causing the greatest damage, equivalent to 14 percent of GDP, resulting in total economic growth falling from 3.6 percent in 2018 to 1.9 percent in 2019. More than 345,000 people (40 percent of the population) were affected by the cyclone, with 185,000 people experiencing severe impacts and 12,000 people displaced. However, there is an opportunity for the country to grow more robust and shock-responsive, and to establish pre-positioned funding mechanisms to enhance future crisis response efforts. For the Comoros, adaptation and climate-resilient development are the key climate change focus areas, with the country projected to face 836 million dollars 2050 in additional costs due to climate-related impacts. Current plans to adapt to the impacts of climate change in the Comoros include efforts to improve water management, strengthen coastal protection, and develop climate-smart agriculture practices. Given the country’s reliance on its natural resource base for economic growth and mobility, protection of these resources from climate change will be essential for promoting resilient growth and development. In addition to growing the adaptive capacity of the country’s natural resource sectors, strategic economic diversification will be important to help minimize future climate impacts, and development activities will need to be undertaken in such a way as to attract low-carbon co-benefits. The Union of the Comoros is committed to addressing climate change through its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and national priorities. The country’s NDC (which was revised in 2021 for a ten-year horizon) sets ambitious targets, with a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 23 percent by 2030. The country also plans to significantly increase the share of renewable energy in its energy portfolio, reaching 33 MW by 2030. This will not only promote low-carbon development but also reduce the country’s dependency on imported oil and coal, which currently make up 95 percent of the energy mix. Additionally, the Comoros has declared its intention to increase CO2 removals by 47 percent by 2030, compared to BAU.Publication Kyrgyz Republic Country Climate and Development Report(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2025-11-03)This Country Climate and Development Report (CCDR) on the Kyrgyz Republic aims to support the country’s development goals amid a changing climate. The CCDR considers two policy scenarios up to 2050: the business-as-usual (BAU) and high-growth scenarios. 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