IEG

Independent Evaluation Group

The Independent Evaluation Group (IEG) evaluates the development effectiveness of the World Bank Group. Our work provides evaluative evidence to help the World Bank Group deliver better services and results to its clients. We do so by generating lessons from past experience and accountability to shareholders and stakeholders at large. IEG is independent of the Management of the World Bank Group and reports directly to the Executive Board. Evaluation of World Bank projects began in 1970, when President Robert McNamara created an Operations Evaluation Unit in the bank's Programming and Budgeting Department. In 1973, the unit was renamed the Operations Evaluation Department, and thereafter gained increasing independence from bank management. The International Finance Corporation (IFC) established an evaluation unit in 1984, and in 1995, the unit increased its independence under a new name, the Operations Evaluation Group. The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) created an evaluation office in 2002. In July 2006 the Board of the Bank Group integrated the independent evaluation functions of the World Bank, IFC, and MIGA into a single unit, the Independent Evaluation Group.

evaluation impact