Independent Development Evaluation (IDEV) at the African Development Bank (AfDB or “the Bank”) conducted an evaluation synthesis of interventions supporting inclusive growth. This synthesis brought together 56 evaluations, 11 research papers, and other documentation produced by the AfDB, multilateral and bilateral development institutions, and other partners from 2013 to 2021 on inclusive growth. The key findings and lessons contributed to IDEV’s evaluation of the AfDB’s Ten-Year Strategy 2013–2022, and will inform the design and implementation of the next Ten-Year strategy of the Bank.
The evaluation synthesis found that overall, the inclusive growth interventions were aligned with national/corporate/global policies and commitments, however, they did not always adequately target the poor, marginalized and/or underserved population. The interventions were also more effective at delivering immediate outputs and outcomes than at demonstrating impact on employment and jobs, enterprise growth and profitability, well-being, and quality of life. Differences in assessment approaches and criteria across the interventions and/or organizations studied made it difficult to establish and draw conclusions regarding efficiency. However, the observed commonalities in efficiency drivers included: innovative information and communication technology (ICT) options, the complexity of program/project design, and adequacy of resources and monitoring systems. Sustainability was difficult to establish in the absence of evidence of critical outcomes, but the synthesis found a mixed record on institutional sustainability. Programs that included strong community engagement demonstrated a higher likelihood of sustainability of outcomes. Weak financial sustainability was found prevalent across all intervention types. Successful engagement of the private sector actors, political will and commitment improved the likelihood of sustainability
Some of the critical lessons drawn from this evaluation included: the need for intentional targeting of groups excluded from participating in and benefiting from growth processes; political support and institutional capacity are prerequisites for initiating and sustaining reform programs; balancing the profitability outcomes and targeting of underserved is essential for inclusive growth through private sector engagement. The evaluation also noted the need to develop and/or amplify the use of alternative financial products for the poor and underserved to increase access to social and economic opportunities; and that evidence-based program designs and measurement systems that specifically address outcomes for the underserved and marginalized can increase inclusive growth impacts.
Task Manager: May Mwaka, Principal Evaluation Officer