World Bank Strategic Priorities Social Development World Bank Strategic Priorities CEN Annual Meeting Almaty, Kazakhstan May 26-28, 2004 Good morning. It’s wonderful to be with all of you today. You are used to hearing me speaking about “Knowledge Management” and reminding you that your KM efforts need to have a goal in mind. We discussed in earlier sessions that the goals of KM in Community Driven Development (CDD) are Empowerment, Project Effectiveness, Accountability and Sustainability. Today, I would like to speak to you about the social dimensions of development which can be used as the “principles” that guide our work in Knowledge Management and CDD. Let me start by telling you a little story about a community in Africa….

What is Social Development? Social Development is about progress. Just as “positive” economic growth leads to economic development, positive social change leads to social development

An example from Mchinji, Malawi… In 2002 an illiterate woman took part in a CARE program to train communities how to monitor health services using a community score card: keeping track of drug supplies, and assessing the quality of service by staff. She got very good at it… How many drugs were supplied to the center? How were given to patients? How many were available? How were staff treating patients? Health staff know that they will be evaluated every six months Ministry takes note of the evaluations Change in performance is dramatic Drugs delivery was a huge problem throughout Malawi In 2002, CARE began a program of capacity building in Mcchinji, Malawi to train communities to monitor health services using a “community scorecard” which would track drug supply and assess the quality of health care. Drug delivery was a huge problem throughout Malawi. One of the individuals who took part in this training was an illiterate woman who got very good at using the Community Scorecard – without writing anything down! Can you imagine being in this session and not writing anything down and yet remembering everything you have been taught? The CARE program was so successful that within 6 months, health care in Mcchinji improved dramatically. The community found this out becamse they repeated the Score Card exercise again. Complete turnaround in performance of this health center within 6 months when the score card exercise was repeated

An example from Mchinji, Malawi… The CARE program was expanded throughout Malawi When the program was being introduced to the Malawi Social Action Fund this illiterate woman was asked to present it Clear Articulate Powerful What does this teach us? [Empowerment = Project Effectiveness = Accountability] What else does it teach us? [not to forget the most disadvantaged in society – children, illiterate women] Because of the success of the CARE program, it was expanded throughout Malawi. By the way, the illiterate woman that was empowered to conduct the Community Scorecard was asked to present at a national meeting to introduce Social Funds in Malawi. After her articulate, clear and powerful talk, No one in the audience could believe she was an illiterate woman from a small village.

Principles in Action… Inclusion: Putting people at center of development Involved an illiterate woman in Mchinji Cohesion: Strengthening community fabric so that members can work together The village in Mchinji worked together to solve problem So, what does this mean in practical terms? That the principles of social development lead to project effectiveness. What are the principles of social development as seen by the World Bank? Inclusion: Putting people first (lesson learned: include the most disadvantaged) Cohesion: Building social capital (involve the community) Accountability: Empower communities to exercise their voice to authorities so that authorities respond. Accountability: Developing ways for people to exercise voice to authorities An illiterate woman gave voice to community

Principles in Action… One illiterate woman A village A district A national program The World?

How Does the World Bank Support Social Development? Business Lines Social analysis Participation & Civic Engagement Community Driven Development Conflict Prevention & Reconstruction Social Safeguards The Social Development Department of the World Bank sits in the Environmentally and Socially Sustainable Department (a network including ARD, ENV & SDV). The SD Department works in teams which support the business lines of the Department: Social Analysis & Policy which conducts PSIA, Country Social Assessments, etc; P&CE which works to strengthen civic engagement and social accountability; CDD & Social Capital; Conflict Prevention & Reconstruction and Social Safeguards. Are you surprised that the World Bank works in this are?

Social Development Works… Review from World Bank external evaluation department shows that attention to social dimensions makes projects work better We have always known that incorporating the social dimensions of development in projects works, but now we have the quantitative evidence to demonstrate it. So, we know it works, now what?

Social Development Strategy Regional business strategies – first half 2004 External consultations – first half 2004 Consolidate, disseminate feedback Finalize Bank-wide business strategy third quarter 2004 Dissemination after final Executive Directors’ endorsement - possibly late 2004 For the first time, the World Bank is consolidating its approach to social development into a single Bank-wide strategic priorities paper. The paper outlines how the World Bank will work with client countries to address their social development challenges and ensure that Bank projects and programs integrate principles of social sustainability. The paper sets a vision, objectives, and a course of action for the longer term and suggests specific actions, targets, and institutional measures for the next five years. You have all received the Russian translation of the Executive Summary of the most recent draft (February 2004). With your assistance and feedback, we hope to be able to continue fine-tuning the strategy until we are able to provide it as a blue-print to the World Bank for sustainable development.

We look forward to your feedback… With Your Help…. We can do more… We can do better… We can accelerate our efforts… We look forward to your feedback…

Resources www.worldbank.org/socialdevelopment