World Bank Social Development Strategy

Transforming Institutions to Empower the Dispossessed:

World Bank Strategy for Social Development

Robert S. Chase

Senior Economist, Social Development

World Bank

World Bank Social Development Strategy

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.

Drugs delivery was a huge problem throughout Malawi

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?

Complete turnaround in performance of this health center within 6 months when the score card exercise was repeated

• Health staff know that they will be evaluated every six months

• Ministry takes note of the evaluations

• Change in performance is dramatic

World Bank Social Development Strategy

An example from Mchinji, Malawi…

When the program was being introduced to the Malawi Social Action Fund this illiterate woman was asked to present it

- Clear

- Articulate

- Powerful

The CARE program was expanded throughout Malawi

World Bank Social Development Strategy

What is social development?

Inclusion: Putting marginalized people at the center of development Involved an illiterate woman in Mchinji

Cohesion: Strengthening community fabric so that members can work togetherThe village in Mchinji worked together to solve problem

Accountability: Developing ways for all people to exercise voice to authoritiesAn illiterate woman gave voice to community

World Bank Social Development Strategy

What is social development?

One illiterate woman

A village

A district

A national program

Why not the world?

World Bank Social Development Strategy

Social Development…is positive social change …that empowers the dispossessed…by promoting formal and informal

institutions that are more Inclusive Cohesive, and Accountable

World Bank Social Development Strategy

Well-being

Poverty reduction

Institutions

Human

Financial

PhysicalNatural

Social

Assets

InclusiveCohesiveAccountable

Assets & Capabilities to Reduce Poverty

World Bank Social Development Strategy

How does the World Bank support Social Development?

Many parts of the Bank contribute:Social sectors (“Human Development”): health,

education, social protectionPublic Sector Management, poverty analysis

All these areas have strategies Missing understanding of informal and formal

institutions from the perspective of poor people = “social development” in the World Bank

World Bank Social Development Strategy

Strategic Objective: Accelerate the trajectory

Heading in the right direction

Portfolio that includes SD increased (to about half)

Quality of attention to SD issues in other projects improved (85% of “good” quality up from 75% four years ago)

Need to go further: Strengthen policy dialogue and development support lending

Improve project effectiveness – by mainstreaming and free-standing portfolio

Build on foundation of capacity building, advocacy and research

World Bank Social Development Strategy

Key Questions…. Do the principles of inclusion, cohesion and accountability

adequately capture the objective of promoting positive social change?

What are the best approaches to promote these principles across contexts?

What is the appropriate role of the World Bank to promote social development?