Jordan : Supporting Stable Development in a Challenging Region, A Joint World Bank-Islamic Development Bank Evaluation
This evaluation, prepared in collaboration with the Islamic Development Bank, looks at the effectiveness of Bank assistance to Jordan during the 1990s, from three perspectives: an analysis of the Bank's services and products, development impac...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Publication |
| Language: | English en_US |
| Published: |
Washington, DC: World Bank
2013
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2004/05/4452477/jordan-supporting-stable-development-challenging-region-joint-world-bank--islamic-development-bank-evaluation http://hdl.handle.net/10986/14946 |
| Summary: | This evaluation, prepared in
collaboration with the Islamic Development Bank, looks at
the effectiveness of Bank assistance to Jordan during the
1990s, from three perspectives: an analysis of the
Bank's services and products, development impact, and
the contribution of the Bank and its development partners,
to development outcomes. The Bank's strategy since
1990, based on wide-ranging and influential analytic and
advisory activities, was to support macroeconomic
stabilization and pro-market structural reforms to foster
growth. The increased focus on the social sectors was
aligned with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The
strategy was relevant to the government's priorities
outlined in a series of five-year economic and social
development plans. The Bank's programs, in particular,
were successful in promoting policy reforms. Substantial
tariff, trade and financial sector reforms, together with
the removal of disincentives for investment and the
privatization of government enterprises, were achieved. Bank
assistance also contributed to significant progress in the
agriculture, water and social sectors. With Bank support,
Jordan made excellent progress in almost all areas covered
by the MDGs, and is likely to meet the target levels by
2015. However, these gains have been achieved in an
inefficient manner and the cost in terms of public
expenditures has been relatively high. Recommendations
outline much needed public sector reform, for despite some
public expenditures being curtailed, the country's
vulnerability to external shocks, remains high, and the
potential for regional instability is also considerable.
Future Bank assistance should focus on public expenditure
restructuring, enhanced water management and conservation,
and poverty reduction. |
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