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The nine Pacific Member Countries (PMCs) of the World Bank Group are Fiji Islands, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tonga , and Vanuatu. This evaluation covers Bank assistance to the PMCs since 1992.

The World Bank's Independent Evaluation Group examined the World Bank's experience in disaster prevention and response over the past 20 years and found that the scale of Bank operations has grown over the period. The report found that the Bank has demonstrated considerable flexibility in its approach, but actions have tended to be more reactive than proactive, with disaster response taking more of the focus that preventative measures.

The World Bank has committed itself to becoming a 'global knowledge bank', using knowledge to improve the development effectiveness of its work. Two of the analytical and advisory ways the Bank provides knowledge to its client countries are economic and sector work (ESW) and nonlending technical assistance (TA). ESW and TA are an essential part of the Bank's engagement with its clients—it spent $910 million (26% of its spending on country services) on these products during fiscal 2000-06. This evaluation assesses the extent to which the stated objectives of ESW and TA have been met. It also assesses whether the way ESW and TA are originated, partnership with clients in production, technical quality, and dissemination of these products influence the extent to which the stated objectives are met.

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.

A basic reference guide to the World Bank, International Finance Corporation, Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency, and International Centre for Resolution of Investment Disputes. The four main chapters explain how the Bank Group is organized, how it operates, the role of countries and regions as a focus for its work, and the major topics in development in which the Bank Group is active. Appendices provide worldwide contacts, historical information, and additional data on the organization.