Data are vital for understanding the progress and impact of strategies in global development. New technologies coupled with increased computing power are creating opportunities for gathering and analyzing ever larger amounts of data from a greater range of sources. In addition, remote data collection has played an important role in getting around the restrictions put in place to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. But innovative use of technology began before the pandemic. How have new technologies influenced data gathering and use, and what are their implications for learning from evidence and for evaluating efforts in international development?     

More than a billion people live in areas affected by fragility, conflict, and violence. Climate change and the COVID pandemic threaten to drive that number even higher. How have the World Bank Group and the range of actors involved in development adapted to address new and persistent sources of insecurity, and what are the lessons for future efforts aimed at fostering development and stability?

What have we learned from tackling previous debt crises? We discuss the conditions that steered low-income countries into the current wave of debt distress and possible paths development organizations can take to prevent a new crisis.

What have we learned about measuring results in international development? We are less than a decade from delivering on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs touch on some of the most profound challenges facing humanity, such as ending poverty and reducing inequality. What does it mean to assess results on this massive agenda?

Millions of people rely on natural resources for their livelihoods and well-being. What have we learned from climate adaptation efforts to preserve and manage natural resources and their impact on local communities?

Climate change is accelerating the degradation of natural resources, putting whole communities at risk. In this episode we take a look at the Great Green Wall, a large belt of trees stretching across 12 African states, developed to combat land degradation and desertification of the Sahel. The World Bank and its partners have invested over one billion dollars on this iconic project to preserve and manage natural resources.

Listen in as Lauren Kelly, of the Independent Evaluation Group (IEG), and Oumou Moumouni, of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs UN OCHA, share lessons learned from the implementation of these programs and their impact on local communities.

Welcome to the evaluation podcast from the World Bank Group’s independent evaluation arm, IEG, where we reflect on the lessons learned from tackling pressing challenges in international development.