Working Paper
Assessing the Effectiveness of World Bank Investments

Today it is widely acknowledged that increasing the gender sensitivity of development aid increases its effectiveness. This report evaluates the extent to which the World Bank integrates gender concerns into its policies and investments, pointing out structural, financial and policy gaps that risk negatively impacting women in countries with Bank investments. The report evaluates Bank investments in ‘agriculture and rural development’; ‘sexual and reproductive health and HIV/AIDS’; and ‘conflict prevention and post-conflict reconstruction’, finding that though the Bank has made important progress in recognizing gender equality as a goal in its own right, many of its investments still superficially include women’s concerns. The report concludes with recommendations for making World Bank investments responsive to women’s needs and rights.