The World Bank's Experience with Post-Conflict Reconstruction

The explosion of civil con- flicts in the post-Cold War world has tested the World Bank’s ability to address unprecedented devastation of human and social capital.
Since 1980, the volume of Bank lending to post-conflict countries has increased over 800 percent, to US$6.2 billion, and touched every region and economic sector. This Operations Evaluation Department (OED) assessment of the Bank’s post-conflict reconstruction port- folio aims to enhance the institu- tion’s ability to respond more effec- tively and efficiently to the needs of societies rebuilding after conflict. The assessment examines Bank operational policies as they relate to post-conflict reconstruction and calls for a new policy statement that will consolidate, clarify and refine existing policies.