Economics & Development

This World Bank Group (WBG) Regional Partnership Framework (RPF) for FY26–31 supports the shared vision of generating more and better jobs across nine Pacific Island Countries - Kiribati, Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. Building on the WBG’s longstanding engagement in the Pacific and the Small States Strategy, the RPF aligns with common national development priorities, including improved governance and economic management, private sector development and job creation, strengthened infrastructure for connectivity and resilience, enhanced human capital and social inclusion, and greater environmental sustainability. The framework responds to the region’s structural challenges - extreme remoteness, vulnerability to climate change and natural disasters, limited state capacity, gender inequality, and fragile growth dynamics which constrain economic opportunity and resilience. Informed by lessons from the previous RPF and country consultations, the strategy adopts a more selective and results-focused approach, concentrating on areas where the WBG can deliver the greatest impact on jobs through scalable financing, integrated policy and technical solutions, and regional collaboration. The RPF focuses on four outcomes: (i) more effective macroeconomic and fiscal management; (ii) strengthened infrastructure for better connected communities; (iii) healthier lives and reduced learning poverty; and (iv) increased resilience.

Fiscal year 2025 marked a year of sustained momentum for the Independent Evaluation Group as it deepened engagement and strengthened the use of evaluative evidence across the World Bank Group. IEG expanded collaboration with operations and management through more than 23 learning events reaching over 1,000 staff, embedding evaluation lessons directly into operational learning. Partnerships with the Knowledge and Learning Directorate advanced learning in lending, the WBG Academy, and client capacity development, including a pilot AI tool to synthesize validation lessons. IEG delivered major evaluations aligned with strategic priorities and continued global leadership, innovation, and capacity building to advance outcomes.