The present evaluation is much more wide-ranging in that it will look at the impact the Bank has had through many of its activities, said Liebenthal. The Bank is also preparing an environmental strategy paper which will take into account the OED evaluation. The OED is an independent evaluation unit reporting to the World Bank's executive directors. It is mandated to rate the development impact and performance of all the Bank's completed lending operations, for incorporation into the design and implementation of new policies and projects. Religious leaders visit Bank to advise on upcoming poverty report Recognizing the spiritual and cultural aspects of life is key to making economic development work well for the world's poorest people, a diverse group of religious leaders told World Bank officials in Washington last week.
Economic growth is a pre-requisite for eliminating hunger.
But we want to look very carefully at what kind of growth that is, who benefits from the growth, and what institutions are necessary to ensure the right growth is being carried out. The WFDD is a dialogue between nine of the world's major religions and the World Bank on poverty and criteria for development policy and practice. It was first launched in February 1998 under the chairmanship of the Archbishop of Canterbury, George Carey, and World Bank President James D. Wolfensohn. At a conference that month in London, the faiths presented their ideas on the nature of economics and criteria for development. The WDR, which focuses on a different theme each year, will concentrate on poverty when it is published next year.