Implementation Completion and Results Report Review (ICRR) Guidance Manual
Introduction
The Implementation Completion and Results Report (ICR) serves as a key self-assessment tool for projects funded by the International Development Association (IDA) and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD). It encapsulates the outcomes, achievements, and performance of these operations. The ICRR, conducted by the Independent Evaluation Group (IEG), critically validates the evidence, results, and ratings provided in the ICR, focusing on the project's alignment with its design documents and additional dimensions relevant to learning.
Purpose of the Guidance Manual
This manual offers guidance to evaluators on structuring ICRRs for development policy financing operations. It outlines content, presentation, and rating methodologies, particularly tailored for operations in countries affected by fragility, conflict, and violence, to enhance learning and adaptation.
Key Sections of the Manual
- Section 1: Provides automated information on the operation or programmatic series, including ensuring the evaluator's name is included and noting any missing fields.
- Section 2: Details objectives and policy areas of the operation or programmatic series, describing the formal project development objectives (PDOs) and parsing them into more actionable, de facto objectives when necessary.
- Section 3: Focuses on the relevance of design, assessing whether the project was aligned with its intended goals and context.
- Section 4: Evaluates the relevance of results indicators (RIs), determining how well they align with the project's objectives and outcomes.
- Section 5: Examines the achievement of objectives, considering the efficacy of the project's interventions.
- Section 6: Analyzes outcomes, assessing the tangible impacts achieved through the project.
- Section 7: Investigates risks to development outcomes, identifying potential threats and their mitigations.
- Section 8: Assesses bank performance, evaluating the effectiveness and efficiency of the World Bank's involvement.
- Section 9: Explores other impacts, considering broader societal, environmental, and economic effects beyond the direct outcomes.
- Section 10: Reviews the quality of the implementation completion and results report, ensuring comprehensive and accurate documentation.
- Section 11: Rates the overall performance based on the assessments conducted throughout the ICRR process.
- Section 12: Summarizes lessons learned, providing insights for future projects and interventions.
Additional Considerations
- The ICRR should adhere to the IEG’s writing style guidelines detailed in the Independent Evaluation Group Style Guide.
- For programmatic series, additional interviews with previous task team leaders may be required to address specific questions that cannot be answered solely through the ICR.
Conclusion
The Guidance Manual provides a structured approach to conducting ICRRs, emphasizing the importance of thorough analysis, critical validation, and learning for enhancing project effectiveness and informing future development strategies.