The Relational Dynamics of World Bank Survey Missions

ABSTRACT

This article demonstrates that World Bank internal learning has led to significant changes in how the organization interacts with government officials through survey missions. Reviewing evidence of institutional learning and associated changes in practice and focusing on the relational modes being manifest in technical assistance, the article identifies three main phases of World Bank survey missions: general survey missions (1940s–1960s), country assistance strategies (1990s–2000s), and country partnership frameworks (2010s). Overall, World Bank reviews have repeatedly highlighted the importance of non-hierarchical interactions between Bank staff and country officials. In recent years, practice has begun to catch up with these operational insights.

KEYWORDS:

• World Bank
• policy transfer
• technical assistance
• global governance
• development

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Adrian Robert Bazbauers

Dr Adrian Robert Bazbauers is Lecturer in Public Sector Leadership in the School of Business at the University of New South Wales Canberra at ADFA. His research interests include global governance, development, and policy movement.