During the High Level Meeting of heads of agency and senior management held in February 2004, the participating agencies committed to a four-step program of work to build on the conclusions of the Peer Reviews. One of the steps consists of bringing the aid effectiveness initiative closer to the field. In response, CGAP members are launching the Country-Level Effectiveness and Accountability Reviews (CLEARs). Much like the Peer Reviews, the Country Reviews reflect a peer effort and they will complement the work done during the headquarter-based reviews, the field visits, and the recent Uganda Microfinance Sector Effectiveness Review.

The overall objective of the CLEARs is to help donors improve their effectiveness in building financial systems that work for the poor through both individual and collective actions.

The reviews emphasize donor systems, communication flows, and practices against the backdrop of building financial systems that work for the poor. They strive to help donors identify gaps in the financial systems in the countries where they work and to design interventions that build on their respective comparative advantages. Country-level reviews also aspire to motivate donors to improve internal procedures and systems so that they can work more effectively with others in the field.

CLEARs bring donor aid effectiveness one step closer to field operations and stakeholders, such as national governments and practitioners, who cooperate closely with donors at the country level.

Schedule:

Five CLEARs are planned between October 2004 and December 2006.

Cambodia , October 2004
Nicaragua, February 2005
Madagascar, April 2005
Sri Lanka, October 9-28, 2005
Pakistan, November 18 - December 4, 2006

If you have any questions or comments on the CLEARs, please contact Eric Duflos at eduflos@worldbank.org