World Bank Group

10/27/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/27/2021 08:25

Consultations: Review of the World Bank Group’s Program for Poland

We'd Like to Hear Your Views!

The World Bank Group is at the halfway point in the implementation of the ongoing Country Partnership Framework for Poland for 2018-2024. The strategy guides our country program by laying out the main development goals that Poland aims to achieve, and by proposing concrete instruments that the World Bank Group may use in its interventions.

According to the World Bank Group classification, Poland is a high-income country, therefore our strategy endures selectivity. This approach is based on two assumptions:

  • Any investment and advisory operation need to be targeted at supporting the most vulnerable parts of society.
  • Our interventions need to catalyze private sector investments and contribute to Global Public Goods.

Considering the above conditions, our strategy for 2018-2024 is focused on three pillars:

  1. Human capital, entrepreneurship, and innovation.
  2. Policymaking for growth and inclusion.
  3. Environment and climate.

In all those three pillars, we have managed to work with Poland to introduce reforms that improve the country's development prospects. Among our key initiatives that are being carried out during the implementation of the ongoing strategy are: advisory and technical assistance for the Clean Air Priority Program, financing of the Odra Vistula Flood Management Project, monitoring of the implementation of the POZ Plus, assist to Poland to ensure a 'Just Transition' in the country's coal regions, and advisory in strengthening the support system for firms in financial distress - New Opportunity Policy 2.0.

Our actions are in line with the expectations of the World Bank Group government counterparts, representatives of the civil society, academia, and private sector. In a 2021 survey about our program in Poland, climate change, health, and air pollution are in the top areas that the World Bank Group should focus on, according to the respondents.

Review of the Strategy

At the moment we are at the stage of reviewing our strategy. A document that is now being drafted called "Performance and Learning Review" is to summarize our experience in implementing the strategy during its first years in place, and to introduce some suggested changes due to new external conditions, including the COVID-19 pandemic, or priorities of the Polish government. The ongoing review provides an opportunity for updating areas and instruments of the potential World Bank Group's support for Poland.