Australia-World Bank Indonesia Partnership Independent Mid-Term Review and management response

Summary of publication

The Australia-World Bank Indonesia Partnership (ABIP) is a 5-year, AUD30 million investment (2020-2024) initiated as a single-donor programmatic trust fund with the World Bank in Indonesia. It works across three priority themes (accelerating human capital development; improving economic governance and mobility; and building more and better infrastructure), with a cross-cutting focus on gender equality.

ABIP aims to support the Government of Indonesia’s efforts to increase inclusive economic growth, through tackling constraints to Indonesia’s development, in line with the National Medium Term Development Plan (2020-2024), through the World Bank, and by coordinating with DFAT’s bilateral investments.

DFAT commissioned an independent mid-term review, as stipulated in the partnership agreement, to assess the validity and performance of the first single donor country trust fund between DFAT and the World Bank in Indonesia, by:

assessing whether ABIP is achieving what is intended; and
providing recommendations to inform the strengthening of ABIP’s implementation and its future direction, including extending beyond 2024.

Overall, the findings recognise that the ABIP modality as a single donor trust fund is achieving the aims of consolidation and that the World Bank remains a relevant and highly valued partner in Indonesia. A strong foundation has been established to strengthen the investment, and a Phase 2 beyond 2024 is recommended, with an emphasis on elevating gender equality through a specific theme/pillar, while mainstreaming disability and inclusion. The current funding level should be maintained into the future.

The review provided twelve (12) opportunities and aligned recommendations for consideration. DFAT welcomes the findings and recommendations and has summarised the actions taken and planned on the Management Response.