The Japanese Social Development Fund is a World Bank fund that gives support to the poorest groups in society.
The JSDF is unique, as its grants are not distributed by central government, but directly by civil society organisations to the local communities.
In 2005 Itad conducted a strategic evaluation of the JSDF for the World Bank. Itad reviewed the progress and development of the fund and its achievements in relation to the Funds objectives. We visited a total of ten projects that had received grants from JSDF, including projects in Armenia, Benin, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Laos, Uganda and Vietnam. Itad also interviewed key figures from the Bank and from Japanese Ministries and NGOs. Itad made recommendations on the ways in which the Fund might better achieve its objectives in the future.
A full copy of the report can be found here.
Image © GH058503 World Bank. Photo credit: World Bank Photo Collection