A One World Bank Initiative to Drive Development Impact
The future of development holds immense promise—powered by science, driven by data, and grounded in evidence. As we face new opportunities to accelerate progress, the need for smarter, more adaptive approaches has never been stronger.
LEADS — Learn. Adapt. Scale. — is a One World Bank Group initiative that brings this vision to life. Created by the Development Economics Vice Presidency (DEC) and implemented in close collaboration with Regional Vice Presidencies, Verticals, IFC, and other global partners, LEADS equips project teams and government counterparts with the tools, methods, and mindsets to learn in real time, adapt course, and scale what works.
At its heart, LEADS is about closing the gap between intention and impact.
The LEADS Model
LEADS is a structured yet flexible framework anchored in three pillars:
1. Flexible Design
Projects are restructured from rigid blueprints into adaptive, evidence-informed plans:
- Embedding proven solutions from global evidence at entry;
- Building in testable alternatives for future adaptation;
- Enhancing project design to increase expected effectiveness.
2. Science-Based Adaptive Delivery
Implementation integrates scientific learning and A/B testing methods:
- Improving readiness for delivery;
- Reducing implementation delays;
- Increasing impact through trial-and-adopt learning loops.
3. System-Wide Enablers
Impact is scaled by building the institutional infrastructure for adaptive delivery:
- Promoting portfolio-level adoption via AI tools (e.g., ImpactAI), real-time data systems (e.g., MEGA), and embedded field support;
- Supporting governments to build data standards, digital architecture, and supportive legislation to take things to scale.
LEADS Impact Spotlight
LEADS is changing how development is designed and delivered.
· 💰 $280M in efficiency gains identified across 50+ projects ($18B in financing) from LEADS workshops alone in AFE (2024) and AFW (2025).
· ⏱️ 5–6 quarters faster delivery in projects using adaptive, evidence-informed approaches, getting results to the ground faster (see Working Paper).
· 📈 Up to 2x greater impact through trial-and-adopt methods that rigorously test and scale what works (Driving Revolutionary Ideas into Practice).
LEADS isn’t just improving projects—it’s setting a new standard for development delivery.
The LEADS Journey
May 2024 – AFE LEADS | Cape Town
The launch of LEADS in Eastern and Southern Africa (AFE) marked the beginning of a movement.
In Cape Town, 33 projects from 16 countries—representing $12.8B in financing — and 250 leaders came together to redesign for greater impact. Evidence-informed changes led to an estimated $238M in efficiency gains across the portfolio (see Up Front Story).
What emerged was not just smarter design—but sustained support. Since the workshop:
- Teams received personalized support to design and integrate adaptive learning approaches into their projects;
- At least 9 projects are advancing full impact evaluations, while others are supported via the AFE M&E Community of Practice;
- Knowledge-sharing activities like AFE Results Day, webinars, and evidence digests are planned to strengthen the learning ecosystem across AFE;
- Replicable ideas—from flexible agricultural subsidies and literacy apps to local procurement for school meals—are now being scaled regionally.
With over $6M in funding needs for data collection and technical support over five years, AFE is actively mobilizing resources through IDA allocations, trust funds, and strategic donor engagement.
May 2025 – AFW LEADS | Lomé
LEADS expanded to Western and Central Africa (AFW) with a powerful message: this is not business as usual.
In Lomé, over 200 leaders from 11 countries brought 20 investments worth $5.3B across IDA, IBRD, and IFC portfolios (event page).
Participants left the event with redesigned delivery models, trial-and-adopt plans, and evidence-informed implementation strategies. Examples include:
- Niger’s $1B LAMP project redesigning irrigation systems and testing water fee systems based on impact evidence from Mozambique;
- Ghana’s PFM4SD initiative integrating performance-based incentives for public financial management;
- Togo’s SWEDD+ team is preparing a trial on economic inclusion for adolescent girls, grounded in best-practice bundles;
- Husk Power Systems—an IFC client—launching a real-time impact evaluation of mini-grid electrification in Nigeria as part of the M300 initiative.
The event was also a showcase of regional innovation: from Togo’s Data Lab to Mali’s Kabakoo Academies. Tools like ImpactAI and Data360 were introduced to integrate real-time learning into operations.
May 2025 – Europe | Berlin
In Berlin, LEADS reached the European Union, where government representatives managing 27 cohesion policy operations gathered to leverage adaptive design and data for real-time policy learning for jobs, skills, innovation and the digital transition.
In partnership with the European Commission, the initiative aimed to:
- Design trial-and-adopt strategies for policy innovations;
- Promote data system integration and digital architecture for policy learning;
- Establish regulatory and institutional support for adaptive program cycles and policy experimentation.
Europe LEADS confirmed that LEADS is not just a tool for low- and middle-income countries—it is a global model for smarter public spending.
Coming Soon: Asia and MENA
East Asia LEADS will be launched in Tokyo to explore how adaptive delivery can support sustainable solutions to regional priorities like climate resilience and smart infrastructure. The event will spotlight AI-powered simulation tools, public-private digital partnerships, and new forms of citizen-centered feedback loops.
India and the MENA region are also gearing up to launch LEADS to tackle regional priorities like jobs, health, digital services, and resilience. Teams are aligning pipelines, forging partnerships, and setting the stage for rollout.
A New Development Standard
LEADS is helping the World Bank Group become the institution it asks its clients to be: evidence-informed, adaptive, and accountable for results.
By combining DEC’s research leadership with the regional and vertical teams’ delivery muscle, LEADS is turning aspirations into impact—one learning loop at a time.
It’s not just about building better projects.
It’s about building systems that improve themselves.
Building a Culture of Learning
LEADS is more than a framework for project design and delivery—it's a platform for continuous learning across the institution.
To support this, LEADS provides a growing library of toolkits, presentation decks, templates, and curated evidence that feed into the World Bank’s regional Academies and other staff learning initiatives. These materials help project teams, government counterparts, and new staff internalize adaptive methods, apply real-time learning strategies, and integrate scientific tools like A/B testing into their work.
By linking operational teams with cutting-edge knowledge and ready-to-use resources, LEADS strengthens both individual capacity and institutional systems—so learning isn’t just encouraged, it’s embedded.
