The World Bank's Board of Executive Directors approved the Program-for-Results (PforR) financing instrument on January 24, 2012. PforR is an innovative financing instrument for the World Bank’s client countries that links the disbursement of funds directly to the delivery of defined results.

This innovative instrument will help the Bank's partner countries improve the design and implementation of their development programs and achieve lasting results by strengthening institutions and building capacity. It will also help strengthen partnerships with government, development partners and other stakeholders by providing a platform to collaborate in larger country programs.

PforR would support government programs in a diverse range of countries and sectors. In some countries, PforR would help deliver and improve the coverage of antenatal care for mothers and newborns or increase immunization coverage for children. In others, PforR would help provide sustainable water supply and sanitation services; strengthen the coverage and quality of early childhood and primary education; or contribute to a government program to reduce the number of rural households living below the poverty line.

Over the last two years, a diverse set of Bank specialists and stakeholders have contributed to the development of Program-for-Results. An extensive global consultations process, held in two phases, over the last twelve months has also provided important inputs to the design.