A particular problem with World Bank experience in scaling up has been the tendency to replicate successful models without sufficient attention to either the difficulties of using a specific intervention on a wider scale, its replicability or sustainability, or to the varying contexts in which that intervention is to be used.
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Box 12.2 Adaptable program lending
Adaptable program lending (APL) is suited to development efforts that require the longer-term phased planning and implementation common to agricultural sector activities and that involve institutional development, technical change, and activities with long production lead times (tree crops, livestock). This type of lending has been extensively used in the agricultural portfolio, especially in Africa. A typical APL is phased in over three stages—piloting and capacity building, scaling up, and institutionalization/consolidation. The key to successful APLs is to have a clear long-term vision for the sector or subsector, and to set well-defined “triggers” (indicators) for moving to the next phase. It is good practice to carry out an independent external evaluation before the end of each phase to evaluate progress and review strategy for the next phase. APLs also provide a transparent and flexible exit strategy for nonperforming loans.
Source: Authors
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The training and visit extension system and integrated rural development programs are examples of models that were rapidly scaled up without sufficient attention to costs, sustainability, or characteristics of local farmers and farming systems. Many interventions, such as community-driven development, have special issues of scaling up, which are related to local capacity building and to developing links between communities, local government, and higher levels of government. All interventions require adaptation to the local physical, socioeconomic, and institutional settings—replication across environments usually does not work well for agricultural investments. Much greater attention has to be given to developing institutional capacity to adapt and learn at the local level, based on established principles and processes, rather than replicating standard models.
There are no shortcuts to scaling up, and evaluation, learning, experimentation, and a long-term commitment (often over decades) are needed. Adaptable program lending (APL) introduced by the Bank in 1997 is especially appropriate for long-term sequencing of investments to allow learning and adaptation (box 12.2).
  
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