Adopted in April 2011, the Roadmap on Decentralization provides guidance for the transfer of greater decision-making authority to the field offices (FOs). The objectives of the Roadmap are to enhance services to clients in RMCs, based on three pillars:

• Strengthening the existing FOs by giving them greater responsibility for portfolio management and implementation, and for scaling up their analytical work;
• Expanding the Bank’s presence in fragile states; and
• Consolidating regional capacity through the establishment of five Regional Resource Centers.

It is expected that the Decentralization Roadmap will help to improve the quality of the Bank’s portfolio, strengthen its analytical work, and provide its many clients with tailored assistance.

A Permanent Committee on the Review and Implementation of the Decentralization (PECOD) was established in January 2011 to coordinate and monitor the implementation of the Decentralization of Bank operations. Milestones in 2011 include:

• The opening of four new FOs in fragile states (Togo, Liberia, Central African Republic, and Burundi);
• Preparatory work for the opening of the fifth FO in South Sudan in 2012; and
• The establishment of two pilot Regional Resource Centers in Nairobi and Pretoria, which will become operational during 2012.

The Bank also scaled up its efforts to implement the new business model implied by the enhanced decentralization and revision of the Bank’s Delegation of Authority Matrix. It was underscored that devolving authority to the field presents new institutional challenges for the Bank, as it requires seamless communication and IT facilities, in addition to an appropriate skills mix in the FOs.