About the OECD Multi-dimensional Reviews
Strategy – Learning – Impact 

The Challenge

The process of development is complex. Economic, social and governance capacities must evolve to reinforce each other, while adapting to internal and external pressures. Successful strategies recognise this complexity and empower governments to focus efforts on the most important constraints and opportunities.

The Tool

OECD Multi-dimensional Country Reviews are a tool to assist governments with defining and implementing successful strategies. A 3-stage process delivers a blueprint of strategic reforms that is co-created with local stakeholders, informed by OECD expertise, and validated by a community of peers. The blueprint includes priority actions, good practices to learn from, and a scorecard for effective implementation.

1. Initial Assessment: Combining strategic foresight with rigorous diagnostics to identify strategic reforms and pathways for development.
2. Shaping the Strategy: Leveraging the OECD’s deep technical expertise and knowledge of good practices in a wide range of policy fields, such as investment and economic transformation, taxation and public finance, labour markets, social protection and education, environmental policy and the low-carbon transition, public governance and many more.
3. From Analysis to Action: Mobilising local knowledge to refine priority reform plans and generate commitment for implementation.

Covid-19

Multi-dimensional Reviews analyse key transmission channels and drivers of resilience in order to identify the main levers for policy action and recovery strategies in the face of Covid-19. Building future resilience, defined as the capacity to respond appropriately and effectively to a shock, must be key.

A 3-stage process to deliver a blueprint for strategic reforms

The Learning

Learning is a key element of the MDR process. Understanding the successes and failures of other countries that have faced similar challenges is a crucial ingredient for good strategy making. The MDR process includes multiple workshops that focus on learning through participation. Past MDRs have brought experts on rubber from Thailand to Cote d’Ivoire, on government delivery from Malaysia to Peru and on educational reform from Ireland to Viet Nam.

At the core of the learning process is the Mutual Learning Group of the OECD Development Centre, a formal group of member countries dedicated to peer review and exchange on policy experiences. Each MDR includes two dedicated meetings of this group.

The Experience so far

Multi-dimensional country reviews have supported strategy-making and policy reforms in countries across the developing world. Since their inception in 2012, 19 countries have undertaken a review, spanning Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America. In Asia, Viet Nam (2020), Thailand (2018), Myanmar (2015) and Kazakhstan (2017) have undertaken Multi-dimensional Reviews. The MDCR of Viet Nam supported the country’s 10-year development strategy, zooming in on an integrated investment strategy, modernise tertiary education and double down on the clean energy transition to maximise future opportunity. Thailand’s MDR focused on how to develop the full potential of the country’s diverse regions. Building on the MDCR, Cote d’Ivoire has requested a 5-year follow-up partnership to track implementation of reforms and continue the learning process.  

References

We applaud the quality of the work carried-out by the MDCR Team. Together, we are assessing the progress made by our country in the implementation of an action plan and identifying the areas of risk that may hamper the achievement of reforms. The support of the Development Centre is a guarantee of success for our progress towards emergence.

Daniel Kablan Duncan, Vice-President, Cote d’Ivoire, 2016

The Multidimensional Review of Morocco conducted by the OECD Development Center in partnership with the Government stands out through its innovative approach, featuring broad consultations, deep data analysis and pertinent international comparisons.  Through this review and in light of Morocco's ambition to join the group of emerging countries, we have been able to identify strengths, major challenges and key actions to accelerate the structural transformation of our economy and improve the well-being of society.

Abdelghni Lakhdar, Adviser to the Head of Government of Morocco, 2018

The Multi-dimensional Review provides an objective view, from the achievements to the forecast of the situation and the identification of goals for the development of effective mechanisms, solutions and policies. Secondly, the report provides additional necessary knowledge. Thirdly, (the report helps) approach good international practices including that of the OECD. As such, it will encourage and put pressure on us to reform strongly and more quickly to keep up with the development orientation of the OECD countries.

Nguyen Chi Dung, Minister of Planning and Investment, Viet Nam, 2020

Contact

Jan Rielaender, Head of Multidimensional Country Reviews, OECD Development Centre, E-mail: jan.rielaender@oecd.org  Tel: +33 1 45 24 80 28