Final Evaluation of the Technical Cooperation Facility-I (TCF-I) in Eritrea (9 ACP ERY 06)

Detailed description of the project:

The Final evaluation will provide the decision-makers in the Government of Eritrea, the relevant services of the European Commission and the wider public with sufficient information to:

• make an overall independent assessment about the past performance of the programme, paying particularly attention to the impact of the project actions against its objectives;
• identify key lessons and to propose practical recommendations for follow-up actions

Back ground:
In line with the priorities of the Cotonou Agreement, the European Commission (EC) uses a facility named 'Technical Cooperation Facility' (TCF) for the provision of short-term consultancies to assist in identifying, preparing, evaluating, complementing, monitoring and auditing projects under the European Development Fund co-operation. These consultancy projects enable studies to be conducted, which assist in delineating EU and ACP States' interventions in various development sectors, assist in the preparation of specific programme proposals and allow the EC to undertake a number of evaluation exercises.
The programme to be evaluated: the Technical Cooperation Facility-I (TCF-I) was mainly aimed towards defining specific actions under the 10th EDF NIP and CSP and ensuring the effective implementation of development programmes. Out of the nineteen contracts included, ten were finally oriented to infrastructure and rehabilitation programmes and four to food security. The definition of a 'National Migration Profile', sector support strategies for Education and Health has also been addressed. A Programme Estimate to facilitate participation to conferences and seminars in ACP countries was unused.
Overall, the facility had an original allocation of 4.6MEuros, but in 2007 3MEuro were reallocated to other activities such as the newer TCF-II also funded under the 9th EDF (9 ACP ERY 11 & 12). A further reallocation of 0.3MEuro took place in 2008 leaving the TCF-I with 1.3MEuros for the 19 contracts funded. The Reste a Contractualiser (RAC) is 130, 765 EUR.
Final Evaluation responds to the requirements of the last phase of the 'project cycle'. The Expert undertaking the evaluation shall verify, analyse and assess in detail the issues outlined in Annex II "Layout, structure of the Final Report". The list of issues is not intended to be exhaustive but refer to the five evaluation criteria endorsed by the OECD-DAC (relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability and impact), and to the EC-specific evaluation criteria (EC added value and coherence).

Type of services provided:

The Expert is requested to verify, analyse and assess the integration and impact of cross cutting issues in the programme. The Expert shall use professional judgement and experience to review all relevant factors and to bring these to the attention of the beneficiary country, represented by the NAO, and of the European Commission.The Expert is also required to carry out this assignment in accordance with the 'Integrated Approach to Project/Programme Cycle Management' which is based on the ‘logical framework' method. The evaluation shall be based on a participatory approach, involving beneficiaries and all stakeholders concerned.
The evaluator shall carry out, inter alia, the following tasks:
a) Study all related documentation and reports and familiarise fully with the programmes specifications, its beneficiaries and stakeholders;
b) Assess the relevance of the project with regard to the economic, socio-economic and environmental context in Eritrea;
c) Assess the project relevance in view of related strategies and overall sub-sectors objectives;
d) Visit sufficiently beneficiary communities in order to assess the appropriateness, effectiveness and efficiency of the project's activities;
e) Assess the specific outcomes of the project and sustainability aspects.