Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Exit and sustainability of the Swiss development cooperation
Martin Baumann
Competence Center 6: Performance Audit and Evaluation
Swiss Federal Audit Office
IX. EUROSAI Congress, 18.06.2014
2Fusszeile
Setting the scene
Ex-post analysis of 14 projects in South Africa and India
Q1: Were the project objectives achieved at the time of Switzerland's exit? Q2: How was an adequate continuation of the supported projects ensured? Q3: What is the assessment of the current situation?
Preparation phase Implementation phase Post project phase
Project start Project end
t (years)
On-site visit
Q Q Q
3Fusszeile
Main challenges
Sustainability: diverse understandings, but increased importance through the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness (2005)
Hardly any studies
Who knows what? Most projects ended 2005 and 2006 Audit in 2013
4Fusszeile
New approach
Q1: Were the project objectives achieved at the time of Switzerland's exit? Q2: How was an adequate continuation of the supported projects ensured?
Preparation phase
Preparation phase Implementation phase Post project phase
Project start Project end
t (years)
On-site visit
Q Q Q
5Fusszeile
On
-sit
e vi
sit
6Fusszeile
On-site visit in India
Q3: What is the assessment of the current situation?
On-site visits in India and South Africa (2 weeks each visit).
airplane
project
car
train
7Fusszeile
Meetings, meetings, meetings…
8Fusszeile
9Fusszeile
Findings
Numerous “project footprints” can still be found years after completion.
Measuring the goal achievement in development cooperation has many limitations and investigating sustainable aspects is complex
The Swiss Development Agency withdrew from projects in a correct manner
Examined projects were needed and innovative, but associated with risks
Project documentation is a key source of information for evaluating lessons learned
Risk assessment is a key to success for the implementation and continuation of projects
Targeted ex-post analyses can create added value
10Fusszeile
Recommendations / Critique
Primarily concern the management of projects Define internal guidelines for the project completion Improve the definition of objectives in terms of measurability of progress towards their
achievement Ensure active and consistent project documentation Systematically monitor key risk areas within projects Encourage ex-post analyses for selected key projects
Critical reflections regarding the methodology applied: 1. No measurement of sustainability, but only an appraisal (“soft facts”)
2. Almost no comparability between projects (context, goals, developments)
3. On-site visits demand a lot of organization (interlocutors, travel, translation, limited time)
4. On-site visits raise expectations of beneficiaries
5. Cost-benefit: facts gathered vs. resources used
11Fusszeile
Thank you for your attention!
Full report available at www.efk.admin.ch
Contact: [email protected]
