IFAD released new project performance assessments in 2012 (2)

Overview

IFAD Independent Office of Evaluation released new project performance aseessments in Bangladesh and Zambia in 2012.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF PROJECT PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT FINDINGS

People's Republic of Bangladesh: Microfinance and Technical Support Project

The project was designed as a unique intervention bundling technical and financial services to support income generating activities for moderately and hard core poor households.

In spite of a competitive microfinance market and external challenges outside of the project?s control, the project performed well under the credit component, attracting an impressive number of women participants and leading to good results in food security and agricultural productivity. The training component, judged to be too ambitious and insufficiently coordinated with financial services, performed less well, but some innovations and non-traditional methods in technical support have survived in the post-project period.

Recommendations of this assessment focus on effectiveness of inputs. The quality of women?s participation would also improve with customized services and products. Other recommendations look at how to better integrate technical support and financial services, and improve the selection of financial institutions as partners to ensure sustainability.

Full document (in English) | Executive Summary (in English)

Republic of Zambia: Forest Resource Management Project

The project facilitated the formation of village resource management committees and producer groups; communities acquired valuable knowledge and skills under the project?s various training programmes in areas such as forestry protection, bee-keeping, rattan and bamboo production; and opportunities were created for women members to manage money and gain greater control over resources and access to knowledge. However, the project benefitted only a fraction of the original target population and scored limited achievements towards increasing the incomes of poor people who depend upon forest resources for their livelihoods.

In spite of the efforts at the output level, the project did not achieve most of its objectives, mainly constrained by a complicated legal and institutional context, insufficient focus on value chains and marketing of the products promoted, and weak project management. Key recommendations for future operations focus on ensuring realistic institutional foundations, proven technical and commercial potential of income generating activities and ownership of the project as well as improving monitoring and evaluation systems design and functionality.

Full document (in English) | Executive Summary (in English)

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