Projects

Short Description:

Overall goal

The overall purpose of the review is to help improve and adapt the ongoing country strategies for Armenia and Georgia, as well as the draft regional strategy for the Black Sea area/Southern Caucasus region, building on lessons learned from the implementation of both country strategies so far and reflecting the changing national, regional and international development contexts. As such, the review may suggest adaptations of sector choices and cross-cutting themes to align with the 3 Year Programme of the Austrian Development Cooperation 2016-2018, as well as modalities and instruments, and recommend corresponding changes/improvements in the existing results frameworks. At the same time, the review also aims to contribute to the development of a theory of change for Austria’s regional strategy and engagement in the Southern Caucasus.

Furthermore, the review will put forward recommendations for a more comprehensive Austrian ODA orientation in both countries, particularly in light of the 2014 OECD DAC peer review which recommends to apply a Whole-of-Government Approach (WGA) – something that had not been applied during the drafting of the present country strategies. This should take into account recent adaptations to the national strategies (especially in agriculture and rural development) and the advancing change in the political landscape in the region and in both countries (for instance DCFTA with EU in Georgia, CEPA and Eurasian Customs Union in Armenia).

Expected results

Determine the relevance, coherence and value added of the Austrian Development Cooperation with regard to the national development priorities of both countries (including the MDGs before, now SDGs) and the extent to which the objectives and results need to be adapted to the changing development context in the partner countries, in Austria, the EU and globally.

Assess the effectiveness, impact and sustainability (where feasible) of the results achieved under the country strategies and its related programs and projects. Also identify key factors, which enhance or hinder performance, results and achievements.

Provide rapid feedback on the status of implementation and actionable recommendations for the improvement/refinement for the remaining period of the country strategies, and to build the foundation with regard to key elements of the new country strategies and the draft regional strategy.

Appraise the efficiency of the strategic and operational steering mechanisms of ADA and of the ADC in general.

Identify lessons learned, good practices and innovations in the relevant sectors/areas to support the priorities of the countries and to inform about the development of a regional strategy for the Black Sea area/Southern Caucasus region.

Target group / Beneficiaries

Being a formative, improvement-oriented evaluation, the primary audience will be relevant actors and decision makers in the ADC (including the Coordination Offices in Tiflis, Jerewan, and relevant Units/Country Desks and senior management within the BMEIA and ADA) and the Governments of Armenia and Georgia. Additional audiences will include the Reference Group, notably key ministries, development partners and subject matter experts, as well as other Units/Country desks and actors applying the Whole of Government Approach that may draw on these findings and apply learning in other contexts. Key donors and development actors working in Georgia and Armenia may also find the report useful in informing future engagement.

Activities

Study/desk review of documents

Draft inception report

Data collection through interviews, focus groups, online survey, field mission

Final evaluation report

Context

The current Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC) Country Strategies for Armenia and Georgia (two separate strategies) both span the period 2012-2020. They were developed within the overall framework of the respective development cooperation agreements signed with both countries , and are the result of a consultative process guided by Armenia’s and Georgia’s national development priorities and Austria’s development policies. As such, the country strategies contribute to the national Development Strategies of Armenia and Georgia, both lasting until 2020, and coincide with the two consecutive Three-Year Programmes of the ADC covering the periods 2013-2015 and 2016-2018. Efforts are currently under way to develop a regional strategy for the Eastern Partnership Region, with the aim to strengthen the capacities of actors and institutions in particular in the field of governance, rule of law and peace building, as well as economic development in disadvantaged border regions.

The Austrian-Georgian cooperation 2012-2020 focusses on two priority sectors: agriculture and forestry and on governance. The Austrian-Armenian cooperation 2012-2020 focusses on the agriculture sector and on governance as a cross-cutting issue. The draft regional strategy for the Black Sea area/Southern Caucasus region foresees two different priorities: economic development with a focus on less developed regions; and governance, rule of law, peacebuilding and conflict prevention.