End-of-the Project Evaluation: UNDP Support to Aid Coordination, Harmonization and Alignment for Development Effectiveness

Rwanda is a signatory to the Accra Agenda for Action (2008), Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness (2005) and Rome Declaration on Harmonization (2003), and benefits from strong government commitment to ensure that both domestic and external resources are utilized in a manner that supports sustainable economic growth, poverty reduction, and an eventual reduction of dependence of foreign aid. Rwanda Aid Policy, finalized in 2006, provides overarching guidance on how aid to Rwanda should be provided and managed, recognizing that further developments in human and institutional capacity are necessary to support the successful implementation of Rwanda’s Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy.At the request of the Government of Rwanda, and Aid Coordination Unit was set up in the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in 2005 to strengthen national capacities for effective aid management and ensure that Rwanda’s aid coordination architecture has the support needed for its effective functioning. The Aid Coordination Unit has implemented a project in support of aid coordination, harmonization and alignment under the Direct Execution (DEX) modality for the period January 2005 to December 2007. With the establishment of and strengthening of capacities in a dedicated External Finance Unit (EFU) in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN), the Steering Committee of the UNDP project agreed in 2007 that support should continue to be provided to aid coordination, harmonization and alignment activities, with a view to achieving a sustainable phasing out of such assistance and a handing over of responsibilities to national entities. In this context, the UNDP Project for Aid Coordination, Harmonization and Alignment for Development Effectiveness is operated under the National Execution/National Implementation (NEX/NIM) modality, with the reduced number of the project staff. This aims to ensure that responsibilities and functions of aid coordination, harmonization and alignment are increasingly handled by the MINECOFIN/EFU staff. The UNDP Support for Aid Coordination, Harmonization, and Alignment for Development Effectiveness (Project No 00058951) aims to contribute to effective aid management and mutual accountability mechanisms in Rwanda with the view to further enhance effectiveness of development cooperation through continued strengthening of human and institutional capacities for aid coordination, harmonization, and alignment as well as supporting the effectiveness and quality of Government/Development Partners dialogue through an aid coordination architecture responding to Rwanda’s needs.

Duties and Responsibilities

The evaluation will look at the following areas: Project management; project activities; reflection of aid coordination engagement and partnerships with the Government of Rwanda and partnerships with other development partners. It will address the results achieved, the partnerships established, as well as issues of capacity and approach. The Evaluation Questions The following key questions will guide the end of project evaluation: Relevance – Assess design and focus of the project: To what extent did the Project achieve its overall objectives? What and how much progress has been made towards achieving the overall outputs and outcomes of the project for Support to Aid Harmonization, Alignment and Coordination in Rwanda (including contributing factors and constraints); To what extent were the results (impacts, outcomes and outputs) achieved? Were the inputs and strategies identified, and were they realistic, appropriate and adequate to achieve the results? Was the project relevant to the identified needs? Effectiveness- Describe the management processes and their appropriateness in supporting delivery: Was the project effective in delivering desired/planned results? To what extent did the Project’s M&E mechanism contribute in meeting project results? How effective were the strategies and tools used in the implementation of the project? How effective has the project been in responding to the needs of the beneficiaries, and what results were achieved? What are the future intervention strategies and issues? Efficiency – Of Project Implementation: Was the process of achieving results efficient? Specifically did the actual or expected results (outputs and outcomes) justify the costs incurred? Were the resources effectively utilized? Did project activities overlap and duplicate other similar interventions (funded nationally and /or by other donors? Are there more efficient ways and means of delivering more and better results (outputs and outcomes) with the available inputs? Could a different approach have produced better results? How was the project’s collaboration with the UNRCO, UNDP, the Government of Rwanda, national institutions, development partners, and the Steering Committee? How efficient were the management and accountability structures of the project? How did the project financial management processes and procedures affect project implementation? What are the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the project’s implementation process? Sustainability- To what extent are the benefits of the projects likely to be sustained after the completion of this project? What is the likelihood of continuation and sustainability of project outcomes and benefits after completion of the project? How effective were the exit strategies, and approaches to phase out assistance provided by the project including contributing factors and constraints. Describe key factors that will require attention in order to improve prospects of sustainability of Project outcomes and the potential for replication of the approach? How were capacities strengthened at the individual and organizational level (including contributing factors and constraints)? Describe the main lessons that have emerged? What are the recommendations for similar support in future? (Nb.The recommendations should provide comprehensive proposals for future interventions based on the current evaluation findings).

Competencies

Extensive experience in UNDP mandate, policy, procedures, and programme management; Experience of project formulation and evaluation. Knowledge and understanding of international and country-level implementation of aid effectiveness agenda;

End-of-the Project Evaluation: UNDP Support to Aid Coordination, Harmonization and Alignment for Development Effectiveness