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Rationale, purpose and use
OECD 1999
Country Programme Evaluation: Synthesis Report from the Workshop
There was broad agreement about the general rationale for Country Programme
Evaluation: as donors strengthen their focus upon country programming,
evaluation at the country programme level offers valuable insights which can make
use of and complement project or sectoral evaluation. As the review paper (see
Chapter 2) and the various donor case study presentations made clear, however,
the specific reasons for carrying out a CPE may vary considerably between donors
and even between different exercises conducted by the same donor. There are
many potential roles for a Country Programme Evaluation.
Finally, and without detracting from the clear enthusiasm for CPEs expressed
at the Workshop, it is important to note that there were also some cautionary comments.
First, it was noted that there were occasions when poor donor co-ordination
had resulted in an unnecessary duplication of effort in the preparation of CPEs, with
a resulting increase in the burden upon partners. The more general point was that
the strength of the argument for Country Programme Evaluation changes over time
to reflect evolving agency practice. An agency which has conducted evaluations of
most of its major country programmes may have learnt all it can at this point in time
and would be advised to wait a few years before conducting further CPEs.
Agreement on general rationale for Country Programme Evaluation
The state-of-the-art review paper noted that there is widespread agreement
among bilateral and multilateral donors that CPEs do have something of value to
add to other forms of aid evaluation. This consensus was reiterated in the opening
session and at other points during the Workshop. 2 The basic rationale for Country
Programme Evaluation that the country is in most cases the most logical unit of aid
management and account is premised upon two observations.
First, within national boundaries, political, economic and socio-cultural parameters
can be taken as to some degree fixed: aid channelled to a given nation should
reflect the needs and opportunities which can be observed at the country level,
particularly with regard to the strengths and weaknesses of the partner government.
Regardless of whether a donor’s aid to a given country is packaged as a country programme,
there may be considerable value to evaluating all forms of aid to that
country in consideration of national needs and opportunities.
Secondly, and reflecting donor recognition of the point above, many donors
now channel their aid through country programmes administered by national
offices. As donor institutional practices (plans, budgets, staffing, reporting, etc.) are
organised increasingly at the partner country level, the country programme
becomes a focus for the evaluation of performance. 3 A shift to country programming
logically implies a shift to Country Programme Evaluation.
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