Evaluating Country Programmes - OECD Online Bookshop

OECD 1999
Country Programme Planning and Country Programme Evaluation within SDC
It is the most important link between the strategic conceptual level of SDC’s
support, where the developmental priorities are determined (including SDC’s contribution
to international agreements) and the operational level of the annual
implementation as outlined in the Annual Programmes of the priority countries.
The formulation of Annual Programmes allows for the reviewing and fine-tuning of
the country programme and determines whether its orientation focus still takes into
account the changing environment of the partner country.
Since the country programme has a pivotal importance, its elaboration procedures
and responsibilities are clearly determined in the guidelines. This is
not the case for the evaluation of CPs; they should be evaluated at regular intervals
(4-5 years) in terms of relevance/significance, effectiveness, efficiency and
the necessary adjustments. 4 The procedures are not stipulated. However, the
SDC Controlling Units recommend the linkage of self-evaluation and external
evaluation as a means of striking a balance between effective learning and
accountability (see below).
Purpose and functions of the country programme within SDC
The understanding of the purpose and functions of the country programmes is
slowly changing. In the SDC guidelines (1996), the country programmes are considered
internal SDC documents, which are given only to outsiders with a special interest.
In the operational day-to-day work, the country programme served always as an
information, communication, steering and co-ordination instrument at headquarters
level, with executing agencies and local partners. While some SDC collaborators
still use the country programme in the original administrative sense, it is
increasingly believed to be a useful means for public relations and background
information for consultants and journalists.
A debate is open as to whether the country programme should remain an internal
management instrument (providing orientation for decision-making in constantly
evolving situations) or should also be used as a marketing instrument to
promote goodwill for development co-operation, for example with the Swiss Parliament
and public opinion. This controversy should be solved with the introduction
of a new Document Management System (DMS) within the Swiss administration.
SDC’s practice of country programme evaluation and planning
SDC guidelines for country programmes and planning
The development activities of Switzerland are managed by a dual organisation
system. On the one hand is the Swiss Agency for Development and Co-operation
(SDC) which is integrated into the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA). On
the other is the Federal Office of Foreign Economic Affairs (FOFEA) which is
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