Evaluating Country Programmes - OECD Online Bookshop

OECD 1999
Country Programme Planning and Country Programme Evaluation within SDC
Appendix 10.2
Country Programme Bangladesh
Design: Two Feeder Streams
The review of the country programme was fed by two “streams” of inspiration, like the
rivers Ganges and Jamuna which, first separately, then jointly, shape the landscape and economic
life of western Bangladesh. The first “stream” was backward-looking, the second
future-oriented (see Figure 10.1).
The look into the past (“Ganges”) consisted in a participatory self-evaluation of SDC’s
activities in Bangladesh (sectors, projects, partners). The revised programme is indeed primarily
built on SDC’s practical experience, recognised strengths and existing capacities,
rather than on theoretical assumptions of what should be done. Hence, the self-evaluation,
mainly undertaken by the Co-ordination Office programme staff, was the principal “feeder
stream” of the pountry programme review.
The outlook into the future (“Jamuna”) focused on an attempt to ascertain how the “Bangladesh
of the next generation” (horizon 2010) will look like, by projecting possible trends and
alternative development scenarios. The “vision input” aimed at better understanding the
socio-economic and political context in which the programme activities are embedded, and
at counter-balancing possible “naval inspection” effects of the self-centred country programme
evaluation. Worked out in collaboration with outstanding, think-provoking Bangladeshi
scientists and development practitioners, it opened up new perspectives,
preventing an over-pragmatic target-setting and selection of sectors of activities.
Methodology
The review process rested on four foundations and principles: Workshops and conferences
as the principal “production centres” for the new programme, SDC’s regulations as
orientation guidelines, and a transparent design and documentation of the different steps.*
Workshops
Three workshops of 1 to 4 days and one retreat were held between May 1993 and
May 1994. These workshops formed the nodal points of the review. They enabled the
* The process was accompanied by a co-ordination group comprising the desk officer for
Bangladesh (Section Asi I), a representative of the Evaluation Section and the Co-ordinator,
charged with acting as a driving force and relaying between Dhaka and Bern as well as within
headquarters.
227