Evaluation of Budget Support Operations in Senegal

The Framework Arrangement for Budget Support (ACAB) between the Government of Senegal and the Development Partners (African Development Bank, Canada, European Commission, France, Germany, Netherlands, World Bank) stipulates an annual and independent evaluation of the functioning of the institutional set-up and the extent to which the parties involved respect their commitments.

The Government of Senegal and the group of development partners entrusted the first evaluation, covering the initial year (2008) of the arrangement, to Richard Gerster (Switzerland) and Ameth Faye (Senegal). The study has a particular emphasis on operational issues how to strengthen ownership, ensure compliance with the agreed principles, improve performance and overall dynamise ACAB.

The study can be downloaded in French only.

Burkina Faso: Budget Support Evaluation 2007

The Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Burkina Faso and the Development Partners providing general budget support (African Development Bank, Denmark, European Commission, France, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, World Bank) stipulates an annual and independent evaluation of the functioning of the institutional set-up and the extent to which the parties involved respect their commitments.

The Burkinabe Government entrusted the latest evaluation, covering 2007, to Richard Gerster (Switzerland) and Seglaro Abel Somé (Burkina Faso). The study has a particular emphasis on the performance assessment framework for the government as well as for the Development Partners, and on the budget cycle.

The study can be downloaded in French only.

Budget Support Learning Assessment in Benin

The Government of Benin and its technical and financial partners (at present the African Development Bank, Denmark, EC, France, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland and the World Bank) committed to Joint Budget Support mandated Richard Gerster & Augustin Dadé to do an independent learning assessment (“évaluation de l’apprentissage”, EA) of the Joint Annual Review 2008 process.

The EA pursued the objective of developing practical recommendations on strengthening the effectiveness and efficiency of budget support programme implementation.

The quality of dialogue, performance, accountability and sustainability was to be specifically assessed. Methodologically, the EA made use of good practices developed elsewhere, observations of annual review sessions, interviews, and written feedback.

The EA is an effort undertaken in the framework of the Strategic Partnership with Africa (SPA), with financial support of the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), Switzerland.

The study can be downloaded in French only.

Aid Effectiveness: The Case of General Budget Support

This overview study describes general budget support (GBS) as an instrument of development cooperation. Based on poverty reduction strategies, poorer developing countries are increasingly receiving GBS which enables their governments to carry out their core responsibilities more effectively.

Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and risks are discussed in a holistic approach. In view of aid effectiveness and efficiency the author draws on evaluations as well as on experience made in Switzerland’s budget support engagement. It is argued that the budget support methodology could also inspire the cooperation with non-governmental organisations.

The study was published in the Swiss Review of International Economic Relations (Aussenwirtschaft) of the University of St. Gall, 2007, part III, pp. 343 – 370. It can be downloaded on the right.

Poverty Reduction Budget Support (PRBS) in Zambia: Learning Assessment

The Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) and the Cooperating Partners (CPs, at present the African Development Bank, DFID, EC, Finland, Germany Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the World Bank) committed to Poverty Reduction Budget Support (PRBS), mandated jointly Richard Gerster & Mwila Chikwekwe to do an independent learning assessment (LA) of the Joint Annual Review (JAR) 2007 process.

The LA pursued the objective of developing practical recommendations on strengthening the effectiveness and efficiency of PRBS-supported programme implementation. The quality of dialogue, performance, accountability and sustainability was to be specifically assessed. Methodologically, the LA made use of good practices developed elsewhere, observations of JAR sessions, interviews, and written feedback.

The LA is an effort undertaken in the framework of the Strategic Partnership with Africa (SPA), with financial support of the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), Switzerland. The study can be downloaded on the right.

General Budget Support in Tanzania: Learning Assessment

On the occasion of the Annual Review 2006 of General Budget Support, the Government of Tanzania (GoT) and the Development Partners’ Group (DPG) jointly commissioned a learning assessment by independent consultants. Richard Gerster (Switzerland) and Ruta G. Mutakyahwa (Tanzania) observed and analysed the cooperation processes in order to strengthen the effectiveness and efficiency of GBS-supported programme implementation in future. The approach, quality of dialogue, performance and accountability was to be specifically assessed.

This learning assessment, following a similar exercise in Mozambique in 2004, was undertaken with the financial support of the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), Switzerland chairing the GBS DPG in 2006/07. The report has been released by the GoT and is accessible at the GoT website or can be downloaded on the right.

Focus on General Budget Support

The Austrian Research Foundation for Development Cooperation (OEFSE) published in January 2007 their annual overview of Austrian development cooperation, with a special focus on aid effectiveness. The Austrian Research Foundation invited Richard Gerster to write an introduction on the main issues related to General Budget Support (GBS), the achievements and challenges.

The text can be downloaded on the right. The entire brochure can be ordered at OEFSE (again, it is available in German only).

Risks of General Budget Support

Different stakeholders participating in budget support have different perceptions of the associated risks. If not addressed actively, the risk is there that donors compete with and crowd out local capacities and sources of financing.

These are two out of a number of messages of the presentation “Risks of GBS: a tale of experience” by Richard Gerster, which is available in German and English. It was delivered at the international Symposium “New Paths for Development Cooperation: Budget support as an efficient contribution to the Millennium Development Goals?”, hosted by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) in Berne, Switzerland, on June 29, 2006.

You can download the risk presentation on the right or access the symposium website at http://www.budget-support.ch.

Learning from Experience with Performance Assessment Frameworks for General Budget Support: The Case of Mozambique

Abstract:

This working paper on the Performance Assessment Framework (PAF) in Mozambique is an input into a multi-country research done for the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (seco) and undertaken under the auspices of the OECD-DAC multi-country evaluation of General Budget Support (GBS).

The overall objective was to gather preliminary lessons on what could be good international practice in the development of Performance Assessment Frameworks (PAFs) for General Budget Support (GBS). The synthesis study (see on the right on this homepage) is based on the experience of three countries which have adopted harmonised PAFs (Ghana, Mozambique, Tanzania), and two which are moving in this direction (Benin, Nicaragua).

Learning from Experience with Performance Assessment Frameworks for General Budget Support

Abstract:

This report provides the findings of a study financed by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (seco) and undertaken under the auspices of the OECD-DAC multi-country evaluation of General Budget Support (GBS). The overall objective was to gather preliminary lessons on what could be good international practice in the development of Performance Assessment Frameworks (PAFs) for General Budget Support (GBS).

The study is based on the experience of three countries which have adopted harmonised PAFs (Ghana, Mozambique, Tanzania, and two which are moving in this direction (Benin, Nicaragua). In order to assess the effectiveness of these PAFs, the study employed a simplified, standard framework reflecting the OECD-DAC guiding principles for the provision of budget support.

This report was jointly written by Oxford Policy Management (David Hoole, Andrew Lawson) and Gerster Consulting (Richard Gerster).

Perfect Partners? A Case Study on Donor Performance and Accountability

Abstract:

Mozambique provides an excellent environment in which to improve aid effectiveness. In 2004, an innovative baseline performance assessment of programme aid partners (PAPPA) was done (see PAPPA baseline). In 2005 the exercise was repeated by a team under the leadership of Tony Killick and extended to new horizons, including individual donor rankings.

 Moreover, the study goes beyond general budget support and presents a proposal for a Mozambican aid strategy. The report was commissioned by the programme aid partners ("G-17" ) (Belgium, Canada, Denmark, the European Commission, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and the World Bank).

Despite the challenges it presents and its undisputable limitations, the study was welcomed by the G-17.

This independent report can be accessed at the PAPs website or downloaded on the right.

The G-15 in Mozambique. A Case Study in Harmonisation and Accountability

Abstract:

Mozambique provides an excellent environment in which to improve aid effectiveness. At present, out of total Official Development Assistance (ODA) of approximately USD 700 million annually, the programme aid share can be estimated at 35-40 percent. The joint general budget support scheme represents the bulk of programme aid.

The formal basis is the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed on April 5, 2004, between the Republic of Mozambique, Belgium, Denmark, the European Commission, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and the World Bank ("G-15" ).

Signatories of the MoU declare that they are determined to work in the spirit of NEPAD, the Monterrey Consensus and the Rome Declaration on Harmonisation. The MoU was prepared in the spirit of mutual accountability and clarifies the performance and reporting commitments of the GoM as well as the Programme Aid Partners (PAPs). The MoU obliges the donors to provide an annual report on their efforts in implementing these obligations.

 This independent report, written on behalf of the G-15, draws a baseline on donor performance in 2003, in order to be able to regularly monitor PAPs progress in future.

The findings on alignment and harmonisation, predictability, transparency, the administrative burden, and capacity building show that, even in the progressive environment for international cooperation that prevails in Mozambique there is considerable room for improvement.

Budget Support for Decentralisation in the Kyrgyz Republic

Abstract:

The Kyrgyz Republic is at an early stage of transformation from a highly centralised government to a decentralised system. This complex situation offers opportunities at several entry points. External support should be tailor made which leads to the use of a package of instruments to increase the leverage and effectiveness:

(1) technical assistance for capacity building in view of fiscal and legal literacy;

(2) budget support at the national and local levels to enhance financial capacities and lead a meaningful policy dialogue at all levels;

(3) support to civil society initiatives at the national and local level.

Social mobilisation will keep the authorities accountable to the population. The report, commissioned by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (seco), analyses the Kyrgyz context, describes key issues of fiscal decentralisation and local governance, maps the on-going efforts, and presents a framework as well as a roadmap for an eventual Swiss contribution.

Mozambique: Learning Assessment of Programme Aid Cooperation

Abstract:

In Mozambique, 15 donors ("G-15" : Belgium, Denmark, European Commission, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, World Bank) jointly support the PRSP based budget of the Government. Donors and Government asked Alan Harding (United Kingdom) and Richard Gerster (Switzerland) as a team of independent observers to follow interactions between the partners during the joint annual review in March/April 2004.

This unique joint learning exercise was done in view of improving efficiency and effectiveness of international cooperation in the framework of budget support involving broad and intensive policy dialogue.

Unique again it may be that this independent assessment is publicly available.