This is a report on the mid-term performance evaluation of the Business Enabling Environment Program (BEEP) funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission in Kosovo, and implemented by Chemonics International, Inc. (Chemonics). BEEP commenced in July 2010, and was dedicated to improving the business environment in Kosovo through the implementation of three components: (1) improving rules and regulations; (2) lowering trade barriers; and (3) creating a more efficient financial sector (a fourth component of the project was not been implemented and is not a part of this evaluation). Some of the conclusions about the project outlined in the evaluation include: (1) BEEP has been successful in raising “doing business” issues to a high level of attention within the Government of Kosovo (GoK), and has achieved a wide consensus on business climate reform; (2) the project has had asignificant impact on increasing the level of understanding and competence on trade policy within the Ministry of Trade and Industry, as well as on updating the legislative and regulatory framework in the trade sector; (3) BEEP has been effective at communicating and coordinating programs with a number of USAID initiatives, as well as those of other international donors; and (4) the project has been praised by stakeholders for its responsiveness to local wishes and for its rapidity in deploying resources. Some of the main recommendations include: (1) emphasize completion of work already begun; (2) prepare a detailed audit of incomplete work, including detailed action programs for completing the work; (3) address issues of sustainability; (4) increase efforts to transfer knowledge and increase technical skills in policy and regulatory analysis and communications at national and local levels, particulalry among private sector associations; (5) better explain and document achievements of the project; and (6) devise a set of supplemental indicators that would help to more accurately evaluate the the project. (Excerpt, modified)
