Mid-term performance evaluation of the Kosovo growth and fiscal stability initiative (GFSI) : final report

The main purpose of the evaluation is to provide USAID/Kosovo with an objective external assessment of GFSI's performance to date. The evaluation will further help the mission: (1) understand whether the project is meeting its objectives; (2) consider whether GFSI project implementation is efficient; (3) identify deficiencies in the programs current target areas and recommend remedial actions to be carried out in the remaining life of the program; and (4) use lessons learned to inform the decision for possible future USAID programming in the macro-fiscal policy and economic institutions strengthening area. GFSI has three main objectives: (1) support private sector participation; (2) strengthen fiscal stewardship; and (3) improve the prospects for economic development. GFSI is organized in three components that match the above objectives. Underlying that straight forward structure, is a broad and complex mix of results and activities. The request for task order proposal (RFTOP) issued in 2010 lists 43 separate results that GFSI should achieve within three years. The GFSI's workplan includes 37 distinct activities. Many of these are a continuation of activities that began in one or more of the predecessor programs. Certain activities are interwoven with assistance provided by other development partners, such as in property tax by SIDA and PEFAs by DFID. With up to 43 separate results and 37 distinct activities to review and evaluate in a two-week time period in the field, the evaluators made a conscious decision to focus on providing an objective, informed response to the six priority questions identified by USAID in the evaluation's statement of work (SOW). The overal findings from the evaluation are: (1) although GFSI is still ongoing it has already produced tangible results; (2) key central institutions have been strengthened; (3) GFSI has made timely adjustments to deploy resources consistent with project needs and has maintained costs at a reasonable level; (4) coordination between other program and releated issues is generally effective, but not with all; and (5) attention to gender as a cross-cutting theme focuses on statistics of persons trained by GFSI. Also as part of the evaluation, general and specific conclusions and recommendations are included in the document. (Excerpt, modified)