Mid-term review of USAID SEADI project, support for economic analysis development - Indonesia

The overarching objective/spirit of this assessment is to go beyond a typical project retrospective report card, to learn from the experience of all project stakeholders, and apply these insights for the purposes of: (1) taking the SEADI project to its most promising level over its second half term; (2) creatively improving the focus, delivery, efficacy, impacts and potential outcomes of project activities; (3) ensuring that SEADI and mission economic growth agenda and program activities are strategically synergistic; and (4) considering the rationale, focus and agenda for a follow-on project building on cumulative SEADI achievements through mid-2013. Some of the many observations outlined in the evaluation include: (1) the SEADI project overall, and all major components, are now meeting and in many cases exceeding all contract specified outputs and work plan activity/achievement indicators; (2) grants initially lagged but are now on track and will be limited only by funds obligated and expended within the brief duration of the contract; (3) scholarships awards were slow and behind schedule during the first year for other reasons as well; (4) overall, most counterparts enthusiastically confirm the quality/value of SEADI services and its "demand/need driven" process; (5) SEADI's work-products, deliverables and conduct of operations and activities, are of sound to excellent professional world standard; and (6) advisor, consultant and staff performance are commendably strong. The evaluator makes many recommendations, including: (1) focus GOI/USAID mutual interests more strategically on impacting priority integrative cross-cutting development themes; and (2) take seriously the old adage: "Better to do fewer things well (in more depth), than too many not so well" (too shallowly). Included in these recommendations are several relating to the USAID contracting officer's representative (COR). (Excerpt, modified)