Transitioning to long-term development : an evaluation of the USAID/OTI program in Kosovo

The evaluation used a framework model that affords greater objectivity than anecdotal evidence in evaluating project impact. To achieve the project goal, OTI chose to maximize the number of Kosovars involved in and recognizing the value of participation in decisionmaking and the future development of democracy in Kosovo. Over the course of the project, over $15 million in transition assistance was programmed, approximately 80% of it devoted to developing political processes at the community level. The project's greatest impact was achieved in this area. Communities now have locally elected governance structures, grassroots organizations articulating needs to elected officials, accountability and transparency becoming more important issues, and issues of diversity in representation being addressed. OTI also contributed significantly to the development of the media sector in Kosovo and achieved similar levels of impact with just under 15% of program funds. Despite significant periods of time in which activities were severely curtailed and even halted for reasons of security, OTI was successful in fulfilling its mandate of providing transition assistance and in handing over its program to the USAID Mission. This success was due in large part to an excellent understanding by OTI and Mission staffs of the role of transition assistance in USAID's overarching program objectives. Finally, and most importantly, there is a need for OTI to bring a greater degree of structure to transition programming, in order to more objectively determine achievement of results. (Author abstract, modified)