World Environment Center : Central and Eastern Europe program -- an evaluation of cooperative agreement no. ANE-0004-A-00-0048-00

Evaluation covers the period 9/90-11/92. The project was implemented by the World Environment Center (WEC). The cooperative agreement with WEC was designed at a time when A.I.D. knew only the basics of the environmental calamity in Central and Eastern Europe and little about what WEC would encounter "on-the-ground." As with other A.I.D. programs in the region, flexibility and speed were emphasized and the activities were intended to be demand-driven and responsive. As drafted, the cooperative agreement did not lay out clear and consistent goals, objectives, and strategies, making implementation and evaluation difficult. This evaluation found that WEC has made good progress towards CA objectives; activities are having significant and substantial impact (improving industrial pollution control, realizing savings at the plant level, increasing environmental awareness, and supporting preliminary efforts in legal and policy reforms) and most project components are cost-effective. Nevertheless, maximum program impact is handicapped because of almost no follow-up and inadequate information and communication about the program activities. This evaluation recommends that A.I.D. continue to support project elements (particularly plant assessments and environmental audit workshops), but make a number of documentation, strategic, and procedural changes to improve project management and results. Today, WEC and this cooperative agreement are part of a broader context of changing attitudes regarding environmental issues and rapidly evolving economic, political, and social situations. Except for environmental improvements anticipated from production slowdowns and plant closings, industrial environmental problems are unlikely to significantly improve until investment is forthcoming. Such investment will not occur until laws are clear and regularized, plant-specific environmental liabilities are known, and regulations regarding liability are finally worked out. Through its plant assessments, training workshops, and legal and policy reform activities, WEC is making a valuable contribution to privatization and environmental improvement. (Author abstract, modified)