Performance Evaluation of the Regional Economic Growth Program

Status: Completed

IDG conducted a final performance evaluation of the Regional Economic Growth Program (REG), a USAID initiative which aims to support Eastern European and Eurasian countries to achieve inclusive growth that creates jobs and reduces poverty by supporting targeted sectors, promoting financial sector stability and growth, and improving the business enabling environment. REG is a complex project spanning two core technical areas (competitiveness and the financial sector), two regions (Central and Eastern Europe including the Balkans, and the Caucasus), and 11 beneficiary countries.

IDG managed a team of evaluators and SME experts who traveled to Kosovo, Albania, Serbia, Azerbaijan, Macedonia, and Bosnia to evaluate the program’s progress towards agreed project objectives and development objectives in each REG country, assess the current state of REG’s selected sectors (IT, tourism, agribusiness), analyze the effectiveness of the existing management structure and coordination with USAID Missions, and recommend specific opportunities to enhance the programmatic effectiveness of future regional economic growth activity. The team provided valuable insight and recommendations to help inform the future design of regional programming conducted by the USAID Bureau for Europe and Eurasia in the E&E region.

Region

  • Europe and Eurasia

Country / Countries

  • Albania
  • Armenia
  • Azerbaijan
  • Belarus
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Kosovo
  • Moldova
  • North Macedonia
  • Republic of Georgia
  • Serbia
  • Ukraine
Europe and Eurasia

Areas of Expertise

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning

IDG conducted an evaluation of the Regional Economic Growth Program in order to analyze management structure and progress and effectiveness of interventions and state of the selected sectors. It found that while project goals were met, success was not attributed to REG by beneficiaries, and that more personnel in the region could have increased success. These recommendations were included in later projects.

Impact and Performance Evaluation

IDG conducted an evaluation of the Regional Economic Growth Program in order to analyze management structure and progress and effectiveness of interventions and state of the selected sectors. It found that while project goals were met, success was not attributed to REG by beneficiaries, and that more personnel in the region could have increased success. These recommendations were included in later projects.