Client: EC
Country: Bosnia and Herzegovina
Year: 2003-5
EC support to Bosnia and Herzegovina(BiH) was characterized by three phases of support and the EU was the major donor throughout this period:
- November 1995- December 1997: Immediate post Dayton peace agreement reconstruction
- January 1998- November 2000: EU- BIH Consultative Task Force and Refugee Return programme
- November 2000- 2004: Wider Europe Stabilisation and Association with the EU and pre-Accession.
The objective of the study was to provide a synthesis of the learning from the EC interventions to support both EC planning and also Government capacity for Pre-Accession economic sector planning.
Services Provided
Triple Line undertook two related assignments. In 2003-4 a synthesis review was conducted of all the economic sector assistance from 1995-2003 documenting the lessons learnt. In 2005 Triple Line worked with the EC Delegation to improve their programming capacity.
Synthesis Review
During the inception phase it was agreed that a standard evaluation of the economic regeneration programme over the period 1996-2003 was not possible due to the absence of an adequate information base on the programme level indicators from which to measure effectiveness and impact. A more qualitative review of the programmes was undertaken with a synthesis of opinion from international and local stakeholders to assess the overall relevance of the EC programming in meeting the needs of economic regeneration in BiH.
The final report set out:
- Review of the Economic and Political Context in BiH and overview of donor assistance 1996-2004
- Key Findings by Cluster: Refugee Return; Private Sector Development; Access to Finance; Regional Development; Business Enabling; and Single Economic Space
- Conclusions and Recommendations
Support to the EC Delegation
Triple Line worked with EC Delegation staff to develop a manual to support improvements to the rigour and process by which the sector programming is undertaken. An accompanying database of the screening, risk and opportunity matrix was also developed.
The background reference material prepared for the initial sub-sectors was further expanded and elaborated on best practice and lessons learnt from new member states. The results of the project lead to an enhanced awareness in the EC Delegation of:
- A more holistic approach to programming based on a wider contextual setting beyond the boundaries of individual projects;
- The importance of integrating cross-sectoral issues in the programming process;
- The conditions for adopting a sectoral approach (SWAp);
- A demonstration of how risk and opportunity assessments can strengthen the programming exercise.
Key Achievements
The synthesis report provided some key learning for the EC and Government and key aspects of economic development planning and engagement processes for donors. It also led to the capacity building project for the EC Delegation to institutionalise the learning for future programming and the understanding of sector wide approaches.