Ongoing Evaluations
Special Evaluation Study on the Midterm Review Process
Team Leader: Leah C. Gutierrez, Principal Evaluation Specialist
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Several significant developments have taken place at ADB that would impact on the relevance and effectiveness of its midterm review (MTR) process:
- ADB reorganized in 2002 to improve the delivery of its development agenda to the member-countries. New business processes were introduced that, among others, sought to ensure better identification and conceptualization of projects at the early stages of the project cycle and improve efforts in quality control.
- ADB initiated “Managing for Development Results” in 2004 for greater results orientation of its assistance.
- Where project preparation and project readiness are more closely monitored to improve project design, the need for major changes and/or a midterm review may be obviated during project implementation.
Between 2000 and 2006, there was a significant increase in the proportion of projects delegated from headquarters to resident missions. This provides the opportunity for more continuous refinement of the project, thereby decreasing the need for major adjustments at the mid-point of the implementation period. From 2007, OED moved to engage in more real-time evaluations; OED staff can participate in MTRs, undertake real-time evaluations and thus provide formative evaluation results and recommendations. This could potentially be another way of improving the effectiveness of MTRs.
Given the significant changes that have taken place at ADB and its greater orientation on results, this evaluation aims to update the evaluation conducted in 1998. The outcome of the SES will be actions to be taken to improve project implementation and performance. Specifically, the SES will
- assess the extent to which recommendations of the 1998 SES have been taken into consideration and their continued relevance,
- assess the relevance and effectiveness of the MTR process, and
- identify ways of improving project quality and performance, including through the MTR process.
| MILESTONE |
SCHEDULE |
STATUS |
| Evaluation Approach Paper |
March 2008 |
Approved in March 2008 |
| Fieldwork |
July to August 2008 (intermittent) |
|
| Final Report |
November 2008 |
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