IFAD country strategy and programme evaluation (CSPE) in Uzbekistan

The Independent Office of Evaluation of IFAD (IOE) undertook its first country strategy and programme evaluation (CSPE) in Uzbekistan in 2020-21. The evaluation was conducted within the framework of IFAD's evaluation policy and in accordance with the relevant provisions in the IOE evaluation manual (second edition of 2015) and the CSPE approach paper. IOE is ultimately responsible for the evaluation process and contents of the evaluation report. The main objectives of this CSPE were to assess: i) the portfolio of operations; (ii) non-lending activities (e.g., knowledge management, policy dialogue and partnership building) and grants that complement the investments; as well as (iii) the relevance and effectiveness of the country strategic opportunities programme (COSOP). The CSPE generated findings and recommendations for the future partnership between IFAD and Uzbekistan for enhanced development effectiveness and rural poverty eradication. The findings, lessons and recommendations from this CSPE will inform the preparation of the new COSOP in 2022.

In the context of the CSPE, IOE also conducted a project performance evaluation (PPE) of the HORTICULTURAL SUPPORT PROJECT (HSP), which provided important evaluative evidence to the CSPE. IOE prepared an approach paper to guide the PPE. The PPE and CSPE were conducted remotely (due to the COVID-19 pandemic) and in parallel. In particular the interviews with the beneficiaries and stakeholders covered both evaluations to avoid repetitions in the evaluation processes. The PPE report preceded the CSPE report to 
ensure that its findings contributed to the portfolio assessment of the CSPE.