Sektion/Abteilung - Vorname Name - 01.01.2007

1. Sektion/Abteilung - Vorname Name - 01.01.2007 Independent Evaluation on Decentralisation: Presentation of results

2. Independent Evaluation on Decentralisation • General Information • Decentralisation in SDC’s Bilateral Cooperation: Relevance, Effectiveness, Comparative Advantage • Bulgaria, India, Mali, Peru, Rwanda • Nordic Consultant Group • Finalisation and Publication in May 2007

3. Independent Evaluation on Decentralisation • Objectives of the Evaluation: • Relevance, effectiveness and sustainability of SDC‘s decentralisation efforts • State of cooperation with local authorities and harmonisation • Support of SDC‘s Thematic Department • Clarification of SDC‘s comparative advantages • Provide practical recommendations

4. Independent Evaluation on Decentralisation • Relevance, effectiveness, sustainability, harmonisation • Comparative advantages of SDC‘s cooperation • Good reputation of SDC among stakeholders • Neutrality, independence • Long-term partnerships • Good knowledge of decentralisation and local governance principles • Flexibility in relations with partners of cooperation • Willingness to cooperate with other donors and agencies

5. Independent Evaluation on Decentralisation • Weaknesses of SDC‘s cooperation • Lack of institutional anchorage • Particularistic approach to decentralisation • Large number of countries involved in cooperation • Reliance on NGOs and other external agencies

6. Independent Evaluation on Decentralisation • Recommendation 1: Sharpened SDC strategic approach to decentralisation support • 1.1.SDC Decentralisation Guideline to be enhanced and the practical parts reformulated • 1.2. Development of demonstration projects anchored in the national or federal reform policy process • 1.3. Redesigning of SDC local government programmes • 1.4. Phasing out of local government reform support in countries with no positive reception

7. Independent Evaluation on Decentralisation • Recommendation 2: SDC management enhancement on decentralisation issues • 2.1. Organising a special management study of optimal use of the thematic departement • 2.2. Underscoring of the thematic department and Decentralisation Desk's crosscutting functions in providing support and guidance to all sector programmes

8. Independent Evaluation on Decentralisation • Recommendation 3: Enhancement of relevance of SDC decentralisation support • 3.1. More emphasis on support to fiscal, administrative and service management decentralisation in the design of sectoral programmes • 3.2. Change of focus to encompass more urban local government units

9. Independent Evaluation on Decentralisation • Recommendation 4: Enhancement of effectiveness of SDC decentralisation support • 4.1. Progression from project to programe and further to institutional support based on periodical assessments • 4.2. Fiscal decentralisation support in the form of budget support to the municipalities as an incentive to enhance accountability, efficiency and effectiveness

10. Independent Evaluation on Decentralisation • Recommendation 5: Enhancement of sustainability of SDC decentralisation support • 5.1. Improvement of institutional sustainability through more direct cooperation with local government structures

11. Independent Evaluation on Decentralisation • Recommendation 6: Enhancement of Swiss comparative advantages of SDC decentralisation support • 6.1. Enhancement by taking other Swiss and even international partners on board • 6.2. SDC should play a more pro-active role in donor coordination and policy development

12. Independent Evaluation on Decentralisation • Position of SDC/CLP towards the Evaluation Report: • Insufficient vertical and horizontal integration of SDC decentralisation measures is well observed. • The CLP agrees that the SDC approach is often project-oriented. • SDC's strenghts in adapting cooperation to local (national) contexts are not suffciently noted in the report. • The evaluation does not sufficiently reflect on the specifics and constraints of SDC as a small donor.