Evaluation finale du Programme d'Aide au Commerce PIN 10eme FED

The evaluation mission analyses the project according to the five OECD-DAC evaluation criteria, namely: relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability and impact. In addition, the evaluation will assess two specific EU evaluation criteria:

• The EU added value of the programme, both regarding its design and implementation;
• The coherence with the EU strategy and other donor activities (including DFID and the World Bank)

The “Programme d'Aide au Commerce” (AIDCOM) was financed under the 10th EDF National Indicative Program with a budget of 16 million Euros. The aim of the programme was to support the government in its efforts to make the economy more competitive for the national, regional and international market and to prepare for its integration under the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs).

The specific objectives were to improve legal certainty for investments, facilitate trade and customs transactions, support the development of a commercial policy and improve the quality in order to make Congolese companies more competitive. The AIDCOM programme was part of a large European Union intervention for institutional support and good governance.

The four components of the programme were:

• Improving the business environment through increased legal and judicial security
• Trade facilitation and customs reform
• Trade policy capacity building
• Support to the quality and the development of exports

Geographical scope of the evaluation: Kinshasa and provinces (Bandundu, Kasai, Katanga, Central Kongo, North Kivu, Province Orientale)

• Conduct an assessment of the implementation of the AIDCOM program and to draw useful lessons for the Congolese authorities and the EU Delegation.
• Provide comprehensive and independent analysis of the performance of the Trade Program, paying particular attention to its results in comparison with the objectives
• Collect lessons learnt and recommendations to improve current and future projects