ActionAid Myanmar - Final Evaluation – Citizens for Accountability in Public Service Financing (CAPSF) project - 2014

Project Description:

The project investigated and evaluated the Citizens for Accountability in Public Service Financing (CAPSF) project, funded by DANIDA and implemented by ActionAid Myanmar with the aim of improving state accountability through active citizen participation in public service financing with the following specific objectives:

1. To build the capacity of targeted groups to participate in and to analyse the response of, public service financing at different level national, state/regional and local level.

2. To strengthen national media to create the space for, and promote citizen’s participation in, budget processes, and to influence parliamentarians and government officials to be responsive to people’s priorities in public financing.

Castalia Advisors - National Electrification Program: Preparation of Road map and Investment Financing Prospectus - 2013

Project Description:

In January 2013, the Government of Myanmar adopted an ambitious target to achieve universal electrification by 2030. To achieve this goal, the inter-ministerial National Energy Management Committee (NEMC), intended to develop a National Electrification Program (NEP), setting out the framework for expanding electricity access in Myanmar.

The World Bank’s Energy Sector Management Assistance Program was working on behalf of the Government to prepare the program. It had contracted specialist firms to prepare the necessary (a) geospatial least-cost rollout plan and (b) the financial road map and investment prospectus. MKE’s involvement only concerned part (b).

MKE was working with Castalia, an advisory firm specialising in governance and regulation of infrastructure services, to prepare the ‘NEP Road Map and Investment Financing Prospectus’. The NEP Road Map would set out the key interim actions and targets, and would define the institutional framework required to implement the program in the least-cost manner. The Investment Prospectus would identify the viability gap, based on an understanding of Columbia University’s least-cost geospatial plan and reasonable tariffs than can be charged. It would then recommend potential funding sources. This Investment Prospectus would be used by the Government to attract financing and funding for achieving universal electrification by 2030. MKE helped to collect, verify and explain relevant data to Castalia, while providing relevant electricity sector related updates and a local insight on specific Castalia outputs through reviews and editing.

The World Bank - National Community Driven Development Project - 2013

Project Description:

The Republic of the Union of Myanmar had received a grant in the amount of US$ 80 million from the World Bank toward the cost of its National Community Driven Development Project, which was being implemented by the Department of Rural Development (DRD). The objective of the project was to enable poor rural communities to benefit from improved access to and use of basic infrastructure and services through a people-centered approach, and to enhance the government’s capacity to respond promptly and effectively to an eligible crisis or emergency.  This approach would empower villagers to manage and participate in their own development.

The objective would be achieved through: (i) financing community-identified rural infrastructure investments; (ii) strengthening the capacity of communities in partnership with local authorities to effectively identify, plan, and implement their development priorities; and (iii) facilitating the participation of the poor and vulnerable, both women and men, throughout the project cycle at the community level.

MKE played the role of local partner in the consortium with Agriconsulting and Inacon. MKE provided three out of ten experts for the team, covering the following areas; Management of Information Systems specialist, Training Specialist, and Grievance Handling Specialist.  The team worked in close partnership with the DRD to sustainably increase capacity to design, implement, monitor, and evaluate participatory development projects at the township and centralized-government level.

PwC - Mid-term Evaluating framework of LAO receiving financial support from the Governments of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg - 2013

Project Description:

The Mid-term Evaluation was undertaken to analyse the project achievements, project management and monitoring, using specific criteria such as relevance, effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability, as well as cross-cutting aspects such as governance for development, gender equality and environment and climate change. MKE provided a local consultant to support the team during the project mission and the development of requested report.

The EU Delegation to Vietnam - BLUE BOOK 2013: Poverty reduction and inequalities in a Middle Income Vietnam - 2013

Project Description:

The annual Blue Book published by the EU Delegation provided an overview of the EU development cooperation activities in Vietnam. The Book included one chapter presenting the year theme of actuality in the development debate in Vietnam since 2010. The theme chosen for the Blue Book 2013 was Poverty Reduction and Rising Inequalities in a Middle Income Vietnam.

The assignment aimed to produce a high quality paper which reflected the socio-economic performance, challenges and opportunities from its change from low income country to low middle income country, defined options to avoid the middle income trap, as well as specifies support solutions to overcome.

Vietnam Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (funded by AFD) - Monitoring and Evaluation of Smallholder Rubber Development Project - 2013

Project Description:

The Smallholder Rubber Development Project continued the Agricultural Diversification Project completed in 2006. It aimed to provide credit and technical support to maintain the planted rubber areas under the previous project in ten provinces situated in the Central highlands and coastal region.

The M&E assignment was undertaken to support the Project Management Committee to monitor the implementation in terms of the effectiveness, efficiency and impacts of the project. This was to be done through the development, operation and maintenance of a comprehensive M&E system which included monitoring indicators reflecting the project achievements, loan performance, cost efficiency, project disbursement, socio-economic impacts and environmental impacts.

In additional, MKE delivered training for the project staff on the application of the M&E system for monitoring the project progress, and evaluating the project efficiency.

CADIF/ DDIF/ AFD - Consultancy services for Institutional Strengthening and Capacity Enhancement Project for CADIF & DDIF - 2013

Project Description:

A Credit Facility provided by French Development Agency (AFD) was on-lent to CADIF and DDIF to support environmental, socio-economic projects, and the reinforcement of the local development funds which were local financing agencies for investments of the two cities. An additional grant was given to the two funds to restructure their procedures and strengthen their capacity.

MKE worked with Sofreco – a French company to provide technical assistance on the institutional strengthening and capacity enhancement, including project management skills, standardising institutional development procedures, and sharing professional expertise on certain key projects. A number of training courses would be conducted for the beneficiaries based on their needs, focusing on enhancing capacity and upgrading internal procedures of the two funds, support towards priority operational areas of the two funds, and mobilization of experts for support in the project’s due diligences, appraisal and execution, especially those of important urban and socio-environmental impacts.

FinMark Trust/UNCDF - Making Access to Financial Services Possible (MAP) Study - 2013

Project Description:

MAP was a financial inclusion diagnostic that incorporated a comprehensive analysis of the demand, supply and regulatory environment, in order to identify barriers and opportunities to increase financial inclusion and coordinate stakeholders (government, private sector and donors) in practical actions.

MKE provided local support to MAP study such as: survey questionnaire design, survey sample design, quality control of survey, and literature review of microfinance regulatory landscape, assessment of current microfinance models and providers.

InfraCo Asia - Myanmar Infrastructure Scoping and Strategy - 2013

Project Description:

InfraCo required advisors to evaluate scope and plan InfraCo’s potential engagement in Myanmar. The advisory work helped to select sectors where private sector participation is possible and develop a pipeline of projects for investment. It would also help to determine the resources required for InfraCo’s engagement, and helped the Government gain a better sense of how private investments might support the country’s infrastructure needs.

UNDP Myanmar - Analysis of the Common Fund Performance of the Self Reliance Groups (SRGs) and Community based organizations (CBOs) - 2013

Project Description:

For UNDP development interventions in Myanmar the principal instruments for community engagement and for improving livelihoods are the Self Reliance Groups (SRGs) and Community based organizations (CBOs).

The Internal Assessment Mission (IAM) 2012 recommended a review of the repayment rate by a qualified expert in microfinance so as not to cast doubt on the reported results, but to ensure that the formula is robust and correctly capturing the full performance of the revolving funds. It was in this regard the UNDP through ICDP and CDRT required solid, quantifiable evidence as to the performance of the SRG and CBO common fund over time, including a review of the calculation of the repayment rate and tracking method.