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.

German Institute for Development Evaluation (DEval) - Baseline Survey of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) - 2013

Project Description:

The SMEs baseline survey was designed to collect data on the situation of small and medium-sized enterprises, which would be used for monitoring and evaluation purposes of the German development cooperation projects, and shared with the Myanmar Government to form an evidence base for future policies and projects designed to encourage and support new and established SMEs in Myanmar.

The SME Baseline Survey would form the first round of a firm panel. All surveys would cover the same firms in each township. There were three stages to the survey; the first was to conduct a pre-survey to identify and select townships in each city/town included in the survey, to obtain the necessary permissions at that township level, and to recruit local enumerators. The second stage was to develop a sampling frame, which would be done by implementing a block-screening approach (see the attached TOR for more information). Finally, the third stage of the survey was to conduct the baseline survey amongst SMEs selected from the sampling frame.

A wide range of activities would be undertaken, including the selection of survey sample, the development of survey methodology and instruments, and the implementation and quality assurance of the actual survey and the data entry of 7,500 enterprises and 2,500 SMEs.

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.

Private Client - Market research into the high-end camera and fine wine market in Yangon - 2013

Project Description:

A Private Client commissioned MKE to conduct a comprehensive sectoral review of the market for high-end cameras, related accessories, and fine wines in Yangon, Myanmar.

The review included a Strengths and Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis and allowed the Client to make informed decisions about market entry in Myanmar, with a view to opening specialist retail shops that sell high-end cameras and accessories, and other specialist shops that sell fine wines. The analysis was based upon market research conducted in Yangon and incorporated the information and opinions from existing retailers in the same market as well as consumers.  A legal review was also conducted and incorporated into report.

Société du Canal de Provence (SCP) - Preparation of a Hydro-agricultural infrastructures project in the Binh Dinh and Hung Yen provinces - 2013

Project Description:

The project aimed to provide support to AFD’s preparation of a hydro-agriculture infrastructures project in Binh Dinh (central highland province) and Hung Yen (northern province). MKE consultant participated in the field visits to the two provinces to better understand the local context.

Transaction Centre III (BIDV) - The Third Rural Finance Project – Final Socio-economic Impact Assessment Review - 2013

Project Description:

The Development Objective of the Third Rural Finance Project (RF) was to increase economic benefits for rural private enterprises and households by improving their access to finance. The expected outcomes included:

(i) improved access to financial services for rural entrepreneurs

(ii) increased capital investment made by the rural entrepreneurs as well as increased employment

(iii) increased lending, particularly term lending to the rural private sector for capital investment by all participating financial institutions (PFIs) on market-based terms. The RF III was implemented within a period of five years (2009-2013) on the wholesale mechanism with BIDV as the Apex Bank, wholesale project fund to participating financial institutions and micro financial institution (PFIs) and those PFIs would on-lend the loan to end borrowers at rural areas.

Mekong Economics had accomplished a number of activities which consisted of the implementation of a survey of more than 400 end-borrowers, in-depth interviews with more than 40 individuals representing the PFIs and other related agencies, data analysis, reporting and presentation of findings to relevant stakeholders.

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.

Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation- Evaluation of AECID regional to Promote Gender Equality in Political Participation - 2013

Countries Involved

Bangladesh, Cambodia, Philippines, Timor Leste and Vietnam.

Project Description:

MKE in consortium with ACE International Consultants S.L. undertook the evaluation to form the bases for possible adjustments, changes and recommendations for remaining program to promote gender equality in political participation. In particular, the evaluation aimed to assess the relevance, the coherence, and the cost-efficiency of the interventions, and the contribution of the program to gender and rights-based approaches, as well as to make recommendations regarding the further development and sustainability of the project.