i have more than five years field experiences
Posted on 08/04/2025
What makes managing megaprojects so challenging? Technical difficulties, modifications to operating and design specifications, cost hikes, accountability issues, and new legislation are some of the causes. Project complexity typically rises with project size, and complexity can lead to uncertainty and an inability to predict the challenges, shifting circumstances, and unexpected possibilities that will arise after the project starts. In this essay, we contend that innovating during the project is one strategy to manage the uncertainties. Furthermore, we think that our recommendations apply to any long-term, large-scale initiatives, not simply those with enormous budgets.
Ethiopia
Hailu Negu Bedhane
cementing engineer
Ethiopian electric power
Posted on 06/05/2025
A strong assessment framework that guarantees accountability, learning, and evidence-based decision-making is necessary to maximize the impact of Triangular Cooperation (TrC) and South-South Cooperation (SSC) in a changing assistance architecture. By utilizing common experiences, reciprocal advantages, and solidarity among developing nations, SSC and TrC are becoming more widely acknowledged as complementing modalities to conventional North-South cooperation, providing creative solutions to development problems. An overview of how evaluation can be crucial to increasing the efficacy and influence of different cooperation modalities is provided below:
1. Recognizing the Transition from Conventional Aid Models to the Changing Aid Architecture: In contrast to donor-recipient dynamics, collaborations, mutual learning, and horizontal interactions are now increasingly valued in the global assistance scene.
Emergence of New Actors: Regional organizations, civil society, the commercial sector, and emerging economies are all becoming more involved in development cooperation.
Put the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) front and center: With their emphasis on sustainability, equity, and inclusivity, SSC and TrC are highly compatible with the SDGs.
2. Evaluation's Function in SSC and TrC
An essential tool for enhancing the planning, execution, and results of SSC and TrC projects is evaluation. It guarantees that these modalities make a significant contribution to sustainable development.
a. Encouraging Shared Responsibility
Provide collaborative monitoring and evaluation (M&E) procedures to guarantee accountability and openness among all parties involved.
Create common measurements and indicators that represent the values of TrC and SSC, including solidarity, ownership, and mutual benefit.
a. Improving Education and Information Exchange
Document best practices, lessons learned, and creative solutions that can be duplicated or expanded upon through assessments.
Encourage peer-to-peer learning by using case studies, success stories, and evaluation procedures that involve participation.
c. Making Evidence-Based Decisions Stronger
Provide solid proof of the impact, efficacy, and efficiency of SSC and TrC programs.
Utilize assessment results to guide program design, resource allocation, and policy decisions.
d. Adjusting to Situational Factors
Recognize the varied capacities and development paths of partner nations and adapt assessment frameworks to their particular settings and agendas.
To capture the intangible effects of SSC and TrC, such improved relationships and institutional capability, use qualitative and participative methodologies.
3. Essential Guidelines for Assessing SSC and TrC
The following guidelines should be followed in assessments in order to optimize the effects of SSC and TrC:
a. Participation and Inclusivity
Involve all parties involved in the evaluation process, such as recipients, governments, and civil society.
Make sure underrepresented groups may influence evaluation standards and interpretation of results.
b. National Possession
Evaluation frameworks should be in line with national development plans and priorities.
Increase local competence to carry out assessments in order to encourage self-reliance and sustainability.
c. Adaptability and Creativity
Make use of flexible assessment techniques that can adapt to the changing needs of SSC and TrC projects.
Increase the effectiveness and precision of assessments by utilizing data analytics and technology.
d. Pay Attention to Impact and Results
Assess long-term results and transformative effects by going beyond output-level metrics.
Assess contributions to the SDGs, especially in areas such as social inclusion, climate resilience, and poverty reduction.
4. Difficulties in Assessing TrC and SSC
Notwithstanding its significance, assessing SSC and TrC poses a number of difficulties:
Absence of standardized models Applying consistent evaluation criteria is challenging due to the diversity of SSC and TrC projects.
Data Limitations: The evaluation of outcomes and effects may be hampered by inconsistent or lacking data.
Limitations on Capacity: Many developing nations lack the finances and technical know-how required for thorough assessments.
Problems with Attribution: Separating the precise contributions of SSC and TrC from other variables affecting development outcomes might be difficult.
5. Suggestions for Improving Impact via Assessment
The following steps are advised in order to resolve these issues and improve the effectiveness of SSC and TrC:
a. Create Standard Evaluation Criteria
Work along with global organizations (such as the UNDP, OECD, and GPI on SSC) to develop flexible yet uniform evaluation standards for SSC and TrC.
b. Make an investment in building capacity
To improve partner nations' and institutions' evaluation capabilities, offer training and technical support.
Encourage the sharing of knowledge on evaluation techniques and resources between the South and the South.
c. Make Use of Collaborations
Collaborate with academic institutions, think tanks, and international organizations to carry out collaborative assessments and disseminate the results.
Encourage triangular collaboration as a means of combining resources and evaluation-related knowledge.
d. Integrate Evaluation into Program Design
Incorporate M&E systems into SSC and TrC activities' planning and execution stages.
Provide enough funding for evaluation-related tasks, such as baseline research and follow-up evaluations.
e. Encourage Openness and Communication
Evaluation reports should be published and made available to all parties involved.
Make use of the results to support further funding for SSC and TrC as efficient development strategies.
6. Final thoughts
SSC and TrC present important chances to promote inclusive and sustainable development in a fast evolving aid architecture. Stakeholders can guarantee that these cooperation mechanisms have the greatest possible impact, promote reciprocal accountability, and significantly aid in the accomplishment of the SDGs by giving top priority to thorough evaluation procedures. Evaluation improves trust, cooperation, and creativity among developing nations in addition to increasing the efficacy of SSC and TrC.