Evaluation of the Commonwealth Secretariat’s Economic Development Programme

The Project at A Glance

The Commonwealth Secretariat in London is the backbone of the Commonwealth and the Strategic Plan 2013/14-2016/17 (the Plan) marked the beginning of a new chapter for the Secretariat. The Plan had six core areas of strategic focus that include democracy, public institutions, social development, youth, development: Pan-Commonwealth and development: small states and vulnerable states. Under the Economic Development pillar (5), the Secretariat’s programme of delivery was focused on four intermediate outcomes:
5.1 Effective policy mechanisms for integration and participation in the Global Trading System;
5.2 Commonwealth Principles and values advances in global development and financing decisions;
5.3 National frameworks facilitate effective debt management; and,
5.4 Effective, equitable, transparent and sustainable management of marine and other natural resources.

International Economics (IEC), with funding from the Commonwealth, conducted an independent evaluation of the Secretariat’s Economic Development Programme under the Plan, covering areas that include trade policy support, debt management and sustainable management of marine and other natural resources. The evaluation served both an accountability and learning purpose.

What We Found

The project’s overall objective was to provide an independent opinion on the performance and results of the Secretariat’s Economic Development programme. The team at International Economics assessed the relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, impact and sustainability of the support provided by the Secretariat in meeting the needs of its member states and made recommendations from both the strategic and operational perspectives to optimise the utilisation of resources in achieving sustainable impact.

Our Strategy and Impact

International Economics undertook a theory-based evaluation of the programme, assessing the extent to which outputs, outcomes and impact have been achieved and examining the validity of assumptions that have been articulated linking the achievement of these outputs to outcome and impact. The team also consulted a wide range of stakeholders during the implementation of the evaluation. The final evaluation report, which was published on the Commonwealth Secretariat’s website, was used to refine the current strategies of ongoing and new projects and programmes and to evidence the outcomes realised under the previous strategic plan, thereby serving an accountability function.

Our Core Solutions

Governments, international donors, and the private sector face many important questions on the expected outputs and impact before, during and after the implementation of their projects. This is where International Economics Consulting’s team of experts, using innovative methodologies to collect and analyse data, can assist you in tracking the economic, social, and environmental aspects of your project.