During 2012, the UNDP Evaluation Office conducted a series of evaluations of UNDP’s global and regional programmes. This evaluation covered the Regional Programme for Africa 2008-2013, implemented by the UNDP Regional Bureau for Africa (RBA). It examined the contributions made to development results through the implementation of regional projects and various aspects of work undertaken by the regional service centres in Dakar and Johannesburg, including the provision of technical advisory services and support to knowledge management.
The evaluation found that the regional programme was relevant, responding to ongoing and emerging development challenges in the vast and diverse region of sub-Saharan Africa. In light of the increasing emphasis on African integration, regional programme engagement with the African Union and regional economic communities (RECs) was appropriate. The regional programme was well-positioned within UNDP, and focused on issues with regional dimensions, collaborating with the global programme and country programmes to contribute to develop ment results.
Holistic approaches, drawing on the ability of the regional programme to work with regional institutions and the country programme presence at the national level, were particularly effective. The report recommends that, given its limited resources, the regional programme should continue to focus on interventions where a regional approach brings significant value added, notably strategic initiatives that strengthen the capacity of and support regional institutions to develop and implement priority frameworks, policies and programmes, and high-level advocacy for issues pertinent to the region.
The late start-up of many initiatives limited the overall progress towards results, but the regional programme nevertheless made some useful contributions towards intended programme outcomes. The evaluation also found that the regional programme contributed in a significant manner to knowledge generation and sharing, including the production of high-quality knowledge products. However, the potential of the regional programme and the regional service centres to function as a regional knowledge hub was only partially realized, and the report recommends expanding their learning and knowledge management role for greater development effectiveness.
