After-action of the mid-term review

Here we are, the first midterm reviews of some FSCA projects have just been completed. It has been quite successful having the beneficiaries, the project staff and the Donor to exchange ideas, provide clarifications or comments and finally give clear information about how the rest of each project’s implementation will be in order to achieve the objectives stated in the original documents.

So now it’s the right time to look back and take stock of this experience in order to improve the midterm reviews of the next countries. We have been lucky that the very Chief of the Italian Cooperation Office II, Dr Mauro Massoni came to Dakar to personally participate in the two reviews. His suggestions and comments were fully reflected in the final document that from now on will accompany the implementation of the seven projects until their completion.

However, we also have to highlight a few issues that could have been better addressed for the success of the review. Many friends complained that the review authorities, especially Dr Massoni and Dr. Lucci Chiarissi (TCSF) did not have sufficient time to visit more field activities and exchange with beneficiaries. That’s a real point, but we knew it would be hard for “the Chief” of Office II of the Italian Cooperation to be available for a longer time. To alleviate this problem, my suggestion is to prepare a short “professional” video that could provide more “background information” to Dr Massoni in order to facilitate his understanding of the situation where the project is working, the type of beneficiaries, their problems, their “daily life”. It would also be quite good if each project could prepare a sort of “photographic album” which could be consulted by the midterm review members when needed.

The power point projections used to illustrate each project activities and results were not “always” well done. It is suggested that the NPCs send his/her presentation to the ICC in time so that some suggestion and improvement can be provided before the review. An important part of the midterm review was the “Beneficiaries’ Evaluation”. Unfortunately, due to several delays, the preparation of this part was not completed in time. It will be done “later” and the results will be incorporated and reflected in the work plan of each project. It is important now that the next reviews could be organized after the Beneficiaries’ Evaluation is completed. A specific training has been organized in Dakar and in Banjul in March.

By now all the projects have recruited the consultant/ enterprise to run the Beneficiaries’ Evaluation so that the exercise can be timely conducted according to the guidance provided by TCSF.