Polish aid

The evaluation concerned specific projects financed from the funds provided by the MFA under the scholarship programme of the Specialist Eastern Studies at the University of Warsaw, and also development aid programmes for small and medium sized enterprises in Georgia and Ukraine as well as a co-production agreement between Belarusian Radio Racja and the MFA for the year 2013.

The evaluation was performed in Poland, Ukraine and Georgia.

The main aim of the review was to formulate recommendation allowing, among other things, the increase of Polish aid (i.e. to increase the influence of projects on the beneficiary’s situation), to strengthen the image of Poland as a country active in measures for sustainable development worldwide, and also to support the decision-making processes at the MFA.

Developmental initiatives implemented as part of four Polish aid components in the years 2011, 2012, 2013 were positively evaluated. The actions met the beneficiaries’ actual needs. The Polish Development Aid offer was seen as attractive, specifically tailored to attain the goals. Competent execution of project tasks positively influenced the image of Poland as a development cooperation donor.

The analysis of realised ventures shows that:

1. The Scholarship Programme for Students of Specialist Eastern Studies at the University of Warsaw, managed by the Centre for East European Studies at the University of Warsaw, meets the needs and expectations of beneficiaries. Its graduates advance their scientific and job careers, thus proving the efficacy of the undertaking. The realization of the initiative contributes to the preparation of leaders of change in the participants’ home countries, and also brings mutual benefit for Polish image abroad. The programme, thanks to its long tradition and high quality (according to the students) of offered services, has become a recognised mark in participants’ home countries.
2. The Georgian component of SME ought to be continued in the future. The analysed projects were properly linked with the goals of Multiannual Development Cooperation Programme for 2012-2015 and the Millennium Development Goals. Priority of help went to particularly worse off target groups and areas in deep socio-economic hardship. The most permanent effects resulted from on-site visits to Polish enterprises and agro-touristic farms accompanied by training, which furthered the competences gained thanks to the project participation. The main reason behind limiting the permanence was a lack of cooperation from local authorities, and a more difficult access to credit financing the development of newly formed enterprises.
3. The Ukrainian component of SME was also highly valued by all the participating parties. The majority of organisations have been working in Ukraine for years, where they have their trusted partners. On the other hand, the problem of entrepreneurship development was not usually the main activity area for these organisations. The turning to SME stemmed from adjustment attempts by these organisations, per their statutory tasks, to adjust their actions to the priority within the framework of which it is possible to receive funding. At the same time, the projects were characterised by an accurate diagnosis of needs, while their execution by the professionalism and commitment of contractors.
4. Belarusian Radio Racja (BRR) undertakes a wide range of actions to improve access to objective information for target groups. The radio is realising its aim mainly by broadcasting programmes to the territory of Belarus. The radio is complemented in its mission by a website, profiles on Facebook, Twitter, Contact, YouTube and Google+. The radio broadcasts almost exclusively in Belarusian. The scheduling and specific programming blocks are, in spite of limited funds, worked on and modified based on sociological research conducted on the territory of Poland among Belarussian expats.  BRR cooperates with many local correspondents and institutions operating in Belarus as well as abroad.  

Concurrently, in the process of evaluation, conventions and recommendations were formulated, the implementation of which may result in a strengthened impact of the Polish Aid Programme and even better adjustment of projects to the beneficiaries’ needs.