ADB extends grant for impact evaluation of projects

MANILA, Philippines - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will extend $5.5 million in technical assistance (TA) to the Philippines for the application of impact evaluation on planned and ongoing projects and programs.

The TA will be released in tranches, depending on the need of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), the lead proponent for impact evaluation.

The ADB said impact evaluations provide empirical evidence showing whether development actions result in measurable impact and greater aid effectiveness.

In a press briefing yesterday, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and NEDA director general Arsenio M. Balisacan said the Philippines has launched a number of studies for programs and projects.

“The impact evaluation initiative comes at a time when the need for evidence-based decision making for government is high,” he said.

He added that challenged countries with development constraints, such as the Philippines, can learn from and gain from impact evaluation.

For example, impact evaluation was utilized in the conditional cash transfer (CCT) Program, with results showing it achieved its target of keeping students in school and children receiving basic medications.

Balisacan admitted that impact evaluation had also revealed some discrepancies in government projects such as in irrigation.

“A lot of resources are being wasted and leakages in funding of programs or projects are very high. Without the (impact evaluation) mechanism, you won’t catch those discrepancies,” he added.

ADB vice president for knowledge management Bindu N. Lohani said impact evaluation is a critical tool, which provides rigorous evidence on the impact of development programs on the lives of the poor.

“It helps the development community understand what worked and what doesn’t, and it can show how resources allocated to countries contribute to positive change,” Lohani said.