Member's Documents
Egypt Country Strategy and Program Evaluation 2009-2018
Published by: Independent Development Evaluation, African Development Bank
Independent Development Evaluation (IDEV) has carried out an evaluation of the Country Strategy and Program of the African Development Bank (AfDB) in Egypt over the period 2009-2018. The evaluation covers a crucial period, namely pre-revolution, revolution, and post-revolution, during which the Bank supported the country with 53 projects focusing on infrastructure development, macroeconomic stabilization, and inclusive growth. At close to USD 2.5 billion, the portfolio in Egypt was among the AfDB’s top five country portfolios over the period.
Overall, the evaluation found that the performance of the AfDB is satisfactory, despite a volatile and challenging context. The AfDB delivered a highly focused program, which adapted to the country’s changing needs, although it was over-ambitious given resource capacity. The Bank’s performance was excellent mainly in energy and water supply and sanitation, but the non-lending activities, such as technical assistance, did not progress well. Attention to crosscutting issues (gender equality, inclusiveness and green growth) has evolved at strategic level; yet it could be better at implementation and results reporting level. It is expected that the large and positive benefits of the Bank’s support will be maintained. Factors that aided the achievement of results included good program design, policy dialogue, and ownership and leadership by the government of Egypt, while factors that hampered achievement of results included insufficient funds and in-country staff, challenges in the projects’ procurement process and lengthy government project ratification processes.
The evaluation recommended the Bank to strike an appropriate balance between budget support and investment operations underpinned by its comparative advantage; to strengthen the balance in its program and project portfolio (increased private sector focus); to enhance its role as a knowledge broker; and to strengthen program delivery.
