Mid-Term Evaluation of Guinea Bissau Country Strategy 2015-2019

The Independent Development Evaluation (IDEV) of the African Development Bank (AfDB) has conducted its first ever mid-term evaluation, that of the AfDB Country Strategy and Program in Guinea-Bissau for the period 2015–2019. Implemented in a context of fragility, the Strategy aims to contribute to national stability and economic recovery through two pillars: strengthening the foundations of the State and building infrastructure that promotes inclusive development. The main objective of the mid-term evaluation was to assess the performance of the first phase of the Strategy (2015-2017) and to seek lessons that could inform both the implementation of second phase, as well as the preparation of the next Country Strategy. In the period 2015-2017, the Bank approved and implemented 10 operations that were worth over USD 60.5 Million. The evaluation draws a number of strategic and operational lessons, and recommends that the Bank should:

• Adapt its assistance to the particular context of Guinea-Bissau, including adapting the Bank’s processes such as procurement and disbursement to the country’s needs, and increasing the resources and the attention paid to the country;
• Show proof of innovation in the next CSP by adopting a program-based approach;
• Improve the quality of its portfolio in Guinea-Bissau;
• Develop a results-based approach for capacity development in the country;
• Increase its overall presence in the country;
• Mainstream gender in project design.