Mid term review of the Project ‘Strengthening Statistical System in Kosovo 2019–2023’

Sida commissioned this mid-term as an opportunity to benefit from an independent assessment of activities implemented within the project and its performance. The review will assist Sida, European Union Office in Kosovo (EUOK), and implementing partners to inform adjustments and improvement of the current projectand the next phase, and in particular the improvement of the Document of Action(DoA). The review was designed following Sida’s but also internationally accepted evaluation guidance and standards, focusing on OECD DAC criteria of relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, impact, sustainability, and coherence of the project. The evaluation team also integrated aspects of assessment of crosscutting dimensions and perspectives such as poverty reduction, gender equality and rights, and conflict sensitivity. The immediate users of the review findings and recommendations include Sida, EUOK, and Kosovo’s Agency of Statistics (KAS). Other intended users are other relevant staff at Headquarters (HQ) within Sida and EU who may benefit from the evaluation findings. The mid-term review was focused on the support provided by Sida to the Kosovo Agency of Statistics through the project Strengthening Statistical System in Kosovo 2019-2023. There are two main actors involved: Statistics of Sweden (SoS) for transfer of information between two statistical agencies and SoS is involved in two areas of the project. Also, a consultant company, FCG Sweden manages the other three areas of the project. The project aims to increase the capacities of KAS to carry out its core activities in a standardised and independent manner; including gender equality – in line with EU standards – as well as strengthen KAS’s management and coordination capacities. The project is financed by the EU and the Kingdom of Sweden for a total of 3,530,000 Euros and is implemented, through indirect management, with the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida) (44%). The project is cofinanced by the European Union Office in Kosovo (EUOK) (56%) Sida is a long-standing partner of KAS and has provided funding to Kosovo statistical sector since 2001. The recommendations focus on seeking a stronger focus on the delivery of results considering underlying
factors that facilitate/hinder the achievement of results.