Evaluation of the Pungwe Basin Transboundary

This is the report of the first phase of the evaluation of the Pungwe Basin Transboundary Integrated Water Resources Managementand Development Programme. The evaluation was commissioned by Sida and the Embassy of Sweden in Addis Ababa to NIRASSweden AB, and was carried out between September 2017 and May 2018. The Programme was initiated in 2007, following theengagement of Sweden in the joint management of the Basin dating back to 1998, and was completed in April 2017. This first phase ofthe evaluation took stock of progress shortly after completion of the Programme, and developed a baseline for the second phase ofthe evaluation that will be carried out in 2020.The evaluation found that the Programme has been generally effective, especially in terms of strengthening the capacity of watermanagement organisations in Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Improvements in the institutional setup have proved more difficult toachieve, though. The Programme was highly relevant and contributed to regional cooperation, but its efficiency could be improved.There are concerns about the future sustainability of Programme results given fragilities in staffing and financial resources,especially in Mozambique.The recommendations emphasize the need to focus of the Programme on a smaller number of activities targeting the core businessof the basin management organisations; and on measures for strengthening the financial and technical sustainability of Programmeresults.