Evaluation of the West Africa Competitiveness Programme in Sierra Leone

The final evaluation of the West Africa Competitiveness Programme in Sierra Leone (WACOMP-SL) offers critical insights into the design, monitoring, and evaluation aspects of development projects. Funded by the European Union and implemented by UNIDO and ITC, WACOMP-SL aimed to enhance Sierra Leone's trade competitiveness through improved productivity and compliance with international standards in selected value chains such as cocoa and cassava.

Key Findings

1. Capacity Building and Export Readiness

• Achievements: The project provided significant training and technical assistance, improving production quality and export readiness for a limited number of MSMEs and cooperatives. Notable successes include the organic certification of the Moawoma cooperative and improved farming practices in cassava and cocoa value chains.
• Challenges: The high costs and limited reach of these interventions meant that only a small number of entities benefited from intensive support. National institutions still lack the capacity to extend these services broadly.

2. Institutional Support and Service Delivery

• Achievements: WACOMP-SL supported the Sierra Leone Standards Bureau (SLSB) in establishing an accredited Management Systems Certification Body and National Notification Authority. The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) also received support in policy development and compliance with international standards.
• Challenges: Despite these efforts, the overall impact on improving service delivery and creating an enabling business environment was limited. Coordination between implementing agencies and national institutions was insufficient, and many activities did not achieve their intended outcomes.

3. Monitoring and Evaluation

• Shortcomings: The M&E system was not effective in tracking medium and long-term results. It focused more on outputs rather than outcomes, making it difficult to measure the project's true impact.
• Recommendations: Future projects should implement robust, results-based M&E systems with clear, measurable indicators and regular data collection. This would help in better tracking progress and making informed adjustments during implementation.

Recommendations for Future Interventions

1. Strengthening Local Capacity

• Focus on building local expertise to ensure sustainability and reduce reliance on international experts. This includes targeted capacity building for national institutions and intermediary organizations.

2. Enhancing Coordination and Stakeholder Engagement

• Improve coordination between implementing agencies and with other complementary programs. Establish systematic stakeholder involvement, including private sector participation and public-private dialogues, to enhance ownership and sustainability.

3. Promoting Sustainable Business Practices

• Encourage sustainable business practices and production in line with EU trade and business regulations. This aligns with our group’s emphasis on green economy and environmental sustainability.

4. Improving the Business Environment

• Support institutional reforms to create a predictable and enabling business environment. This includes promoting clear and transparent rules for investors, reducing red tape, ensuring a predictable tax system, and enhancing the rule of law and anti-corruption measures.

5. Effective Documentation and Knowledge Sharing

• Better document successful pilot cases to facilitate scaling up and replication. Create a centralized project repository for easy access to all project documents and knowledge products.

6. Robust Monitoring and Evaluation

• Implement a robust results-based M&E system to track progress and impact effectively. This includes setting clear, measurable indicators and regularly collecting data to assess outcomes.

The WACOMP-SL evaluation underscores the importance of these priorities and provides a roadmap for future interventions aimed at enhancing trade competitiveness and supporting sustainable development in Sierra Leone and other West African countries. These insights are crucial for our ongoing discussions and initiatives within the Group.