FY2022 MOFA ODA Evaluation Results
Evaluation of “Japan’s Grant Aid for Economic and Social Development Programme to Cuba in JFY 2017”
| Chief Evaluator | KATSUMA Yasushi Professor, Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies, Waseda University |
| Consultant | Global Group 21 Japan, Inc. |
| Period of the Evaluation Study | June 2022 to January 2023 |
| Field Survey Country | Cuba |
Background, Objectives, and Scope of the Evaluation
The main purpose of this study was to conduct a project-level evaluation of the “Grant Aid for Economic and Social Development Programme to Cuba in JFY 2017” (grant amount: 1.05 billion yen) implemented by MOFA, and to derive recommendations and lessons learned for the planning and implementation of future ODA from the evaluation results, as well as to ensure accountability to the public. The project under evaluation was implemented by providing equipment to maintain the urban green space such as streets and parks, and in conjunction with the garbage compactors and other equipment provided in the JFY 2016 project, to further strengthen the waste collection and transportation capacity of Havana City, to support reconstruction and recovery from the devastating hurricane damage, and to improve the country’s disaster preparedness capacity.
Summary of Evaluation Results
(1) Relevance of the Plan
The provision of various equipment planned for this project was highly consistent with Havana City’s needs for waste management, urban green space management, and disaster response. The assistance was highly significant in helping Cuba return to the international community by providing assistance to improve the country’s balance of international payments situation, and was timely in that it coincided with the 120th anniversary of Japanese immigration to Cuba and the 90th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Cuba. The implementation structure of this project was consistent with the standard implementation structure and workflow of MOFA’s Grant Aid for Economic and Social Development Programme. The experience of JICA’s technical cooperation was utilized in determining equipment specifications and planning spare parts. Training, the provision of Spanish manuals, the deployment of maintenance equipment, and the supply of a larger-than-usual number of spare parts ensured that the capacity and systems were in place to properly operate, maintain, and manage the equipment. The planning process for this project was properly executed according to the standard flow.
(Evaluation Result: Satisfactory)
(2) Effectiveness of Results
The equipment provided for this project is being used for waste management, urban green space management, and disaster response in Havana City. The removal of trash and debris from the city’s streets has progressed, and the project is showing positive effects on waste management. Tree management, including preventive cutting, has been streamlined, and the project equipment has been fully utilized to remove fallen trees and disaster waste after the passage of hurricanes, showing the project’s effect on disaster countermeasures. Diplomatic ripple effects were high at the local government level, as the project was implemented in conjunction with the 500th anniversary of the Havana City Government. The project was properly implemented and smoothly executed in accordance with the standard implementation structure and workflow. Good communication and coordination have been maintained between the implementing agency (Havana City Provincial Direction of Communal Services: Dirección Provincial de Servicios Comunales, DPSC) and the Japanese side, including JICA in addition to the Japan International Cooperation System (JICS) and the Embassy of Japan in Cuba, and follow-up is being conducted appropriately.
(Evaluation Result: Satisfactory)
*Ratings: Highly Satisfactory; Satisfactory; Partially Satisfactory; Unsatisfactory
Recommendations and Lessons Learned, Based on the Evaluation Results
Recommendations
(1) Continuous Operation of Equipment through Procurement of Spare Parts
The lack of spare parts for some of the equipment provided under this project has hindered the continued effectiveness of the project. Since there are significant constraints on the procurement of spare parts by the Cuban government, if the Japanese government implements a new Grant Aid for Economic and Social Development Programme for Cuba, it should consider including the spare parts required for the equipment procured under this project in its contents to promote the continued effectiveness of the project.
(2) Study of Waste Reduction and Securing a New Final Disposal Site Based on the Experience of Neighboring Countries
Securing a new disposal site is an urgent issue for Havana City. As Cuba considers practical solutions, it is highly significant to learn from the various efforts of neighboring countries and form a network with similar organizations and experts. JICA, which has expertise in technical cooperation in neighboring countries and is emphasizing cooperation in urban waste management in Cuba, could take the lead in holding regional workshops on urban waste management, and Cuba could learn from the experiences of neighboring countries through triangular cooperation and other means.
(3) Consideration of Assistance to Help Improve the Situation Surrounding Cuba’s Balance of International Payments
From the perspective of Japan’s national interest, it is important for Cuba to repay its debt in order to encourage Cuba’s return to the international community. To this end, it is necessary to improve the situation surrounding the balance of international payments in Cuba. In the short term, food aid such as rice should be provided, while in the medium term, as in this case, assistance could include the provision of equipment that is essential for improving the lives of Cuban citizens but cannot be purchased from overseas due to economic sanctions and lack of foreign currency. It will be important to provide balanced assistance from both short- and medium-term perspectives.
Lessons Learned
(1) Grant Aid Aimed at Synergistic Effects with Continuous Technical Cooperation
This project had various advantages, such as the accumulation of useful information and experience, a relationship of trust with the implementing agency, and an understanding of Japanese assistance on the part of the implementing agency, due to the fact that there had been prior continuous technical cooperation with the same implementing agency. In grant aid, there should preferably be collaboration with prior technical cooperation that shared the same implementing agency, in order to achieve synergistic effects.
(2) Identifying the Need for Spare Parts
If it is difficult to procure spare parts in a timely manner due to the circumstances of the partner government, it is possible to procure spare parts generously at the same time as the provision of the equipment, as was done in this case. Also, there are cases where it is difficult to procure spare parts in a timely manner because the wear and tear of spare parts may be more severe than usual depending on the degree of operation of the equipment and the operating environment. In such cases, it is necessary to procure as many spare parts as possible at the same time as provision of the equipment, after fully understanding the situation and making a realistic estimation of the wear rate of spare parts.
Disaster waste removal in progress: Dump truck and skid steer loader