Grant-funded projects
In 1995, the CEB began setting aside a share of the profits generated by its core operations in order to support activities that were particularly focused on vulnerable population groups, victims of natural or humanitarian disasters, or refugees.
The funds from this “Selective Trust Account” (STA) were either earmarked as interest rate subsidies or disbursed to dedicated stand-alone projects.
Upon request from members of the CEB’s Administrative Council, the Office of Evaluation undertook this evaluation cycle in order to assess the outcome and results of the grant-funded projects financed by the STA. A purposive sample of eight projects was established for field-based evaluation, based on the criteria of type of project, geographical distribution and implementation modalities.
The abstracts of the individual evaluations can be accessed through the links below:
- Support to a NGO to provide kindergarten schooling for Roma children in a South-East European country (2008)
- Funding of water supply and sanitation investments through the UNDP in municipalities with large minority populations in a South-East European country (2008)
- Funding of two housing support projects for internally displaced persons and former refugees through the UNHCR in a Balkan country #1 (2008)
- Funding of two housing support projects for internally displaced persons and former refugees through the UNHCR in Balkan country #2 (2010)
- Funding of an education support programme in primary schools through UNICEF in a South-East European country (2011)
The reforms to the STA – renamed Social Dividend Account (SDA) – that were implemented in 2013 broadened the range of activities that could be financed therefrom, with a view to enabling the Bank to support and complement its lending operations in a more diverse way, through four dedicated funding windows.
The Evaluation Synthesis on grant-funded projects – currently in the drafting stage – is intended to contribute to internal reflection on the CEB’s corporate position regarding this type of financing instrument. In-house consultations have been initiated with the administrative units responsible for managing, monitoring and implementing the Bank’s SDA Policy.
The objective is to distil lessons learned but also to take a prospective view on the opportunities that the SDA’s recently-reformed framework presents for a more diversified use of grant funds.