ÉLAN RDC is a private sector development programme that uses a market systems approach to facilitate pro-poor economic growth in the DRC.
This mid-term evaluation found that, despite the weak business environment and multiple risks and uncertainties, ÉLAN has had a significant level of success in securing the adoption and adaptation of pilot interventions across several sectors.
It identifies some weaknesses both in the design and implementation of the intervention model and concludes that, although full details of the payment-by-results (PBR) mechanism under which ÉLAN has been implemented are not available, it is likely that it was an inappropriate desgn choice.
The evaluation team suggests that focusing more on supporting the process of expansion and the response of those pilots judged successful would have been more successful in achieving impact and deeper market system change, than the development of additional pilots.
The report provides a comprehensive set of recommendations.
Intervention description
This evaluation aims to identify any constraints or risks to achieving the objectives of the ÉLAN project and to recommend corrective actions where required. The evaluation is structured around six evaluation questions.
Evidence methodology
It builds the evidence based on: a literature review; six sector studies; six intervention case studies; a series of 12 focus group discussions with the beneficiaries of case study interventions; a results verification exercise; and a value for money (VFM) assessment.