An Evaluation of Phare-Financed Telecommunications and Posts Programmes

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An Evaluation of Phare-Financed Telecommunications and Posts Programmes An Evaluation of Phare-Financed Telecommunications and Posts Programmes )LQDO5HSRUW $SULO This Report was produced by a consortium headed by RAND Europe (Netherlands) with the collaboration of WIK (Germany) and Prognos A.G. (Germany) for the Evaluation Unit of the Common Service for External Relations (SCR) of the European Commission. This is RAND Europe report number RE-2000-03. The views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the European Commission. The European Commission does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this Report, nor does it accept responsibility for any consequence of their use. ii 7$%/(2)&217(176 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY................................................................................................. 2 1. INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................... 8 1.1. Objective of this Evaluation............................................................................. 8 1.2. Structure of the Report ..................................................................................... 9 2. EVALUATION METHODOLOGY............................................................................. 10 2.1. Introduction .................................................................................................... 10 2.2. Inventory of Phare P&T projects ................................................................... 10 2.2.1. Scope of the inventory and the structure of Phare programmes............. 10 2.2.2. Data collection for the inventory ............................................................ 11 2.2.3. Classification of the projects .................................................................. 12 2.3. Selection of projects for detailed evaluation .................................................. 13 2.4. The Logical Framework Methodology........................................................... 15 2.4.1. Overview of the Logical Framework Methodology ............................... 15 2.4.2. Information gathering for the evaluation................................................ 19 2.4.3. Implementing the Logical Framework Methodology at the project level.......................................................................................................... 19 3. TELECOMMUNICATION AND POSTAL SECTOR ANALYSIS ........................... 22 3.1. Introduction .................................................................................................... 22 3.2. Telecommunications Sector Analysis ............................................................ 23 3.2.1. Evolution and description of the Acquis Communautaire in Telecommunications................................................................................ 23 3.2.2. General development and problems in the CEECMS ............................ 24 3.3. Postal Sector Analysis.................................................................................... 28 3.3.1. Evolution and description of the Acquis Communautaire in the postal sector........................................................................................................ 28 3.3.2. General development and problems in the CEECMS ............................ 30 4. PHARE SUPPORT IN THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND POSTAL SECTORS ................................................................................................................ 33 4.1. Phare Objectives and Strategy........................................................................ 33 4.2. Phare Telecommunications and Postal Programmes and Projects................. 33 5. PROGRAMME LEVEL ANALYSIS........................................................................... 40 5.1. Introduction .................................................................................................... 40 5.2. Relevance to Stakeholder Needs .................................................................... 41 iii 5.2.1. Whose needs are being addressed?......................................................... 41 5.2.2. The post-communist transition ............................................................... 43 5.2.3. Privatisation, liberalisation and restructuring......................................... 45 5.2.4. Preparing for accession........................................................................... 46 5.3. Appropriateness of Intervention Design ........................................................ 47 5.3.1. Salient design features ............................................................................ 47 5.3.2. Direction ................................................................................................. 47 5.3.3. Control and operation ............................................................................. 49 5.3.4. Follow up................................................................................................ 52 5.4. Comparative Advantage of PHARE Support................................................. 53 5.4.1. Phare compared to alternative sources of support .................................. 53 5.4.2. Phare in combination and comparison with other sources ..................... 55 5.5. Is there a continuing need?............................................................................. 56 5.5.1. Relevance to stakeholder needs .............................................................. 56 5.5.2. Appropriateness of design ...................................................................... 58 6. PROJECT LEVEL ANALYSIS.................................................................................... 60 6.1. Overview of Selected Projects and Project Level Analysis ........................... 60 6.2. Training Projects ............................................................................................ 64 6.2.1. Efficiency of training projects ................................................................ 64 6.2.2. Effectiveness of training projects ........................................................... 64 6.2.3. Impact and sustainability of training projects......................................... 65 6.3. Preparation and Implementation of Investment Projects ............................... 65 6.3.1. Efficiency of preparation and implementation of investment projects... 65 6.3.2. Effectiveness of preparation and implementation of investment projects..................................................................................................... 66 6.3.3. Impact and sustainability of preparation and implementation of investment projects .................................................................................. 66 6.4. Organisational Reform and Laws and Regulations Projects.......................... 67 6.4.1. Efficiency of organisational reform and laws and regulations projects . 67 6.4.2. Effectiveness of organisational reform and laws and regulations projects..................................................................................................... 67 6.4.3. Impact and sustainability of organisational reform and laws and regulations projects .................................................................................. 68 7. RECOMMENDATIONS .............................................................................................. 69 7.1. Introduction .................................................................................................... 69 7.1.1. Why further assistance is needed............................................................ 69 iv 7.1.2. Why Phare support is appropriate........................................................... 70 7.2. Posts and Telecommunications Recommendations ....................................... 71 7.2.1. Continue Phare support for organisational and legal reform in the telecommunications sector....................................................................... 71 7.2.2. Increase the leverage of Phare support ................................................... 71 7.2.3. Develop and follow a clear and consistent policy with regard to private sector beneficiaries ...................................................................... 72 7.2.4. Continue support to the postal sector, especially in the areas of liberalisation and universal service.......................................................... 73 7.2.5. Continue to support training and organisational/legal reform projects through the multi-country programme..................................................... 74 7.3. General Recommendations ............................................................................ 74 7.3.1. Increase co-funding................................................................................. 74 7.3.2. Exploit the Logical Framework Methodology........................................ 75 7.3.3. Take full advantage of portfolio structure .............................................. 75 7.3.4. Improve co-ordination ............................................................................ 76 7.3.5. Delay may be a virtue............................................................................. 76 Annex A: Overview of Telecommunications and Postal Issues by Country .................... 77 Annex B: Inventory Results .............................................................................................. 91 Annex C: Details of Selected Projects .............................................................................. 92 Annex D: Selected NP and
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