ECOPER and OCKHAM IPS have collaborated on an evaluation and tracer study for the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) ‘Centres of African Excellence’ (CoAE) programme. The evaluation was undertaken with the aim of assessing the performance of the overall programme to date and allowing lessons to be drawn to inform future improvements to the programme. ECOPER conducted field missions to centres in two of the programme countries: Ghana and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The accompanying tracer study sought information on the current occupations of alumni through an online survey and a series of individual and group interviews in order to draw conclusions on the programme’s impact.
European Parliament Study: Guarantees and Loans for Inclusive Development
The European Parliament has published an ECOPER paper on the implementation of the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+) operations from an inclusive perspective. By providing guarantees and subsidies for loans, as well as capital investments, the EFSD+ is expected to contribute to inclusive development and related goals such as inclusive growth, poverty eradication, …