The evaluation mission analysed the project according to the five OECD-DAC evaluation criteria, namely: relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability and impact. In addition, the evaluation assessed two specific EU evaluation criteria:

• The EU added value of the programme, both regarding its design and implementation;
• The coherence with the EU strategy and other donor activities (including DFID and the World Bank).

The “Programme d’Aide au Commerce” (AIDCOM) was financed under the 10th EDF National Indicative Programme with a budget of 16 million Euros. The aim of the programme was to support the government in its private development efforts aimed at making the economy more competitive for the national, regional and international market and preparing it for its integration under the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs).
The specific objectives were to improve legal certainty for investments, facilitate trade and customs transactions, support the development of a commercial policy and improve the quality in order to make Congolese companies more competitive. The AIDCOM programme was part of a large European Union intervention for institutional support and good governance.
The four components of the programme were:

• Improving the business environment through increased legal and judicial security;
• Trade facilitation and customs reform;
• Trade policy capacity building;
• Supporting the quality and development of exports.

The geographical scope of the evaluation: Kinshasa and provinces (Bandundu, Kasai, Katanga, Central Kongo, North Kivu, Province Orientale).

• Assessed the implementation of the AIDCOM programme and drew useful lessons for the Congolese authorities and the EU Delegation
• Provided comprehensive and independent analysis of the performance of the Trade Programme, paying particular attention to its results in comparison with the objectives
• Collected lessons learnt and provided recommendations to improve current and future projects