Background
SWN has been awarded the External Evaluation of MLRBP Phase IV, commissioned by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). As the final phase of the program, this evaluation will assess the long-term political and institutional changes in bridge planning and management within the Provincial government, specifically within the context of federalized governance, aligning with the 2015 constitution of Nepal. The evaluation will also identify the economic and financial benefits of MLRBP and assess its outcomes based on the OECD DAC criteria: relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, sustainability, and coordination, and calculations such as the Benefits-Cost Ratio.
Objective of the Assignment
- Review the institutionalization of bridge building processes within provincial government systems (MoPID, TID, IDOs).
- Analyze the capacity development of provincial institutions and private sector stakeholders (Consultants, Contractors).
- Assess whether the motorable bridges deliver equitable socio-economic benefits relative to costs.
- Validate the outcomes reported in the program’s annual monitoring summaries.
- Produce a consolidated report with conclusions and recommendations for the remaining program phase.
Key Activities and Service Provided by SWN
Under this project, SWN is undertaking the following activities:
- Conduct a desk study using available program documents and reports; collaborate with SDC and the Local Road Bridge Support Unit (LBRSU).
- Conduct case studies on “with” and “without” bridge scenarios to analyze socio-economic impacts.
- Develop checklists, guiding questions, and an evaluation framework; finalize data collection methodologies (KIIs, FGDs).
- Conduct household surveys (664), origin-destination (O-D) surveys (42), traffic volume surveys, and participatory resource mapping across 21 sampled bridges.
- Perform economic and financial analysis using Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR), Net Present Value (NPV), and Internal Rate of Return (IRR).
- Train field data collectors/enumerators on data collection protocols, ethical considerations, and data quality control.
- Ensure compliance with ethical guidelines, regulations, and human rights considerations.
Outputs
The evaluation will analyze how the program has boosted socio-economic activities through improved access and connectivity, justifying investments. It will also assess its contribution to federal state-building by institutionalizing bridge building in provincial government systems and provide recommendations for the Government of Nepal to continue the program after Phase IV.
