Identification and feasibility study for a social cohesion project in Panama

Detailed description of project Back

The country strategy for Panama 2007-2013 identifies social cohesion as one of the focal areas of cooperation. The general objective of this component is to provide support to reducing poverty, exclusion, social and geographical inequalities through assisting the modernization of the State in the specific areas of local development, social policies and fiscal systems. The European Commission will support the authorities to modernize and strengthen its capacity so as to improve social indicators, to transfer resources to local entities and to reinforce participation of the population.

A national consultation process on the development of Panama was initiated by the President in 2006. In cooperation with the UN system, 173 thematic working sessions took place and 51 meetings in 9 provinces. The outcome of this process has been published in a special document “Agreement of the National Consultation on the Development of Panama”. The document presents an overview of the economic and social situation of the country and list targeted development objectives and strategies and their expected impact.

The objective of the mission is to identify a project in support of the implementation of the “Acuerdos de Concertación Nacional para el Desarrollo” and to evaluate its feasibility conform the quality criteria of relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, impact and sustainability.

Type of services provided

PROMAN provided the services of a team of 2 experts: one team leader and one specialist in local development & decentralisation.

Core services included a/o:

• Analyse the “Acuerdos de la Concertación Nacional para el Desarrollo de Panamá” (ACN)” report and identify strengths and weaknesses in terms of objectives, strategies and polices;
• Evaluate present policies with respect to social cohesion and their coherence with the ACN;
• Review institutional and organizational needs for the realisation of the ACN;
• Review global financial costs and sources of financing;
• Review present and future social cohesion projects and programmes funded by other donors;
• Select possible areas of intervention of a potential EC funded programme; the selection criteria should be in line with the priorities listed in the CSP 2007-2013, targeting the intervention at the most marginal and vulnerable layers of the population;
• Undertake full feasibility study (inclusive logical framework, Project Fiche).