Sector Assistance Program Evaluation on Education in Uzbekistan

3. 
Efficiency in Resource Use 
86. 
BETDP has been rated efficient because it achieved intended outputs and purposes 
cost-effectively. Under the project, the quality, durability, and availability of textbooks improved. 
The preparation of textbooks, their production and distribution helped set up a new supply 
system in the country. The TRS, which was “not anticipated at appraisal” (PCR, para. 57), 
emerged as the high point of the project, heralded by the government and donors as the most 
successful intervention in support of education in Uzbekistan. The three research studies under 
BETDP on the analysis of textbook sales and provision formed the basis for developing the 
MOPE textbook policy, which led to the development and adoption of the TRS and a draft 
charter for establishing a republican textbook revolving fund foundation (PCR, para. 19). The 
introduction of a transparent and competitive textbook procurement process stimulated the 
development of the local textbook publishing capacity, and the market conditions for continuing 
development of new and better textbooks. The BETDP is rated efficient. 
87. SSEP. 
The project was less efficient. It was intended to initiate changes in the entire 
SSE system in Uzbekistan. It fell significantly short of this objective and ended up largely 
supporting 45 model schools. As mentioned above, its outputs were much lower than 
anticipated at appraisal. Shortcomings in civil works significantly increased the cost of the 
project for the government. Consequently, the implicit unit costs of project outputs were 
expected to be high and returns low. The SSEP is rated less efficient.
88. 
ESDP (policy loan). 
The initial delay in making the loan effective set back its completion 
by about a year. Nonetheless, the government was able to comply with most of the conditions to 
which it had committed in the policy matrix. The delay caused some activities to lose their initial 
synchronization with the investment loan, which had to be reset during implementation. Delays, 
combined with the non-availability of international consultants, as mentioned above, reduced its 
efficiency. As noted by the PCR, ESDP is therefore deemed to be less efficient.
48
UNICEF. 2009. Review and Assistance in Strategic Development of the Education Programme: In Preparation for 
the Next Government of Uzbekistan-UNICEF Country Programme of Cooperation 2010–2015. 
Tashkent.  

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89. 
For the completed loans, BETDP is rated as efficient, and SSEP and ESDP are rated as 
less efficient. 
The ongoing two projects (ICTBEP and RBEP) are rated as efficient. Altogether, 
the loan portfolio is rated as efficient.