Organizational Performance Review of the International Department of the Royal Norwegian Society for Development

Introduction

i) The International Department of the Royal Norwegian Society for Rural Development, (Norges Vel) was founded 200 years ago, and is the oldest Norwegian countrywide non-governmental organisation. From 1978 NVID has received financial contributions to development co-operation in ODA countries through FFAs with Norad. NVID presently operates in Eastern and Southern Africa, Madagascar and on the Balkans (MFA programs). The mission of NVID is to contribute to private sector development through strengthening producer organisations, hereunder cooperatives, and increase the producers’ control over larger parts of the value chain.

ii) An organisational performance review commissioned by Norad in 2005 had severe consequences for Norges Vel, with over 50 % reduction of the Norad annual grant down to NOK 10 million (later increased again to 12 million) that led to a reduced, consolidated project portfolio. Thorough organisational, management, administrative and personnel changes followed. Following the current FFA (up to 2009), Norad is considering entering into a new FFA from 2010 and in this connection commissioned this present review of NVID.

iii) The review was carried out by a consultant from COWI AS assisted by a staff member of the Norad evaluation department during the period 19 August – 30 September 2009. Prior to a field visit to Tanzania (03 – 10 September) the team prepared an inception report with a brief overview of preliminary findings and identification of focus points for the field visit. The field visit focused on the operations of NVID’s regional office in Dar-Es-Salaam, its local partner RUDI and concluded with a case study of the BRITA project that was used as a set of references for the review.

iv) The present review will provide important inputs for the future FFA with Norad. Norges Vel has made commendable progress in reorganization, competence improvement and development of management and QA systems. This review report concludes that although there is ample scope for improvements, hereunder expanding the NVID’s Africa capacity, this should provide a good basis for developing the future
cooperation with Norad.