In order to measure the various goals we have defined, a Results Framework was established in 2011. The Results Framework includes specific indicators including targets and thus provides a framework for us to gauge progress toward the achievement of results and to adjust relevant activities accordingly.
The various indicators of the Results Framework are analysed on an annual basis and presented in a short report.
On project level
In order to assess the developmental effects of OeEB's portfolio, all projects are evaluated with an adapted version of the Development Effectiveness Rating (DERa) tool originally developed by the German development finance institution (DEG).
Read moreDERa builds on international best practice by using predominantly quantitative and harmonised indicators and is applied to the entire portfolio and all new commitments of OeEB since beginning of 2019.
DERa rates individual clients' contribution to development and follows up on changes in performance since OeEB's investment. Based on the DERa assessments, OeEB can build its impact reporting and steer the overall development quality of its portfolio.
5 key outcome categories
Guided by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), DERa uses five outcome categories to assess the development contributions of each customer:
- Decent jobs
- Local income
- Market and sector development
- Environmental stewardship
- Community benefits
DERa score
DERa produces a cumulative score with a maximum of 150 points. The first three categories (the main development effects of private sector activities) make up 75% of the total score whereas the last two categories (the way of sustainably doing business) make up 25% of the total score.
For ease of interpretation, the score is linked to a qualitative categorisation:
- ≥ 100 points: Exceptional
- 85 – 99 points: Very good
- 70 – 84 points: Good
- 50 – 69 points: Satisfactory
- ≤ 49 points: Unsatisfactory
In 2019, OeEB's projects had an average DERa score of 81.35 ("Good").
Evaluations
Evaluations of current or completed projects enable us to learn and to make our investments even more effective. The insights we gain by looking at all aspects of a project are incorporated into our decision-making process and help us continually improve on our work.
Read moreThe aim of an evaluation is to determine the relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, development impact and sustainability of a project. In doing so, the evaluation should enable the incorporation of lessons learned into the decision-making process of future projects.
The main purposes of evaluation thus are
- to provide an overall assessment of the project
- to improve future projects through feedback of lessons learned
- to provide a basis for accountability, including the provision of information to the public.
Evaluation Policy
In its evaluations, OeEB follows the "Evaluation Policy of the Austrian Development Cooperation". This policy was developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Finance, the Federal Ministry for Sustainability and Tourism and the Austrian Development Agency and sets out quality standards and benchmarks for Austrian development evaluation.
Evaluation Reports
German development bank DEG and OeEB commissioned a study with a cross-comparison on how debt funds that are financed by them create and evaluate development effects. The focus of the study is twofold: exploring synergies and differences on how debt funds generate and measure development effects; and (ii) supporting DEG and OeEB in identifying opportunities for a more effective and efficient approach to capturing the actual development effects of debt funds. The findings are based on a desk review of fund reporting as well as a series of interviews with experts at DEG and OeEB, fund managers and fund advisors.
OeEB continuously supports clients in creating jobs in compliance with international labour standards. Together with German development bank DEG, OeEB commissioned a study into how DFIs can contribute to assessing and promoting the job quality of their investments beyond compliance. The study illustrates the current state of knowledge on the topic and presents the results of a series of interviews with ESG and impact experts from peer institutions as well as investment managers from OeEB and DEG.
In 2021, OeEB, DEG and Syspons GmbH approached the topic of net-impact by exploring impact trade-offs within and between SDGs in a study about net-impact. We then used the UN’s SDGs to assess negative and positive impact pathways in different investment sectors and examined which role DFIs can play in achieving development impact in the context of the SDGs.
In 2021, OeEB, together with the German Investment and Development Company (DEG), commissioned a study to evaluate the impact of gender lens investing. An overview of the specialist literature showed that the specialist literature often reports on what is done in individual cases, but not on how the economic empowerment of women (women's economic empowerment) can be achieved in principle. More research is therefore needed in this direction.
Evaluation Report: Research study on the transformative impact of gender-lens investing
In 2015 OeEB invested in an equity stake of around USD 5.9 million into Development World Market´s (DWM) USD 52.1 million Inclusive Finance Equity Fund II. The Fund´s stated objective was to provide equity to inclusive financial institutions in Asia and Latin America. OeEB contracted OMTRIX, a specialized Costa Rica based consulting organization, to perform a mid-term evaluation of the Fund and its investees.
KfW, DEG and OeEB analyzed their own portfolios, interviewed project managers and in-vestment teams and conducted a survey with country and regional managers on the ground in order to obtain an overview of renewable energy financing approaches and to identify synergies. In this study, KfW, DEG and OeEB compare their portfolios and financing approaches with regards to Renewable Energy investments.
Since November 2009, KfW and OeEB have provided Sekerbank with a credit line and technical support for capacity and knowledge building in the field of energy efficiency for SMEs and households. In April 2014, the effectiveness of the credit line and the technical support was reviewed and an evaluation report was prepared.
In 2008, OeEB signed a credit line to ProCredit Bank Georgia. In February 2012 there was a joint evaluation of KfW and OeEB by an independent expert who checked whether the credit line is the right instrument for the promotion of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSME) and whether the project makes sense in terms of development policy. The relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, overarching developmental impact and sustainability were assessed.
Since December 2015, OeEB has been providing a long-term credit line of USD 15 million to the Latin American Agribusiness Development Corporation (LAAD). This study measures the impact of the LAAD and shows how important it is to use financial means to boost productivity in agriculture.
Evaluation Report Latin American Agribusiness Development Corporation (LAAD)