The objective of this component is to provide support to the JMG to commission a Mid-Term evaluation (MTE) of the energy sector budget support to external expert(s). The scope of the required support is to prepare ToR for the expert(s) carrying out the MTE.

The MTE should be organised to check the overall validity first of the monitoring system and secondly to check the disbursement criteria for the next tranches. Regarding the tranches, the ToR of the present project refer explicitly to checking the disbursement criteria for the already disbursed fixed tranche.

One option, in agreement with the JMG, would be to extend the scope of the MTE to include checks on progress of attainment (i.e. outputs/impacts) of specific performance indicators (conditions) for the disbursement of the variable tranche. In this way there can be early recommendations for corrective actions from the evaluators.

Another option, in agreement with the JMG, is to have a wider scope for the MTE, with the objective of assessing the extent to which the sector budget support programme has successfully provided means to the Ukrainian government to implement its energy sector strategy, through resources and improvement in government processes. Also, to assess the efficiency and effectiveness of policies, strategies and actions in achieving sustainable outcomes and impacts on growth and development, of course to the extent that this is feasible given that this is a mid term evaluation of a rolling programme (and of a rolling Ukrainian energy strategy programme) implementation.