Final evaluation of the EBAS matching grant programme (EU-ACP) 2005

Description
This substantial matching grant scheme was implemented in many ACP countries (the ones listed above are only those where the most grants were awarded). The evaluation was multi-faceted, so difficult to summarise here. Overall, though, it concluded that EBAS had adopted an innovative approach, that was relevant to the needs of ACP SMEs. Grants had been awarded quickly and efficiently, using a procedure that was practical. "Considerable impact" was achieved. On the other hand, the evaluation concluded that the outreach had been limited, perhaps because the objectives had been too ambitious; the service market overall had apparently not developed much.