Synthesis results, indicators and statistics

Next, a few of the indicators used in monitoring and evaluation process are listed, and a number of representative statistical results of the EBC project implementation.

Statistical data

The statistical data obtained in the baseline monitoring and Evaluation process phase is relevant to the impact of the project in the 255 EBC communities. The following statistical information summarizes some of the findings of the impact made by the process of monitoring and evaluation

• More than 32,000 monthly users of PAPI in all 255 communities are distributed in the following structure:
  
  

  • 72% youth / students;
  • 22% adults;
  • 5% retired.
• Impact on the development of companies and private initiatives through the implementation of RECL: on average 2.5 operators in each community: using the resources provided by PAPI;  
• Over 75 partnerships made between local entrepreneurs, calculated at the level of 255 communities in the EBC project launch by end 2008;
• Analysis in the development of community schools has resulted in reporting more than 390 projects at 255 schools from the communities using the RECL infrastructure;
• In terms of library development project in the EBC project were determined over 350 ICT events conducted in the library in all 255 communities in EBC project launched by end of 2008;
• An average of 4.8 events for ICT training at PAPI level in all 255 communities in EBC project launch by the end of 2008;
• In order to analyze the impact and penetration of e-government technologies, an average number was determined per community for over 10 online questions addressed to local authorities.

Presentation of information from the monitoring and evaluation process through the method Geographical Information System (GIS)

One of the tools of disclosure in the monitoring and evaluation methodology consisted of overlapping various indicators of basic compounds over geo-spatial information at different aggregation levels. This way there were obtained several categories of GIS analysis on various components of the EBC project.

The number of partnerships made between schools since the beginning of the EBC program	Number of ICT events (seminars, courses) organized for companies interested in accessing structural funds in the PAPI
Number of projects funded from EU funds or BM	Number of events that took place in the library for children and adolescents

Comparative Charts 

Graphical comparison between EBC communities and the control group resulting in the positive impact of project implementation in the 255 communities comparatively with other communities.

Comparison of EBC project impact at eGovernment component level within the 255 communities and the communities from the Control Group

Comparison between the average number of projects financed by the European Union or World Bank in the EBC communities and the control group

Comparison between the number of community events and EBC partnerships and the control group.

Conclusions of the monitoring process – First Quarterly Report

According to the agreed upon methodology for the first quarterly report there was made a quantitative and qualitative research on a sample of 85 EBC communities selected based on regional criteria and rural– urban distribution, to reflect as accurately the evolution of the whole number of 255 communities participating in the project.

Collected data were validated by using complex methods, and then the data were processed with the system e-M&E designed and approved in the first phase of the project. The electronic reporting system developed at this stage is fully functional and will be accessible online.

It is clear from the analysis of performance indicators that the sample has made significant progress compared to the baseline study and individually reported to all initial media.

• 27 of 43 indicators and sub-indicators were significantly improved;
• 10 of 43 indicators and sub-indicators have kept the same number of results;
• 6 of 43 indicators and sub-indicators declined comparatively to the baseline study.

Significant progress was made and at the worst performance level of indicators by reducing the number of communities there was reported a lack of activity on certain components.

The average value calculated for each indicator and sub -indicator

Evolution of communities in terms of results and weaker monitoring indicators

The above graph shows the number of zero scores for each indicator for the current study and the time reference. After there have been reviewed, the indicators and sub-indicators calculated for the sample selected in, the following observations resulted:

• 27 of 43 indicators and sub indicators have improved significantly;
• 10 of 43 indicators and sub-indicators remained at almost the same number of zero results;
• 6 of 43 indicators and sub-indicators are under the baseline study.

This analysis concluded that there is a growing trend of communities regarding participation in various program activities.

We must emphasize the impact of the ICT awareness program for the first component of the EBC project Access to ICT for knowledge disadvantaged communities and improving Digital Knowledge. This conclusion is supported by most development indicators, monitoring and evaluation and analysis of data collected in the research. Monitoring and evaluation system under the greatest impact was seen in the following:

• Activities of E-learning in Public Internet Access Points for different groups of beneficiaries;
• Services provided to residents of RECL nodes : Public Internet Access Points, schools, libraries;
• The use of computers by teachers in their daily activity.

The proportion of teachers who use the ICT infrastructure
in everyday work

75% of PAPI nodes offered e-learning courses in the period analyzed for students or people who access the online courses or accessing other forms of computer-assisted learning. Compared with the corresponding baseline indicator study, during the recent review, the e-learning offer shows an increase of 117%. The RECL nodes have significantly improved the range of services provided in 2008, but, however, solutions must be found to increase PAPI activity in those communities where the supply of services remains low.

Although the sample population is not statistically significant for observations regarding the progress in all 255 communities,the result is encouraging and shows general progress. The field with the best performance is in e-learning where there can be identified a significant increase in the provision of services that can be owed to the significant level of ICT training at central level (targeting 5,000 students) of the program in the months that the study was conducted. It also appears to be an increase of over 100% of users reported by the local access nodes which shows clear progress. Less progress was made in the e-government component, where the activities reported are very low. In part this reflects the delays in launching initiatives supported centrally planned for this area.

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