Evaluation of the Portfolio of Regional Development Investment Projects

In the context of Romania’s push toward
sustainable and inclusive development, the government has
asked the World Bank to support the harmonization of public
investments financed by the European Union and the state
budget. The current report describes the national program
for local development (PNDL’s) framework and project cycle
and provides an overview of the program’s project portfolio
in 2014. It also draws a number of preliminary observations
and presents some potential policy measures, based on a
review of 289 technical-economic documentations (in most
cases feasibility studies) for new investments proposed for
PNDL financing in 2014. The aim is to understand gaps and
opportunities in the PNDL’s programming and implementation,
and also to help develop the MRDPA’s capacity for assessing
received proposals. This report seeks to contribute to the
overall objective of improving the design and implementation
of state-budget-funded investment programs under the
Ministry of Regional Development and Public Administration
(MRDPA) - primarily the PNDL. Chapter one gives
introduction; chapter two presents PNDL background and
portfolio assessment; chapter three presents main challenges
related to the quality of projects submitted for PNDL
financing; and chapter four presents preliminary
observations and policy measures recommendations.