81.Final Evaluation of the PROCIENCIA Program
• Contracting Organization: Organization of Ibero-American Strates (OEI) for the National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT)
• Start Date: December 2021
• End Date: May 2022
To evaluate the Paraguayan Programme for the Development of Science and Technology (PROCIENCIA) at the end of its implementation, in order to assess the goals, outputs and results achieved by the Programme.
A desk review was carried out in which all relevant documentation was analysed, which was supplemented by electronic surveys of representative samples of beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries. In turn, face-to-face visits were made to the main beneficiary and non-beneficiary institutions, both in the capital and in the interior of the country, supplemented by interviews and focus groups. A characterization of the Programme was carried out, analysing its relevance and coherence with the policies in force at the time of its design and implementation. To this end, an assessment was made of the national socio-economic context, determining the impact of the Programme on the National System of Science, Technology and Innovation (SNCTI) and its contribution to the internationalization of the country’s S & T. In turn, indicators were identified to monitor the STI system and policy before, during and at the end of the Programme. An analysis of the scope of proposed objectives, processes and procedures was carried out and the relationship between the costs incurred in carrying out activities and the targets achieved was revised. The articulation of the Programme with other national initiatives for the development of the STI system was reviewed and the overall synergy between the Programme components was inspected. A sustainability analysis was carried out and gender relations were analysed in the Programme ' s sphere of influence, the inclusion of vulnerable populations and the perspective of environmental sustainability was assessed.
Strengths, weaknesses and areas for improvement were identified. Conclusions and recommendations were developed. Finally, the results obtained were disseminated through participatory processes involving representatives of the beneficiaries of the various instruments, decision-makers and public policy managers, among others.