Project Details.

The Endline Assessment of the Accelerate Prosperity in Central and South Asia (AP Asia) project was conducted to evaluate the project’s impact on entrepreneurship, economic growth, and financial accessibility in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. The project, funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF), aimed to enhance self-employment opportunities, promote business growth, and improve market linkages for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across the region. 

The assessment focused on: 

Entrepreneurship Development: Measuring the effectiveness of business incubation and acceleration programs in fostering sustainable enterprises. 

Investment & Access to Finance: Evaluating the ability of SMEs to attract external financing and their growth trajectory after receiving financial and technical support. 

Employment Generation: Assessing the direct and indirect impact of the project on job creation, particularly for women and youth. 

Cross-Border Trade & Market Linkages: Identifying barriers and opportunities for businesses to expand into regional and international markets. 

Policy & Institutional Alignment: Analyzing how the project’s interventions aligned with national and regional economic development policies. 

Sustainability & Scalability: Examining whether businesses supported by the project were able to sustain their operations beyond the project’s duration and identifying strategies for scaling the impact. 

HCPL conducted the Endline Assessment using a structured, multi-phase evaluation methodology to ensure comprehensive analysis. 

The following key services were provided: 

1. Desk Review & Secondary Data Analysis Conducted a systematic review of project documents, including: Project proposal and log frame Mid-term and annual progress reports (2021–2024) Financial and investment reports Baseline assessment and previous evaluations National economic and trade policies relevant to SMEs Extracted key performance indicators (KPIs) to compare baseline and endline project outcomes. 

2. Quantitative Data Collection Designed and implemented structured surveys to assess: Business growth and profitability Job creation and employment status Financial access and investment trends Market expansion and regional trade activities Used KOBO Toolbox for real-time data entry, validation, and monitoring to ensure accuracy and efficiency. Ensured gender-disaggregated data collection to assess women and youth participation in business development. 

3. Qualitative Data Collection & Stakeholder Consultations Conducted Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with: Government officials (policy alignment and SME development strategies) Private sector investors and financial institutions (financing accessibility and investment readiness) Business incubators and accelerators (effectiveness of support programs) Local entrepreneurs and SMEs (impact of project interventions) Organized Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with: Women entrepreneurs Young business owners SME representatives Business mentors and trainers Facilitated cross-country discussions to compare challenges and opportunities in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. 

4. Enumerator Training & Field Supervision Recruited and trained local data collection teams in each target country.