YEREVAN, MARCH 2, NOYAN TAPAN. Ameria CJSC in cooperation with Universalia Management Group (Canada) has implemented the evaluation of the Technical Assistance Program of the Japan Policy and Human Resources Development Fund (PHRD) in Armenia. As reported from America advisory company, PHRD is the WB trust fund working in Armenia. The Trust Fund Operations (TFO) Department of the World Bank has commissioned a Consultant Firm, the Universalia Management Group from Canada to evaluate the development results of the PHRD TA Program since 1999, to assess the achievement of the objectives of the Program and to make recommendation for improved operation of the PHRD Fund. The study is planned to involve field reviews of sampled projects within the following countries, selected for the size, importance, and representativeness of their PHRD portfolios: India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Ethiopia, Colombia, and Armenia. Ameria CJSC conducted the evaluation process in Armenia in the January-February of 2007. PHRD Fund is one of the largest Trust Funds of the World Bank established in 1990 in partnership with the Government of Japan. Since fiscal year 2000 the Government of Japan has contributed over USD250mln to the Fund to implement five major programs capacity-building programs in the World Bank member countries, among them the PHRD Technical Assistance Program. TA Program is the largest PHRD program providing grants to assist the Bank's member countries to prepare and implement Bank-supported operations financed by IBRD loans and IDA credits and grants. In addition this program supports a range of climate change related programs and aid coordination enhancement activities.

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