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Lessons

LESSON

Lesson Learned: Student Civic Action: Engaging and Empowering Emerging Leaders in Universities in Jordan

The grantee adapted well to circumstances. When it found out that it would take months to work out an agreement with the universities with which it had initially intended to collaborate, it tapped into institutions where it already had relationships. One of these was the All Jordan Youth Foundation, where many of the project activities and trainings were subsequently held.
Project Partner
World Learning
Project Description
The project sought to strengthen university students and youth Civil Society Organization (CSO) leaders for active and democratic citizenship and community development. It aimed to do this by: improving their capacity and raising their awareness of participation in democratic processes and community development; increasing emerging leader (EL) representation in existing political and civil society institutions; and developing and strengthening existing networks to build alliances of youth-led and youth-directed CSOs for more effective programming and sustained participation. The project also intended to increase the awareness of CSO and local leaders on the value of youth involvement. The project reached youth across Jordan and from very different socio-economic conditions and the activities reflected the needs and interests of its participants and their locality. Addressing both the supply and demand side of the youth issue seemed to be effective. Participating youth seemed empowered by their training and the use of sub-grants to CSOs opened the door for youth participation.
Evaluation Date
March 2011
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Leadership for accountable governance in Southern Africa

The training component in across the 11 countries in Southern Africa was generally well received by participants and in some cases clearly had a positive impact. They believed the project provided opportunities to share ideas and contact with “friends for life”. The challenge, obviously, is maintaining the network and the motivation of those who will not engage without ‘prompts’. A participant noted that the network and Freedom House have been very quiet.
Project Partner
Freedom House
Project Description
Aiming to empower young government and civil society leaders from southern Africa to catalyze transformative change in their home institutions and communities, the project had indeed a positive impact on some participants, both professionally and personally. It comprised of four principal components: training, support to “personal reform” projects developed by the trainees, integration of the trainees into an existing network, and evaluation of the reform projects with a view to identifying good practice and replicable initiatives. Overall, however, it represented poor value for money for UNDEF taking into account the high cost (US$350,000), relatively small number of participants, lack of strategies for broader engagement and inadequate outcomes.
Evaluation Date
February 2011
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Strengthening Citizenship and Consolidation of Democracy in Chad

The project succeeded in providing concrete training and awareness-raising on the importance of citizens’ involvement in the electoral process. Its focus on educating small civil society organizations and vulnerable groups - in particular, women from rural awareness was unique since the target beneficiaries had little awareness of their electoral rights.
Project Partner
Fondation pour la Démocratie et le Développement
Project Description
The project’s objective was to build the capacity at the grassroots level regarding democracy. This objective was pursued through training the population about citizen rights and freedoms, including establishing a permanent observatory for national and local electoral consultations, and the communication of information supporting the construction of a democratic state. The intervention directly targeted vulnerable groups, farmers (both women and men); and on a wider level also reached out to development actors, trainers of trainers and local facilitators; and employees of local, administrative and communal authorities. The project aimed to provide appropriate responses to the needs and difficulties faced by target beneficiary groups - women and vulnerable groups who were unable to take part in the electoral process. The method and the content of the training sessions as well as the message communicated via the educational media adopted were consistent with the project's objectives. It was also in line with the priorities set out in the country’s Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper.
Evaluation Date
February 2011
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Leadership for accountable governance in Southern Africa

Financial planning and management was weak, with a serious negative impact on project activity and the likelihood of the project achieving its objectives in the 11 countries in Southern Africa. Consultants and participants were led to believe that there was a shortage of funds when, in fact, adequate funds had been provided but had not been appropriately allocated. The allocation of funds between headquarters’ support costs and project-related staff and activities in-country was unbalanced.
Project Partner
Freedom House
Project Description
Aiming to empower young government and civil society leaders from southern Africa to catalyze transformative change in their home institutions and communities, the project had indeed a positive impact on some participants, both professionally and personally. It comprised of four principal components: training, support to “personal reform” projects developed by the trainees, integration of the trainees into an existing network, and evaluation of the reform projects with a view to identifying good practice and replicable initiatives. Overall, however, it represented poor value for money for UNDEF taking into account the high cost (US$350,000), relatively small number of participants, lack of strategies for broader engagement and inadequate outcomes.
Evaluation Date
February 2011
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Strengthening Citizenship and Consolidation of Democracy in Chad

The information tools that the project developed for the training and literacy activities were very effective and relevant to the level of knowledge and skills of the beneficiaries. Trainees emphasized that had benefited significantly from the training and a number of the women participants for the first time got involved in democratic processes including participating in legislative elections as candidates.
Project Partner
Fondation pour la Démocratie et le Développement
Project Description
The project’s objective was to build the capacity at the grassroots level regarding democracy. This objective was pursued through training the population about citizen rights and freedoms, including establishing a permanent observatory for national and local electoral consultations, and the communication of information supporting the construction of a democratic state. The intervention directly targeted vulnerable groups, farmers (both women and men); and on a wider level also reached out to development actors, trainers of trainers and local facilitators; and employees of local, administrative and communal authorities. The project aimed to provide appropriate responses to the needs and difficulties faced by target beneficiary groups - women and vulnerable groups who were unable to take part in the electoral process. The method and the content of the training sessions as well as the message communicated via the educational media adopted were consistent with the project's objectives. It was also in line with the priorities set out in the country’s Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper.
Evaluation Date
February 2011
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Leadership for accountable governance in Southern Africa

There seems to be a lack of clarity and vision for the future of the network and of strategies for achieving sustainability, specifically as an independent African initiative. Although there are documents outlining the vision and conceptual basis of the initiative, there appear to be no concrete strategies for ensuring its future.
Project Partner
Freedom House
Project Description
Aiming to empower young government and civil society leaders from southern Africa to catalyze transformative change in their home institutions and communities, the project had indeed a positive impact on some participants, both professionally and personally. It comprised of four principal components: training, support to “personal reform” projects developed by the trainees, integration of the trainees into an existing network, and evaluation of the reform projects with a view to identifying good practice and replicable initiatives. Overall, however, it represented poor value for money for UNDEF taking into account the high cost (US$350,000), relatively small number of participants, lack of strategies for broader engagement and inadequate outcomes.
Evaluation Date
February 2011
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Strengthening Citizenship and Consolidation of Democracy in Chad

In any future projects of this type, youth must also be integrated as a beneficiary group. The involvement of young people in project activities could contribute to a further strengthening of the gender dimension and complementing the existing focus of the project on women.
Project Partner
Fondation pour la Démocratie et le Développement
Project Description
The project’s objective was to build the capacity at the grassroots level regarding democracy. This objective was pursued through training the population about citizen rights and freedoms, including establishing a permanent observatory for national and local electoral consultations, and the communication of information supporting the construction of a democratic state. The intervention directly targeted vulnerable groups, farmers (both women and men); and on a wider level also reached out to development actors, trainers of trainers and local facilitators; and employees of local, administrative and communal authorities. The project aimed to provide appropriate responses to the needs and difficulties faced by target beneficiary groups - women and vulnerable groups who were unable to take part in the electoral process. The method and the content of the training sessions as well as the message communicated via the educational media adopted were consistent with the project's objectives. It was also in line with the priorities set out in the country’s Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper.
Evaluation Date
February 2011
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Leadership for accountable governance in Southern Africa

The project was poorly designed. A lack of understanding of the importance of the inter-connectedness of the three core activities (training, reform project support and alumni network) in Southern Africa to achieving the medium- and long-term objectives of the project led to decisions being made early in the project that compromised its likelihood of success.
Project Partner
Freedom House
Project Description
Aiming to empower young government and civil society leaders from southern Africa to catalyze transformative change in their home institutions and communities, the project had indeed a positive impact on some participants, both professionally and personally. It comprised of four principal components: training, support to “personal reform” projects developed by the trainees, integration of the trainees into an existing network, and evaluation of the reform projects with a view to identifying good practice and replicable initiatives. Overall, however, it represented poor value for money for UNDEF taking into account the high cost (US$350,000), relatively small number of participants, lack of strategies for broader engagement and inadequate outcomes.
Evaluation Date
February 2011
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Strengthening Citizenship and Consolidation of Democracy in Chad

One of the positive effects of the project was its contribution to reducing mistrust towards authorities - governors, other local authorities, political parties. Some citizens for the first time made direct contact with their representatives so as to involve them in project activities.
Project Partner
Fondation pour la Démocratie et le Développement
Project Description
The project’s objective was to build the capacity at the grassroots level regarding democracy. This objective was pursued through training the population about citizen rights and freedoms, including establishing a permanent observatory for national and local electoral consultations, and the communication of information supporting the construction of a democratic state. The intervention directly targeted vulnerable groups, farmers (both women and men); and on a wider level also reached out to development actors, trainers of trainers and local facilitators; and employees of local, administrative and communal authorities. The project aimed to provide appropriate responses to the needs and difficulties faced by target beneficiary groups - women and vulnerable groups who were unable to take part in the electoral process. The method and the content of the training sessions as well as the message communicated via the educational media adopted were consistent with the project's objectives. It was also in line with the priorities set out in the country’s Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper.
Evaluation Date
February 2011
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Leadership for accountable governance in Southern Africa

No attempt was made during the life of the project to draw reliable lessons, positive and negative, and in particular at times when there were clearly challenges facing those implementing the project but still time to re-think plans - for example, relocating later training sessions and the alumni event to a venue where costs would be lower.
Project Partner
Freedom House
Project Description
Aiming to empower young government and civil society leaders from southern Africa to catalyze transformative change in their home institutions and communities, the project had indeed a positive impact on some participants, both professionally and personally. It comprised of four principal components: training, support to “personal reform” projects developed by the trainees, integration of the trainees into an existing network, and evaluation of the reform projects with a view to identifying good practice and replicable initiatives. Overall, however, it represented poor value for money for UNDEF taking into account the high cost (US$350,000), relatively small number of participants, lack of strategies for broader engagement and inadequate outcomes.
Evaluation Date
February 2011
Country