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Lessons

LESSON

Lesson Learned: Women in Politics in Mozambique

The larger Women in Politics project continues on the basis of funding from other donors, and, with a more pro-active approach, and a stronger presence with beneficiaries and local governance institutions, it is possible that the results set out in the UNDEF project may be accomplished by 2013, when the current funding cycle ends. However, given local conditions, more work will be required separately with each beneficiary group, as well as with other gatekeepers and stakeholders, before it becomes feasible to establish a bond between the designated beneficiary groups.
Project Partner
Ibis Mozambique
Project Description
The project sought to address a gap in Mozambique’s political life - the low level of women’s participation - by focusing on enhancing the position of women elected representatives in Provincial and Municipal Assemblies, while also nurturing the constituencies of women at community level and bringing the two groups together. In focusing its operations in two Northern provinces, the two principal project implementing partners were able to draw on their prior experience of working there. Yet, despite the local knowledge available to the two partners, the project design failed to take adequate account of local characteristics and underestimated the risks to project implementation. The project strategy was built on some unwarrantable assumptions. Adjustments were made to planned operations, including a broadening of the beneficiary groups, to involve men as well as women, and recognition of the need to involve the Executive as well as the Assembly representatives in activities. Yet, despite this, initial design problems had a significant impact on the feasibility of achieving anticipated results within the project timeframe.
Evaluation Date
December 2011
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Women in Politics in Mozambique

The project’s strategy was deficient in that it lacked a careful assessment of the local context, particularly with regard to women’s position in the political system and the lack of influence on major decisions of elected assemblies, as well as the limited capacities of the local implementing agencies.
Project Partner
Ibis Mozambique
Project Description
The project sought to address a gap in Mozambique’s political life - the low level of women’s participation - by focusing on enhancing the position of women elected representatives in Provincial and Municipal Assemblies, while also nurturing the constituencies of women at community level and bringing the two groups together. In focusing its operations in two Northern provinces, the two principal project implementing partners were able to draw on their prior experience of working there. Yet, despite the local knowledge available to the two partners, the project design failed to take adequate account of local characteristics and underestimated the risks to project implementation. The project strategy was built on some unwarrantable assumptions. Adjustments were made to planned operations, including a broadening of the beneficiary groups, to involve men as well as women, and recognition of the need to involve the Executive as well as the Assembly representatives in activities. Yet, despite this, initial design problems had a significant impact on the feasibility of achieving anticipated results within the project timeframe.
Evaluation Date
December 2011
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Citizens' Platform for Democratic Debates & Dialogues in Afghanistan

Limited evidence obtained from baseline research compromised the general objective of the project. This meant that the project design showed a poor understanding of the broad project context and political landscape which led to missed learning opportunities, and failure to map stakeholders and to allocate resources optimally. Duplication of efforts of other actors in Afghanistan wasted the grantee’s opportunity to complement other media democracy effects.
Project Partner
Saba Media Organization
Project Description
The purpose of Citizens' Platform for Democratic Debates & Dialogues in Afghanistan was to address the misunderstanding of democratic values and human rights in the Afghan context. The project planned to clarify and deepen understanding of democratic values among Afghan people, especially among women and other marginalized or vulnerable groups and in rural areas, by conducting research on five pillars of democratic values in international and Afghan contexts, disseminating awareness-raising or educational programs, and establishing a media platform for debates.
Evaluation Date
December 2011
Theme
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Women in Politics in Mozambique

The decision to expand the list of direct beneficiaries to include men among the elected representatives, and as base group members, was justified by the weak position of women within both target groups, as well as the generally low level of education and experience among women beneficiaries. The decision to involve members of the Executive, both members of the Provincial and Municipal Councils (leadership) and officials, as well as political party leaders, was essential, given that the elected members had little influence in planning and budgeting.
Project Partner
Ibis Mozambique
Project Description
The project sought to address a gap in Mozambique’s political life - the low level of women’s participation - by focusing on enhancing the position of women elected representatives in Provincial and Municipal Assemblies, while also nurturing the constituencies of women at community level and bringing the two groups together. In focusing its operations in two Northern provinces, the two principal project implementing partners were able to draw on their prior experience of working there. Yet, despite the local knowledge available to the two partners, the project design failed to take adequate account of local characteristics and underestimated the risks to project implementation. The project strategy was built on some unwarrantable assumptions. Adjustments were made to planned operations, including a broadening of the beneficiary groups, to involve men as well as women, and recognition of the need to involve the Executive as well as the Assembly representatives in activities. Yet, despite this, initial design problems had a significant impact on the feasibility of achieving anticipated results within the project timeframe.
Evaluation Date
December 2011
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Citizens' Platform for Democratic Debates & Dialogues in Afghanistan

Staff departures once the project in Afghanistan ended drained away some of the capacity developed through the project cycle. Mistakes or gaps were not corrected in the review step and gave evidence of poor organizational arrangements. Research materials of low quality were approved and therefore shaped all shows and debates, leading to suboptimal performance by moderators and participants, which reduced the efficiency and impact of the democratic debates in Afghanistan. The grantee had no internal control or assessment mechanisms to measure progress or impact on desired social change. Although the project used emails and phone calls from the audience, including suggestions for show material, these were not analyzed or incorporated into review of the program's effectiveness with respect to organizational or project objectives.
Project Partner
Saba Media Organization
Project Description
The purpose of Citizens' Platform for Democratic Debates & Dialogues in Afghanistan was to address the misunderstanding of democratic values and human rights in the Afghan context. The project planned to clarify and deepen understanding of democratic values among Afghan people, especially among women and other marginalized or vulnerable groups and in rural areas, by conducting research on five pillars of democratic values in international and Afghan contexts, disseminating awareness-raising or educational programs, and establishing a media platform for debates.
Evaluation Date
December 2011
Theme
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Women in Politics in Mozambique

The project did not budget resources adequately to maintain a continuing relationship with beneficiaries and other partners. This was a complicated project, and, for capacities to be built and maintained, and for openings to be followed up, there was a need for a regular project presence with the Assemblies, government institutions, women community leaders and the base groups.
Project Partner
Ibis Mozambique
Project Description
The project sought to address a gap in Mozambique’s political life - the low level of women’s participation - by focusing on enhancing the position of women elected representatives in Provincial and Municipal Assemblies, while also nurturing the constituencies of women at community level and bringing the two groups together. In focusing its operations in two Northern provinces, the two principal project implementing partners were able to draw on their prior experience of working there. Yet, despite the local knowledge available to the two partners, the project design failed to take adequate account of local characteristics and underestimated the risks to project implementation. The project strategy was built on some unwarrantable assumptions. Adjustments were made to planned operations, including a broadening of the beneficiary groups, to involve men as well as women, and recognition of the need to involve the Executive as well as the Assembly representatives in activities. Yet, despite this, initial design problems had a significant impact on the feasibility of achieving anticipated results within the project timeframe.
Evaluation Date
December 2011
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Citizens' Platform for Democratic Debates & Dialogues in Afghanistan

The choice of media dissemination and especially the use of radio in rural areas and remote districts in Afghanistan were very relevant. Despite weak project design, the grantee’s strategy to directly target or reach people likely to be uninformed about or actively resistant to democratic ideas due to misconceptions was sound and pertinent.
Project Partner
Saba Media Organization
Project Description
The purpose of Citizens' Platform for Democratic Debates & Dialogues in Afghanistan was to address the misunderstanding of democratic values and human rights in the Afghan context. The project planned to clarify and deepen understanding of democratic values among Afghan people, especially among women and other marginalized or vulnerable groups and in rural areas, by conducting research on five pillars of democratic values in international and Afghan contexts, disseminating awareness-raising or educational programs, and establishing a media platform for debates.
Evaluation Date
December 2011
Theme
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Women in Politics in Mozambique

Project efficiency was undermined by the weak integration of management among the project partner organizations, and the limited organizational and managerial capacities of the provincial implementing agencies. There were also major human resource challenges which were not addressed satisfactorily. For these reasons and others, the deployment of human and financial resources was not always optimal in supporting the achievement of results.
Project Partner
Ibis Mozambique
Project Description
The project sought to address a gap in Mozambique’s political life - the low level of women’s participation - by focusing on enhancing the position of women elected representatives in Provincial and Municipal Assemblies, while also nurturing the constituencies of women at community level and bringing the two groups together. In focusing its operations in two Northern provinces, the two principal project implementing partners were able to draw on their prior experience of working there. Yet, despite the local knowledge available to the two partners, the project design failed to take adequate account of local characteristics and underestimated the risks to project implementation. The project strategy was built on some unwarrantable assumptions. Adjustments were made to planned operations, including a broadening of the beneficiary groups, to involve men as well as women, and recognition of the need to involve the Executive as well as the Assembly representatives in activities. Yet, despite this, initial design problems had a significant impact on the feasibility of achieving anticipated results within the project timeframe.
Evaluation Date
December 2011
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Citizens' Platform for Democratic Debates & Dialogues in Afghanistan

Some debate participants reported that the language used was too technical and theoretical for an ordinary person to understand. Analysis of materials confirms that in some areas of Afghanistan, Western-oriented democratic terminology and usage likely to be too abstract or insufficiently explained was used.
Project Partner
Saba Media Organization
Project Description
The purpose of Citizens' Platform for Democratic Debates & Dialogues in Afghanistan was to address the misunderstanding of democratic values and human rights in the Afghan context. The project planned to clarify and deepen understanding of democratic values among Afghan people, especially among women and other marginalized or vulnerable groups and in rural areas, by conducting research on five pillars of democratic values in international and Afghan contexts, disseminating awareness-raising or educational programs, and establishing a media platform for debates.
Evaluation Date
December 2011
Theme
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Women in Politics in Mozambique

It was determined that the two local partners lacked the required substantive and administrative capacities to implement the Project effectively. Consequently, the grantee undertook organizational assessments of its local partners. On the basis of the findings of the assessments, it developed partner development plans to enhance the capabilities of the two provincial-level organizations.
Project Partner
Ibis Mozambique
Project Description
The project sought to address a gap in Mozambique’s political life - the low level of women’s participation - by focusing on enhancing the position of women elected representatives in Provincial and Municipal Assemblies, while also nurturing the constituencies of women at community level and bringing the two groups together. In focusing its operations in two Northern provinces, the two principal project implementing partners were able to draw on their prior experience of working there. Yet, despite the local knowledge available to the two partners, the project design failed to take adequate account of local characteristics and underestimated the risks to project implementation. The project strategy was built on some unwarrantable assumptions. Adjustments were made to planned operations, including a broadening of the beneficiary groups, to involve men as well as women, and recognition of the need to involve the Executive as well as the Assembly representatives in activities. Yet, despite this, initial design problems had a significant impact on the feasibility of achieving anticipated results within the project timeframe.
Evaluation Date
December 2011
Country