Skip to main content

Rule of law

LESSON

Lesson Learned: Enlarging the Social Base for Democracy and the Rule of Law in Egypt

The project’s responses to unexpected problems in security were reasonable and effective, but were ad hoc in nature rather than based on any risk assessment and management strategy. Particularly since the project was designed with Egypt’s election schedule in mind, the risk of delays and disruptions might have been foreseeable.
Project Partner
Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies
Project Description
The context of the project was the period of intense political activity and instability in Egypt following the 2011 revolution. Within a highly volatile environment that included repression of civil society organisations and democracy advocates, the project gave special emphasis to training in the use of social media to stimulate citizen journalism and free exchange of thoughts. Overall the project was relevant in view of the focus on youth which was well supported by baseline assessments that identified low youth participation in democratic processes. It was also important in view of the overall political environment leading up to elections during the time of the project implementation. The focus on social media was also relevant and effective given the role it had played as a catalyst of the Arab Spring.
Evaluation Date
April 2013
Theme
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Enlarging the Social Base for Democracy and the Rule of Law in Egypt

While the grantee provided some data on impact at the individual level, such as greater likelihood of voting and adherence to a political party, no information was provided on how these were arrived at. The grantee could have invested effort in trying to devise individual-level indicators of impact, both qualitative and quantitative, that it can apply in future work.
Project Partner
Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies
Project Description
The context of the project was the period of intense political activity and instability in Egypt following the 2011 revolution. Within a highly volatile environment that included repression of civil society organisations and democracy advocates, the project gave special emphasis to training in the use of social media to stimulate citizen journalism and free exchange of thoughts. Overall the project was relevant in view of the focus on youth which was well supported by baseline assessments that identified low youth participation in democratic processes. It was also important in view of the overall political environment leading up to elections during the time of the project implementation. The focus on social media was also relevant and effective given the role it had played as a catalyst of the Arab Spring.
Evaluation Date
April 2013
Theme
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Participatory Rights of Physically Disabled Persons in Georgia

Some 11% of the participants in the project found part- or full-time jobs. This percentage could have been higher with better cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science in Georgia, which piloted inclusive vocational education for people with disabilit8ies within six of Georgia’s 18 vocational training centres.
Project Partner
Qualification Center for Trainers
Project Description
The project undertook an advocacy campaign to support the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), which was signed by the government of Georgia in 2009 but not ratified. The overall development goal of the campaign was to counter the social and economic exclusion of disabled people in Georgia. The project produced a number of media outputs - radio and TV broadcasts, information spots, and organized several events. These activities significantly improved the availability of information about disabled persons and contributed to a change in public perception. Given the magnitude of the needs of persons with disabilities and the of lack access to professional training, the project also included a pilot scheme for vocational education. This pilot led to the improvement of the living conditions and employment prospects for a first group of beneficiaries.
Evaluation Date
April 2013
Theme
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Participatory Rights of Physically Disabled Persons in Georgia

Weaknesses in the design of indicators limited the grantee’s analysis of impact on the rights of disabled persons in Georgia, as they mostly reflected on developments external to the project’s activities. Clearer indicators could have made linked activities more closely with what they were designed to achieve.
Project Partner
Qualification Center for Trainers
Project Description
The project undertook an advocacy campaign to support the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), which was signed by the government of Georgia in 2009 but not ratified. The overall development goal of the campaign was to counter the social and economic exclusion of disabled people in Georgia. The project produced a number of media outputs - radio and TV broadcasts, information spots, and organized several events. These activities significantly improved the availability of information about disabled persons and contributed to a change in public perception. Given the magnitude of the needs of persons with disabilities and the of lack access to professional training, the project also included a pilot scheme for vocational education. This pilot led to the improvement of the living conditions and employment prospects for a first group of beneficiaries.
Evaluation Date
April 2013
Theme
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Constructing Citizenship in San Luis de Potosí

The exercises in systematizing consultation and dialogue processes leading up to the passage of the Youth Act, as well as the printed materials produced (e.g., the Manual on Citizenship-Building) were important tools that assembled and publicized the lessons learned by the beneficiary populations.
Project Partner
Educación y Ciudadanía A.C.
Project Description
The aim of the project was to empower CSOs to promote democracy in Mexico through real and effective civic engagement, the exercise of human rights, and support for political dialogue. The project also sought to encourage the active participation of youth and women in local democracy- and citizenship-building activities to improve their ability to influence policy and impact local governance. The project offered a framework for improving the exercise of citizenship and mobilizing key civil society stakeholders, who realized the role they could play in devising, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating public policies. The training and citizen networking initiatives to increase participation and influence in the public sphere, the preparation of thematic agendas, and the drafting of legislative proposals were important models for democratic practices in a society characterized by civic passivity in the last 10 years. The project beneficiaries as a group were willing to get more directly involved in public affairs and the project has provided them with the tools and publications they need.. However, better links between and organization of the CSOs needs to take place to improve their ability to act in the social and political sphere.
Evaluation Date
April 2013
Theme
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Constructing Citizenship in San Luis de Potosí

One of the unexpected results of the project cited by grantee was that it led the organization to shift its institutional priorities, making civil society strengthening to influence public policy-making a strategic goal.
Project Partner
Educación y Ciudadanía A.C.
Project Description
The aim of the project was to empower CSOs to promote democracy in Mexico through real and effective civic engagement, the exercise of human rights, and support for political dialogue. The project also sought to encourage the active participation of youth and women in local democracy- and citizenship-building activities to improve their ability to influence policy and impact local governance. The project offered a framework for improving the exercise of citizenship and mobilizing key civil society stakeholders, who realized the role they could play in devising, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating public policies. The training and citizen networking initiatives to increase participation and influence in the public sphere, the preparation of thematic agendas, and the drafting of legislative proposals were important models for democratic practices in a society characterized by civic passivity in the last 10 years. The project beneficiaries as a group were willing to get more directly involved in public affairs and the project has provided them with the tools and publications they need.. However, better links between and organization of the CSOs needs to take place to improve their ability to act in the social and political sphere.
Evaluation Date
April 2013
Theme
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Enlarging the Social Base for Democracy and the Rule of Law in Egypt

While decentralization of activities is a positive goal, in times of political volatility and security challenges, extending democracy support beyond the capital can lead to organizational and logistical problems. Given these challenges, the project decided it was safer to bring people from the regions to the capital rather than trying to export activities from the capital to the regions.
Project Partner
Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies
Project Description
The context of the project was the period of intense political activity and instability in Egypt following the 2011 revolution. Within a highly volatile environment that included repression of civil society organisations and democracy advocates, the project gave special emphasis to training in the use of social media to stimulate citizen journalism and free exchange of thoughts. Overall the project was relevant in view of the focus on youth which was well supported by baseline assessments that identified low youth participation in democratic processes. It was also important in view of the overall political environment leading up to elections during the time of the project implementation. The focus on social media was also relevant and effective given the role it had played as a catalyst of the Arab Spring.
Evaluation Date
April 2013
Theme
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Enlarging the Social Base for Democracy and the Rule of Law in Egypt

Despite the emphasis on social media and development of trainees’ ICT skills, there was no strong evidence that project beneficiaries stayed in contact or used the ICT skills required to engage in robust advocacy campaigns as per the project's goals. More attention should have been paid to promoting post-workshop networks.
Project Partner
Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies
Project Description
The context of the project was the period of intense political activity and instability in Egypt following the 2011 revolution. Within a highly volatile environment that included repression of civil society organisations and democracy advocates, the project gave special emphasis to training in the use of social media to stimulate citizen journalism and free exchange of thoughts. Overall the project was relevant in view of the focus on youth which was well supported by baseline assessments that identified low youth participation in democratic processes. It was also important in view of the overall political environment leading up to elections during the time of the project implementation. The focus on social media was also relevant and effective given the role it had played as a catalyst of the Arab Spring.
Evaluation Date
April 2013
Theme
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Participatory Rights of Physically Disabled Persons in Georgia

Some 11% of the participants in the project found part- or full-time jobs. This percentage could have been higher with better cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science in Georgia, which piloted inclusive vocational education for people with disabilit8ies within six of Georgia’s 18 vocational training centres.
Project Partner
Qualification Center for Trainers
Project Description
The project undertook an advocacy campaign to support the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), which was signed by the government of Georgia in 2009 but not ratified. The overall development goal of the campaign was to counter the social and economic exclusion of disabled people in Georgia. The project produced a number of media outputs - radio and TV broadcasts, information spots, and organized several events. These activities significantly improved the availability of information about disabled persons and contributed to a change in public perception. Given the magnitude of the needs of persons with disabilities and the of lack access to professional training, the project also included a pilot scheme for vocational education. This pilot led to the improvement of the living conditions and employment prospects for a first group of beneficiaries.
Evaluation Date
April 2013
Theme
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Participatory Rights of Physically Disabled Persons in Georgia

The grantee created an expectation among its target group – persons with disabilities in Georgia – that it would continue playing a key role in providing access to vocational education, but failed to secure continued financial support.
Project Partner
Qualification Center for Trainers
Project Description
The project undertook an advocacy campaign to support the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), which was signed by the government of Georgia in 2009 but not ratified. The overall development goal of the campaign was to counter the social and economic exclusion of disabled people in Georgia. The project produced a number of media outputs - radio and TV broadcasts, information spots, and organized several events. These activities significantly improved the availability of information about disabled persons and contributed to a change in public perception. Given the magnitude of the needs of persons with disabilities and the of lack access to professional training, the project also included a pilot scheme for vocational education. This pilot led to the improvement of the living conditions and employment prospects for a first group of beneficiaries.
Evaluation Date
April 2013
Theme
Country