Project: Civil Sector Capacity Building Initiative in Kazakhstan
Evaluation Date: March 2016
Report: [report link]
Lesson Learned:

The project’s monitoring and evaluation plan was not fully implemented, and no aggregated data was kept that could have demonstrated the project’s reach to the different regions of Kazakhstan, types of NGOs or participants. No performance data or tracking of the use of project outputs was collected either. Baseline surveys established at the very start of the project should have been repeated at the end. Short pre- and post-knowledge, attitudes and practices tests could have been administered for trainings. Data should have been aggregated as part of regular project management, monitoring and reporting processes as well as disaggregated by different variables to understand project reach and performance.

Theme: Community activism
Project: Civil Sector Capacity Building Initiative in Kazakhstan
Evaluation Date: March 2016
Report: [report link]
Lesson Learned:

Project inputs were consistent with the activities undertaken but not with the intended outcomes. The project should have placed more emphasis on the continuity of the programmatic elements of the project and a more process-oriented approach towards accountability. Accountability is not only about public reporting, but also about integrity standards, consultative structures and transparent processes.

Theme: Community activism
Project: Civil Sector Capacity Building Initiative in Kazakhstan
Evaluation Date: March 2016
Report: [report link]
Lesson Learned:

The usefulness of the training for the accountability coaches – who were then intended to train NGOs in various regions of Kazakhstan – was mixed. Responses varied depending on the level of interest and knowledge of the participants. The training should have been more grounded in the wider development context so as to ensure that it built on existing efforts, demonstrated a good understanding of its intended beneficiaries and targeted NGOs that lack accountability.

Theme: Community activism
Project: Civil Sector Capacity Building Initiative in Kazakhstan
Evaluation Date: March 2016
Report: [report link]
Lesson Learned:

There was limited interest by the targeted beneficiaries in participating in the project. The grantee therefore had to abandon some of its activities and adapt others. Only five of the NGOs from the initial training for Accountability Coaches continued to participate in the second training on monitoring and evaluation; a third training focused almost exclusively on how to produce better annual reports for the NGOs chosen as subgrantees. Only three out of 75 contacted donors responded to the online survey of donor practices.

Theme: Community activism
Project: Civil Sector Capacity Building Initiative in Kazakhstan
Evaluation Date: March 2016
Report: [report link]
Lesson Learned:

The concept of accountability is important and needed in a context where many NGOs seek government funding to provide services. There is a need to ensure that NGOs in Kazakhstan are linked to their beneficiaries and for all NGOs to realize they need to be as accountable as they are asking their government to be. This would also include clarifying the NGOs’ vision and mission, developing their consultative structures and processes, and adopting integrity standards and regular public reporting processes.

Theme: Community activism
Project: Coalition against Poverty: Oil Revenue under Public Oversight
Evaluation Date: April 2013
Report: [report link]
Lesson Learned:

From a programme theory or design perspective, the project’s unrealistically high ambition was demonstrated in its expectation of behaviour change. The project aimed to change behaviour on three fronts: national and international extractive industry business interests; civil society; and local government. Some frustrations or disappointment could have been mitigated by reviewing the scope and scale of activities so that they were more appropriately matched to the problem analysis and by setting achievable goals and targets informed by better programme theory.

Theme: Community activism
Project: Coalition against Poverty: Oil Revenue under Public Oversight
Evaluation Date: April 2013
Report: [report link]
Lesson Learned:

Anecdotal evidence suggested that highlighting contradictions between constitutional or legal principles and the current operations of many local and regional institutions in Kazakhstan has raised civic awareness. While impact on corporate policy or behaviour was not measured it was widely believed that the challenging approach taken – if supported by bilateral donors – would not have been welcome in this isolated environment remote from Western influence.

Theme: Community activism