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Project: Strengthening transitional justice processes in Burundi
Evaluation Date: August 2010
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

The project strategy did not fully consider how the grantee’s intervention would be received by government stakeholders. The grantee had built a positive record with civil society and the UN mission based on earlier training and technical advice and on the grantee’s international credibility. However they did not have a similar record with the government officials that were to lead the National Consultation Steering Committee and its technical advisory team. The credibility that the grantee built with the police through the implementation of the census project did not translate into an open door at the National Consultation Steering Committee.

Theme: Rule of law

Burundi credibility, government

Project: Strengthening Participation of Women in Geographically Deprived Communities in Local Governance in Ghana
Evaluation Date: June 2017
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

Some Women’s Group Advocacy Platforms have registered as Community Based Organizations with the District Assembly. Official registration enhances the stability, legitimacy and credibility of these women groups, and makes them an attractive partner to other development actors looking to support women in Ghana.

Theme: Women's empowerment

Ghana credibility, donors, funding

Project: Promoting democratic dialogue and social cohesion in the Western region of Côte d'Ivoire
Evaluation Date: January 2016
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

The grantee should have played a greater role in building relationships with the local authorities. The CSOs, though they had adequate links to local officials, lacked the credibility and credentials to help build capacity at local government level.

Theme: Community activism

Côte d'Ivoire credibility, government

Project: Democratizing governance for development: LDC civil society engagement
Evaluation Date: August 2012
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

Over-reliance on one person’s credibility and profile is a risk. Succession planning, especially in between major events – like the international conferences on Least Developed Countries – should be a priority.

Theme: Community activism

Angola, Cambodia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Nepal, Senegal, Solomon Islands, Tanzania, United Republic of, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia credibility, staff, sustainability

Project: Representation and political participation of five urban indigenous populations in Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Evaluation Date: June 2014
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

The project had important sustainability components. The grantee’s track record and competence in fighting for respect for the rights of indigenous peoples, especially in urban environments, have given it credibility in the eyes of its public and private stakeholders.

Theme: Community activism

Bolivia credibility, sustainability, urban

Project: JOINT Contribution to Strengthen and Expand Democracy in Mozambique
Evaluation Date: June 2014
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

Some of the local NGOS involved gained a degree of recognition from the local authorities which was important. Most local NGOs operate without official registration, or with registration only at provincial level. Some interviewees suggested that the project helped them achieve a degree of credibility and legitimacy with local authorities, which might be conducive to them developing a better working relationship with government.

Theme: Community activism

Mozambique credibility, government, sustainability

Project: Addressing Ghana’s Governance Deficits through Constitutional Reform
Evaluation Date: July 2013
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

The grantee’s influence was partly because of the high quality of the research undertaken as a basis for the proposals it put forward to the Constitutional Review Commission. The range and number of civil society partners in the Coalition also added to the credibility of the project. This project was a thoroughly professional and unique initiative. Its findings were of crucial importance in demonstrating to the Constitutional Review Commission the weight of public support for some of what became the key issues addressed in its recommendations.

Theme: Interaction with government

Ghana advocacy, credibility, research

Project: Promoting Gender-Sensitive Personal Status Laws in Lebanon
Evaluation Date: September 2022
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

There are important elements that influence the effectiveness of the implementation of an advocacy project other than the technical and financial capacity of the funded organisation. They include:
– The clarity of the organisation’s internal strategy and the consistency of its positioning regarding the project’s objective.
– The credibility of the organisation and its members among CSOs and drivers of change relevant to the intervention.
– The social capital of the organization, which enables it to mobilize key stakeholders and allies in the field.
– The capacity of the organisation to analyse the political context, manage risks, and adapt activities to the situation.

Theme: Women's empowerment, Rule of law

Lebanon adapt, advocacy, campaign, change, credibility, effectiveness, gender, objective, project objective, reform, results, risk, social capital, strategy, women

Project: Nigeria Procurement Monitoring Project
Evaluation Date: April 2012
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

The project helped enhance the standing and credibility of the grantee. It was able to carry out work beyond the scope of the project. Following up on its efforts to open up the public procurement sphere to scrutiny, with the support of like-minded law firms, the grantee launched a number of public interest legal cases concerning the obligation of government bodies to release all relevant information to civil society observers. A positive result was achieved recently in one such case, concerning the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), which had refused to provide the necessary documents to an accredited monitor.

Theme: Interaction with government

Nigeria corruption, credibility, leverage, sustainability

Project: Prévention de la violence durant la période électorale de 2010
Evaluation Date: November 2011
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

The grantee’s political neutrality created an image favourable towards sustainable peace in Burundi and has allowed the organization to position itself as a known and respected mediator in potential conflicts.

Theme: Rule of law

Burundi credibility, political, post-conflict

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