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Project: Strengthening Democratic Participation Among Indigenous Peoples of Oaxaca, Mexico
Evaluation Date: May 2014
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

The project supported a series of initiatives to guarantee respect for indigenous rights and their enforcement, and by strengthening the capacity to handle petitions and cases involving indigenous rights violations. A total of 51 dossiers were processed within the framework of the project. Five criminal cases and three agrarian conflicts were resolved. Forty-three were still pending at the time of the evaluation. The community members interviewed stated how important it was for them to have had good legal advice at no cost. The final adjudication of cases is often a lengthy process. Community authorities have already commented on the uncertainty and insecurity created by this situation, noting that the project’s support and legal assistance had been very important to them.

Theme: Community activism

Mexico indigenous, legislation, rights

Project: Promoting Good Governance among Tribal Inhabitants in Bangladesh (PROGGATI)
Evaluation Date: December 2013
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

These communities are marginalized and lacked the understanding needed to participate more effectively. The project’s approach was to create alternative leaders to advocate on behalf of their community rather than working directly to engage these indigenous communities. The project also could have focused more on issues of critical concern to the communities, such as land tenure which is essential to their livelihood and traditional way of life.

Theme: Community activism

Bangladesh indigenous, land, livelihoods

Project: Promoting political participation of marginalized populations in Ecuador
Evaluation Date: October 2011
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

Although the project succeeded in achieving male-female parity during the training, the participation of women and young women in political life in Ecuador should be further strengthened. This is a key requirement for the indigenous movement, which has shown a willingness to develop specific training programmes for women on local participation, the practice of civic responsibility, and access to socio-economic and political rights.

Theme: Youth engagement

Ecuador indigenous, women

Project: Human rights training and capacity-building for indigenous people
Evaluation Date: August 2010
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

Training was effectively leveraged because it allowed participants to go on to organize additional human rights training courses within their own community. Knowledge about how to indigenous peoples’ rights was disseminated more widely at the local level and allowed people to make the links between their own situation and international norms.

Theme: Rule of law

Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Peru indigenous, rights, training

Project: Promoting Good Governance among Tribal Inhabitants in Bangladesh (PROGGATI)
Evaluation Date: December 2013
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

The project’s focus on safety net issues was important, however, more focus on the critical issues of land and indigenous rights as provided for in the Peace Accord, could have made this project more relevant for the communities. There are still issues of peace and integration that remain unresolved which are directly affecting the governance in the region and its ability to respond to the tribal poor.

Theme: Community activism

Bangladesh indigenous, land, peace agreement

Project: Youth Training for Democracy and Development
Evaluation Date: May 2012
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

By providing training in participatory civic practices in Guatemala, the project gave youth the opportunity to adopt different attitudes and experience democracy and development differently. Young people’s participation in decision-making bodies has helped improve the situation of vulnerable indigenous communities in this region.

Theme: Youth engagement

Guatemala democracy, indigenous, participation

Project: Youth Training for Democracy and Development
Evaluation Date: May 2012
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

A factor that contributed to the project’s effectiveness was the way that the conceptual and practical elements of the training were complementary. This enabled the youth in the indigenous communities to combine a critical analysis of the local situation with the implementation of practical alternatives.

Theme: Youth engagement

Guatemala indigenous, training, youth

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 did not treat these situations – conflicts and differences of opinion – as an educational exercise in acceptance, tolerance, and negotiation as well as it could have; had it done so, it might have fostered synergies and prevented the pointless weakening of indigenous populations committed to fighting for the defense and recognition of their rights.

Theme: Community activism

Bolivia conflict, indigenous, synergy

Project: Human rights training and capacity-building for indigenous people
Evaluation Date: August 2010
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

A broader strategic approach would have made it possible to go beyond factual information and to use the meetings and trainings organized to identify local intervention strategies effective in a range of settings. The participating indigenous people asked for very functional tools related to the mechanisms they must follow when there are claims of or action linked to human rights abuses. If possible, these tools should take also into consideration the diversity of languages and dialects of Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, and Peru.

Theme: Rule of law

Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Peru indigenous, rights, training

Project: Promoting political participation of marginalized populations in Ecuador
Evaluation Date: October 2011
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

Following the project many young leaders and managers of grassroots organisations who were trained are now participating actively in local and provincial government bodies. These participants have disseminated the training and awareness-raising material to other members of the indigenous and African-descendant movements.

Theme: Youth engagement

Ecuador indigenous, leadership, training

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