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Project: Empowering Local CSOs in Yemen through Participation in Local Governance
Evaluation Date: May 2015
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

There were two different types of outcome at local level: dialogue between communities and local authorities; and facilitation of urgent development/humanitarian activities. These were sometimes confused. In addition, the project sought to achieve outcomes internal to the NGO movement, by helping build NGO project management capacity and reinforce accountability and transparency within civil society. While these outcomes were all relevant, their achievement in four different locations including Sana’a was challenging, particularly in view of the ambitious objectives the project was meant to fulfill.

Theme: Community activism

Yemen outcomes, scope

Project: Support for Democratic Transition and Promotion of Citizenship
Evaluation Date: March 2016
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

Some of the activities assigned to partners were not carried out neither were they replaced by other activities. There were great disparities between the activities and the achieved outcomes. The grantee could have reorganized its very ambitious and confusing results framework to link activities, outputs and outcomes more clearly. The grantee could benefit from training on results frameworks and monitoring.

Theme: Rule of law

Tunisia impact, outcomes, results

Project: Strengthening Civil Society and Developing Independent Media in Africa
Evaluation Date: March 2013
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

The project document included a wide range of activities, but did not always clarify how these would lead to the achievement of the ambitious project outcomes. The document did not explicitly address risks and obstacles to the achievement of results.

Theme: Media

Burundi, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia design, outcomes

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

Lesson Learned:

While the main project objective was to help build the capacity of transitional justice mechanisms, there was little analysis in the project document of the kind of capacity that needed building in Burundi. The three project outcomes offered only general guidance on this point, prioritizing inclusiveness, gender sensitivity and victims’ concerns, but not explicitly translating these priorities into specific competencies or skills that needed developing at other institutional levels.

Theme: Rule of law

Burundi gender, outcomes, skills

Project: Empowering Civil Society and Women to Engage in Policy Processes
Evaluation Date: August 2011
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

The project outcomes were too ambitious to be met completely, especially when considering the limitations that resulted from the changes in the political context in Honduras during the first year of the project’s implementation (coup d’état, June 2009).

Theme: Women's empowerment

Honduras outcomes, scope

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

Kazakhstan outcomes, results

Project: Deepening Democratization Processes Through Youth Leadership in Myanmar
Evaluation Date: September 2010
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

Apart from the obvious advantage of documenting all that has happened for internal use, clearly identifying outputs, outcomes and also lessons-learned is useful for attracting ongoing donor support and for underpinning future project design and implementation.

Theme: Youth engagement

Myanmar documentation, donor, outcomes

Project: Fostering Ethical Democracy and Advancing Micro Justice in India
Evaluation Date: September 2018
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

Project outcomes should be captured on a continuous basis, rather than only at the end of the project. It is vital to capture the difference made by a project intervention at different stages of the project (immediately after the event and at further times). Otherwise, it is impossible to distinguish between the effects of different project interventions.

Theme: Rule of law

India evaluation, feedback, monitoring, outcomes

Project: Strengthening Local NGOs in Areas Where Extractive Industries Operate
Evaluation Date: June 2013
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

The specified outcomes were ambitious, given the outputs that were designed to achieve them. The project assumed that putting stakeholders together and sharing knowledge through local and national workshops, NGO training activities, and micro project experiences would be sufficient to alter perceptions and create stakeholder partnerships for joint corporate social responsibility policy design and practices in Indonesia.

Theme: Community activism

Indonesia CSR, outcomes, outputs

Project: Leadership for accountable governance in Southern Africa
Evaluation Date: February 2011
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

The project was poorly designed. A lack of understanding of the importance of the inter-connectedness of the three core activities (training, reform project support and alumni network) in Southern Africa to achieving the medium- and long-term objectives of the project led to decisions being made early in the project that compromised its likelihood of success.

Theme: Community activism

Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, United Republic of, Zambia, Zimbabwe management, objectives, outcomes

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