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Project: Citizen Participation to Improve Local Governance
Evaluation Date: January 2014
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

The vast majority of the grassroots organizations involved valued how the project promoted public participation as a counterweight to public authorities. Most of the targeted municipalities in Benin have organized public hearings on budget resources. In addition, the participation mechanism has enabled elected officials to use consultative methods to determine local priorities with the participation of the grassroots population.

Theme: Community activism

Benin participation, transparency

Project: Educating Rural Women in Haiti for Democratic Citizenship
Evaluation Date: March 2012
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

The training methodology was participatory dynamic and based on very concrete experiences that the participants could relate to. In addition, the direct involvement of men as indispensable actors in encouraging women’s participation in political affairs promoted changes in attitudes regarding women’s participation in decision-making bodies.

Theme: Women's empowerment

Haiti participation, training

Project: Citizen Participation to Improve Local Governance
Evaluation Date: January 2014
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

Through participation in training sessions on advocacy and public information campaigns, members of the Citizen Participation Cells in Benin improved their ability to participate in the municipal decision-making process, to monitor the compliance of municipal investments – e.g. water and sanitation, education – and to put pressure on local politicians to carry out public hearings on budget policies.

Theme: Community activism

Benin advocacy, participation, training

Project: Underpinning and developing the democratic electoral processes in Azerbaijan
Evaluation Date: August 2010
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

The major weakness of the project from a relevance point of view was that it bore no real relationship to needed governance reforms. The elections process in Azerbaijan is flawed. While increasing women’s participation in a flawed process is a valid goal, the project would have added more value if it had addressed basic issues in governance. While the project may have had some impact on women’s empowerment, it had none on democratization.

Theme: Community activism

Azerbaijan elections, participation, reform

Project: Your Local Representative, Strengthening Citizen Participation in Ukraine
Evaluation Date: October 2013
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

Project implementation followed the outputs listed in the project document but the aspects related to citizen participation and the lobbying of parties were missing. These activities had not been included in the request for proposals (RFPs) issued by the grantee. Conceptually, the project seemed to think these elements would emanate from website use but without a critical mass of users, this did not occur.

Theme: Community activism

Ukraine lobbying, online, participation

Project: Supporting civic participation of grassroots communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Evaluation Date: June 2013
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

Gender issues were not addressed substantially during the training sessions, though there were general references to the need for women to play a greater role in governance in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The grantee’s analysis of the country’s democratic deficit had also failed to identify women’s participation in political decision-making processes.

Theme: Rule of law

Democratic Republic of the Congo participation, women

Project: Civil Society Engagement for Democracy and Good Governance
Evaluation Date: January 2013
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

There was a multiplier effect among the volunteers who were trained. They were in a position to drive further citizen participation following the end of the project. In particular, the women who participated in training sessions will ensure future awareness raising within their communities and women’s associations.

Theme: Community activism

Côte d'Ivoire participation, training, women

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: Honduran Youth for Democracy
Evaluation Date: February 2014
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

Through their involvement in the project, many parents, teachers, and journalists changed their views about the role of youth in society. Adults have increasingly supported their children’s participation in the various activities, encouraging in particular the involvement of young adults.

Theme: Youth engagement

Honduras participation, training, youth

Project: Citizen Participation to Improve Local Governance
Evaluation Date: January 2014
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

There was a risk that the newly introduced Citizen Participation Cells (CPC) would be manipulated by local authorities in Benin. They were often called on by municipal governments to assess the compliance of municipal investments or to raise awareness among citizens. In order to be seen as an independent mechanism, the CPCs should be more proactive rather than reactive when dealing with municipal administrations.

Theme: Community activism

Benin participation

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