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Project: Transparency and Public Accountability in Education in Brazil
Evaluation Date: June 2020
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

For an objective assessment of the project impact, the results frameworks must contain baseline, indicators and target that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound (SMART). Use a Monitoring work-plan to determine how the project’s specific activities and results are contributing to the achievement of the project’s outcomes and final impact.

Theme: Interaction with government

Brazil baseline, impact, indicator, measure, monitoring, objective, plan, relevant, results, results framework, SMART, target

Project: Democracy Academy for Young Adults in El Salvador
Evaluation Date: March 2023
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

Project design should focus on the detailed definitions of Global Objective, Specific Objectives, Actions, Indicators (at outcome and output level), Baseline and Targets. As it stands, the project definition lacked a clear project design matrix; overall and specific objectives and outputs were missing; outcome indicators were missing (outcome indicators were in fact output indicators), and outputs were not defined. Lastly, no sources of information/means of verification were formulated.

Theme: Youth engagement, Interaction with government

El Salvador baseline, indicator, measure, monitoring, objectives, outcome, outputs, project design, results, results framework

Project: Strengthening Grassroots Women’s Groups to Promote and Protect Civic Space in Uganda
Evaluation Date: July 2023
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

It is vital to document and present evidence of how a project meets target indicators in the delivery of its activities both for internal learning but also to be able to demonstrate effectiveness and impact in a robust and comprehensive way. This requires a dedicated person in charge of monitoring, evaluating, and learning.

Theme: Women's empowerment

Uganda analysis, credibility, evaluation, expertise, goals, impact, knowledge, learning, measure, monitoring, objectives, outputs, project management, quality control, reporting, results, results framework, staff, transparency

Project: Developing alternative models of natural resource governance based on indigenous community participation in Aceh
Evaluation Date: July 2016
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

In the absence of performance data it was difficult to assess the project’s impact. It was probable that Mukim members who undertook the trainings about alternative models of natural resource management increased their knowledge. However without tracking progress against baseline information it was impossible to determine the extent to which awareness was raised. This shows the importance of not only measuring activity outputs, but elaborating a results-based project performance and monitoring plan from the project beginning to track progress made towards achieving outcomes and to measure results.

Theme: Community activism

Indonesia monitoring, results

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 Arts as an Action to Stand up for Women´s Rights in Nicaragua
Evaluation Date: January 2016
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

The geographic scope of the project was a little ambitious given the qualitative changes that were being pursued and the desire to consolidate and capitalize on the results. Focusing activities in a more limited geographical space would have made it easier to go into more depth and to sustain the results.

Theme: Women's empowerment

Nicaragua results, scope

Project: Renforcement des capacités des journalistes et blogueurs arabes pour la promotion des droits de l’Homme
Evaluation Date: October 2014
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

The project was relatively weak in that costs were high and that it cannot be considered that the results achieved were commensurate with the expectations arising from the project document, or with the resources expended, even when taking into account the fact that political instability in the region increased the cost of activities.

Theme: Media

Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Morocco, Tunisia, Yemen budget, results

Project: Expanding and Fortifying Local Democracy through the People’s Council in the Philippines
Evaluation Date: January 2016
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

The project ran its operations efficiently and smoothly, for the most part. The grantee took complete responsibility for management and finance. Memoranda of understanding were signed with all partners and these provided a solid basis for partnership. All partners and beneficiaries were positive about the grantee, not only on the technical support provided, but also on the management of logistics and resources. Generally, the project’s human and financial resources were used appropriately and with care in support of intended results.

Theme: Community activism

Philippines management, MOU, results

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

Lesson Learned:

The budget was not balanced. The coordination team undertook the minimum of work with the beneficiary groups and instead relied heavily on the involvement of volunteers. While recognizing the importance of volunteering in civil society, activism also requires the necessary resources to carry out actions. The lack of resources compromised the quality and sustainability of the results.

Theme: Community activism

Côte d'Ivoire budget, results, volunteers

Project: Narrowing the Gender Gap in Flood Affected Areas of Pakistan
Evaluation Date: March 2014
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

Targets were ambitious in some cases and not fully met. The attribution of results based on some of the indicators chosen was also difficult given the number of other factors that affected the outcomes. For example, impact data provided by the grantee showed a nine percent increase in the number of women in the project areas who registered for the Computerized National Identity Card during the project period. However attribution for this is difficult given the widespread voter education efforts that were done in Pakistan in the lead up to the 2013 elections.

Theme: Women's empowerment

Pakistan indicators, results, targets

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