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Project: Civic Involvement for Transparency and Accountability in Kosovo
Evaluation Date: August 2015
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

The grantee’s knowledge of social and political realities in all regions of Kosovo and in all ethnic communities enabled it to be thorough in its risk analysis. The primary risk identified was that of non-cooperation by the municipal assemblies and municipal government administration. Risks were well-identified, and risk mitigation strategies effective.

Theme: Rule of law

Kosovo municipal, post-conflict, risk

Project: Enhancing the Functional Protection of Human Rights in Ethiopia
Evaluation Date: May 2012
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

The project suffered from insufficient risk analysis and mitigation. The original design failed to identify the challenging political environment in which the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) was operating. Solid project design should plan for scenarios related to each identified risk, and develop mitigation approaches to ensure that core objectives can be met.

Theme: Rule of law

Ethiopia design, risk

Project: Strengthening Dialogue for Community Decision-Making
Evaluation Date: June 2013
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

The project’s relevance was undermined by weak risk management. Some predictable risks in the Democratic Republic of Congo, including armed violence, were mentioned in the project document, but no specific mitigation strategies were developed. It would be appropriate in the future for project applicants to more systematically develop fully-fledged risk mitigation strategies.

Theme: Media

Democratic Republic of the Congo post-conflict, risk

Project: Civil Society Monitoring of Governorate Councils in Iraq
Evaluation Date: August 2014
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

The grantee faced some challenges during project implementation in Iraq, but due to a well-developed risk mitigation plan, the grantee was able to manage. For instance, the grantee had anticipated the risk of the non-cooperation of some Governorate Councils, so when two of six identified Councils withdrew from the initiative, the grantee took rapid action to replace them. The Councils were absorbed into project activities without much loss of time, and the grantee and its partner organizations managed to build trust and understanding with the two added Councils rather quickly.

Theme: Interaction with government

Iraq adapt, government, risk

Project: Engaging Civil Society in a Democratic Election Process in Sudan, Bahrain, Tunisia and Jordan
Evaluation Date: January 2011
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

In some countries, working to promote democracy, community activists may often find themselves operating in difficult circumstances. However trying to circumvent procedures can be counter-productive. The expedient of sending trainers to one country on tourist visas when work visas were denied – placed the trainers, the trainees and the grantee at risk. When working in difficult environments, do not engage in practices that may put community activists, the grantee or other project participants at risk.

Theme: Community activism

Bahrain, Jordan, Tunisia risk

Project: Enlarging the Social Base for Democracy and the Rule of Law in Egypt
Evaluation Date: April 2013
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

The project’s responses to unexpected problems in security were reasonable and effective, but were ad hoc in nature rather than based on any risk assessment and management strategy. Particularly since the project was designed with Egypt’s election schedule in mind, the risk of delays and disruptions might have been foreseeable.

Theme: Rule of law

Egypt elections, risk

Project: Promotion of Women’s Empowerment and Rights in Somalia
Evaluation Date: June 2016
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

As women become empowered or even make attempts to improve their situation, they may face reprisals at home and in the community. Women’s empowerment can shift relationships between the women and men in their family and community, or just be perceived to do so. This potentially puts the women at risk of reprisals including violence. Protection should be both theoretical (a component of the training) and practical (for example details of a helpline or drop-in centre that women might turn to if they feel that they are at risk of violence). Pro-active protection actions, for example those that work with men to change attitudes and behaviours towards women, might also be integrated into a project that primarily focuses on women.

Theme: Women's empowerment

Somalia conflict, gender violence, risk, safety

Project: The National Campaign towards Muslim Family Law Reform (MFL Campaign) in Malaysia
Evaluation Date: March 2016
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

The major assumption underlying the project, which was also its main risk, was the ability of grantee to secure meetings with relevant government stakeholders. Grantee intended to mitigate this risk through the use of different strategies to pressure the government for meetings, including a concerted media strategy and activities with grassroots women. In the report on the convention the grantee stated that they invited 50 MPs and only the opposition MPs replied. These MPs felt it was important to discuss the problem of women and gender discrimination but noted that there was a general fear among politicians and the population to voice different opinions as they would then be branded as too progressive or liberal.

Theme: Rule of law

Malaysia government, politics, risk

Project: Active democracy and political participation of tribal communities in the Indian Himalayas
Evaluation Date: October 2012
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

When people are encouraged to claim their rights and entitlements, there is a risk that they will not be successful or that the services they are seeking will not materialize, and this risk must be taken into account. It is inevitable that not all those who apply for government schemes and entitlements will receive them and it is also possible that promised services may not materialize, or that louder voices may prevail. In order to mitigate negative examples they may see, put in place an active process for sharing success stories.

UNDEF/ India

Theme: Tools for knowledge

India rights, risk

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

Lesson Learned:

The project provided new opportunities for youth to engage in political advocacy and participate more in public life. The drafting of public agendas and policies helped the adult population discover and appreciate young people’s potential. A more in-depth analysis of risk factors would have fostered greater openness and buy-in on the part of the authorities and hence could have yielded better results from political advocacy.

Theme: Youth engagement

Honduras authorities, risk

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