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Community activism

LESSON

Lesson Learned: Leadership for accountable governance in Southern Africa

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.
Project Partner
Freedom House
Project Description
Aiming to empower young government and civil society leaders from southern Africa to catalyze transformative change in their home institutions and communities, the project had indeed a positive impact on some participants, both professionally and personally. It comprised of four principal components: training, support to “personal reform” projects developed by the trainees, integration of the trainees into an existing network, and evaluation of the reform projects with a view to identifying good practice and replicable initiatives. Overall, however, it represented poor value for money for UNDEF taking into account the high cost (US$350,000), relatively small number of participants, lack of strategies for broader engagement and inadequate outcomes.
Evaluation Date
February 2011
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Strengthening Citizenship and Consolidation of Democracy in Chad

The information tools that the project developed for the training and literacy activities were very effective and relevant to the level of knowledge and skills of the beneficiaries. Trainees emphasized that had benefited significantly from the training and a number of the women participants for the first time got involved in democratic processes including participating in legislative elections as candidates.
Project Partner
Fondation pour la Démocratie et le Développement
Project Description
The project’s objective was to build the capacity at the grassroots level regarding democracy. This objective was pursued through training the population about citizen rights and freedoms, including establishing a permanent observatory for national and local electoral consultations, and the communication of information supporting the construction of a democratic state. The intervention directly targeted vulnerable groups, farmers (both women and men); and on a wider level also reached out to development actors, trainers of trainers and local facilitators; and employees of local, administrative and communal authorities. The project aimed to provide appropriate responses to the needs and difficulties faced by target beneficiary groups - women and vulnerable groups who were unable to take part in the electoral process. The method and the content of the training sessions as well as the message communicated via the educational media adopted were consistent with the project's objectives. It was also in line with the priorities set out in the country’s Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper.
Evaluation Date
February 2011
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Leadership for accountable governance in Southern Africa

No attempt was made during the life of the project to draw reliable lessons, positive and negative, and in particular at times when there were clearly challenges facing those implementing the project but still time to re-think plans - for example, relocating later training sessions and the alumni event to a venue where costs would be lower.
Project Partner
Freedom House
Project Description
Aiming to empower young government and civil society leaders from southern Africa to catalyze transformative change in their home institutions and communities, the project had indeed a positive impact on some participants, both professionally and personally. It comprised of four principal components: training, support to “personal reform” projects developed by the trainees, integration of the trainees into an existing network, and evaluation of the reform projects with a view to identifying good practice and replicable initiatives. Overall, however, it represented poor value for money for UNDEF taking into account the high cost (US$350,000), relatively small number of participants, lack of strategies for broader engagement and inadequate outcomes.
Evaluation Date
February 2011
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Strengthening Citizenship and Consolidation of Democracy in Chad

In any future projects of this type, youth must also be integrated as a beneficiary group. The involvement of young people in project activities could contribute to a further strengthening of the gender dimension and complementing the existing focus of the project on women.
Project Partner
Fondation pour la Démocratie et le Développement
Project Description
The project’s objective was to build the capacity at the grassroots level regarding democracy. This objective was pursued through training the population about citizen rights and freedoms, including establishing a permanent observatory for national and local electoral consultations, and the communication of information supporting the construction of a democratic state. The intervention directly targeted vulnerable groups, farmers (both women and men); and on a wider level also reached out to development actors, trainers of trainers and local facilitators; and employees of local, administrative and communal authorities. The project aimed to provide appropriate responses to the needs and difficulties faced by target beneficiary groups - women and vulnerable groups who were unable to take part in the electoral process. The method and the content of the training sessions as well as the message communicated via the educational media adopted were consistent with the project's objectives. It was also in line with the priorities set out in the country’s Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper.
Evaluation Date
February 2011
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Strengthening Citizenship and Consolidation of Democracy in Chad

One of the positive effects of the project was its contribution to reducing mistrust towards authorities - governors, other local authorities, political parties. Some citizens for the first time made direct contact with their representatives so as to involve them in project activities.
Project Partner
Fondation pour la Démocratie et le Développement
Project Description
The project’s objective was to build the capacity at the grassroots level regarding democracy. This objective was pursued through training the population about citizen rights and freedoms, including establishing a permanent observatory for national and local electoral consultations, and the communication of information supporting the construction of a democratic state. The intervention directly targeted vulnerable groups, farmers (both women and men); and on a wider level also reached out to development actors, trainers of trainers and local facilitators; and employees of local, administrative and communal authorities. The project aimed to provide appropriate responses to the needs and difficulties faced by target beneficiary groups - women and vulnerable groups who were unable to take part in the electoral process. The method and the content of the training sessions as well as the message communicated via the educational media adopted were consistent with the project's objectives. It was also in line with the priorities set out in the country’s Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper.
Evaluation Date
February 2011
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Leadership for accountable governance in Southern Africa

Insufficient attention was paid to the gender appropriateness of the training materials in Southern Africa Insufficient attention was also paid to political and indeed racial tensions that might reasonably be expected to occur in groups that brought together people from 10 African nations. Some of the training materials exhibited poor judgement in relation to comments about political leaders.
Project Partner
Freedom House
Project Description
Aiming to empower young government and civil society leaders from southern Africa to catalyze transformative change in their home institutions and communities, the project had indeed a positive impact on some participants, both professionally and personally. It comprised of four principal components: training, support to “personal reform” projects developed by the trainees, integration of the trainees into an existing network, and evaluation of the reform projects with a view to identifying good practice and replicable initiatives. Overall, however, it represented poor value for money for UNDEF taking into account the high cost (US$350,000), relatively small number of participants, lack of strategies for broader engagement and inadequate outcomes.
Evaluation Date
February 2011
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Strengthening Citizenship and Consolidation of Democracy in Chad

The project mobilised very well qualified staff to implement activities. However, a large number of these personnel worked on a volunteer basis and this had a detrimental impact on the quality of the output. The insufficient number of personnel available had also a negative impact on the effective monitoring of the project implementation.
Project Partner
Fondation pour la Démocratie et le Développement
Project Description
The project’s objective was to build the capacity at the grassroots level regarding democracy. This objective was pursued through training the population about citizen rights and freedoms, including establishing a permanent observatory for national and local electoral consultations, and the communication of information supporting the construction of a democratic state. The intervention directly targeted vulnerable groups, farmers (both women and men); and on a wider level also reached out to development actors, trainers of trainers and local facilitators; and employees of local, administrative and communal authorities. The project aimed to provide appropriate responses to the needs and difficulties faced by target beneficiary groups - women and vulnerable groups who were unable to take part in the electoral process. The method and the content of the training sessions as well as the message communicated via the educational media adopted were consistent with the project's objectives. It was also in line with the priorities set out in the country’s Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper.
Evaluation Date
February 2011
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Leadership for accountable governance in Southern Africa

The allocation of funds between headquarters’ support costs and project-related staff and activities in-country was unbalanced. In this case, it is likely that the high headquarters costs impacted directly on decisions made relating to project activity and the subsequent compromising of project outcomes.
Project Partner
Freedom House
Project Description
Aiming to empower young government and civil society leaders from southern Africa to catalyze transformative change in their home institutions and communities, the project had indeed a positive impact on some participants, both professionally and personally. It comprised of four principal components: training, support to “personal reform” projects developed by the trainees, integration of the trainees into an existing network, and evaluation of the reform projects with a view to identifying good practice and replicable initiatives. Overall, however, it represented poor value for money for UNDEF taking into account the high cost (US$350,000), relatively small number of participants, lack of strategies for broader engagement and inadequate outcomes.
Evaluation Date
February 2011
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Leadership for accountable governance in Southern Africa

The training component in across the 11 countries in Southern Africa was generally well received by participants and in some cases clearly had a positive impact. They believed the project provided opportunities to share ideas and contact with “friends for life”. The challenge, obviously, is maintaining the network and the motivation of those who will not engage without ‘prompts’. A participant noted that the network and Freedom House have been very quiet.
Project Partner
Freedom House
Project Description
Aiming to empower young government and civil society leaders from southern Africa to catalyze transformative change in their home institutions and communities, the project had indeed a positive impact on some participants, both professionally and personally. It comprised of four principal components: training, support to “personal reform” projects developed by the trainees, integration of the trainees into an existing network, and evaluation of the reform projects with a view to identifying good practice and replicable initiatives. Overall, however, it represented poor value for money for UNDEF taking into account the high cost (US$350,000), relatively small number of participants, lack of strategies for broader engagement and inadequate outcomes.
Evaluation Date
February 2011
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Strengthening Citizenship and Consolidation of Democracy in Chad

The project's strategy was built around the preparation of a conceptual, methodological and operational framework in a participative manner with the target groups. It integrated three main priorities: functional literacy and awareness-raising; improvement of the conditions of women; and community participation at the local level. The choice to address the literacy issue within marginal populations of Chad was particularly appropriate raise citizen awareness among the target groups.
Project Partner
Fondation pour la Démocratie et le Développement
Project Description
The project’s objective was to build the capacity at the grassroots level regarding democracy. This objective was pursued through training the population about citizen rights and freedoms, including establishing a permanent observatory for national and local electoral consultations, and the communication of information supporting the construction of a democratic state. The intervention directly targeted vulnerable groups, farmers (both women and men); and on a wider level also reached out to development actors, trainers of trainers and local facilitators; and employees of local, administrative and communal authorities. The project aimed to provide appropriate responses to the needs and difficulties faced by target beneficiary groups - women and vulnerable groups who were unable to take part in the electoral process. The method and the content of the training sessions as well as the message communicated via the educational media adopted were consistent with the project's objectives. It was also in line with the priorities set out in the country’s Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper.
Evaluation Date
February 2011
Country