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Interaction with government

LESSON

Lesson Learned: Strengthening CSO Engagement with Defence Institutions to Reduce Corruption and Strengthen Accountability in Mali

Creating trust with the government was key in a political environment that has been predominantly closed and opaque. The grantee and implementing partner met with the competent authorities to introduce the project and its approach, and later shared results with officials and representatives of the authorities to create positive engagement and bolster trust.
Project Partner
Transparency International UK
Project Description
The project was implemented by Transparency International – Defense and Security (as Implementing Agency) and the Cercle de Réflexion et d’Information pour la Consolidation de la Démocratie au Mali (CRI-2002, as Implementing Partner), from April 2018 to December 2019. The project benefited from a UNDEF grant of USD 187,000 and sought to reduce the risk of corruption in the Malian defense and security sector. It included a mix of capacity-building, advocacy and research work in order to build civil society’s ability to advocate for accountability and transparency in the defense sector, and to open a space for them to do so. Strengthening links between civil society and defense institutions and the democratic bodies charged with oversight of defense was an integral part of the approach.
Evaluation Date
February 2021
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Strengthening CSO Engagement with Defence Institutions to Reduce Corruption and Strengthen Accountability in Mali

In a crowded donor environment with multiple civil society actors, and a highly volatile and dynamic political and security context, the project demonstrated the need to maintain good links with key actors in the International Community as well as national government stakeholders. This requires an investment in time and resources. To ensure longer-term durability and sustainability of projects, considerations for mobilising and engaging with the international community should be an integral part of Civil Society Organisation planning and strategy.
Project Partner
Transparency International UK
Project Description
The project was implemented by Transparency International – Defense and Security (as Implementing Agency) and the Cercle de Réflexion et d’Information pour la Consolidation de la Démocratie au Mali (CRI-2002, as Implementing Partner), from April 2018 to December 2019. The project benefited from a UNDEF grant of USD 187,000 and sought to reduce the risk of corruption in the Malian defense and security sector. It included a mix of capacity-building, advocacy and research work in order to build civil society’s ability to advocate for accountability and transparency in the defense sector, and to open a space for them to do so. Strengthening links between civil society and defense institutions and the democratic bodies charged with oversight of defense was an integral part of the approach.
Evaluation Date
February 2021
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Strengthening CSO Engagement with Defence Institutions to Reduce Corruption and Strengthen Accountability in Mali

The project required a complex but clearly delineated division of labour and responsibilities between an external Civil Society Organisation and a country based Implementing Partner. This was well presented in the Project Document and was well managed during the course of the project, with the Implementing Partner providing local knowledge and relationships, and the Civil Society Organisation providing technical subject-matter expertise and links with the wider donor and international communities.
Project Partner
Transparency International UK
Project Description
The project was implemented by Transparency International – Defense and Security (as Implementing Agency) and the Cercle de Réflexion et d’Information pour la Consolidation de la Démocratie au Mali (CRI-2002, as Implementing Partner), from April 2018 to December 2019. The project benefited from a UNDEF grant of USD 187,000 and sought to reduce the risk of corruption in the Malian defense and security sector. It included a mix of capacity-building, advocacy and research work in order to build civil society’s ability to advocate for accountability and transparency in the defense sector, and to open a space for them to do so. Strengthening links between civil society and defense institutions and the democratic bodies charged with oversight of defense was an integral part of the approach.
Evaluation Date
February 2021
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Transparency and Public Accountability in Education in Brazil

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.
Project Partner
Transparencia Brasil
Project Description
The project works to improve access to education in Brazil, by tackling mismanagement in construction of schools; empowering civil society groups to pressure local and federal government official for more accountability; building a network of local monitoring organizations; gathering robust information on problems in several phases of construction and delivery, presented in semi-annual reports to Federal Government and media; holding a final conference on lessons learned and how to redesign policies for effective monitoring and control with the help of local civil society organizations.
Evaluation Date
June 2020
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Transparency and Public Accountability in Education in Brazil

A project where approximately 90% of human resources are volunteers, entails risks of lack of motivation and commitment. This should be included in the project risk assessment and it must be defined as measures to mitigate these risks.
Project Partner
Transparencia Brasil
Project Description
The project works to improve access to education in Brazil, by tackling mismanagement in construction of schools; empowering civil society groups to pressure local and federal government official for more accountability; building a network of local monitoring organizations; gathering robust information on problems in several phases of construction and delivery, presented in semi-annual reports to Federal Government and media; holding a final conference on lessons learned and how to redesign policies for effective monitoring and control with the help of local civil society organizations.
Evaluation Date
June 2020
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Transparency and Public Accountability in Education in Brazil

When the accomplishment of specific outcomes is contingent on the collaboration of an external party, such as the governmental authorities, it is essential to make additional efforts setting up partnerships from the onset of the Project. UNDEF (or United Nations Country Team) may play an important role in meeting directly the country local or Federal authorities at the beginning of the project.
Project Partner
Transparencia Brasil
Project Description
The project works to improve access to education in Brazil, by tackling mismanagement in construction of schools; empowering civil society groups to pressure local and federal government official for more accountability; building a network of local monitoring organizations; gathering robust information on problems in several phases of construction and delivery, presented in semi-annual reports to Federal Government and media; holding a final conference on lessons learned and how to redesign policies for effective monitoring and control with the help of local civil society organizations.
Evaluation Date
June 2020
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Transparency and Public Accountability in Education in Brazil

The grantee’s self-assessment concluded that the project should not have ended simultaneously with the delivery of the final event. In future projects, and during the design stage, it is useful to ensure that the projects continue for a few weeks or month after the end of the activities. This would enable the development of activities not initial foreseen and also include the final evaluation activities.
Project Partner
Transparencia Brasil
Project Description
The project works to improve access to education in Brazil, by tackling mismanagement in construction of schools; empowering civil society groups to pressure local and federal government official for more accountability; building a network of local monitoring organizations; gathering robust information on problems in several phases of construction and delivery, presented in semi-annual reports to Federal Government and media; holding a final conference on lessons learned and how to redesign policies for effective monitoring and control with the help of local civil society organizations.
Evaluation Date
June 2020
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: House of Initiatives by and for Syrian Women in Reyhanli

A strong commitment by a refugee empowerment project to humanitarian principles of impartiality, neutrality and independence gains them trust and respect among both internal and external stakeholders, and will help them operate smoothly in the long term.
Project Partner
Mandat International
Project Description
The project aims to create a capacity building programme for approximately one hundred Syrian women currently refugees in Turkey, so as to increase their opportunity to fully participate in the democratic, economic and reconstruction processes during the post-conflict period. This will be implemented as an extension and development of the initial Zeytuna Project financed by UNDEF. The activities under this second phase will bring together in one house some of the projects developed by the women during the initial phase The centre will help the participants to ensure the sustainability of their projects by providing a common area where they will be able to share a number of resources (human, material and financial) both empowering them as well as inspiring other Syrian women to conduct similar spin-off projects.
Evaluation Date
February 2019
LESSON

Lesson Learned: House of Initiatives by and for Syrian Women in Reyhanli

Involving host country citizens in the leadership of a refugee empowerment project is a good model of coexistence and sharing, allowing for refugees to build a relationship with the host community while maintaining links with their home country.
Project Partner
Mandat International
Project Description
The project aims to create a capacity building programme for approximately one hundred Syrian women currently refugees in Turkey, so as to increase their opportunity to fully participate in the democratic, economic and reconstruction processes during the post-conflict period. This will be implemented as an extension and development of the initial Zeytuna Project financed by UNDEF. The activities under this second phase will bring together in one house some of the projects developed by the women during the initial phase The centre will help the participants to ensure the sustainability of their projects by providing a common area where they will be able to share a number of resources (human, material and financial) both empowering them as well as inspiring other Syrian women to conduct similar spin-off projects.
Evaluation Date
February 2019
LESSON

Lesson Learned: House of Initiatives by and for Syrian Women in Reyhanli

Projects aiming for a sub-grant component should research local law regarding fundraising and grant-giving at the design stage to prevent issues at the implementation stage.
Project Partner
Mandat International
Project Description
The project aims to create a capacity building programme for approximately one hundred Syrian women currently refugees in Turkey, so as to increase their opportunity to fully participate in the democratic, economic and reconstruction processes during the post-conflict period. This will be implemented as an extension and development of the initial Zeytuna Project financed by UNDEF. The activities under this second phase will bring together in one house some of the projects developed by the women during the initial phase The centre will help the participants to ensure the sustainability of their projects by providing a common area where they will be able to share a number of resources (human, material and financial) both empowering them as well as inspiring other Syrian women to conduct similar spin-off projects.
Evaluation Date
February 2019