advocacy

Project: Women in Democratic Transition in Egypt
Evaluation Date: July 2015
Report: [report link]
Lesson Learned:

Using credible data and statistics, the project made a tangible and significant contribution to advancing women’s democratic rights. The grantee was a leading force in lobbying for constitutional measures to ensure women’s representation – unsuccessful in the case of parliament but successful in the case of local councils. It also took the lead in successfully advocating for the institution of female quotas on political lists for the 2015 parliamentary elections and the adoption of a political parties’ Code of Ethics (formulated by the project, based on a situation analysis and consultations with 20-30 political parties) regarding women’s democratic participation.

Theme: Women's empowerment
Egypt   , ,
Project: Strengthening Democratic Participation Among Indigenous Peoples of Oaxaca, Mexico
Evaluation Date: May 2014
Report: [report link]
Lesson Learned:

The comparative diagnostic study on Federal and State legislation laid the foundations for holding forums for consultation and the promotion of Constitutional Reform, and for drafting an internal document for the grantee. The Constitutional Reform proposal had the backing of indigenous and Afro-Mexican groups, and hence, legitimacy – an unprecedented achievement in the State of Oaxaca. These organizations have specific demands and agendas that while different, are complementary in terms of their level and content. Recognizing the need to consolidate these processes, they wish to continue receiving legal assistance and training to improve their advocacy and forge closer ties other government and civil society stakeholders.

Theme: Community activism
Mexico   , ,
Project: Constructing Citizenship in San Luis de Potosí
Evaluation Date: April 2013
Report: [report link]
Lesson Learned:

While CSO capacity to influence policy was strengthened, not enough work was done on identifying mechanisms for negotiation and dialogue with government agencies. Nor was progress made in developing an agenda and strategic plan with well-defined issues and objectives that civil society considers essential to its lobbying efforts. This is an impediment to building legitimate, effective channels for advocacy that would make it possible, for example, to use and channel the information gathered by the watchdog groups that exercise public oversight.

Theme: Rule of law
Mexico   , ,
Project: The National Campaign towards Muslim Family Law Reform (MFL Campaign) in Malaysia
Evaluation Date: March 2016
Report: [report link]
Lesson Learned:

Linking the efforts done by the broader coalitions for free and fair election and domestic observers will add weight to the effort and allow for a much broader group of individuals to query candidates about their positions and to extract promises for support- or for reasons why they would not support legal reform. It will also increase the visibility of the key issues with the public which could help provide support and build momentum for a parallel advocacy effort for law reform.

Theme: Rule of law
Malaysia   , ,