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Project: Empowering Communities to participate in Local Governance
Evaluation Date: April 2011
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

The lack of clear separation between Local Action Group initiatives and technical assistance provided by the grantee was a concern. This points to a lack of strategic orientation within the grantee organization, and potentially undermines the sustainability of the groups as they struggle without the support of the grantee and reduced access to alternative sources of information and consultation.

Theme: Community activism

Kyrgyzstan design, sustainability

Project: Human rights training and capacity-building for indigenous people
Evaluation Date: August 2010
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

Impact was also hampered due to the lack of any coordination and collaboration mechanisms between the project activities taking place in Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, and Peru. Useful modes of collaboration could have included peer-to-peer monitoring, and exchange of experience between the four countries. If such a mechanism had been available, lessons learnt could have been distilled and analysed, thus enhancing the project’s impact.

Theme: Rule of law

Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Peru design, monitoring, regional

Project: Empowered Civil Society Addressing the Democratic Needs of Rural Women in Myanmar
Evaluation Date: January 2016
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

The capacity building activities explicitly included support towards achieving a degree of financial independence, by providing technical advice on project design and management, developing internal governance and accountability systems. In turn, the injection of project funds, together with sustained technical advice and mentoring have placed many of the target groups on course to achieve at least a degree of self-sufficiency.

Theme: Community activism

Myanmar design, finance, sustainability

Project: Deepening Democratization Processes Through Youth Leadership in Myanmar
Evaluation Date: September 2010
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

The project was carefully planned to work within remaining restrictions and designed not to create conflict or controversy, to ensure that participants at the grassroots level were not put at unnecessary risk. Its design as part of a broader, longer-term undertaking means that it is embedded in processes that already have legitimacy among both communities and authorities.

Theme: Youth engagement

Myanmar design, legitimacy, politics, social capital

Project: Deepening Democratization Processes Through Youth Leadership in Myanmar
Evaluation Date: September 2010
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

The project far exceeded its own expectations, reaching more than 100,000 people through project activities. In part, this was a result of the intelligent and robust implementation structure put in place, with the grantee working closely with a number of reliable grassroots organizations in the regions where activities were undertaken.

Theme: Youth engagement

Myanmar collaboration, design, outreach

Project: Reinforcement of the role and image of women in West African media
Evaluation Date: October 2012
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

The project design put an emphasis on economic, social and political problems specific to women in the region: access to land ownership, discrimination, gender-based and family violence. It also aimed to support women’s participation in democratic governance by highlighting women’s concerns and opinions. In that sense the projects expected results constituted appropriate responses to the problems identified.

Theme: Women's empowerment

Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger design, needs, women

Project: Civil Society Support Initiative on Political Marginalization in the Niger Delta in Nigeria
Evaluation Date: December 2012
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

The baseline study was well conducted and contributed to the project’s effectiveness as a training tool. It also provided needs assessment data concerning the beneficiary groups, representing marginalized communities. The data derived from the study was used to determine the issues to be addressed during the project. It also assisted in the selection of the CSOs and beneficiary groups with which the project would engage.

Theme: Community activism

Nigeria baseline, beneficiaries, design

Project: Enhancing Political Participation of Marginalised Women in Nepal
Evaluation Date: September 2010
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

The project strategy was designed to operate progressively in stages, beginning with a database that tracked progress with measurable indicators. The activities designed and developed by the stakeholders were modified with the findings of rapid assessment reports. All stages were discussed by the target audience. This approach helped identify related grassroots capacity-building needs, develop suitable awareness and training materials, and forge ties between marginalized women and local authorities.

Theme: Women's empowerment

Nepal design, local needs, metrics, participation

Project: Cultivating Democratic Leaders from Marginalized Groups in Thailand
Evaluation Date: December 2010
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

After a project ends local partners should be able to continue the work begun. Specifically, mobilized young people should have follow-up, guidance and resources. Building fundraising techniques into the project design could address this issue. Such forward planning may include developing networks that can support young people including local authorities, media and potential donors (private and public sector).

Theme: Youth engagement

Thailand design, sustainability

Project: Cultivating Democratic Leaders from Marginalized Groups in Thailand
Evaluation Date: December 2010
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

Before beginning on project design, ensure that issues that need to be addressed have been mapped comprehensively and a stocktaking of previous and ongoing projects or programmes with the same or similar focus. Carry out a stakeholder analysis of potential partners’ capacity and financial viability. Does an organization have a secure funding base or does it stumble from project to project seeking funds to stay afloat? If there are resourcing problems in a given area, or any group of NGOs, do not add to these by bringing in short-term funds without addressing the longer-term problem.

Theme: Youth engagement

Thailand baseline, design, local knowledge, partnership

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