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sustainability

Project: Fostering Ethical Democracy and Advancing Micro Justice in India
Evaluation Date: September 2018
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

This project provides a good model of planning for project sustainability. The grantee planned for sustainability in every component of the project, leaving nothing to change. This particular grantee’s experience suggests that projects that deliver tangible benefits to communities may be sustained by those communities themselves.

Theme: Rule of law

India planning, sustainability

Project: Bytes Without Borders in Morocco
Evaluation Date: September 2018
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

The capacity-building process is a marathon, not a sprint. It must involve regular coaching of trainees and performance monitoring in order to ensure sustainability. In order for capacity-building activities to achieve their intended results, one must ensure the activities are inclusive to all, including the vulnerable and illiterate. The use of audio-visual approaches in social media has proved to reach a larger number of people than the ‘class-format’ approach.

Theme: Media

Morocco capacity building, inclusion, social media, sustainability

Project: Strengthening Human Rights Protection Through Legal Education in Haiti
Evaluation Date: June 2018
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

UNDEF has a unique approach within UN agencies and its support for civil society remains essential. Despite the small size of the structure and the limited number of staff, UNDEF provides assistance to organizations to help them through a rigorous process. Even though the success of the project was limited, UNDEF has helped ensure that this necessary and indispensable organization can be maintained.

Theme: Rule of law

Haiti sustainability

Project: Advancing Pedestrian Rights in Georgia
Evaluation Date: January 2018
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

A CSO’s search for sustainability is never-ending. Every new project should include the “seeds” – innovative strategies – of future sustainability. Additionally, since securing funds from a specific international donor can take months or years, CSOs should continue fundraising and cultivating donors even in relatively “flush” times.

Theme: Community activism

Georgia funding, innovation, sustainability

Project: Strengthening Democratic Participation and Inclusive Local Development in Indigenous and Peasant Communities in Bolivia
Evaluation Date: August 2017
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

Sustainability is the Achilles’ heel of democracy projects. To ensure the continuation of services beyond the end of project funding, projects need to plan for sustainability from the start, as design and implementation will require: creative partnerships with civil society and State organizations; careful analysis of the level of demand and willingness to pay; the creation of a cadre of competent professionals able to provide continuous service; and empowerment of community members to provide orientation or counsel, as feasible.

Theme: Rule of law

Bolivia partnerships, sustainability

Project: Youth local councils for civic engagement and social change in Palestine
Evaluation Date: December 2013
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

The young people themselves had creative ideas about how to secure both funds and in-kind support for their activities; however repeatedly having to source such support can over time become a disincentive to participation. Despite the strong commitment to volunteerism created and promoted by the project, it would have been a good idea to increase the attention given to fundraising during the training provided to the elected Youth Local Council members and to bring in an experienced fundraiser to deliver such training so that the young participants would have access to the resources necessary to implement their many creative ideas.

Theme: Youth engagement

Palestine funding, sustainability, training

Project: Democratic dialogue in Palestine: Acculturation towards tolerance
Evaluation Date: February 2013
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

The grantee had set indicators for sustainability that related to individual follow-up, and these were largely met. There were many examples of participants following up the project with individual initiatives, and additionally the grantee continues to engage with the participants through a monthly discussion group, on-line forum and informal contacts in Palestine.

Theme: Youth engagement

Palestine sustainability

Project: Monitoring and Influencing the Central Budget by Civic Empowerment
Evaluation Date: February 2012
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

Partnership was a real strength of the project: the Permanent Monitoring Group, where organizational members had worked with each other for some time, over a series of projects, was an excellent institution. The partnerships that the grantee established with local beneficiaries were also strong, and are likely to continue beyond the project.

Theme: Interaction with government

Turkey partnership, sustainability

Project: Democracy for Women’s Rights in Sindh, Pakistan
Evaluation Date: October 2011
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

A positive factor for the sustainability of the project was the established track record of the grantee in the target communities. The grantee’s familiarity with local culture and institutions, its position of trust in communities, and its expertise all contributed to project success. The NGO has also proven its ability to attract funding.

Theme: Women's empowerment

Pakistan credibility, sustainability

Project: Youth Action for Democracy (YAD) - Strengthening Democracy by Empowering Youth in Pakistan
Evaluation Date: May 2014
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

The website that was reportedly created for the project was no longer accessible due to the expiration of the domain. There was a record of some project activities on the grantee’s Facebook page, but those posts are very dated and not easy to find.

Theme: Youth engagement

Pakistan exit strategy, sustainability, technology, website

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