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Lessons

LESSON

Lesson Learned: Strengthening Arts as an Action to Stand up for Women´s Rights in Nicaragua

The young people involved have repeated the performances in their schools and communities. The response by the audience was highly positive and the use of debates and forums fostered public participation and led to greater awareness of and respect for the status of women in Nicaraguan society.
Project Partner
Movimiento de Teatro Popular Sin Fronteras
Project Description
The project aimed to protect and promote women´s rights using the arts to communicate messages and to raise awareness of the challenges women are facing in protecting and promoting their rights, in spite of the existence of the Law on Violence Against Women (Law 779). The strategy of the project was built around two components: capacity building and awareness raising measures including theatre production and artistic expression; and preventive actions to solve key problems linked to the implementation of Law 779. The project was relevant, as it was carried out at a time of polarization and controversy over the passing of Law no. 779 on Violence against Women (2012) and the reform of this law in 2013. With the aim of making the issue visible, the project relied on promoting collaboration and alliances and mobilizing women’s organizations, civil society actors and local authorities.
Evaluation Date
January 2016
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Promoting democratic dialogue and social cohesion in the Western region of Côte d'Ivoire

The grantee should have played a greater role in building relationships with the local authorities. The CSOs, though they had adequate links to local officials, lacked the credibility and credentials to help build capacity at local government level.
Project Partner
Centre de Recherche et d'Action pour la Paix
Project Description
The overall objective of the project was to reinforce community dialogue and participatory democracy in the Western part of Cote d’Ivoire, with a view to enhancing social cohesion and the enhancement of democratic values at local level. To achieve this objective, the project had three outputs: Civil society organizations (CSOs) and the authorities are better equipped to use community support techniques; CSO’s providing support to communities on the management of conflicts; and enhanced involvement of local communities in development initiatives. The project was remarkably relevant, in that it correctly identified the lack of social cohesion as a major risk for conflict returning to the target areas. The project developed strategies and activities that specifically addressed the needs of the local communities and those of the CSOs working with them. However, the project design phase did not sufficiently involve the communities and CSOs, and the project should have involved more technical experts.
Evaluation Date
January 2016
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Promoting democratic dialogue and social cohesion in the Western region of Côte d'Ivoire

The grantee should have ensured that the CSOs and communities received additional technical advice in the design and implementation of the micro-projects, for example on economics and livelihoods.
Project Partner
Centre de Recherche et d'Action pour la Paix
Project Description
The overall objective of the project was to reinforce community dialogue and participatory democracy in the Western part of Cote d’Ivoire, with a view to enhancing social cohesion and the enhancement of democratic values at local level. To achieve this objective, the project had three outputs: Civil society organizations (CSOs) and the authorities are better equipped to use community support techniques; CSO’s providing support to communities on the management of conflicts; and enhanced involvement of local communities in development initiatives. The project was remarkably relevant, in that it correctly identified the lack of social cohesion as a major risk for conflict returning to the target areas. The project developed strategies and activities that specifically addressed the needs of the local communities and those of the CSOs working with them. However, the project design phase did not sufficiently involve the communities and CSOs, and the project should have involved more technical experts.
Evaluation Date
January 2016
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Promoting democratic dialogue and social cohesion in the Western region of Côte d'Ivoire

The project design phase did not sufficiently involve the communities and CSOs who were partners. The project could have also benefited from more technical expertise in the design of some of the micro-projects, to help ensure their success. The project duration was only 18 months (a three-month extension was eventually granted), was probably too short in view of its ambitious objective.
Project Partner
Centre de Recherche et d'Action pour la Paix
Project Description
The overall objective of the project was to reinforce community dialogue and participatory democracy in the Western part of Cote d’Ivoire, with a view to enhancing social cohesion and the enhancement of democratic values at local level. To achieve this objective, the project had three outputs: Civil society organizations (CSOs) and the authorities are better equipped to use community support techniques; CSO’s providing support to communities on the management of conflicts; and enhanced involvement of local communities in development initiatives. The project was remarkably relevant, in that it correctly identified the lack of social cohesion as a major risk for conflict returning to the target areas. The project developed strategies and activities that specifically addressed the needs of the local communities and those of the CSOs working with them. However, the project design phase did not sufficiently involve the communities and CSOs, and the project should have involved more technical experts.
Evaluation Date
January 2016
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Promoting democratic dialogue and social cohesion in the Western region of Côte d'Ivoire

The project’s impact was most visible among the beneficiaries of the micro projects. For example, the association of women selling fresh products on the market in Bloléquin was able to create common interest among women from different backgrounds – locally born, as well as older migrants and recently resettled women. This association, created by the project, was able to lobby local authorities on behalf the market women on matters such as the allocation of market stalls and to improve the storage of fresh produce.
Project Partner
Centre de Recherche et d'Action pour la Paix
Project Description
The overall objective of the project was to reinforce community dialogue and participatory democracy in the Western part of Cote d’Ivoire, with a view to enhancing social cohesion and the enhancement of democratic values at local level. To achieve this objective, the project had three outputs: Civil society organizations (CSOs) and the authorities are better equipped to use community support techniques; CSO’s providing support to communities on the management of conflicts; and enhanced involvement of local communities in development initiatives. The project was remarkably relevant, in that it correctly identified the lack of social cohesion as a major risk for conflict returning to the target areas. The project developed strategies and activities that specifically addressed the needs of the local communities and those of the CSOs working with them. However, the project design phase did not sufficiently involve the communities and CSOs, and the project should have involved more technical experts.
Evaluation Date
January 2016
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Promoting democratic dialogue and social cohesion in the Western region of Côte d'Ivoire

The micro-projects are sustainable to the extent they were specifically designed to last beyond the project period and to be self-financing. New skills were acquired by communities, and by the grantee itself, will also contribute to the sustainability of the project’s results.
Project Partner
Centre de Recherche et d'Action pour la Paix
Project Description
The overall objective of the project was to reinforce community dialogue and participatory democracy in the Western part of Cote d’Ivoire, with a view to enhancing social cohesion and the enhancement of democratic values at local level. To achieve this objective, the project had three outputs: Civil society organizations (CSOs) and the authorities are better equipped to use community support techniques; CSO’s providing support to communities on the management of conflicts; and enhanced involvement of local communities in development initiatives. The project was remarkably relevant, in that it correctly identified the lack of social cohesion as a major risk for conflict returning to the target areas. The project developed strategies and activities that specifically addressed the needs of the local communities and those of the CSOs working with them. However, the project design phase did not sufficiently involve the communities and CSOs, and the project should have involved more technical experts.
Evaluation Date
January 2016
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Strengthening Arts as an Action to Stand up for Women´s Rights in Nicaragua

The project empowered women who had become victims of violence, and encouraged them to participate in the production and performance of theatre plays based on a critical analysis of their own experiences, stories and testimonies. The integration of positive messages and models of masculinity into the theatre performances provided a way to strengthen the building of relationships based on respect and equity.
Project Partner
Movimiento de Teatro Popular Sin Fronteras
Project Description
The project aimed to protect and promote women´s rights using the arts to communicate messages and to raise awareness of the challenges women are facing in protecting and promoting their rights, in spite of the existence of the Law on Violence Against Women (Law 779). The strategy of the project was built around two components: capacity building and awareness raising measures including theatre production and artistic expression; and preventive actions to solve key problems linked to the implementation of Law 779. The project was relevant, as it was carried out at a time of polarization and controversy over the passing of Law no. 779 on Violence against Women (2012) and the reform of this law in 2013. With the aim of making the issue visible, the project relied on promoting collaboration and alliances and mobilizing women’s organizations, civil society actors and local authorities.
Evaluation Date
January 2016
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Promoting democratic dialogue and social cohesion in the Western region of Côte d'Ivoire

The project was appropriately financially and administratively managed. The project team was competent and committed; and its pro-active attitude contributed to the success of the project. The support given to the by the grantee’s senior management team was also a factor of success.
Project Partner
Centre de Recherche et d'Action pour la Paix
Project Description
The overall objective of the project was to reinforce community dialogue and participatory democracy in the Western part of Cote d’Ivoire, with a view to enhancing social cohesion and the enhancement of democratic values at local level. To achieve this objective, the project had three outputs: Civil society organizations (CSOs) and the authorities are better equipped to use community support techniques; CSO’s providing support to communities on the management of conflicts; and enhanced involvement of local communities in development initiatives. The project was remarkably relevant, in that it correctly identified the lack of social cohesion as a major risk for conflict returning to the target areas. The project developed strategies and activities that specifically addressed the needs of the local communities and those of the CSOs working with them. However, the project design phase did not sufficiently involve the communities and CSOs, and the project should have involved more technical experts.
Evaluation Date
January 2016
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Strengthening Arts as an Action to Stand up for Women´s Rights in Nicaragua

Many of the situations that arose during the dialogue with communities and theatre audiences surpassed the capacity for support and advice that could be offered by the theatre groups, female counsellors and/or advocacy groups involved int he project. Being able to call on the support of specialized professionals - lawyers, therapists, social workers - working in the field of domestic violence and sexual abuse of children is one aspect that needs to be strengthened.
Project Partner
Movimiento de Teatro Popular Sin Fronteras
Project Description
The project aimed to protect and promote women´s rights using the arts to communicate messages and to raise awareness of the challenges women are facing in protecting and promoting their rights, in spite of the existence of the Law on Violence Against Women (Law 779). The strategy of the project was built around two components: capacity building and awareness raising measures including theatre production and artistic expression; and preventive actions to solve key problems linked to the implementation of Law 779. The project was relevant, as it was carried out at a time of polarization and controversy over the passing of Law no. 779 on Violence against Women (2012) and the reform of this law in 2013. With the aim of making the issue visible, the project relied on promoting collaboration and alliances and mobilizing women’s organizations, civil society actors and local authorities.
Evaluation Date
January 2016
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Expanding and Fortifying Local Democracy through the People’s Council in the Philippines

The impact on beneficiaries in many cases was considerable. This was particularly true for women, persons with disabilities, senior citizens and single parents. A number of members of these groups highlighted the difference the project had made to them in terms of their enhanced self-confidence to take an active part in the proceedings of the Poverty Reduction Action Groups and/or Local Development Councils.
Project Partner
Naga city people's council
Project Description
The project had the overall development goal of facilitating the recognition and replication of the Peoples Council in the country as a democratization mechanism in local governance. The immediate project objective was to establish, expand and institutionalize the Peoples Council in 21 barangays in the city and six municipalities in the Metro Naga area. In Naga City, the People’s Council proved itself as an effective mechanism for public participation, particularly for representatives of poor and other vulnerable groups. The project’s initiative to replicate the success of the Naga City People’s council was a relevant contribution to the broader aim of enhancing local democracy in the Philippines. The project had mixed success in achieving its targets and encountered some major disappointments in reaching the goal of institutionalizing the People’s Council in the 27 target local government areas. However, the People’s Councils were officially recognized in the case of four of the six municipal people’s councils, but only in five of the 21 barangay people’s councils. Despite this, grantee cannot be faulted on its effort to achieve the project goals, and, given the scope of what the project sought to achieve, a great deal was accomplished.
Evaluation Date
January 2016
Country