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Lessons

LESSON

Lesson Learned: Youth local councils for civic engagement and social change in Palestine

Data collection and analysis would have been more useful to the project and to future planning, if it was disaggregated by sex. This allows gender to be appropriately programmed and for a more gender-sensitive understanding of the potential and risks in any activity. Although this project in Palestine did pay attention to gender in many ways, it was a pity that the pre- and post-tests did not and so did not allow to measure whether there was a difference between the understanding/learning of male and female participants (and thus to see where changes to training or activities might be made).
Project Partner
Almawrid Teacher Development Centre
Project Description
The project focused on the creation of Youth Local Councils (YLC) in six villages in the West Bank – two in the north, two in the central area and two further south. All the young people in these villages were mobilized to register to vote in the YLC elections and underwent training in citizenship, democracy and electoral processes. Families, municipal councils, local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and community members were involved in the campaign meetings or in overseeing the elections. The YLCs then received further training in the skills they would need in order to ‘govern’ effectively: negotiation, leadership, conducting meetings, fundraising, strategic planning and community action. They consulted with their youth constituents, the municipal council and community members, to devise a plan of action to contribute to their communities’ needs, and subsequently undertook a wide range of cultural and social activities, ranging from computer classes for other young people to the painting and renovation of school buildings.
Evaluation Date
December 2013
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Youth local councils for civic engagement and social change in Palestine

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.
Project Partner
Almawrid Teacher Development Centre
Project Description
The project focused on the creation of Youth Local Councils (YLC) in six villages in the West Bank – two in the north, two in the central area and two further south. All the young people in these villages were mobilized to register to vote in the YLC elections and underwent training in citizenship, democracy and electoral processes. Families, municipal councils, local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and community members were involved in the campaign meetings or in overseeing the elections. The YLCs then received further training in the skills they would need in order to ‘govern’ effectively: negotiation, leadership, conducting meetings, fundraising, strategic planning and community action. They consulted with their youth constituents, the municipal council and community members, to devise a plan of action to contribute to their communities’ needs, and subsequently undertook a wide range of cultural and social activities, ranging from computer classes for other young people to the painting and renovation of school buildings.
Evaluation Date
December 2013
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Renforcement des capacités de formation en leadership pour renforcer la participation des femmes dans la vie publique (Algérie)

While the project was relevant at the time it was conceived and implemented, the introduction of quotas for women in Algeria significantly changed the status quo after 2012. It is not possible to gauge whether the projected multiplier effect did in fact take place. Nor is it possible to judge with absolute certainty whether participation in the project actually prompted more women to stand for election at any level.
Project Partner
AMUSNAW
Project Description
The project’s principal objective was to build the capacity of women who are involved in NGOs, trade unions and political parties so that they have the confidence to participate in governance, particularly in local bodies in Algeria. This was to be achieved through leadership training in eight districts for at least 500 women; and a series of four seminars on women’s role in public life for at least 300 women. While the project was relevant, it was only partly effective, not efficient and difficult to judge its impact and sustainability.
Evaluation Date
November 2013
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Renforcement des capacités de formation en leadership pour renforcer la participation des femmes dans la vie publique (Algérie)

The grantee persisted with the organization of training and seminars even when it became obvious, early in the project, that a shift in the exchange rate in Algeria would leave the project short of funds. The grantee became aware early in the project that a shift in the exchange rate would leave the project under-resourced but did nothing to review the workplan.
Project Partner
AMUSNAW
Project Description
The project’s principal objective was to build the capacity of women who are involved in NGOs, trade unions and political parties so that they have the confidence to participate in governance, particularly in local bodies in Algeria. This was to be achieved through leadership training in eight districts for at least 500 women; and a series of four seminars on women’s role in public life for at least 300 women. While the project was relevant, it was only partly effective, not efficient and difficult to judge its impact and sustainability.
Evaluation Date
November 2013
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Renforcement des capacités de formation en leadership pour renforcer la participation des femmes dans la vie publique (Algérie)

There were considerable delays in implementation which necessitated a project extension of eight months and a relocation of three of the four seminars to Tizi-Ouzou. Some of these delays were unavoidable however it cannot be argued that the fasting months of Ramadan in 2011 and 2012 were an acceptable excuse for inactivity. These should have been taken into account in the planning and time-tabling of events from the beginning.
Project Partner
AMUSNAW
Project Description
The project’s principal objective was to build the capacity of women who are involved in NGOs, trade unions and political parties so that they have the confidence to participate in governance, particularly in local bodies in Algeria. This was to be achieved through leadership training in eight districts for at least 500 women; and a series of four seminars on women’s role in public life for at least 300 women. While the project was relevant, it was only partly effective, not efficient and difficult to judge its impact and sustainability.
Evaluation Date
November 2013
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Renforcement des capacités de formation en leadership pour renforcer la participation des femmes dans la vie publique (Algérie)

One of the expected mechanisms of sustainability foreseen – the training of trainers – did not take place. The concrete outputs – a video documentary and a “study” based on an opinion poll – are not of sufficient quality to be usable in Algeria. Although some of the women who participated came together in an informal “network”, experience suggests that the sustainability of such a network will depend entirely on the efforts of those involved in it and/or of a strategic approach to its maintenance by the grantee.
Project Partner
AMUSNAW
Project Description
The project’s principal objective was to build the capacity of women who are involved in NGOs, trade unions and political parties so that they have the confidence to participate in governance, particularly in local bodies in Algeria. This was to be achieved through leadership training in eight districts for at least 500 women; and a series of four seminars on women’s role in public life for at least 300 women. While the project was relevant, it was only partly effective, not efficient and difficult to judge its impact and sustainability.
Evaluation Date
November 2013
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Development Pacts: An accountability tool in the hands of local communities in Kyrgyzstan

By being more aware of the responsibilities of local government in Kyrgyzstan individuals involved in the project engage actively to identify the most pressing local service needs. Reducing the gap between demand for and supply of public services has increased the public’s satisfaction with local service delivery
Project Partner
Transparency International Kyrgyzstan
Project Description
The project motivated both the local population and local government in Kyrgyzstan to jointly assess community needs and to jointly prioritize actions addressing the most pressing concerns within the limits of available resources. The approach of putting a monitoring system in place was implemented by Voluntary Citizen Committees (VCCs), as well as by local authorities. Having generated 16 project-driven and 37 beneficiary-driven Development Pacts (DP), of which most have already produced tangible results, the grantee significantly contributed to an improved responsiveness of local authorities in Kyrgyzstan to citizens’ concerns.
Evaluation Date
November 2013
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Development Pacts: An accountability tool in the hands of local communities in Kyrgyzstan

Beneficiaries explained their motivation to continue applying the Development Pact process with the simplicity of the methodology used to identify and prioritize local issues, which basically established the problem, its frequency and the ability to solve the issue. Each aspect was weighed in points (on a scale from 0 to 10), and a comparison of an issue’s total score served to rank / prioritize the different identified local issues.
Project Partner
Transparency International Kyrgyzstan
Project Description
The project motivated both the local population and local government in Kyrgyzstan to jointly assess community needs and to jointly prioritize actions addressing the most pressing concerns within the limits of available resources. The approach of putting a monitoring system in place was implemented by Voluntary Citizen Committees (VCCs), as well as by local authorities. Having generated 16 project-driven and 37 beneficiary-driven Development Pacts (DP), of which most have already produced tangible results, the grantee significantly contributed to an improved responsiveness of local authorities in Kyrgyzstan to citizens’ concerns.
Evaluation Date
November 2013
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Development Pacts: An accountability tool in the hands of local communities in Kyrgyzstan

Another reason for the smooth introduction of the new process was the clear and easy-to-use Development Pact (DP) template structure, which comprised of: introduction (topic and monitoring committee purpose agreed upon), definition of the DP priority, description of the issue and how to address it, identification of partners involved (including their inputs) in implementing the DP, clarification of financing (including in-kind contribution), purpose of monitoring, activity plan and deadline for DP completion (including target indicators and schedule for monitoring purposes).
Project Partner
Transparency International Kyrgyzstan
Project Description
The project motivated both the local population and local government in Kyrgyzstan to jointly assess community needs and to jointly prioritize actions addressing the most pressing concerns within the limits of available resources. The approach of putting a monitoring system in place was implemented by Voluntary Citizen Committees (VCCs), as well as by local authorities. Having generated 16 project-driven and 37 beneficiary-driven Development Pacts (DP), of which most have already produced tangible results, the grantee significantly contributed to an improved responsiveness of local authorities in Kyrgyzstan to citizens’ concerns.
Evaluation Date
November 2013
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Development Pacts: An accountability tool in the hands of local communities in Kyrgyzstan

The service monitoring arrangements secured on-the-spot verification of the actual implementation of commitments made under the Development Pacts, including the compliant use of allocated funds. Most project beneficiaries expressed their high satisfaction with this monitoring process, and described it as inclusive, as it involved all members of the local community in the verification of completeness and quality of services.
Project Partner
Transparency International Kyrgyzstan
Project Description
The project motivated both the local population and local government in Kyrgyzstan to jointly assess community needs and to jointly prioritize actions addressing the most pressing concerns within the limits of available resources. The approach of putting a monitoring system in place was implemented by Voluntary Citizen Committees (VCCs), as well as by local authorities. Having generated 16 project-driven and 37 beneficiary-driven Development Pacts (DP), of which most have already produced tangible results, the grantee significantly contributed to an improved responsiveness of local authorities in Kyrgyzstan to citizens’ concerns.
Evaluation Date
November 2013
Country