PROJECT
Coalition against Poverty: Oil Revenue under Public Oversight
LESSON
Lesson Learned: Coalition against Poverty: Oil Revenue under Public Oversight
The project achieved its strongest results through producing significant research on regional business, government, and civil society. Anecdotal evidence suggests that project activities were effective in raising awareness among organized civil society in the regions, perhaps in part because of their great need for information and capacity.
Project Partner
Sange Research Center
Project Description
The project aimed to improve understanding of transparency and accountability in the governance of the extractive sector in Kazakhstan. The project emphasised understanding of the extractive sector’s impact on poverty, environmental vulnerability, labour conditions and rights, income and access to services. Activities focused on multiple stakeholders operating in five regions of Kazakhstan, with the goal of developing more transparent, accountable, and effective institutions that would expand citizen participation and promote more sustainable development.
The project targeted areas where extractive industries are important economic actors and where civil society needs increased capacity or support to more effectively engage in governance. Project activities tackled the gap in access to usable outside information through research, analysis, and outreach. Collaborative learning tactics supported increased local engagement.
Report
Evaluation Date
April 2013
Theme
Country
LESSON
Lesson Learned: Coalition against Poverty: Oil Revenue under Public Oversight
Round-table discussions were felt to be an especially useful approach and proved effective in helping participants increase their understanding of transparency and accountability and their ability to affect change. Stakeholders commented that this approach would continue to have value for a wide variety of participatory and learning activities.
Project Partner
Sange Research Center
Project Description
The project aimed to improve understanding of transparency and accountability in the governance of the extractive sector in Kazakhstan. The project emphasised understanding of the extractive sector’s impact on poverty, environmental vulnerability, labour conditions and rights, income and access to services. Activities focused on multiple stakeholders operating in five regions of Kazakhstan, with the goal of developing more transparent, accountable, and effective institutions that would expand citizen participation and promote more sustainable development.
The project targeted areas where extractive industries are important economic actors and where civil society needs increased capacity or support to more effectively engage in governance. Project activities tackled the gap in access to usable outside information through research, analysis, and outreach. Collaborative learning tactics supported increased local engagement.
Report
Evaluation Date
April 2013
Theme
Country
LESSON
Lesson Learned: Coalition against Poverty: Oil Revenue under Public Oversight
Anecdotal evidence suggested that highlighting contradictions between constitutional or legal principles and the current operations of many local and regional institutions in Kazakhstan has raised civic awareness. While impact on corporate policy or behaviour was not measured it was widely believed that the challenging approach taken - if supported by bilateral donors - would not have been welcome in this isolated environment remote from Western influence.
Project Partner
Sange Research Center
Project Description
The project aimed to improve understanding of transparency and accountability in the governance of the extractive sector in Kazakhstan. The project emphasised understanding of the extractive sector’s impact on poverty, environmental vulnerability, labour conditions and rights, income and access to services. Activities focused on multiple stakeholders operating in five regions of Kazakhstan, with the goal of developing more transparent, accountable, and effective institutions that would expand citizen participation and promote more sustainable development.
The project targeted areas where extractive industries are important economic actors and where civil society needs increased capacity or support to more effectively engage in governance. Project activities tackled the gap in access to usable outside information through research, analysis, and outreach. Collaborative learning tactics supported increased local engagement.
Report
Evaluation Date
April 2013
Theme
Country
LESSON
Lesson Learned: Coalition against Poverty: Oil Revenue under Public Oversight
The project’s original problem analysis and expected impact assessment were unrealistic. Project design and strategy underestimated structural and institutional resistance to reform in Kazakhstan, resulting in quite limited effects on formal institutions such as the national and local councils, and on official patterns of behaviour, such as decisions on social investment.
Project Partner
Sange Research Center
Project Description
The project aimed to improve understanding of transparency and accountability in the governance of the extractive sector in Kazakhstan. The project emphasised understanding of the extractive sector’s impact on poverty, environmental vulnerability, labour conditions and rights, income and access to services. Activities focused on multiple stakeholders operating in five regions of Kazakhstan, with the goal of developing more transparent, accountable, and effective institutions that would expand citizen participation and promote more sustainable development.
The project targeted areas where extractive industries are important economic actors and where civil society needs increased capacity or support to more effectively engage in governance. Project activities tackled the gap in access to usable outside information through research, analysis, and outreach. Collaborative learning tactics supported increased local engagement.
Report
Evaluation Date
April 2013
Theme
Country
LESSON
Lesson Learned: Coalition against Poverty: Oil Revenue under Public Oversight
From a programme theory or design perspective, the project’s unrealistically high ambition was demonstrated in its expectation of behaviour change. The project aimed to change behaviour on three fronts: national and international extractive industry business interests; civil society; and local government. Some frustrations or disappointment could have been mitigated by reviewing the scope and scale of activities so that they were more appropriately matched to the problem analysis and by setting achievable goals and targets informed by better programme theory.
Project Partner
Sange Research Center
Project Description
The project aimed to improve understanding of transparency and accountability in the governance of the extractive sector in Kazakhstan. The project emphasised understanding of the extractive sector’s impact on poverty, environmental vulnerability, labour conditions and rights, income and access to services. Activities focused on multiple stakeholders operating in five regions of Kazakhstan, with the goal of developing more transparent, accountable, and effective institutions that would expand citizen participation and promote more sustainable development.
The project targeted areas where extractive industries are important economic actors and where civil society needs increased capacity or support to more effectively engage in governance. Project activities tackled the gap in access to usable outside information through research, analysis, and outreach. Collaborative learning tactics supported increased local engagement.
Report
Evaluation Date
April 2013
Theme
Country