Mid-Term Evaluation of the ASEAN Secretariat Post 2015 – Institutional Strengthening and Capacity Development” project (Jakarta, Indonesia)
The ASEAN Secretariat (ASEC) and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) are jointly implementing the “ASEAN Secretariat Post 2015 & Organizational Development and Capacity Development” project funded by the Federal Foreign Office of Germany. The evaluated project phase began in June 2016 and, building on previous capacity development activities, supported the professionalization of the strategic administrative departments and staff units of the ASEAN Secretariat. It also worked with specialized departments that contribute to strengthening the ASEAN Economic Community. In order to assess the progress of the project phase, CEval was commissioned to conduct an interim evaluation based on the OECD-DAC criteria and extended, project-specific key questions. Taking into account the institutional framework of the ASEC and the diversity of stakeholders, the design of the contribution analysis and a multi-method approach was chosen.
For this purpose, guided interviews with key figures and semi-standardized online surveys of workshop participants were conducted. Project documentation and monitoring data supplemented empirical data and enabled triangulation. The aim of the interim evaluation was to gain insights into the current progress of the project and to enable learning for further project activities and future phases.
Analysis of the 2018 Forum Fairer Handel consumer survey
Since 2007 Forum Fairer Handel has repeatedly mandated the implementation of representative surveys on Fair Trade among the German population. In 2018 the most recent survey has been conducted. Apart from various aspects of Fair Trade consumption the survey also covered questions on the attitudes of the interviewees concerning the political claims of Fair Trade.
Forum Fairer Handel has mandated CEval GmbH with the analysis of the survey data. Descriptive statistics have been applied during the analysis. Furthermore, in relation to some questions the differences in responses between groups have been checked. Whenever data from previous surveys was available, developments and trends over time have also been demonstrated.
Integration of the Programme “Service Agency Communities in One World” (SKEW) in the M&E-System of Engagement Global
Engagement Global gGmbH was established in 2012 as a central institution to promote and coordinate the development policy commitment of civil society, municipal and private sector actors as well as for development policy information and education work. SKEW a program of Engagement Global focuses in particular on the promotion of municipal development cooperation. In order to be able to monitor both the appropriate use of the funds and above all their effectiveness, Engagement Global has created a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system for all departments and programs. Since SKEW was excluded in the development of the monitoring system at that time, CEval and ISPO were commissioned to integrate SKEW into the organization-wide monitoring system.
As with the design of the company-wide M&E system, first the theory of change and indicators were reviewed or developed. Then the objectives and indicators were integrated into the strategical claims of Engagement Global. In order to complete the creation of a monitoring system for the SKEW, a data collection plan were created and the associated data collection instruments had been (further) developed.
Formative Evaluation of the Out-of-School-Children Initiative (OOSCI)
The focus of this evaluation was the Out-of-School-Children Initiative (OOSCI) by UNICEF and UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS). The initiative was launched in 2010 to achieve a reduction in the number of children out of school in participating countries. Means to achieve this goal were to create comprehensive profiles of out-of-School children in each Country, identify the barriers that push children out of school and to propose changes in the policies and strategies of the partner country to address these barriers.
The evaluation aimed at testing the validity of the theory of change and its assumptions. It is used to strengthen the program logic and to provide a formative assessment of the progress towards the overall goal of achieving a reduction in out-of-school children. The evaluation also provides an in-depth insight into benefits for the different stakeholders and their involvement in the initiative. Furthermore, the findings of the evaluation are used to meet the accountability requirements by the donors of OOSCI.
Main source of information of this evaluation have been documents like OOSCI country studies, OOSCI regional studies, government plans and documents from other donors (e.g. the World Bank, UNESCO, foreign donors etc.). In a document review we assessed progress made through OOSCI for a sample of 42 countries and assessed the contents within the document using a 4-step coding. These codings were used for a descriptive analysis and additionally for a Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA). QCA enabled us to analyze thoroughly which set of conditions leads to which outcome. Further instrument of data collection has been an online survey to all country offices. Additional qualitative data has been collected in the US and during eight country visits. The evaluation has been conducted together with Proman and further Consultants. CEval took over the lead with regard to the evaluation methodology.
Meta-Evaluation of 34 evaluation reports of World Vision Deutschland
For the third time, World Vision Germany (WVG) commissioned CEval to conduct a meta-evaluation of evaluation reports of its supported development programmes. In total, 34 evaluation reports of the financial years of 2016 and 2017 were included, to analyze their quality and validity.
The meta-evaluation was based on an analysis matrix, jointly created by CEval and WVG, which is structured along the main criteria of voice and inclusion, transparency, methodology, triangulation, contribution, satisfaction of information needs, conceptualization of findings and the newly added criterion of sustainability. Firstly, criteria were assessed systematically along pre-defined sub-questions and corresponding scales. Secondly, results were then aggregated and visualized. Lastly, the results were compared with previous meta-evaluations and trends were discussed.
Midterm-Review of the FKPW program
In international comparison, German municipalities have comparably broad competencies due to their strong local self-administration. These competencies are also very valuable for development cooperation. Within the framework of municipal partnerships, German municipalities and their partner municipalities jointly carry out projects in municipalities of the Global South. In the process, technical knowledge is transferred from the German municipality to the partner municipality. The Service Agency Communities in One World (SKEW in German) offers various ways of supporting the developmental engagement of municipal partnerships.
One of these funding opportunities is the personnel funding instrument “Experts for Municipal Partnerships Worldwide” (FKPW in German). Within the framework of the FKPW program, municipal partnerships can apply for the placement of an expert in the partner municipality to support the creation of local structures and capacity development. The aim of the program is to enhance the value of the municipal partnership and the commitment of the German municipality through the placement of an expert.
CEval GmbH was commissioned by GIZ to conduct a mid-term review of the FKPW program. The aim of the review was to bring together the views of the different actors involved in the program and to give recommendations for the further development of the program. The main objective therefore was institutional learning on the part of the two implementing organizations, GIZ and SKEW. The methodology of the review was purely qualitative and based on the approach of the open capturing of perspectives. For the review, interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with representatives of the German municipalities, the partner municipalities, with the experts and the steering team of the programme, as well as with representatives of the responsible department of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ in German) and representatives of various departments within the organizations GIZ and SKEW.
Consultancy Services for the Development of a Project Monitoring and Evaluation Framework for ASEAN Cooperation Projects
CEval was commissioned by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) to provide consultancy on the development of a Project Monitoring and Evaluation Framework (PMEF) for ASEAN Cooperation Projects, which is part of the ASEAN Secretariat Post 2015 Institutional Strengthening and Capacity Development project, an initiative under ASEAN-Germany cooperation implemented by GIZ. Prime task was to look into the ASEAN Secretariats corporate monitoring and evaluation processes and to provide expert support for refining the ASEAN Secretariats Project M&E framework. Special emphasis was put on providing support in harnessing and consolidating the monitoring and evaluation framework for ASEAN cooperation projects.
During the consultancy a number of stakeholder consultations as well as a three-day method training were conducted. The consultations and training served to improve the M&E capacities of key staff and to create a common discussion forum for different departments across the three pillars for exchanging views, and developing ownership and acceptance among the same.
The final report consolidates lessons learned, describes best practices within the sector, and develops concepts, possible mechanisms and recommendations on implementing a functional PMEF.
Meta-evaluation of project and programme evaluations 2015-2017
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland commissioned CEval together with Particip and Indufor to conduct a meta-evaluation of their evaluations of development cooperation programmes and projects. The Finnish Ministry is regularly conducting meta-evaluations and subject to this meta-evaluation are the evaluations from 2015-2017.
The meta-evaluation has been initiated to improve evaluation reports, evaluation management practices and evaluation capacity development and furthermore to identify possible gaps in the Finnish evaluation practice. Furthermore, also the content of the evaluation reports was the focus e.g. the success in achieving the DAC-Criteria and further Finnish Cross Cutting Topics like gender equality or climate sustainability were evaluated.
A document analysis of the evaluation reports has been at the heart of the meta-evaluation to assess first the quality and afterwards the content of the evaluation reports. Different assessment tools were developed to provide a feasible and reliable assessment process. In the quality check the evaluation reports were reviewed for the existence of information essential to understand the evaluation object, process and results. Additionally, methodological requirements were assessed e.g. data and method triangulation or the logical flow from data over findings and conclusions to recommendations. Another tool was used for the content analysis in which the achievements with respect to the different evaluation criteria as well as conclusions and recommendations were analysed in detail in a semi-structured way.
University cooperation with the University of Costa Rica (UCR) and the Catholic Pontifical University of Ecuador (PUCE) supported through the DAAD funding programme „Subject-Related Partnerships with Institutions of Higher Education in Developing Countries
The Saarland University (UdS) and the University of Costa Rica (UCR) have been maintaining an intensive cooperation since 2008, which was financially supported by the DAAD programme Subject-Related Partnerships with Institutions of Higher Education in Developing Countries between 2012 and 2015. Through the DAAD University Advisory Program, the preceding collaboration had already received financial support. Particularly in the light of an ever-rising need for evaluations and competencies in the field of evaluation, both partners are zealous to continue the collaboration within the framework of the DAAD funding programme and to expand it sustainably by the integration of a second partnering institute of higher education. The Catholic Pontifical University of Ecuador (PUCE) could be won for this objective.
Crucial elements of this third phase of cooperation were supposed to be the implementation of a new blended learning Masters study program in evaluation at the PUCE, and the implementation of a further educational opportunity in the blended learning format, respectively, at the Center for Research and Training in Public Administration (CICAP) at the UCR, and quality assurance of the formation and further education in evaluation in Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Latin America (amelioration of formation and further education as well as research in evaluation). Moreover, the establishment of a Latin American university network in the discipline of evaluation (network formation and internationalization), the strengthening of practical orientation within the academic formation in evaluation and the contribution to evidence-based policy making (application of scientific evaluative research in political practice), and, eventually, the consolidation and institutional expansion of the cooperation between the universities involved and the research institute CICAP (triangular and South-South-cooperation) were on the agenda of the program. The respective cooperation was intended to last for four years (2017-2020).
Development of an operational guidebook for integrating and using impact evaluation-based M&E approaches in the field of climate change adaption
Climate change adaption projects require methodologically elaborated Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Systems that are not limited to measuring Project Outputs but also Need to include outcomes and further Impacts as well as their attribution to the measures undertaken.
GIZ engaged the Center for Evaluation (CEval) for technical support to develop an operationally viable impact evaluation and provided examples for their applicability in adaptation projects. Results were presented in a guidebook for integrating and using impact evaluation-based M&E approaches in the field of climate change Adaptation. Target Groups of the Framework are ministries, donors, and other related institutions that are looking for the underlying Drivers of Adaptation and evidence-based findings to improve the design of future climate change adaptation projects.
