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.
External Evaluation of the Netherlands Fellowship Programme (NFP II) and Netherlands Initiative for Capacity Development in Higher Education (NICHE II)
On behalf of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) the CEval implemented an external Evaluation of the Dutch Fellowship Programme (NFP II) and Netherlands Initiative for Capacity Development in Higher Education (NICHE II). Financed by the MFA and administered by the Netherlands Organisation for International Cooperation in Higher Education ‘EP-Nuffic’, these programs offer capacity development in higher education for developing partner countries.
The overall aim of NFP and NICHE is to help reduce quantitative and qualitative shortage of trained professional staff in developing countries and to build sustainable capacity within the poverty reduction Framework. The NFP provides Fellowships to mid-career professionals to participate in Trainings and postgraduate courses in the Netherlands. NICHE is a capacity building programme to improve the quality, relevance and gender sensitiveness of post-secondary education in NICHE-countries.
The evaluation covered the period of 2002-2015 while a focus was on the latest project phase since 2012 which put an additional emphasis on economic diplomacy and closer alignment with the four priority themes of the Dutch development cooperation strategy (water, sexual reproductive health and rights, security and rule of law and food security). The purpose of the evaluation was to account for the Netherlands funding provided for the two programs under the current project cycle and to gain lessons for future policy development and implementation. Within the scope of the evaluation, both programs were analysed regarding the OECD/DAC criteria of relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, impact and sustainability. Recommendations for possible optimization of the program were developed on the basis of the findings. The evaluation was conducted in cooperation with ACE Europe, a Belgian consultancy.
Compliation of methodological approaches and experiences for impact Evaluations of Training and capacity building measures in the public sector
In cooperation with the Costa Rican institute CICAP, CEval counselled the GIZ program CADESAN in the Andean region. The regional program supports the development of capacity building measures on decentralization and modernization in the public sector.
The consultancy aimed at providing GIZ and its partners with an analysis and compilation of possible methodological approaches to evaluate the impacts of capacity building and training measures. To that end, various approaches and evaluation designs, their applicability in the respective realm as well as international experiences and practices were analyzed. The results were discussed with GIZ and its partners during a training designed for that purpose.
Project Evaluation of GIZ’s Sector Project Inclusion of persons with Disabilities
As part of the project evaluation, the extent to which the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) sector programme Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities was able to achieve developmental impacts was examined. Based on the OECD-DAC criteria, expert interviews and focus group discussions were conducted and M&E data from the sector programme and other documents were systematically analysed. This contributed to accountability towards the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the publication of a short report met the requirements of the International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI) and laid the foundation for planning a follow-up measure.
Evaluation of the Initiative “Schulen – Partner der Zukunft” (PASCH)
The initiative Schools Partners of the future (PASCH), founded in 2008, is part of the central initiatives of the German foreign cultural and educational policy within the current legislature period. PASCH is a worldwide network currently including around 1800 partner schools, which are linked to Germany and especially teach German. The initiative concentrates diversified measures, which are supposed to contribute to establish lively and long-term relations to Germany, and encourage schools, teachers and students to exchange their knowledge and ideas as well as to work together. PASCH is coordinated by the German Federal Foreign Office and is implemented by the Central Office for Schools Abroad, the Goethe Institute, the Pedagogic Exchange Service, the Conference of Education Ministers and the German Academic Exchange Service.
Within the scope of the planned evaluation, PASCH will be analyzed regarding its relevance, efficiency, effectivity, impact and sustainability. It will also be analyzed to what extent the existing offers, processes and structures are suitable instruments for achieving the objectives. Recommendations for possible optimization of the measures, processes and structures and the creation of synergies will be derived on the basis of these results.
The evaluation is divided into two phases: During the first phase, document analyses as well as guided personal and telephone interviews with stakeholders in Germany and selected partner countries (Poland, Turkey and China) will be conducted. The focus of the second phase is then on quantitative online surveys with target groups in China, Turkey and Poland as well as on qualitative and quantitative data collection in another case study country.
Evaluation of the project ‘Media in Libya: Stability through reconciliation’
The object of this evaluation was the project ‘Media in Libya: Stability through reconciliation’ (MLSR) of the DW Akademie. MLSR was a follow-up of the precursor project Media in Libya: Stability through Structure. The overall goal of MLSR was to enable a process of public discourse and eventually reconciliation across a fragmented Libyan society prerequisites for development of democratic reform and constitutional process in the country. By promoting [the] right to access to information to the people of Libya and [the] freedom of expression in Libya (DW Akademie, 2017, p. 4). The approach of MLSR is fourfold (i.e., four activity clusters): (1) supporting Libyan institutions/authorities efforts in the field of media governance, (2) developing a Libyan Media Network, (3) training local freelance journalists from all regions of Libya with a special focus on ethnic minorities and gender, and (4) providing grants for Libyan media projects.
The evaluation of MLSR had been considered as a planned impact evaluation, which needs valid qualitative/quantitative data on the situation at the beginning of MLSR (i.e., baseline). The second stage of evaluation (i.e., interim evaluation) started in January 2019. Comparing the results of baseline and interim evaluation, the evaluators had been able to identify and assess the preliminary effects of MLSR. Moreover, the evaluators may give first recommendations on how to improve MLSR (e.g., identification of [un]successful project strategies, alternative actions). The third stage of evaluation started shortly after the end of MLSR (i.e., January 2021). The main goal of the final evaluation was to assess the effectiveness of MLSR (i.e., achievements in relevant targeted areas).
Methodologically, a robust mixed-method approach was pursued against the background of the very volatile and difficult framework conditions in Libya: Secondary analysis of existing documents/data, content analysis of short written and in-depth oral interviews and statistical analysis of quantitative data from a standardized questionnaire survey.