Mid-Term Review of the AGIR Programme - Sida
Mid-Term Review of the AGIR Programme - Sida
Mid-Term Review of the AGIR Programme - Sida
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A N N E X 3 – I N C E P T I O N R E P O R T<br />
continues to increase in response to <strong>the</strong> work <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> intermediary organisations. As<br />
discussed earlier, active established CSO partnerships have now reached 47 52 surpassing<br />
<strong>the</strong> 37 partnerships that were expected by <strong>the</strong> end <strong>of</strong> 2014. This growth is important.<br />
A key component <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> evaluative review will be an examination <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
partnership strategies used by <strong>the</strong> intermediaries. Examining <strong>the</strong>se strategies will be<br />
critical to assessing <strong>the</strong> sustainability <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> programme and <strong>the</strong> ability <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> intermediaries<br />
to continue with <strong>the</strong> level <strong>of</strong> support <strong>the</strong>y currently provide to <strong>the</strong>ir CSO<br />
partners.<br />
It should be mentioned that a few overall critical issues came out <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> review team’s<br />
initial meetings with <strong>the</strong> intermediary organisations. One concern relates to <strong>the</strong> critical<br />
balance between quantity and quality. By taking in many partners, are <strong>the</strong> qualitative<br />
outcomes <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>AGIR</strong> programme in danger <strong>of</strong> being compromised? What happens<br />
if <strong>AGIR</strong> capacity building and support become too mechanical and structured? If<br />
so, is <strong>the</strong>re a real danger <strong>of</strong> damping <strong>the</strong> process <strong>of</strong> creating a vibrant civil society that<br />
requires a more dynamic approach with support process oriented and tailored in accordance<br />
with <strong>the</strong> specific level <strong>of</strong> capacity and local circumstances surrounding an<br />
individual organisation?<br />
Ano<strong>the</strong>r concern relates to <strong>the</strong> balance between <strong>the</strong> basic requirements <strong>of</strong> internal<br />
democracy and transparency <strong>of</strong> CSO partners while maintaining openness to support<br />
more loosely organised networks and initiatives. It has been mentioned in initial discussions<br />
with intermediaries that a too-strong focus on requiring partners to fit one<br />
‘mode for all’ might negatively affect <strong>the</strong>ir initiative and creativity. In this context,<br />
one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> intermediaries has expressed openness to, and stimulation <strong>of</strong>, loose regional<br />
CSO networks by <strong>AGIR</strong>.<br />
Finally, as addressed in <strong>the</strong> ToRs “Evaluation Questions”, <strong>the</strong> need to understand<br />
how <strong>the</strong> program is functioning as “one programme” with sub-programmes (not as<br />
separate distinct sub-programmes only) will be an important element <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> mid-term<br />
review. While <strong>the</strong> intermediaries are not directly <strong>the</strong> subjects <strong>of</strong> this mid-term evaluative<br />
review, identifying and assessing intended outcomes associated with <strong>the</strong> functioning<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> intermediaries and <strong>the</strong> capacity streng<strong>the</strong>ning work that <strong>the</strong>y undertake<br />
with <strong>the</strong>ir CSO partners, is a primary focus.<br />
Relevance and Evaluability <strong>of</strong> Evaluation Questions<br />
52 This number does not include some partner organisations whose contracts have been suspended,<br />
due to non-adherence to internal governance criteria, <strong>the</strong>se measures relate to i.e. MONASO, MEPT<br />
and MISA.<br />
97