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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4 R E C O M M E N D A T I O N S<br />
Document, share and disseminate successful advocacy experiences among<br />
partners and networks.<br />
Particular attention should be paid to streng<strong>the</strong>ning capacities at <strong>the</strong> local level<br />
and for young/less experienced organisations.<br />
O<strong>the</strong>r Issues<br />
There is a need to quicken <strong>the</strong> process involved with <strong>the</strong> transfer <strong>of</strong> resources<br />
to partners at <strong>the</strong> local level. Defining a minimum level <strong>of</strong> funding to this level<br />
would ensure that <strong>the</strong> programme is implemented with fewer regional imbalances<br />
(as it is <strong>the</strong> case now). Alternatively, while sticking to <strong>the</strong> principle<br />
<strong>of</strong> good-donorship and limited non-interference, intermediaries should commence<br />
a formal dialogue with <strong>the</strong>ir CSO partners to assess <strong>the</strong> extent to which<br />
<strong>the</strong> implementation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> strategic plans takes <strong>the</strong> balance in resources allocation<br />
along <strong>the</strong> central-local axis into account. This can easily be justified as a<br />
principle <strong>of</strong> good governance and integrated in <strong>the</strong> context <strong>of</strong> streng<strong>the</strong>ning<br />
partners’ capacity in internal governance. Intermediaries should also pay particular<br />
attention to <strong>the</strong> challenges that might appear in <strong>the</strong> process <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> allocation<br />
<strong>of</strong> funds to partners’ local level organisations, namely in management<br />
and reporting.<br />
Additional donors added to <strong>the</strong> <strong>AGIR</strong> programme could potentially result in<br />
more transaction costs, unless principles <strong>of</strong> good donorship are applied. The<br />
progress made in this area in <strong>the</strong> programme through <strong>the</strong> focus on core funding,<br />
<strong>the</strong> facilitation and lobbying efforts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> intermediaries to convince donors<br />
to join common funding mechanisms, and through supported reporting<br />
mechanisms to reduce <strong>the</strong> burden for CSOs, has laid <strong>the</strong> foundation for more<br />
effective management <strong>of</strong> a multiple-donor funding mechanism. Perhaps key to<br />
<strong>the</strong> discussion <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> addition <strong>of</strong> new donors is <strong>the</strong>ir acceptance <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> principle<br />
<strong>of</strong> good donorship as it is implemented within <strong>the</strong> <strong>AGIR</strong> programme.<br />
While <strong>the</strong>re can be (as <strong>the</strong> review team observed within <strong>the</strong> <strong>AGIR</strong> programme)<br />
management problems that are integral to its use (<strong>the</strong> difficulty <strong>of</strong> directed<br />
support), <strong>the</strong> <strong>AGIR</strong> intermediaries have initiated a course <strong>of</strong> action that<br />
can be instrumental to promoting good donorship in support <strong>of</strong> civil society.<br />
The Embassy <strong>of</strong> Sweden can contribute to <strong>the</strong> effectiveness <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>AGIR</strong> program<br />
by engaging in “environmental” strategies. Environmental strategies are<br />
actions and activities that improve <strong>the</strong> environment within which <strong>the</strong> intermediaries<br />
work with <strong>the</strong>ir partners. Perhaps <strong>the</strong> two most critical strategies for<br />
<strong>the</strong> Embassy would be to play a more visible role in <strong>the</strong> donor community regarding<br />
<strong>the</strong> benefits <strong>of</strong> a “good donorship’ approach for <strong>the</strong> streng<strong>the</strong>ning <strong>of</strong><br />
civil society. Helping o<strong>the</strong>r donors understand <strong>the</strong> mechanisms (positive and<br />
negative) <strong>of</strong> this approach could lead to its use by o<strong>the</strong>rs and a better understanding<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>AGIR</strong> programme. Secondly, a constant comment heard by <strong>the</strong><br />
review team from <strong>the</strong> donor community was <strong>the</strong> need for a dialogue between<br />
donors regarding civil society streng<strong>the</strong>ning within Mozambique. There is a<br />
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