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Aug 01

Framework for human rights impact assessment

The project aimed to provide expertise and to develop model(s), instruments and techniques for the assessment of the impact and results of human rights activities undertaken by the partner organisations in Georgia of the Dutch development organisation Cordaid. The models and instruments were developed in workshops with the partner organisations themselves. They were used in an institutional and programme self-evaluation of the partner organisations, conducted jointly by the partner organisations and evaluators recruited by Human European Consultancy.

Aim

The purpose of the project was twofold. Firstly, to develop a framework/ methodology/ instruments for the assessment of the impact of NGO activities addressing national human rights issues. Secondly, to enable Cordaid in the long term to assess the effectiveness of its partners and programmes with regard to influencing the human rights situation in Georgia.

Project

The two main project strands were:

  • to provide expertise and facilitate the exchange of experience for developing a model or models, instruments and techniques for the assessment of human rights activities at the national level; and
  • self-assessment and evaluation of the effectiveness of human rights programmes and the activities of Cordaid's partners using the methodologies and instruments developed.

Under the first project strand two seminars were conducted in Tbilisi, Georgia. The first seminar was intended to train the staff of the participating organisations in the use of methodologies and instruments geared to human rights impact assessment. General background material on human rights impact assessment was tailored for use by the participating organisations.

The second seminar focused on reviewing the options for the use of the methodologies and instruments by the participating organisation in the development of their programmes and projects on human rights and to identify lessons and good practices.

For the second project strand, the supported self-assessment and evaluation, a workshop was held in Tbilisi to familiarise the staff of the participating organisations with evaluation methodologies and techniques. The findings from the second seminar on how to assess the effectiveness of programmes and practices were factored into the evaluation methodology to be used.

Subsequently, two teams of experts, with one international and one Georgian expert per team, supported the self-assessment and evaluation process of two participating organisations.

Report(s) / events

In summary, the events within the framework of the project were:

  • Seminar 1 in Georgia on human rights impact assessment methodology and tools;
  • Seminar 2 in Georgia to review the application of the tools developed in Seminar 1 and to identify lessons and good practices;
  • workshop in Georgia prior to self-assessment and integration of the lessons and tools from the seminars into the evaluation methodology;
  • review in Georgia of self-assessment by external evaluators.

Main findings

The key question for the participating organisations was "how to evaluate and measure the results and impact of the activities".

The inputs provided to evaluate and measure effectiveness at project or activity level during the programme (human rights impact assessment models, use of logframes and stakeholder analysis) were deemed to be useful, but took time for the staff to familiarise themselves with.

Once greater experience and expertise have been developed within the organisations regarding the methodology and tools, they will gradually develop the ability to evaluate and measure effectiveness, including at programme and organisation level. The organisations had the potential and capacity to do this.

Details

Framework for human rights impact assessment (2002-2003)

Cordaid

Georgia

Related publications

No publications available.

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