Equitable Development

Search for Common Ground’s refugee programming in the DRC underwent two evaluations in 2008: an internal evaluation with support from the United States Department of State Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration in August and September 2008; and an external evaluation by UNHCR in September and October 2008. The objective of these evaluations was to assess the effectiveness of SFCG’s programming in fostering peaceful repatriation, including whether it is culturally appropriate for the region and effective in shifting behavioural norms in the short-term. Primarily, the studies attempted to evaluate the success of radio programming and theatrical performances in their capacity to: Provide information to refugees, returnees and residents about the repatriation process to dispel rumours and enable informed decisions to be made Foster dialogue and collaborative approaches to conflict between returnees and residents in the zones of return. It should be noted that data is subject to the historical moment and specific context of survey sites....

CRS began the Globally-Accepted Indicators (GAIN) Initiative in June 2008 to strengthen indicator practice across sectors. Globally-Accepted Indicators are those that CrS and the global development community generally consider to be appropriate and effective for project monitoring and evaluation....

The purpose of this manual is to familiarize users with RRA and PRA methods, to demonstrate the applicability of these methods to CRS funded projects, and to encourage the rigorous application of the methods in order to obtain the best results....

This series provides guidance for designing and implementing a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system. This series supports and complements CRS’ global M&E standards (CRS 2009). While the global standards represent the agency’s commitment to quality M&E as a key component of program quality, this series provides ‘how to’ guidance for operationalizing this commitment in practice. ...

A conceptual and practical framework for water development practitioners, civil society peacebuilders, and human rights advocates seeking to integrate water and peacebuilding in their work. ...

Discussions of current conflicts often highlight their complexity. Under such difficult circumstances, how can international agencies that undertake programs to promote survival and/or peace determine what their impacts are? Tracing and assessing humanitarian or political attempts to lesson conflict has two dimensions....

The USAID/CMM-funded Building Bridges to Peace (BBP) program sought to address the key causes of conflict in and around northern Karamoja by engaging communities in inter-group dialogues and joint livelihoods projects that build mutual interest and promote reconciliation....

This case study is part of a USAID-funded research grant that examines the relationship between economic development and stability. In many parts of the world, Mercy Corps implements programs that combine economic development and peacebuilding. The Evaluation and Assessment of Poverty and Conflict Interventions project – implemented between July 2009 and December 2010 – had three main objectives: 1) to develop indicators and data collection tools that measure the impact of programs at the intersection of peacebuilding and economic development; 2) to field test these indicators and tools in three countries; and 3) to begin to assess several theories of change that inform Mercy Corps’ programs....

This case study is part of a USAID-funded research grant that looks at the relationship between economic development and stability. In many parts of the world, Mercy Corps implements programs that combine economic development and peacebuilding approaches....

In international development, impact evaluation is principally concerned with final results of interventions (programs, projects, policy measures, reforms) on the welfare of communities, households, and individuals, including taxpayers and voters. Impact evaluation is one tool within the larger tookit of monitoring and evaluation (including broad program evaluations, process evaluations, ex ante studies, etc.).  Why promote impact evaluations? For development practitioners, impact evaluations play a key role in the drive for better evidence on results and development effectiveness....

As a response to the effects of the post-election violence in Kenya in December 2007, Search for Common Ground (SFCG) and Media Focus on Africa (MFA) developed and produced a TV and radio drama, The Team – an episodic series which asks a central question: can Kenyans find ways to put the past behind them in order to have a better future? The series presents a microcosm of Kenyan society in which members of a fictional football team, who come from different ethnic groups and social classes, are challenged to overcome their fears and biases so that they can see one another as individuals not as members of “the other.” The central metaphor for the players – and for Kenya – is: If they do not cooperate, they will not score goals, and they will lose....

Search For Common Ground (SFCG) Nepal, with financial support from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), implemented the 2010-2011 “Capacity Building in Youth and Peacebuilding” project to support and enhance existing reintegration programmes for young Nepalese ex-combatants, including Verified Minors and Late Recruits (VMLR) and Children Associated with Armed Forces and Armed Groups (CAAFAG)....