16 Strong Institutions

ECOPER conducts evaluation research at UN Palace of Nations

July 21, 2022March 30, 2022

ECOPER consultant Aitor Pérez has travelled to the UN Palace of Nations in Geneva as part of the evaluation of UNCTAD’s Subprogramme 1. During the week-long visit, Aitor interviewed several UNCTAD officials, including the Secretary General, Rebeca Grynspan, and the directors of a number of UNCTAD divisions. In addition, he had the opportunity to interview …

ECOPER conducts evaluation research at UNESCO in Paris

July 21, 2022March 10, 2022

The 2005 UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expression was a milestone in international cultural policy. It is a standard-setting instrument which affirms the right of states to formulate and implement policies and measures in support of cultural activities, goods and services. Within this framework, it encourages governments to …

Policies for cultural diversity

March 10, 2022March 10, 2022

The cultural and creative industries are some of the fastest growing sectors in the world and are essential for inclusive economic growth, the reduction of inequalities and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. The 2005 Convention for the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions was a cultural policy milestone and reflected the …

UNCTAD subprogramme on globalization, interdependence and development

December 28, 2021November 30, 2021

ECOPER has begun the independent evaluation of UNCTAD’s Subprogramme 1. This subprogramme aims to advance inclusive and sustainable development, sustained growth, full employment and decent work for all through evidence-based policies and strategies at national, regional and international levels. The evaluation aims to help UNCTAD identify key lessons on strategic positioning, portfolio planning, management arrangements …

Internet metrics and the evaluation of projects

December 22, 2021September 6, 2021

In project evaluation, it is common to use techniques such as document reviews, semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and surveys. However, increasingly, development projects can leave their mark on the internet, leading to internet metrics becoming a new evaluation technique. ECOPER regularly evaluates United Nations projects that aim to implement improvements in public policies in developing …

Building capacity in humanitarian emergency management

December 22, 2021February 28, 2021

Humanitarian emergencies frequently require a rapid response from the organisations responsible for providing assistance. In response to this, Caritas has implemented a capacity building programme on emergency preparedness and response, Phase II (ReCIP2) in Mali, which had the aim of improving the organisations’ response to emergencies. ECOPER recently completed its external evaluation of the intervention. The evaluation aimed to both analyse the results of the programme and, where possible, propose improvements which could be adopted for future efforts. It was conducted remotely owing to the COIVD- 19 pandemic, with interviews and surveys taking place online.

Transparency in trade regulation in the Pacific islands

December 21, 2021February 28, 2021

Regulatory transparency is considered a central tenet of international trade and vital to the success of the recently signed Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus. ECOPER recently presented its final evaluation report for the UNCTAD project ‘Transparency in Trade Regulation and Facilitation in the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus’, a …

Micro credits and cash transfers as development tools

March 8, 2023December 31, 2020

This month the report ‘Cash for Development: The use of microcredits and cash transfers as development tools’ was published by the European Parliament Committee on Development. It was co-authored by ECOPER consultants, following a meta-evaluation of previous studies on cash-for-development tools.The report aimed to provide an overview of cash transfers and microcredits as poverty reduction instruments in order to inform EU development policy ahead of the EU’s reshaping of development finance tools in the 2021-27 period. The study considered the current level of EU support for cash transfers and microcredits, and the efficiency and design of the support provided.

Protecting cultural heritage and diversity

December 28, 2021February 28, 2019

ECOPER has conducted the external evaluation of the UNESCO project ‘Protecting Cultural Heritage and Diversity in Complex Emergencies for Stability and Peace.’ The project aimed to reduce the vulnerability of populations whose culture and heritage is targeted or affected in complex emergency situations, with interventions in Syria, Iraq, Libya and Yemen. During the evaluation ECOPER conducted interviews with stakeholders in beneficiary countries. The core ECOPER team was supported by an archaeologist with experience in evaluating damage to archaeological sites and a regional expert in development project management and evaluation.

Livelihood programmes for Myanmar refugees

December 28, 2021December 31, 2018

This month ECOPER completed a systematization of the livelihood programmes run for Myanmar refugees by the Catholic Office for Emergency Relief and Refugees (COERR) as part of its project ‘Strengthening capacities and developing sustainable livelihood opportunities for the Myanmar refugees largely encamped along the Thai-Myanmar border in preparation for eventual repatriation.’ The project is funded by the EU and Caritas, a partner of COERR. The systemization took the form of a case study and was achieved through a broad document review and interviews with beneficiaries and COERR staff. Three field missions to Thailand were conducted in the course of the study.

PEACE, JUSTICE AND STRONG INSTITUTIONS