Our Evaluations

SFCG's Evaluation Principles

• Capacity strengthening
• Context specific
• Utilization-focused
• Participatory
• Productively critical
• Evidence-based
• Culturally sensitive
• Ethical

Evaluations of SFCG programs are first and foremost a learning tool for the organization. Our approach to evaluation is based on the belief that we need to understand how and why our work makes a difference in order to do better in the future. As learning tools, our evaluations foster a spirit of inquiry and honesty, regardless of how challenging this may be to our organization. Our evaluations typically seek to accomplish one or more of the following:

• Identify and analyze intended and unintended change
• Assess processes and partnerships
• Examine sustainability, immediate results, and longer
  term results

2005 External Evaluation of Refugee Reintegration Project
The researcher for the 2005 external impact assessment of the Refugee Reintegration Project was Todd C. Cleveland. This document is designed to represent the key findings and lessons learned and is not a full programme-wide evaluation. [more]

2004 External Programme Evaluation
The evaluators for the 2004 external evaluation of Search for Common Ground in Angola (Centre for Common Ground or CCG) were Christian Bugnion, Daniel Ntoni-Nzinga, and Joao Kambowela. The evaluation looked at SFCG-Angola's work over the past year, assessed its impact on the current dynamic in the country, and offered suggestions in order to ensure continued success. SFCG's goal in Angola is to support sustainable peace and national reconciliation by working with Angolans to transform their society away from a culture of violence to one characterized by coexistence, security, social justice, and popular participation. [more]

2002 External Programme Evaluation
This external evaluation, conducted by Rowland Roome & Mario Kajibanga, examines the relevance of the programme (including its selection of target groups and partners) to the declared goals. CCG's declared organisational objective is to enable people from the grassroots to the leadership to resolve conflict and violence through non-adversarial means. [more]

2002 External Evaluation of Radio Soap Opera
This evaluation of the Centre for Common Ground's radio soap operas, Vozes Que Falam and Coisas Da Nossa Gente, was conducted by the National Institute of Statistics in Luanda, Angola. The soap operas aim to build the capacity of Angolans in conflict prevention and resolution. [more]

2006 External Evaluation of Women and Governance Project
The "Women and Governance" Project Evaluation of 2006 was led by independent evaluators Véronique Parqué and René-Claude Niyonkuru in January/February 2006. The objectives of this evaluation were to determine the pertinence of the objectives and their degree of implementation, efficiency, impact and viability in accordance with proposal formulation. [more]

2004 External Mid-term Evaluation of Victims of Torture Project
This external mid-term evaluation was led by Dr. Sylvestre Barancira and Nathalie Zajde. The Victims of Torture project has the following goal: The reduction of negative effects of torture by assistance to victims and the prevention of acts of torture in Burundi. [more]

2002 External Programme Evaluation
This document is an independent evaluation of the Search for Common Ground - Burundi programme conducted by Amr Abdalla, Noa Davenport, Leslie McTyre and Steven A. Smith. The overall goal of the Burundi programme is to reduce ethnic conflict and encourage reconciliation. [more]

2007 Study on Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices
The purpose of this study is to gather information on the knowledge, attitude and practice of Ivorians on democratic and electoral processes, civic education, good governance, conflict management and prevention. The key findings of this research will provide field-wide learning to both the next steps in the implementation of the two projects that SFCG and her two partners have to execute. The results of this Action Research will also contribute to SFCG Côte d’Ivoire’s efforts for improved quality of programming. Moreover, the lessons learned inform programming of similar activities across several regions where SFCG works. This research will also create a scope to assess the extent to which SFCG’s program in Côte d’Ivoire will strengthen local capacities to promote reconciliation and peace. [more]

UNHCR Evaluation of SFCG Programming in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

2006 External Programme Evaluation
This 2006 externally led mid-term evaluation conducted by Mary Myers and Judy El-Bushra, of Triple Line Consulting ltd, was undertaken to provide an objective assessment of the programme’s progress against its aims, and its impact to date. The review found that, in general, the programme is on the right track to achieve its purpose (laying the foundations for sustainable peace by enhancing informative and participative communication around the transition process and by contributing to the reduction of tensions in the Eastern Congo) through activities focused on conflict transformation, media training and, to a lesser extent, community reconciliation. [more]

2003 Programme Evaluation
This 2003 internally led evaluation conducted by Cheyanne Church, Mark Rogers and Adrien Sindayigaya focuses on the programmatic work of the Bukavu office of Search For Common Ground's Centre Lokole programme. The programme's overarching goals are to support the peace process, to promote unity for the Democratic Republic of Congo, and to reinforce the capacity of local organizations to resolve local conflicts through the use of media, arts, dialogue, and training programs based in peacebuilding centres around the country. [more]

2004 External Programme Evaluation
This external evaluation conducted by Indrian Lubis and Miryam Nainggolan, examines the community-based conflict transformation programming and the media programming. Common Ground Indonesia's goal is to create a shared life which is peaceful and just through transforming conflict, using methods which generate solidarity, participation and pluralism. [more]

2007 Civil Society Assessment
In 2007 Search for Common Ground (SFCG), with support from DFID, conducted a civil society survey to gauge local organizations' capacity and their needs for support. The findings of this research are informing SFCG's ongoing partnerships and engagement with Liberian civil society organisations at the national and county level to make them more relevant and effective, with sustainable long-term results. [more]

2007 Media Mapping Assessment
In early 2007, SFCG undertook a 'media mapping' assessment to better understand existing communication practices around government policies. The research was national in scope and encompassed all media channels: radio, print and television. A number of methods including key informant interviews and surveys were employed to understand how individuals and communities are receiving public information and what they know about major government policies, and specifically the Poverty Reduction Strategy, Government Economic Management Assistance Plan, and the Youth Policy. SFCG has shared these findings with Liberian government ministries and other stakeholders, and is now working with them to develop strategies to address the challenges identified. [more]

2006 External Programme Evlaution
The purpose of this independent ex-post evaluation was to assess SFCG’s overall program in Liberia covering the period of September 2003 - July 2006. The evaluation had two main objectives: To assess the extent to which SFCG’s program in Liberia strengthened local capacities for peace in the eight communities targeted by the Next Steps in Peace program. The evaluation findings provide field-wide learning to both the Next Steps in Peace Project funder and SFCG. Evaluation results also contribute to SFCG Liberia’s efforts for improved quality of programming. Additionally, the lessons learned inform programming of similar activities across several regions where SFCG works. [more]

1999 External Evaluation of Talking Drum Studio
An external USIP (United States Institute of Peace) evaluation of Talking Drum Studio's radio programming in Monrovia, Liberia, was conducted by Amr Abdalla and Nancy Torrey. TDS's goal is to use media to promote and support peacebuilding efforts and conflict resolution in a post-civil war environment. [more]

2004 External Evaluation of Nashe Maalo
Nashe Maalo, produced by SFCG-Macedonia (“Our Neighbourhood”) is a television series aimed at promoting inter-cultural understanding among children with a view to conflict transformation. This evaluation focused on assessing the achievement of the intended objectives of Nashe Maalo as well as determining the breadth of listernship. In addition, the evaluation sought to ascertain the contribution of NM to the wider Macedonia situation, despite this not being part of the original project expectations. [more]

2005 External Evaluation of Moderate Voices Project
External Evaluators Nora Ingdal and Hanan Boudart of the Nordic Consulting Group undertook case studies of two SFCG-Middle East projects to evaluate not just those projects but also the broader Moderate Voices programme. The evaluation focused on assessing the relevance, sustainability, effectiveness, and efficiency of the programme and providing recommendations for strengthening future programming. Moderate Voices aimed to promote moderation, dialogue, tolerance and non-violent conflict resolution in partnership with Palestinian civil society organisations (CSOs) and to build the ability of those CSOs to advocate for citizens' interests according to democratic and participatory principles. [more]

2007 External Evalutation of Alternative Dispute Resolution Project
External Evaluation of the British Embassy Funded "Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Project": This external evaluation conducted in May 2007 by The People’s Mirror – a Morocco-based center specializing in public opinion research on social and political issues – examined the second phase of SFCG-Morocco’s (SFCG-M) support to the institutionalisation of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in Morocco. In keeping with SFCG’s overarching objective of transforming the way the world deals with conflict, this program aims at introducing alternative dispute resolution mechanisms in Morocco. The ADR program was envisioned to assist in the facilitation of constructive relationships between protagonists, alleviate legal procedures, prevent long court delays, and reduce the cost of legal cases. ADR offers alternative mechanisms that could greatly assist judges, barristers and legal experts in expediting legal cases, finding creative legal ways to solve court issues and unclogging of institutional bottlenecks that usually characterize classic legal systems. [more]

2006 Baseline Report on Mediation Project
Baseline Report of SFCG-Morocco Support to the Formative Stages of Mediation in Morocco: This baseline has been carried out by Search for Common Ground Morocco (SFCG-M) and was undertaken by Kawtar Amraoui, programme Coordinator for SFCG-M from August to September 2006. The purpose of the study was to provide information against which the development of the 2nd phase of the SFCG Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) programme in Morocco could be monitored and assessed. [more]

2005 Evaluation of Alternative Dispute Resolution Project
Internal Evaluation of the British Embassy Funded "Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Project": This internally led evaluation conducted in October 2005 by Alice Rowley and Amine Ghoulidi examined the first phase of SFCG-Morocco’s (SFCG-M) support to the institutionalisation of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in Morocco. The overall goal of the ADR programme is to improve justice administration in Morocco, and the first and third phases of the programme aim to build the capacity and sharpen the knowledge of Moroccan judges in ADR and mediation. The second phase is oriented towards civil society and lawyers and will provide training in mediation, ADR techniques and mechanisms to these groups. The evaluation was both reflective, assessing the implementation and outcomes achieved to date, and forward-looking, analysing the context and developing recommendations for future phases. [more]

Key Findings from 2008 External Evaluation Youth in Peacebuilding and Community Decision Making
Using media and community-based activities, SFCG aims to foster the participation of key sectors of the population in Nepal in the peacebuilding process, with a particular focus on youth. In this context, SFCG conducted two-year programmatic evaluation to assess the outcomes, successes and shortcomings of their youth in peace building and community decision making project activities.

Key Findings from 2009 External Evaluation Radio For Peacebuilding
In January 2009, Search for Common Ground (SFCG) concluded the implementation of a project entitled Radio for Peacebuilding Nepal (R4PB Nepal). The project lasted 12 months and included two main activity components: training and coaching for radio producers, and the production and broadcast of regional and local radio talk shows. The primary purpose of this evaluation was to examine the results (including output and outcomes) of the project. The evaluation is meant to inform the funding agency and staff working on the action about what has been achieved through the project; the strengths and weaknesses of the methodologies used; and how to move the work forward.

Key Findings from 2009 External Evaluation Peace Process Communication Campaign
The Peace Process Communication Campaign (PPCC) is SFCG’s c was launched with the major long term objectives of raising awareness, promoting the potential role of people in the peace process, ensuring the people’s support of the peace process, and holding political leaders accountable in respect of the peace process. In contributing towards achieving these long term objectives, in the short term the project aimed at mobilizing media organizations and producing media pieces. In achieving these short term objectives the campaign carried out various activities including the production and broadcast of PSAs, the creation of peace songs, and the formation of working groups of journalists, media operators and civil society representatives. The evaluation was orientated towards establishing to what extent PPCC was able to fulfill its intended short-term and long-term objectives.

Key Findings from 2009 External Evaluation Children's Voices project
The Children’s Voices, a UNICEF co-funded project, was established at the first national-level DDR working group, the Children Associated with Armed Forces and Armed Groups (CAAFAG) Working Group. The project aimed to provide a platform for children and youth’s voices in the transition to peace so as to prevent the further manipulation of youth to violence. The key project components are: a) the production of a radio program by children, Sunau Bolau, b) intergenerational folk media (Dohori) and the engagement of children and youth clubs in community peacebuilding, and c) communication campaigns such as posters, leaflets, public service announcements on radio, 45-minute drama cassettes and hoarding boards on return and reintegration of former CAAFAG. The main goal  of the evaluation was to analyze how the two-year emergency response to the return and reintegration project has impacted the community, and what the lessons learned were, both in terms of program objectives and implementation approaches.

Key Findings from 2008 External Evaluation Children Associated with Armed Forces and Armed Groups Program
Search for Common Ground (SFCG) has completed one and a half year project, entitled "Children Associated with Armed Forces and Armed Groups Program" with support of UNICEF. Under this project, radio program produced by children 'Sunau Bolau', media sensitization, community peacebuilding and outreach related activities were carried out. One of the major activities, Sunau Bolau radio program was broadcasted from 52 local FM radio stations through out the nation as well as through local radio productions in Jhapa and Surkhet districts, focusing specifically on rural communities. The evaluation aimed at analyzing the extent to which the radio programs have brought changes in people in terms of their sensitiveness towards the issues of child rights, assessing the outcomes of dissemination and utilization of broadcasting materials, and assessing the perception of the listeners of Sunau Bolau, especially in terms of branding.

 

2008 External Review of ENCISS Project
Commissioned by the UK Department for International Development, this review was conduted in June 2007 by independent consultants Dr Mary Myers and Momoh Taziff Koroma. SFCG has been implement a media and outreach component of the ENCISS programme in Sierra Leone. ENCISS is a large DFID-funded programme and stands for: Enhancing the Interaction and Interface between Civil society and the State to improve Poor People's Lives. SFCG has a two year contract through CARE to implement this sub-project, entitled 'Using Media and Outreach for National and Community Engagement to Support Decentralisation and the Poverty Reduction Strategy with Civil Society Development' (2006-2008). Between 8th and 16th of June 2007 the consultnats travelled to ENCISS's three focus districts (Western Area Rural, Bonthe (including Bonthe island) and Bombali), met partners in Bo town, and conducted interviews and reviewed documents in the capital, Freetown. The findings were presented for review by DFID, CARE, ENCISS and SFCG senior staff on 15th June. [more]

2007 Evaluation of Election Strategy
This internal evaluation was conducted in December by Ratiba Taouti-Cherif, SFCG's Design, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist. Targeting women and youth, the strategy focused on building capacity and establishing local structures that support a credible and free outcome in the elections. In addition to supporting an extensive national voter education campaign, including first time uses of television and live constituency debates with parliamentary candidates in strategic locations and on the radio, SFCG focused its efforts on leading the development of the Independent Radio Network (IRN) and National Election Watch (NEW). [more]

2004 External Programme Evaluation
This full-programme evaluation was conducted in August by Paul Everett, Tennyson Williams and Mary Myers. The overall goal of the Talking Drum Studio programme is to build a tolerant, inclusive society for a sustainable peace. [more]

2002 External Evaluation of Talking Drum Studio
An external evaluation by Amr Abdalla, Susan Shepler and Suleiman Hussein was conducted in March, 2002. Though each radio programming strand has a different format, each of them have the same goal: to encourage peace and reconciliation. [more]

2007 Evaluation of Victim-Offender Mediation Project
The Ukrainian Centre for Common Ground (UCCG), established in 1994, has for the past three years been implementing a pilot project in Victim-Offender Mediation (VOM) - the oldest, most widely used, and most research-based expression of restorative justice. Launched in 2003, the Ukrainian VOM programme is currently implementing pilot projects in seven regions - Chernivtsi, Crimea, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv, Kyiv, Luhansk and Sumy. Initiatives in Odessa and Lviv did not provide any tangible results. [more]

2007 External Evaluation of Health Care Coverage Project
An external evaluation intended to assess the process and the outcomes of the HCCU Consensus Building Process, and to identify lessons learned that could contribute to improving the application of consensus building as a tool to develop more effective and broadly supportable public policy. [more]

2002 External Evaluation of Consensus Building Project
An external evaluation by Daniel Bowling (PeaceBridge Communications) of the consensus building process with participants drawn from organizations representing views across the spectrum on the White House Faith-Based Initiative. [more]

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