- Evaluation Plan:
- 2016-2022, Zambia
- Evaluation Type:
- Mid Term Project
- Planned End Date:
- 09/2022
- Completion Date:
- 05/2022
- Status:
- Completed
- Management Response:
- Yes
- Evaluation Budget(US $):
- 60,000
Mid term Evaluation of the Democracy Strengthening in Zambia project
| Document | Type | Language | Size | Status | Downloads |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Mid term Review ToRs 21-10-21.pdf |
tor | English | 629.42 KB | Posted | 69 |
| FINAL DSZ Midterm Evaluation Report May2022.pdf |
report | English | 2395.49 KB | Posted | 68 |
| Title | Mid term Evaluation of the Democracy Strengthening in Zambia project | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlas Project Number: | 00124412 | |||||||||
| Evaluation Plan: | 2016-2022, Zambia | |||||||||
| Evaluation Type: | Mid Term Project | |||||||||
| Status: | Completed | |||||||||
| Completion Date: | 05/2022 | |||||||||
| Planned End Date: | 09/2022 | |||||||||
| Management Response: | Yes | |||||||||
| Focus Area: |
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| Corporate Outcome and Output (UNDP Strategic Plan 2018-2021) |
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| SDG Goal |
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| SDG Target |
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| Evaluation Budget(US $): | 60,000 | |||||||||
| Source of Funding: | European Union, France, Germany, Ireland, Sweden, United Kingdom and USAID | |||||||||
| Evaluation Expenditure(US $): | 57,000 | |||||||||
| Joint Programme: | No | |||||||||
| Joint Evaluation: | No | |||||||||
| Evaluation Team members: |
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| GEF Evaluation: | No | |||||||||
| Key Stakeholders: | Electoral Commission of Zambia, Zambia Police Service, Human Rights Commission, Judiciary and Ministry of Justice | |||||||||
| Countries: | ZAMBIA |
| Lessons | |
|---|---|
| Findings |
| Recommendations | |
|---|---|
| 1 | Carry out an independent lesson learnt reflection on the causes to the DSZ implementation delays |
| 2 | Risk Management: Although a risk register existed, its use as a management tool was less evident. Moving forward, a review of the risk register needs to be carried out on a quarterly basis involving reflection on activities’ impacts and possible alternative strategies where delays are likely. |
| 3 | Developing Effective M & E System & Quality Assurance |
| 4 | Added value of final evaluation to be determined on its ability to test new platforms having operated to scale. |
| 5 | Supporting the further validation of iVerify through piloting and development of MOU with key stakeholders |
| 6 | Building sustainable voter education |
Management Response Documents
1. Recommendation:
Carry out an independent lesson learnt reflection on the causes to the DSZ implementation delays
Management Response: [Added: 2022/06/13] [Last Updated: 2022/10/03]
While it is acknowledged that the project experienced significant delays in the implementation, the reasons for the delays have been systematically
documented and explained in the periodic Project Progress Reports. Therefore, an independent exercise to diagnose the reasons for the delays, many of which are known and
have already been addressed, would not represent judicious use of time and resources in the remaining period of the project
Key Actions:
| Key Action | Responsible | DueDate | Status | Comments | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Organize a stakeholders’ workshop to reflect on the challenges identified in the mid-term evaluation, and in the light of project extension, to develop an action plan to address the implementation delay challenges
[Added: 2022/06/13] [Last Updated: 2022/11/28] |
Governance Unit, PCOM | 2023/03 | Initiated | History |
2. Recommendation:
Risk Management: Although a risk register existed, its use as a management tool was less evident. Moving forward, a review of the risk register needs to be carried out on a quarterly basis involving reflection on activities’ impacts and possible alternative strategies where delays are likely.
Management Response: [Added: 2022/06/13] [Last Updated: 2022/10/03]
Our approach to communicating and reporting risks is inclusive. It requires consultation with all relevant stakeholders (national partners, experts, donors, target groups, staff and project affected people). Communication and consultations on registered and emerging risks is done on a quarterly basis. These are reported to the Overall Comments:
Management accepts the recommendations and will work with the Project Management Unit, Technical Committee, Steering Committee, Government, and stakeholders to take corrective actions to address the concerns and recommendations highlighted in the remaining period of the project implementation. Project Technical and Steering Committee through progress reports. Further management holds ad hoc meetings with stakeholders as may be necessary, to inform risk identification, assessment, treatment, monitoring, reporting and review. The regular monitoring and reporting of Risk Logs to the project stakeholders will be reviewed to ensure
better dissemination through the Project governance bodies (Technical and Steering Committees).
Key Actions:
| Key Action | Responsible | DueDate | Status | Comments | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Include updated Risk Logs as an Annex to the Project progress
reports to the Technical and Steering Committees.
[Added: 2022/06/13] [Last Updated: 2022/10/03] |
Project M&E Officer | 2023/03 | Initiated | An annex of the Risk Logs will be attached to the next quarterly meeting of the Steering Committee. History |
3. Recommendation:
Developing Effective M & E System & Quality Assurance
Management Response: [Added: 2022/06/13] [Last Updated: 2022/10/03]
The Project document provided in the relevant section a "Detailed Result Framework" that informed the key results and indicators for the project. The M&E plan takes into account the implementation environment realities and seeks alignment to the existing M&E systems and capacities in the implementing partner institutions.
In some instances, delays were experienced in extracting baseline data from responsible parties. The results framework subsequently underwent some revisions to address
stakeholders (government, donors and implementing partners) data and information needs. The current M&E Plan and Results Framework is the result of these consultations.
The M&E plan and the subsidiary documents are live documents that will be improved continuously to take into account stakeholders’ demands and recommendation.
Key Actions:
| Key Action | Responsible | DueDate | Status | Comments | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Review the existing project Resources and Results framework to address the issues identified in the evaluation including the revision of some indicators and baselines
[Added: 2022/06/13] [Last Updated: 2022/10/03] |
UNDP | 2022/12 | Initiated | The recruitment of the M & E Specialist is currently in progress and is scheduled for completion by the fourth quarter History | |
| Submission and approval of the revised Resources and Results Framework by the Governance Bodies
[Added: 2022/10/03] [Last Updated: 2022/11/28] |
UNDP Senior Management | 2023/03 | Initiated | History | |
| Submission and approval of the revised Resources and Results Framework by the Governance Bodies
[Added: 2022/10/03] [Last Updated: 2022/11/28] |
UNDP Senior Management | 2023/03 | Initiated | History |
4. Recommendation:
Added value of final evaluation to be determined on its ability to test new platforms having operated to scale.
Management Response: [Added: 2022/06/13] [Last Updated: 2022/10/03]
Partially agree. This recommendation was valid at the time of the evaluation. The Project has been granted a one-year extension (up to 31 December
2023). This will allow for the systems developed with the project support to gain traction and ensure sustainability.
Key Actions:
| Key Action | Responsible | DueDate | Status | Comments | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commission an independent terminal evaluation of the Project, not later than 3 months before the expected end of the Project.
[Added: 2022/06/13] [Last Updated: 2022/10/03] |
Gender and Governance | 2023/09 | Not Initiated | History |
5. Recommendation:
Supporting the further validation of iVerify through piloting and development of MOU with key stakeholders
Management Response: [Added: 2022/06/13] [Last Updated: 2022/10/03]
Fully accepts the recommendations and will implement measures to achieve the recommendation. The Responsible Party agreement with Panos institute has been extended for a further term. The focus in the second phase is to ensure sustainability of the system and strengthening of established partnerships to guarantee sustainability beyond the current project support. With the support of UNDP, Panos is working with media houses and various networks of journalists and response partners to build capacity in fact checking and response to misinformation, disinformation and hate speech. To formalize these partnerships, UNDP is providing technical support to Panos in developing memoranda of understanding (MOUs). .
Key Actions:
| Key Action | Responsible | DueDate | Status | Comments | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Support PANOS to sign MOUs with media houses and community radio stations
[Added: 2022/06/13] [Last Updated: 2022/10/03] |
Governance and Gender | 2022/12 | Initiated | UNDP is providing technical support to Panos in developing MOUs with various partners. History |
6. Recommendation:
Building sustainable voter education
Management Response: [Added: 2022/06/13] [Last Updated: 2022/10/03]
Fully agrees with the recommendation and will implement measures to achieve the recommendation. Working with ECZ and other stakeholders, UNDP will provide technical support for a continuous voter education capacity needs assessment to inform voter education sustainability strategies. Once developed, the knowledge product will be the basis for action by ECZ, government agencies and other stakeholders.
Key Actions:
| Key Action | Responsible | DueDate | Status | Comments | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finalization of a knowledge product on the institutionalization of voter education activities as part of the Government programmes, including incorporation of voter education in the school curriculumas a permanent feature of the education system
[Added: 2022/06/13] [Last Updated: 2022/10/03] |
Governance and Gender | 2023/06 | Initiated | Voter education survey will soon be undertaken along with engagements with the curriculum development unit in the Ministry of Education. History |