- Evaluation Plan:
- 2011-2015, Indonesia
- Evaluation Type:
- Final Project
- Planned End Date:
- 01/2015
- Completion Date:
- 09/2012
- Status:
- Completed
- Management Response:
- Yes
- Evaluation Budget(US $):
- 15,000
Elections Multi-Donor Programme (EMDP) to Support Local Elections in Aceh Project Evaluation
| Document | Type | Language | Size | Status | Downloads |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Elections MDP TOR Evaluation Consultant Final.doc |
tor | English | 138.50 KB | Posted | 709 |
 E-MDP (Aceh) Evaluation - final report.pdf |
report | English | 897.75 KB | Posted | 810 |
| Title | Elections Multi-Donor Programme (EMDP) to Support Local Elections in Aceh Project Evaluation | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlas Project Number: | ||||||||||
| Evaluation Plan: | 2011-2015, Indonesia | |||||||||
| Evaluation Type: | Final Project | |||||||||
| Status: | Completed | |||||||||
| Completion Date: | 09/2012 | |||||||||
| Planned End Date: | 01/2015 | |||||||||
| Management Response: | Yes | |||||||||
| Focus Area: |
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| Corporate Outcome and Output (UNDP Strategic Plan 2018-2021) |
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| Evaluation Budget(US $): | 15,000 | |||||||||
| Source of Funding: | EMDP Project | |||||||||
| Joint Programme: | No | |||||||||
| Joint Evaluation: | No | |||||||||
| Evaluation Team members: |
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| GEF Evaluation: | No | |||||||||
| Key Stakeholders: | ||||||||||
| Countries: | INDONESIA |
| Lessons | |
|---|---|
| Findings |
| Recommendations | |
|---|---|
| 1 | Recommendation 1. Future interventions need to provide support for voter registration and voter education as they are critical elements in achieving free, fair and credible elections. Stakeholders agreed that there is a strong need to improve the voter list, and increase citizen motivation and understanding of their rights to participate in elections. In this regard, educating the voters should not be limited to the mechanics of voting, but should be placed within the broader picture of democratic processes. |
| 2 | Recommendation 2. While UNDP needs to align its activities to meet the purposes of the donor as well as final clearance from the GoI, it also has to select activities based on the results of ongoing analysis, experiences and needs assessment. This definitely requires the ability to raise funds to adequately finance the proposed interventions to avoid a high percentage of unfunded budget. |
| 3 | Recommendation 3. Programmes such as Elections-MDP would benefit from longer planning, approval and preparation periods. As has been shown, for various reasons, the Project activities experienced delays in the process of preparation and implementation so that less time was available to optimally carry out activities with maximum benefits. For example, preparations for participatory monitoring should begin well in advance to enable the monitoring to cover most stages of elections. The call center needs socialization in order for citizens to be aware of and use its services. Likewise, high quality election manuals and video should be distributed sooner to be more useful. |
| 4 | Recommendation 4. Use of the media will be more effective if based on the results of previous study of media effectiveness. Communication expertise may assist to ensure that the messages conveyed are clear and effective. At the same time, media need to be pre-tested in different areas (rural-urban, coastal-inland, etc.) prior to mass production and distribution. |
| 5 | Recommendation 5. Any strategic project, like Elections-MDP, should also design its initiatives to develop a regulatory framework that will equip the government with the procedure or methodology for developing and replicating good and useful practices promoted by the project beyond its presence. Advocacy at the government level might be necessary to make them committed to financing some activities. |
| 6 | Recommendation 6. In order to increase institutionalization of programme outcomes, Elections-MDP needs to be more proactive in influencing KPU and Bawaslu or the government to adopt necessary programmes, policy and regulations on the basis of lessons learned and best practices from its programmes or projects. This cannot be done under a short-term project like support to elections in Aceh, but could be placed under the context of national Elections-MDP. UNDP could conduct a study to formulate a policy paper and take an advocacy approach to facilitate the adoption of its best practices by the GoI, such as participatory monitoring and the Call Center. |
| 7 | Recommendation 7. While Elections-MDP?s method of delivery consolidated the strategic partnership between UNDP and the KIP and PANWASLU, it is suggested for the future project to develop adequate and regular monitoring and coordination to aid in immediately addressing operational issues on ground. This particularly applies to activities or part of activities that are managed by partner organizations, such as those for distribution of manual and video on voting and counting along with electoral materials by KIP and participatory elections monitoring by PANWASLU. |
| 8 | Recommendation 8. It is understood that, while Electoral Cycle Approach is UNDP?s standard approach, the Project did not adopt that approach as the donor funding was strictly for a short-term intervention. Despite this short-term intervention and the ?one-off? nature of the election, however, activities of the Project need to be pursued with a longer-term perspective to increase sustainability. More in-depth capacity building should be done between elections. It is a challenge for elections to be seen as part of a continuing process of support throughout the electoral cycle. |
1. Recommendation: Recommendation 1.
Future interventions need to provide support for voter registration and voter education as they are critical elements in achieving free, fair and credible elections. Stakeholders agreed that there is a strong need to improve the voter list, and increase citizen motivation and understanding of their rights to participate in elections. In this regard, educating the voters should not be limited to the mechanics of voting, but should be placed within the broader picture of democratic processes.
Management Response: [Added: 2013/03/24]
This is a very valid recommendation. The quality of any election depends on the quality of the voter list. However, any intervention on this issue, especially by international agencies, needs GoI approval since it is categorized as highly sensitive. It is for this reason that UNDP is disinclined to become involved in this. UNDP agrees it must support voter education, as recommended. CSO partners will undertake voter education as a part of participatory election monitoring activities. This has been included in the next plan of Elections MDP. This is a scale up of a successful pilot undertaken in the Aceh local elections.
Key Actions:
| Key Action | Responsible | DueDate | Status | Comments | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No action
Project will scale up support on participatory elections monitoring to the national level and in selected subnational areas during the 2014 national election
[Added: 2013/03/24] [Last Updated: 2018/11/08] |
Elections MDP, Bappneas, Bawaslu | 2014/12 | Completed | Participatory elections monitoring design (national level) has been drafted History |
2. Recommendation: Recommendation 2.
While UNDP needs to align its activities to meet the purposes of the donor as well as final clearance from the GoI, it also has to select activities based on the results of ongoing analysis, experiences and needs assessment. This definitely requires the ability to raise funds to adequately finance the proposed interventions to avoid a high percentage of unfunded budget.
Management Response: [Added: 2013/03/24]
UNDP closely consulted with KIP, Panwas and Bappenas in the design of the project, and in the selection of appropriate activities. The plan was discussed and approved by the government Steering Committee. Unfortunately, there was limited donor interest in supporting the Aceh elections. This is why a financing gap occurred.
Key Actions:
| Key Action | Responsible | DueDate | Status | Comments | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNDP will package the programme so it is not seen as directly supporting the elections. For example, strengthening civic education centres will be an entry-point for support.
UNDP will persuade the government to take part in lobbying the donor for funds to show strong buy-in and commitment from the government.
[Added: 2013/03/24] [Last Updated: 2018/11/08] |
Elections MDP, Bappenas | 2014/12 | Completed | Project has developed proposal in consultation with Bappenas History |
3. Recommendation: Recommendation 3.
Programmes such as Elections-MDP would benefit from longer planning, approval and preparation periods. As has been shown, for various reasons, the Project activities experienced delays in the process of preparation and implementation so that less time was available to optimally carry out activities with maximum benefits. For example, preparations for participatory monitoring should begin well in advance to enable the monitoring to cover most stages of elections. The call center needs socialization in order for citizens to be aware of and use its services. Likewise, high quality election manuals and video should be distributed sooner to be more useful.
Management Response: [Added: 2013/03/24]
The project benefited from extensive planning processes, that involved all relevant stakeholders. Such planning was undertaken in line with GoI coordination mechanisms and UNDP regulations. However, during project implementation, conflicting interpretations about related regulations by the local government, KIP Aceh and Partai Aceh, led to delays in the election. The project was advised not to take further action or implement any activities until the matter was resolved. The grants mechanism for participatory elections monitoring was appropriate, but the selection of the most appropriate grants mechanism took longer than planned due to lengthy consultations with related parties.
Key Actions:
| Key Action | Responsible | DueDate | Status | Comments | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No action
Project will initiate discussions about possible grant mechanisms much earlier with GoI, to ensure timely implementation of grants
Project will set up regular meetings with concerned parties
[Added: 2013/03/24] [Last Updated: 2018/11/08] |
EMDP, Bappenas | 2014/12 | No Longer Applicable |
[Justification: The Government of Indonesia has issued a Government Regulations on Grant Management that provides a clear guidance on planning and implementing foreign grants.] The Government of Indonesia has issued a Government Regulations on Grant Management that provides a clear guidance on planning and implementing foreign grants. History |
4. Recommendation: Recommendation 4.
Use of the media will be more effective if based on the results of previous study of media effectiveness. Communication expertise may assist to ensure that the messages conveyed are clear and effective. At the same time, media need to be pre-tested in different areas (rural-urban, coastal-inland, etc.) prior to mass production and distribution.
Management Response: [Added: 2013/03/24]
We agree with this recommendation, and it will be factored into the design of future projects, since UNDP recognizes the media can channel messages to large audiences. We acknowledge it is important to pre-test communication messages in different areas. However, since the activity was only confined to a few sites, pre-tests were not seen as an efficient use of time and scarce resources.
Key Actions:
| Key Action | Responsible | DueDate | Status | Comments | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| We agree with this recommendation, and it will be factored into the design of future projects, since UNDP recognizes the media can channel messages to large audiences.
We acknowledge it is important to pre-test communication messages in different areas. However, since the activity was only confined to a few sites, pre-tests were not seen as an efficient use of time and scarce resources.
[Added: 2013/03/24] [Last Updated: 2018/11/08] |
EMDP, Bappenas | 2014/12 | Completed | History |
5. Recommendation: Recommendation 5.
Any strategic project, like Elections-MDP, should also design its initiatives to develop a regulatory framework that will equip the government with the procedure or methodology for developing and replicating good and useful practices promoted by the project beyond its presence. Advocacy at the government level might be necessary to make them committed to financing some activities.
Management Response: [Added: 2013/03/24]
The results of an evaluation workshop undertaken by the project demonstrated that a call center was replicated by Panwaslu in another Aceh district during a local election.
Key Actions:
| Key Action | Responsible | DueDate | Status | Comments | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No action needed
[Added: 2013/03/24] [Last Updated: 2018/11/08] |
UNDP | 2013/03 | Completed | History |
6. Recommendation: Recommendation 6.
In order to increase institutionalization of programme outcomes, Elections-MDP needs to be more proactive in influencing KPU and Bawaslu or the government to adopt necessary programmes, policy and regulations on the basis of lessons learned and best practices from its programmes or projects. This cannot be done under a short-term project like support to elections in Aceh, but could be placed under the context of national Elections-MDP. UNDP could conduct a study to formulate a policy paper and take an advocacy approach to facilitate the adoption of its best practices by the GoI, such as participatory monitoring and the Call Center.
Management Response: [Added: 2013/03/24]
We agree with this recommendation. The project plans to scale up the participatory election monitoring model that was piloted in Aceh. The project also plans to include the strengthening of civic education centers in its next project. Both Bappenas and Bawaslu have agreed to this plan.
Key Actions:
| Key Action | Responsible | DueDate | Status | Comments | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNDP will ensure the scale-up of participatory monitoring is included in the next project design.
[Added: 2013/03/24] [Last Updated: 2018/12/09] |
EMDP, Bawaslu, Bappenas | 2013/12 | No Longer Applicable |
[Justification: No action needed, since the project will no longer support KPU in terms of electoral management.] History |
7. Recommendation: Recommendation 7.
While Elections-MDP?s method of delivery consolidated the strategic partnership between UNDP and the KIP and PANWASLU, it is suggested for the future project to develop adequate and regular monitoring and coordination to aid in immediately addressing operational issues on ground. This particularly applies to activities or part of activities that are managed by partner organizations, such as those for distribution of manual and video on voting and counting along with electoral materials by KIP and participatory elections monitoring by PANWASLU.
Management Response: [Added: 2013/03/24]
The project considered directly distributing materials but faced with project delays and budget limitations, it decided that the distribution of materials would be entrusted to KIP, who had to distribute other materials as a part of its election responsibilities.
Key Actions:
| Key Action | Responsible | DueDate | Status | Comments | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No action needed, since the project will no longer support KPU in terms of electoral management.
[Added: 2013/03/24] [Last Updated: 2018/12/09] |
UNDP | 2013/03 | No Longer Applicable |
[Justification: No action needed, since the project will no longer support KPU in terms of electoral management.] History |
8. Recommendation: Recommendation 8.
It is understood that, while Electoral Cycle Approach is UNDP?s standard approach, the Project did not adopt that approach as the donor funding was strictly for a short-term intervention. Despite this short-term intervention and the ?one-off? nature of the election, however, activities of the Project need to be pursued with a longer-term perspective to increase sustainability.
More in-depth capacity building should be done between elections. It is a challenge for elections to be seen as part of a continuing process of support throughout the electoral cycle.
Management Response: [Added: 2013/03/24]
The recommendation is valid and the project has factored this issue into the design of its next project, particularly in two areas: through support to a civic education center and a facility for democratic consolidation. These two initiatives can be supported in-between elections.
Key Actions:
| Key Action | Responsible | DueDate | Status | Comments | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The project will establish and strengthen a civic education centre (CEC) at the national and subnational level as part of a long-term strategy to advance substantive democracy.
Together with Bappenas, the project will develop a grand design for a democratic consolidation facility
[Added: 2013/03/24] [Last Updated: 2018/11/08] |
EMDP, Bappenas | 2014/12 | No Longer Applicable |
[Justification: UNDP is no longer providing similar technical assistance due to improved capacity of the government. UNDP further support the government on developing an Indonesian Democracy Index system.] UNDP is no longer providing similar technical assistance due to improved capacity of the government. UNDP further support the government on developing an Indonesian Democracy Index system. History |