Mid-term Evaluation - UNDP RSC Africa: 'Strengthening Regional and National Legislative Environments to Support the Human Rights of LGBT People and Women and Girls affected by HIV and AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa' (A SIDA Supported Project)

Mid-term Evaluation - UNDP RSC Africa: 'Strengthening Regional and National Legislative Environments to Support the Human Rights of LGBT People and Women and Girls affected by HIV and AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa' (A SIDA Supported Project)

Completedon 29 Apr, 2015
Planned End Date
Feb 2015
Evaluation Type
Project
Management Response
Yes
Evaluation Budget
$40,000
Summary
A number of methodologies were employed in undertaking this work to ensure that the learning objectives set out in the ToR for this MTE could be achieved. Through joint application of our conceptual framework and the evaluation criteria for this MTE and ensuring attention to the project?s theory of change, lessons learned and recommendations for moving forward with the work have been identified. In terms of evaluation criteria, the project?s relevance is directly advanced by the LEAs and National Dialogues. These are designed as participatory processes to ensure broad-­‐based understanding of the legal environment and its shortcomings relating to HIV and human rights so as to facilitate prioritization of follow-­‐up actions as most appropriate. National ownership and direction of these processes has been key in this regard. This MTE report highlights the project?s effectiveness as measured by its quantitative indicators and also taking into account additional successes relating to processes and smaller-­‐scale outcomes. Additionally, attention to participation, local ownership, capacity building and ensuring the ongoing relevance of the work has boosted sustainability by helping to prioritise and facilitate necessary changes in country and/or regional level laws, policies, and programming regarding HIV. While the primary focus of this project has been legal change, the positive spin offs, both at regional and country level, that have occurred simply from the fact that this work is taking place represent a major and perhaps insufficiently recognized contribution to date. The use of human rights concepts and methods in project design and implementation was a step of critical importance in helping to ensure sustained and systematic attention to the processes being used to effect legal change. Conscious attention to the human rights principles of participation, inclusion, non-­‐discrimination and accountability in particular impacted not only what the project has done to date, but also how it was done. The creation of processes which brought government and civil society to work together in assessing legal environments and prioritising opportunities for change, with a distinct focus on women and girls, and LGBT populations, is in and of itself a major strength of this project with enormous ripple effects. Of note, in all interviews conducted, whether with UN, government or civil society, was the sense of pride in this work and clear commitment to all aspects of the project going forward. Even beyond changes in formal law, the project has opened spaces and opportunities to influence a range of policies, budgets, practices and attitudes. The work to date lays the groundwork for unprecedented and growing opportunities to work with key stakeholders to champion the rights and health of key populations within the region. Whether it will be possible to ensure explicit legal change can take place within the identified project period is perhaps not the ultimate value of this project, and perhaps need not be given the short timeframe. The momentum generated through the project has the potential to improve the lived realities of key populations in a variety of ways, over and above explicit legal change, and as clear through this MTE, must not only be sustained but strengthened over time.
  • Evaluation Information
Evaluation Title
Mid-term Evaluation - UNDP RSC Africa: 'Strengthening Regional and National Legislative Environments to Support the Human Rights of LGBT People and Women and Girls affected by HIV and AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa' (A SIDA Supported Project)
Plan Period
Status
Completed
Type
Project
Management Response
Yes
Plan Date
1 Feb, 2015
Quality Assessment
No
Completion Date
29 Apr, 2015
Joint Programme
No
Joint Evaluation
No
Budget
$40,000
GEF Evaluation
No
Expenditure
$0
Stakeholders
Government, CSOs and UN partners
Countries
Bureau for Policy and Programme Support
Comments
Yes
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  • Corporate Outcome and Output

    UNDP Strategic Plan 2018-2021

Output 3.3. National institutions, systems, laws and policies strengthened for equitable, accountable and effective delivery of HIV and related services

1: Others