Evaluation of four NGO implemented programmes in Georgia

The Embassy of Sweden in Georgia decided to conduct an evaluation of the Swedish support to four NGOs in Georgia and instead of commissioning four different evaluations they are joined in this external evaluation. The four NGOs are: National Democratic Institute (NDI) Georgia; Orbeliani; Transparency International (TI) Georgia, and Clean-Up Georgia. Sweden is the most active donor providingassistance to Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Georgia and is financing a number of projects that support selected NGOs towards achieving results in areas defined in its Results Strategy with a regional approach for reform cooperation with Eastern Europe, the Western Balkans and Turkey 2014-2020.Three of the four CSO projects achieved results in the strategic result areas defined by the Government of Sweden in its Results Strategy for the reform cooperation with Georgia. For Orbeliani, it is challenging to discern results at the strategic level – a function of the specific approach practised by the project. The evaluation identified areas for improvement such as criteria for the selection of CSO; planning of the projects; less complexity in results frameworks; guidelines where the support of Sweden should be made visible; offering of joint trainings for all CSOs, e.g. on gender. Evaluation findings NDI; both Swedish funded programmes are found relevant and have contributed to important and lasting qualitative changes, e.g. in the administration of elections, development of capacity, or by advancing Georgia’s debate on gender equality. Evaluation findings Orbeliani; Orbeliani is an entirely new NGO, funded, in 2014, with the help of Sweden a has set out to “revolutionise” aid by changing how citizens engage with resources they need to take positive action in their communities that is assessed to be relevant but with some concerns relating to their approach and sustainability. Evaluation findings TI Georgia; TI is assessed as highly competent and relevant. A number of important results have been achieved and TI Georgia can be considered a highly effective NGO organisation. Evaluation findings Clean-up Georgia; the project, implemented by a consortium of three environmental NGOs, is highly relevant to the needs of the country and with an effective bottom up approach. The solid waste component has achieved important results and ownership by local authorities while other components faced some challenge.