Evaluation of the application and effects of a Human Rights Based Approach to development: Lessons learnt from Swedish development cooperation. What works well, less well and why?

Volume I: Final evaluation report

  • Year: 2020

  • Publication type: Central evaluation

  • Author: Anne Buffardi, Bente Topsøe-Jensen, Henrik Alffram, Otto Nilsson Williams, Pilar Domingo

Summary

This report presents the findings, conclusions and recommendations from an evaluation of the application and effects of a Human Rights Based Approach in Swedish development cooperation from 2010–2019 to find out what has worked well, less well, and why? The evaluation included four country case studies (Albania, Cambodia, Colombia and Kenya), and was based on document review and interviews with key stakeholders during the period May 2019 to May 2020. The case study reports are included in Volume II of this evaluation. The evaluation finds that there is often no clear distinction in purpose – whether by Sida, embassies of Sweden or co-operation partners in-country – between applying a HRBA and putting advancement of human rights at the centre of work. The evaluation also finds that an important effect of Sweden’s application of a HRBA is that it has strengthened and clarified the country’s commitment to promoting and protecting human rights through international development cooperation. The application of the HRBA, and the enactment in practice of the principles of this approach has been the basis for principled, long-term support to actors who share the goal of promoting development towards a more open society.

Link to Volume 2: Volume II: Final case study reports– Albania, Cambodia, Colombia, Kenya

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  • Topic: Democracy and human rights

  • Geographic area: Global

  • Language: English

  • Publication number: 2020:2A