In September 2009, Paul Sfez an exteranal consultant,  delivered the outcomes of the DEEEP 2 final evalutaion. Such evaluation is the result of a series of questionnaires and interviews addressed to representatives of national platform, Networks members of CONCORD, particpants of the DEEEP Summer School, member of the multi-stakeholder group.

Main conclusions of the evaluation

DEEEP 2 is a complex project with objectives, activities and target groups that are very relevant to the EC programme in which it takes place, as well as to the needs and priorities of the organisations from the 27 Members States. As the operational arm of one the core working groups of CONCORD – the Development Education Forum – from which its secretariat receives its mandate, it fits into CONCORD’s structure but is only accountable to the EC.

Its inclusive and participative approach, as well as the capacity of its secretariat to keep the DE Forum membership well informed and up to date with all new initiatives, strategy developments, training opportunities and issues relevant to DE/AR in EU Members States, allowed DEEEP 2 to reach a high level of efficiency, particularly in increasing the capacity of NGDOs (through the national DE/AR working groups) to raise awareness amongst the European public of development issues, in reinforcing co-operation with other civil society actors, and in improving links with European and Member States institutions. The evaluation highlights the successful integration of New Member States into the Development Education/Awareness Raising field, the contribution of DEEEP 2 to DE/AR national strategy processes, as well as the role played by the project in reaching a European DE consensus, through an active European multi-stakeholders process.

DE Forum members, national DE/AR Working Groups, and to a lesser extent NGOs, show a high level of ownership of the contents and products of DEEEP 2. The DE Forum is now a consolidated and cohesive body. The work done during this 3-year period contributed significantly to the incorporation of DE/AR issues in the Strategic Framework of CONCORD 2009-2015.

Nevertheless, some weaknesses have been identified. On the one hand, imperfect mechanisms to share knowledge gained during the Summer Schools (which represent the major learning opportunity of the project), and the insufficient use of the resources allocated to the national and regional seminars, have limited the project’s ability to reach a larger scope of NGOs.

On the other hand, because of the limitations of time and available resources, compared with the ambition of DE/AR as a process, links with National Platforms and Networks or members of CONCORD , have not been sufficiently developed.

Consequently, and even if advocacy initiatives have been carried out at national level, there is still a limited capacity of DE/AR practitioners to increase their influence on policies in the 27 Member States, for example on the inclusion of DE in school curricula.

Recommendations:

With a view to the implementation of DEEEP 3, the evaluator recommends:

1. To continue with existing and successful activities that are part of a process, and improve them when possible
2. To provide more active support to national processes
3. To deepen DEEEP’s multi-stakeholders approach
4. To revise the organisation, vision and activities of its advocacy work
5. To maintain, deepen or improve its strategic alliances with some partners
6. To better anchor DEEEP in CONCORD structures
7. To identify alternative and/or complementary sources of funding for the DE Forum to realise its ambition and to free itself from a project process