Projects

The global objective of this assignment was to provide a better understanding of CSOs and their interactions with the Government of Egypt at national, regional and local level, with a view to improving their contribution to the development process, reinforcing their participation in policy dialogue and engaging them more strategically and effectively in future EU-Egypt cooperation.

The specific objectives of this assignment were:

• To evaluate CSOs' engagement in EU-Egypt bilateral cooperation and thematic programmes during the period 2007-2013 and propose ways to strengthen CSO engagement in future EU cooperation with Egypt in the future;

• To analyse CSOs' capacities and constraints with a view to strengthening their participation in policy dialogue and future EU-Egypt programs;

• To increase the visibility of the positive role played by CSOs in EU-Egypt cooperation to date.

The expert team has carried out the following tasks:

• Evaluation of the results, impact and added-value of the participation of CSOs as stakeholders and/or partners in EU-Egypt bilateral cooperation programmes over the period 2007-2013;

• Identification of the aid modalities and sectors that have proven to be most conducive for CSOs to engage effectively in EU-Egypt cooperation programmes;

• Identification and evaluation of the CSO initiatives funded by the Development Cooperation Instrument and the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights that have succeeded to work directly or indirectly with government authorities;

• Identification and assessment of the lessons learnt;

• Analysis of the legal, institutional, cultural and political environment in which CSOs have been operating during the period and, in the light of the evaluation's findings, identification of key actors that are able to effectively act as "drivers of change" and facilitate dialogue between CSOs, the government authorities (national, regional, local), the private sector and also between CSOs and the EU;

• Assessment of CSOs’ strengths/weaknesses/limitations and identification of their key needs, especially in terms of capacity building;

• Formulation of recommendations for the design and implementation of the civil society roadmap in Egypt and of strategic mapping(s) of civil society conducted in the second half of 2014 based on the evaluation’s findings, taking into account the EU’s policy framework for engagement with civil society. The recommendations have included:

- an overall strategy to encourage CSOs’ involvement and participation in Egypt's development processes;

- a specific strategy to support CSOs in terms of capacity building/development.

• Drafting of a booklet showcasing successful EU-funded programs involving CSOs and government authorities working together to achieve development outcomes in English and Arabic;

• Organisation of a final event with the main stakeholders of the evaluation to present its findings and the next steps in the definition of the EU roadmap for engagement with civil society in Egypt.