The purpose of this evaluation is to investigate to what extent and how Sweden’s official development assistance, over time, has contributed to sustainably strengthening civil society’s capacity to work for democracy and human rights in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The purpose is operationalized through the following four questions:
- To what extent has Swedish aid made a distinct and long-term difference in relation to Sweden’s objective to strengthen the capacity of civil society to promote human rights and democracy in Africa?
- To what extent has increased capacity been translated into impacts on democracy or human rights?
- Which factors, circumstances, or mechanisms explain the degree of goal fulfilment and how can variations in goal fulfilment be understood or explained?
- How can and should efforts to strengthen civil society’s capacity be developed or improved in the countries and interventions studied to work for democracy and human rights more effectively and sustainably?
Authors:
Ola Segnestam Larsson, PhD, Ersta Sköndal Bräcke University College
Malin Arvidson, PhD in Sociology, Lund University
Jan Ström, Research assistant, Ersta Sköndal Bräcke University College
Pelle Åberg, Associate Professor in Political Science, Ersta Sköndal Bräcke University College
Chair, reference group: Staffan I Lindberg
Project manager at the EBA: Markus Burman