Sectors:
- Humanitarian assistance
- Governance, Partnerships and Organizational Development
Countries:
- Gambia
Following the 22 years of dictatorship by President Yahya Abdul-Aziz Jemus Junkung Jammeh, the Secretary General’s Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) acted as one of the first responders in The Gambia to support a peaceful transition in the country. Between 2017 and 2022, the PBF provided a total investment of USD$ 30,913,673 through 16 projects. The PBF and the Peacebuilding Support Office (PBSO) commissioned Universalia to do an independent portfolio evaluation of these investments and projects. The evaluation was learning and accountability-focused following the OECD-DAC criteria, as well as PBF-specific criteria such as conflict-sensitivity, gender and youth-responsive/-sensitive, and risk and innovation assessments. Part of the portfolio evaluation’s methodology included an in-depth review of a sample of six projects and a seven-day field mission to The Gambia. While the evaluation fulfills PBF’s internal monitoring and evaluation policies, this portfolio evaluation is also timely in that it will also serve as one of several important inputs into The Gambia’s re-eligibility process for continued support from the PBF.
Universalia evaluated the PBF’s portfolio between 2017 and 2022 in The Gambia based on the OECD DAC Criteria (Relevance, Coherence and Complementarity, Effectiveness, Sustainability, and Efficiency) and PBF-specific criteria (Conflict-sensitivity, Gender and Youth-responsive/-sensitive, and Risk and Innovation). The Evaluation Team developed a sampling strategy to select a sample of six projects that were reflective of the overall portfolio. The Team utilized a mixed methods approach and conducted virtual and in-person interviews/focus groups with a seven-day field mission to The Gambia. In addition to delivering two reports (Inception and Final Evaluation Reports), the Team also gave two presentations (Validation Workshop and Final Presentation) and drafted a Communications Story summarizing the evaluation process for the UN PBF Communications Team.