Publications

Development cooperation in fragile states entails major challenges. To make effective use of the resources made available in the policy field, demanding strategic and operational measures are required, and special efforts on impact measurement and evidence-based policy design are equally necessary. Against this backdrop, a focus of DEval’s work in recent years has been the evaluation and analysis of German development cooperation measures in fragile states.

• Faust, J., A. Kocks, T. Wencker (eds) (2023), Under Challenging Conditions. Development Cooperation in Fragile States, Focus Report, German Institute for Development Evaluation (DEval), Bonn.

Given the large number of crises and conficts worldwide, it is important to learn from past and current engagements in fragile contexts in order to make positive results replicable and avoid mistakes. The fndings of the joint ministerial evaluation of the German government's civil engagement in Afghanistan demonstrate what can be learned from this engagement, which was unprecedented both fnancially and in terms of human resources. These lessons can be applied in future operations in highly fragile contexts affected by violent confict. This policy brief presents key findings and recommendations of this joint ministerial evaluation.

• Hartmann, C., M. Weeger, A. Lange and K. Mielke (2024), Learning from Germany´s Civil Engagement in Afghanistan, DEval Policy Brief 3/2024, German Institute for Development Evaluation (DEval), Bonn and German Police University (DHPol), Münster.

Angesichts der großen Zahl von Krisen und Konfikten weltweit ist es wichtig, aus vergangenen und laufenden Engagements in fragilen Kontexten zu lernen, um Erfolge wiederholbar zu machen und Fehler zu vermeiden. Die Erkenntnisse der ressortgemeinsamen Evaluierung des zivilen Engagements der Bundesregierung in Afghanistan zeigen, was aus dem bis dato finanziell wie personell beispiellosen deutschen Engagement für zukünftige Einsätze in hochfragilen und von Gewaltkonflikten geprägten Kontexten gelernt werden kann. In diesem Policy Brief werden die zentralen Ergebnisse und Empfehlungen der Evaluierung vorgestellt.

• Hartmann, C., M. Weeger, A. Lange und K. Mielke (2024), Lernen aus dem zivilen Engagement in Afghanistan, DEval Policy Brief 3/2024, Deutsches Evaluierungsinstitut der Entwicklungszusammenarbeit (DEval), Bonn und Deutsche Hochschule der Polizei (DHPol), Münster.

Development cooperation is one of the few policy fields where evaluation is deeply institutionalised as an important component in the policy cycle. Independence, utility and credibility are overarching principles that guide both evaluation criteria as well as processes. Still, a challenge exists in how to adequately strengthen the role of partner countries in the evaluation of development cooperation. This policy brief suggests a framework for analysis, consisting of four interdependent dimensions which should be carefully considered: a partner dimension, a process dimension, an intensity dimension and a capacity dimension. Using such a framework allows to develop tailor-made reforms for diferent types of evaluations as well as organisations instead of proclaiming one overarching normative blueprint.

• Faust, J. (2024), Strengthening the Role of Partner Countries in Evaluating Development Cooperation: A Framework for Analysis, DEval Policy Brief 2/2024, German Institute for Development Evaluation (DEval), Bonn.

The right to sexual and reproductive well-being forms a tenet of human rights, yet challenges to achieving equitable sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) persist, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (L&MICs). Some of these challenges are starkly reflected in high rates of gender-based violence (GBV), preventable maternal deaths during labor and childbirth, unsafe abortions, and child marriage. SRHR programs and policies can be powerful catalysts to empower individuals, address harmful gender norms, and improve service availability and quality. However, the evidence base on the effects of such SRHR interventions in L&MICs remains fragmented by topic or population. A comprehensive mapping of the available evidence is a critical step towards consolidating knowledge of programs that aim to strengthen SRHR in L&MICs. This evidence gap map includes over 1,000 studies on SRHR programs across the world and includes studies for people in challenging situations such as conflict or experiencing vulnerability in exercising rights or availing services.

• Khan L., T. Kozakiewicz, M. Bhattacharyya, T. Azim, M. Schmidt, T. Polak, B. Snilstveit, S. Shisler (2024). Sexual and reproductive health and rights in low- and middle-income countries: An evidence gap map, 3ie Evidence Gap Map Report 31. New Delhi: International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie).

The right to sexual and reproductive well-being is a human right, yet challenges to achieving sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) persist, especially in low- and middle-income countries (L&MICs). SRHR policies and programs can empower individuals, address harmful gender norms and promote universal access to services. However, the evidence base on the effects of programs in L&MICs is fragmented by topic or population. A comprehensive mapping of the evidence is a critical step towards consolidating knowledge of programs that aim to strengthen SRHR in L&MICs. The German Institute for Development Evaluation, with support from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and additional funding from Co-Impact, commissioned the International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie) to produce an evidence gap map (EGM) for SRHR in L&MICs. The map visually organizes SRHR studies to highlight evidence gaps and inform future research.

• Khan L., T. Kozakiewicz, M. Bhattacharyya, T. Azim, M. Schmidt, T. Polak, B. Snilstveit, S. Shisler (2024). Sexual and reproductive health and rights in low- and middle-income countries: An evidence gap map, 3ie Evidence Gap Map Report 31. New Delhi: International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie).