Swiss - Latvian Cooperation Programme

NGO FundEvaluation of the Grant Scheme

Sandra RiekstaDeputy Director

Society Integration Foundationwww.sif.lv

www.swiss-contribution.lv

Contents

1) Statistical information

2) Impact on target groups

3) Sustainability of projects

4) Recommendations

2

Key Facts

Aim: promote contribution of civil society into reduction of economic and social disparities by supporting NGO activities that improve the quality of life for children, youth and elderly people.

Target groups:• socially and economically disadvantaged children and young people;• elderly people;• NGOs working with the respective target groups.

Total financing: 3 623 530 CHF

Implementation period: April 2010 – April 2013

Number of projects: 62 projects, including:• 41 micro projects (10 000 - 49 999 CHF, grant 95% of total eligible costs);• 21 macro projects (50 000 - 200 000 CHF, grant 90% of total eligible

costs).

Grant scheme evaluation: performed by DEA Baltika, March-June 2013.

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Target Groups

Direct target groups:

•14 483 socially and economically disadvantaged children and young people (70% of the total amount)

•6 216 elderly people (30%)

•191 NGOs working with the above-mentioned target groups

Indirect target groups:

•Parents and family members (>318)

•Teachers (>392)

•Social field specialists (70)

•Volunteers (126)

Projects by target groups Children and young people

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Regional Coverage

Target groups by geographical distributionProjects by geographical distribution

Programme financing per regions Programme financing per capita

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Partnerships

Number of partners:

•57 other associations and foundations

•68 public administration institutions

•19 partners from Switzerland (18 NGOs and 1 educational establishment)

Number of projects:

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Project Activities

For target groups:•Development and improvement of social services•Informal education activities•Inclusive cultural and leisure time activities•Active aging and health improving measures for elderly people•Training for social field specialists•Informative materials

For NGOs:•Capacity strengthening activities•Improvement of technical resources

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Impact on Children and Young People

Impact on Elderly People

9

Impact on NGOs

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Sustainability

• Improved regulations (amendments in the regulation of the Riga Council regarding group home services for young orphans with mental disabilities)

• Improved skills of social workers and other social field specialists

• Developed programmes and informative materials

• Improved technical resources of NGOs for provision of services to their target groups

• Improved self-help skills of the target groups

• Improved support systems for the target groups (assistant services for people with mental disabilities)

• Promoted «person to person» approach thus fostering development of civil society

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Recommendations of Project Promoters

• Support development of new social services

• Delegate more tasks of public administration to the non-governmental sector

• Continue co-operation with organisations from the donor state

• Replace co-funding of project promoters by in-kind contribution (voluntary work)

• Prolong implementation period of projects

• Expand areas of support

• Expand target groups

• Support informal education activities for children and teenagers

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Recommendations of Evaluators

• Continue a similar grant scheme maintaining its current set-up

• Base future grant schemes on a more detailed needs analysis of the target groups

• Diversify activities for target groups

• Continue co-operation with Swiss organisations

• Involve representatives of the target groups in implementation of project activities

• Expand co-operation with municipalities

• Ensure feedback from the supported NGOs

• Promote the results of the projects

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Thank you for your attention! E-mail: sandra.rieksta@sif.lv

Tel.: + 371 67078225