Abstract
This evaluation assesses the performance of the Somalia Legislative Strengthening and Elections and Political Processes Program. The program seeks to strengthen local and national capacity to promote good governance, a core component of USAID's strategy in the region. This three-year cooperative agreement was implemented by the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening III (CEPPS III); the two implementing organizations for the CEPPS/Somalia award are the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the International Republican Institute (IRI). The program had seven objectives -- three for Somaliland to be implemented by IRI and four for South-Central Somalia and Puntland to be implemented by NDI. The evaluators' findings and recommendations are summarized in response to three key evaluation questions: (1) were the development hypotheses that shaped the CEPPS/Somalia program design clearly articulated and justified, and do they remain valid for the current Somalia context and objectives; (2) has CEPPS/Somalia achieved the objectives described in the 2010 Cooperative Agreement and subsequent modifications, [and] have there been other notable achievements not anticipated in program, objectives and design; and (3) were the operational structures and implementation practices of the CEPPS/Somalia partner organizations effectively and efficiently contributing to achieving the project objectives? Findings, conclusions and recommendations are provided as detailed analysis by the evaluators. Annex VI is the CEPPS Statement of Differences in response to the findings, conclusions and recommendations put forward by the IBTCI evaluation team. (Excerpt, modified)