Towards measurable results:

A challenge for Organized Civil Society and co-financing organizations like HIVOS

Publication date: Thursday 03 February 2005

This paper starts with a brief introduction on Hivos, a Dutch co-financing development agency. Subsequently, the evaluation policy of the organization in relation to its partners is analyzed. Then the results of an impact evaluation of the co- financing program in the field of civil society strengthening are briefly presented. This evaluation was carried out between 1998 and 2002 in Nicaragua. From that evaluation, several conclusions are derived for Hivos and its civil society partners, considering the current context and also in relation to the subject of the orientation toward results(measurement).

Erik Niijland has an MSC in human geography and a MBA. He is the Director of the Hivos Regional Office for Central America since the year 2000. Previously, he has worked in Honduras, Peru, Bolivia, Uganda and Nepal for different Dutch development cooperation organizations.

Irene Visser is an Environmental Engineer, specialized in the processes of technical innovations. She workes within Hivos’ central office and is in charge of evaluations and in coordination with the platform of co-financing organizations in the Netherlands. Previously, she worked during 4 years in a applied research centre in Chile.