End-term Evaluation of the Olof Palme International Center’s Civil Society Programme in the Democratic Republic of Congo, 2021–2026
The Olof Palme International Centersought the services of Bodmando Consulting Group to conduct an end-term evaluation of its civil society programme in the Democratic Republic of Congo, implemented from 2021 to 2026.
The purpose of the end-term evaluation was to assess the extent to which the programme had achieved its stated goals and objectives, examine the effectiveness of the Palme Center’s technical approach, document lessons learned, and provide forward-looking recommendations for the next programme phase.
The specific objectives of the evaluation were to:
The evaluation utilized a participatory qualitative approach and relied on both primary and secondary data sources to gather information. Bodmando applied an enhanced Most Significant Change (MSC) methodology, building on the mid-term exercise by generating in-depth change stories with clear attribution to partner-led activities and explicit links between individual change and programme outcomes.
The Bodmando consultants conducted a comprehensive review and analysis of existing project documents, carried out 6 Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with representatives from the Palme Center and its partner organisations, and conducted 3 facilitated storytelling workshops with beneficiaries and partners.
The evaluation documented significant changes across key domains, including knowledge and skills, behaviours and practices, empowerment and agency, community relationships and collaboration, and unexpected or unintended outcomes. The approach was participatory and stakeholder-centred, engaging partner organisations, rights holders, Palme Center staff, and other relevant stakeholders.
Bodmando’s evaluation unlocked critical value by providing a comprehensive and evidence-based assessment of the programme’s progress, effectiveness, and contribution to behavioural and organisational change among civil society organisations, alliances, and rights holders.
Using an enhanced Most Significant Change approach, Bodmando not only documented significant changes experienced by programme stakeholders but also assessed how partner-led activities contributed to these changes and clarified the Palme Center’s role in capacity building and coordination. The evaluation found significant progress across all five political priorities, with particularly strong results observed among partners, alliances, and rights holders.
Through the participatory approach, Bodmando identified lessons learned, strengthened the evidence base for future programming, and provided forward-looking recommendations to guide the design of the next programme phase.
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