DevCon has carried out an external evaluation of the project “Strengthening Civil Society and Democratic Culture in the Tuzla Canton”, implemented by the Tuzla Community Foundation (TCF) in partnership with the Network of Active Communities, with the support of the Freudenberg Foundation and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The project was implemented from July 2022 to April 2026 across Tuzla Canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The objective of the evaluation was to assess the relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, impact and sustainability of the project, with particular emphasis on strengthening the capacities of civil society organisations and the establishment of the Centre for Democracy and Active Citizenship (CDAC). The evaluation also examined collaboration and governance, gender mainstreaming, the achievement of project indicators, and the extent to which the intervention responded to the needs of its target groups and the wider civic sector.
The evaluation considered the project’s contribution to strengthening civil society and youth participation, developing the capacities of civil society organizations, supporting community-level engagement, and creating structures for networking, advocacy and democratic participation. Particular attention was given to the role and future potential of the Centre for Democracy and Active Citizenship as a resource and networking center for civil society organizations, young people and other project stakeholders.
DevCon’s evaluation approach followed a participatory, results-oriented methodology combining quantitative and qualitative evidence. The assessment incorporated desk research, stakeholder interviews, field visits and consultations, with the evaluation engaging direct and indirect target groups, institutional stakeholders, project partners and the project management team. The methodology was aligned with the OECD/DAC evaluation criteria and included a gender-sensitive and participatory approach.
The evaluation provided an evidence-based assessment of the project’s achievements and challenges, including the factors influencing its implementation and sustainability. It also identified lessons learned and recommendations for future interventions aimed at strengthening civil society, empowering vulnerable groups and further developing democratic participation and active citizenship in Tuzla Canton.
Through this assignment, DevCon contributed its expertise in independent evaluation, results-based assessment and development cooperation, supporting the project partners in understanding the results and longer-term potential of their intervention and in informing the design of future initiatives in the field of civil society and democratic development.
