Assessment and Evaluation

Strategic Evaluation of the Austrian Development Agency’s Human Rights-Based Approach

Client

Austrian Development Agency

Location

Global

Date

2020 - 2021

IOD PARC undertook a strategic evaluation of the application of the Austrian Development Agency’s (ADA) human rights-based approach (HRBA) from 2016 to 2020.

The evaluation assessed the timeliness and adequacy of the Agency’s HRBA to identify what was needed to develop and advance application across the approach’s three levels:

1. human rights as a principle
2. promotion and protection of human rights as an intervention area
3. human rights as a component of political dialogue

The evaluation provided further insights into how the HRBA and mainstreaming of gender equality were combined into a complementary framework; and how the HRBA was integrated into the planning and implementation of strategic evaluations.

The evaluation used a mixed-method, non-experimental approach and applied elements of a rights-based approach. The evaluation was conducted exclusively online due to travel restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Over 130 individuals participated in semi-structured key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and a mixed qualitative and quantitative survey.

A qualitative review was carried out for ADA key documents, with further qualitative and quantitative systematic content analysis on a sample of 32 projects in four priority countries: Ethiopia, Kosovo, Palestinian Territories, and Uganda.

The team produced a final report containing key findings, conclusions and medium to long-term recommendations and good practice examples within ADA. An infographic briefing was developed to disseminate the evaluations’ key findings and recommendations alongside a webinar for ADA staff.

Read the report here.