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Key Findings from Final Evaluation of EU’s Civil Society Fund III in Ethiopia Published 2026-05-18 16:56:37 |
| The final evaluation of the Civil Society Fund III (CSF III) in Ethiopia has been officially published, offering a comprehensive assessment of the EU-funded program’s impact on civil society, governance, and inclusive development. The report, now available through the European Commission’s International Partnerships publication library, was conducted by a team including evaluation expert Gebrye Kefelew. It analyzes the fund’s performance across key criteria: relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, sustainability, and EU added value. Critical Lessons for Development Programming While the evaluation recognizes progress made in strengthening civil society organizations—particularly the Agency for Civil Society Organizations (ACSO) and the Ethiopian Civil Society Organizations Council (ECSOC)—it highlights a crucial finding for future initiatives. The report concludes that technical capacity building alone is insufficient without simultaneously developing stronger sustainability measures and adaptive monitoring systems. This lesson is positioned as vital for future EU programming, policy dialogue, and program design in Ethiopia. The evaluation serves as an evidence-based learning resource, offering insights on enhancing citizen participation, local accountability, and creating more responsive and sustainable development practices. Acknowledgment of Collaborative Effort Gebrye Kefelew, who shared the news on LinkedIn, noted that the publication “highlights its value as an evidence-based learning resource for future partnership.” Colleagues involved in the process also congratulated the team, with one reference group member remarking that even their minimal engagement with the process proved to be a “valuable experience.” The publication of the final evaluation marks a formal step in the CSF III program cycle, intended to inform the design of future civil society support mechanisms in Ethiopia. Access the Report The full final evaluation of CSF III Ethiopia can be accessed via the European Commission’s publication library: https://lnkd.in/eqY2QAq4 |