Terminal Evaluation of the Capacity Building Program (CBP) for East African National Commissions for UNESCO 2009-2012

Abstract

National Commissions for UNESCO (NATCOMS) are the bridges between UNESCO and Member States. They vary in formation, capacity and ability. Therefore, their ability to perform their important roles and responsibilities also varies. In recognition of their important role the German National Commission chose to partner with UNESCO to promote the building of the capacity of African National Commissions. In 2008, the German Commission for UNESCO launched the Partnership Program with the African National Commissions in Bonn, Germany. To kick-start the program, UNESCO, and the German Commission for UNESCO identified five countries in Africa to serve as regional hubs for the programme. These countries are; Lesotho, Madagascar, Mali, Namibia and Rwanda. The Secretaries-General of these countries were invited for a 10-day preparatory workshop in Bonn and Berlin, Germany to orient them into the programme. The purpose of the workshop was to decide on what strategy to be adopted for the implementation of the Partnership Program. During the workshop, the participating National Commissions in partnership with the German Commission for UNESCO and UNESCO Secretariat developed, a strategy for the future cooperation and a roadmap stating the objectives of this cooperation. The roadmap identified five areas of importance under the partnership. These were; Institutional capacity-building, Training of individual staff members, sharing of strategic and technical know-how, targeted Interventions and financial support for projects, especially those pertaining to the core functions of National Commissions. As a follow up to this workshop, regional workshops for capacity-building among National Commissions were organized in Rwanda, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mali and Cameroon between October 2008 and May 2009, for Secretaries General and their deputies.