Civil Society and Media Activity Mid-term Performance Evaluation

The Activity supported local civil society and media organizations to influence laws, policies, processes, practices, and services affecting the people of Burma. The Activity worked effectively to influence laws and policies, with some civil society grantees offering recommendations to the government on a national scale and others contributing to action on the local level. All media grantees produced content to raise awareness about priorities of public interest, with some contributing to action by State/Region and local governments. However, government entities do not openly recognize media as influencing their decisions and actions. The Activity increased the quantity of content produced by media grantees, particularly in periphery areas, and had some success in increasing exchange of information between urban and rural areas. However, most examples are not related to Union-level democratic reform issues. The Activity's influence on an improved media enabling environment has been limited, given the restrictive operating environment and constriction in Burma's press freedoms. The Activity advanced inclusivity by funding and building the capacity of organizations that promote rights for ethnic minorities; women; youth; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer individuals; and people with disabilities. The Activity's programmatic effectiveness and contributions to democratic processes were assessed through a mixed-methods, mid-term performance evaluation. The evaluation focused on the Activity's programmatic effectiveness and contributions to democratic processes, as well as its impact on inclusivity of vulnerable groups. The evaluation methodology included document review, direct observation, key informant interviews, and a mini-survey. The evaluation found that the Activity had some success in increasing exchange of information between urban and rural areas, but its influence on an improved media enabling environment has been limited. The Activity's findings and conclusions were presented in response to four evaluation questions. Question 1 focused on the Activity's programmatic effectiveness, with findings indicating that the Activity worked effectively to influence laws and policies. Question 2 focused on the Activity's contributions to democratic processes, with findings indicating that the Activity had some success in increasing exchange of information between urban and rural areas. The Activity's recommendations for USAID/Burma included increasing support for civil society and media organizations, particularly in periphery areas. The Activity's recommendations for the CSM Activity included improving the Activity's influence on an improved media enabling environment and increasing the Activity's focus on Union-level democratic reform issues.