Inclusion for peace activity performance evaluation : final evaluation report

The IPA’s approach aims to: • Improve the capacities of the government and civil society organizations; • Increase income and access to economic opportunities; • Promote awareness and respect for ethnic diversity; and • Provide humanitarian assistance. The purpose of this evaluation is to examine the intervention’s results, effectiveness, and challenges, considering Colombia’s current context. The evaluation used mixed methods supplemented with collaboration, learning, and adapting (CLA) techniques to facilitate communication and geographic information system (GIS) visualization tools. The qualitative methodology included analyzing the phenomenology of perception of beneficiary groups and the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis based on semi-structured interviews with various actors. The quantitative methodology included impact measurement techniques, social experiments of behavioral economics, statistical inference, descriptive statistics, and multiple correspondence analysis using administrative records and field surveys. The evaluation’s main conclusion is that the activity shows favorable results in institutional strengthening, social and economic inclusion, and improved recognition and respect for Colombia’s Afro-Colombian and indigenous communities’ cultural identity and heritage. However, the evaluation also identified several significant challenges and opportunities for improvement regarding the operational context and the design and implementation of its tools and interventions. We propose 34 distinct recommendations and implementation measures to address those challenges and opportunities