End-of-projects evaluation of International Civil Society Centre’s 2018–2020 extension programmes:

The current evaluation considers of Sida’s support to two International Civil Society Centre’s (ICSC) 2018–2020 extension programmes:
“Dynamic Accountability for a Resilient Civil Society” (2018-2019) and “Resilient Civil Society in Times of Scrutiny”
(2019–2020). The extension projects follow from a previous Sida-supported Global Standard for Civil Society Organisation (CSO)
Accountability Project – implemented by ICSC from 2015–2018 – but included a range of other activities and outputs designed to
increase CSO resilience. The projects are assessed as relevant to both Sida’s strategies and policies for support to civil society and
to the issues facing civil society globally, most notably the increasingly shrinking civic space. Most activities anticipated under the
projects were successfully implemented and there are indications that they are contributing to anticipated outcomes, although
some outputs have only recently been completed and their contribution to outcomes remains to be seen. Similarly, while the Global
Standard is being increasingly referred to by the OECD and European Union (amongst others) that might potentially lead to impact,
it is too soon for any real impact to be expected. Levels of sustainability of the Global Standard are increasing, but other ICSC
activities remain dependent on Sida funding. While none of the activities and outputs under the two extension projects have a
specific focus on gender equality and non-discrimination, the Global Standard has a commitment specifically focused on women’s
rights and gender equality and ICSC is increasingly focusing on issues of inclusion.