Technical Note Health, SRHR, Environment, Climate change and Biodiversity

Purpose and use
This evaluation of Phase One of the Challenging the Politics of Social Exclusion (CPSE) project (2018–2024) assesses achievements, challenges, and lessons to inform future research-to-policy programming. It supports design and implementation of CPSE 2.0 (2024–2027), focusing on relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability. Primary users include APHRC leadership, CPSE staff, and Sida Africa region staff.

Conclusion
CPSE 1.0 advanced policy commitments on SRHR and social inclusion, strengthened partnerships, and produced relevant research. However, gaps in monitoring, planning, and stakeholder engagement limit scalability. The project’s MEL system and knowledge management lacked structure, and the absence of a medium-term strategy hindered sustainability.

Recommendation
CPSE 2.0 should adopt a medium-term strategic plan, clarify roles across its three pillars, and improve MEL systems. A Partner Map and typology should guide collaboration, while systems thinking and joint programming can enhance impact. Innovative financing and operational engagement with decisionmakers
are key to sustaining progress.

Purpose and Use:
This Mid-Term Evaluation of AFR100 Phase I (Dec 2020–May 2023) was commissioned to inform dialogue between Sida, WRI, and AUDA-NEPAD. It assessed implementation progress, identified effective strategies and gaps, and supported Sida’s broader strategic decision-making on biodiversity and sustainable land use in Africa.

Conclusion:
The Sida intervention was relevant and helped move AFR100 from mobilisation to implementation. While outputs were delivered, limited time, weak focal point capacity, and insufficient domestic funding hindered outcome-level progress. Collaboration was stronger at the continental level but lacked structure and sustainability downstream. Monitoring and learning systems were underdeveloped, reducing effectiveness and uptake of results.

Recommendations:
Revise the Theory of Change to clarify the community-level pathway; improve collaboration through a long-term strategy; strengthen national platforms and focal point capacity; enhance data use and knowledge management; update the communication strategy; and integrate tools into national plans while developing partnerships for programme sustainability.