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Ex-post Evaluation of the Impact of Countering Violent Extremism Programs in Nigeria
Client
An international fund dedicated to preventing violent extremism by supporting locally-led initiatives in vulnerable communities.
Countries
Nigeria
Services
End-to-end research, assessments and evaluations
Team
Cordelia Chiagozie, Shireen Issa, Blessing Olandunjoye, Safoora Wajahat, Paul Clewett, Miralyne Zeghnoune
Start Date
June 1, 2023
Thematic Area
Peacebuilding & Social Cohesion, Livelihoods, Social Inclusion & Protection
Methods
In-person focus group discussions, Key informant interviews, Field observation, Desk research / Literature review, Sense making workshop, Structured desk review, In-person structured surveys
Project Summary
The Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF) is the only global fund dedicated to preventing violent extremism (PVE). It connects local communities to global resources, supporting grassroots initiatives that are typically out of reach for international donors.
GCERF's 2019 Reinvestment Strategy guided investments in projects led by three local NGOs in four northern states in Nigeria. The projects aimed to strengthen social cohesion, sense of purpose and agency, while providing economic opportunities to youth at risk of recruitment into violent extremism.
Two years after the projects ended, they required a research partner with both a strong local presence in Nigeria and access to international experts in P/CVE to deliver an ex-post evaluation, assessing the projects' relevance, impact and sustainability, with emphasis on the potential for successful activities to scale and replicate.
Nurai conducted a comprehensive evaluation of major investments aimed at strengthening social cohesion, creating economic opportunities for youth, and reducing the risk of extremist recruitment. Our approach included:
946 structured in-person and phone surveys
12 focus group discussions with local communities
50 in-depth interviews with beneficiaries, community leaders, and government officials
We delivered a detailed report including four case studies outlining the program's successes, challenges, and recommendations for future investments.
Client Review
"The implementation approach was impressive, especially how you [juggled] multiple components of the programme."