MEDIA DEVELOPMENT

Evaluation Report
Executive summary Namibia
Accessing and sharing information: Community radio
networks and the Media and Information Literacy
Learning Initiative (MiLLi) in Namibia

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Background
Namibia ranks first among African states in the press freedom index
published by Reporters without Borders with a “satisfactory situation”. Despite freedom of expression being enshrined in the Namibian Constitution, the current legal framework on freedom of information for citizens and the media is inadequate. The poorer populationgroups’ possibilities for accessing balanced information to form andexpress opinions remain limited in remote regions of the country,
which is characterised by an extremely unequal distribution of income and wealth and very low population density. For Namibia's disadvantaged majority the multilingual radio programmes of the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) are often the only available
source of information. In recent years, social media has provided an
important platform for young Namibians to exchange views. During
the period under review, the Namibian economy was shaken by itsworst crisis since independence, which also resulted in drastic budget
cuts by the Namibian government in categories relevant for project
partners of the DW Akademie.
The subject of this evaluation was the country project of the DW Akademie in Namibia, which has been financed by the German Federal
Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The period under review was the current three-year project term, which willterminate in December 2018. For the period March to December 2018a prospective assessment was made. In the retrospective analysis,
the one-year initial phase in 2015 was also taken into account.
Project objective 1 aimed at giving specifically young people inremote regions of Namibia access or improved access to information relevant to their communities and at supporting their interaction on the radio and in social networks. To achieve this goal, theDW Akademie cooperated with the Namibian network of community radios, the Namibia Community Broadcasting Network (NCBN),
as well as directly with selected community radios. Complementarily, the state broadcaster NBC was supported in producing media
products for young users in rural areas in various languages and inactively involving young people in programming by means of participatory multimedia formats. Project objective 2 aimed at enabling
young people in remote regions to use media responsibly throughthe Media Information Literacy Learning Initiative (MiLLi), which wasestablished specifically for this purpose. In cooperation with theDepartment of Media, Arts and Technology Studies (MATS) at theCollege of the Arts (CotA), the DW Akademie supported the trainingof multipliers who imparted their media competence in local youth
projects. Under the regionally orientated project objective 3, the DW
Akademie supported the public visibility of the Media Institute ofSouthern Africa (MISA) through the development of a web-based
communication portal and the joint implementation of awarenesscampaigns on freedom of the press and information. Until its closure due to financial problems, the DW Akademie cooperated with
the Regional Secretariat of MISA in Windhoek. As a result of the closure of the Regional Secretariat, DW Akademie worked directly withvarious National MISA Chapters in Southern Africa.
A theory-based evaluation design was chosen. The main methodological approach used was contribution analysis. Since contribution anal-ysis focusses on the results logic, it was particularly suitable as an evaluation basis for the OECD/DAC evaluation criteria effectiveness andoverarching developmental results (impact). The OECD/DAC criteria
relevance, efficiency and sustainability and the BMZ evaluation criterion coherence, complementarity and coordination were assessed bydesk studies, semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions
with target groups as well as self-evaluations by the DW Akademie'scountry team. For the DAC criteria a rating system with a 5-point scale
is used: 1) comprehensively fulfilled, 2) generally fulfilled, 3) partially
fulfilled, 4) minimally fulfilled and 5) not fulfilled at all.
In addition, for the first time in the Africa evaluations key questions
were asked, which explicitly focus on digital aspects of the projects:
D1) Digital collaboration, D2) Digital relevance and D3) Digital security. For these digital questions, no assessment was required, but only
a section in the report with an inventory and, if appropriate, recommendations. The construction of the questionnaire was based on thekey questions agreed during the kick-off workshop. They are in linewith the key knowledge interest of the DW Akademie.

Conclusions of the project evaluation
The development effectiveness of the project has been rated asfollows:
The relevance criterion is given the rating "comprehensively fulfilled". During the period under review, the DW Akademie was by
far the most important and reliable international agency in the areaof media promotion in Namibia. In accordance with the objectivesof the Namibian government's National Youth Policy, the project
identified the relevant target groups with its programmatic focus on
young people in remote regions. The DW Akademie aimed at solving the core problems of these target groups. In its strategic andoperational orientation, the project has successfully dealt with thechanged framework conditions, in particular with the closure of theRegional Secretariat of MISA.
The effectiveness criterion is given the rating "generally fulfilled".
The results logic of the project is predominately conclusive. Most
indicators showed deficits with regard to their compliance with theSMART quality criteria. From a methodological point of view, they
were only conditionally suitable for assessing the effectiveness ofthe project. The level of ambition of the objectives was only partially appropriate. Project objectives 1 and 2 were achievable, but formulations lacked precision. The non-specific formulation of project
objective 3 offered little evidence to plausibly demonstrate the contribution of activities of the DW Akademie to achieving the objective,
which has been formulated in a very general manner.
The impact (overarching developmental results) criterion is given
the rating "generally fulfilled". As they refer to the usage by target
groups, project objectives 1 and 2 and the regional overall objective
are de facto to be allocated to the same results level. There is a conceptual gap between project objective 3 and the overall objective.
Since overarching developmental results are long-term in nature,
the contribution of a new project can be predicted rather than observed at this point in time. However, focus group discussions with

target groups have already shown that theproject approach of the DW Akademie isvery suitable for achieving broad impact.
However, the institutional weaknesses ofthe project partners can only be absorbed toa limited extent by the DW Akademie with itsclearly defined mandate.
The efficiency criterion is given the rating"comprehensively fulfilled". The local office structures simplified and accelerated
administrative processes and the coordination of activities with project partners. Since
budget allocations were made according topotential-analytical criteria and based on interim results, a balanced cost-benefit ratio
can be established. Additionally, the project
partners made substantial contributions of
their own.
The sustainability criterion is given the rating "comprehensively fulfilled". In the design
and implementation of the project, sustainability aspects and corresponding risks weretaken into account. The approach of cooperation was adapted to the specific needs andpossibilities of the project partners. During
the period under review, the DW Akademie
focussed on institutionalizing the measuresamong the project partners and on making
them financially independent.

The criterion of coherence, complementarity and coordination is given the rating"comprehensively fulfilled". Coordination
with the UNESCO was beneficial and advantageous. The identification of cooperation
opportunities with other implementing
agencies of German development cooperation was partner-oriented. On a regionallevel, the work areas of the DW Akademie
and fesmedia of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftungwere clearly defined due to the different
mandates.
The project used digital applications for
project management and results-basedmonitoring. The digital challenges of project partners were recorded and taken into
account when designing and implementingactivities. The project managed the digital
data of its office and that of the project partners responsibly.

DW Akademie

is Germany’s leading organization
for media development and Deutsche
Welle’s center of excellence foreducation and knowledge transfer.
As a strategic partner of Germany’s
Federal Ministry for Economic
Cooperation and Development westrengthen the universal humanrights of free expression, education,and access to information.

Contact

Dr. Jan Lublinski
Head Research and Evaluation
jan.lublinski@dw.com
53113 BonnGermany
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The objective of the external evaluation is to provide a constructive assessment of the project results. It does not necessarily align with theperspective and planning of DW Akademie. Nevertheless, all findings were discussed in order to allow lessons learned to be incorporated into
the development of future strategies.