Welcome Moment VLIR-UOS- scholars

1. Welcome Moment VLIR-UOS-scholars Ellen Van Himbergen

2. Contents • Report on the Belgiansituation : fightfor funds and a securedfuture • Evaluation of university cooperation fordevelopment

3. 1. Report on the Belgiansituation (2011-2013) VLIR-UOS CIUF-CUD Both, so far, exclusivelyfunded by the federal state, Belgianministryfordevelopment cooperation : ± 35 mio EUR / year

4. Two “lost” years : 2011-2013

10. Budgets 2011-2013 • Very late decision on budget • Impact on implementation of activities / spendingrate • 2013 : “horror” • UntilmidJuly 2013 : 67% budget, budget cut of 11 mio EUR, very hard decision • MidJuly 2013 : release of 33% + structural solution for the “political” problem

11. Impact (2013) • Internalconflicts : • Universities/university colleges • umbrellaorganisation/split budget per university • highereducation/basic education • south/northprogrammes • fundingprogrammeforforeignstudents, … • Damagetoongoingprojects; delays; low spendingrate • Damagetoreputation, in Belgium andabroad : governments, universities, academics, ….

12. What was at risk ? • Autonomy of the academic sector • Scientificfreedom– right toinitiate • Open calls, competitive peer basedselection • Cooperation model : beyond borders of countries, institutions, disciplines • Budget • VLIR-UOS as organisation

13. Whatsavedus ? • Activism of allinvolved • Politicalpressure (formalandinformal) • Media pressure • Legal arguments • Prospect of budget cut, felt at the level of the Flemish universitiesanduniversity colleges But : • No public debate (parliament) • Overall trend worldwide

14. 2014-2016 Budget 2014 : • big budget cut in development cooperation, already in 2012 and 2013, yetagain in 2014 • at the level of 2009, although 0,7% BNP committed • Surprisinglynot in “indirect cooperation” (!!) • Calls for 2013 and 2014 : combined, in very short period of time • Belgiandevelopment cooperation • New structureforcoordinationamong non-governmental actors tobe set up • Joint context analyses per country • Accreditation procedure

15. First priority for VLIR-UOS • Pacification, restauration of confidencewithin the entirenetwork • Return to “normal” cycles of calls, selections • Return tonormalambitiontocontinuouslyoptimizeconcepts, formats andframeworks, … throughconsultation, benchmarks, studies,….

16. Lessonslearned • Diversification of funds • Communication strategy

17. Prioritiesfor the yearstocome • Diversification of funds • Multiactor projects • Communication strategy • Country strategies / programme / platforms • Platforms for exchange of information / cooperation • Risk management • Organisationalstructure

18. Elections in 2014 • What next ????

19. 2. Evaluation of university cooperation fordevelopment • Evaluation policy • Project / programmeevaluation : • Ex ante : selection • Midtermevaluation • End of programmeevaluation • Thematicevaluations • Methodology : • Logicalframework approach • Self-evaluation + externalevaluation • Project specific indicators + KRA + soft indicators (partnership, cooperation)

20. 2. Evaluation of university cooperation fordevelopment • Mainoutcomes • Resultshighlydependentupon context; needtoadapttoolbox • Longterm commitment is key issue • Focus on partnership • Localownership is a challenge • Upscaling impact throughsynergy / complementaritywithother actors remains a challenge

21. 2. Evaluation of university cooperation fordevelopment • Lessonslearned/ new policy lines • Toolboxdifferentiation • Country strategyidentification • Personal assessment • Failing cooperation, hard to fix • “Volunteers”, discipline experts, not experts in change management … • Value for money • Context : enabling environment, howtoinfluence ?

22. Kristien Verbrugghen Kristien.verbrugghen@vliruos.be www.vliruos.be