The Education Support Program has commissioned a study to assess the extent to which the objectives of the RE:FINE (Resourcing Education: Fund for Innovations and Networking) program have been realized so far. The study will focus on how funded projects are contributing to promoting networking for enhanced impact; building capacity and resources in the region; promoting civil society involvement in education change; and strengthening advocacy on education issues. The results of the study will help to further enhance the working of the fund, inform its future design, and contribute to better serving the needs of its constituency.

RE:FINE, which supports a number of projects in the general education sector, was established in 2004. The study will assess 12 of the 15 projects that have been supported since the launch of the fund. These projects are still being implemented, thus opinions of grantees and partner organizations will be sought to reflect their experience so far with the realization of the projects.

The developed survey will focus on the networking experience of grantees with partner organizations; capacity-building efforts undertaken as part of the project; advocacy activities; and ways in which beneficiaries were involved in the project and their experience working with the RE:FINE fund. Follow-up phone interviews will be conducted with selected respondents. In the latter stage of the study, about 100 Soros-related NGOs will be surveyed to receive their input on the future design of the fund. The study will be carried out between July and December 2006.

For more information, please contact Natalia Shablya at nshablya@osi.hu.