Recommendations

After the 2012-2015 funding cycle closed, and as part of the Completion Report, the Seed Alliance prepared a series of recommendation to funding partners to support the design of evaluation approaches that balance the reporting and evaluation requirements from donors and sponsors with the needs of the regional programs and the resources available. The flexibility to allow the regional programs and the funding recipients to learn, adapt and adopt monitoring and evaluation tools is key to ensuring that the evaluation frameworks provide the necessary insights, not only about the monitoring of the activities implemented, but that the frameworks can be used to influence strategic planning, guide growth and scaling-up etc.

 

Digital Documentation and Dissemination

It is also important to improve the mechanisms that support digital documentation and online dissemination of the experiences gained over the years, by the Seed Alliance, each of the regional programs through their promotion of innovation and by the regional funding recipients. The Seed Alliance team should explore the possibilities of online reporting mechanisms to simplify publication efforts.

Leveraging Experiences

A key element in this process is leveraging the experience of the Seed Alliance founding partners (IDRC and Sida) from their support of similar alliance initiatives and sub-granting programs. Work sessions with IDRC and Sida officials have been very productive, and the Seed Alliance team will benefit from more frequent communication with them.

 

Future Resources

AFRINIC, APNIC and LACNIC are committed to continuing managing the operations of their regional programs, as well as contributing financially to the Grants and Awards pool to support Internet development according to their own capabilities. However, as the regional programs grow and gain recognition, so does the demand on the RIRs staff and resources. Fundraising should further contribute towards operational costs, including:

  • Staff salaries
  • Training for coordination roles
  • Fundraising
  • Social media management
  • Evaluation
  • Communications

 

Social Media Support

Support for social media management to enhance visibility of the regional programs across the three regions is required.

 

Language Support

Although communication among the three programs will continue to be in English, it is important to respond to the language diversity in which each region operates by allocating funding for translation services.

 

Meetings and Workshops

Support for face-to-face meetings and workshops should continue and be increased, offering concrete opportunities linked to documentation, training, dissemination and fundraising activities among the regional programs, as well as their supported funding recipients.

 

Printed Materials

Support for printed materials and participation at events is still necessary to expand regional outreach, dissemination of results and fundraising efforts.

 

Collaboration

Collaboration among organizations and individuals involved in Internet development through research and implementation should continue to be promoted across all three regions and mechanisms to articulate collaborative projects should be implemented. The Alliance should contribute to the establishment of channels that allow communication among funding recipients across regions, cross-fertilization of ideas and partnerships to be structured without creating an unnecessary workload for the regional program coordinators.

 

Funding from other donors

It is very important to be able to channel funding from other donors and sponsors in order to increase the funding each regional program is able to allocate to the community and still keep reasonable administration costs.

 

Fundraising Strategy

Funding partners should continue to support the development of a fundraising strategy for the Seed Alliance that benefits all three regions and continues to contribute financially to cover some of the costs associated with pursuing potential donors and sponsors. The RIRs have leverage on existing events and networking opportunities to seek support but as the program grows, the need for a more coordinated approach also increases.

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