Evaluation criteria

I am a Data and Evaluation expert, former journalist, with 18 years of professional experience, currently working as Evaluation, data and knowledge expert, in the core team of MELDEA project, providing help desk evaluation support DG INTPA and DG NEAR. Following an education at the European School of Brussels II, he graduated in Journalism at the Catholic University of Louvain-la-Neuve (UCL, École de Journalisme de Louvain), and worked for 4 years as a journalist in Brussels covering EU News. This was followed by 7 years working in the management of International Development projects for consulting companies, and 7 years working as an expert in evaluation, data analysis, communication and knowledge management for the evaluation helpdesk technical assistances with DG INTPA, DG NEAR and FPI, which is his current assignment.
In the past 7 years, he has applied his data analysis skills and knowledge of EU Project Cycle Management to the field of developmental evaluation, with the objective to improve evaluation practices and learning from evaluations in the EC institutions. He has an excellent knowledge of EU Policies and guiding principles of Team Europe initiative, Strategic Planning and Programming Cycle (SPP), Financial Guidelines and EU funding mechanisms, and an excellent knowledge EC financial and contracting procedures (PRAG, INTPA Companion), Intervention Cycle Management guidelines, internal reporting and monitoring.

Hur Hassnain (MDS, MBA) is an evaluation specialist, author, Treasurer and founding Board Member at the International Evaluation Academy. Currently he is working as the Senior Evaluation Expert at Meldea, the European Commission DG INTPA, DG NEAR, and FPI’s external service on Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning, and Design supporting the headquarter units, and over a hundred EU Delegations around the world.

Hur has authored several internationally peer reviewed publications, including a book as lead author: Evaluation in Contexts of Fragility, Conflict and Violence published in 2021. It presents an interesting argument that “evaluation” – like development aid itself – can unintentionally exacerbate tensions in ways that can negatively affect people and institutions if care is not taken in designing and approaching it with caution and sensitivity.

Hur has over 20 years of experience of working in a variety of thematic areas including but not limited to gender equality, rural development, climate change, renewable energy, agriculture, women’s economic empowerment, education, and protection. He has lived and worked in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. Hur has designed, commissioned, and conducted research and evaluations for projects funded by UN agencies, the European Commission, private donors and the governments of the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Norway.

Hur is a staunch advocate of the Latin proverb "rerum cognoscere causas", signifying the pursuit of understanding the causes of things – a guiding principle that underpins his work and philosophy.

❤ ❤ ❤ A) In SHORT: 

A.1) What are the OPEN MINDS CONSORTIUM and the AAAA Alliance ? 

Well, we are a vast pool of young leaders united through fellowships, seminars and events, among others, in parallel with the COP28-COP29-COP30... 

Here is proof of a community of 62 national regional and university groups of fellows: https://chat.whatsapp.com/H9yWoBrWDcc2u6nyh6zRvx  

Of course, this community will grow further and reach several hundred and thousands of groups worldwide. One of the groups already has 880 young leaders in just 6 weeks, all in training... https://chat.whatsapp.com/IPFXrw4UT4T8vq8h3TO6nr  READ MORE ABOUT CIVIL SOCIETY AND YOUTH EMPOWERMENT (WOMEN, GENDER) https://www.osicoplatform.com/interview-with-john-v/  

A.2) In addition, we have developed a network of universities and academics...several dozen organizations

We launched an open consortium (OMCon) to respond to calls for projects

if anyone wishes to join please ask :) 

for instance dedicated GPT assistants 

CIRCULAR ECONOMY https://chat.openai.com/g/g-WKCA0QjQS-circular-economy 

CLIMATE https://chat.openai.com/g/g-40W0EMhgD-climate  

CARBON REMOVAL https://chat.openai.com/g/g-HpSFv2OkC-carbon-removal 

A.3) Would you join us AAAA-AMOUR's LLab/Cluster/Alliance 

as a : 

* Mentor? 

* Member? (University, Institute or NGO ? CSO..) 

* Volunteer? 

* Local or National cluster?...for instance in: Ivory Coast, Madagascar, or Tanzania ?! 

You could join our program and also could support (guidance, mentoring) as a mentor of young leaders or as a member of the cluster and become also a partner in a consortium since we can provide some solutions in:

+ education (remote and local) 

+ ODA monitoring 

+ involvement-empowerment of the influence of the Youth and the CSOs in governments policies (through TPM !) 

and also through online remote distance fellowship and mentoring, which is a unique exceptional example for the whole region (Indian ocean) and LDC-SIDS countries as a kind of knowledge platform and why not a social network platform to share and promote best impact practices for climate action, adaptation, local economic development (LED, CDD) etc. 

THAT'S WHAT WE ARE GOOD AT.. PLEASE BE PART OF IT ! www.aaaa-amour.org , this south-south-north cluster is good at topics and programs related to :

 * Monitoring and involvement of the Youth and CSO, empowerment of democracy, transparency, effectiveness of ODA see ODANE (section C1=PS1 below) 

* Mentoring, Fellowship and distance learning---------->>FEMOW (section b) 4) and PS2 (=C2 below) 

* Digital Divide, Digital Rights, Girls in ICT, STEM, Inclusion Gender, Awareness--------section B. and also 

* ISID, NBS, EbA, Coastal Resilience, see RAN-GO section PS3 (=C3) 

* Circular economy, Mainstreaming REUSE sector in CE, refer to Aris-WISHa-RICHa (available upon request "why bury treasure" and "000 WISH-A for slums/camps". 

(Keywords are : Waste and Resources management, recycling versus reusing, Reuse, Recycle, Upcycle, Plastic waste as building materials) 

A.4) We have also a strong action in empowering Communities and Civil Society for the "New Impetus for Next Gen EU and beyond": 

please look at... https://capacity4dev.europa.eu/groups/actual-and-future-new-impetus-4-ec-what-about-cooperation-and-development-beyond-next-gen-eu_en   

❤ ❤ ❤ B) WHO are we, WHAT are we, WHAT DO WE DO ? 

Since you could give us advice on how to grow this group or others, we would like to introduce ourselves: 

Dear Capacity4Dev Members, Moderators, Advisors, Organisers, PLEASE LOOK AT one of our innovative young leaders (among 880 of them) https://youtube.com/channel/UCsHoYiqQVM-NE72j_t72_dA  and then you might find some fun time : ) 

B.a) The Alliance Network AAAA –(Adaptation Alliance Africa Asia) is a vast cluster of approx. 150 specialists and bodies and also a fast-growing 1000 young climate activists as volunteers (focal points EU/Africa) in: 

- 20 countries from East and West Africa (Madagascar, Mozambique, Tanzania, Ivory Coast etc..) + - 5 countries from Europe (Ireland and UKRAINE....) 

+ - 2 countries from ASEAN (Malaysia, Indonesia) = A vast pool of young leaders through seminars and events, among others, in parallel with the COPs... 

 Here is proof of a community of +60 national regional and university groups Of course, this community will grow further and reach several hundred and thousands of groups worldwide. www.aaaa-amour.org One of the groups already has 850 young leaders in just two weeks, all in training...https://chat.whatsapp.com/IPFXrw4UT4T8vq8h3TO6nr  

B.b) We started several groups on capacity4dev last year as a test and will nurture them in 2023-2024 (sorry a bit overbooked with covid). 

B.b1- Circular Economy group on Capacity4Dev: Accelerating the Circular Transition. The Circle of Life between Developed and Developing Countries. 

Who are we? We are a cluster that wants to make a real difference. 

B.b2- Climate crisis in southern Madagascar on Capacity4Dev: https://capacity4dev.europa.eu/groups/humanitarian-and-development-challenge-k-r-south-madagascar-the-world-s-first-crisis-climate-change-famine_en  

B.b3- EU/EC Fellowships: Coming soon! 

B.c) We are growing as a Dotank/ IMPACT-HUB for Climate Action, CE, Industry, Agriculture, Education and are open to partnerships with other 'platforms' such As : 

- OSICO platform and many others 

B.d) We act to empower the YOUTH and the CSO through Universities and Educational Infrastructures (FEMOW) and also for VET centres (vocational training centres network) see more below section B) C2-PS2 bottom of this page 

B.e) 4A Alliance builds up the "GENERATION FOR ACTION" see several "young leaders" sections below 

B.f) 4A Alliance intends to showcase at the next EU hotspot for Climate adaptation and Circular Economy from end 2023 as an umbrella for several Climate Action IMPAKTHON pilot projects such as:

 -Climate Community Computer Centre Network–CCCN as aVET Education,Digital Divide, instrument for a MASSIVE EDUC PLAN (MEP) 

-Nationwide Pilot Reuse Centres scheme –ARIS as a Remanufacture initiative R-EIP and R-CAS 

-Solar concentrated ZERO CARBON UTILITY OPERATOR- RAN-GO reaching 2 BN people (2 billions)

-(Re)Build Circular Cities and Ecotourism Villages DECArbF 

-DRONES initiative for marine resources initiative and DIGITALIZATION for agriculture in Madagascar

-Waste tracking through IoT and blockchain tech (household second-hand reusable resources for remanufacturing); 

B.g) Liaising with UNDP, UNIDO, UNICEF UNFCCC, CTCN, etc AND PRIVATE FUNDERS We know that Capacity4Dev loves initiatives in youth education, empowerment, engagement of the civil society and sustainable development, and we think that we could have a lot of talks and actions to share and develop together including building up a partnership(s) during the chat and learn from you all! 

THAT'S THE END OF THE SHORTCUT ... and MORE DETAILS BELOW! 

THAT'S THE END OF THE SHORTCUT ... and MORE DETAILS BELOW! 

THAT'S THE END OF THE SHORTCUT ... and MORE DETAILS BELOW! 

❤ ❤ ❤ C) AND NOW WITH DETAILS :) 

1) The Alliance Network AAAA – 4A (Adaptation Alliance Africa Asia) We are an Alliance Network (AAAA), led by myself, composed of professionals from colleges, communities, companies and government ministers and thousands of young leaders knowledgeable about various areas like education, climate action, development, and sustainable development from countries like Madagascar, Indonesia, Malaysia, Ireland and France. 

A DOtank or IMPACT HUB and soon a THINKtank. We are good at empowering the youth and building up partnerships as an umbrella (aggregator for consortium building) Our common goal is to help each other develop a variety of projects that will build up countries in crisis in a sustainable way. One of our projects is to provide education and training centers/networks in areas where people find it difficult to access education by setting up CLIMATE COMMUNITY COMPUTER CENTRES CCCCN. We are running a national scheme in Madagascar as it is one of the poorest countries. 

1.a) The Climate Computer Centre Network – CCCN, Madagascar The project will create during the coming 18-20 months an army of educated leaders and entrepreneurs trained at AAAA's national Communities Climate Computer Centre Network (CCCCn) in Madagascar with links to developed countries, in this case, Ireland and Europe. A young African leader, Anita 3R RASOAMBOLOLONA.org, has managed the start-up of several computer centers (OdeLs) in Madagascar and has run popular and well-attended pre-leadership courses in sustainable development and the circular economy. There will be more training for up to a hundred students in pre-leadership courses, and some of the graduates may retrain others in the next few months. Many of the students have already presented concept notes on entrepreneurial projects they are keen to develop and find support for. NGO InSERT's team in Madagascar is running several affordable, Wi-Fi-enabled computer centers in Madagascar, equipped with donated used laptops from Ireland. It is led by a young African mother Anita 3R www.RASOAMBOLOLONA.org who is providing training in the CA and CE training (climate action and circular economy), and pre-leadership courses InSERT and CCCCn project are endorsed by a number of Madagascar ministers, including the MEPB and METFP Minister for Further Education and are applying for funding to extend this network to 1,000 centers, and partnering with private funders. 

1.b) The IMPAKTHON Project – Climate Action and Leadership Training Courses, Madagascar Our project, the Impakthon process, is one of engaging the youth through education in leadership and sustainable development, to lead the way in supporting the transition of developing countries from poverty to a sustainable future in partnership with developed countries. The youth of Africa is a huge part of its capital, and this project will create opportunities for young people to be trained to become the leaders of the future. One hundred of them will be invited to write their own NAP and NDP (national development plan) of part of the awareness and confidence-building strategy the end of 2022. The 4A Alliance’s IMPAKTHON program 2023-2024 - Madagascar and EUROPE with PRIVATE FUNDERS for instance in Madagascar and UKRAINE: 

- €1 million proposal to train 15,000 young environmentalists in Madagascar and in Ukraine. 

- €3 million proposal to train 30,000 young environmentalists in Ukraine for the Empowerment of youth climate activists as the leading force for climate change action 

1.c) Massive Education Plan from the end of 2023, Madagascar We are in negotiation with private funders to expand this CCCC network nationally from approx 40 to 150 centers and more in 2023-2024 (2-300). The plan is to kickstart a Massive Climate Action Education Plan (MCAEP) in June to be launched in December, creating blended learning educational programmes, using virtual learning environments, to provide the means for education and training on creating a sustainable future. Four ministers in Madagascar have given us an endorsement for this project and others will probably join soon. 

2) Nationwide Pilot Reuse Centres scheme – ARIS, Ireland/EU to Emerging countries 

In Ireland, we proposed a pilot reuse centre scheme in Dublin and this has been included in the Council’s Development Plan 2022 and in development. We have also forwarded a proposal to the council that Dublin become a circular city and this is in progress. We hope to link the reuse and repair sector in Dublin City with developing countries like Indonesia and Madagascar to help provide inclusive employment opportunities in both countries and fund projects in ASEAN and Madagascar. 

3) Other Projects in Decarbonisation and Climate Action 

The Alliance has several concept notes ready, for instance in : 

- AHA, Affordable Housing for All, which helps with the decarbonization of the construction sectors by replacing cement. 

- RAN-GO.org, a village-sized sustainable desalination utility, with concentrated solar energy providing energy and water. Etc..below for more see section 5! 

4) The 4A Alliance’s FEMOW process among our members is described here .. "Strengthening Endogenous Capacities of LDC/SIDS to Access Calls and Tenders incl Finance through Peer to peer Mentoring" 

Statement: A major obstacle to developing effective environment, climate change adaptation, EbA etc..policies and projects in LDCs/SIDS is a lack of endogenous capacity related to policy formulation and project design and implementation. Limited funding available to LDC/SIDS governments from international financiers and the private sector to support adaptation undermines scaled-up adaptation action and the transformative change that is necessary to move LDCs and SIDS into climate-resilient economic and social development pathways. Our objectives: The objective of our FEMOW (Fellowship Enhancement by Mentoring through Online Workshops) between members of our cluster of academic/research institutions/CSO-NGOs to share and grow capacity building in order to be able to propose and apply to climate change adaptation funds such as those being developed by the United Nations Environment Programme, and funded by the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF/GEF), but also AF, Europe AID etc... 

Project outcomes: The FEMOW project’s objective is to strengthen the capacities of Least Developed Countries (LDCs including Madagascar and eastern African Countries, but also SIDS etc..) to achieve scaled-up and effective climate change adaptation by fostering sustained endogenous technical services for project development, policy mainstreaming and the creation of an enabling environment for adaptation to climate change. The FEMOW project mentoring members based in Europe and ASEAN will work primarily with our LDC and SIDS members and will help to steer and implement peer-to-peer mentoring. Process: To ensure its capacity building and institutional strengthening activities, the FEMOW project has gathered mentor institutions that have established programs and experience with conducting applied research, developing decision support information products, and providing other specialized technical services (e.g., economic analysis of adaptation options, risk/vulnerability assessments, adaptation project design, training programs) to governments and other bodies. These mentor institutions will provide technical and capacity-building support to all of our members (universities, CSO-NGOs) during the first phase of fellowship training, and more in-depth institution-to-institution support for the newly-established thinktanks (including setting up technical services offerings, developing business and engagement plans, establishing prospective budgets, etc.). 

5) Other Projects of the 4A Alliance born from the FEMOW process (empowering young leaders) As an Alliance, we have been working on complementary projects for the last few years. It is because of these projects that we are confident that our solutions can deliver the right solution because all these initiatives are the roots and DNA of activists : 

5.a) The 4A Alliance’s INNOCENCE programme in Madagascar (see application to UNICEF Madagascar call on UNPP portal) 

- We applied for funding to run child protection programs through one of 4A AAAA ALLIANCE’s partners, an NGO InSERT’s Climate Community Computer Centre Network. Impoverished populations are vulnerable to abuse and the programme will inform people about the rights and responsibilities of people. This program is aimed at 1 million people, including 700,000 children, at the cost of €1.80/person. 

5.b) The 4A Alliance’s WISHaSCHOOL programme: - A rugged school back to a solar concentrated energy plant (proposal for IOM in KENYA and UNICEF in MALI) -aimed at educating 2 million children "Amelioration de l’accès à l’éducation de qualité pour les filles, garçons et adolescentes dans un environnement protecteur". - This is based on an IOM call for unsafe camps in KENYA that we applied for in 2021. 

5.c) The 4A Alliance’s DECArbF Decarbonising the construction industry, "build back better" a sustainable city We have submitted a concept note on how to decarbonize the construction industry, called, ‘DECArbF’. Our sustainable builder details how to rebuild sustainable cities post disasters including schools. This works with the ‘rebuild back better’ mantra and we are in ongoing communications with UNEP and GCCA+ funding. This proposal could help 2 million people by reusing plastic waste as building materials. It is based on the new and innovative 3D construction printers, "print a school' printer. This is a proposal endorsed by members of our Alliance in Madagascar 

5.d) The 4A Alliance’s RAN-GO Solar Tower Utility – Concentrated Desalination and Energy Unit for coastal communities RAN-GO is the most remarkable way to produce drinking and farming water for villages between 50-200 people community. It can be a community-led and owned mini-utility unit producing desalinated seawater, and providing a cheap stream of drinking and farming water. This solution is nature-based, and so affordable it could change the lives of millions in coastal desert areas, of which there are 16,000 km worldwide. This project is simple enough to be replicated internationally and impacts two to three billion people living in coastal desert areas. It took our cluster/consortium years to optimize and research this project, and universities and NGOs from our cluster recently applied to EbA NBS, as it is EbA NBS compliant, and other funds for step 3 of its deployment. It is affordable enough to have the potential to: · solve the water security issue, · create a source of renewable energy, zero carbon, enabling villages to become electrified, · create farming water for farms · create water for reforestation for biomass and sequestration of carbon · create employment for private business owners · create community owned and funded enterprise through micro-credit 

RAN-GO is FULLY EbA NBS compliant 'ecosystems based adaptation'! 

RAN-GO matches goals of access to water for all: * It is a community-owned and run mini-utility plant. • It also matches climate adaptation criteria and circular development targets, cooperative decent work opportunities • It can produce drinking and farming water. Keywords are: utilities, water, energy adaptation or transition, agro-forestry, livelihoods, villages, community run, food, resilience, solar, nature, re-flourishing, bio-diversity, RAN-GO, Madagascar, Malaysia, Indonesia, LDC, SIDS, reforestation and sustainable 

5.e)The 4A Alliance’s ODANE (ODA network for efficiency-effectiveness) as TPM through CSO involvment We (the 4A Alliance) are specialists in ODA effectiveness. We are working for months and years on the effectiveness of grant aid given, and recently to Madagascar (but also other eastern African countries) We aim to implement a kind of ODA TPM tool based on the CSO participation from 2023. The outcomes can produce effects such as the following: 

1. 'Watchdog' function giving a guarantee of effectiveness – done through a TPM app powered by the CSO. 

2. Influencing governmental policies by increasing accountability of effectiveness through CSO involment and recommendations 

3. Deliver a quality label for humanitarian aid, which indicates the effectiveness of aid in delivering real improvements. 

5.f) Blue Economy: The USV MARINE DRONES and DIGITALIZATION INITIATIVES As an expert in Blue Economy, I pushed a project with the ALLIANCE (4A) with the Malagasy Government (MEPB) and 7 universities teaming up on building, and AI (coding, IoT, swarm drones) and distributed AI and would like to partner with EU and UNIDO for funding applications, please contact us. We also work on the 'next generation of fishing vessel' versatile, built in aluminium and low cost with south african partners. We would like to partner with EU and GIZ for funding applications, please contact us.. 

6) Introduction to Us Anita RASOAMBOLOLONA.org founder of The-InSERT and CCCCn is a young leader, UNIQUE ! Have a look to her Green Fist SALUTE! And

 www.rasoambololona.org  

https://youtube.com/channel/UCsHoYiqQVM-NE72j_t72_dA  

https://facebook.com/insert2020  

https://www.twitter.com/@TheInSERT2  

https://The-InSERT.info    

https://affordablehousing-forall.org/  

www.cooperative-construction.org  

She is the co-founder of The alliance www.aaaa-amour.org  (in French www.aaaaamour.org  :)) Her project and initiative The-InSERT.info is focusing on developing an army of young trained enthusiasts, who want to support and implement the change in Africa from the grassroots up, it covers SDGs, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17. 

The IMPAKTHON process is key to influencing governmental bodies since it can grow a skilled civil society leadership. 

Maire OBRIEN is an expert in Capacity Building, Human Capital, and Distance Learning as a teacher and trainer in Ireland, experienced in managing open distance learning centers ODeL, developing blended learning programs, especially in the area of inclusive and special education, and managing virtual learning environments. 

John VENIER an awarded winning sustainable builder and familiar with eco-building projects and construction, suitable for African climates and won awards for sustainability building and waste management, Climate Action Specialist, and Mentor. https://capacity4dev.europa.eu/members/jean-venier-aaaa-alliance_en 

Maire, Anita and John + a dozen of young leaders from the 4A Alliance completed Master in Climate actions and many UN courses including the UNSSC online course for the Circular Economy and Agenda 2030, which was very informative and helpful in paving the way to design a tailored course for french speaking young leaders. The goals of the UN's call Made by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres recently and the goals of the Alliance's projects are very similar. 

❤ ❤ ❤ANNEX 

C1) “AMOUR cluster”: of UNIVERSITIES and NGOs/CSO bodies/charitable companies Circular Economy Minister and Blue Economy, Dr. MAHATANTE Paubert from IHSM TOLIARA, specialized in Marine and Fisheries, Coastal Adaptation, Food Safety and resilience www.ihsm.mg and also a member of the "South Madagascar Famine and Draught action group" Initiated and Led by Ms Anita RASOAMBOLOLONA Mentors and experts has joined us as climate change and Ecosystem-based Adaptation specialists sharing extensive knowledge and references in Adaptation, Climate change, Coastal Resilience, GIS and Land management, afforestation, reforestation, water production, EbA solutions, green business, agroforestry, circular economy, waste and resource management, recycling, reusing, reuse recycle policies, upcycling, plastic waste, beekeeping, community-led solutions... The Irish office is keen to activate projects that will make a real difference to people, to climate adaptation and the environment in Europe and internationally with the highest level of access to governmental bodies. Our research, mentoring, and alliance is focused on developing the: climate change, circular economy, EbA, water security, sustainable solar energy and coastal resilience in the developing world (LDC and SIDS) and effectiveness of ODA. AMOUR-AAAA Cluster-Consortium (Alliance for Mentoring Online Universities and Related (bodies), Alliance pour le Mentorat Online des Universités et Relatifs (Organismes)-Adaptation Alliance Africa Asia ASEAN) alliance www.aaaa-amour.org  (in French www.aaaaamour.org 

C.2) PS1: our www.ODANE.org  (ODA network for efficiency-effectiveness) as TPM through CSO involvment We are good at this and maybe soon be specialists of ODA AID effectiveness We have been working for months and years on the effectiveness of grant aid given, and recently to Madagascar (but also other eastern African countries) We aim to implement more largely in Eastern Africa a kind of: "ODA TPM tool based on the CSO participation". The outcomes can produce effects such as the following: 

1. 'Watchdog' function giving a guarantee of effectiveness – done through a TPM app powered by the CSO. 

2. Influencing governmental policies by increasing accountability of effectiveness through CSO involvement and recommendations 

3. We intend to deliver a quality label for development and humanitarian aid, which indicates the effectiveness of aid in delivering real improvements and impact (value for money). 

C.2) PS2 : our FEMOW process among our members is described below.. "Strengthening Endogenous Capacities of LDC/SIDS to Access Calls and Tenders incl Finance through Peer to peer Mentoring" Statement: A major obstacle to developing effective environment, climate change adaptation, EbA etc..policies and projects in LDCs/SIDS is a lack of endogenous capacity related to policy formulation and project design and implementation. Limited funding available to LDC/SIDS governments from international financiers and the private sector to support adaptation undermines scaled-up adaptation action and the transformative change that is necessary to move LDCs & SIDSs into climate-resilient economic and social development pathways. Our objective: The objective of our FEMOW (Fellowship Enhancement by Mentoring through Online Workshops) between members of our cluster of academic/research institutions/CSO-NGOs to share and grow capacity building in order to be able to propose and apply to climate change adaptation funds such as those being developed by the United Nations Environment Programme, and funded by the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF/GEF), but also AF, Europe AID etc... 

Project outcomes: The FEMOW project’s objective is to strengthen the capacities of Least Developed Countries (LDCs including Madagascar and eastern African Countries, but also SIDS such as RM etc..) to achieve scaled-up and effective climate change adaptation by fostering sustained endogenous technical services for project development, policy mainstreaming and the creation of an enabling environment for adaptation to climate change. The FEMOW project mentoring members based in Europe and ASEAN will work primarily with our LDC and SIDS members and will help to steer and implement peer-to-peer mentoring. Process : To ensure its capacity building and institutional strengthening activities, FEMOW project has gathered mentor institutions that have established programs and experience with conducting applied research, developing decision support information products, and providing other specialized technical services (e.g., economic analysis of adaptation options, risk/vulnerability assessments, adaptation project design, training programs) to governments and other bodies. These mentor institutions will provide technical and capacity-building support to all of our members (universities, CSO-NGOs) during the first phase of fellowship training, and more in-depth institution-to-institution support for the newly-established thinktanks (including setting up technical services offerings, developing business and engagement plans, establishing prospective budgets, etc.). 

C.3) PS3 : as a example of our LLab work to address main issues regarding LCD and SIDS etc.... RAN-GO Solar Tower Utility – Concentrated Desalination and Energy Unit for coastal communities Introduction: RAN-GO, is the most remarkable way to produce drinking and farming water for villages between 50-200 people community. It can be a community-led and owned mini-utility unit producing desalinated seawater, and providing a cheap stream of drinking and farming water. This solution is nature-based, and so affordable it could change the lives of millions in coastal desert areas, of which there are 16,000 km worldwide. This project is simple enough to be replicated internationally and impacts two-three billion people living in coastal desert areas. It took our cluster/consortium years to optimize and research this project, and universities and NGOs from our cluster recently applied to EbA, as it is EbA compliant and other funds for step 3 of its deployment. It is affordable enough to have the potential to: · solve the water security issue, · create a source of renewable energy, zero carbon, enabling villages to become electrified, · create farming water for farms · create water for reforestation for biomass and sequestration of carbon · create employment for private business owners · create community owned and funded enterprise through micro credit RAN-GO is FULLY EbA NBS compliant 'ecosystems based adaptation'! RAN-GO matches goals of access to water for all: 

* It is a community owned and run mini-utility plant. 

• It also matches climate adaptation criteria and circular development targets, cooperative decent work opportunities 

• It can produce drinking and farming water. 

Keywords are: utilities, water, energy adaptation or transition, agro-forestry, livelihoods, villages, community run, food, resilience, solar, nature, re-flourishing, bio-diversity, RAN-GO, Madagascar, Malaysia, Indonesia, LDC, SIDS, reforestation and sustainable

Climate action, Blue and Circular Economy, Digital, Decarbonisation, Construction, Social impact, Culture, Education, Governance, Civil society:
- Human Capital Capacity Building SDG 17,9-4: Education Training... Knowledge Platform...VET...ToT
(Vocational, Remote learning, e-learning, distance learning, ODEL, MOOC, Moodle, Big blue button,
Greenlight, VLE, brightspace)
- Digital SDG 17,6-17,8-4: data analytics...citizen science... artificial intelligence drones...coding...
universal internet.... gamification, open source, open data, open science...ChatGPT/LLAMA
- Blue economy SDG 14-9 Policy and strategy for blue economy...coastal solutions 4 desalination (ran-go.org)...(marine transport, marine infrastructure, aquaculture, algaculture,fish farming)
- Carbon SDG 13: decarbonisation.. construction... capture storage (biochar)...Solar concentrated...labelling certification
- Youth SDG 4-17: community...outreach... entrepreneurship.. innovation... design thinking...Co-Creation...Co-Development...impakthon, hackathon, youth nexus
- Circular economy SDG 12-13-15-14-11-8-6: EDBA economic development board association..Alliance 4A AAAA,..Local economic development , LED, CDD, community driven development,INTPA, EUROPE AID, Horizon, Life, CERV, GIZ, Usaid, worldbank
- Funding SDG 17,1-17,5: PPP...Open consortium OMCon..Sponsorscholarships...(PPP, public private partnership, funding, marketplace, crowdfunfing, kickstarter, indiegogo).. Co-Development, Co-Resilience
- MEAL SDG 16-16,5: Ghost workers (odane.org)...RBM...(monitoring, evaluation, effectivness, impact, labeling, scoring, certification)
- Gouvernance SDG 16-17: Influence.... Outreach..(community, young leaders, activists, fellows, fellowships, millenium, yali, YCDP,UNAI, UN innovation, behavioural science, Capacity4dev, GGKP, Sparkblue) 

madagascar, tanzania, uganda, eastern africa, malawi, rwanda, mozambique, kenya, spain, france, italy, malaysia, indonesia, asean,
colombia, latin america

Image

I began my professional journey in Sri Lanka’s flourishing floriculture industry, focusing on European and Far Eastern markets. Over five years, I led research and development initiatives, pioneering non-conventional breeding methods that significantly advanced the sector. This foundation facilitated my transition into project and program management, where I have had the privilege of collaborating with governmental bodies and international funding organizations.

A highlight of my career was playing a key role in the success of the National Agriculture Development Program (2003-2014), contributing to strategic planning, coordination, and execution, while bringing over two decades of diverse experience within Sri Lanka’s agricultural development sector.

My professional journey has been shaped by multidisciplinary training, equipping me with expertise in project and program management, monitoring and evaluation, strategic planning in MEAL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning), sustainable rural development, climate-smart agriculture, food and nutrition security, Agric value chain & SME developments,Results-Based Management (RBM), gender mainstreaming, and knowledge management, among other areas of competence.

Since October 2015, I have had the privilege of coordinating multifaceted projects and programs for the EU Delegation in Sri Lanka and the Maldives, with a focus on integrated rural development. These initiatives span critical sectors such as agriculture ( agri- green), food and nutrition, local governance, WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), SCP (Sustainable Consumption and Production), and Nature based tourism, all aimed at fostering positive, sustainable development.

As I continue my professional path, I remain committed to leveraging my diverse expertise to drive impactful transformations across Sri Lanka’s evolving sectors, contributing meaningfully to sustainable development goals.

Freelance expert, highly experienced in implementing and managing EU-funded programmes and projects in the fields of support to civil society, democratic governance and human rights, with a special focus on Africa (Western and Central) and the EUROMED region.

Mr. Casillas has more than Twenty-one years of experience in programme and project management, including ten years in the field of Twinning/Jumelage, both in DG NEAR in the Twinning Coordination Team and in the field, in an EU Delegation in the Caucasus region. Mr. Casillas also specializes in monitoring and evaluation of EU funded programs and projects.

For more than six years years, he has been one of the pillars of the Twinning Coordination Team at the European Commission, Neighbourhood Directorate-General and Enlargement Negotiations Directorate General in Brussels.  As such, ha was the main focal point for MS Twinning National Contact Points network interacting daily with them, in particular regarding the eligibility assessment of public and semi-public administrations as mandated bodies and as helpdesk on rules and procedures and in solving issues with EU delegations and national authorities in IPA and ENI countries. As such, he developed a successful strategy to diversify and increase the number of MS’ participating in calls for proposals in French speaking north African countries. He has been the main trainer on Twinning and has contributed to the Twinning Manual updates since 2012. For five years, he was the Country coordinator for all Western Balkans and Turkey and for three years he was country coordinator for all North Africa, Belarus, Georgia and Ukraine. He delivered trainings on Twinning in EU Member States (Greece, Malta, Belgium, Denmark, Austria) and in partner countries (Albania, Serbia, Bosnia Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Turkey, Belarus, Georgia, Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco). While working in the Twinning Coordination Team, he also acquired hands on experience on TAIEX, being project officer for several events.

Mr Casillas has also been Twinning, TAIEX and SIGMA coordinator at the European Union delegation in a Caucasus country where for three years, he was responsible for Twinning yearly Programming with PAO and implemented the majority of Twinning projects, such as: Strengthening capacity to strengthen the enforcement of intellectual property and related rights or developing synergies between three Twinning projects related to social protection. He participated as Evaluator in 80% of Twinning calls for proposals, with four to five proposals being submitted for every call. One of his achievements, while working at the Delegation was to increase significantly the number of Twinning projects. The country was quoted as “Twinning Success story” by former Commissioner Hahn and Deputy Maternova. He also multiplyed the number of TAIEX events by three.

Mr Casillas has carried out numerous monitoring and evaluation missions, in Ecuador, Benin, Burundi and Djibouti and very recently he carried out for DG NEAR an evaluation on EU Member States legislation related to public cooperation with all 27 EU Member States.

He holds a master's degree in international politics from the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), and has been delivering trainings on Twinning rules and procedure, proposals preparation, selection and award modalities and Twinning implementation best practices for the past six years at the European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA) in Maastricht.

Mr Casillas is presently a freelance expert in Armenia.

A governance and M&E expert with a background in financial and sociological economics, I have more than 30 years of experience in programme management, policy development and M&E in a variety of fields including research, review and assessment in the areas of public administration reform, justice & home affairs, finance, regional development, as well as sectoral restructuring.
My professional experience covering 30 years has been gained in developing economies and economies in transition in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and the Middle East, for a large number of international bi- and multilateral organizations, including DfID, Dutch Development Cooperation, EU, FAO, IFC, GIZ, Norwegian Aid and UNDP.
I have more than 15 years of M&E experience encompasses both leading M&E assignments in the field and the development of M&E systems. A specialty concerns the identification and formulation of key performance indicators, including researching baseline data and the framing of benchmarks. I am fully conversant with project cycle management methodology, as well the latest development in M&E, including results-chain and theory-of-change.
I have highly developed interview skills gained in a variety of cultural settings, which combined with outstanding documentation review and statistical skills, are honed to arrive at sophisticated analytical results. I know how to deliver high-quality, user-friendly M&E reports, which effectively collocate and present the contributions and findings of professionals with widely varying backgrounds and fields of expertise.