Concern Worldwide Evaluation: Ireland’s Civil Society Global Citizenship Education Programme (2023–2027)
The evaluation of Concern Worldwide’s Global Citizenship Education (GCE) stream under Ireland’s Civil Society Partnership (ICSP) for A Better World represents a critical assessment of how development education initiatives influence public awareness, engagement, and action on global justice issues. This external, independent evaluation examines programme performance between 2023 and 2026, focusing on impact, effectiveness, and learning outcomes. It also aligns with Ireland’s broader commitment to strengthening Global Citizenship Education and advancing sustainable development awareness across communities.
This SEO-focused analysis outlines the evaluation’s purpose, methodology, criteria, and expected outcomes in a structured format relevant to stakeholders in international development, education, and humanitarian programming.
Overview of the ICSP Global Citizenship Education Programme
The ICSP Global Citizenship Education stream is a nationwide initiative implemented across Ireland by Concern Worldwide. It aims to strengthen public understanding of global inequality, poverty, and social justice while encouraging active citizenship.
Key components of the programme include:
- School-based initiatives such as debates and youth academies
- Workshops for primary, secondary, and third-level education
- Community engagement activities and public events
- Small grants supporting civil society partners
- Development of educational and awareness resources
The programme focuses on building:
- Global literacy among learners
- Social and environmental responsibility
- Capacity for transformative action
By targeting diverse audiences including students, educators, and community groups, the programme contributes to Ireland’s broader development education strategy and the ICSP thematic goal of increasing public engagement with global justice issues.
Purpose and Objectives of the Evaluation
The evaluation is designed to assess the performance, relevance, and impact of the ICSP GCE stream. It provides evidence-based insights for improving future programming cycles and strengthening accountability to donors and stakeholders.
Key objectives include:
- Assessing programme effectiveness and delivery against planned outcomes
- Evaluating alignment with OECD-DAC evaluation criteria
- Identifying strengths, gaps, and areas for improvement
- Capturing lessons learned for future Global Citizenship Education programming
The evaluation also examines how well the programme contributes to Ireland’s “A Better World” policy framework, particularly its goal of promoting informed and active global citizens.
Additional focus areas include:
- Contribution to awareness and action on global justice issues
- Strength and realism of the programme’s theory of change
- Responsiveness to evolving political and social contexts
- Integration of learning and adaptation processes
Key Evaluation Criteria and Analytical Framework
The evaluation applies internationally recognised OECD-DAC criteria to ensure a structured and credible assessment. These criteria guide the analysis of programme performance and impact.
Relevance
- Alignment with learner and community needs
- Appropriateness of programme design for target audiences
- Contribution to national Global Citizenship Education priorities
Coherence
- Alignment with related education and development policies
- Coordination with wider civil society and education stakeholders
- Integration of field-level learning from Concern’s global programmes
Effectiveness
- Achievement of intended results and outcomes
- Strength of monitoring and evaluation systems
- Variation in performance across programme components
- Use of innovation in programme delivery
Key assessment questions include:
- How effectively did the programme increase awareness and engagement?
- Were the intended outcomes achieved as outlined in the theory of change?
- What external factors influenced implementation success or challenges?
This structured framework ensures the evaluation captures both quantitative results and qualitative insights.
Methodology and Participatory Approach
The evaluation adopts a mixed-methods and participatory approach, combining quantitative data analysis with qualitative stakeholder engagement. This ensures a comprehensive understanding of programme performance.
The methodology includes:
- Review of monitoring and evaluation data from 2023–2026
- Analysis of programme documentation and reporting systems
- Interviews and consultations with stakeholders
- Field-level feedback from programme participants
- Engagement with educators, volunteers, and civil society partners
Key stakeholder groups involved:
- Students and young participants (including marginalised groups)
- Teachers and educational facilitators
- Civil society grant recipients
- Concern Worldwide staff and programme teams
Additional methodological features:
- Inception report defining final evaluation framework
- Validation workshop to review preliminary findings
- Thematic analysis of qualitative and quantitative data
This participatory design ensures that multiple perspectives shape the final conclusions and recommendations.
Expected Outputs and Strategic Value
The evaluation will produce a series of structured deliverables designed to inform future programming and policy development.
Expected outputs include:
- Inception report with evaluation matrix
- Draft evaluation report with findings and analysis
- Executive summary highlighting key insights
- Final validated report incorporating stakeholder feedback
- Recommendations for future Global Citizenship Education programming
Key strategic benefits of the evaluation include:
- Improved programme design and implementation
- Enhanced accountability to donors such as Irish Aid
- Evidence-based learning for education and development sectors
- Strengthened Global Citizenship Education frameworks in Ireland
The findings will also support the evolution of future ICSP funding cycles, ensuring continued relevance and impact.
Conclusion: Strengthening Global Citizenship Education in Ireland
The evaluation of Concern Worldwide’s ICSP Global Citizenship Education stream represents an important step in understanding how educational initiatives can drive awareness and action on global inequality. By applying robust OECD-DAC criteria and participatory research methods, the evaluation will generate actionable insights for policymakers, educators, and development practitioners.
Ultimately, it contributes to strengthening Global Citizenship Education in Ireland by ensuring programmes remain relevant, effective, and responsive to global challenges. The outcomes will help shape future strategies that empower learners to become informed, engaged, and active global citizens.
Contact for Evaluation Submissions
All proposals related to this evaluation must be submitted via email to:
Amy.Dignam@concern.net
Subject line: Proposal to evaluate Concern ICSP GSE Stream – APPLICANT NAME
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