Based in Botswana, Stop Illegal Fishing (SIF) is a not-for-profit organisation working to support the African Union’s and other pan-African and international processes to stop illegal fishing in African waters.  Jonas and Johnny O’Regan are conducting a partner assessment of SIF as an input to Norad’s decision on possible future support to the organisation.

In cooperation with Swedish Development Advisers, SouthBridge Development Consulting is implementing the multi-year project “Organisational development for core support partners in Moldova”, commissioned by the Swedish Embassy in Chisinau. The project includes systems-based audits, training, coaching and mentoring of selected Moldovan CSOs. From April to June, Jonas is conducting systems-based audits of three CSOs – the University Legal Clinic in Balti, Biotica and the Center for Analysis and Prevention of Corruption.

The Swedish government will prepare a new strategy for cooperation with Eastern partnership countries (Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine and Azerbaijan). Jonas has been contracted by Sida to conduct a democracy and human rights context analysis that will feed into the new strategy. The analysis should address trends, challenges, opportunities and needs at the regional and country level, identify key international, regional and national actors and mechanisms, and provide recommendations on the role and potential added-value of Swedish support.

Jonas is in Chisinau again, this time to review and assess the implementation of priority recommendations coming out from the most recent systems-based audits of two Moldovan CSOs - Adept and VESTA. The follow-up includes a desk review and interviews with key staff, and the drafting of a report to the Embassy of Sweden with recommendations on whether or not the CSOs are ready to receive core support.

The Strengthening Women’s Advocacy for Inclusive Governance (SWAG) campaign aims at increasing women’s participation in governance and electoral processes at local and national level in Zimbabwe. Coordinated by the Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe, the campaign is implemented in all the 10 provinces of the country and involves a wide range of activities, including political education of women, workshops with duty bearers, public meetings, TV and radio shows, etc. Jonas leads a team of consultants contracted by Sida to assess the relevance and effectiveness of the campaign, and make recommendations for improvement.

Jonas is in Chisinau to conduct a training on good governance, anti-corruption and audit for Moldovan NGOs. The training is part of the project “Organisational development for core support partners in Moldova”, commissioned by the Swedish Embassy/Sida and implemented in cooperation with Swedish Development Advisers.