Category: Study & Research

Project Title: Study on the socio-economic impact of culture on development – GIZ

Executing Body: Africa Label Group (ALG)

Project Summary and Findings:

ALG successfully executed a comprehensive study for GIZ focused on exploring the intricate linkages between culture and development, specifically within the context of Mali. The core objective of the assignment was to produce empirical findings that could assess and quantify the contribution of the creative industries sector to Mali’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This involved a detailed analysis of various cultural sub-sectors, including music, crafts, visual arts, fashion, and digital content creation, to understand their economic footprint, job creation capacity, and value chain dynamics. The study moved beyond mere anecdotal evidence to provide robust, data-driven insights into how cultural production and consumption drive socio-economic growth and foster community resilience.

Applied Insights and Methodology:

The study utilized a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative economic modeling with qualitative field research. Key applied insights included:

1. Economic Quantification: Developing a methodology to estimate the value added by creative industries, distinguishing between formal and informal cultural economic activities, which are particularly significant in Mali.
2. Employment and Livelihoods: Analyzing the types of employment generated, focusing on youth and women, and assessing the overall impact on livelihoods and poverty reduction.
3. Policy Landscape Assessment: Reviewing the existing national and regional policies, strategies, and regulatory frameworks that govern the creative sector to identify gaps and opportunities for intervention.
4. Value Chain Mapping: Detailed mapping of the production, distribution, and consumption value chains for selected high-impact cultural sectors to pinpoint critical investment nodes and bottlenecks.

Importance of the Study for Policy Promotion in Mali and the West Africa Region:

This study is of paramount importance for the following reasons, particularly for the promotion and implementation of effective policies relating to creative industries in Mali and across the wider West Africa region:

1. Evidence-Based Policymaking: The study provides governments, development partners, and regional bodies like ECOWAS with credible, quantitative data. This evidence is essential for moving the creative sector from a peripheral social concern to a central economic priority, justifying public investment and policy focus.
2. Strategic Resource Allocation: By quantifying the contribution to GDP, the study offers a powerful argument for allocating domestic and international resources towards the creative economy. It helps policymakers prioritize sub-sectors with the highest potential for economic return and sustainable employment.
3. Regional Policy Harmonization: The findings can serve as a benchmark and a model for similar studies in other West African nations. This is crucial for regional integration and for harmonizing policies—especially those concerning intellectual property rights, cultural goods mobility, and taxation—to facilitate a more robust regional creative market.
4. Private Sector Engagement: The concrete economic data helps to de-risk the creative sector in the eyes of private investors and financial institutions. It makes a compelling case for developing specialized financing mechanisms, such as cultural enterprise funds or creative sector loan guarantees, which are vital for scaling up micro and small cultural enterprises.
5. Cultural Diplomacy and Soft Power: The data reinforces the value of Mali’s rich cultural heritage not just as a domestic asset, but as a source of regional and international “soft power.” Promoting the creative industries thus becomes a tool for international cooperation, trade, and cultural diplomacy.

The COVID-19 pandemic did more than trigger a global health crisis; it unleashed a devastating socio-economic storm, particularly on vulnerable groups like women and youth in already fragile intervention areas. When GIZ tasked us (ALG) in 2021 with designing a strategy and fund to mitigate these impacts in Mali, we knew a one-size-fits-all approach wouldn’t work.

Our key insight was simple yet profound: Effective mitigation requires a foundation built on granular, validated needs assessment and locally-tailored implementation tools.

The ALG Insight: Beyond Relief, Towards Sustainable Empowerment

Many emergency responses focus solely on immediate relief. While critical, this often misses the underlying systemic vulnerabilities that the crisis exacerbated. Our approach, highlighted by the focused study mentioned: “Design of the strategy for setting up a fund to mitigate the socio-economic impacts of the covid-19 pandemic in the project intervention area for the benefit of women and young people – GIZ,” demonstrated this core principle:

1. Needs Assessment as the Blueprint:

We didn’t rely on assumptions. The first and most crucial step was assessing the specific needs of the target groups—women and young people—within the project intervention area. In a context like Mali, this meant understanding:

• How the pandemic uniquely disrupted women’s informal businesses and access to markets.
• The impact of school closures and economic downturns on youth employment and training opportunities.
• The most pressing gaps in local capacity and existing social safety nets.

This deep dive ensured that the resulting fund would address real bottlenecks, not perceived ones, maximising the impact of every resource invested.

2. Tool Development for Local Ownership:

A brilliant strategy is useless without practical means of execution. Our project’s second pillar was developing the tools for the implementation of the project. This wasn’t just about financial models; it involved creating practical instruments that local partners could readily use:

• Fund Disbursement Criteria: Simple, transparent rules that prioritized the most affected and potentially high-impact initiatives (e.g., micro-grants for women-led food processing units).
• Monitoring & Evaluation Frameworks: User-friendly tools that allowed for real-time tracking of socio-economic indicators and fund performance, ensuring accountability and adaptability.
• Capacity Building Modules: Materials to train local implementers on project management, financial literacy, and gender-sensitive approaches.

By focusing on these core insights—validated needs and localized tools—ALG ensured that the GIZ-supported fund wasn’t just another temporary handout. It was a structured, resilient mechanism designed to empower women and youth to recover their livelihoods, build resilience against future shocks, and become drivers of economic stability in their communities.

ALG conducted this assignment in 2021, proving that a data-driven, localized approach is the most sustainable way to navigate global crises.

In 2012, ALG successfully completed a critical assignment for the Ministry of Gender and Family in Burkina Faso: conducting a comprehensive gender diagnosis across various government ministries and institutions. This initiative was a significant step towards assessing and strengthening the nation’s commitment to gender mainstreaming.

The Imperative for a Gender Diagnosis

The core objective of this diagnosis was to provide a clear, evidence-based assessment of the efforts undertaken by different sectors of the government to integrate gender perspectives into their policies, programs, budgets, and institutional cultures. By identifying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT analysis) related to gender equality, the diagnosis aimed to inform targeted interventions and foster a more equitable public service landscape.Approach and Methodology

ALG employed a rigorous and participatory methodology to ensure the relevance and accuracy of the findings. The approach was structured around the following key components:

1. Desk Review and Document Analysis:

A thorough review of existing national gender policies, legal frameworks (including international and regional commitments), sector-specific strategies, organizational charts, and annual reports of the targeted ministries and institutions was conducted. This step established a baseline understanding of the formal commitment to gender equality.

2. Institutional Capacity Assessment:

This focused on evaluating the internal capacity for gender mainstreaming. 

Key areas of inquiry included:

• Existence and Functionality of Gender Focal Points/Units: Assessing the mandate, resources, and influence of the designated gender mechanisms within each institution.
• Staff Competencies: Evaluating the level of gender sensitivity and technical skills among staff, particularly those in decision-making positions, through training records and direct interviews.
• Resource Allocation: Analyzing the extent to which budgets were gender-responsive, ensuring resources were dedicated to activities promoting gender equality.

3. Data Collection and Stakeholder Consultation:

• Qualitative Interviews: In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with key informants, including Ministers, Permanent Secretaries, Directors of Administration and Finance, Gender Focal Points, and representatives from civil society organizations (CSOs) and development partners. These conversations sought to understand the practical challenges and successes of gender integration.
• Focus Group Discussions (FGDs): FGDs were held with various groups of staff (men and women at different hierarchical levels) to gather diverse perspectives on the organizational culture, resistance to change, and perceived impact of gender initiatives.
• Survey Questionnaires: Structured questionnaires were administered to a broader sample of employees to quantify levels of awareness, attitudes, and practices related to gender equality in the workplace and in program delivery.

4. Analysis and Report Generation:

The collected data—both qualitative and quantitative—was systematically analyzed against established gender mainstreaming indicators. The final diagnosis report provided a clear rating or score for each institution, highlighting specific areas for improvement and offering concrete, actionable recommendations tailored to the mandate of each ministry and institution.

Impact and Legacy

The successful completion of this gender diagnosis by ALG in 2012 provided the Ministry of Gender and Family with a vital strategic tool. The findings were instrumental in:

• Policy Refinement: Informing the revision and development of the National Gender Policy and associated sectoral strategies.
• Targeted Capacity Building: Guiding the design of specific gender training programs for public sector employees where capacity gaps were most pronounced.
• Accountability: Establishing a baseline against which future progress on gender equality could be measured and monitored, fostering greater institutional accountability.

This assignment underscored Burkina Faso’s commitment to transforming its public sector into a more equitable and effective driver of national development through the consistent integration of a gender perspective.

Project Title: Providing high expertise on social protection

Africa Label Group (ALG) successfully executed a long-term, high-impact assignment in Burundi, providing specialized technical assistance to bolster the country’s social protection system. This extensive project, undertaken in partnership with UNICEF, spanned from April 2020 to August 2022, demonstrating ALG’s commitment to sustained engagement and in-depth support.

• Country of Assignment: Burundi
• Client: UNICEF
• Period: April 2020 – August 2022 (Long-term agreement)

Core Objective of the Consultancy:

The primary goal of the consultancy was to ensure the robust implementation of Burundi’s national safety net program while simultaneously providing the necessary policy framework and technical elements to consolidate and strengthen social protection interventions across the country. Initially scoped for a period of approximately 6 to 7 months, with a kick-off in December and two in-country missions, the project ultimately evolved into a multi-year partnership, reflecting the depth and complexity of the required support.

The consultancy’s work was strategically organized around achieving three distinct, yet interconnected, levels of results:

1. Capacity Building on Social Protection: This crucial pillar focused on enhancing the skills, knowledge, and institutional capacity of key national stakeholders—including government counterparts, local implementers, and partners—to design, manage, and monitor effective social protection programs independently and sustainably.
2. Evidence Generation: A foundational element of the work involved conducting rigorous analysis, studies, and assessments to generate high-quality evidence. This data-driven approach was essential for informing policy decisions, understanding the impact of existing interventions, and identifying vulnerable populations and coverage gaps.
3. Policy Advocacy: The third objective centered on translating the generated evidence and technical insights into actionable policy recommendations. This involved high-level advocacy and technical support to government bodies to help formulate, refine, and adopt progressive social protection policies that align with international best practices and national development goals.

Scope and Execution:

The assignment’s primary function was to support the UNICEF team by injecting high-level, specialized expertise into the social protection sector. This support covered several critical areas, including system strengthening, targeted training delivery, and in-depth analytical work, all managed through an Institutional Contract mechanism.

To deliver on this complex mandate, ALG mobilized a dedicated team of four high-quality, specialized experts. These consultants brought a wealth of technical knowledge and practical experience to the project, enabling ALG to effectively manage the more technical and specialized components of the assignment and ensure the delivery of a clearly defined set of expected outputs and deliverables associated with each of the three specific objectives. Through this institutional support, ALG helped UNICEF and the Burundian government move closer to achieving a comprehensive and resilient national social protection system.

The ALG team recently conducted a crucial mission by carrying out the Feasibility Study for the BMZ 2026 Project, an ambitious development program supported by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). This mission reflects ALG’s ongoing commitment to providing strategic expertise for high-impact social initiatives.

The Mandate: Evaluating and Guiding the Future of the Project

ALG’s primary mandate was to thoroughly analyze the relevance and viability of a major new project, in collaboration with the implementing organization, Espace Solidarité Globale Bénin (ESGB/La Passerelle). The objective was threefold:

1. Diagnosis and Rationale: Analyze the current context, the initial challenges (particularly regarding child protection and the specific needs of victims), and the rationale for the project.

2. Evaluation according to the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC/OECD) Criteria: Evaluate the project based on the six standard criteria of the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC/OECD): relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, potential impact, and sustainability. This evaluation also included a gender sensitivity analysis and a detailed review of the partnership between ESGB and KiRA (Kinderrechte Afrika e.V.).

3. Proposals for Improvement: Provide a critical analysis of the initial Logical Framework of the BMZ 2026 Project and formulate concrete proposals to improve its indicators, quantification, and the integration of institutional bottlenecks.

In essence, ALG’s mission was to lay the strategic and methodological groundwork to ensure that the future BMZ 2026 Project is not only relevant to real needs, but also robust, effective, and sustainable in its implementation.

Results: A Solid Basis for Decision-Making

Following this feasibility study, ALG submitted the final report to the client, a detailed document that will serve as a roadmap for decision-making. This report contains key strategic recommendations on:

• The overall strategy and duration of the new project (aiming for the sustainability of behavioral change).
• The optimal integration of beneficiary support and how to address gaps identified in the field.
• The most appropriate Monitoring, Evaluation, and operational management mechanisms.

The report thus confirms the main directions and areas for strengthening that will enable the BMZ 2026 Project to maximize its impact on the target communities. The ALG team in Benin is delighted to have contributed to this crucial step and looks forward to the realization of the next phases of the project.

ALG conducted a cost-benefit analysis of investments related to implementing interoperability between health facilities and civil registration services for birth registration in Burundi between November 2025 and January 2026. The study was commissioned by UNICEF on behalf of the Government of Burundi.

The cost-benefit analysis aims to provide Burundi with a strategic decision-making tool to identify profitable investments for improving children’s access to civil registration services, particularly within the framework of scaling up the interoperability approach for birth registration nationwide, using a quantitative methodology. This tool is a necessary contribution to the implementation of Burundi’s revised 2018-2027 National Development Plan and to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

The results of this study will provide the Government, UNICEF, and other development partners with the necessary evidence to support government systems and mobilize resources for the birth registration program. Specifically, the study is intended to:

• Develop a cost-benefit analysis of investments in interoperability between civil registration and health services for birth registration in Burundi. This analysis must clearly identify and articulate the short-, medium-, and long-term social and economic gains of investments in the sector (cost-effectiveness analysis, cost-efficiency analysis, cost of inaction analysis);
• Demonstrate the expected returns (cost-benefit ratio) of investments in birth registration in Burundi, particularly in interoperability between civil registration and health services;
• Identify funding options to ensure the nationwide scaling up of interoperability between health facilities and civil registration services for birth registration in Burundi.

ALG’s work will enable a cost-benefit analysis of the interoperability approach to inform the national scaling-up process and support advocacy for the inclusion of the interoperability budget in the national budget.

The firm worked in close collaboration and coordination with the national steering committee on interoperability and, more specifically, with the structures of the ministries responsible for the interior, health, finance, and other ministries involved in civil registration, as well as development partners, including NGOs and CSOs that support birth registration in Burundi.

Since 2007, ALG carried out more than 20 projects in Burundi.

ALG has successfully completed a high-stakes consultancy mandate commissioned by the World Bank and the Government of Burkina Faso. The assignment, focused on the critical fight against child malnutrition, has delivered a comprehensive roadmap to enhance Social and Behavioral Change Communication (SBCC) across the country.

The completion of this project marks a pivotal step in the “Health Services Reinforcement Project” (HSRP) and the “Emergency Local Development and Resilience Project” (PUDTR), aimed at addressing the nutritional crisis in a context where 21.6% of children under five suffer from stunting.

A Response to a Critical National Need

The assignment was launched against a backdrop of urgent need. With only 23.9% of children aged 6–23 months receiving a minimum acceptable diet, the Government of Burkina Faso has been prioritizing the convergence of health and social protection services.

ALG’s mission was to evaluate the capacity of frontline workers—including facility-based agents and community workers—to deliver life-saving nutrition messages effectively. The ultimate goal of this work is to support the distribution of Small Quantity Lipid-based Nutrient Supplements (SQ-LNS) to approximately 84,000 children.

Delivering on Complex Objectives

Navigating a challenging security context, ALG successfully executed the three-phase approach outlined in the project’s terms of reference:

1. National Mapping: ALG delivered a complete mapping of nutrition-related SBCC service providers across all sectors and regions of Burkina Faso. This included a detailed breakdown of delivery mechanisms and intervention areas.
2. Targeted Regional Assessment: In the priority regions of the East and Boucle du Mouhoun, the firm conducted an in-depth evaluation of the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) of key community agents. This covered three vital sectors:
   • Social protection (social workers)
   • Health (community health workers)
   • Agriculture (agricultural extension agents).
3. Capacity and Gap Analysis: The team provided a clear analysis of the human resources, materials, and equipment currently available, while identifying critical gaps that have historically hindered the effective diffusion of nutrition messages.

Key Deliverables and Outcomes

To the satisfaction of the World Bank and national stakeholders, ALG submitted a robust package of deliverables essential for future policy planning:

• Comprehensive Final Report: A detailed document (available in French and English) summarizing the research methodology, data collection processes, and key findings regarding provider capacity.
• Strategic Database: A transparent compilation of raw data and interview notes to support evidence-based decision-making.
• Operational Protocols: High-quality qualitative instruments and safety protocols that ensured the security of research teams and participants during the data collection phase.

Impact on National Beneficiaries

The insights provided by ALG are set to drive the “convergence” strategy championed by the World Bank’s Social Protection and Jobs (SPJ) and Health, Nutrition, and Population (HNP) teams.

By identifying exactly where gaps in knowledge and equipment exist, the government can now better layer nutrition counseling onto existing social safety net transfers. This ensures that interventions like the monthly distribution of nutritional supplements are accompanied by effective behavioral change communication, maximizing their impact on child growth and development.

The successful completion of this assignment provides the evidence base needed to scale up interventions that will protect the developmental potential of Burkina Faso’s next generation.

ALG has completed the assignment: “Technical and research services to undertake a review of decentralized polices and legal framework of the Ministry of Lands, Regional Government and Religious Affairs and The Gambia Association of Local Government Authorities (GALGA); and develop institutional policies for GALGA”. The assignment was entrusted by UNDP.

Overall Objective

This consultancy seeks to review the existing legal and policy frameworks of the Ministry of Lands, Regional Government, and Religious Affairs, and to develop finance, administrative, communication and visibility policies for GALGA. The review of these legal and policy frameworks and the development of the above policies will enhance the institutional capacity of these institutions to discharge their statutory duties and bring them on par with others in the region.

Specific Objectives

With support from the EU-UNDP GREAT initiative, a local consultancy firm will be hired to review the legal and institutional policy frameworks and develop communication, financial, and other strategic policy documents to enhance the performance of (MoLRGRA & GALGA).

The policy review will focus on legal and policy frameworks. The firm will work mostly with the MoLRGRA & GALGA and engage other strategic government institutions, private sector, civil society organizations, development partners, and review existing literature and best practices in the region.

Specifically, the firm will undertake the following tasks:

a. Conduct an inclusive policy review and update the decentralization framework, line ministries, and local authorities’ institutional policies, namely the revision of the Local Governance Act of 2002, and update the Local Government Finance and Audit Act of 2014 and the Constitution of GALGA.

b. Develop administrative, finance, human resources, communication and visibility Policies, and strategies for GALGA.

ALG has been commissioned by the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (MoHERST) to conduct this significant study. Owing to our established presence and extensive experience in The Gambia, coupled with our international and local expertise, we successfully completed the assignment in collaboration with key stakeholders.

SCOPE  OF THE TVET TRACER STUDY

Overall, this study  aims to provide insights into the strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement within the TVET sector, with a focus on enhancing the quality, relevance, and accessibility of training programs for individuals and communities across various socio-economic backgrounds. By assessing different types of institutions and programs, ALG can identify best practices and areas for intervention to foster inclusive and sustainable development through TVET.

In addition to assessing publicly funded TVET initiatives, this evaluation will also encompass private institutions and projects that sponsor students for TVET programs. These private entities play a crucial role in expanding access to vocational education and training, particularly for individuals who may not have access to public institutions or government-funded initiatives.

The evaluation of private institutions and sponsored projects will focus on several key areas:

• Program Quality and Relevance:
  • Assessing the quality and relevance of the TVET programs offered by private institutions, ensuring they meet industry standards and address current market needs.
  • Evaluating the effectiveness of the curriculum in equipping students with practical skills and knowledge that are in demand in the job market.
• Sponsorship Models and Accessibility:
  • Examining the various sponsorship models employed by private institutions and projects to support students in accessing TVET education.
  • Assessing the impact of sponsorship on widening access to TVET training, particularly for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds or marginalised communities.
• Outcomes and Employability:
  • Analysing the outcomes of students sponsored by private institutions and projects, including their rates of completion, graduation, and subsequent employment.
  • Assessing the employability of graduates and their ability to secure relevant employment opportunities in their respective fields.
• Partnerships and Collaboration:
  • Exploring partnerships and collaborations between private institutions, industry stakeholders, and local communities to enhance the effectiveness and relevance of TVET programs.
  • Evaluating the role of private sector engagement in shaping curriculum development, providing internship opportunities, and facilitating job placements for TVET graduates.

By including private institutions and sponsored projects in the evaluation, we aim to gain a comprehensive understanding of the TVET landscape, identifying successful approaches, challenges, and opportunities for improvement. This will enable stakeholders to make informed decisions and investments to strengthen the overall quality, accessibility, and impact of TVET training programs in the region.

Having delineated the scope of evaluation for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programs, which encompasses a comprehensive assessment of various institutions and initiatives. ALG will now transition to the desk review phase. This phase will involve an in-depth analysis of existing literature, policies, and program documentation to provide a foundational understanding of TVET initiatives and their impact on employability, skill development, and economic empowerment in The Gambia.

ALG deployed a mission of experts who worked actively with national experts mobilized by the State to conduct research and consultations. A project document was developed and adopted following a diagnosis of the state of rural infrastructure and the needs expressed by stakeholders in the nine provinces of the country.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PUDC FEASIBILITY STUDY IN GABON:
1. Support and assist the Government’s provincial consultation missions.
The purpose of these missions is to consult the main stakeholders, particularly at the community level, including beneficiaries (populations, SMEs/SMIs, small informal units), local and central government officials, and community groups, as well as technical and financial partners, to collect the necessary information and data that will maintain the relevance of PUDC interventions to ensure ownership and sustainability.
2. Establish a comprehensive inventory based on consultations and data collection (infrastructure, social services and economic potential) based on a matrix of indicators previously discussed and validated by the mission’s Technical Committee.
3. Develop a detailed costing of the PUDC interventions disaggregated at the provincial
and local levels, including:
– A georeferenced table of infrastructure and service needs for each of the
identified areas (health, water, clean energy, including the solar health component,
education/training, access roads, income-generating activities), and for each
community,
– An estimate of the investment cost for each achievement, and an overall budget.
A detailed budgeting for all interventions such as rural roads, on the grid
of energy solutions, water supply, and agricultural (production and
processing) equipment, livestock products and the development of agricultural land where
needed, markets and education and health facilities. The
cost should include all direct and indirect costs of maintaining and maintaining
the infrastructure, including strengthening local operation and maintenance capacities. – Discussions with national construction companies to triangulate cost elements
– An estimate of the time frame for completion
The question of demand and likely use of PUDC products will be crucial in
the feasibility study, including the feasibility and sustainability of a PUDC-type solution
including elements such as:
a. Management,
b. Operational costs,
c. Potential income
4. Develop the nine (09) local development plans (PLD) that transpose the
National Transition Development Plan (PNDT) to the local level and also integrate,
but are not limited to, the following axes:
DocuSign Envelope ID: C2DC0FB5-FCEA-4D56-96A7-5D72352ABF34
United Nations Development Programme
(i) In-depth analysis of all sectors/sectors/branches of activity existing
in the province; (ii) Employment/entrepreneurship profile of each province;
(iii) Analysis of current territorial dynamics and potential levers for local economic development, creating sustainable jobs;
(iv) Identification and analysis of promising niches as well as economic opportunities to encourage innovation, entrepreneurship and job creation;
(v) ​​Strategy for the development of the private sector, entrepreneurship and employment and to drive genuine sustainable development at the local level.
6. Develop a cost-benefit analysis highlighting the advantages and probable results for countries and communities, in particular the economic and social returns of the PUDC.
7. Develop the PUDC Gabon project document, based on a template previously validated with the UNDP and the Government.
8. Formulate a detailed and targeted resource mobilization strategy through
the assessment of the government budget as well as the identification of international financial institutions
and donors interested in financing PUDC Gabon.