Policy Studies

Policy Studies are an independent, non-partisan consultancy, founded in 2001. We conduct evaluations – on the spot, semi-remotely and remotely – and we provide trainings for civil society actors – in Germany and worldwide online and offline.

Building on a wide expert network and long-standing in-country contacts, Policy Studies provide in-depth knowledge of Central Asia, the Caucasus, the Balkans, and Eastern Europe.

Our technical expertise focuses on democracy and governance issues including anticorruption. Our strengths lie in social integration and conflict mitigation, civil society advancement and institutional management.

Policy Studies follows a participatory approach. We learn from the communities, document their concerns, assist them to make their voices to be heard.

We work across the disciplines, incorporate diverse view points and integrate concepts from different sectors in order to come up with hands-on strategic advice and to present feasible short-term and long-term scenarios.

Policy Studies strive to provide excellence and value, aiming at the highest possible performance standards. We have an in-depth understanding of the complex environments of the countries, we are working in.

Policy Studies is run by Dr. Marie-Carin von Gumppenberg.

Regional Expertise

Building up on in-house experts and long-standing in-country contacts Policy Studies provide in-depth knowledge on Central Asia, the Caucasus, the Balkans and other Eastern European countries. Their expertise is focused on, however, not limited to the following countries:

Central Asia Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Tajikistan Uzbekistan	The Caucasus Armenia Azerbaijan Georgia
The Balkans Albania Bosnia and Herzegovina Kosovo Montenegro North Macedonia Serbia	Eastern Europe Belarus Moldova Ukraine Russia

Sectoral Expertise

Since 2001 Policy Studies provide consulting services on democratisation issues such as

• elections (legal assistance, election observation, capacity building of electoral management bodies) and
• community participation (community mobilisation, lobbying and advocacy, participation in elections) .

Our strengths lie in advancing good governance and anticorruption in and with development and civil society organisations. Specifically, we assist in

• design of anticorruption systems of development and civil society organisations,
• provide training on anticorruption online and in person, and
• review/audit of anticorruption systems applying a learning approach.

We have outstanding experience in working on, in, around conflict situations,

• writing early warning assessments
• implementing projects aimed at preventing major conflicts
• documenting and monitoring conflict situations
• evaluating projects aimed at mitigating the consequences of conflict.

Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation of Projects

Project monitoring | We regard the beneficiaries at the centre of any project monitoring. They best can provide feedback about the project’s achievements. If appropriately included from the very beginning, the beneficiaries can assist in adjusting and fine tuning the project. This may be in terms of working methods, staffing arrangements, budgets or readjustment of project/programme objectives.

Participatory evaluation | To the maximum extent possible, we include beneficiaries in our evaluations, may this be ex ante, in itinere or ex post evaluations. Policy Studies research, visit and analyze projects, hereby applying a mix of quantitative and qualitative tools and methodologies. We are deeply convinced that participatory evaluation fosters joint learning, improves service delivery, demonstrates results, captures best practice and identifies areas for improvement.

Remote and semi-remote evaluation | Being convinced that local evaluation capacities are to be empowered, Policy Studies furthers evaluations conducted by local evaluators. Through our quality assurance system for these kind of evaluations, we are sure that our evaluation reports meet evaluation standards.

Anticorruption

A systematic approach towards integrity | We have developed a systematic approach to further anticorruption in development organisations and civil society. Key elements of our anticorruption system are prevention, detection and reaction. This appraoch ensures integrity and compliance in organisations. Policy Studies assist in design and review/audit of anticorruption systems.

Learning with and from the partners | We assist development institutions who wish to promote anticorruption jointly with their partners. The partners on the ground know best the challenges towards integrity – and they know ways how to promote their integrity. Policy Studies facilitates this joint learning process by conducting workshops – online and in person – and designing training tools.

Hate speech

Contructively combating hate speech | Jointly with our partners we analyse hate speech incidents and hate speech risks for the organisation. We assess measures already taken to combate hate speech and draw up action plans how to further minimise hate speech risks. Concrete actions against hate speech include awareness raising within the organisation and among key stakeholders, establishing and maintaining effective redress mechanisms and adequately responding to hate speech incidents.

Books

Der Kaukasus. Geschichte. Kultur. Politik. (The Caucasus. History. Culture. Politics). (jointly edited with Udo Steinbach), München 2018, 3rd edition, 301 p.

Georgia. Presidential and Parliamentary Elections 2008. (jointly edited with Igor Gaon), Tbilisi 2009, 324 p. (English version)

Georgia. Local Elections 2006. Lessons Learned (jointly edited with Igor Gaon), Tbilisi 2007, 149 p. (English version)

Zentralasien. Geschichte – Politik – Wirtschaft. Ein Lexikon. (Central Asia. History. Politics. Economics). (jointly edited with Udo Steinbach), München 2004, 358 p.

Staats- und Nationsbildung in Kazachstan (State- and Nation-Building in Kazakhstan), Opladen 2002, 237 p.

Evaluations and Impact Assessments

Evaluation of the Global Programme Diaspora and Development. 2022 (semi-remote)

Evaluation of the rule of law project activities in Western Balkans. 2022 (semi-remote)

Evaluation of 45 rule of law projects funded under the stability pact in Western Balkans. 2021 (semi-remote)

Evaluation of a social and economic development programme in South Caucasus . 2021/2022 (semi-remote)

Evaluation of the country project Turkey of a political foundation. 2021 (remote)

Evaluation of a ICT project in refugee camp in Kakuma. Kenia. 2021 (semi-remote)

Evaluation of climate change projects in Russia, Ukraine, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Kyrgyzstan. 2020/21 (remote)

Evaluation of the programme of a political foundation in Russia. 2020/21 (semi-remote)

Evaluaton of the peer learning alliance for integrity in climate financing. 2020 (remote)

Evaluation of two projects to empower survivors of gender based violence. 2020 (semi-remote)

Evaluation of a project against gender based violence in Kosovo. 2020 (semi-remote)

Evaluation of a compliance and anticorruption training programme in Vienna/Austria. 2020 (semi-remote)

Evaluation of Roma scholarship programme in Moldova, Russia and Ukraine. 2020 (semi-remote)

Evaluation of the development policy dialogue programme in Brussel/Belgium. 2020

Evaluation of a Kyrgyzstan-based programme for migrants from/in Central Asia. 2019 (semi-remote)

Evaluation of the Evaluation Department of a political foundation. 2018

Evaluation of the country project Belarus. 2018

Evaluation of social integration programme in Ukraine. 2018

Evaluation of a media and information literacy programme in Uzbekistan, 2018

Evaluation of a Social Centre in Ukraine. 2017, 2018 (semi-remote)

Evaluation of the children non-formal education programmes in Russia, Belorussia and Ukraine. 2016/2017

Evaluation of a conflict mitigation programme in Southern Kyrgyzstan. 2015

Evaluation of the country project Albania with special emphasis on corruption. 2015

Evaluation of the adult education programme in Russia. 2015

Impact Assessment of an Indian education programme for first generation learners. 2014

Evaluation of a regional programme Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan). 2014

Handbooks and Studies

Council of Europe: Toolkit on Combating hate speech. 2021 (co-author)

European Investment Bank: Guidance Notes on Stakeholder Engagement. 2019 (co-author)

International Organisation for Migration: Handbook for family reunification. 2016, 2017 (co-author)

Council of Europe: Using International Election Standards. Council of Europe Handbook for Civil Society Organisations. 2014, 2016 (co-author)

Council of Europe: Reporting for Elections. Council of Europe Handbook for Civil Society Organisations. 2014, 2016 (co-author)

Transparency International Secretariat: Handbook for government officials willing to engage in integrity pacts. 2015 (author)

GiZ: Governance and corruption analysis Kyrgyzstan. 2014 (author)

OSCE Mission to Georgia: Presidential and Parliamentary Elections 2008. Assisting Georgia: Promoting International Standards. 2009. 96 p. (editor)

Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung/FRIENT: Studien zur länderbezogenen Konfliktanalyse (Country related conflict assessment). Uzbekistan. 2003 (author)

Beneficiaries

Policy Studies put the beneficiaries in the centre of our work. They are the people for whom we work. We are deeply convinced it is the beneficiaires who know best how to improve their living conditions, which support they need and whether the projects designed for them are implemented for their benefit.

International Organisations and Development Agencies

Policy Studies work with international organisations and development agencies to conduct needs assessments and fact findings and to design, implement, monitor and evaluate a wide range of donor-funded projects and programmes. We also provide policy advice and scenario analysis to donors and international development agencies, with an aim of developing and strengthening their approaches.

We work – among others – for the following institutions: Council of Europe, European Investment Bank, GIZ, International Organisation for Migration, OSCE, UNDP and UNESCO.

National and International Non-Governmental Organisations

Policy Studies maintain a wide network with national and international non-governmental organisations, being convinced that these organisations provide an often useful alternative view, complement and support government service deliveries, and contribute to the communication between government institutions and citizens.

We work – among others – for the following institutions: Transparency International-Secretariat, Partnership for Transparency Europe, Caritas International, Bred for the World, Renovabis, medica mondiale and German political foundations.