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The case studies 3
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The present case studies from Guatemala, Indonesia, Nepal and Nigeria reflect
some of the difficulties, challenges and lessons learned during the first
five years of field operations conducted under IDEA’s then Capacity Building
Programme and evaluated by an independent consultant agency in 2000.
Each case is indeed unique. Different countries have distinctive histories
and particularities in demography, socio-economic development, state-civil
society relations, and institutional development. At the same time, it is important
to note that the approach and principles underlying the work are
the same. And, subsequently, that this approach means considerable investments
in terms of both time and consultations, but that the approach simultaneously
ensures local ownership of the processes of dialogue and assessment
facilitated by the organization. 4
Guatemala
In December 1996, Guatemala ended a long period of authoritarian rule
and internal armed conflict with the signing of the Firm and Lasting Peace.
The signing of the Peace Accords was an important milestone on a long
journey towards national democratic transition and a negotiated peace facilitated
by the international community. It was against this backdrop that it
was decided to respond favourably to a request by the Government of
Guatemala to assist in the implementation of the 1996 Peace Accords. IDEA
saw Guatemala as an interesting case in which to test and further refine its
Capacity Building methodology and an important opportunity to begin
developing a programme in Latin America.
The Guatemala programme has strictly followed the four-stage Capacity
Building methodology. The first phase through 1997 was marked by the
consolidation of IDEA’s entry into Guatemala and the development of a
contact group. The second phase was a two-year period from 1998 until
early 2000, marked by intensive country-level activities focussing on the
preparation of a Democracy Assessment and consolidation of the contact
group under the umbrella of the Participation and Democracy Project (PPD).
3 This section draws heavily on IDEA’s 2000 Comprehensive Evaluation conducted by E.T. Jackson
(Pty) Ltd of Canada. We are grateful for their critical evaluation. The authors have selected only
relevant sections of the Evaluation for the purposes of this paper.
4 IDEA has operated in a number of other countries including Bosnia-Herzegovina, Romania,
Slovakia and Burkina Faso. Recently, new operations were started in Georgia and the South
Caucusus; and Peru. All the cases except Peru have used or attempted to apply the same methodology
with varying degrees of success. Among the most successful cases is Burkina Faso and much less
successful was Bosnia-Herzegovina. The four cases selected for presentation here were chosen
because they were evaluated more comprehensively and at the same period of time using a similar
methodology.