Final Evaluation of Tuyage (Let’s Talk) -August 2023

The report presents the findings of the final evaluation of the “Tuyage (Let’s Talk): Information Access and Economic Discourse Strengthening” project, which Search for Common Ground (Search) implemented with the support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), through a subaward agreement with Freedom House (FH). The project started in July 2018 and closed in September 2023.

The goal of the evaluation was to measure the extent to which the Tuyage project has been successful at achieving its outcomes and overall impact, why and where improvements for the future can be made. As such, the evaluation report presents and discusses collected evidence of the project’s achievements in relation to its effectiveness, impact and sustainability. The report also gives specific attention to answering questions related to Search’s media component, including the reach and resonance of, and response to, the media programs developed and broadcast under the project.

• Under the project’s 1st component (Access to Information), the Tuyage project was successful in engaging selected journalists and in diverting their attention to economic issues. Participating journalists have also produced a high number of stories on economic issues, which would not have been the case without the project.
• Under the project’s 2nd component (Economic Discourse), Search successfully promoted dialogue and networking among young Burundians and women. The project was successful in creating listening clubs. Networking activities reinforced social cohesion between youth and women from different political and religious affiliations.
• Under the 3rd component (Women’s Empowerment), the women directly engaged in the project were economically empowered. Those who were keener to achieve more were able to also scale up their projects and get access to additional assets.