Background

The UNDP Peace Building Project in Lebanon aims to enhance mutual understanding and social cohesion by addressing the root causes of conflict. Since 2013, the project has also focused on mitigating the impact of the Syrian crisis on social stability in Lebanon. It supports local leaders, educators, youth, media professionals, journalists, and civil society activists in developing strategies for peacebuilding, crisis management, and conflict prevention. The media component of the project includes initiatives such as the Salam wa Kalam digital media platform, Fake News National Media Campaigns, fact-checking training for media practitioners, and training on hate speech and fake news for youth. Triangle was commissioned to evaluate these media initiatives to assess their impact, effectiveness, and sustainability.

Triangle’s Assignment

Triangle was commissioned to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the media component within the UNDP Peace Building Project in Lebanon, covering the period from January 2021 to December 2022. The assessment aimed to measure the impact of various media-related activities, including the Salam wa Kalam digital media platform, Fake News National Media Campaigns, and training programs on fact-checking and countering hate speech. The evaluation also aimed to assess the outcomes and effectiveness of these media interventions, their impact on conflict dynamics, and provide recommendations for sustainability and future improvements.

Objectives

The assignment had several key objectives:

• To critically assess the relevance, effectiveness, coherence, and sustainability of the media component activities during the 2020-2022 period.
• To identify challenges and successes in the media interventions and derive lessons learned.
• To analyze how media interventions influenced conflict dynamics at both local and national levels.
• To evaluate the extent and quality of public awareness created by the media campaigns.
• To provide recommendations based on identified successes and failures to inform future media-related peacebuilding efforts.

Research Approach & Methodology

Triangle employed a mixed-method approach to gather comprehensive data for the assignment. The methodology encompassed the following key components:

• Theory of Change Reconstruction: To assess program success and improvement areas, Triangle reconstructed the theory of change through interviews, document reviews, and discussions with program staff. This process aimed to examine initial assumptions, planned outcomes, and causal links.
• Stakeholder Engagement: The evaluation team conducted interviews and focus group discussions with key stakeholders, including youth, media practitioners, journalists, and civil society activists, to gather diverse perspectives and insights.
• Field Visits: Field visits were conducted to ten municipalities in four Lebanese governorates where local campaigns were implemented, ensuring that the evaluation captured on-the-ground realities.
• Gender and Rights-Based Analysis: The evaluation integrated a gender mainstreaming perspective, considered disability issues, and applied a rights-based approach to ensure inclusivity and sensitivity to marginalized groups.
• Data Triangulation: The team validated and triangulated findings using both quantitative and qualitative data collected through surveys, interviews, and desk reviews of relevant documents.