Governance, Human Rights and Civil Society

Effective governance creates a society where people live with dignity and freedom. Good governance and human rights reinforce each other and are built on four core foundations: participation, accountability, transparency and state responsibility.

An enabling environment is key to everyone’s enjoyment of their human rights. This requires accountable institutions, the rule of law and equal access to justice, reflecting SDG 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions and the goal of building peaceful, inclusive societies.

Good governance encompasses the mechanisms that keep society functioning, laws, regulations, institutions, political structures and administrative processes. A solid governance system is essential to respect and protect human rights, respond to the population’s needs and empower people, particularly marginalised groups.

Civil society serves as a vital bridge between citizens and governments, actively promoting and safeguarding good governance and human rights. Through advocacy, monitoring and public awareness campaigns, civil society organisations (CSOs) hold governments accountable for their actions and ensure they adhere to human rights principles. They contribute to policy development, support marginalised populations, and facilitate dialogue to prevent and resolve conflicts peacefully.

What we do

  • Conduct formulations, appraisals, reviews and evaluations of governance programmes, including public financial governance, democratic governance, decentralisation, civil society and participation mechanisms.
  • Carry out organisational and institutional analysis of public bodies, oversight institutions and civil society organisations.
  • Develop governance indicators and diagnostic frameworks that help partners track progress on transparency, accountability and service delivery.
  • Design results frameworks and support monitoring and evaluation of governance programmes, including in post-conflict and fragile contexts.
  • Support institutional capacity development, focusing on strengthening public administration, oversight institutions and civil society so they can perform their roles effectively.

How we work

PEM works across post-conflict/conflict environments and low , middle and high-income developing countries. Our work spans governance, human rights and civil society, and pays close attention to political economy dynamics and local power relations.

Our approach adapts as institutions evolve, drawing on shared knowledge, lessons learned and a keen understanding of changing local contexts. We combine quantitative and qualitative analysis, stakeholder engagement and participatory approaches to generate practical recommendations that can be implemented in real-world governance settings.

Assist the board of director of the Mechanism (Consejo Directivo) for Indigenous people “Oxlajuj Tz’ikin in the preparation of the new proposal programme.

Country Guatemala
Region South America
Client Sida
End Year 2013
Contract Value Small contract

Training of Trainers Course in Establishment and Development of Farmer Interest Groups for the ADDA project “Nado in Focus” Tanzania

Country Tanzania
Region Africa
Client ADDA
End Year 2013
Contract Value Small contract

Aid Delivey Methods in Fragile/Crisis Contexts – Case of Trust Funds

Country Global
Region Global
Client EU
End Year 2012
Contract Value Small contract

Provision of conducting an External Evaluation of the Support to Hospital Midwifery Education Program in Afghanistan

Country Afghanistan
Region Asia
Client NCG
End Year 2014
Contract Value Small contract

Power Mapping & Perception Audit

Country Global
Region Global
Client DSW
End Year 2018
Contract Value Small contract

Support to the dialogue between the partners of “Fund manager in support of civil society organisations in Burkina Faso”

Country Burkina Faso
Region Africa
Client Oxfam Ibis
End Year 2017
Contract Value Small contract

Final Evaluation GWAPB

Country Bangladesh
Region Asia
Client GWA Secretariat
End Year 2016
Contract Value Small contract

Mobilisation of the EU Technical Assistance Facility (TAF) for a mission to support the EU Delegation in programming of actions contributing to specific objectives 1 and 3 of the Multi-annual Indicative Programme (MIP) in Lesotho 2021 – 2027

Country Lesotho
Region Africa
Client Adelphi
End Year 2023
Contract Value Small contract

Evaluation of the Project “Improving the Effectiveness of the Administrative Judiciary and Strengthening the Institutional Capacity of Council of State”

Country Turkey
Region Asia
Client CoE
End Year 2023
Contract Value Small contract

Evaluation of the ICR Facilty’s work supporting 6 DFIs with tailor-made technical assistance

Country Global
Region Global
Client AFD
End Year 2022
Contract Value Small contract
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