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Better Work Global – Phase IV - Final cluster evaluation

eval_number:

3191

eval_url:

https://webapps.ilo.org/ievaldiscovery/eval/3191

lessons_learned:

themes:

theme:

Programme sustainability

category:

Organizational issues

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comments:

ILO / BW staff

challenges:

While the factory fees contribute to cost-recovery of core services, additional funding is needed for capacity-building and activities at national level. If BW adjusts its programme to focus less on core services and more on capacity-building and handing over the programme, it will receive less income from factory fees and become more reliant on other sources of funding.

success:

There is a clear benefit of the factory contribution in terms of cost-recovery. This element can also contribute to sustainability, since the programme is able to function with limited reliance on donor funding

context:

The COVID-19 pandemic, as well as global crises such as the war in Ukraine, have shifted donor priorities (e.g., one donor invoked the force majeure during COVID-19) and resulted in worldwide inflation (e.g., cost of living) that affect workers’ needs and wellbeing as well. As a result, there is uncertainty regarding the amount of funding that will be available for Better Work in the upcoming years, and possible cost fluctuations in the future are unclear. Additionally, changes in programme activities may reduce the involvement of Better Work in factory-level services. This will likely affect existing cost-recovery mechanisms, as the financial resources for factory assessments may be obtained by the labour inspectorates or other stakeholders who will take over such activities.

description:

Until recently, the Better Work programme benefitted from both donor support, as well as membership fees of buyers and factories; this promoted financial sustainability. However, Better Work’s current financial model may not be sustainable enough to withstand changes in donor priorities (e.g. due to current crises), fluctuations in the global economic situation, and changes in programme activities (e.g. less factory activities so less cost-recovery); this may affect availability of funding, as well as the amount of funding needed in the future. Namely, the programme may lose income by shifting factory-level activities to stakeholders, while increasing capacity-building efforts. To finance these capacity-building activities, reliance on donor funding may increase.

administrative_issues:

There is a need to reconsider funding sources and budgeting. Better Work will need to carefully consider how activities, planned outputs and priorities in Phase V are changing and how this may affect sources of funding.

url:

https://webapps.ilo.org/ievaldiscovery/lessons/245195

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location:

country:

Inter-Regional

region:

Inter-Regional

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eval_title:

Better Work Global – Phase IV - Final cluster evaluation