Publications

The aftermath of civil wars can be a period of heightened contention with increased protest mobilization. However, we still know little about the mechanism through which individuals are motivated to join protests in such settings. I argue that exposure to war violence constitutes an important determinant. Especially when violence is perceived as a collectively shared experience among members of the same ethnic group, it is likely to increase group-based grievances and the propensity to participate in protests. This paper contributes to the discussion by shedding light on the factors that explain individuals’ propensity to engage in protests during post-conflict periods and by testing the mechanism through which the conjectured relationship is assumed to operate.

• Taylor & Francis Online: Terrorism and Political Violence

• Krtsch, R. (2025), Exposure to Violence and Protest Participation: Evidence from Post-Conflict Uganda. Terrorism and Political Violence, 1–20.

The German Institute for Development Evaluation (DEval) examined the area of intervention “Population dynamics; sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR)” of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) for the period 2011 to 2023. According to the current coalition agreement, this area of intervention is one of the priorities of development policy within this legislative period. This policy brief discusses the evaluation findings against the backdrop of current challenges.

• Schmidt, M. and J.T. Polak (2025), Strengthening Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights: Evaluation Findings Against the Backdrop of a Changed International Context, DEval Policy Brief 6/2025, German Institute for Development Evaluation (DEval), Bonn.

This discussion paper examines how evidence-based decision making can be strengthened in fragile and conflict-affected states, using Ukraine’s national evaluation system, its capacities, the ongoing reconstruction and the EU accession process as a case study. The paper theoretically builds on the findings regarding challenges to evidence-based decision making in international civilian interventions in fragile and conflict-affected states. Methodologically, the discussion paper is based on a qualitative case study analysis and is the product of a collaboration between the German Institute for Development Evaluation (DEval) and members of the Ukrainian Evaluation Association (UEA).

• Wagner, R., O. Krasovska, V. Gryga, M. Köder, I. Lupashko, L. Margolina and V. Nedzvedska (2025), Strengthening Evidence-Based Decision Making in Fragile and Conflict-Affected States: Insights from Ukraine’s National Evaluation System, DEval Discussion Paper 3/2025, German Institute for Development Evaluation (DEval), Bonn.

As a party to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, Germany is committed to protecting biodiversity both within its own borders and worldwide. Thus, in its development cooperation activities, Germany supports its partner countries in achieving their biodiversity goals, for example by supporting protected areas. The German Institute for Development Evaluation (DEval) has evaluated the financial and technical support for protected areas given by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) between 2016 and 2021. This policy brief presents key conclusions and recommendations of the evaluation.

• Wicke, C., A. Sting and A. zu Eulenburg (2025), BMZ Support for Protected Areas: Synergies and Tensions, DEval Policy Brief 7/2025, German Institute for Development Evaluation (DEval), Bonn

Als Vertragsstaat der Biodiversitätskonvention hat sich Deutschland verpflichtet, die biologische Vielfalt im eigenen Land und weltweit zu schützen. Deshalb unterstützt das Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ) seine Partnerländer dabei, ihre Biodiversitätsziele zu erreichen, unter anderem durch die Förderung von Schutzgebieten. Das Deutsche Evaluierungsinstitut der Entwicklungszusammenarbeit (DEval) hat die Förderung von Schutzgebieten durch das BMZ zwischen 2016-2021 untersucht. Die Schulssfolgerungen und Empfehlungen dieser Evaluierung werden in diesem Policy Brief zusammengefasst und analysiert. 

• Wicke, C., A. Sting und A. zu Eulenburg (2025), Die Schutzgebietsförderung durch das BMZ: Synergien und Spannungsfelder, DEval Policy Brief 7/2025, Deutsches Evaluierungsinstitut der Entwicklungszusammenarbeit (DEval), Bonn

Eine Evaluierung des Deutschen Evaluierungsinstituts der Entwicklungszusammenarbeit (DEval) hat das BMZ-Aktionsfeld „Bevölkerungsdynamik; sexuelle und reproduktive Gesundheit und Rechte“ im Zeitraum 2011 bis 2023 untersucht. Das Aktionsfeld gehört laut Koalitionsvertrag zu den entwicklungspolitischen Schwerpunkten der laufenden Legislatur. Der Policy Brief diskutiert die Evaluierungsergebnisse vor dem Hintergrund aktueller Herausforderungen.

• Schmidt, M. und J.T. Polak (2025), Sexuelle und reproduktive Gesundheit und Rechte: Evaluierungsbefunde im Kontext veränderter Rahmenbedingungen, DEval Policy Brief 6/2025, Deutsches Evaluierungsinstitut der Entwicklungszusammenarbeit (DEval), Bonn.