Independent evaluation of the ANCP

The Evaluation of the Australian NGO Cooperation Program confirmed the ANCP is a valued program for both Australian NGOs and the Australian development program. It provides value for ANGOs by ensuring predictable and flexible funding stream, allowing them to work in sectors and countries based on their priorities and to reach highly vulnerable groups. ANCP creates value for Australia’s development program by extending its reach, leveraging Australian public donations and creating people-to-people links. However, the evaluation also highlights areas for improvement such as a need to shift from a transactional to a more strategic partnership approach, address the structural inequities in the accreditation system and funding policy, shift to a multi-year funding model, better connect the ANCP to DFAT’s bilateral and regional programs and shift from a monitoring to an evaluative approach to better report on outcomes.

ANCP Accreditation and Funding Policy Refresh

This forward-facing refresh will update the Australian NGO Cooperation Program's (ANCP) accreditation system and Funding Policy to address relevant agreed recommendations from the 2022 ANCP Evaluation. The refresh will also look at the accreditation system and Funding Policy more broadly to update and streamline governance and implementation arrangements, including by removing duplication and inconsistences, and aligning where appropriate with other relevant standards such as DFAT's Due Diligence Framework and ACFID's Code of Conduct.

The accreditation system and the Funding Policy are closely linked core components of the ANCP modality. Grant funding calculations are informed by the accreditation tiers and reliant on the NGOs maintaining their accreditation status. Reflecting this, the evaluation recommended a joined-up approach to the accreditation and Funding Policy refresh to ensure that funding arrangements align with revisions to the accreditation system.

The Terms of Reference includes Key Investigative Questions guiding this refresh.

ANCP Program Logic

The ANCP Program Logic identifies the pathways along which the ANCP is expected to contribute to Australia’s efforts to sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction. It articulates the value-add of the ANCP to Australia’s development program.

The Program Logic informs the assessment of program performance, including a terms of reference for monitoring and engagement visits, and facilitates compliance with DFAT corporate reporting.

View the ANCP Program Logic.

Monitoring Evaluation and Learning Framework

The Monitoring Evaluation and Learning Framework (MELF) provides the evidence base to demonstrate the effectiveness of the ANCP in achieving results in economic growth and poverty reduction. The MELF consists of the following elements:

• common reporting formats, one for annual planning (due 30 June); and another for reporting performance and results against a common set of indicators (approximately 40). The performance report includes a financial acquittal (due 30 September)
• meta-evaluations which focus on the quality and range of outcomes in the implementation of ANCP activities
• thematic reviews which provide an opportunity to explore particular topics around development effectiveness in greater depth and demonstrate impact of ANCP against sectoral themes
• an annual program of in-country visits to monitor effectiveness, compliance and alignment with government priorities.

View the Monitoring Evaluation and Learning Framework (MELF).

ANCP Indicators

Under the MELF, ANCP Indicators were developed as a way for DFAT to capture the quantitative information about the contribution ANCP NGOs are making to the ANCP intermediate outcomes under the Program Logic as well as the Australian development program’s strategic goals more broadly. These indicators were revised following consultation and finalised in June 2020.

Additional COVID-19 specific indicators were finalised in August 2020 to allow consolidated reporting across programs supported by DFAT’s Humanitarian, Partnerships and NGO Division: the ANCP and the Australian Humanitarian Partnership Program (AHP). These indicators will remain in place for the duration of Partnerships for Recovery.

View the ANCP Indicators.

ANCP Performance Snapshot

Each year the ANCP provides a summary of the program’s achievements. The Performance Snapshot has replaced the Aid Program Performance Report (APPR).

• ANCP Performance Snapshot 2022-23
• ANCP Performance Snapshot 2021-22
• ANCP Performance Snapshot 2020-21
• ANCP Performance Snapshot 2019-20
• ANCP Performance Snapshot 2017-18
• ANCP APPR for 2016-17

Other resources

• Gender Action Platform (GAP) outcomes publication
• 2019-20 Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) in the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP)
• 2019-20 Localisation and the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP)
• 2019 ANCP Thematic Review: Agricultural Development and Food Security
• 2019 Stories of Significant Change
• 2019 ANCP Learning Event Outcomes [DOCX 180 KB]
• 2019 ANCP Annual Reflections Workshop Outcomes [DOCX 145 KB]
• 2018 ANCP Data Systems Validation Review
• 2018 ANCP Annual Reflections Workshop Outcomes [PDF 612 KB]
• 2017 ANCP Annual Reflections Workshop Outcomes [PDF 532 KB]
• 2016 ANCP Annual Reflections Workshop Outcomes [PDF 540 KB]
• 2015 ANCP Annual Reflections Workshop Outcomes [PDF 450 KB]
• 2015 ODE Evaluation of the ANCP
• 2013 ANCP Meta Evaluation
• 2013 ANCP Meta Evaluation – Management Response
• 2014 ANCP Gender Thematic Review
• 2012 ANCP Partnerships Mid-Term Review
• 2011 ANCP Thematic Review: How do ANCP activities engage with the poorest and most marginalised people?