ResearchOur diverse research experience extends across a broad range of development centred issues. ON PAR employs participatory, qualitative and quantitative research methods. Our research orientation recognizes the wealth of information and experiences of the identified role-players, encourages sharing of information in a manner that ensures confidentiality and promotes ethical engagement with all role-players. ON PAR has strong analytical capacity and has drafted several research reports. Research topics have included:
• Gender budgeting
• Farm worker evictions
• Home-based care
• Child labour
• Gender-based violence
• Socio-economic rights
Monitoring and Evaluation
ON PAR has a wealth of experience in conceptualising impact assessment frameworks; developing monitoring indicators; conducting evaluations of programmes; facilitating the development of action plans and monitoring the implementation of action plans. ON PAR uses participatory approaches and based on the client brief will apply gender, child rights and/or budget analysis frameworks when conducting the commissioned project work.
Our monitoring and evaluation work has involved:
• Analysis of government policies, programmes and budgets
• Assessing policies within the education sector
• Development of assessment frameworks for the expanded public works programme,
• Assessing the extent to which government departments and civil society organisations have integrated gender operationally and programmatically
TRAINING
ON PAR has a unique training approach which affirms participants. The training style draws on participant experiences and facilitates creative and fresh analysis using participatory learning methods. ON PAR has developed special techniques to enhance problem-based learning. The application of techniques is always geared towards the target audience.
Training has been conducted to:
• Improve responses to gender-based violence within the education sector
• Raise awareness of social context in order to minimize secondary trauma of survivors of sexual offences
• Build capacity to apply gender budget analysis techniques
• Promote effective responses to address gendered conflict within the workplace
Materials Development
ON PAR conducts thorough research in order to develop all its materials and adopts a participatory learning approach to training different audiences. The ON PAR orientation encourages critical analysis and stimulates creative interventions through its materials. All materials are customized to suit client requirements and are written in a manner that allows for ease of use. ON PAR has experience in drafting materials according to SETA requirements.
Materials developed have included:
• Resource manuals
• Facilitator guides
• Participant handouts and worksheets
• User-friendly information booklets