In 2021, Build Up appointed Ta Corrales from Smith Assembly to conduct an external evaluation for its Peace Innovators Program. This report summarises the process and outcomes of this evaluation, carried out between August 2021 and February 2022.

About the Peace Innovators Program

Build Up works with people across the globe to design and implement technology interventions to peacebuilding processes. These teams take an innovative peacebuilding intervention from idea to pilot implementation as part of the program. Projects coming out of these programs typically fall into three areas of technology use: data management, strategic communications through arts, and dialogue. Fellows in programs emerge with a strong understanding of best practices in participation and innovation that allow them to continue to design and manage innovations in their peacebuilding work.

About the External Evaluation

Build Up’s main purpose with the external evaluation was to question and validate the theory of change of the program. Furthermore, they wanted to revisit how Build Up understands Peace Innovation as an area of work. The evaluation focused on two main questions:

• What are fellows’ visions of the future of Peace Innovation Programs?
• What are the fellows’ visions of impact for the Peace Innovators Program they experienced in 3 levels: personal, organisational, and for the people who engage with the innovations?

Three types of stakeholders were involved: fellows, the Build Up team, and people who engage with innovations. This report further describes the evaluation’s methodological approach, results and findings.