CIIF Achievement and Performance Management

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1.1

Assessing and approving project applications
In 2023, the CIIF Secretariat processed the 35^th and 36^th batch of applications; details are as below:

1.2

Monitoring the performance of ongoing projects and use of fund by grantees
As at 31 December 2023, out of the 525 approved projects, 401 had already been completed; 98 were still active; 11 had been terminated pre-maturely on mutual agreement between CIIF and grantees, and 15 would commence soon. For the performance level of the 525 approved projects, please click here for details.

In 2023, the CIIF Secretariat inspected and processed the following to monitor the progress and outcomes of projects:

• Project Progress Evaluation Reports: A total of 174 Progress Reports from 102 active projects were submitted to the CIIF Secretariat. To ensure the accuracy of the data provided, the Secretariat has been carrying out regular random checks since 2011. Four Progress Evaluation Reports (2%) were verified in 2023.
• Project Completion Evaluation Reports: 20 Project Completion Reports from projects which ended within 2023 were submitted to the CIIF Secretariat.
• Audit Reports: A total of 86 Annual or Final Audit Reports from projects that were still active or were completed in 2023 were submitted to the CIIF Secretariat. For the Annual or Final Audit Reports, please click here for details.
• Site Visits: In 2023, the CIIF Secretariat conducted 27 project site visits.

Regarding the submission statistics of the above Project Progress Evaluation Reports, Project Completion Evaluation Reports and Audit Reports, please click here for details.

In 2023, the CIIF Secretariat processed monthly payments for reimbursement claims, instalment payments and audit fee claims and disbursed approximately HK$79.61 million with a cumulative total of around HK$785 million. The processing of quarterly reimbursement claims and instalment payments was generally consistent with our performance pledge, i.e. grants were disbursed to grantees within four months after the deadline for submission of reimbursement claims and instalment payments were released to grantees in accordance with the Approved Budget and《Notes to Grantees》. For details of project payments, please click here.

1.3

Providing training and support to grantees
The CIIF Secretariat organised a training workshop for the project teams of the 35^th and 36^th batch approved projects on 1 June 2023 and 14 December 2023 respectively, in order to enhance their understanding of social capital and strengthen their capacities to plan for the sustainable development of social capital in their projects.

1.4

Following up on the sustainable development of projects after funding period
After the funding period, CIIF focuses on whether the funded projects could continue to further the achievements of social capital, which manifested in six dimensions, namely social networks, trust and solidarity, mutual-help and reciprocity, social cohesion and inclusion, social participation as well as information and communication. CIIF therefore attaches importance to the sustainable development of the above constituents, such as value change and role transformation, sustainable development of cross-sectoral collaboration, complementarity, support networks and community capacity. Financial sustainability - whether the project can continue to receive funding or operate on a self-financing basis - is not the major consideration for the assessment of sustainability of the social capital projects.

To assess in a more systematic manner whether the funded projects could sustain the social capital built after the funding period, CIIF devised a Questionnaire on "Sustainable Development of Social Capital” in 2013. Since then, CIIF has issued the questionnaire on a regular basis to project teams of completed projects in order to have a better understanding of the sustainable development of their projects six months and 18 months after the funding period. As at 31 December 2023, CIIF had invited staff members and volunteers or direct participants of 237 project teams from completed projects to take part in the survey. Among these 237 project teams, 213 of them had taken part in the survey for the second time. 226 out of 237 project teams had returned completed questionnaires (return rate of 95.4%). Over 90% of the projects (225 projects) were still operating after the funding period in different ways such as deploying internal resources of respective organisations, being continuously supported by local stakeholders/ key collaborators, or being self-run by project participants.

1.5

Consolidating the experience and effective practices of CIIF-funded projects in social capital building
CIIF commissioned an independent consultant to conduct the second evaluation study from 2010 to 2012. The findings affirmed the effectiveness of strategies (such as house captain strategy and the establishment of cross-ethnic and cross-stratum platforms) promoted by CIIF in achieving social capital outcomes. In particular, the evaluation study conducted by the Hong Kong Polytechnic University confirmed that the CIIF-funded projects in Tin Shui Wai had forged mutual trust and acceptance among people from different backgrounds, built neighbourhood support networks, turned assets of individuals into those of the community, and enhanced community capacity in Tin Shui Wai.

For an effective assessment of the social capital outcomes achieved by its projects, CIIF devised a local “Social Capital Scale” in 2012 by making reference to the World Bank’s definition of social capital, the tools used in the second CIIF evaluation study, and the implementation experience of funded projects. After validation of the Scale, direct participants and volunteers of CIIF-funded projects have been invited since July 2013 to fill in the “Social Capital Scale” at least twice during the funding period. All data will be used by CIIF in consolidating the experience and effectiveness of social capital building. As at 31 December 2023, CIIF had received 48 694 questionnaires returned by 275 project teams.