Evaluation of a regional funding program to combat human trafficking
The challenge
Global philanthropic organisation Porticus supported 16 organisations across Southeast Asia and beyond through its anti-trafficking program, aiming to drive systemic change by strengthening justice systems and engaging the private sector. Focus countries included Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Hong Kong SAR (China).
As one of the first multi-project initiatives led by Porticus Asia, and its first in the field of anti-trafficking, Porticus commissioned Lighthouse Partnerships to conduct an independent evaluation to assess the program’s strategy, management, and impact.
How we helped
We conducted a year-long evaluation in the program’s final year, focusing on three key areas:
Outcomes and effectiveness: What were the most significant outcomes of funded projects?
Program strategy: To what extent was the program strategy relevant, clear and logical, evidence-informed, and feasible?
Program management: How well did management practices align with good practices in philanthropy and systems change?
Our participatory and utilisation-focused evaluation approach incorporated systems thinking and drew on evidence from both technical experts and people with lived experience to assess the program’s contribution to change. Our methods helped illuminate the complex roles played by Porticus, its partners, and other actors in the wider anti-trafficking ecosystem.
Looking forward
The evaluation offered valuable insights into how donors can support systems change in challenging and complex fields. It directly shaped Porticus’ future programing directions, with management making several key commitments:
Proactively collaborating with other funders and initiatives to build evidence, reduce duplication, and mitigate risk
Clarifying and strengthening their roles as funder, convenor and influencer
Investing in research shaped with, by and for the Global South—including more inclusive research teams and attention to knowledge equity
Strengthening relationships with partners (especially lived experience-led organisations) and exploring participatory grantmaking as a long-term approach.
Read the Summary Report and extended findings on program effectiveness and meaningful participation.
Client: Porticus
2020-2021