Launched in 2005, the program is an initiative of expert and research nature. Its objective is to conduct on-going analytical work that allows maximizing effectiveness of Polish-American Freedom Foundation programs. The methods developed under the program and the results of analyses are used also by other NGOs.
Among other things, the results of that analytic work help to find out to what extent the goals defined in PAFF programs, taken up activities, and achieved results meet existing needs and problems, especially with regard to local communities and equal education opportunities.
The results of evaluation of PAFF programs such as “Act Locally”, “Third Age Universities” or “School with Class” help the Foundation both in suggesting future program activities and modifying the existing ones. One of the “MEVA” Program objectives is to monitor the initiatives completed by PAFF in terms of the sustainability of achieved results.
Potential PAFF activities are considered in the context of existing and anticipated social needs. To that end, the selected social groups are studied – for example village youth, librarians or NGO employees – and new initiatives are tested. The example can be the study on key trends influencing social activity of village and small towns activity and their impact on the manner of playing the role of local leader carried out in 2019 under the “PAFF Leaders” Program. or the analysis of the Library Development Program impact on its participants in comparison with the libraries and communities that did not participate in the program.
Also as part of the “MEVA” Program, mutually complementing and strengthening elements of PAFF programs are analyzed in order to improve the quality and effectiveness of the Foundation’s activities. Among the projects serving that aim is the “Squared Evaluation” initiative helping to develop the evaluation culture in the environment of organizations cooperating with PAFF, as part of which the “Evaluation – How do You Carry It out?” guide was prepared. Also, regular seminars on evaluation studies are held. A very special among them is Impact on social capital in PAFF communities (the so-called BOX) project that helped to create and test out a set of methods and research techniques allowing to determine changes in the social capital level resulting from the impact of the Foundation programs on local communities.
Within the program the Foundation also supports the „Shipyard" – Centre for Social Innovation and Research (one of its co-founders was PAFF). A significant part of the “MEVA” Program is managed by „Shipyard".
The Foundation has disbursed $2,290,022, including $124,310 for the current edition of the program.
