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Evaluation Summary

Evaluation of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada

About the evaluation

¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ's Evaluation Division conducted an evaluation of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada (APF Canada) for the period 2014-15 to 2019-20. The objective was to assess the alignment of the Foundation's activities with the requirements of the Conditional Grant Agreement (CGA), along with the effectiveness of the Foundation's governance structure, progress toward outcomes, and the state of communication with ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ.

Key findings

• The Foundation is valued for its activities and programs that have contributed to increased awareness and understanding of the Asia Pacific region.
• The Foundation has developed a positive convenor role through networking activities intended to contribute to developing closer ties between the peoples and institutions of Canada and the Asia Pacific region.
• The grant requirement in the CGA has impacted the Foundation's staffing model, increasing the reliance on young professionals. 
• There is a partial misalignment between the Act and the CGA in terms of independence and oversight.
• The extent to which the Foundation's work should be consistent with the Government of Canada's priorities is not clearly understood and may have impacted the Foundation's independence.
• There has been no formal mechanism for communication, consultation, or coordination between the Foundation and the Government of Canada or ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ.

Recommendations

APF Canada:

1. Undertake a strategic review of the current business model.
2. Be proactive in engaging the Distinguished Fellows.

¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ:

3. Clarify the department's oversight roles and responsibilities, or authority framework, with respect to the Foundation.
4. Develop a funding framework to allow more flexibility and timely support of APF Canada to respond to additional departmental needs.

AFP Canada & ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ:

5. Develop an operations and communications plan to address requirements of the Act and CGA.