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“The substantial – often dramatic – benefit that can derive swiftly from PTF’s small grants is a success story worthy of wider telling”, writes John Clark, an expert on civil society and development who was commissioned by the UK’s aid agency. The UK’s Department for International Development has released a mid-term review of PTF’s Citizens Against Corruption (CAC) programme, which is supported by DfID’s Governance and Transparency Fund (GTF).

PTF’s CAC program was started in September 2008 with the support of a £2 million grant from the GTF. The new report is based on survey of PTF civil society grantees, interviews with PTF staff, a detailed review of PTF documents and site visits to PTF supported civil society organizations in Cameroon, India and the Philippines. Mr. Clark was able to meet both the staff of the grantees and the beneficiaries in these countries. He also participated in workshops organized for grantees where participants exchanged experiences.

The Report found that PTF has been on track in identifying likely grantees and working with them to design small scale and often very local projects. Many tackle the modes of corruption that most impact on the lives of poor people.

The report stated that PTF “is able to point to specific reforms triggered by the projects. This is partly due to the very specific problems targeted and the careful guidance offered, but partly also because PTF emphasizes “constructive engagement” – hence structured and non-confrontational dialogue with officials is integral to the approach. Through this, “reform champions” have emerged who have helped secure the beneficial changes.”

PTF’s UK Aid funded programme ends in March 2013. By that time PTF will have supported over 40 CSO sponsored projects fighting corruption in some 20 countries on four continents.