Aller.Land
Partial evaluation and impact modeling
Aller.Land
As a funding program for culture, participation and democracy, Aller.Land is aimed at rural, particularly structurally weak regions throughout Germany. Over a period of six years (2024-2030), cultural projects are to be developed that are characterized by a focus on participation and a long-term approach. The aim is to create new alliances between culture, democracy work, political education and regional development. In particular, the focus is on participation-oriented cultural projects that are designed and implemented locally. The funding program awards up to 40,000 euros in development funding to 97 regions. Based on a jury selection, up to 30 regions will receive further support of up to 1.5 million euros over the five-year implementation of their projects.
The regions receive process support. The program establishes a knowledge network through which impulses and experiences are shared. Training opportunities are offered for those actively involved in the regions.
The federal states and local authorities are involved, and the program also brings together interdepartmental experience from the federal government. Funding is provided by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media and the Federal Agency for Civic Education. The Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community is a program partner.
The funding program is part of the Federal Rural Development and Regional Value Creation Program.
The funding also includes measures for support, training and knowledge transfer.
EDUCULT accompanies the funding program with impact modelling and partial evaluation until 2030.
Method
Impact modeling and evaluation are closely linked and inform each other. Thus, impact modeling also serves to accompany data collection. The impact model is built using the Community Capitals Framework, which describes 7 resources or capitals that contribute to the well-being of communities: cultural capital, natural capital, human capital, social capital, economic capital, political capital and infrastructure capital (Flora & Flora, 2016).
For the evaluation, which is based on this model, the method of Appreciative Inquiry is also adapted, which aims at making visible the strengths, potentials and opportunities for action of the projects and actors.
In addition, peer-to-peer interviews and the Most Significant Change approach are used to collect stories that describe relevant changes and make them accessible.
