Evaluation of Project on Promoting Women in Democratic Decision
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PROJECT ON PROMOTING WOMEN IN DEMOCRATIC DECISION-MAKING IN CAMBODIA: EVALUATION REPORT prepared by Rebecca F. Catalla and Vutheary Kong February 2009 EVALUATION REPORT: Project on Promoting Women in Democratic Decision-Making in Cambodia Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................. iii I. Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 1 II. Evaluation Purpose and scope .......................................................................................................... 4 III. Evaluation Methodology ..................................................................................................................... 5 IV. Findings and Discussion .................................................................................................................. 10 A. Situation in Cambodia and in the Project Areas ..........................................................................10 B. Implementation of Project Approach and Strategies....................................................................11 1. Capacity-building ...................................................................................................................... 11 2. Communications and Advocacy ...............................................................................................12 3. Peer Support Networks ............................................................................................................ 14 4. Institutionalisation of CPWP ..................................................................................................... 14 C. Overall Assessment ..................................................................................................................... 15 1. Effectiveness ............................................................................................................................ 15 2. Relevance – alignment and response to context .....................................................................20 3. Sustainability – partnership collaboration and capacities installed .......................................... 22 4. Project design and performance assessment/ efficiency .........................................................23 5. Impact ....................................................................................................................................... 25 6. Factors/ conditions facilitating/ hindering achievement of project outputs and outcome ......... 28 V. Conclusions and Recommendations ............................................................................................... 31 References ............................................................................................................................................... 32 ANNEXES Annex 1 Terms of Reference ................................................................................................................ 34 Annex 2 Schedule of Consultations/ Interviews with Key Stakeholders of the PWDDC Project ......... 42 Annex 3 Interview Guide – Key Informant Interview and Focus Group Discussion ............................. 46 LIST OF TABLES Table 1. PWDDCP Results Framework: Outcomes, Outputs and Activities .......................................... 2 Table 2. Evaluation Matrix ...................................................................................................................... 6 Table 3. Cambodia’s key indicators and targets on women in politics and decision making .............. 10 Table 4. Summary of some training held by CPWP partners during PWDDC project life, 2007-08 .... 12 Table 5. Summary of some public forums conducted by CPWP partners during PWDDC project life, 2007-08 .................................................................................................................................. 13 Table 6. Number and percent of women elected in the 2007 Commune Council Elections, by province .................................................................................................................................. 16 Table 7. Main reasons for deciding to become a candidate ................................................................17 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Female commune council candidates, by political party, 2002 and 2007 ............................. 16 Figure 2. Training participants opinions on information needed in order to participate in (political) campaigns .............................................................................................................................. 18 Figure 3. Reasons why people support female relatives to run for office, 2008 ................................... 27 Figure 4. Main reasons for supporting female relative to stand for office, 2007 ...................................28 i EVALUATION REPORT: Project on Promoting Women in Democratic Decision-Making in Cambodia ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ADRA Adventist Development and Relief Agency CC Commune Councils CCWC Commune Committee for Women and Children CDRI Cambodia Development Resource Institute CoDec Cooperation for Development of Cambodia COMFREL Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia CPP Cambodia People’s Party CPWP Committee to Promote Women’s Political Participation CWPD Cambodian Women for Peace and Development DOCS Development Organisation for Cambodia Society FUNCINPEC Front Uni Nationale pour un Cambodge Indépendent, Neutrale, Pacifique et Coopératif GAD/C Gender and Development for Cambodia GRET Groupe de Recherche et d'Echanges Technologiques GTZ Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit/ German Technical Cooperation Agency HBF Heinrich Boll Foundation JICA Japan International Cooperation Agency MoI Ministry of Interior MoWA Ministry of Women’s Affairs NEC National Election Committee NGO Non-Governmental Organisation NICFEC Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia NOVIB Nederlandse Organisatie voor Internationale Bijstand/ Oxfam Netherlands NRP Norodom Ranariddh Party PDoWA Provincial Department of Women’s Affairs PLAU Provincial Local Authority Unit PWDDCP Promoting Women in Democratic Decision making in Cambodia Project SRP Sam Rainsy Party ToT Training of Trainers UNDEF United Nations Democracy Fund UNIFEM United Nations Development Fund for Women UNDP United Nations Development Programme UNFPA United Nations Population Fund WB World Bank WCFP Women and Children Focal Point WfP Women for Prosperity ii EVALUATION REPORT: Project on Promoting Women in Democratic Decision-Making in Cambodia EXECUTIVE SUMMARY With support from UNIFEM, the Committee to Promote Women’s Political Participation (CPWP) carried out a two-year project on “Promoting Women in Democratic Decision-Making in Cambodia” (PWDDC) from February 2007-December 2008 in the provinces of Takeo, Kampong Cham and Kampong Thom. Its main objectives were as follows: a. Increase the number of women candidates running for local government seats and build their capacity to influence policy-making and local spending decisions. b. Create a positive environment for women’s participation in public office by focusing efforts on local, provincial and national administrators, potential party leaders, female candidates and voters, and the general public. c. Mobilise a women’s support network to ensure sustained momentum in women’s participation in public decision-making and promoting an inclusive gender equality agenda. A summative evaluation was undertaken as part of the project process. Also expected to carry a significant formative component, the evaluation objectives were as follows: 1. To assess and validate the results of the project in terms of achievements/ gaps in delivering outputs, contributing to outcomes, reaching target beneficiaries, the factors that affected the results, and the potential for sustainability. 2. To analyse the effectiveness of the overall strategy and approaches of the project in increasing the number of women standing for office at the local level and elected as commune councillors; supporting women once in office to participate effectively including in local planning processes; and creating a supportive environment for women’s increased political participation, including among political parties, the general public and local communities. 3. To analyse lessons learned on both substantive and project management issues, specifically broader learning for UNIFEM's overall approach in supporting the participation of women in politics. The evaluation was undertaken by a 2-member Consultant Team. Data collection primarily built upon qualitative data, but also drew on quantitative information where this was obtained. Information gathering took place in Phnom Penh and two of the three target provinces, namely Takeo and Kampong Thom. Research drew upon a set of guide questions prepared by the consultant team. Interviews and Focus Discussion Groups were held with representatives of the CPWP member organisations, district government administrators and men and women Commune Councillors. OVERALL ASSESSMENT 1. Effectiveness The review of PWDDCP activities and strategies provided a good indication that the project objectives have been met. The total number of women candidates increased from 16 to 21% while the number of women elected to office had a 74% increase, from 8.5% in 2002 to 15% in the 2007 Commune Council elections. The