Cordaid-Final-Evaluation-Feb2016
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Acknowledgements This report would not have been possible without the cooperation and collaboration of a number of organisations and individuals. First and foremost, the consultant would like to thank the management of Retrak, staff and project managers in Addis Ababa and Hossana for their unreserved continuous facilitation and support, understanding and encouragement throughout the process, and reviewing the draft report. I would also like to acknowledge the willingness and commitment of the heads and representatives of the government offices in Hossana town and in Gibe, Duna and Soro Woredas who provided us with their evaluation of the project through individual and group interviews. I would also like to extend my appreciation to the members of the Self Help Groups and Child Wellbeing Clubs who participated in the focus group discussion sessions and provided us with their views regarding the project activities. Tilahun Girma Principal Consultant Abamela Business PLC, Development Consulting Firm Email: [email protected] Mobile: +251 930 01 30 75 The views expressed in this report are those of the consultant and do not necessarily reflect Retrak’s views nor those of the donor Cordaid. © Retrak, 2016 1 Contents Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................. 1 Contents .................................................................................................................................................. 2 Acronyms ................................................................................................................................................ 3 Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................. 4 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 8 1.1 Project Background ................................................................................................................. 8 1.2 Purpose of final evaluation ..................................................................................................... 9 1.3 Methodology ......................................................................................................................... 10 1.4 Limitations............................................................................................................................. 12 1.5 Organisation of the report .................................................................................................... 13 2 Findings: Drop-in centres and reintegration ................................................................................. 14 2.1 Activities and outputs ........................................................................................................... 14 2.2 Outcomes .............................................................................................................................. 16 2.3 Effectiveness ......................................................................................................................... 18 2.4 Sustainability ......................................................................................................................... 20 3 Findings: Self Help Groups ............................................................................................................ 22 3.1 Activities and outputs ........................................................................................................... 22 3.2 Outcomes .............................................................................................................................. 22 3.3 Effectiveness ......................................................................................................................... 27 3.4 Sustainability ......................................................................................................................... 32 4 Findings: Child Wellbeing Clubs .................................................................................................... 34 4.1 Activities and outputs ........................................................................................................... 34 4.2 Outcomes .............................................................................................................................. 34 4.3 Effectiveness ......................................................................................................................... 34 4.4 Sustainability ......................................................................................................................... 36 5 Findings: Community Education ................................................................................................... 38 5.1 Activities and outputs ........................................................................................................... 38 5.2 Outcomes .............................................................................................................................. 38 5.3 Effectiveness ......................................................................................................................... 40 5.4 Sustainability ......................................................................................................................... 42 6 Conclusion and Recommendations .............................................................................................. 43 6.1 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................. 43 6.2 Recommendations ................................................................................................................ 44 7 Appendices.................................................................................................................................... 46 7.1 Complete output results ....................................................................................................... 46 7.2 Complete outcome results .................................................................................................... 48 7.3 Most Significant Change Stories – final round of collection (October 2015)........................ 50 7.4 Most Significant Change Stories – first round of collection (September 2014).................... 54 7.5 FGD and KII Guides ................................................................................................................ 60 2 Acronyms CLA Cluster Level Associations CWC Child Wellbeing Club FGD Focus Group Discussion KII Key Informant Interview MSC Most Significant Change NGO Non-Governmental Organisation SHG Self Help group SNNPR Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region SOPs Standard Operating Procedures TVET Technical and Vocational Education and Training 3 Executive Summary Introduction Retrak has over two decades of experience of working with children on the streets in Africa and about one decade operational history in Ethiopia. Retrak Ethiopia works with children living full-time on the streets to give them a real alternative to life on the street. In 2012 Retrak’s records showed that a significant proportion of children met in Addis Ababa came from Ethiopia’s southern region (SNNPR) particularly from the town of Hossana and the surrounding areas. As a result, a plan was developed to address some of the push factors that were leading many children to come to the city. With support from Cordaid, a 3-year pilot community project was implemented (2012-2015). Adjustments to the project were subsequently made and a new drop-in centre in Hossana town was established to reach out to children before they arrive in the capital. The project objectives were outreach and service provision to children living unsupported on the streets; participation of children in education, psychosocial counselling and life skills at drop-in centres; and reintegration of children with their families in SNNPR and support to caregivers. Interventions were also established in vulnerable communities to enrol vulnerable women in Self Help Groups (SHGs) leading to greater economic security and participation in family and community decision making; establish child-led Child Wellbeing Clubs (CWCs) to raise awareness of child protection issues; and community education to promote child protection awareness and response. The goal of the final evaluation is to build on the mid-term review in order to assess achievements of the project, to guide decision-making on next steps for the project and to generate learning for informing similar projects in future. Methodology The final evaluation is based on ongoing monitoring data (child wellbeing assessments, economic household surveys, community child protection mapping, Most Significant Change stories and annual results reports), as well as primary data collection through specific tools such as focus group discussions with representatives from SHGs and CWCs and key informant interviews with selected government officials, religious and community leaders and other relevant stakeholders. The methodologies applied involved participation of beneficiaries in the evaluation process so as to hear feedback on the project services and outcomes directly from the project beneficiaries (both children and adults) and major stakeholders (government line offices). Findings