Impact Evaluation of Fastenopfer's Solidarity Group Approaches In
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IDS_Master Logo Impact Evaluation of Fastenopfer’s Solidarity Group approaches in Madagascar and Senegal February 2019 IDS_Master Logo_Minimum Size X X Minimum Size Minimum Size X : 15mm X : 15mm This report was prepared by Dr. Philip Mader with Justin Flynn and Dr. Giel Ton of the Institute of Development Studies in Brighton and Guillermo Larbalestier of the University of Sussex. The research in Senegal was led by Sémou Sow and in Madagascar by Raphael Ratovoarinony. The full team can be found in Annex 1. The consultancy team thanks Fastenopfer’s coordination teams in Lucerne, Thiès and Tananarive, as well as Ajoy Kumar as external advisor for a strong collaboration. Particular thanks are due to the survey respondents, focus group discussion participants and key informant interviewees, who kindly gave their time and honest views (and in some cases also generously offered hospitality). List of abbreviations used AVA Apport Volontaire Anonyme CS Contribution Score FGD Focus Group Discussion M&E Monitoring and Evaluation MAD Méchanisme Auto Defense MAF Méchanisme Auto Financement MFI MicroFinance Institution NGO Non-Governmental Organisation PPI Poverty Probability Index SG Solidarity Group SHG Self-Help Group TOC Theory of Change VSLA Village Savings and Loans Association Cover design by Gary Edwards. i Impact Evaluation of Fastenopfer’s Solidarity Group approaches in Madagascar and Senegal Full Report February 2019 ii Table of Contents 1. Introduction .................................................................................................................. 1 I. Objective of the evaluation ......................................................................................... 2 II. Structure of this report ................................................................................................ 2 Overview ................................................................................................................. 2 How to use this report ............................................................................................. 3 2. Solidarity Groups in Senegal and Madagascar .......................................................... 4 I. Country programme Senegal ...................................................................................... 4 II. Country programme Madagascar ............................................................................... 6 III. General programme theory of change..................................................................... 7 Three impact channels ............................................................................................ 7 Assumptions and analytical choices ...................................................................... 10 3. Methodology .............................................................................................................. 11 I. Theory of change development and evaluation preparation...................................... 11 II. Mix of methods ......................................................................................................... 12 Survey Instrument ................................................................................................. 13 Qualitative data ..................................................................................................... 16 III. Quality assurance ................................................................................................. 18 4. Results overview ........................................................................................................ 19 I. Demographics and basic sample statistics ............................................................... 19 II. Contribution Scores .................................................................................................. 25 Descriptive analysis .............................................................................................. 25 Statistical analysis................................................................................................. 29 III. Members’ perception of greatest difference .......................................................... 32 Quantitative approach: domain ranking ................................................................. 32 Qualitative approach ............................................................................................. 35 5. Detailed results .......................................................................................................... 39 I. Poverty, basic needs, and access to resources ........................................................ 39 Tackling poverty’s root causes .............................................................................. 39 Inclusion of the most marginal .............................................................................. 42 Debt, bondage and exploitation ............................................................................ 48 Covering basic needs ........................................................................................... 53 Access to natural resources and land ................................................................... 58 Resilience to disasters and emergencies .............................................................. 59 II. Community & individual-level empowerment ............................................................ 63 Community-building .............................................................................................. 63 Psychosocial approaches and impacts ................................................................. 65 iii Gender empowerment and equity ......................................................................... 68 Advocacy, lobbying and rights .............................................................................. 72 III. Programme design ................................................................................................ 76 Commonalities and differences ............................................................................. 76 Programme efficiency ........................................................................................... 80 Sustainability success factors ............................................................................... 82 6. Discussion of results ................................................................................................. 86 I. Summary of findings ................................................................................................. 86 Key successes ...................................................................................................... 86 Key challenges and limitations .............................................................................. 88 II. Limitations of the study ............................................................................................. 89 III. Recommendations & Conclusions ........................................................................ 90 Recommendations for practice and research ........................................................ 90 Concluding remarks .............................................................................................. 92 Literature references ........................................................................................................ 94 Annexes ............................................................................................................................. 96 iv Box 1: Evaluation questions 1. To what extent have the SG approaches this contributed to more cohesive communities? What contributed to ending or preventing hunger, roles do cultural, spiritual and religious aspects play? reducing poverty and improving or ensuring 2.b. Psychosocial: Where in the various SG access to resources of/for target groups? approaches do psychosocial aspects play a strategic 1.a. Do the SG approaches address root causes of role and what are the major effects on individual and poverty and exploitation of the target groups? Do they collective level? How are conflicts being dealt with? choose the most relevant levers? 2.c. Gender: How and to what extent have the SG 1.b. Do the SG approaches ensure inclusiveness of approaches enhanced gender empowerment and the most vulnerable and discriminated women and equity? What are the most promising approaches and men? How are they identified and mobilized? What methodologies? What effect does the gender are the strengths and weaknesses of the methods? composition of groups have on results and perceptions? 1.c. Exploitation and indebtedness: to what extent have the female and male members of solidarity 2.d. In which fields and in which form are Advocacy groups been liberated from bondage, debt service and and Lobbying activities undertaken effectively by the other forms of severe exploitation? solidarity groups in order to successfully claim their rights and secure access to amenities/services? To 1.d. Basic needs: to what extent have the female and what extent are the solidarity groups seen as relevant male members of solidarity groups been able to cover by actors such as government officials, schools or their basic needs (food, health, education) without NGOs? falling back in the debt trap? 3. Which elements (concepts, methodologies, 1.e. Natural resources: to what extent have the female tools, settings etc.) have been instrumental in the and male members of solidarity groups been able to Country Programmes to achieving these changes? secure their