Integrated programme for empowering conflict-affected countries (Sri Lanka) - Mid-Term Joint Evaluation Quick Facts saw the end of armed conflict almost two years before Vavuniya district in the Northern Countries: Sri Lanka Province, and the recovery phase is more Mid-Term Evaluation: August 2012 advanced into the development phase in Mode of Evaluation: Independent Batticaloa, although there are pockets of need ILO Administrative responsibility: CO- in areas where social indicators and civil society Colombo capacities are relatively weak and protection Technical Area: EMP/SKILLS needs high. Evaluation Management: Joint evaluation 2. ECAC which prioritizes a human security Evaluation Team : Dr. Darini Rajaisngham approach to recovery and development had Senanayake generated new networks and synergies among Project End: September 2013 beneficiaries, partners, local government Project Code: SRL/10/03/HSF institutions and service providers, NGOs and Donor: UNDP, UNICEF and ILO CSOs and opened new spaces for information (US$ 967,815) and knowledge sharing on protection and rights Keywords: economic reconstruction, skills based development. This in turn has aided development beneficiary, family and social empowerment and trust building. It has also helped create a sense of security, particularly for women and Executive summary of the joint children, which is visible where inter-agency evaluation report coordination and partnership with GoSL is strong as expressed by state officials and 1. The Integrated Program for empowering partners. Conflict Affected Communities in North East Sri Lanka (ECAC) had a solid reputation and was 3. There is good coverage of vulnerable well regarded among all stakeholders communities from the different ethno-religious interviewed in the course of the Mid Term communities in both districts, which serves to Review that covered the Vavuniya and promote social integration and harmony in a Batticaloa Districts. The ECAC program is more fragile post-war context, and a good balance advanced and running relatively smoothly in and distribution in terms of partnerships with Batticaloa District. This is in large part due to State agencies and civil society groups (CBOs the fact that Batticaloa in the Eastern Province ILO Evaluation Summaries 1 and NGOs), that is generating a wide protection assistance from the three UN agencies, while structure and awareness of human security joint programming may require strengthening at issues and needs in line with HSTF objectives of district level though integrated program design a bottom up and top down programme in consultation with partners, as well as approach by working directly with beneficiaries, development of an integrated beneficiary CSOs, local government authorities and service identification and M&E framework. One of the providers. apparent constraints to joint programming at district level is that staffs work on multiple 4. The UNDP project of computerizing the programs and are not attached only to HSTF- District Registries to provide beneficiaries with ECAC project, except in case of the ILO program essential documentation throughout the North- which has dedicated staff. In the context East conflict affected region is a highly valuable rebalancing of human resources between exercise that being these two project Batticaloa, Colombo and Vavuniya, as well as, dimensions together and seems to demonstrate more concerted support from Colombo to forward thinking for project sustainability and a Vavuniya programs may be appropriate. good exit strategy. There was a request for similar assistance from UNDP by LGA 8. Likewise, training of program partners, both stakeholders to computerise and modernize the government and non-state actors in M&E and land registry in Vavuniya as land disputes are managing for results is a priority, both for ECAC high as IDPs return and the land registry books program strengthening, as well as, for partner are old and falling apart. capacity building. 5. As the recovery phase draws to an end and 9. Going forward it would be important to longer-term sustainable development and ensure knowledge management, including needs for livelihoods become apparent a clear sustaining, retaining and expanding the new focus on poverty alleviation , savings, loans and knowledge and networks generated within micro-credit schemes for small group partner organizations; both local governance enterprises would need to be prioritized and institutions and service provides, as well as programs and funds provided and targeted for CSOs working with beneficiary communities by poverty alleviation among beneficiary working out a ECAC program exit strategy that communities. provides for capacity building of partner organizations, particularly in programme 6. The extension of the HSTF program to reporting M&E for results based management. Kilinochchi and Mullaitheevu districts beyond the original two indicates flexibility and 10. A district level platform for protection and responsiveness to a changing transitional poverty alleviation via livelihoods in Vavuniya context; where HSTF has helped bridge a that builds on the existing HSTF program and protection and recovery gap. At the same time, inter-agency collaboration and extends to in Vavuniya where the transition from recovery Kilinochchi and Mullaitheevu may well maximize to development is less advanced and needs are strategic impacts and spaces for empowerment high (and IDPs would be moving to Kilinochchi though livelihoods generated thus far. Such a and Mullaitheevu), program co-ordination and platform could be achieved by partnering with the Vavuniya team requires strengthening for the Samurdhi/ Divineguma program in improved results. livelihood projects. 7. Currently inter-agency coordination is best at the level of individual beneficiaries who have recorded heartening success stories of personal and family empowerment as a result of ILO Evaluation Summaries 2.