FINAL EVALUATION Our Country, Our Future: A Community Empowerment Approach for Non-Violence in Burundi SEPTEMBER 30, 2016 Lead Evaluator: SFCG Regional Design, Monitoring & Evaluation Associate Olivia Russell Research Team: SFCG-Burundi DM&E Assistant Janvier Ndagijimana Data collected: August 2016 Floride Ahitungiye Adrienne Lemon Country Director Senior DM&E Regional Specialist Search for Common Ground Search for Common Ground 32, Avenue Kunkiko, Rohero II 32, Avenue Kunkiko, Rohero II Bujumbura, Burundi Bujumbura, Burundi +257 22 219696 +257 22241946 [email protected] Search for Common Ground | [email protected] Final Evaluation: Our Country, Our Future: A Community 2 Empowerment Approach for Non-Violence in Burundi Table of Contents Table of Contents .......................................................................................................................... 2 Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................................... 3 Abbreviations ................................................................................................................................ 3 Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................... 4 Project background ................................................................................................................... 4 Methodology .............................................................................................................................. 4 Limitations ................................................................................................................................. 5 Key Findings .............................................................................................................................. 5 Recommendations ..................................................................................................................... 8 1. Background Information ....................................................................................................... 10 About Search for Common Ground ...................................................................................... 10 Project Overview ..................................................................................................................... 10 2. Methodology ............................................................................................................................ 12 Evaluation Objectives ............................................................................................................. 12 Data Collection and Analysis ................................................................................................. 12 Limitations ............................................................................................................................... 15 3. Findings .................................................................................................................................... 16 Contextual dynamics ............................................................................................................... 16 Effectiveness ............................................................................................................................. 22 Impact ....................................................................................................................................... 45 Sustainability ........................................................................................................................... 51 4. Conclusions .............................................................................................................................. 53 5. Recommendations ................................................................................................................... 55 6. Appendices ............................................................................................................................... 57 Final Evaluation: Our Country, Our Future: A Community 3 Empowerment Approach for Non-Violence in Burundi Acknowledgements First and foremost, this evaluation would not have been possible without the engagement and insights provided by the participants and non-participants who dedicated their time and energy to take part in the survey, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews. A special thanks to the research team for all of their hard work and dedication during the final evaluation process: Goreth Kamikazi, Désiré Nsanzamahoro, Christa Nkurunziza, and Arcade Habiyambere. Many thanks to SFCG-Burundi DM&E Assistant Janvier Ndagijimana who managed all logistics as well as translated and co-facilitated the focus group discussions and key informant interviews. His energy, dedication and attention to detail were key ingredients to the success of the planning and data collection processes. Thanks to SFCG-Burundi M&E Coordinator Dieudonné Murangamizwa for his guidance and input as well. The time, energy and many insights of SFCG staff members and partner organizations were also greatly appreciated. Abbreviations CSO U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations FGD Focus Group Discussion ILT Institutional Learning Team KII Key Informant Interview MSC Mixed Security Committees OMAC L'Organisation des médias d'Afrique centrale PTI Partners Trust International (PTI) RFI Radio France Internationale RPA Radio Public Africain RTNB Radio Télévision National du Burundi SFCG Search for Common Ground VOA Voice of America Final Evaluation: Our Country, Our Future: A Community 4 Empowerment Approach for Non-Violence in Burundi Executive Summary Project background The project “Our Country, Our Future: A Community Empowerment Approach for Non-Violence in Burundi” was implemented by Search for Common Ground (SFCG), in collaboration with Partners Trust International (PTI) and L'Organisation des médias d'Afrique centrale (OMAC). The project was funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations (CSO) with the goal to support local communities to reduce the risk of conflict escalation leading up to, during, and following the election period in Burundi. Project activities were implemented over 19 months in line with the project’s two specific objectives: 1. Support key individuals and community networks to de-escalate disputes; and 2. Foster a national environment favorable to non-violent expression, tolerance of political differences, and inclusive dialogue. Methodology The final evaluation was conducted in August 2016 by an internal evaluation team. Following a document review, data was collected in all five intervention provinces: Bujumbura Mairie, Bujumbura Rural, Bubanza, Kirundo and Makamba. Data was collected in two communes in each province. Key informant interviews (KII) and surveys were conducted in both communes, while focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted in just one. In total, the evaluation team conducted 20 focus groups (73 women and 70 men), 20 key informant interviews (8 women and 12 men), and 520 surveys (283 women and 237 men). Finally, as the baseline was conducted via SMS, indicator progress was confirmed in this report using baseline data and data collected in the June 2016 SMS report. Data from the final evaluation surveys, FGDs and KIIs mentioned above were used to contextualize and deepen understanding of this progress and overall project impact. This final evaluation had three key objectives: 1. Internal and External Context Analysis: How the program was affected by both internal and external factors, and strategies used to respond to the changing context. 2. Progress towards results: A full review of the project outcome and output indicators to date, and comparison with baseline indicators to measure the change brought about by the project. Final Evaluation: Our Country, Our Future: A Community 5 Empowerment Approach for Non-Violence in Burundi 3. Lessons Learned and Recommendations: Lessons learned from the program and recommendations for the development of future initiatives to support inclusive dialogue and tolerance in the Burundian context. Limitations Key limitations of the evaluation were linked to data representativeness and participant confidence level. While survey data was collected in 10 communes, FGDs took place in only five (one in each province). Therefore, the FGD data may not fully represent the provinces of intervention. 520 surveys were conducted in total, allowing for a 95% confidence level with a 10% margin of error in all five provinces. Additionally, due to the sensitivity of questions, some respondents (in FGDs, KIIs and surveys) were hesitant to respond or give full responses. Key Findings Overall, the evaluation found that the project was effective in supporting local communities to reduce the risk of conflict escalation leading up to, during, and following the election period in Burundi. This was accomplished, despite a challenging and changing implementing environment, by providing key individuals with new skills to de-escalate disputes, as well as providing spaces for inclusive dialogue and building skills in non-violent expression which enhanced political tolerance. The commitment to conflict resolution and tolerance at the individual level and capacities built within partner organizations suggests sustainability of the project results. Contextual dynamics 2015 was a tumultuous