MERCY CORPS INTERNATIONAL Lebanon Humanitarian Assistance & Redevelopment Project USAID GRANTNO. HNE-0360-G-00-3067-00 Evaluation By: TEST International - Suhail Kurban Nazha Sadek July 31, 1996 Page Maps 1. Map of Lebanon - Administrative Divisions- i 2. Project Area in East of Sidon--_________--.- ...11'. 3. Project Area in Aley & Chouf Cazas-- 111 A. Executive Summaryp _ 1 B. Purpose and Procedure4 11. Income Generation Training Project-.,-----,,,, 17 1. Project Targets17 2. Implementation Process__________--- 17 3. Relationship with IWSAWw18 4. Observations & Analysis .---e-------.----.-,-.-.-,-,-..- 18 5. Project Impact.__------------- 20 6. Conclusions & Recommendations-,----,-.-v-.,--,d-- 2 1 IV. NGO Training Workshops-28 1. Project Targets___--.-_______ ---..-. -.-......- 28 2. Implementation Process 28 3. Project Impact,.------_________-.- 29 4. Conclusion & Recommendations29 V. Annexes-30 1. List of Persons Interviewed-- --- 30 2. List of Documents Consulted 33 VI. Tables-35 1. Housing Repair Project Details.-.--.-,---.--.--,--.---.v 35 2. Income Generation Training Session Details36 3. Infrastructure Repair Project Details - Aley & Ch~uf-----~ 37 East of Sidon Project Area . On August 26,1993, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) issued a two-year, $1,000,000 grant contract No. HNE-0360-G-00-3067-00, in response to a proposal submitted by Mercy Corps International (MCI). Under this grant, MCI undertook to implement reconstruction and redevelopment projects in the area East of Sidon and in Beirut. An extension to this grant was later approved increasing the grant total to $1,725,000 and extending the completion date to August 3 1,1996. The goal of these projects is the repair of 1,230 homes in the area East of Sidon, Aley, Souk el- Gharb and surrounding area; completion of ten infrastructure repair projects to complement the housing repair work; and training of 400 women in income-generating skills to improve their economic condition. In addition, as part of the program, but not funded by USAID, Mercy Corps was to sponsor two training workshops for 60 NGO representatives from the local NGO community to improve and strengthen their performance. ! : For the implementation of the project components, MCI partnered with the Middle East Council for Churches (MECC) for the housing repair project; and the Institute for Women's Studies in the Arab World (IWSAW) for the income-generation training. The purpose of this evaluation is to assess the implementation process of the various components of this program, and the impact that the projects had on the beneficiaries, their families, and communities. The procedure followed in carrying out this evaluation was to conduct discussions with MCI, MECC, and I WSAW project personnel; review all relevant project documentation; visit project sites; conduct interviews with beneficiaries using rapid rural appraisal techniques and focus group meetings. 1. Housing Reconstruction: MCI's partner for the housing repair project, MECC, was responsible for the organization and implementation of this project. Work commenced in the East of Sidon area in 1994 and ended in 1995, whereupon the project target area shfted to the Aley and Souk el-Gharb area in accordance with the grant extension. MECC helped establish local committees in each target village, developed reconstruction policies, solicited applications i for housing repair, approved applicants, awarded reconstruction contracts to local contractors, and evaluated project progress. By August 3 1, 1996, the housing project will have completed the repair and rehabilitation of 1,684 house in the target areas. Implementation of the project was timely, relevant, efficient and effective in meeting the program objectives of assisting in the reconstruction of the destroyed villages and encouraging the displaced villagers to return to their homes. The project beneficiaries acknowledged that the project played an important role in helping them return to their villages. However, additional assistance will be needed in making their return permanent. It is apparent that much work remains to be done in providing basic conditions that would allow long-term settlement in the villages, besides the repair of houses. These include employment opportunities, health care facilities, schooling, and community living. The government's efforts at meeting these needs fall far short of the people's expectations, which increases the urgency of the situation. 2. Income-Generation Training: For the implementation of this project, MCI joined with IWSAW, which is affiliated with the Lebanese American University (LAU). I WSA W was responsible for developing the training program, employing the social workers, selecting the training centers, hiring the trainers, evaluating training candidates, selecting trainees, following-up on their training, and assisting in job placement. All trainees were also given lessons in IWSAW's Basic Living Skills program (BLSP) along with their training. BLSP is a comprehensive program which provides trainees with lessons in personal health and hygiene, nutrition, child care, family planning, as well as social and legal literacy; and environmental issues. The overall effect that this program has had on the trainees has been remarkable. After the completion of the training sessions the women felt more confident, could think in a more decisive and independent manner, were more empowered, and had a better outlook on their future. The vast majority of the women trained were able to find gainful employment and were now earning income on their own. All the women expressed that the project had significantly affected their lives. They stated that they were applying their new skills not only at work, but also in their communities by teaching their neighbors and relatives some of what they had been exposed to under BLSP. 3. Ir@-astructureRepair Project: By encouraging the local population to reinvest in their communities and resume work in the agricultural production of their lands, the inhabitants' I income would increase and they would be more likely to settle permanently in their villages. The community infrastructure and repair project started in the village of Leba'a east of Sidon, by MECC, where an irrigation pipeline was installed. Subsequent projects were completed by MECC as well as MCI, in the Aley and Chouf Cazas under the extended grant. These micro- projects focused on agricultural development through the repair and rehabilitation of irrigation networks, agricultural roads, and terracing of land for cultivation. As of July 3 1, 1996, a total of 13 infrastructure micro-projects have been successfully implemented in ten villages in the East of Sidon, as well as Aley and Chouf areas. An additional nine projects in six villages are expected to be completed by the grant termination date. The returned villagers who have benefited from the MCIIUSAID assistance have credited the assistance they received with their resettlement in their villages, and their resumption of land cultivation. The projects were implemented in a timely, efficient and effective manner. The assistance provided was relevant and appropriate to the needs of the returned villagers and were in direct response to their requirements. The sustainability of these projects appears to have been properly addressed through extensive community participation. 4. NGO Training Workshops: Three NGO training workshops were held to upgrade the skills of over 130 participants representing more than 40 local NGOs. The workshops focused on the role of NGOs in emergency and development situations; strategies of community development at the local level; identifying priorities and determining strategies to accomplish NGO goals; and principles of organizational leadership, decision-making and internal management. These workshops were met with a great demand from the local NGO community. The participants found them to be i,nfonnative, beneficial, and important; and expressed their need for additional training workshops to be held. Thus, the original targets in each of the program components were exceeded. More importantly, the various components had a direct bearing on displaced villagers through the encouragement to return and settle in their villages, and assisted in alleviating some of their economic hardships, which satisfies the intent of the project. The impact that the program components had was seen to be very positive with numerous direct and indirect benefits resulting therefrom. Thus, the projects were found to have met their intent of assisting beneficiaries in repairing their homes, encouraging their return, and alleviating the economic hardships. Moreover, the impact that the program had on the project beneficiaries was more far-reaching than the direct benefit that was gained, and in a proportion much greater than the initial monetary investment that was expended. This finding was confirmed in all the projects, particularly the income-generation training component. In addition, both of MCI's partners in this program, MECC and I WSAW, have benefited through their enhanced monitoring capabilities and their incorporation of record-keeping and reporting standards required for grant compliance. As part of MC17spreparation for their implementation of the project in general, and the infrastructure rehabilitation component, in particular, an office in Beirut was established, headed by a Regional Director for the Middle East and Caucasus. Extensive contacts with various