Thinking Beyond Acting on the Ground Øyvind Eggen, Thomas Costa and S.M. Rahman Norwegian Institute of International Affairs International of Institute Norwegian Institutt Utenrikspolitisk Norsk NUPI Report Publisher: Norwegian Institute of International Affairs Copyright: © Norwegian Institute of International Affairs 2011 ISBN: 978-82-7002-310-3 Any views expressed in this publication are those of the authors. They should not be interpreted as reflecting the views of the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs. The text may not be printed in part or in full without the permission of the author. Visiting address: C.J. Hambros plass 2d Address: P.O. Box 8159 Dep. NO-0033 Oslo, Norway Internet: www.nupi.no E-mail: [email protected] Fax: [+ 47] 22 36 21 82 Tel: [+ 47] 22 99 40 00 Thinking Beyond Acting on the Ground Mid-term evaluation of the Integrated Programme for Com- munity Capacity Building (ICCB) of Bangladesh Northern Evangelical Lutheran Church – Development Foundation Øyvind Eggen, Thomas Costa and S.M. Rahman This evaluation was commissioned by: Normisjon (www.normisjon.no) Contact: [email protected]; [email protected] Implementing organization: Bangladesh Northern Evangelical Lutheran Church Development Foundation (BNELC-DF). Contact: Victor Lakra ([email protected]) Authors: Øyvind Eggen, Norwegian Institute of International Affairs Contact: [email protected] Thomas Costa, PhD, independent Community-Based Programme Specialist Contact: [email protected] S.M. Rahman, independent microfinance and microenterprise researcher and practitioner Contact: [email protected]; [email protected] Abbreviations and Glossary ADD - Action for Development of the Disabled ATSO – Adivasi Traditional Social Organization BNELC – Bangladesh Northern Evangelical Lutheran Church BNELC-DC – Bangladesh Northern Evangelical Lutheran Church Development Foundation BRAC – name of an NGO (www.brac.net) CDF – Community Development Facilitator CECC – Children Education Community Centre CNA - Coordination of NGOs for Adivasis DC - Deputy Commissioner (of district) DF – Bangladesh Northern Evangelical Lutheran Church Development Foundation FO – Field organizer EIC – Education for Indigenous Children (a BRAC programme) HSC - Higher Secondary Certificate ICCB – Integrated Programme for Community Capacity Building LAC - legal assistance cells NGOAB - NGO Affairs Bureau (a governmental organization) PO – Programme Officer PTI – Primary Teachers Institute RBA – rights-based approach SGO – Savings Group Organization SMC – School Management Committee Tk – Bangladeshi Taka (BDT) Union – lowest level of local electorate in Bangladesh UNO – Upazila Nirbahi Officer (government official) Upazila – Sub-district of decentralized government VDC – Village Development Council (also: Village Development Committee) Table of Contents 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 1 1.1. Background ................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1.1. Terms of Reference ............................................................................................................................................. 1 1.1.2. Presentation of the programme .......................................................................................................................... 2 1.1.3. Methodology ....................................................................................................................................................... 2 1.1.4. Limitations .......................................................................................................................................................... 4 1.1.5. Outline of the report ........................................................................................................................................... 4 2. Progress 2008-2010 ...................................................................................................................... 5 2.1. Integration of projects into a programme .................................................................................... 5 2.1.1. General integration of projects into programme ................................................................................................ 5 2.1.2. Integration of schools ......................................................................................................................................... 6 2.2. Outputs and outcomes ................................................................................................................. 9 2.2.1. Outputs ............................................................................................................................................................... 9 2.2.2. Outcomes .......................................................................................................................................................... 11 2.3. Monitoring and evaluation system............................................................................................. 13 2.4. Utilization of financial and human resources ............................................................................. 14 2.4.1. Financial management ..................................................................................................................................... 14 2.4.2. Human resources .............................................................................................................................................. 15 2.4.3. Understanding and skills of the staff on the community development approach ............................................. 17 2.5. The role of the DF Board ............................................................................................................ 18 2.6. Other lessons and emerging issues ............................................................................................ 19 2.6.1. Limited focus on policy and strategy on head office level ................................................................................. 19 2.6.2. Little explicit reflection on the context of service delivery ................................................................................. 20 2.6.3. Limited flexibility and adaptability .................................................................................................................... 20 2.6.4. The importance of land issues ........................................................................................................................... 21 3. Prospects and potentials ..............................................................................................................22 3.1. Potentials to produce the planned short-term and long-term effects ...................................... 22 3.2. Long-term sustainability of the CBOs ......................................................................................... 24 3.2.1. Performance of the CBOs .................................................................................................................................. 25 3.2.2. Steps towards separation from DF and long-term sustainability ...................................................................... 26 4. Conclusions and recommendations ..............................................................................................29 4.1. General conclusions .......................................................................................................................................... 29 4.2. Changes to consider the remaining two years .................................................................................................. 29 4.3. Inputs to the design of next phase .................................................................................................................... 30 Annex I: Terms of reference .............................................................................................................31 Annex II: Presentation of the implementing organization .................................................................36 Annex III: Evaluation Matrix ............................................................................................................42 Annex IV: Schedule ..........................................................................................................................45 Annex V: Stakeholders consulted .....................................................................................................46 Annex VI: List of outputs..................................................................................................................49 Annex VII: Outcome and impact matrix ............................................................................................54 Annex VIII: Staff workshop report ....................................................................................................58 1 1. Introduction 1.1. Background 1.1.1. Terms of Reference The Integrated-Programme for Community Capacity Building (hereafter referred to as ICCB) of the Bangladesh Northern Evangelical Lutheran Church Development Foundation (hereafter DF) has been under implementation since 2008. This mid-term evaluation was commissioned by Normisjon, the sole donor to the programme. The purpose of the evaluation is reflected in the following abstract from the