OUTCOME EVALUATION OF THE UNDP COUNTRY PROGAM OUTCOME 2 – VULNERABLE GROUPS HAVE IMPROVED ACCESS TO ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES AND ADEQUATE SOCIAL PROTECTION: FINAL EVALUATION REPORT NOVEMBER 11, 2016 McGuire Associates 7210 Lancaster Avenue Mississauga ON L4T 2L3 Telephone: 647-201-9680 Fax: 905-673-1779 [email protected] TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................. 3 List of Acronyms ................................................................................................................ 4 Executive Summary ............................................................................................................ 7 I. Introduction ........................................................................................................... 12 1.1 Purpose and Scope of this Evaluation ....................................................... 12 1.2 Country Program Context and Background .............................................. 13 1.3 Evaluation Methodology ........................................................................... 19 II. Evaluation Findings. ............................................................................................. 22 2.1 Relevance .................................................................................................. 22 2.2 Effectiveness ............................................................................................. 24 2.3 Efficiency .................................................................................................. 36 2.4 Impact ....................................................................................................... 37 2.5 Sustainability of Results ........................................................................... 39 III. Conclusions and Recommendations ..................................................................... 40 3.1 Conclusions ............................................................................................... 40 3.2 Recommendations ..................................................................................... 45 Annex A: Evaluation Terms of Reference ....................................................................... 48 Annex B: Evaluation Criteria and Questions ................................................................... 70 Annex C: Project Descriptions ......................................................................................... 73 Micro-Enterprise Development Program (MEDEP) ............................................ 74 Strengthening National Planning and Monitoring Capacity (SNPMC) ................ 79 Support to Knowledge and Lifelong Learning Skills (SKILLS) .......................... 84 Livelihood Recovery for Peace (LRP) .................................................................. 86 Community Infrastructure and Livelihood Recovery for Peace (CILRP) ............ 86 Rapid Enterprise and Livelihoods Recovery Project (RELRP) ............................ 89 Conservation and Sustainable Use of Wetlands in Nepal (CSUWN) ................... 91 Outcome Evaluation of the UNDP Country Program Outcome 2 – Evaluation Report i McGuire Associates November 11, 2016 Renewable Energy for Rural Livelihoods (RERL) ............................................... 94 Annex D: Team Background and Detailed Responsibilities ......................................... 102 Annex E: Resource Documents ..................................................................................... 104 Annex F: List of Key Informants ................................................................................... 108 Annex G: Case Studies .................................................................................................. 109 Potato Rustic Store Common Facility Centre ..................................................... 110 Dhaka Weaving Enterprise ................................................................................. 113 Micro Hydro Station ........................................................................................... 116 Alital Multipurpose Cooperative Ltd .................................................................. 120 Chandrama Bedbansh Sajha Subidha Kendra (CBSSK) Cane Crafts ................ 122 Youth Mobilisation for Peace and Development ................................................ 125 Kharbang Chiuri Herbal Soap Enterprise ........................................................... 127 Ritu Saughat Griha .............................................................................................. 129 Sunhara Agriculture cooperative ltd, Common Facility Centre ......................... 131 Dhaka Weaving common facility center (CFC), ................................................ 133 Kuluhabagiya, Common Facility Center ............................................................ 136 Girindi Khola Micro Hydro Cooperative Santha Limited .................................. 138 Anakhola Micro Hydro Plant .............................................................................. 141 Annex H: Indicator analysis Table ................................................................................ 144 Annex I: Contribution to Improved Economic Opportunity & GESI by Project .......... 154 Annex J: Rating Standard .............................................................................................. 157 Outcome Evaluation of the UNDP Country Program Outcome 2 – Evaluation Report ii McGuire Associates November 11, 2016 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This evaluation could not have been completed without the cooperation of all of the participants who made themselves available on very short notice. Particular appreciation goes to the UNDP Evaluation Management Group that supported this evaluation and provided feedback on the inception and evaluation report. Chair: Ms. Sophie Kemkhadze Evaluation Manager and Secretariat to EMG: Ms. Heema Devi Khadka Members (from CO): Mr. Vijaya Singh Mr. Dharma Swarnakar Ms. Nabina Shrestha Ms. Anupa Lamichhane Mr. Vijay Kesari Mr. Surendra Sob Ms. Sujeeta Bajracharya Ms. Binda Magar Ms. Giun Kim Members from projects: Mr. Ramji Neupane (MEDEP) Mr. Giridhari Sharma Paudel (SNPMC) Mr. Satish Gautam (RERL) Mr. Niranjan Tamrakar (CILRP) Mr. Bhawani Shankar Subedi (SKILLS). The field visits could not have occurred without the support of Laxmi Limbu, Satish Gautam and Niranjan Tamrakar. A special thanks to Giun Kim who assisted us throughout the evaluation, gathering documents and putting us in touch with various stakeholders. Outcome Evaluation of the UNDP Country Program Outcome 2 – Evaluation Report 3 McGuire Associates November 11, 2016 LIST OF ACRONYMS ADB Asian Development Bank AEPC Alternative Energy Promotion Centre BDSPO Business Development Service Providing Organization CBS Central Bureau of Statistics CEDAW Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women CILRP Community Infrastructure and Livelihood Recovery for Peace CILRP Community Infrastructure and Livelihood Recovery Program CPAP Country Program Action Plan CPD Country Program Document CSIDB Cottage and Small Industries Development Board CSUWN Conservation and Sustainable Use of Wetlands in Nepal CTEVT Council for Technical Education & Vocational Training DADO District Agricultural Development Office DCCI District Chamber of Commerce and Industry DCSIO District Cottage and Small Industries Office DDC District Development Committees DEECCS District Energy, Environment and Climate Change Sections DEDSP District Enterprise Development Strategic Plan DFAT Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade DFID United Kingdom Department for International Development DFO District Forest Office DLSO District Livestock Service Office DMEGA District Micro-entrepreneurs Group Association ESAP Energy Sector Assistance Programme FAMOS imc FAMOS 7.1 GESI Gender Equality and Social Inclusion in Nepal GIDC Government Information Dissemination Centre (GIDC) GoN Government of Nepal GRB Gender Responsive Budgeting GRBC Gender Responsive Budget Committee HDI Human Development Index Outcome Evaluation of the UNDP Country Program Outcome 2 – Evaluation Report 4 McGuire Associates November 11, 2016 IEDI Industrial Enterprise Development Institute IFAD International Fund for Agricultural Development JICA Japan International Cooperation Agency KOICA Korea International Cooperation Agency LRP Livelihood Recovery for Peace M&E Monitoring and Evaluation MDG Millennium Development Goals MED Micro Enterprise Development MEDEP Micro Enterprise Development Program MEDPA Micro Enterprise Development for Poverty Alleviation MoE Ministry of Education MoF Ministry of Finance MoFALD Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development MoI Ministry of Industry MoPE Ministry of Population and Environment NEA National Electricity Agency NGO Non-governmental Organization NMEFEN National Micro Entrepreneurs’ Federation Nepal NORAD Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation NPC National Planning Commission NRM Natural Resource Management NRREP National Rural & Renewable Energy Programme RE Renewable Energy RELRP Rapid Enterprise and Livelihoods Recovery Project RERL Renewable Energy for Rural Livelihoods SDG Sustainable Development Goals SKILLS Support to Knowledge and Lifelong Learning SNPMC Strengthening National Planning and Monitoring Capacity TVET Technical Vocational Education and Training UNCT United Nations Country Team UNDAF United Nations Development