Evaluation Study of Norwegian Church Aid Resources and Finance Programme

Background:

Assess the performance of the Resources and Finance (R&F) Programme – which is a key intervention of NCA Tanzania Country Programme (2011-2015)

Purpose/ Objective:

Assess the extent to which NCA’s work has contributed or improved the knowledge and motivation of FBOs to engage in good governance and accountability for poverty eradication in Tanzania. Assess the extent to which NCA’s support to interfaith approach has contributed or improved the knowledge and engagement of FBOs in poverty reduction activities at the community level. Assess the extent to which NCA’s work has contributed to cluster III of Tanzania’s NSGRP. Assess the extent to which NCA’s choice of partners has contributed to success/challenges in the program.

Methodology:

This evaluation adopted conceptual and participatory techniques; a mixed method design employing both qualitative and quantitative techniques but the qualitative component constituted the major approach (in-depth interviews; informal discussions; direct observations; structured interviews). The assessment relied on a combination of primary and secondary data sources.

Key Findings:

• In terms of effectiveness we found that achievement and progress has been consistent when compared to planned outcomes. Most activities planned for year 1, 2 and 3 have been on target and, in fact, some have surpassed the target.
• In terms of impact, the training on good governance and PETS have increased people understanding on their role in promoting good governance and accountability at the community level.
• Related to the above, the impact of the training has created an asymmetrical power relationship. Whereby the "demand side" (community) have greater knowledge on governance issue than the "supply side" (local officals) they are intending to hold accountable.
• Overall, the implementation of the R&F Programme activities is done in a "remarkable cost-efficient manner".
• Regarding sustainability, NCAs use of Interfaith Approach has a promising future. However; unless the District Interfaith Committees (DICs) are capacitated to own the budget monitoring (PETS) process, the sustainability of the programme – without NCA support – "could be jeopardized". This is reflected by a common concerns from PETS committee members on the need to be paid allowances to actively participate in holding duty bearers accountable.
• Although there are efforts to allow different stakeholders to participate in the planning of the programme priorities and activities annually, the predominance of top down approach is hard to ignore in many respects.
• There is a huge potential for using IR-VICOBA groups as a sustainable platform to mainstream PETS as a tool for accountable governance at the grass root level but this potential has not been exploited.
• Too extensive geographical coverage (in terms of number of districts) of the programme could carry risks related to monitoring and project follow up.

Recommendations:

• Both IR-VICOBA and Paralegals can be a vehicle for accountable governance at community level.. NCA should consider mobilizing IR-VICOBA and Paralegals in incorporate PETS.
• Explore joint training on accountable governance that will involve PETS committee and village leaders to simultaneously address both the “supply” and “demand” side of accountability.
• Attention should be given to eestablish, strengthen and empower the DICs in line with their core duties.
• Foster linkages between National and District Interfaith Committees as means to bolster complementarity and create referral systems for the DICs
• Enhancing capacity for programme monitoring both within NCA and among partner Organizations