Assessment of Projects Supported by Save the Children Norway in Nepal 2005-2009

Background

Save the Children Norway – Nepal has been carrying out “Support to the Realization of Children’s Rights in Nepal Program” as per the general and project agreement signed with the Social Welfare Council (SWC). This agreement signed between the Social Welfare Council (SWC) and Save the Children Norway-Nepal will come to an end in May 2009. A general agreement with Social Welfare Council (SWC) and a partnership agreement with the Ministry of Children, Women and Social Welfare (MoWCSW) have provisioned an independent evaluation involving external experts and representatives from Women, Children and Social Welfare Ministry, National Planning Commission, Ministry of Education and SWC. Based on this provision, a final evaluation of the SCNN’s five year programme collaboration (2005-2009) was carried out by SWC in December/January 2008/9. This evaluation was mandatory for extension of programme agreement with SWC for SCNN.

Objectives

To explore, identify and assess the effectiveness of Save the Children Norway- Nepal (SCN/N) supported projects and to recommend future strategies of support.

Methodology

Conceptual framework of study was designed with guiding questions and probing hints based on the terms of reference given to the evaluation team to assess the impact of projects. On-site visits of sample projects were organised under selected themes. Partner NGOs and line agencies implementing the projects provided the sources of primary data collected through direct observations, personal/group interviews and focus group discussions with the stakeholders, i.e. service providers, beneficiaries and victims.

Key Findings

• In majority of the cases, the findings show conformity with the expected results of the planned interventions as envisaged by the four-year plan (2006 – 2009) and as elaborated with indicators in the results framework (2008) of SCN/N.

• Dignity and self-confidence of children has increased through the creation and promotion of children’s and youth clubs.

• Almost all school-age children of the service areas are enrolled at school.

• Parents (especially mothers) of grade 1 and 2 children visit schools frequently.

• Local cooperatives, where constituted, are actively engaged in school affairs.

• Local partners/NGOs and line agencies are made accountable and aware of interventions. Their capacity to work for results-based projects has substantially increased.

• Children and women of backward/dalit communities are found encouraged by SCN/N’s support provided through local partners.

• Project planning and design process have been improved through the introduction of the newly worked out results framework (log-frame approach) intended for use from the centre towards the implementation level from 2008 onwards.

Recommendations

• As shared by the project partners, they have to manage a complex process and hectic paperwork while working with SCN/N supported projects. The team recommends that the process should be simplified by avoiding duplications and by simplifying and/or translating the most essential reporting and planning forms into Nepali as appropriate.

• Partner NGOs expressed some grievances about the selection of ‘core’ and ‘cluster’ partners. A careful review of existing guidelines and specificity/objectivity of criteria could work.

• Facilities wear and tear out after phase out of the projects. A carefully designed ‘handing over plan’ would be required to ensure sustainability of the impacts in user communities.

• Heavier focus on ‘rights’ was found as compared to limited resources. A ‘balance between rights and resources’ has been recommended in the design and allocation of programme and budget to avoid the situation where ‘knowledge of rights without resources’ is of little value to the target beneficiaries.

• SCN/N is currently working on too many themes (eight could be traced). To consolidate the efforts and to reinforce the brand-name, it would be more effective to focus on a few themes and specialize on them.