Final Evaluation of the Program for Strengthening Central Child Welfare Board (CCWB) and District Child Welfare Boards (DCWBS)

Background

This capacity enhancement program for the CCWB and DCWB was aimed at building the capacity and knowledge base of various Child Rights actors at different levels from community to government level. The project was also meant to develop and strengthen structures and mechanisms for promotion and protection of children's rights. The third objective of the project was to strengthen the participation at community, district and national levels. On the whole the project was designed to build the capacity of CCWB and DCWB to ably coordinate issues of policy and programs for maximizing promotion and protection of rights of the child in Nepal. The program was implemented in 8 districts viz: Ilam, Sunsari, Morang, Rautahat, Bara, Makawanpur, Banke and Kanchanpur.

Purpose/objective

The purpose of the evaluation was to assess the relevance and effectiveness of the program strategies and activities for building capacity of the CCWB and DCWB to ably coordinate and facilitate as well as advocate for policies and actions that ensure respect, fulfillment and protection of children's rights.

Methodology

The 4 districts of Morang, Makawanpur, Banke and Kanchanpur were selected for this study based on their geographic characteristic as they well represent the other program districts. On the other hand Tarai was not selected because of its insecurity. As much as quantitative methods were applied, the study made extensive use of qualitative tools e.g. key informant interviews, consultations, focus group discussions and case studies.

Key findings

1. The war, poverty and various social cultural practices e.g. discrimination, child marriages and child sacrifice for instance, in addition to limited access to social services, have worsened the situation of children in Nepal. It has been concluded by the evaluation team that strengthening of the CCWB and the DCWB has proved to be a very relevant intervention. Previously the (DCWB) institution had made limited progress in carrying out the specific provisions of the Nepali Children's, drawn in line with the provisions of the UNCRC. The institutional building effort therefore led to increased visibility and credibility of CCWB as an institution for coordinating and promoting the operationalization of this Act. Notably there is reported increased coordination and collaboration among partners than was the case before this intervention. In an attempt to support the capacity building support to CCWB, physical equipment, logistical support and hiring of Program Manager was done.
CCWB was also assisted with relevant training e.g. in data collection and also in reporting, production of publications and establishment of referral system. CCWB published and disseminated reports on The State of the Children of Nepal for the year 2006 and 2007. Emergency referral mechanisms have also been established. CCWB has also been able to draft three years strategic plan for children 2008, which has since been passed through line ministry and forwarded to cabinet for approval. CCWB is also putting pressure on government to support and increase investment in children's rights to survival, protection, participation and development.
2. Data collection tools made available to DCWB were difficult to operationalize and the DCWB are yet to be trained in data collection, interpretation and reporting. Thus district specific status reports were not published as planned.
3. Referral system and emergency support to cases in DCWBs have not been effective as expected because of very low case reporting which is attributed to the inadequate publicizing of the role of the DCWB.
4. The project assisted in the setting up of child protection committees at district and community /village level as well as a child rights focal point in schools. So far child friendly Village Development Committees (CFVDC) have also been established in each program district who have since conducted a situation analysis and developed relevant child friendly indicators and a five year plan of action. However, the evaluation team notes that the situation analysis is more inclined towards social economic situation and fails to adequately articulate the important child rights issues. Children's clubs have been formalized and are now recognized at DCWB. However, child rights clubs have not been strengthened and their role in monitoring child rights situation in the communities has not been ensured.
5. An attempt has been made to maintain good links and coordination with district level line agencies through coordination meetings. Integration of child right policies and strategies has however not been explicitly evident at district level in their annual and period plans.
6. Child participation has been promoted with evident representation of children at district and community level committees (DCWB & VCPC). Child participation guidebook was also produced to the same effect. However, involvement of children's participation in line ministry development planning has not been realized because of absence of relevant laws in support of the same.
7. Child Right focal points in CFVDC schools received training to make schools child friendly. However, progress was hampered by lack of resources to make this a reality. It must also be noted that this initiative was still at planning stage during the time of this evaluation. There is need for more technical support and guidelines for child friendly development planning at VDCs in line with the intentions of the DCWB.
8. There has been notable acceptance of plans and proposals made by DCWB by other line ministries. The evaluation team observes that since the project started there has been an increased capacity to bargain and manage diverse donor(s) by DCWB.
9. The evaluation team felt that the project was successful in disseminating messages on child rights and motivating stakeholders to integrate child friendly policies through the advocacy and coordination efforts of DCWB. Nevertheless, line ministries still need policy shift to more rights based and child friendly policies. A new Children's Act which is claimed to be a major shift from welfare to rights based approach is under consideration.
10. The program had some interventions that impacted on children's health and education e.g. scholarships to minority children, expansion of immunization coverage, increasing access to health services by children from poor families and protection of children from exploitative labor. More program integration is proposed to enable the program address the multidimensional web of poverty that surrounds children in disadvantaged communities.
11. Children's affiliation to children's clubs has enhanced their participation e.g. in education and immunization programs and also enhanced protection of children from e.g. early marriages and child labor. The evaluation team however note that the project has not done enough to enable the children recognize their position as right holders.
12. More people in community have participated and therefore became aware of the Child Friendly initiatives.
13. The evaluation team feels that assigning of a bureaucrat to lead the DCWB is not sustainable and threatens sustainability of started initiatives. The District Development Officer is considered of having more of an administration orientation than a program focus. In addition any future changes in political administration i.e. of ministers etc threatens continuity of child friendly processes, polices and commitments made. Nevertheless, the planning phase of the project particularly in development of child friendly VDCs, received wider social political support from participating communities and human rights civil society organizations.
14. The evaluation found that project documents were written in gender sensitive manner and attempts were made to make the project inclusive in terms of gender and ethnicity e.g. in the board representation.
15. Conflict and political instability were major interruptions to the programs affecting the decision making and governance of the intervention. Administrative delays e.g. in funds disbursal and staff changes also caused some delays to the project.

Recommendations

Institutional and Programme Support
1. Continue the institutional as well as programme supports to CCWB and DCWB to be continued and also to further strengthen inter-sectoral coordination/amongst relevant organizations.
2. Carry out advocacy and lobbying to integrate child-friendly policies including CFVDC initiatives into national, district, and village level plan and policies.
3. Formulate national and district level Action Plan for CFVDC and lobby for its implementation.
4. Receive resource commitments of line ministries/agencies and relevant organizations for CFVDC initiatives.
5. There is need for Advocacy/lobbying for removing legal barriers (e.g. on child participation at institutional level). Find out different aspects of legal barriers through review of existing legal provisions (national level).
6. Carry out intensive media campaign on CFVDC and provisions of Children's Act and UNCRC at all levels.
7. Develop project supervision, monitoring and evaluation plan at the time of DIP (Detailed Implementation Plan) formulation (with project evaluation indicators for baseline and endline studies).
8. Develop guidelines/activities including monitoring and evaluation plans for sustainability of the project in DIP for each component of the programme.
9. Develop guidelines/activities including monitoring and evaluation plans for gender equity and social inclusion in DIP.
10. Referral system should be strengthened. Publicize DCWB and its role.
11. Strengthen functional role (monitoring, advocacy/lobbying, child participation, etc.) of child protection mechanisms (VCPC, DCPC, child clubs, school focal points). Also work for motivating children to raise their effective voices to satisfy their problems and needs.
12. Data collection on Convention on the Rights of Child (CRC) monitoring should be strengthened with more rigorous methodologies. Continuous monitoring/surveillance system should be developed instead of periodic data collection system.
Programme Management Side
1. Adopt measures to retain human resources throughout the project period. In case of inability to do so, ensure smooth running of the project by timely hiring of the project staff. Work for maintaining institutional memory within the project. In case of discontinuation of job by staff, a system to handover the office to new staff should be practiced.
2. Ensure more rigorousness in project and financial management system such as:
o Develop TOR, modus operandi for project staff and different child protection mechanisms
o Timely submission of bills/voucher
o Give serious attention to accomplish all the activities in DIP (e.g. trainings on data collection, compilation, and report writing to the CPO, district level publication, process documentation, logistic supports to VDCP, etc.).
o Develop systematic and complete documentation/record system
o Necessary steps should be taken to ensure timely disbursement of funds
o Necessary steps should be taken to ensure maintaining/achieving high project delivery rate for enhanced project outputs
3. Appoint one staff for looking after finance in CCWB.
4. Appoint one staff for looking after finance in CCWB.
5. Strengthen monitoring and feedback system at all levels.
6. Develop clear guidelines on each and every matter and provide it to DCWBs. Proceed with formal ways in every matter.
7. Ensure quality of human resources.
Governance
1. Chairing of DCWB by DDC chairperson or social worker has more advantages. Preference should be given to social worker. Ensure adequate representation of line agencies, women and backward communities in DCWBs.
2. Operationalize specialized sub-committees. DCPC may be one for child protection.
3. Strengthen discussion and feedback system in programme planning in DCWBs
4. Village Child Welfare Board (VCWB) at VDC level may be provisioned.
5. Carry out lobby/advocacy to upgrade portfolio of Women Development Officer to the capacity of undersecretary. Establishment of child development section within WDO is desirable for better governance and sustainability.
CFVDC Initiatives
1. Integrate CFVDC initiative into annual plan of DDC and VDC and work in close collaboration with DDC and VDC, other line agencies, and Plan PU.
2. Adopt bottom to top-level approach in programme planning making involved local people. Ward level functional groups to implement project activities needs to be built with proper representative from all sides.
3. DIP needs to be formulated on the basis of Action Plan of CFVDC.
4. One-door system should be developed to work in CFVDC
5. DCWB facilitates, coordinates and monitors the CFVDC initiatives through community level mechanism

Comments from the organisation

The study makes no reference to Save the Children Norway as a key partner in this project
The evaluation makes no reference to the role of the Plan in partnership with CCWB and DCWB along with other NGOs and UN bodies during the disarmament and reintegration process concerning the Maoists. During a field trip by Plan Norway to Nepal conducted in December 2006, it was observed that the disarmed Maoists had significant number of minors who needed special protection during this process of re integration. No follow up has been made by this evaluation as to the extent that this process was supported and no indication has therefore been made regarding additional areas requiring strengthening to this effect, considering the Nepali young democracy.
In line with the Conflict Sensitivity evaluation and proposed training for Norwegian NGOs commissioned by the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Kathmandu, the evaluation makes no reference to how the partner organizations in this project are internalising and operationalizing conflict sensitivity in ways that strengthen the peace process. Specific areas of recommendation for conflict sensitive programming included choice of partners, projects, and target groups with deliberate efforts to include socially excluded groups