External Mid Term Evaluation of ANDD

Background:
The African Network for Developmental Disabilities (ANDD) was formed in 2001, with the long-term overarching development goal “to strive for equality in social development of persons with developmental disability, children with disabilities and parents thereby facilitating a standard of living enjoyed by all persons and promoting inclusion at all levels”. The network was formed by ten parent organizations, from southern and eastern Africa. Prior to the formation of the network NFU supported a Parent Mobilisation Resource Group (PMRG) which ran from 1994-1997 with six parents organisations (groups). The foundation of the African Network for Developmental Disabilities was a follow up of this project, which took the step further from focusing on only parents’ mobilisation to strengthening of their organisations and equipping them with knowledge and skills in the realm of advocacy and policy influencing in favour of inclusive society.

Purpose/objective: The purpose of the mid-term evaluation was to “review ANDD’s development as a network and assess the scope and impact of its interventions since 2005”.
The objectives were to:
• assess the progress of ANDD’s interventions in relation to the overall and immediate objectives of the network;
• assess strategies for sustainability in order to assess ANDD’s institutional viability regionally and internationally; and,
• give recommendations for NFU’s role in the above

Methodology:
Literature Review
A number of documents related to ANDD / NFU relationship and those that are relevant to the operational context were reviewed to give the mission an understanding of what ANDD with support from NFU has been doing and how it has been doing it. This was done selectively.
Meetings
A number of meetings were also organized to meet key informants (individuals) from the member organizations of ANDD.  The meetings were meant to source for information on their assessment of the successes, achievements and challenges of ANDD.  An interview checklist developed by the consultant (core evaluator) was used to guide the discussions with the ANDD members.
Field Visits to ANDD Members
The evaluation mission visited the following member organizations:
A total of 54 respondents were met from the 9 member organizations of ANDD, NFU, and a few other stakeholders. During the meetings, the objectives of the mission were explained and the member narrated the activities of the organizations, the achievements and challenges most especially the annual conferences and the self advocacy training project.

Key findings: The mission finds ANDD interventions relevant as they are aligned to key development priorities of countries in the region and those of the development partners, namely; poverty reduction strategies, HIV/AIDS Strategic framework. Most of the member organisations are members of SADC and the East African community that have prioritised poverty reduction and combating HIV/AIDS. Most of the member countries also have disability issues addressed in their legal and policy frame works.

The mission also reveals that to a large extent, ANDD has been an effective forum that brings together parents’ organisations of persons with developmental disabilities but also bringing on board persons with disabilities to have their own voice.  The mission finds that the decision to start developing manuals is a right step in the right direction so as to increase understanding and organisational learning in four thematic areas, namely; Inclusive Education, HIV/AIDS, Advocacy, and self advocacy.

Self-Advocacy training targeting persons with developmental disability is probably the most singular important and rewarding initiative as it allows the target group full participation but above all enables them to have their own say (voice). The impact it has had is overwhelming so far.
 
The ANDD interventions have had impact on the persons with developmental disabilities, their families, individual organisations but also on global policy and legal framework such as the development of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with disabilities. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRDP) with an input from the ANDD representative highlights the importance of participation but also potentials of persons with development disability if given an opportunity.
 
In terms of efficiency, ANDD has so far operated as a semi-formal network without standard operating procedures and other instruments which are a prerequisite in the case of a network of this nature. In the absence of a formal structure, the network’s activities and decision making have remained largely vested in NFU. The mission finds that ANDD is funded 100% by NFU which funding is used to pay for coordination costs and programmes which mainly include annual conferences and training of self advocates. Whilst the mission finds intentions for the annual conferences noble, the mission contends that they are not yet yielding optimal returns. There is little or no networking that is happening beyond the conference.
 
As far as sustainability is concerned, ANDD is not institutionally sustainable because the network does not have a firm institutional governance structure. At programmatic level, the mission finds the trained self advocates as a beacon of hope for sustaining the long term benefits of ANDD. The other initiatives such as the development of manuals and others are commendable.

Recommendations:
Based on the findings of this evaluation, the mission makes the following major recommendations:

a) Complete the development of the ANDD as a matter of priority as a precursor for institutionalizing ANDD as a legal entity.
b) Incorporate ANDD as a legal entity with the necessary governance and management structures including an Executive Board and Coordinator to manage the activities assigned to the secretariat.
c) Establish a secretariat to help in streamlining the operations of the network with two of the main assigned roles being coordinating the activities of the network, an fundraising
d) Support the completion of the manuals, so that they can start being used by the network to achieve the purpose for which they are being developed.
e) Support capacity building for member organizations to make them stronger organizations in terms of advocacy and influencing national policies that affect persons with developmental disabilities.
f) Develop a strategic plan to help ANDD make not only have a clear view of the direction it wants to take but also to help undertake a more comprehensive environmental scan, develop values as well as developing the necessary standard operating procedures, systems and procedures.
g) Resolve the stand-off between ANDD and her Francophone members of Inclusion Africa and Indian Ocean. This in a way will pave way for the long term institutional stability and financial sustainability of ANDD.
h) Let the network focus its agenda at influencing what is common to the number of countries mainly taking advantage of “collective voice”. This could include the current issues but take them to power centres yonder, such as AU, UN, African Decade for Persons with Disability, SADC, SAFOD, COMESA, East Africa Community etc. Influence regional policies. Ensure that hot issues such as education that is inclusive for all is adopted by the respective countries.
i) Increase networking beyond the annual conference. This could be also enhanced through setting up website to facilitate experience and knowledge sharing. Member organizations can then subscribe to it by uploading their stories / reports etc.
j) Set aside resources that can go towards supporting common projects at the organizational level, such as training self advocates. Pass on skills to facilitators for training self advocates from each organization, give the organization funds, and let each organization train its self advocates and report to ANDD which in turn reports to NFU or whichever funder.

Comments from the organisation, if any: