IMPACT EVALUATION: “CDP and HIV/AIDS Programmes in Nepal”

Background:
Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) and Norwegian Red Cross (NRC) have been in a partnership since 1988, when support to the implementation of a Community Development Programme (CDP) was initiated, while support to the “Enabling Youth to combat HIV, Human Trafficking and Social Discrimination project HIV/AIDS programming (HIV/AIDS project) started in 1995. In addition, NRC has supported different projects at NRCS headquarters, co-funded the construction of NRCS’ national Training Centre and supported a Youth Delegate exchange programme since 2006.  In relation to the CDP, the partnership is now in its fourth phase (2009-2012), and currently targets the three districts of Baglung, Manang and Mustang. In relation to the HIV/AIDS project, the partnership is likewise in its fourth phase, and currently targets the five districts of Lamjung, Makwanpur, Myagdi, Palpa and Sarlahi.

Purpose/objective of the evaluation:
The objective of the impact evaluation was to verify the overall efficiency and sustainability of the long-term partnership between NRCS and NRC and associated projects, which would also form the basis to determine the next stage of the partnership.

Methodolgy
The evaluation involved field visits to one current target district and one phased-out district of each of the projects, namely Baglung (current) and Kanchanpur (phased-out) district of the CDP and Lamjung (current) and Nuwakot (phased-out) district of the HIV/AIDS project. Multiple informants and stakeholders were interviewed and consulted for the evaluation and a series of findings and recommendations are contained in this document.

Key findings:
The evaluation concluded that the NRCS/NRC partnership is relevant to the strategies and priorities of NRCS and NRC, contributes towards overall national development objectives and is responsive to the needs of vulnerable communities, but that it should be considered to work more directly with the out-of-school youth in the HIV/AIDS project, and to also consider the issue of migration in the CDP.

In relation to effectiveness it was found that both interventions have/are largely contributing to the expected results being met, but that the CDP health component is performing much stronger compared to its livelihood/economic empowerment component, while the HIV/AIDS project should consider to build more capacity in relation to care and support of PLHIV and to develop a more sophisticated peer education model vis-à-vis out-of-school youth.

In terms of efficiency, it was found that especially the CDP has a very expensive set-up especially considering the relatively small number of beneficiaries, and it is advised to consider ways to channel more of the total budget into actual activities directly benefitting communities. For the CDP this should involve strengthening the programme’s volunteer model.

In relation to impact, understood as positive changes experienced by communities as a result of the programme interventions, it was found that both the CDP and the HIV/AIDS project have significant impact as measured in terms of e.g. increased awareness, changed practices, reduced morbidity, empowerment of youth, women, low caste etc. Both interventions have taken many positive steps to include the most vulnerable, but it is still recommended to explore additional ways and means to further promote social inclusion also in relation to the programme/project management structures.
 
In terms of sustainability many sound measures have been taken, and field visits to phased-out districts demonstrated that changed practices are generally sustained and that the majority of initiatives such as women groups and water user committees have continued after phase-out.

In relation to the NRCS/NRC partnership, this generally appears to be very consolidated and healthy in terms of key dimensions of the RC/RC “Code of good partnership” such as equality and respect, integrity, transparency and ownership, and provides a good foundation for a continuation of the collaboration.

Recommendations:
Based on the above factors it was recommended to continue the partnership beyond the current phase, but with modifications as per the recommendations presented in summary below, some of which could already be implemented in the next funding cycle (2011-2012):

CDP Specific Recommendations:
1. Replicate some of the HIV/AIDS project’s mobility/migration strategies, especially those involving women groups, as women self-help groups also form a cornerstone of the CDP.
2. If funding allows, strengthen the saving/credit schemes of the women groups, e.g. pilot a bigger cash infusion from the project budget – with accompanying regulations, restrictions and technical advice - to a few women groups to test if this could generate more genuine empowerment and livelihood opportunities.
3. In future programme phases, it should be attempted to select project areas from some of the more vulnerable parts of Nepal as measured by e.g. the socio-economic terms/district ranking of the National Planning Commission and VDCs with high needs in relation to access to water and sanitation.

HIV/AIDS Project Specific Recommendations
4. Attempt to more specifically target out-of-school youth in the project by also training out-of-school youth (age 10-24 years) as peer educators.
5. Strengthen the training curriculum/training/supportive materials for peer educators especially in relation to the human trafficking and social discrimination components.
6. If the budget allows, develop a more systematic and comprehensive approach to care and support to PLHIV.
7. Promote a continuous enrollment of new peer educators in the targeted schools to ensure a continuation of the initiative.
 
 Crosscutting recommendations:
8. Explore additional ways and means to further promote social inclusion also in relation to the programme/project management structures. 
9. Provide RC volunteers with uniform (e.g. t-shirt) to promote RC visibility and image as well as RC spirit among volunteers.
10. Ensure consistency between various programme log frames, improve formulation of expected results, indicators etc. where required and improve the methodology regarding measurement of certain aspects of implementation, especially in relation to water and sanitation (for CDP) and human trafficking and social discrimination (for HIV/AIDS project).

Comments from the organisation, if any:
As a follow up of the recommendations of the evaluation the Norwegian Red Cross will continue its partnership with Nepal Red Cross and extend the duration of the project. A process has started to implement the concrete project wise recommendations