UCEP Implemented Education for Youth and Youth for Peace and Development (EYYPD)

Background  
After a decade-long civil war, Nepal is attempting to move towards inclusive development. The conflict had a massive negative impact on youths and the accessibility of their continued education. Considering the need to mobilize youths in constructive peace building process, Underprivileged Children’s Education Project (UCEP) implemented Education for Youth and Youth for Peace and Development (EYYPD) Project in 20 districts of mid- and far-western Nepal. The project targeted children/youths of the age group 13 to 19 years, especially conflict victims, internally displaced people (IDP), and other marginalized children/youths (Dalits, Janajatis, bounded laborers and ethnic communities). During the period of 2007 to 2011, the project imparted technical education and vocational training to more than 400 youths and helped them to build sustainable livelihood mechanisms. Nepal Evaluation and Assessment Team (NEAT) conducted external impact evaluation of the project during August – December, 2011.The financial support for the project was provided from Operation Day’s Work (Norway) through Redd Barna Norge and implemented by Save the Children Nepal (SCN).    

Purpose/objective  
The main objective of the study was to assess the project process and progress in line with its targets and indicators as per the proposal, and document the present status (employment status, earnings) of the graduates. The specific objectives of the study were to:
• Assess the achievements of the project on the basis of targets and specified indicators.
• Assess what are the most inter-related program components among the different components of the project
• Assess/review whether project process and direction are in right direction as proposed in the proposal 
  
Methodology  
 The evaluation study adopted standard DAC methods of evaluation utilizing the evaluation framework. The basic parameters of evaluation were: relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, impact and sustainability. During the study period, field visits were conducted to six out of twenty program covered districts. The study included scheduled questionnaire survey among 59 training beneficiaries selected on the basis of judgmental sampling. In addition, interviews were conducted with individual beneficiaries, districts’ partner organizations of UCEP Nepal and guardians of training graduates. The study utilized case study method to assess the impact of the project. At the central level, discussions and consultation meetings were organized with UCEP and SCN officials.
  
Key findings  
The project could be considered successful since it was able to train more than 409 youths out of whom 70 percent received employment. The training program was high quality; however the pre and post-training support did not meet the expected standards. The number of training beneficiaries was small compared to the number of youths who needed training. The trainings that the beneficiaries were enrolled in were not relevant enough to their local context and they had to migrate temporarily to urban areas for employment. The training effectiveness was dependent on the availability of good infrastructure, experienced trainers, in-house arrangements for trainees, provision of on-the-job training (OJT), and additional courses to develop professional skills among youths.  Since the per-unit cost of the project was high, UCEP needs further financial support from other sources to continue the project. On the whole, EYYPD provides direction for the upcoming livelihood enhancement projects which target youths from marginalized/vulnerable communities from rural areas.
  
Recommendations  
The evaluation team recommends UCEP and Save the Children to consider replicating the successful model from EYYPD in their future programs with more focus on selection of the most-deserving beneficiaries and better post-training follow up. The specific recommendations are as follows:
• Projects should implement livelihood types of vocational trainings suitable for local conditions and high skill trainings in the established training centers such as UCEP.
• Projects should also focus on establishing enterprises in a group or cooperative model.
• There is a need of suitable job-market assessment before identification of training program. Training should be based on the market demand rather than supply driven (training packages available with UCEP)
• The selection process should be modified and more objectively verified to reach target the most-deserving group. The aptitude and interest of participants need to be considered as well.
• Interaction and discussion with parents of selected students seem essential after the selection process which is expected to help in the post training support activities for the graduates.
• Entrepreneurship training components should be inbuilt in the vocational skills training.
• Pre-training and post training support components should be given to local NGOs and the actual skills training component should be arranged through UCEP.
• Duration of OJT should be increased to at least three to six months.
• For peace related project, there is a need of post-training monitoring and support to ensure that the youths are involved in constructive activities.
• UCEP should manage additional facilities, such as a generator to provide regular electricity during the training.
  
Comments and follow-up from the organisation, if any