Final Community Impact Evaluation; Community Mapping and Community Exchanges Projects

Background:
STT has implemented a Mapping, Infrastructure and Titling project since 2009. STT conducts participatory mapping of communities under threat of eviction with the aim of strengthening their tenure security or their bargaining position vis-à-vis local authorities and developers. Each community receives a large map and a community booklet which includes the results of a community survey. STT also assists the community with setting up a revolving fund to upgrade community infrastructure.
STT organizes three to four Community Exchanges each year, which bring together leaders
from urban poor communities to visit different communities and learn from each other. STT
aims to strengthen community solidarity and increase communities’ ability to articulate their
needs and concerns by providing information and networking support.

Purpose/objective:
To assess the impact of STT’s Community Mapping and Community Exchange projects on tenure-insecure communities in Phnom Penh. In order to assess impact and sustainability, the evaluation has also addressed the projects’ relevance, effectiveness, inclusion and equality.

Methodology:
Desk review: review of relevant project documents including funding proposals, concept notes, quarterly and annual reports, and monitoring reports.
In-depth interviews with STT staff members: interviews with four STT current and former staff members.
In-depth interviews with community leaders: interviews with community leaders from six communities.

Key findings:
• Project overall, both Community Mapping and Community Exchanges are highly relevant to the community involvement. Both projects respond to the problem of tenure insecurity in urban poor communities in Cambodia and the government’s failure to remedy this problem.
• Both projects very effective in term of provide strong evidence for advocacy work and enabling space to strengthen community solidarity.
• The mapping and infrastructure upgrades have cemented good relations, with local authorities participating in one or other of the activities in all communities interviewed.
• The Community Exchanges are succeeding at building solidarity among urban poor communities. Three of the four communities interviewed reported telephoning members of other communities, participating in demonstrations and rallies, and mobilizing community members to support other communities’ land rights.
• Community Exchanges have built community members’ confidence and decreased their feelings of isolation. Interviewees spoke of gaining confidence, standing in solidarity, and feeling that they were not alone.

Recommendations:
• Ensure understanding of how Maps and Booklets Can be Used
• Eliminate Duplication of Efforts between NGOs
• Share Community Best Practices
• Protect Personal Data
• Standardize the Approach to Renters
• Continue Infrastructure Upgrades
• Enhance Learning
• Increase Gender Diversity
• Consider including more participants
• Increase knowledge-sharing

Comments from the organisation, if any:
STT has incorporated comments into its strategic plan (2013).