Review of NCA three year programme; the Right to Peace and Security, Gender and Economic Justice Report

Title of the evaluation report: Review of NCA supported Peace, Gender and Economic Justice programs

Background: The three year MFA supported programme (2010-2012) included components covering Peace, Gender and Economic Justice programs

Purpose/objective:

1. To assess the extent that the program met its objectives (the extent of attaining the set targets within the Logical framework).

2. To identify the lessons learned and recommend the best practices for the design of future interventions to strengthen civil society in South Sudan.
3. To identify any additional capacity needs with regard to the implementation of effective responses.
4. Assess the connectivity between the activities and NCA’s country and global strategies and recommend on development of thematic resources and tools within NCA and their application at field level.
5. To provide a clear understanding of the implications of contextual changes since the secession and independence of the Republic of South Sudan particularly with regard to the state level and national focus of the programme.

Methodology: The review primarily used qualitative methods involving the use of participatory methods of data collection and analysis, field visits/observations that entailed the 3 Ls techniques of (Look, Listen and Learn), Key Informant Interviews, Focus Group Discussions, case studies and desk study to review the literature relevant to the project.

Key findings
-      The program activities were found to be relevant within the context of the post conflict context

-      The close working relationship between NCA, local actors, communities and government is an asset contributing to increased space for dialogue on peace, gender and economic justice issues

-      The civil society actors within the program areas still experience wide gaps in capacity

-      The interventions were considered to be effective since a number of local actors had been empowered to be credible actors

-      NCA interventions were rated to have contributed to improved capacities of partner organizations

Key recommendations;
(i)                  Enhance general capacity

-      Enhance NCA internal capacities as well as in understanding in the general paradigm shift of approach by NCA as accompanier of partners

-      Enhance NCA internal capacity in M&E of “soft component” programmes

-      Develop partner capacities

-      Focus on the strategic choice of increase interlinkages between programmes  with an entry point of tools for community based participation 

(ii)                Peace and security

-      Enhance roles of women in partners conflict resolution initiatives and in partner decision making structures

-      NCA should mainstream conflict analysis and conflict sensitivity in general program design within development and emergency programmes

-      Given that churches and affiliated bodies are key actors the effective participation within church structures needs to be enhanced

(iii)               Gender justice

-      In Warrap State the capacities of the Catholic church to engage in gender justice as a partner should be developed

-      NCA should increase accompaniment of partners in policy analysis

-      In view of changing social fabric NCA should facilitate spaces for engaging men on self understanding of gender roles

(iv)              Economic Justice

-      Interventions on economic justice and improved livelihoods and the requisite capacity strengthening should be separated from organizational and institutional strengthening of civil society

(v)                Civil society

-       The importance of civil society cannot be overestimated in a context of conflict to post conflict nation building.

-      NCA needs to provide for additional internal capacities of staff with clearly identified skills and where possible provide accompaniers to partners projects to national policies.