“Assistance Programme to Education & Fight Against Poverty”

Background:
ADENORD is an NGO established in April 1998 resulting from restructuring process in ACORD in Timbuktu which brought about redundancy of personnel. Thus seven former executives organised themselves into the new NGO: ADENORD with participation of four other resourceful persons. Since establishment of ADENORD it has been supporting grass-root communities either as a provider of services or as a direct intervention agent. ADENORD has implemented a number of projects in Méma (Dioura) in Timbuktu with financial and/or institutional support of Strømme Foundation, ACORD, CARE NORD, CENAFOD.
"The Assistance Program to Education and Fight against Poverty" (PAELP 2003 - 2007) is a result of a combination of three projects previously funded by Strømme Foundation since 1998 in the region of Timbuktu. Evaluation of these projects in 2002 has recommended development of a programme covering two intervention areas of microfinance and education. The objective of the programme is to contribute to a sustainable and equitable human development which will benefit the poorest and those dropped out of groups.

Purpose/objective:
i) Ascertain the relevance of the approaches for realization to expressed needs and the context
ii) Determine in what extent and the manner objectives of this project are implemented and analyse the plans against achievements
iii) Appreciate constraints encountered by the project in the field while implementing the projects
iv) Appreciate the concerns of vulnerable groups (women, children) in relation to all the aspects of the project (activities to be carried out and expected results)
v) Measure the project impact at the level of beneficiary populations
vi) Make an analysis of noticed strengths and weaknesses and propose alternatives
vii) Study with special emphasis education of children at risk and integrative literacy

Methodology:
Upon agreement of contract a work session was held between the consultants and leaders of ADENORD to discuss the terms of reference and the work methodology proposed. During this meeting consultants presented their evaluation tools (interview guides) and for comments on the methodology. The Consultants also made a document study e.g. the basic documents of the Programme.
The mission adopted a participative, sequential and consensual approach involving all the main actors: beneficiary populations, Communal councils, Savings and credit banks, concerned technical departments, the management of ADENORD and also Strømme Foundation
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Key findings:
- Intervention strategy has focused on a participative approach involving all the main actors: the beneficiary populations with priority to women who have also been involved in implementation of identified activities done during general assemblies. Support of ADENORD has been in the form of technical assistance (training of village monitors, vet assistants), financial support (construction and equipping of classrooms) and institutional support (support given to associations and banks).
- ADENORD has the financial and operational capacity from experience in management of training, literacy and advocacy through various projects managed since its inception. However, the project team has neither a sufficient technical expertise nor a capacity of adequate management of decentralized financial systems. Consequently, the funding source it has for this activity is neither stable nor sufficient to enable the support to reach a level of technical sustainability.
- Micro finance could be a relevant solution in relation to objectives and priorities of the Region of Timbuktu, mainly in the area of the Fight against Poverty. Furthermore, the types of chosen institutions have to meet the specific needs and constraints of the concerned populations.
- The final beneficiaries or target groups have been clearly defined. The relevance of their choice is justified from the strategic point of view. It appeared that their actual needs have not been clearly understood by the project in the area of credit and savings.
- The immediate goals of the project have been partially reached and the target groups in question, the underprivileged strata who usually depend on the goodwill of "usurers" have had access to credit. However this service cannot continue without the regular repayment of loans in one hand and a rational mobilization of saving in the other hand.

Recommendations:
i. Planning & Implementation
The necessity of elaborating in a logical frame, in the next phase of the programme, coherence and proceeding with a better formulation of clear and accurate objectives, Action Plans (AP) with clear definition of activities, responsibilities, implementation periods with indicators for monitoring and evaluation and a corresponding budget, results anticipated, necessary activities, objectively verifiable indicators (OVI), verification sources (VS), Important Assumptions (IA) and thus organize a planning workshop to which all stakeholders will participate.
ii. Strategy of disengagement
The elaboration of execution of a clear and accurate progressive disengagement plan for the programme and of appropriate actions by populations to take over the management
iii. Gender Equality
Reinforcement and involvement of women for leadership positions by recruitment of feminine personnel to deal with the organization and the promotion of activities of woman structures
iv. Role and participation of Strømme Foundation in the next phase
Support towards consolidation of experiences. In relation to microfinance, Strømme Foundation could serve as catalyst to establish a partnership with bank TERRAFINA, as technical partner and OIKO credit as a financial partner.

Comments from the organisation, if any:
Initial discussions on the findings and recommendations have been held with the partner and these will be followed up during 2008.