Evaluation of LO-Norway Programme of Co-operation with Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions

Background

The project co-operation between the Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions (SFTU) and the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) started as it is in 1998. The project focuses on developing capacity of women members through education and training activities.

Long-term developmental Objectives:
• SFTU has an active, confident and skilled female membership participating in trade union activities and leadership positions at all levels.
• SFTU has developed capacity and self sufficient in trainers and skilled workplace union representatives for sustainability of the organization.

Short-term Objcctivcs:
• An active confident female membership with ability to promote and articulate issues pertaining to their trade union and human rights.
• SFTU has satisfactory skilled trainers and workplace representatives with capacity to manage training activities and day to day representation satisfactorily.

Purpose/objective

The evaluation aimed at reviewing the progress and results of the co-operation projects, and to see what has been achieved since 1998. In this regard, the purpose of the evaluation was to assess the performance and progress of the co-operation and to see if the intended results and objectives had been met. The evaluation was also intended to form the basis for LO-Norway's decisions regarding the future co-operation agreement with SFTU after 2006

Methodology

The evaluator used a participatory approach with extensive field visits, and interviews with key partners of SFTU in Swaziland, Norway and South Africa in addition to SFTU (leadership, staff, affiliates, past and present participants to the project, suspended unions, former SFTU-leaders) was conducted. A range documents pertaining to the project co-operation was read and analysed. Before the commencement of field visits, telephone interviews were conducted with the LO-Norway Regional Representative who also accompanied the evaluator during the field visits. At the end of the field visit, the evaluator made a presentation to SFTU.

Key findings

The project co-operation has survived many obstacles due to the determination and persistence of the partners. On the political front, SFTU leadership and its membership has continued to face considerable opposition from the authorities. But SFTU remains an active player in determining the destiny of workers and their community in Swaziland.

The project activities achieved impressive outcomes emanating from the co-operation. These outcomes include a cadre of SFTU educators and workplace motivators, training materials, handouts, brochures on basic education in local languages, graduation ceremonies, audio visual production, exchange programmes and 1,060 participants (607 women and 453 men) trained.

On the whole, the co-operation has been relevant, efficient and effective. It has also brought out a clearly articulated group of educators, with some of them being considered as role models in Swaziland and abroad.

However, the co-operation faced notable bottlenecks. Its level of efficiency was affected by lack of a formal co-operation agreement between the partners. At the same, sustainability of the co-operation was not clearly considered during project implementation. The existing co-ordination structure of co-operation has affected the cohesion of the national centre due to suspicions between leadership and educators, accountability issues at SFTU, poor communications, and incoherent education and co-ordination structures.

Recommendations

It was recommended to continue the co-operation. For a more effective co-operation in the future, the evaluator recommends careful consideration of the following issues:
• Memorandum of understanding on project design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation
• Clearer, all-inclusive, and mutually reinforcing project co-ordination mechanism
• Improved financial accountability
• Review and finalise draft workers' education policy
• Focus on organising and membership recruitment, basic leadership training, basic trade union education to rank and file, with less emphasis on 'civic education'
• Identify any possible links with LO/FTF Council Programme

Comments from the organisation

LO and SFTU has agreed on a co-operation agreement, where also financial routines for accountability is included.