Shebah Demas Integrated Development Project

Background

The Shebah Demas Development project (SDDP) was initiated in year 2000 based on experiences gained from the Zula Development Programme. The project was identified by the Ministry of Agriculture based on national and sector specific priorities set by the Ministry of Agriculture. Following the decision to implement the program in the current project site a detailed baseline study was done to identify major problems, set strategies and define priorities; the baseline survey was conducted in 2000. The baseline survey was detailed and covered large geographic areas. It suggested that targeted and intensive intervention should
be implemented in the Plains (with villages Shebah, Metkelabiot, Adi-Shuma, Ghahtelai & Demas).
The survey has identified the following problems to be prevalent in the plains:
- Low agricultural production
- Low level of men farmers know-how in farming
- Increased environmental degradation
- Low health facility and services
- Low level of education
- Low level of women's participation in economic activities
To solve the above-mentioned problems the following Strategies were rightly identified by the baseline survey:
1. Water development
2. Crops and livestock development
3. Infrastructure development
4. Environmental protection and development
5. Gender issue, women's welfare promotion
The above strategies were further broken down into component development and immediate objectives based on a detailed six-year project implementation plan.

Purpose/objective

The purpose of evaluation as provided in the TOR is:
- Consider whether the project objectives are being achieved.
- Consider whether the project is effective in both educating and training the community with the desired impact.
- Review the use of funds.
- Give recommendations to guide future decision making and project development
- Document lessons that are being learned
- Provide a basis for accountability to concerned implementing, financing institutions and
project beneficiaries.
The TOR has further outlined the focus areas that should be critically examined when doing the evaluation. These areas include:
- Efficiency
- Effectiveness
- Impact
- Sustainability and
- Gender Sensitivity

Methodology

Relevant data collecting instruments were developed and enriched through discussions and expert opinions. As much as possible all relevant questions were included and reviewed so that they do not threat the integrity and confidentiality of all concerned parties and individuals.
Three different instruments were used: Individual Interview Questionnaires, Key Informant Questionnaires, and Focus Group Discussion.

Key findings

- The project is relevant, effective, efficient, and sustainable.
- The need for pure water and irrigation canals are answered with satisfactory results. Young girls and boys are now able to concentrate on their educational assignments due to reduced time required to fetch potable water. Women are able to carry out the productive, reproductive and community management roles more easily, and to attend training on home economics and other relevant training (e.g. adult literacy program).
- Another impact is on the changed attitude and practice of the project beneficiaries towards FGM. This change has ensured the safeguarding of the human rights of women, and also protect female from physical and mental harms that would have been inflicted on them.
- There are some tangible positive results of the crop and livestock development
intervention, but many farmers are yet not able to harvest crops due to lack of
adequate rainfall in the highlands that form the running water to be used for spate
irrigation.
- The project is found less successful in the activity of environment protection.

Recommendations

- There is a need for extension of the project, new boreholes need to be drilled, new
water points to be established, latrines to be built, and embankments to be
constructed.
- The creation of income generation activities for women after home economics training is important. Accordingly, market outlets should be created by establishing marketing pools in Ghindae and Gahtelay.
- The distribution of best seeds for food crops and commercial crops (for example,
watermelon) should be among the priorities.
- Better provision of water for livestock within an easy reach of the villages.
- The project should have taken initiative for the introduction of individual lending.
- There is a need for provision of nursery area for the growing of seedlings compatible to the climate.
- There is a need to replace iron tubes with plastic tubes.
- Water lifting mechanism using diesel powered engines should be replaced by solar
and/or wind powered mechanism.