Evaluation of the Cooperative Relations between Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) and its partners in Guatemala and Nicaragua

Background:
This corresponds to the consultancy report "Evaluation of Cooperative Relations between Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) and its partners in Guatemala and Nicaragua" in the context of the discussion of the Global Strategy 2011-2015, to respond to the review of these relations during the Regional Strategic Plan arising from the previous strategic assessment cycle.
The conceptual framework of NCA includes four elements under analysis: Human Rights Based Approach HRBA. NCA’s comprehensive approach (composed of: Emergency Preparedness and Response; Assistance for long-term development, and advocacy). Types of Partners, divided into Major, Resources and Strategic Partnerships. Finally Chain of Change (structured in five stages).
The consultancy mission covered four counterparts, two in Guatemala CIEDEG and PV and two in Nicaragua CIEETS and AMC. One in each country addressing the theme of HIV/AIDS and the two remaining addressing agricultural production with different approaches, one as organic farming and other agro-ecology, but differing in their intervention models and geographic coverage.

Purpose/ Objective:
a) Raise awareness on the conceptual proposal of NCA.
b) Assess NCA’s strategy comprehensive approach with key partners and communities.
Explore and make visible the impact on the lives of people and communities working together with AIN and its partners.

Methodology:
• Document Review and synthesis of relevant aspects
• Development of tools
• Individual Interviews and conversations with management and partners’ technical teams
• group interviews in the communities and groups consulted

Key Findings:
• Most partners agree that within their institutional practice elements of the HRBA have been applied, one has incorporated it into their strategic plan. Almost all partners acknowledge that they have worked in the claim of human rights and in defence of human dignity, but not as structured as suggested by NCA’s approach.
• There is an inconsistent understanding and application of HRBA in the different levels of partners consulted and the people they work with.
• Overall further dialogue which involves working model of the conceptual framework of NCA is need, especially with reference to the type of main partners, counterpart resources and partnerships. Some partners need to deepen the content and methodology of rights-based approach.
• The approach is valid and important as it has begun to show up in practice, but it is a long process in countries like Guatemala and Nicaragua.
• When they have the strategic vision and recognize the importance of these themes, partners find the methodology adapted to their environment and nature, as is the case of AMC.
• The implementation of the HRBA is an initiative of NCA, which has focused on workshops for partners and communities.
• The Ecumenical Network of Women is the results of years of work of CIEDEG, which today has a high potential for institutional strengthening for the work of the institution.
• Partners are aware of the importance of gender equity, although not fully defined in policies.
• No work has been done and therefore there is no consensus on the concept of advocacy and levels that can be done.
• The faith-based organizations can be found in religious spheres linked with their work, but if sensitized and turned into allies, important strategic spaces for advocacy will open.
• Conditioned by the historical context of Nicaragua partners have an impact on the evangelical church. In Guatemala, not without difficulties they make an impact on the Catholic Church. Ecumenism has found conditions for its development in Nicaragua; in Guatemala this space has still to be built.
• The Nicaraguan experience is a possible path to consider, as it made its way into the evangelical churches and the progress made in addressing HIV/AIDS, as an experience to share and replicate. During the visit to Nicaragua APASUR showed interest, on the basis of the CAFOD - AIN exchange project, in a pastoral theological approach that could facilitate and clarify the visions, and open spaces and opportunities to work on the issue.
• On the issue of HIV/AIDS there are two models of intervention that have proved efficient in practice, designed for the needs and context of the working regions of the implementing partners. In Nicaragua the problem of HIV/AIDS has opened the space to work with a focus on gender-based violence, leading to a discussion of this approach within the church. In Guatemala a program of counselling and legal support on GBV is implemented.
• It is important to encourage collective action for mutual learning. For NCA strategic alliances are important as is the deepening of ties between both countries and with the region. Priorities are: seeking common interests, channels, problems and needs, and deepening joint efforts; as promoting space to share the visions of the partners on work, planning and advocacy levels.
• It is important to work with the partners on risk management that should not only be addressed in case of natural disasters, and must also worked in the care and protection of environment in cases of deforestation and protection of water sources.
• The absence of systematic and appropriate instruments to measure the impact and verify changes in work processes that are implemented continues to be a challenge.
• The partners clearly have difficulties with the changing agenda and priorities of international cooperation, because in some cases they will have to interrupt or abandon the immediate support needed by the communities they work with.

Recommendations:
• The conceptual framework of the HRBA include several elements and its mainstreaming involves a reflexion about how they fit together, in order to develop a methodology of transfer
to the partners, and from there to the communities and beneficiaries, defined as a process of education / training.
• In this sense an education / training process should includ at least 5 stages: the design as such, the methodology, its implementation, the monitoring/evaluation of the implementation process and the follow up of its application and transfer to communities and beneficiaries, leaving the adequacy of the latter to each partner, subject to the follow up and systematization of AIN and to the feedback from the partners. As well as specific support actions underpinning and encouraging the necessary training.
• The analysis of the partners’ plans, projects and reports that, together with additional elements, should constitute inputs to understand the situation of beneficiaries, are dispersed.
• It is important to conduct a follow-up and closer support to the CP to get feedback on the learning process of the HRBA, as basis for consensus on concepts, methodologies, models, etc.
• As part of the methodology NCA should consider the possibility that its partners implement concrete actions to support the needs of communities within the HRBA. Or to establish with partners peremptory periods to allow either the management of funds from other sources of cooperation, or to enable them to properly close those processes that can no longer be supported.
• Deepen the work of partners, how to work processes, better define the limits, in order to outline the proposals in greater clarity and certainty in planning the work on short, medium and long term, these are issues that should be revised.
• AIN should follow up the work done in the south-western PV model to enhance and expand areas of work of the Catholic Church. AIN should support all potential advocacy work on the Catholic Church on the issue of HIV-S.
• Explore the possibility and relevance of support APASUR to strengthen their ecumenical advocacy work and pastoral theology within the evangelical church in Nicaragua.
• Repeat the pastoral experience of APASUR on their socialization in Guatemala in order to open working spaces within the ecumenical movement and the evangelical churches in Guatemala, as well as the experience of the working model of the PV within the Catholic Church in order to explore its possible implementation in Nicaragua.
• Investigate whether there are documents and experiences that provide elements for the post-emergency relief work toward PLWHA and HIV/AIDS, is a dimension to explore, so as to strengthen awareness of HIV/AIDS in emergency relief.
• Find the common elements within the main partners (CP-P), balance the resources and common visions, improve the internal discussion processes, facilitate communication links between partners, enhance the resources of each of the partners involved, in order to avoid that this approach becomes a straitjacket. Put together what is offered and what is needed, to fulfil the objectives and needs of all actors involved.
• Beyond the skills, capacities and experience of an organization (CP-R) for the capacity building issue, it is important to consider the social, political, cultural and religious characteristics of the population we are working with.
• In the relation with communities the need was identified to work more with the methodology, both in terms of transferring information, as of tools to measure levels of understanding, appropriation and transformation in people, this is of utmost importance.
• NCA should not rule out the possibility of working with other issues of the programmatic structures of the partners which can be included in the HRBA and EBG, which starts from the construction of legal subjects that could potentially move to other levels or areas of advocacy.
• Partners must be clear about the level of advocacy that NCA should assumes as a bearer of moral obligations, both internationally and in its support or complementarities at the national level, seeking to make sustainable the results obtained.
• NCA should define its position toward its partners about of the importance of the work within climate change.

Comments from Norwegian Church Aid (if any):