End-line Evaluation of Phase III of the Child Trafficking Response Programme (CTRP)

Background  
CTRP phase III in Albania consists in working with/for youth to increase resilience towards risks through two Youth Centers in two project areas and work towards establishment of child protection (CP) mechanism at local level through two Child Protection Units. A comprehensive Impact Monitoring System was designed in 2009, consisting of a Base-line, Mid-line (2010) and the End-line in 2011. The goal of the consultations were to track and measure progress in the lives of targeted children, youths and professionals concerning aspects of knowledge, attitudes and practices related to ability to make solutions that will help them prevent abuse and exploitation. Children’s/youth participation and feedback was at the very core of the impact monitoring system. The direct CTRP beneficiaries of SCiA are 45-50 professionals, around 650 children/youth at risk, 20 peer leaders and around 100 parents. The approximate number of indirect beneficiaries for the first two years of the programmed reached about 2700 children and adolescents from local communities in three project areas.
  
Purpose/objective  

Methodology
Four key themes were used in data collection during End-line assessment:
Theme 1: Knowledge on Child Protection by Duty Bearers: “Post-Test Evaluation” and “Complete Sentence Exercise” were conducted with 12 (7 women, 5 men) Child Protection Working Group (CPWG) after completing training on “Child Abuse” and “Case Management”.
Theme 2: Self Efficacy: Data was collected by use of “SOC”, “I AM” and “Notions of self-efficacy questionnaire”. 13 youth (9 girls, 4 boys) aged 16-18 attending peer to peer sessions at youth centers where consulted.
Theme 3: Children’s Knowledge and Resilience: A questionnaire on child trafficking, safe migration and reproductive health was elaborated and adapted for data collection.
Theme 4: Peer Leader Support: A standardized questionnaire for peer leaders prepared by the CTRP Consultant and was used for this theme.

Key findings  
Theme 1: Knowledge on Child Protection by Duty Bearers: When comparing the Mid-Line it emerges that selected trained professionals demonstrated an overall increased and enhanced knowledge on CP issues and changes in professional behavior due to capacity building sessions. 12/12 professionals confirm “high relevance and helpfulness” of the organized trainings with their jobs. These changes may represent a shift in the traditional way CP issues was/is considered in Albania (as “duty of others”) and means moving towards a more institutional level instead of a personal (favor) level.
Theme 2: Self Efficacy: Results show increased positive changes in self-perception, particularly in the areas of new skills and habits, improved leadership based on responsibility, consistency during implementation, openness and tolerance towards others while thinking critically and differently, socially desirable aspirations such as creation of new friendships and organizing community events. All 13 youth consulted see creation of new friendships through the programme as the main way of relating to others. Results show increased trust in the Youth Centers, and they feel that their opinion is appreciated. Girls feel more empowered compared to boys; where mostly girls portrayed themselves as “leaders” “activists”, etc. All boys in the sample mention “they do not like violence”. This is an important perception that shows building of a tolerant attitude the program has promoted since the beginning. Youth are generally very confident about their capability to perform positively when facing potentially risky situations and making decisions.
Theme 3: Children’s Knowledge and Resilience: Targeted children and adolescents express increased and satisfactory knowledge on risks related unsafe migration and reproductive health and confidence in where to seek entrusted services and support to prevent abuse and exploitation.
Theme 4: Peer Leader Support: Peer leaders are very well inserted into the program content, addressing the topics with responsibility and honesty with a high level of dedication in issues concerning their peers and community needs, and perceptions that they are playing a role, even serving as role models for other peers and their communities.
  
Recommendations  
• Highlight correct and comprehensive knowledge: Implementers should move from knowledge dissemination to actions that individuals can take to address these issues.
• Issue-based awareness raising initiatives should be further developed to enhance knowledge on CP. Peer leaders should participate in different initiatives at local, national and regional levels (i.e. exchanges, roundtable meetings or in decision-making bodies).
• Strengthen the involvement of parents and other community members, especially of fathers and men, and make them involved in the direct work with children.
• Invest in identifying and networking with other organizations, such as SEE Youth Network.
• A strong focus on impact monitoring and continued documentation of interventions must continue to guide all future programming. The CTRP represents a unique model to be replicated.

Comments and follow-up from the organisation, if any