Final evaluation report: Rayitu Community Development Project Bridging (RCDP) 2010

Background:
Rayitu Community Development Project (RCDP) is one of non-governmental organization works in Oromia Region, Bale zone of Rayitu district. The Rayitu project area is found in the Eastern low land of the zone & it borders with the Somali Regional State in the East. The district is dominated by hot, dry, climate and is considered pastoral area. The components of the project were: Education, Health, Water, HIV/AIIDS and Pastoral development where by the ‘‘Reflect Approach’’ is tried to be adapted as strategy to enhance community participation & insure sustainability.        

Purpose/objective:
The evaluation is mainly intended to assess the performance against the agreed plan & other procedural & technical issue of the project and provide the outcome of the evaluation to the relevant government bodies and to the implementing agency. Moreover, to look into the proper utilizations of the project resources in the course of the project implementation and to assess the benefit laid down by the project and the extent of this benefit extension to the target beneficiaries.
Methodology:
In effort to collect the necessary data and information for the purpose of this evaluation, the evaluation team has used the following methods:
• Hold discussion with the project management and staffs at the project site(Rayitu project office)
• Reviewed the project document as well as periodical reports of the project,
• Holding discussion with the project beneficiaries
• Conduct discussion with the woreda and district line department.
• Observation on the project sites in order to see the implementation of the project as per the agreement.

Key findings:
RCDP has been doing its part to the most of its effort and enabled the community to think that development can be achieved through hard work and commitment, especially REFLECT Program as a development approach and community could come together, discuss and make decisions to improve their livelihood. Specifically:

 During the project life time seven offices for seven cooperatives were constructed and  equipped
 RCDP Constructed Two pond structures at Gode of Tedeche Belda and Abeyi of Hara Dube. Four cisterns maintain at Hara Dube, Halo Choma, Wichiro and Hara Adi sites full maintenance of roof slab covering and in side of the cisterns are plastered
 The cooperatives save 63,340 ETB by   increasing the culture of   saving and diversified means of income and improve their lively hood.
 The cooperative financial recording and administration systems have at infant stage because accounting system in some cooperative lack neatness needs further improvement.   
 In general, the project has achieved significant changes among the target groups as a result of staff commitment, good net-working and cooperative relationship between the project and its stake-holders.

Recommendations:
 Though the participants and the targeted peasant association communities have been fully oriented and developed the knowledge and culture of works through REFLECT Program as a development approach. It is equally effective if the project incorporates and expands the experience to the neighborhood peasant association communities. Because the project only cover six peasant association from the total of 19 peasant association.
 The role played by the project facilitators was crucial and vital. Thus, there should a high demand and acceptance within the community to increase the number of facilitators to address unreached areas.
 As far as possible, the organization should have the basic understanding of regional NGOs guide line. The copy of revised budget should be sent to Zonal Offices as it deed at Woreda Level.
 The openness and transparency between RCDP and  the groups were appreciating and it should be scaled up for further sustainability
 Food security remains secure only when there is a situation where by the right holders are capable of running their businesses on both individual and organizational bases. The number of the right holders benefited from this project is small when compared to the woreda population. Therefore, the project should expand its target areas so that other also benefited from this opportunity.
 The effort made on organizing and establishing cooperatives was appreciable. But Members still required further trainings and follow up both by the project and district cooperative office for better sustainability.

Comments from the organisation, if any:
RCDP is in one of the most un-reached areas of Ethiopia where drought and harsh climate is continuously hampering crops growth and subsequently leading to movement of community in search for water. The project is in its 3rd phase ending in 2013. The District has 19 Pas, so there is a need for RCDP to reach more than the 7-8 PAs they are operating-in.