Final Evaluation – Education for Women and Children (EWC) Sudan

Background:
The Sudan intervention was located in three of the displaced resettlement areas outside of Khartoum; Umbadda, Kerery, and Haj Yousif localities. ADRA has been operating in these localities since 1994 with interventions aiming to improve the self-reliance of IDP women and their families through activities such as literacy, credit and loan scheme, HIV/AIDS campaigns etc.

Purpose/objective:
• To increase the level of literacy of 2250 participants (1250 and women 1000 children able to read, write and do simple numeracy)
• Reintegrate 600 children into school
• To increase livelihood coping mechanisms for 1440 low income IDPs through skills training
• To increase the level of awareness of 1500 women on the prevalence and prevention measures for HIV/AIDS.
• To improve environmental reclamation through awareness raising campaigns for 2250 literacy

Methodology:
Various data collection methodologies were used, including review of project documents, focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and observation. Household surveys were conducted based on a sample size of 300 households. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyse the data.

Key findings:
• literacy in the target area increased by 31%, with 77% of female respondents demonstrating a sufficient skills level.
• 774 women and 2167 children successfully completed the literacy/numeracy programme
• 967 of these children reintegrated into school, 340 of these being girls.
• 1659 women received vocational training through the EWC programme, with 137 (8% of participants) employed or having started their own business.
• A positive change concerning HIV/AIDS misconceptions was on average 50% over baseline. 
• 2250 beneficiaries taking part in 33 cleaning campaigns outside Khartoum and planting 2000 seedlings. 
• 71% of respondents are environmentally aware, compared to a target of 60%. 

Recommendations:
• The literacy shelter construction, though cheap, was not sustainable in the Sudanese environment. Better quality construction is needed, which will in turn avoid extra renovation costs.
• Of the nine learning shelters that were visited by the consultant, none of them had any ADRA branding. It is recommended that in the future, branding be made mandatory.
• Beneficiaries should be consulted as to what time of the day is best suited for carrying out training/education activities.
• Learning shelters should be child friendly and include toilets. This was not the case in the program.

Comments from the organisation, if any:
• The ADRA Norway new programme has a core component on creating child-friendly learning environments based on UNICEF standards. Separate toilets for girls and boys is a basic part of this approach.
• ADRA Norway is currently working on a branding policy, which we will share with our implementing partners.
• ADRA will consider the possibility of having evening literacy/vocational training as there is a lot of demand for these activities, some need to undertake important activities during the day.