Final Evaluation Report of Sinana Female Genital Mutilation Elimination Project (SFGMEP), 2013

Background:
The Sinana Female Genital Mutilation Elimination Project (SFGMEP) has been in operation since 2004 and implemented by Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus Development and Social Services Commission (EECMY-DASSC). The project is financed by Norwegian Lutheran Mission. The project is in a process to enter its 3rd phase which most probably will be 2014-2017. The evaluation covered a bridging period which is January to December 2013. The project target area covers four PAs of Sinana District of Bale Zone (Shalo, Selka, Hasabarera and Basaso). Based on the success stories, needs and demand from local communities and authorities, the terminal evaluation team recommended that the project should continue in the neighboring PAs in order to bring lasting impact widely.

Purpose/objective:
The Final evaluation is mainly intended to assess the performance against the agreed plan and other procedural and technical issues of the project and provide the outcome of the evaluation to the relevant stakeholders -government and the implementing agency EECMY-DASSC and NLM for better performance and enhance learning. 
Generally, the objectives are summarized as follows:
 To see progress towards realization of project goal and objective;
 To assess the project specific achievement against plan,
 To assess utilization of the project resources in the course of the project implementation,
 To examine the direct and indirect impact of the project pertaining to the natural environment and the community needs.

Methodology:
the following methods:
 Discussion with the project management and staffs at the project office  in Robe Town.
 Reviewed the project document as well as periodical reports of the project,
 Discussion with the project beneficiaries, community members, Kebele administrators, religious leaders, community organization leaders, students, anti-FGM club members, teachers, circumcisers and teachers. Key informant interview, focus group discussion and meetings were made to discuss with these groups of people and
 Discussion was made with the concerned zone and district line department representatives.

Key findings:
EECMY/DASSC and Norwegian Lutheran Mission have used innovative project approach in implementing activities of SFGMEP to stop Harmful Traditional Practices in the targeted KAs. Especially involving Muslim and Christian religious leaders in project implementation helped a lot in behavior change of the community in stopping FGM.
 
Moreover establishment and strengthening of anti-Female Genital Mutilations Committee and clubs in the target kebeles and school respectively made the implementer in realizing the planned objectives and activities. The overall intervention was found promising to eliminate harmful traditional practices and to follow up practitioners not to circumcise daughters.

Recommendations:
The effort made by the project with regard to eliminating harmful traditional practices, especially FGM was very encouraging. But members of the Kebele Administrations are very worried because the neighborhood community’s (non-target community) behavior was not changed.
 The team observed that there is a big behavioral change that makes the community to stand against FGM.
 Experience of religious leaders should be scaled up; the experience of teaching against FGM using holy Koran and Bible should be replicated without waiting for the project both within and out of the target KAs.
 The project should have the basic understanding of Regional NGO’s guideline. For instance, the quarterly report was not in line with Regional NGO’s guideline.
 Generally during our observation there is a big behavioral change that makes the community to increase the awareness in FGM.
 The project does not have project steering committee to regularly meet and discuss on the achievements, problems and challenges facing the project and take corrective action.
 The project has gotten very good experience and this should be documented.
 The project should continue to create favorable attitude for sustainability of the observed impacts as there are some un-conducive attitude observed.
 The project should install monitoring system in place to assess the impacts of the project
 People from non-target KAs or woredas should be invited to learn from the experiences of the target KAs.

Comments from the organisation, if any:
The Sinana FGM project has completed its bridging period between 2nd and 3rd phase until the end of 2013. The impact in those four selected PAs was very successful and based on the need expressed by community and religious leaders to reach neighbouring PAs in order to ensure lasting impact, NLM through its partner EECMY/ DASSC in collaboration with District Stakeholders is determined to expand the activity to wider areas to combat FGM. The 3rd phase application 2014-2017 was approved and under appraisal by Ethiopian authorities at regional and federal level. During the month of May, NLM has received feedback from Ethiopian NGO coordination office that international NGOs cannot get involved with financing FGM – as FGM is regarded as rights based work; and it is the responsibility of the government or locally registered NGOs to work with. This issue was not concluded yet at as the partner EECMY/DASSC and NLM are still in dialogue to come to conclusion.