Yunnan Left-Behind Children’s Development Project

Background

The Yunnan Left-Behind Children’s Development Project (LBC) was implemented from 2015 to 2019. The project areas were mainly Xishuangbanna and Zhaotong in Yunnan Province. The development goal of the project was “Broken circle of leaving behind children; improved quality of life for left-behind children and reduced number of children left”.

The project mainly used a school-based approach in Zhaotong and a community-based approach in Xishuangbanna. A rights-based approach was used in both areas. The project was implemented in cooperation with the local organizations Women’s Federation and Legal Aid Center. Significant tools were the International Child Development Programme (ICDP) and Ten Life Skills.

Purpose/objective

The main goal for the evaluation was to assess the relevance, impact, sustainability, effectiveness and efficiency of the project. Another aim was to ensure learning for all stakeholders to secure the best possible long-term result of the resources invested in the project and provide recommendations for the local partners as well as for the implementation of a new project.

Methodology

The evaluation used participatory, qualitative research methods, including literature review, focus group discussions, group interviews, individual in-depth interviews, and observation. Digni’s Empowerment Assessment Tool and official ICDP monitoring tools were also used.

Key findings

The project objectives were basically achieved. All partners of the project gave high recognition to the project and have strong sense of accomplishment, participation and ownership. The key stakeholders have been empowered and motivated to make changes.

The two project sites adopted different models of project implementation (school-based vs. community-based), both were effective. The partners’ management teams are stable, therefore experience and knowledge gained can be continuously accumulated and delivered inside the organizations.

The International Child Development Programme (ICDP) has achieved good results and learning about the acceptability and applicability of ICDP in China. The project has catalyzed the implementation and improvement of policies and laws in relation to child protection and development in the project areas. Women-led local entrepreneurship and employment have begun to appear, and the cycle of leaving left-behind children was partially curbed in a small area. With support of the project, a grassroots community organization was established.

This unexpected outcome will have a profound impact to the local communities. The activities of the children’s homes (clubs) have cultivated children's sense of pride, responsibility and achievement being a member of ethnical groups. The children’s homes have become an important base for children to improve their awareness of self-value and ability to participate in social affairs in rural communities.

Recommendations

Develop a 3-5-year strategic plan for the promotion of ICDP. Further cultural adaption of ICDP. Ensure the full understanding of ICDP is not lost in alienating vocabulary.

Further develop the management system for ICDP trainer/facilitator.
ICDO research: ICDP effectiveness and features of caregivers. Further explorations to reach caregivers in rural areas using educational institutions as platforms are needed.

Ensure that all local actors have competence within cross-cutting issues such as project management, gender equality, community mobilization, participatory methods, empowerment, and policy advocacy.

Comments from the organisation

The evaluator presented the findings to local partners in connection with the field study and facilitated a discussion on lessons learned. When the report was ready, Shincon arranged a meeting with the local partners to follow up the findings and discuss the way forward.

A new 5-year project plan 2020-2024 has been developed to strengthen and expand ICDP in China. The recommendations from the evaluation have been considered in the new project.

The evaluation report mirrors Digni/NLM's impression of the project. Some results presented can be misread as contradicting. NLM believes this reflects that significant changes can occur in some aspects of a subject at the same time as other aspects of the same subject have less progress.

The use of ICDP has increased in the Digni portfolio, being applied in many different countries and contexts. This is the first evaluation of the methodology from China, and the report state that ICDP has universal applicability in China and a broad prospect of development.