Inclusive Governance
Learning for Change: Strengthening Women’s Voices in East Africa
Learning for Change (L4C) Strengthening Women’s Voices in East Africa is a 3-year regional programme ending in March 2019. L4C has the aim of promoting the meaningful participation of women in decision-making processes at household, community, local and national levels in Ethiopia, Uganda and Rwanda. The programme is funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA)1, implemented by CARE Austria in cooperation with CARE Country Offices in Ethiopia, Uganda and Rwanda. It includes capacity development, and advocacy relating to the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda in Austria, at European Union level and in the Great Lakes Region. The programme directly contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially on Gender Equality (SDG5) and UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (UNSCR1325). Read More...
FANSER End of Project Evaluation: Knowledge, Attitudes & Practices Survey
This report presents the findings of an evaluation of the Food and Nutrition Security and Enhanced Resilience (FANSER) project implemented by CARE International in three wards in Katete District of the Eastern province of Zambia. The main objectives of the study were: to describe the nutrition situation among the FANSER target groups in Katete District i.e. assess the IDDS-W, IDDS-C; to assess the nutrition-related behaviours i.e. examine knowledge, attitudes, behaviours and practices related to agriculture, health, nutrition, hygiene and health practices of mothers (15-49 years old) and children (<2 years); and women empowerment; and to document evidence, lessons learned and good practices to inform future nutrition programming. The assessment utilized a mixed methods approach to collect data on project interventions in order to assess the impact of the project.
Using the global Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) platform, CARE International in Zambia with funding from GIZ under the “One World No Hunger” Initiative of the German Government, implemented various nutrition interventions to building capacity of staff and community volunteers to promote the production, preparation and consumption of diverse foods in Katete District particularly in Chimtende, Vulamkoko and Chimwa wards. This came from the realization that rural areas are more prone and vulnerable to malnutrition and deficiency diseases. The main goal of the project was to ensure that the food and nutrition security and dietary diversity of women of reproductive age and children under the age of two, in Katete district is improved. Read More...
Using the global Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) platform, CARE International in Zambia with funding from GIZ under the “One World No Hunger” Initiative of the German Government, implemented various nutrition interventions to building capacity of staff and community volunteers to promote the production, preparation and consumption of diverse foods in Katete District particularly in Chimtende, Vulamkoko and Chimwa wards. This came from the realization that rural areas are more prone and vulnerable to malnutrition and deficiency diseases. The main goal of the project was to ensure that the food and nutrition security and dietary diversity of women of reproductive age and children under the age of two, in Katete district is improved. Read More...
Final Evaluation of the Strengthening Policy and Action through Citizen’s Engagement
Chrysalis is a Company Limited by Guarantee and an affiliate of CARE International in Sri Lanka. The organisation works with local communities, private sector, government, and local and international civil society organisations (CSOs) to promote gender equality, promote the voice of women and youth and ensure economic empowerment. Chrysalis implemented the SPACE (Strengthening Policy and Action through Citizen’s Engagement) project to promote meaningful community governance by engaging citizens in activities of local government institutions. The SPACE project was funded by OAK Foundation and implemented by Chrysalis with the support of CARE USA. The project was implemented in Central, Uva, Northern and Eastern Provinces covering 5 Districts: 1) Kandy, 2) Nuwara Eliya, 3) Badulla,
4) Batticaloa and 5) Mullaitivu.
The objectives of the project were to 1) Facilitate and replicate a community governance model; 2) Enhance the capacities of local government officials; 3) Develop standard operating procedures manuals and technical resources; and 4) Facilitate the development of a local government policy framework for Sri Lanka. The project area is home to several marginalized groups including plantation communities (Central and Uva Provinces) and those affected by the war (Northern and Eastern Provinces). Read More...
4) Batticaloa and 5) Mullaitivu.
The objectives of the project were to 1) Facilitate and replicate a community governance model; 2) Enhance the capacities of local government officials; 3) Develop standard operating procedures manuals and technical resources; and 4) Facilitate the development of a local government policy framework for Sri Lanka. The project area is home to several marginalized groups including plantation communities (Central and Uva Provinces) and those affected by the war (Northern and Eastern Provinces). Read More...
Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Project Rwanda (GEWEP II)
The present report summarizes the findings of the end line study conducted to measure the progress of key project outcome indicators against the baseline values of Gender Equality and Women Empowerment Programme (GEWEP) II and the status and progress in women’s empowerment in the GEWEP II project zone of influence.
GEWEP II is a four years (2016-2019) project funded by NORAD through CARE Norway and implemented by a consortium of three Local Non-Government Organization (LNGOs) namely Association Rwandaise des Travailleurs Chrétiens Féminins (ARTCF), Rwanda Men’s Resource Centre (RWAMREC), Pro-Femmes Twese Hamwe and CARE International in Rwanda as a lead partner. GEWEP II builds on GEWEP I (2014-2015) and on Women’s Empowerment Programme (2009-2013) and has the main purpose of empowering women and girls facing poverty, inequality, violence and social exclusion to claim and realize their human rights. GEWEP II has four crosscutting thematic focus areas: (i) Strengthening of civil society, (ii) women’s economic empowerment and entrepreneurship, (iii) women’s participation in decision-making processes and (iv) men’s engagement in transforming gender norms. Connected to these four areas, CARE has developed global outcome indicators. Read More...
GEWEP II is a four years (2016-2019) project funded by NORAD through CARE Norway and implemented by a consortium of three Local Non-Government Organization (LNGOs) namely Association Rwandaise des Travailleurs Chrétiens Féminins (ARTCF), Rwanda Men’s Resource Centre (RWAMREC), Pro-Femmes Twese Hamwe and CARE International in Rwanda as a lead partner. GEWEP II builds on GEWEP I (2014-2015) and on Women’s Empowerment Programme (2009-2013) and has the main purpose of empowering women and girls facing poverty, inequality, violence and social exclusion to claim and realize their human rights. GEWEP II has four crosscutting thematic focus areas: (i) Strengthening of civil society, (ii) women’s economic empowerment and entrepreneurship, (iii) women’s participation in decision-making processes and (iv) men’s engagement in transforming gender norms. Connected to these four areas, CARE has developed global outcome indicators. Read More...
COMMUNICATION FOR EDUCATION AND IMPROVED SCHOOL GOVERNANCE
The present report describes an internal assessment of the impact of the Communication for Education Project (C4E) implemented by CARE in Ratanak Kiri and Mondulkiri Provinces. Under the project, a communication for development campaign was designed by CARE, in collaboration with UNICEF, MoEYS/PED and local government counterparts, to promote better awareness and positive attitudinal changes toward values of education to increase community demand for good quality education among parents, caregivers and community members. The campaign also sought to strengthen perceptions of stakeholders’ role in supporting inclusive learning environments for all children at school. The communication channels used by the campaign included sound recordings (e.g., radio, public announcements, etc.), posters, social media, and other forms of communication. In technical terms, the project focuses on the role of what are known as District-based Training and Monitoring Teams (DTMT1) and School Support Committees (SSCs) and their mandate to promote strengthened demand for inclusive quality education among community members and other stakeholders. Members of the School Support Committees (SSCs) led the campaign to improve attitudes and behaviors as these relate to education. These champions facilitated a Human-Centered Design Approach to the development of the campaign and planned events in remote communities targeted by the project. Read More...
Ghana Social Accountability Mechanism (GSAM) Annual Report Year 4
The fourth year of implementation of the USAID-funded Ghana’s Strengthening Accountability Mechanisms (GSAM) project covered the period October 1, 2017 to September 30, 2018, during which the GSAM Consortium – CARE, OXFAM and ISODEC – continued with its activities in the 50 districts, known as the Social Accountability Districts. These activities were aimed primarily at strengthening the capacity of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and citizens to monitor and assess capital projects of their MMDAs, using scorecards, and to use the information generated to engage with the MMDAs to demand accountability and improved performance in capital project delivery. Read More...
Women’s Empowerment Program (WEP) Midterm Report
In 2009, Norad-funded women empowerment programs (WEPs) started implementation in seven countries: Burundi, Mali, Myanmar, Niger, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda. In 2009 and early 2010, an extensive quantitative baseline study was conducted in these countries around a common set of indicators. The present mid-term review (MTR), which was done using qualitative methodology, analysed in depth the process and nature of changes that the programs are contributing towards. In all the program countries, the country WEP team carried out the review internally with the technical assistance of an external consultant and CARE Norway (CN).
With slight variations, the overall objectives of the country WEPs focused on the economic, social, and political empowerment of women. The village savings and loan association (VSLA) methodology was common for all the programs; and these groups create the platform for working on other aspects of the program besides economic empowerment. The initial changes that the programs produce are seen in terms of increased access to savings and loans, employment opportunities, and asset ownership. The ability of the women to earn income, generate their own savings and make financial contributions in the household (HH) has greatly improved their self-esteem, thereby giving them better leverage to involve in and influence HH decision making processes. Men were highly appreciative of the income women were able to bring in to the family as a result of being involved in VSLAs. Through their improved position in the household, women reported being able to negotiate the use of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services and the abandonment of different harmful practices. Through the use of couples-based approach and engaging men initiatives, HH relationships are beginning to improve; men in these households are reportedly starting to have a more positive attitude towards women’s empowerment and are themselves even taking part in domestic activities in some contexts. The VSLA approach is enabling women to create strong social networks that are becoming an influential force for social change. As a result of increased knowledge on their human rights and increasing leadership skills, women are beginning to understand how they have to position themselves to realize their strategic interests. The VSLA groups and networks also enable women to mobilise support when they are running for elections; this support has increased number of women being elected into different posts. The contribution of women in VSLAs and in community leadership positions is being increasingly recognised and appreciated by local authority figures, which can be seen when they actively seek the advice of women and VSL groups in relation to different community development initiatives.
Through working in partnership with others, the programs are being implemented in a high quality and timely manner. Engagement with strategic partners has occurred effectively in some countries, and been instrumental in enabling the programs to link grassroots evidence to national level advocacy activities which have achieved concrete results. [52 pages] Read More...
With slight variations, the overall objectives of the country WEPs focused on the economic, social, and political empowerment of women. The village savings and loan association (VSLA) methodology was common for all the programs; and these groups create the platform for working on other aspects of the program besides economic empowerment. The initial changes that the programs produce are seen in terms of increased access to savings and loans, employment opportunities, and asset ownership. The ability of the women to earn income, generate their own savings and make financial contributions in the household (HH) has greatly improved their self-esteem, thereby giving them better leverage to involve in and influence HH decision making processes. Men were highly appreciative of the income women were able to bring in to the family as a result of being involved in VSLAs. Through their improved position in the household, women reported being able to negotiate the use of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services and the abandonment of different harmful practices. Through the use of couples-based approach and engaging men initiatives, HH relationships are beginning to improve; men in these households are reportedly starting to have a more positive attitude towards women’s empowerment and are themselves even taking part in domestic activities in some contexts. The VSLA approach is enabling women to create strong social networks that are becoming an influential force for social change. As a result of increased knowledge on their human rights and increasing leadership skills, women are beginning to understand how they have to position themselves to realize their strategic interests. The VSLA groups and networks also enable women to mobilise support when they are running for elections; this support has increased number of women being elected into different posts. The contribution of women in VSLAs and in community leadership positions is being increasingly recognised and appreciated by local authority figures, which can be seen when they actively seek the advice of women and VSL groups in relation to different community development initiatives.
Through working in partnership with others, the programs are being implemented in a high quality and timely manner. Engagement with strategic partners has occurred effectively in some countries, and been instrumental in enabling the programs to link grassroots evidence to national level advocacy activities which have achieved concrete results. [52 pages] Read More...
Women’s Empowerment Program (WEP) 2009-2013
CARE Norway, collaborating CARE country offices (COs), and partners have from 2009 through 2013 run the “Women Empowerment Programme” (WEP). With funding from NORAD, it has been implemented in Mali, Niger, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Myanmar and DRC (from 2013).
The results presented in this report derive from CARE’s monitoring systems, thematic assessments and research done over the 5 years. This final report is intended to give NORAD an overview of key results within the program’s four thematic focus areas: 1)Women’s Economic Empowerment, 2)Women’s Participation in Decision Making, 3) Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, and 4) Prevention and Mitigation of Gender-based violence. In agreement with NORAD, the end-line evaluation of the WEP is due in May 2015. [55 pages] Read More...
The results presented in this report derive from CARE’s monitoring systems, thematic assessments and research done over the 5 years. This final report is intended to give NORAD an overview of key results within the program’s four thematic focus areas: 1)Women’s Economic Empowerment, 2)Women’s Participation in Decision Making, 3) Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, and 4) Prevention and Mitigation of Gender-based violence. In agreement with NORAD, the end-line evaluation of the WEP is due in May 2015. [55 pages] Read More...
Strengthening Non-State Actors for Peace (SNAP) Final Evaluation
‘Strengthening Non-State Actors for Peace in Kayah State’ (SNAP) project is a 36 months project (Jan/2016 to December/2018), implemented by CARE Myanmar in partnership with the Karenni State Women’s Network (KSWN) across Kayah State. The budget allocation for which is €575,423. Kayah State is one of the smallest by population in the Union, it is conflict-affected and lately has been the site of tension between Civil Society Organisations (CSO) and State Government representatives. Despite its size, Kayah State hosts a relatively high number of INGO and UN agency development and peace support partners working in a range of sectors. The SNAP project’s overall Goal is to enable non-state actors, with a focus on KSWN to support women’s organisations and grass roots members in representing their constituents’ interests in governmental and peace processes. The Objective of the project is to have KSWN able to ‘advocate for the needs of their constituents with decision-makers and provide community education and services through their members’. [59 pages] Read More...
Community-Driven Financial Inclusion for the Most Vulnerable Households
The Tat Lan Programme, funded by the Livelihoods and Food Security Trust Fund (LIFT) in Myanmar was implemented in two phases (2013-15 and 2017-18). The overall goal was to ensure a sustainable increase of food and nutrition security and incomes of participant households in 259 communities in the townships of Myebon, Pauktaw, Kyaukpyu and Minbya in Rakhine State. [24 pages] Read More...