Women Empowerment for Climate Resilience (WECR) in Laos

The CARE International in Laos’ project entitled: “Women Empowerment for Climate Resilience” (WECR) aims to enhance the capacity of women, particularly in ethnic minorities, to become more resilient to climate change. The project plan defines three pathways to empowerment; increased locally led adaption, increased food and nutrition security, and defining a village-level action plan to increase women’s participation in improving climate resiliency at the local level.

Project Background:
The project takes place in 20 ethnic minority, rural agricultural communities of Khoua, Samphan and Mia Districts in the province of Phongsaly and involved 1,800 ethnic minority women, 1,400 children and their families. Most of the target populations’ livelihoods primarily depend on upland agriculture of cash crops, livestock, and non-timber forest products (NTFPs) for export. Many villages have limited or no access to basic services such as electricity, running water, phone service, healthcare, and education.

The purpose of the evaluation is to determine the system changes achieved by WERC. The evaluation aims to assess the project’s effect and potential effect on the lives of the target population.
Evaluation questions:
• What impact did the WERC activities have on system level pathways to improve livelihoods?
Systems and structural effects:
• What system changes in social norms pathways were successful in improving livelihood?
• What system changes through social accountability pathways were successful?
Impact:
• What level of impact has been achieved in the empowerment of women in decision-making of improving their livelihoods through climate resilience?