Iraq

End of Project Evaluation: Support for conflict affected people through strengthening of essential primary health care and protection from gender-based violence

Since 2014, when Iraq experienced a sudden escalation in hostilities, the primary health care sector has sustained widespread destruction, looting of health facilities, reduced or inadequate health staff, and lack of supplies, especially in areas that had been severely impacted by the conflict, such as Anbar & Mosul. Sexual, reproductive and maternal health (SRMH), was severely affected, amongst other things, by poor delivery methods, lack of maternity wards, inadequate pre- and postnatal care, and a high prevalence of anaemia amongst pregnant women.

Against the backdrop of this situation, and following increasing returns of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their places of habitual residence in retaken areas, CARE, with funding from German Federal Foreign Office (GFFO) has been implementing the project in Duhok, Anbar & Mosul to improve maternal and child health in return areas. The project implementation period was January 01, 2019 to December 31, 2019.

Purpose of the Evaluation
The purpose of this evaluation was to assess post intervention situation of the targeted area against indicators mentioned in the project document. The findings will help CARE to measure the impact of project. The findings will be used to compare the baseline situation with the end-line situation to assess the changes in knowledge, attitudes and practices, of the targeted population and impact of the interventions.

The evaluation identified, and documented lessons learnt and made recommendations for CARE-Iraq and project partners to improve future project implementation as well as strengthen the design of future related projects.

Objectives of the Evaluation
The evaluation was expected to:
1. Assess the relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, impact and sustainability of the project;
2. Generate lessons that will inform SRMH programming in Iraq and in the broader context of GFFO.

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Final Evaluation Report: ENSURING ACCESS TO DRINKING WATER, CLEAN ENVIRONMENT AND GOOD HYGIENE IN WEST MOSUL, IRAQ

With the objective of providing vulnerable women, men, boys and girls in conflict-affected, underserved and epidemic-prone communities and improving civic participation of local residents, CARE’s interventions targeted highly prioritized areas of West Mosul in need of installation and rehabilitation of water supply systems through close collaboration with the Directorate of Water (DoW) as the local authorities are currently overwhelmed by the scale of needs to enable affected populations to return home.

With this project, CARE addressed three critical gaps in water rehabilitation systems and services in West Mosul by:
• the rehabilitation of water supply system,
• solid waste management, and
• community engagement through establishing hygiene volunteers and water committees.

The endline evaluation seeks to analyze the endline values for key WASH indicators as stated in the project documents in the targeted areas and to assess, impact and effectiveness of programming to successfully track accomplishments of the WASH project, relevance and sustainability of the project after the implementation through the usage of quantitative and qualitative data. The evaluation also looked into areas of success as well as challenges faced implementing activities in Al-Matahin and Al-Islah neighborhoods of West Mosul.

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WASH support to IDPs & host communities in Dohuk & Ninewa

CARE, REACH and Harikar solicited support from GAC to support their WASH intervention in four IDP camps (Chamishko, Essyan, Mamrashan and Sheikhan) and in host community collectives (Ardawan, Ba’adre, Kalakchi, Mahate and Ayas) in Dohuk and Ninewa from January 2017 to December 2019. The project also had an emergency response component in November 2017 in three neighbourhoods of West Mosul (Al-Mansour, Al-Jawsaq and Wadi Al-Hajar). The purpose of the final evaluation is to assess the post intervention situation in the targeted areas against baseline indicators. Furthermore, the study looked at the effectiveness and efficiency of the intervention to reach the expected outcomes. The study also considered criteria such as coverage and appropriateness to evaluate the quality of the intervention. Finally, the evaluation looked at some of the impacts of the intervention.
The final evaluation concludes that CARE, REACH and Harikar reached most of the expected targets during the project implementation. The evaluation team is confident that with the intervention of CARE, REACH and Harikar men, women, boys and girls have improved access to safe water supply (Outcome 100) and to safe sanitation facilities (Outcome 200) in the IDPs camps and also to some extent in the host communities. The evaluation team can also report that IDPs have had improved access to hygiene supplies in 2017 and 2018 thanks to the hygiene voucher system set up by CARE, REACH and Harikar (Outcome 300). Men, women, boys and girls also have improved access to information about hygiene as well as gender and protection both in the IDP camps and host communities (Outcome 300 and 500). The evaluation team collected mixed results however concerning the increased capacity of community actors, local NGOs & local authorities to provide timely WASH assistance to vulnerable IDPs and host communities that meet the differing needs of women & girls (Outcome 400). Due to the volatility of the context and the limited financial capacities of local authorities, the intervention failed to identify a strong exit strategy where local authorities would take over the services provided by CARE, Harikar and REACH with the support of GAC. Read More...

Baseline Survey Report for a WASH project in West Mosul

This is a baseline survey report for the "Improving Sanitation, Hygiene, Renovation of Sewage System" project, funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic.
There are two priority issues to be addressed by this project: a) significant health risks posed by accumulation of solid waste in key arteries of West Mosul (Cree stream), precluding the effective flow of gray water towards the river as well as damaged pipes which serve to remove black water from residential areas (Al-Thawra neighborhood), and b) limited civic engagement and ownership of residential environment, resulting in poor communal hygiene practices and a high burden on local authorities, which are operating under severely reduced capacity to address needs.
A base-line survey was conducted to identify the current water, hygiene and sanitation conditions in the neighborhood, beneficiaries’ specific needs (disaggregated by men, women, boys and girls) and overall awareness towards water, hygiene and sanitation measures. In order to measure the impact of this projects base line data will be evaluated against end line data collected after project closure. Read More...

Endline evaluation of WASH project in West Mosul, Iraq

This is an endline evaluation for the "Improving Sanitation, Hygiene, Renovation of Sewage Systems" project, funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic.
This project addressed critical needs for sanitation services in West Mosul, as a direct contribution to enable the affected populations to return home. The project aimed to repair two vital sanitation resources/infrastructure in West Mosul and to support the municipal authorities to build their capacity to eventually recover their costs, once the situation allows. Finally, the project intended to mobilize local communities towards greater ownership for their local environment, to avoid the recurrence of such sanitation risks and maintain a cleaner, more habitable environment. In addition to mitigate a number of health risks related to poor sanitation in urban areas, CARE’s engagement aimed to promote social cohesion and community participation among vulnerable populations affected by the conflict.
The End-line project Evaluation is intended to assess the relevance, performance, management arrangements and success of the project. It looks at signs of potential impact of project activities on men,
women, girls and boys identified as vulnerable and the sustainability of results, including the contribution to capacity development. The Evaluation also identifies, and documents lessons learnt and makes recommendations that project staff and the stakeholders might use to improve the design and implementation of other related projects and programs. Read More...

WASH Support to IDPs & host communities in Duhlok and Ninawa, Iraq (2017-2019)

CARE’s GAC funded WASH project started in January 2017 providing critical water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services to improve overall WASH services for women, men, boys and girls and reduce tensions between the host community and IDPs in the areas of 4 IDP camps (Mamrashan, Essyan, Sheikhan, and Chamishko), and host community collectives (Ardawan, Ba’adre, Kalakchi, Mahate and Ayas) of Duhok Governorate. The project also had an emergency response component in November 2017 in three neighbourhoods of West Mosul (Al-Mansour, Al-Jawsaq and Wadi Al-Hajar). The project is implemented through two local partners Harikar and REACH. Working through partners is a key modality of CARE’s country strategy to strengthen the capacity of local NGOs. This approach has had a significant impact in achieving the GAC aim of supporting vulnerable and conflict-affected people living in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The ongoing WASH intervention aims to provide 55,572 (27,318 women & 28,434 men)2 IDPs and members of host communities with access to water supply, safe sanitary facilities and increased awareness on safe hygiene practices in a dignified, gender-sensitive and culturally appropriate manner.
The midterm project evaluation aims to assess the relevance, performance, and progress on targets within the project. It looks at signs of potential impact of project activities on men, women, girls and boys identified as vulnerable and the sustainability of results, including the contribution to capacity development. The evaluation also identifies, and documents lessons learnt and makes recommendations for CARE Iraq and project partners to improve the implementation of the final year of the GAC project as well and strengthen the design of future related projects. Read More...

Strengthening WASH basic infrastructure, resilience and livelihoods in return areas in Ninawa, Iraq

This baseline report was prepared as part of the multi-sectoral project in Sinjar and Telafar districts, Ninawa governorate. The project is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development, BMZ. CARE International in Iraq, in partnership with two local NGOs, namely Harikar and HOPE are planning to implement the project in two districts in Ninawa governorate, Telafar and Sinjar. It is intended to implement activities in three geographic locations within the two selected districts, Telafar city and Zummar town in Telafar district and Sinjar area in Sinjar district. Zummar’s population is about 118,000 individuals (19,000 families). Approx. 80% (around 15,000 families) of the population have now returned to Zummar. Telafar’s population is about 200,000 individuals (40,000 families). Around 25% of the total displaced population has returned according to local Telafar authorities. Sinjar city hosts a population of about 24,000 individuals (4,000 families) .
Field work was conducted in early January 2019. The aim of the multi-sectorial baseline assessment was to collect information on the current situation in the areas of Water Supply, Hygiene and Sanitation Practices, House, Land and Property (HLP), Livelihood and Governance in the target areas.
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LIVELIHOOD RAPID MARKET ASSESSMENT REPORT Ninawa Governorate

Gender-balanced implementation structures (including vetting committees comprised of local leaders, community representatives and local partner institutions) will be established and they will determine the criterion for identification of vulnerable vocational trainees. CARE will advertise the program in strategic locations, inviting beneficiaries to apply. Vocational training beneficiaries (including those carrying out agricultural production) will be identified through inclusive processes that rank applicants according to a vulnerability criterion. Selected beneficiaries are then provided vocational training, start-up kits and apprenticeships, based on the conducted market assessment.
Supporting micro-business enterprises: Applicants for business trainings will be shortlisted and identified by committees made up of community leaders/local partners, in a similar process to the selection of vocational trainees. Training materials will be developed and finalized. Beneficiaries will be trained in running a small business and gender and gender-based-violence awareness. Trainees that successfully complete the program will be supported in designing and applying for microbusiness pre-financing, which a gender inclusive committee will award to awardees.
Providing cash for work (CFW) on public works projects: CFW projects will be conducted over three-month periods, engaging 300 workers in each of the two project sites of Rabia and Zummar. The CFW projects will be described to and prioritized with relevant stakeholders there, which include local community leaders, community and religious leaders and lowest government administrative structures involved in selecting CFW public works projects and understand community needs.
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Livelihood Rapid Market Assessment report Sinjar district

CARE proposes an eighteen-month project to restore livelihoods by building technical capacity in agriculture and vocational skills and linkages for individuals; supporting microenterprises; and providing cash for work on public works projects.
The objective of the project is to strengthen durable solutions by reducing the vulnerability of internally displaced persons, returnees and host populations through improved access to sustainable livelihoods.
This project will expand CARE’s resilience support for an economic empowerment of the most vulnerable internally displaced persons, returnees and host communities of Sinjar Mountain and Sinjar Town, through technical capacity in agriculture, vocational training, business trainings backed by micro grants and job placement. The Trainings and grants will be determined by the findings of this assessment, which reflects the local market needs.
- The primary objectives of the Rapid Market Assessment are to understand the impact of the protracted crisis on markets, specifically infrastructure, security and supply, the price and availability of key goods and the ability of traders to respond to an increase in demand.
- To obtain a realistic picture of the impact/effects of the crisis on the agriculture sector, including livestock rearing, fishery/ aquaculture and irrigation.
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Sexual Reproductive and Maternal Health (SRMH) Baseline Assessment Report Primary health care project in Sinjar

CARE is implementing a Sexual, Reproductive and Maternal Health (SRMH) Project in three locations in Ninawa Governorate (Zummar, Sinjar and Rabia), which involves providing a full package of SRMH services through existing hospitals and/or PHCs in close coordination with Ninawa Directorate of Health and in partnership with a local partner, Harikar. 230 Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities have been destroyed across the country and there is a heavy burden on PHCs with consultations increasing eight-fold . The consortium will provide a physiological response to returnees’ needs through the rehabilitation of two accessible PHC centres by CARE to support pregnant and lactating mothers, sexual and reproductive health, management of childhood illnesses and other infections. This will include the training of 40 community health volunteers that will identify and refer cases to the PHCs, including gender-based-violence (GBV) survivors and at-risk children to the closest GBV services and provide essential information at the household level about nutrition, WASH, and disability awareness and referral information. The two PHCs that have been selected in Sinjar are AL Shahada PHC and AL Nasser PHC. Read More...

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