Special Evaluation/Report

Variations in Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) Practices: An Assessment of Dynamics and Impacts in Zomba and Mangochi Districts – Titukulane Project

This assessment investigates variations in the practices of Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) in Zomba and Mangochi districts. While the VSLA model has been transformative in promoting financial inclusion and community empowerment in rural areas, there have been noticeable deviations from the CARE VSL methodology, commonly referred to as the standard methodology. With Titukulane's support for these VSLAs, it becomes imperative to comprehend the reasons and implications behind these changes.

The rapid assessment was instrumental in understanding the VSLA practices across selected districts. Qualitative data on the VSLA methodology variations were randomly drawn from 8 out of the 19 Traditional Authorities (TAs) where Titukulane is implementing interventions. Within this sample, the assessment encompassed diverse voices from VSLA members, Community Development Agents, Village Agents, and Titukulane staff. The research utilized a rapid assessment approach to gain a comprehensive overview of the VSLA practices in Zomba and Mangochi in a time-efficient manner. This methodology was chosen for its ability to capture immediate, relevant insights without necessitating the extended time frame typical of more intensive research methods. The rapid assessment prioritized direct interactions with participants, ensuring their experiences and perspectives were central to the data collected. This direct engagement proved invaluable, especially when exploring sensitive topics related to financial practices and internal group dynamics. Through this approach, the assessment aimed to offer a nuanced understanding of current VSLA practices and the motivations underpinning their variations. In the context of this study, variations refer to the distinct differences in approaches, outcomes, or practices observed among the groups, while deviations denote departures from the expected or standard methods prescribed by Titukulane, potentially indicating unique adaptations or challenges faced by certain groups.
Key Findings: VSLAs in both districts have adopted varied practices. Some VSLAs, for example, emphasize equal shares for every member, while others note disparities in contributions. Lending strategies, such as offering loans to non-members, also emerged, aiming to bolster financial inclusivity. However, such innovative strategies sometimes come with their own set of challenges, like difficulties in accurate record-keeping or financial strains from settling older debts using newer contributions. External influences, cultural beliefs, and regional dynamics also play key roles in these variations. Below is a complete list of the variations and deviations noted in the two districts:

• Shares and Savings: While some VSLAs continue to advocate for standardized shares per member to ensure equality, others experience disparities due to inconsistent contributions. For instance, in some groups members are allowed to purchase more than 5 shares at a time, with some purchasing up to 100 shares.
• Loan Practices: Innovative loan practices, including lending to non-members, aim to enhance financial inclusivity.
• Documentation and Record-Keeping: Challenges in maintaining accurate records are pervasive, with different approaches to record-keeping observed.
• Emergence of Digital Financing Platforms replacing cashboxes: In younger VSLA demographics, there's a rising adoption of digital financing platforms, such as Airtel Money and TNM Mpamba. However, this shift poses challenges for older members, who are less familiar with digital technologies.
• Religious and Cultural Adjustments: Deep-seated religious beliefs influence some VSLAs to refrain from charging interest.
• Influence of External Entities: VSLAs display adaptability and responsiveness to external influences, including NGOs and community initiatives.
• Group Dynamics: Many VSLAs have larger membership counts than recommended, possibly reflecting community resource pooling. Read More...

Community-led Resource Mobilization & Early Warning Systems Process Assessment: Titukulane Project

This report examines the motivation and willingness of Village Civil Protection Committees (VCPCs) and communities to mobilize resources at community level for Disaster Risk Management (DRM). To do this, a participatory action research (PAR) approach was utilized, facilitated by SWOT analyses, in combination with focus group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews (KIIs). The findings revealed that communities had prepositioned resources to prepare for disaster response as part of risk reduction. Participants identified their ability to mobilize themselves as a community; to mobilize funds and food; well trained and knowledgeable structures, good agricultural practices, and good governance as major strengths. Opportunities for resource mobilization included enterprise, piece work (ganyu), irrigation farming, access to safety net programs, and youth participation. Weaknesses included the disorganization of some community structures, lack of support or political will from community leaders and the government, lack of accountability from VCPC members, and reluctance to adopt improved agricultural practices. Community-based early warning systems, although available, are insufficient to provide effective risk reduction for natural disasters. There is a lack of documentation concerning indigenous early warning systems, which impedes the development of effective and contextual strategies for risk reduction. The recommendations include increasing awareness among traditional leaders, defining resource mobilization structures, documenting guidelines and transactions for transparency, investing in early warning infrastructure and capacity building, documenting indigenous early warning signs, and intensifying watershed restoration and conservation to increase disaster preparedness. Read More...

BEYOND THE LINE: Connecting Trust in Ho Chi Minh City

In the heart of District 12, Ho Chi Minh City, a remarkable journey has unfolded over the past year, of a group named Connecting Trust, consisting of women garment workers at Nobland factory. Through this process, workers came together, identified issues, collected data from their peers, analyzed it, and developed initiatives to address the challenges they were facing. This project is a testament to the power of collective action, hence, the name of the worker’s group – Connecting Trust. Milestones were achieved, including a groundbreaking dialogue with factory managers where workers courageously presented their findings and proposed solutions. Furthermore, the Family Day event, organized by the workers themselves, celebrated the bond between workers and their children, promoting not just well-being but also creating lasting memories of unity and togetherness.

It is a journey that resonates with strength, leadership, confidence, and collective voice, a testament to the transformative power of unity and empowerment. These women have embarked on a path to improve their well-being and, in doing so, have inspired us all. Their journey began in October 2022, and concludes in October 2023, but its impact will be everlasting.

The project, developed and managed by CARE International in Vietnam, funded by Lululemon and executed by the Centre for Community Empowerment (CECEM), at its core, is about amplifying the voices and building leadership of female factory workers. It is about nurturing their strength, to become stronger, more capable, and equipped to embark on new endeavors. It is about fostering leadership and collective action, motivating them to lead their own initiatives to bring about positive changes. It is about instilling confidence, enabling them to engage in dialogue with factory managers, and advocate for their rights and needs.

The stories within this photobook are about courage, resilience, and hope, told by the women workers. Each photograph tells a story of growth and empowerment, of women behind the “Made in Vietnam” clothes tag, who once were unheard; yet, are now leading the change they wish to see. This photo book serves as a tribute to their unwavering strength, their journey from vulnerability to empowerment, and their newfound capabilities to embrace change.

With profound appreciation, we acknowledge the pivotal role played by Nobland factory, where this remarkable transformation happened, and their continuous collaboration throughout the project implementation. We also extend heartfelt gratitude to Lululemon, the project donor, whose vision intensively focuses on creating a meaningful impact on worker’s well-being and support with essential resources for this long-term intervention. Lastly, to the women workers who have trusted this process and chosen to join with CARE and CECEM, your story is evidence of the extraordinary potential within us all, and together, we can create a brighter and more equitable future.

As we peruse through these pages, we invite you to witness this exceptional journey. Let it serve as a beacon of inspiration, reminding all of us that when voices unite, when leadership flourishes, when confidence soars, and when connections are strengthened, transformation is not just possible — it’s inevitable.
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Alimentación no tiene límites: Mejorando la seguridad alimentaria de los hogares venezolanos en Perú: Reporte encuestas de satisfacción

Objetivo general:
Conocer el nivel de satisfacción de los participantes del servicio del componente Cash Transfer y sesiones de nutrición en las regiones de Lima, Tumbes, La Libertad y Piura.

Objetivos específicos:
• Recoger la percepción de los participantes del componente Cash Transfer y nutrición respecto al servicio de las transferencias en efectivo y sesiones educativas de nutrición en La Libertad, Tumbes, Piura y Lima.
• Recopilar información sobre la atención brindada durante la entrega de tarjetas y seguimiento realizado por el personal de World Vision y Care en La Libertad, Tumbes, Piura y Lima.

La aplicación de encuestas de satisfacción se realizan en periodos bimensuales. La presente encuesta se aplicó en junio a un total de 432 participantes que fueron registrados en el mes de abril y mayo. El 36.34% (157) de las encuestas fueron aplicadas por llamada telefónica y el 63.66% (275) fueron aplicadas de manera presencial en Lima, Tumbes, La Libertad y Piura a participantes registrados por World Vision y Care Perú. Las encuestas presenciales se aplicaron durante el segundo momento o tercer momento de sesiones educativas de nutrición y las encuestas aplicadas mediante llamada telefónica se dirigieron a participantes que han recibido su tarjeta y que han asistido a su segundo y tercer momento de entrega.

Se contó con encuestadores en las regiones de Piura, La Libertad, Tumbes y Lima, quienes coordinaron con el equipo MEAL y los facilitadores en cada región para la aplicación según el protocolo designado. Read More...

Final Review of the Project ‘Empowering Communities to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls in Mannar’

This report presents the findings of the final review of the project ‘Empowering Communities to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls’ (VAWG) implemented by UN Women, UNICEF, and UNFPA in Mannar, Sri Lanka (From September 2020 to February 2023). This project used a combination of social norms and behavioural change, and livelihoods-strengthening interventions to prevent and respond to VAWG. The review objectives were:

1. To assess the extent to which the programme has achieved its output-level results.
2. To examine the relevance and effectiveness of the project’s implementation strategy and
efforts in jointly implementing the programme.
3. To identify good practices, lessons learnt and recommendations from the programme, and how the programme has met the expectations of project teams and the beneficiaries.

Evaluation Questions
This review intended to answer the following overarching evaluation questions:
1. Relevance: To what extent has the project addressed the needs identified in its design?
2. Effectiveness To what extent has the project implemented its outputs to target beneficiaries?
3. Efficiency: How efficiently was the project implemented and delivered quality outputs against
what was planned (including official amendments)?
4. Sustainability: How likely would the project's benefits continue after donor funding has been
withdrawn?
5. Human Rights-based and Gender-responsive Approach: To what extent has the project
applied a human rights-based and gender-responsive approach and identified and engaged the most marginalised groups?

Review Methodology
This review adopted qualitative and quantitative research approaches. It used a quantitative survey which interviewed 30 beneficiaries randomly selected from all divisional secretariat (DS) divisions where the project was implemented. This involved using a structured survey questionnaire based on the evaluation questions and sub-questions. The qualitative research component used a case study method where the ‘whole of project system’ in a selected divisional secretariat (Mannar Town DS division) was examined to provide an in-depth picture of the intervention. A total of 186 UN Agency staff, government stakeholders, implementation partners, and beneficiaries (purposely selected based on their demographic features, roles, and types of involvement) were interviewed through semi-structured Focus Group Discussions and in-depth interviews. It also involved a comprehensive review of programme documents. Read More...

Evaluation finale du projet: Résilience et Cohésion Sociale des communautés transfrontalières du Liptako – Gourma (Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger)

Le projet « Résilience et Cohésion Sociale des communautés transfrontalières du Liptako-Gourma (RECOLG) au Burkina Faso, Mali et Niger », a pour objectif global « Améliorer les conditions de vie, la résilience à l’insécurité alimentaire et nutritionnelle et face aux conflits et la cohésion sociale des populations vulnérables dans 13 communes de Liptako-Gourma dont 5 au Burkina Faso, 3 au Mali et 5 au Niger. Sa mise en œuvre est assurée par un consortium composé de huit organisations nationales et internationales dont Save the Children (lead), CARE, DRC, CRUS, AREN, RBM, Tassaght et Karkara, pour une durée de 48 mois et couvre la période décembre 2019 à décembre 2023.

En fin de mise en œuvre, le dispositif de suivi-évaluation-apprentissage du projet a prévu une évaluation finale (endline), axée sur le suivi des indicateurs basée sur le cadre de mesure de performance du projet sur les quatre années d’intervention du projet afin de générer des évidences permettant de comprendre dans quelle mesure les stratégies, approches et actions mises en œuvre ont contribué ou pas à l’obtention des effets attendus et inattendus à la lumière des éléments de contexte de la zone d’intervention des trois pays.

Pour mener à bien cette évaluation finale (endline), le cabinet Ingénierie Internationale en Décentralisation et Développement local (2ID) a adopté une démarche méthodologique participative en quatre phases : (i) la phase préparatoire qui a consisté d’abord à l’élaboration du rapport de démarrage (échantillonnage, outils de collecte de données et chronogramme), ensuite à la prise en compte des feedbacks et la validation du rapport de démarrage à travers des échanges par mail. En fin une réunion de cadrage de la mission s’est tenue le 25 octobre 2023 en présentiel dans les locaux de 2ID pour repréciser les attentes du commanditaire et prendre en compte les besoins du cabinet notamment la documentation et l’établissement d’une lettre d’accréditation pour l’équipe de collecte de données sur le terrain ; (ii) la phase de collecte de données sur le terrain, faite de quatre (4) principales étapes : la mobilisation des ressources humaines, la formation des enquêteurs, la collecte des données et la supervision de la collecte des données ; (iii) la phase de traitement et analyse des données collectées et (iv) la phase de rapportage et restitution.
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Informe Final RISE Guatemala

El programa digital de RISE, se centra en contribuir a eliminar las barreras que generan desigualdades de género, promover el empoderamiento y el acceso a la información, formación, principalmente de las mujeres trabajadoras del sector textil/maquilas, así mismo el ejercicio de sus derechos laborales en el lugar de trabajo, el programa aporta en reforzar los conocimientos los trabajadores/as frente a diversas crisis, facilitando el conocimiento, acceso y uso de herramientas digitales.

El desarrollo de la experiencia fue en el marco de la colaboración entre RISE, Nordstrom, Ralph Lauren y Target, como un programa piloto en CA, particularmente en la industria de confección en Guatemala. La implementación de dicha experiencia fue aplicada en las industrias de confección; Daontex S.A, Plaza Trading, Shinwon, por un periodo de sies meses, utilizando la metodología de formador de formadores.

El principal objetivo del proyecto es fortalecer las habilidades y capacidades sobre salud, finanzas, género y derechos laborales de las y los trabajadores de tres industrias de confección (Daontex S.A, Plaza Trading, Shinwon), con énfasis en mujeres trabajadoras. Para lograr estos objetivos del Proyecto, se utilizó la siguiente estrategia:

- Contextualización de los contenidos de los módulos de RISE
- Elaboración y grabación de spots informativos sobre los módulos de RISE.
- Evaluación de Necesidades de las tres maquilas sujetas del proyecto
- Línea de Base inicial y final.
- Proceso de formación mediante la metodología de Formador de Formadores.
- Fortalecimiento de capacidades a 300 trabajadoras/trabajadores y 30 gerentes.
- Capacitaciones de actualización y seguimiento al proceso de formador a formadores
- Planes de seguimiento/sostenibilidad generada por las maquilas
- Reflexión y cierre del proceso en cada maquila que incluyó la presentación de resultados a Marcas y a nivel de las maquilas. Read More...

Strengthening the Economic Leadership of Rural Indigenous Women in Guatemala (Phase II)

One of CARE Guatemala's main objectives is to achieve women’s personal and economic empowerment, promoting gender equality and strengthening their access to new equitable opportunities for personal and comprehensive development through sustainable production systems, markets and inclusive and equitable public policies, which allow their participation and development as well as their families’.

Within the framework of its Food and Economic Justice for Women and Youth Program, CARE Guatemala implemented the "Strengthening the Economic Leadership of Rural Indigenous Women -Phase II" project, with funds from the Peierls Foundation, executing actions in eleven communities from the municipalities of San Lucas Tolimán and San Andrés Semetabaj, department of Sololá.

CARE Guatemala presents results from the January 1 - December 31 2023 period, in which the scope of this intervention is reported, including comprehensive actions promoting access to differentiated conditions in favor of women victims and survivors of gender-based violence and indigenous women with limited economic resources, considering that out of 161 participants, 83% are women who became aware of gender limitation conditions in their environment and later, based on their new conditions, promoted decision-making in the family and community sphere.

The project was executed combining different approaches allowing to improve living conditions of participants and their families, mainly incorporating training topics and work sessions related to i. Personal empowerment (self-esteem, leadership, autonomous decision-making); ii. Economic empowerment (economic initiatives and income generation); iii. Effective influence to comply with policies and programs in favor of women's rights, all of which contributed to improving the participants’ standard of living. The economic empowerment of women has been the main contributing factor for promoting gender equity and equality, allowing access to opportunities for comprehensive development, sustainable production systems, markets, and inclusive public policies which have promoted their participation and obtaining benefits for their economic development.

To contribute to income generation and for women’s economic autonomy, actions were carried out to establish productive units and/or value chains, which strengthened their operations, working logistics, learning digital marketing, the services they promote as a business and strengthening their organizational capabilities for economic activities. Actions implemented promoted through the example of participants, led other participating women from the communities to empower themselves personally, demanding the fulfillment of their rights and opportunities, preventing in this manner, gender-based violence in all its aspects. At the same time, the project worked with the Advocacy School application, which strengthened women's voice and leadership, based on virtual mechanisms adapted to the participants' free time. Read More...

The True Cost of COVID-19 Vaccination Campaigns in South Sudan

By November 2023, South Sudan had received 7,076,570 doses and administered 5,101,991 doses of COVID-19 vaccine through various vaccination strategies to curb the detrimental effects of COVID-19. The country has fully vaccinated 5,033,836 individuals across 80 counties of 10 states and 3 administrative areas .
CARE got funding from the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) through Crown Agents (prime recipient of UNICEF). CARE International South Sudan conducted both static and intensified National COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign (NCVC)/Integrated COVID-19 Vaccination and Preventive Therapy (ICVOPT) in 9 counties from 3 states and 2 administrative areas out of 80 counties in South Sudan. CARE implemented the NCVC in Jonglei State (Twic East, Bor South & Duk counties), Western Bahr El Ghazal State (Jur River and Wau counties), Unity State (Rubkona and Mayom counties), Greater Pibor Administrative Area (Pibor County and Boma sub-county), and Ruweng Administrative Area (Pariang county).
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Breaking the Cycle: Food Insecurity, Protection and Armed Conflict in Colombia

Conflict. Hunger. Protection risks. In Colombia, these three phenomena have been interconnected in a reinforcing cycle for decades. Efforts to address each component of this negative cycle are vital, but approaches are often disconnected, leading to short-term or incomplete solutions. As a result, communities struggle against growing odds to build resilience or stability.

Using participatory methods, a research team led by CARE, the World Food Programme (WFP), and InterAction interviewed 16 focus groups in 2 departments of Colombia to learn directly from diverse perspectives what threats, vulnerabilities, capacities, and risksi affected people faced. Though the negative cycle effect was widespread, differences between and within communities meant that often people experienced armed conflict, hunger, and protection risks in vastly different ways, indicating that one-size-fits-all solutions won’t be enough to bring lasting positive change.

Despite the differences in personal and communal experience of risk, two categories of variables emerged that defined how individuals were affected by conflict, hunger, and protection risks: context-specific conflict dynamics and institutionalized discrimination. Read More...

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