Evaluation Learnings Search

Learning Description

Projects operating in countries encountering rapid reforms require full incountry expertise to provide timely response to needs and priorities. Countries undergoing rapid reforms, particularly in sectors where in-country expertise is scarce or underdeveloped, require versatile sector specialists to provide relevant technical assistance to tackle reform priorities towards achieving better results. While it is understandable that more senior sector experts can be outsourced when needed, having an in-country team with relevant sector expertise is a prerequisite for improved relevance, efficiency and effectiveness to support project interventions.

Learning Description

Decent work is a multidimensional concept encompassing a vast array of issues and challenges that needs to be tackled comprehensively to ensure full protection of rights and opportunities for workers. Depending on a country context and level of development, programs investing in decent work enhancement may take a staggered approach, dealing with fundamentals first and then further developing other relevant areas while securing more buy-in. However, excessive focus on a specific set of issues within the wider framework of decent work programs (e.g. child and forced labor in the case of a Decent Work Country Program) takes away from a holistic approach to improving decent work overall as other areas do not get the same level of attention, which then creates a threat of uneven development of the sector overall.

Learning Description

Emphasis on the fundamental principles within the decent work agenda (such as elimination of child and forced labor) through evidence-based advocacy and institutional development with adherence to international human rights principles and standards brings higher return in terms of realization of human rights. Programs focusing on issues of elimination of child and forced labor need to tackle a multitude of social norms and rights, capacity and awareness issues which go beyond provision of technical assistance. In addition to capacity development and awareness raising, the Decent Work Country Program project in Uzbekistan has included a range of research activities, advocacy and advisory services to the government and social partners, together with investment. This has brought strong returns in terms of elimination of systematic child labor in the cotton sector.

Learning Description

Combining ambitious and realistic expectation of what can be achieved in a given timeframe is of critical importance for good programming and implementation within a given operational framework. Approach to addressing very sensitive topics with governments that are reluctant to take action or are taking action under pressure (duress) should be such that the project’s core messages (to advocate for the elimination of child and forced labor, occupational safety and health, role of inspections etc.) are formulated well, taking into account the capacities, sensitivities and political context. At the same time, these core messages need to be sufficiently ambitious and elaborate in terms of their catalyst potential to allow national stakeholders to understand the outcomes of positive action in a certain field. Allowing stakeholders to take action in a more neutral setting as partners rather than beneficiaries helps achieve stronger results.

Raised awareness and changed behavior may be possible to achieve without fanfare. The project was successful in sensitizing a broad range of constituents: educators, government officials, employers, families and youth without spending a significant amount of money on awareness raising materials such as banners and T-shirts, as some child labor projects do. The project did use radio programs, manuals, World Day Against Child Labor (WDACL) events and some publicity materials to spread messages confronting attitudes and practices about child rights, child labor, trafficking. However, it was in training workshops, especially those disseminating facts and providing practical support, and in solidly nurturing of community groups where tangible benefits, such as VLSAs and Community Dialogues, proved most effective in building adherents. The emphasis on building leadership and creating opportunities for community-based discussion and analysis was exemplary.

Graduate students from University of Gondar Psychology Department volunteer to counsel E4Y beneficiaries in Gondar town. The students gain practical skills, and the youth asserted that they were very grateful to have the counseling.

The Certificate of Competency (CoC) designed for the Short Term Marketing Program (STMP) gives credibility to the newly skilled youth and eases the job search. Holding a graduation ceremony for the STMP graduates solemnizes and motivates the E4Y beneficiaries. The badges and vests for micro-franchise youth have a similar effect, ensuring trustworthiness to their clientele in their door-to-door sales efforts, while affirming their sense of self-worth. E4Y supplied volunteers with raincoats and stationary supplies. These inputs, while utilitarian, serve to recognize the volunteers’ civic value to the community.

Long-lasting partnerships and building on results of previous projects and experience on the ground contribute to better project design and implementation. The project benefited from World Vision’s well-established national and local networks, as well as its existing infrastructure and specialization in human resources.

Analysis of child labor reduction results has shown that monitoring of results in terms of overall child labor prevalence through baseline and endline surveys requires mid- to longer-term assessments as they evolve according to long-term social, cultural and structural changes. The short timeframe between baseline and endline (less than two years) may have been insufficient to measure social change regarding child labor – variation is generally not significant – and therefore future projects wanting to measure these changes should review the timing between baseline and endline surveys, foreseeing a complete baseline study as early as possible before the project has started and an endline study directly after the end of the project.

Moreover, as implementation was delayed by almost a full year and the project had a significant amount of funding remaining, the period of performance could have been extended if WV had requested it in time to allow for a full expenditure of funds and more visible results in terms of child labor reduction.