Evaluation Learnings Search

Learning Description

The economic empowerment of vulnerable communities in rural areas requires a more comprehensive approach and a longer cycle of intervention than it does in an urban setting. The provision of agricultural inputs and basic training is insufficient to have a real impact on individual livelihoods. Generating economic opportunities requires a more thorough consideration of the Theory of Change (ToC) for this particular component. The high degree of vulnerability, together with adverse contextual conditions, compels project designers to search for more comprehensive proposals.

Learning Description

A rigorous monitoring system is not only important for the purpose of reporting results, it also helps inform the decision-making process and instill discipline into project implementation. The time and energy required to design and implement the monitoring system is obviously an aspect that needs to be optimized to avoid dysfunctional situations and the mishandling of resources; however, the availability of real-time data on progress toward the realization of project targets is an important input for management purposes and decision-making.

Learning Description

Sensitization of communities where child labor (CL) is culturally accepted must be conducted by emphasizing what is acceptable under the law, rather than on what is prohibited. Community workers have insisted that it is important to approach the sensitization tasks from a positive perspective, aiming to generate ideas on options that are compatible with the law. In other words, there should be less emphasis on prohibition and more on proposition—that is, an approach that highlights what youth in rural areas can do as opposed to what they are prohibited from doing.

Learning Description

Women and youth as key target groups in rural areas generate durable changes in cultural patterns. Actions targeting groups of young people and women constitute a key element for any strategy that seeks to address the problem of child labor (CL) in the agricultural family sector. Both groups (youth and women) are more open than other family members to change in an environment that is generally more conservative and reluctant to consider reform.

Learning Description

Transition and testing periods are important for the services delivered by the project. Transition and testing periods should be considered as part of the project’s life cycle and, when possible, anticipated in the project design. This lesson applies to cases such as the transfer of the Abrazo program and the testing of the software platforms. With regard to the transfer of the Abrazo program, it seems important to ensure that there is a period for interaction between management teams and that a mechanism is in place to transfer the expertise and knowledge acquired by the project in an organized and smooth manner. Regarding the introduction of new software platforms, the project should take into consideration that the effective implementation of systems usually requires a period to manage unexpected changes associated with incorporating the new technology. It is not unusual to require the allocation of extra resources for this purpose.

Learning Description

The availability of an effective learning program for youth in rural areas facilitates the school-to-work transition. The absence of training alternatives and technical courses in rural areas usually leads to an early and unsafe incorporation of youth into work on family farms. Adequate technical training in agriculture for youth could help to bring about innovation in family run farms and slow the emigration from rural areas.

Learning Description

A gender perspective from the design phase onwards ensures that the implementation team has the necessary tools and guidelines to apply a gender-sensitive approach in a systematic way. This will also allow the project team to anticipate situations where a gender perspective can be applied and overcomes the typical reactive approach that addresses such needs only when a specific situation emerges.

Learning Description

Substantive change in behaviour and belief is slow and requires slow process which needs to be accounted for. The project seeks to make significant changes in long-established and culturally accepted practices that are often beneficial for those in power. In this case the original lifespan of the project is four years, however, with the time required to set up the project, the implementation time of the project is reduced to 3 years, and in some countries the changes in the environment have not been positive towards project goals. These processes which are slow and required significant consistent action and advocacy to ensure buy in and sustainable/meaningful change. It is important to have a way to measure progress in these processes not only to acknowledge the work of the team, but also to understand what has been achieved and how it can be built on.

Learning Description

Language can play a key role. For example, the "50 For Freedom" online platforms is available in a variety of languages. At the time of the evaluation, Brazilian Portuguese speakers were the largest consumers of the content, and this might not have happened if it had not been made available in Portuguese, in spite of the fact that it is a fairly minor language worldwide. Similarly, in Paraguay it was reported that this was the first time that discussions and reports were being done in indigenous languages, which was highly appreciated by the counterparts.

Learning Description

Importance of including protection mechanisms to surround and support the work of the project. This was made evident in Peru where after the project begun working with transport authorities training bus drivers and personnel in the bus stations, these personnel found themselves in situations of danger after identifying and intervening to protect someone who was being trafficked for forced labor. The need for immediate protection for the person identified was also made evident. Similarly, also in Peru, advocacy against forced labor practices in mines in Peru had put advocates lives in danger.