UK Aid Match Annual Review

UK Aid Match Annual Review

The Annual Review is part of a continuous process of review and improvement throughout the project cycle. At each formal review, the performance and ongoing relevance of the project are assessed. This is a point for assessing whether changes need to be made to the project, although this can also be done at other times during the reporting year if necessary.

Please complete each section of the review template. Expand boxes as required.

Guiding notes are provided in red italics. Please delete guidance notes before submitting.

The Annual Review assesses and rates outputs using the following rating scale.
Description / Scale
Outputs substantially exceeded expectation / A++
Outputs moderately exceeded expectation / A+
Outputs met expectation / A
Outputs moderately did not meet expectation / B
Outputs substantially did not meet expectation / C

A: SUMMARY

Name of grant holder: Islamic Relief / Project title: Climate Resilience Livelihoods For Pastoralists Communities (CRLPC)
Project Value: £1,000,000 (DfID contribution £500,000) / Review Date: 1st April 2015
Start Date: 1st April 2013 / End Date: 31st March 2016

Summary of progress since last review

During this reporting period, the project has made significant progress towards achieving its purpose and impact. Anecdotal information shows that the project has improved the prospects of poor and vulnerable people in the targeted communities. The project progress can be summarised below.

• 30 community groups; among them Farmers, micro enterprise and other community groups were established and strengthened. Within the project, they’ve acted as vehicles in disseminating new technologies, knowledge and resources.One of the farmers group’s benefitting from greenhouse technology, consisting of 20 members in Wagalla has already finished harvesting their first season’s produce.

• The project has built the resilience of 6,487 vulnerable people from sudden onset weather change and economic shocks. 808 HH’s have benefited from the mass vaccination and treatment exercise and 70,334 livestock have been vaccinated since the last review.

• The project has fostered institutional collaborations that have enabled the transformation of the project approach into viable livelihood activities. The project sustainability is anchored on this participatory model.

During the next reporting period, the project will fast track the remaining activities, however attention will shift back to efforts and strategies that will sustain the gains and results of the project so far.

Summary of lessons learnt since last review

• Micro finance as a tool for livelihood enhancement is proving to be a successful model in providing socio-economic empowerment for women from marginalised pastoral communities in Northern Kenya. Micro finance gives women the freedom to manage and make decisions on their own economic welfare, as opposed to the usual over-reliance on livestock which is traditionally a male-dominated area. Their decision-making opportunities on livestock issues are limited, andtherefore restricts chances to improve their socio-economic status in this way.

• Women have proven to be better custodians of resources, this has been demonstrated by the micro finance activity where the repayment rates have been extremely high. If the trend of high repayment rates continues the revolving funds can be used to benefit more women after the project.

• The integration of interventions maximizes the impact towards addressing community vulnerability. The experiences in this region has proven that for effective and efficient resource use, communities need to constantly prioritize their needs and develop action plans to withstand shocks. The setting up of Community Disaster Management committees ensures that there is a structure and space for the community to plan and prioritise their needs.

• IR approaches all projects with coordination and dialogue with key and relevant stakeholders to enable smooth implementation of the project. The new devolved structure of government in place has enabled a strong partnership with local ministries and ensured sustainability of the project.

• When clans share resources, the risk of inter-clan conflict is minimized; women’s groups composing of different clans were able to act as agents for peace at a time when the clans were clashing in Rhamu. Women are often the victims in a conflict situation; however we have found that the joint membership of groups can be used to foster peace among warring clans and also ensure that projects are notadversely affected by conflict.

Summarise any changes that need to be made to the project plan

The project team is adjusting the project work plan to manage activities that are ahead of schedule and those behind schedule to ensure that the project is completed by March, 2016 as earlier planned without any extension. The adjustment will be incorporated in the year 3 implementation plan during quarter 1 of year 3.

B: PERFORMANCE AND CONCLUSIONS

B.1 Outcome statement:

9,085 households (54,510 individuals) from marginalised communities in Mandera and Wajir have increased resilience in the face of climatic variability.

B.2 Performance

Indicator / Year2
Milestone / Achievement
Number of targeted households with improved and diversified diet / 4,361 (48%) (male 2,573 and female 1,788) of the targeted HHs have diversified diets / 6,187 HHs 68% (male 3,970 and female 2,217) of the targeted HHs have diversified diets
Number of HH’s engaged in drought management and mitigation / 5,451 (60%) (male 3,216 and female 2,235) of the targeted HHs are engaged in drought management / 6,487 HHs 71% (male 4,136 and female 2,351) of the targeted HHs are engaged in drought management
During the second year of the project the planned milestones have been achieved, the planned milestone for year 2 for both indicator 1 and 2 have slightly exceeded the target. This was possible due to robust stakeholder support and coordination, particularly the government support in animal health services from the department of veterinary services.
The project has reached 6,487 households within the targeted communities who are now engaged in drought management and mitigation practices; this includes 6,187 of them who are now directly involved in alternative livelihood activities. The households are now able to produce their own food from their farms to complement the animal products, which was initially the sole diet for the pastoral communities. Additionally through income generation activities, the households are able to access and afford a variety of foods to ensure their diets are diversified.There has been an improvement in their incomes with better coping strategies by adopting alternative livelihood options in light of the drought and other hazards. The achievement so far is an indication that the project is on track towards achieving the overall target.

B.3 (If applicable) Are there any changes you will make to the project to achieve this outcome?

N/A

C: DETAILED OUTPUT SCORING

C.1

Output statement 1 / Target communities supported with adaptive livelihood interventions
Output number / 1 / Output Score / A
Risk: / Medium / Impact weighting (%): / 30%
Risk revised since last AR? / No / Impact weighting % revised since last AR? / No

C.2

Indicator / Year
Milestone / Achievement
1.1.Number of agro-pastoralist farmers have access to alternative sources of food production / 1,455 (male 958 and female 497) of agro pastoralist farmers access alternative sources of food production / 1,455 (male 877 and female 578)of agro pastoralist farmers access alternative sources of food production
1.2.Number of HH's adopt green house agriculture as an alternative source of livelihoods / 80 HHs (male 30 and female 50) adopt green house agriculture / 60 HHs (male 20 and 40 female) adopt green house agriculture
1.3.Number of targeted farmers storing food for four months or more after harvesting / 10% (male 200 and female 100) of targeted farmers store food / 10% (166 males and 134 female) of targeted farmers store food
1.4.Number of women whose capacity has been built to establish and manage income generating activities / 165 womentrained to manage IGA's and received credit facility / 165 beneficiaries (155 women and 10 men)trained to manage IGA’s and 120 received credit facility

C.3 Comments on progress towards output targets

Indicator 1.1
1455 (male 877 and female 578) farmers successfully adopted crop farming along the riverine as their alternative livelihood option; they rely on the outputs from the farm to live. 90% of these agro-pastoralists have also been supported by the project to plant and harvest fodder to help them cope with the adverse effects of climate change. This has resulted in the reduction of animal death due to drought compared to pure pastoralists who do not practice farming.This milestone is 100% achieved.
Indicator 1.2
60farmers’ capacity has been built using greenhouse technology management. Three green houses have been installed benefiting 3 groups; one group consisting of 20 members in Wagalla has already finished harvesting the first season’s produce. They are now preparing the bed for the second round. This milestone has been 75% achieved and is on track to reach its overall target by the end of year 3.
Indicator 1.3
Two cereal stores have been constructed and handed over to farmers in Mandera. Completion and handover of two more cereal stores is expected to be completed and handed over by April 2015. This milestone is at 100%.
Indicator 1.4
165 women have been fully trained on basic business management skills and 120 have been supported with sharia compliant micro credit facilities, the remaining 45 will receive their credit in the next quarter. There were delays in this activity due to the suspension of the registration of new groups by the county governments following the new dispensation of the devolved government. The activity could not proceed since the criteria requires the groups to be registered before being supported, this has been lifted now and the project is continuing. This milestone is 85% achieved and is expected to reach more beneficiaries by September 2015.
Although the original milestone targeted only women, during the project 10 men who were classed as vulnerable due to taking care of orphans or women (with long term illnesses)also benefited from this activity.

C.4 Describe how have you addressed feedback from DFID on this output following your last report or 6 monthly review meeting?

Under Output 1.4 although the original target was 300, this was found to be too ambitious, so the figure was reviewed to 165. Following feedback from DFID and upon further review we are adjusting this target to reach195 beneficiaries by the end of the project.

C.5 Are there any changes you will make to achieve this output?

The only change in implementation will affect the timelines for Output indicator 1.2.“Number of HH's adopt green house agriculture as an alternative source of livelihoods”. One greenhouse that was to be installed in year 2 will be done alongside the three planned in year 3. The installation was delayed to give room for the project team to learn from the initial green houses before scaling up the activity in other areas.

C.1

Output statement 1 / Households engaged in cash programming interventions
Output number / 2 / Output Score / B
Risk: / Medium / Impact weighting (%): / 15%
Risk revised since last AR? / No / Impact weighting % revised since last AR? / No

C.2

Indicator / Year
Milestone / Achievement
2.1. Community infrastructure/assets rehabilitated and maintained / Four community infrastructures rehabilitated / Five community infrastructuresrehabilitated
2.2. Households undertake cash for work activities / 2,100 HHs (male 1,050 and female 1,050) undertake CFW activities / 1,340HHs (male 735 and female 605) undertake CFW activities

C.3 Comments on progress towards output targets

Indicator 2.1
5 community infrastructures have been rehabilitatedsuch as fencing water pans and clearing community access routes. Heavy rain interfered with the rehabilitation of community infrastructure which made the planned de-silting of Hadado water pan impossible. The community later met to reprioritise their needs and identified a need for fencing of the same water pan which is currently on-going.This milestone has been 125% achieved.
Indicator 2.2
1,340HHs (male 735 and female 605) participated in the cash-for-work activity. The purchasing power of the targeted HH’s has increased as the status of the community facility improves. An additional 500HHs have been mobilized and sensitized to participate in the cash for work initiative in the form of rehabilitation of the community water point in Wajir.
The low target achievement was as a result of inter clan conflict in Mandera North and Lafey sub-counties which forced the project to stop the activities for a while and join partners in peace building and responding to emergency initiatives to stabilise the security situation before restarting implementation. The milestone has been achieved by 64% at the year two reporting stage but is on track to reach the overall target in year 3.

C.4 Describe how have you addressed feedback from DFID on this output following your last report or 6 monthly review meeting?

In order to achieve the underachieved year 2 targets in year 3 more activities have been planned under this output to fast track the activity.

C.5 Are there any changes you will make to achieve this output?

There are no significant changes required in the workplan for achieving the indicator targets as the project has already mobilised 500 more beneficiaries and the cash for work activities in Wajir. This activity shall be implemented in the first week of April 2015 (Yr3Q1). – this is currently ongoing, the process started in the first week of April.

C.1

Output statement 1 / Livestock support services provided to drought affected households
Output number / 3 / Output Score / A+
Risk: / Medium / Impact weighting (%): / 20%
Risk revised since last AR? / No / Impact weighting % revised since last AR? / No

C.2

Indicator / Year
Milestone / Achievement
3.1. District Veterinary Officers (DVO's) provided with equipment to increase their coverage in the delivery of services effectively / Four district veterinary offices supplied with appropriate veterinary equipment and other supplies / Five District Veterinary Officers supported to undertake twelve livestock disease surveillance and four mass campaigns for animal treatment and de-worming done
3.2. Households supported with deworming, mass vaccination and treatment / 2,386 (1,775 male and 611 female) households supported with de-worming, mass vaccination and treatment / 2,901 HHs (2,232 male and 769 female) households supported with de-worming, mass vaccination and treatment

C.3 Comments on progress towards output targets

Indicator 3.1
Indicator 3.2
2,901HHs (male 2,232 and female 769) have benefitted from the mass vaccination and treatment exercise affected by disease outbreaks where a total of 346,970 livestock, both large and small have been vaccinated.
The project is about to hit the target in this output indicator as a result of the active and robust support from the government department of veterinary services and the high priority the county government has given to the livestock sector in this region given the fact that livestock is the key source of livelihood to the communities in both Wajir and Mandera.The indicator is achieved by 130%.

C.4 Describe how have you addressed feedback from DFID on this output following your last report or 6 monthly review meeting?

N/A

C.5 Are there any changes you will make to achieve this output?

N/A

C.1

Output statement 1 / Capacity improved to manage disasters at community level
Output number / 4 / Output Score / B
Risk: / Medium / Impact weighting (%): / 20%
Risk revised since last AR? / No / Impact weighting % revised since last AR? / No

C.2

Indicator / Year
Milestone / Achievement
4.1. Local government staff and community leaders capacity built on CMDRR and early warning systems / 157 (119 male and 38 female)people trained in CMDRR and early warning / 130 (96 male and 34 female) people trained in CMDRR and early warning
4.2. Villages with disaster response committees and action plans / 4 CMDRR action plans by 4 DRCs / 4 CMDRR committees formed with 4 action plans

C.3 Comments on progress towards output targets

Indicator 4.1
An additional 30 participants have been mobilised and sensitized to participate in CMDRR training.We had to ensure that the committees trained and with action plans formed are monitored to ensure that they are functioning well. This was priority before forming more committees and doing training, in order to capture learning for improvement. The intervention has a balance of 50 beneficiaries to be reached and this will be easily achieved in year 3, this activity made substantial progressin year1 and part of year 2. This milestone has been 83% achieved.
Indicator 4.2
4active Community Disaster Management Committees with action plans formed in the four villages. This approach has created strong links between the communities, DRR actors and relevant government agencies for future coordination and support.This milestone has been achieved by100%.

C.4 Describe how have you addressed feedback from DFID on this output following your last report or 6 monthly review meeting?

More activities have been planned for year 3 under this output to fast track the activity since the year 2 targets were not met. There will also be a review of the community action plans to improve on their implementation by the community.

C.5 Are there any changes you will make to achieve this output?

N/A

C.1

Output statement 1 / Staff capacity built on DRR and CCA programming and mainstreaming
Output number / 5 / Output Score / C
Risk: / Low / Impact weighting (%): / 15%
Risk revised since last AR? / No / Impact weighting % revised since last AR? / No

C.2

Indicator / Year
Milestone / Achievement
5.1. IRK staff from country and field offices trained on DRR / 30 staff (21 male and 9 female) able to mainstream DRR in their programmes / 16 staff (12 male and 4 female) able to mainstream DRR in their programmes
5.2. DRR and CCA mainstreaming strategy developed and adopted by IRK / One DRR and CCA strategy adopted and applied / Not Achieved

C.3 Comments on progress towards output targets

Indicator 5.1
16 (12 male and 4 female) IRK staff trained on Disaster Risk Reduction and Emergency Response, both at the country and regional level at a disaster response simulation workshop in Ethiopia. The staff are now equipped with skills to successfully develop and implement programmes with mainstreamed DRR components.
Additional staff could not be trained as planned in year 2 due to the unavailability of core staff who were required to participate in the training, this is because during the planned period we had the Annual programme review which was a priority and where all core staff had to participate. We have rescheduled this to take place during the first quarter of year 3. This milestone has been achieved by 53%.
Indicator 5.2 is dependent on the above activity 5.1 so could not be completed, but will be completed during the third year of the project. The project has planned for a capacity building workshop in the first quarter of year three which will culminate in the development of the DRR mainstreaming strategy for IRK.The milestone has been 0% achieved this year, but will be completed during the third year of the project.

C.4 Describe how have you addressed feedback from DFID on this output following your last report or 6 monthly review meeting?