M&E Sourcebook: Case Studies - Examples

DIPECHO Action Plan for South East Asia:

Evaluation of projects, 1999. Summary Report, March 2004.

(Link to full length evaluation report coming soon.)

1. Type of project/programme evaluated

   The DIPECHO strategy aims to promote a proactive approach to disaster preparedness in South East Asia, placing greater emphasis on sustainable mitigation and preparedness approaches. The first "action plan" for South East Asia, formulated in 1998, comprised of 10 projects for SE Asia and 2 for Bangladesh. Projects were included a mix of structural and non-structural components falling into three main categories: training and the reinforcement of institutional structures; micro-projects of demonstrable value; and consultations, information and exchange of ideas within the region and for the benefit of external participants.

   Each of the projects had different goals and objectives:

   • Action Against Hunger (AAH) in Cambodia: To create a rescue and assistance plan for flood victims of extreme flooding of the Mekong in Kampong Cham and strengthen the capacity of both the flood effected populations and the Provincial Red Cross to prepare and respond to disasters resulting from extreme flood events.

   • Associazione per la Partecipazione allo Nationality: Italy Sviluppo (APS) in Vietnam: To protect and people of Quang Bihn from typhoon/flood related disasters; enhance local capacities in the disaster preparedness domain; and develop a regional exchange of information and experience in the field.

   • Action d'Urgence Internationale (AUI) in the Philippines: To enhance the capabilities of various disaster management actors in Quezon from the provincial to community levels; increase coordination between NGO and government; and reduce vulnerability to natural hazards.

   • Centre for Research of the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED) in Cambodia: To improve the emergency care system, the development and practical application of a disaster plan for Phnom Penh and coordination for disaster preparedness.

   • CARE Internationl (France) in Laos, Khammouane Province: To increase household capacity and capability to engage in non-flood prone crop - predominantly rice - cultivation to mitigate the effects of natural disasters; to strengthen district and provincial flood damage assessment, analysis and reporting capacity for forwarding to the National Disaster Management Office to expedite disaster response; and to strengthen national and local level coordination.

   • CESVI in Laos, Sayaboury Province: To train personnel who will conduct training of trainers in the province and implement increased fire prevention measures in Phou Khao Khouay National Bio diversity Conservation Area; to train villagers in the province and Conservation area in appropriate techniques of slash and burn and fire distinguishing, thus reducing the fires and burning of forests; to train the villagers and provide for new agricultural measures aiming to intensify local rice production to avoid the intensity of slash and burn techniques, and to keep people on the land already cleared.

   • French Red Cross (FRC) in Cambodia, Phnom Penh and 11 provinces: Strengthen the CRC and above all, the training division; elaborate a national curriculum of first aid courses, to place CRC as a main player in first aid training to the Cambodian people, organisations and companies; improve human and material resources to develop the capacities to cope with disaster; develop the rescue network SAMU.

   • International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC) in Vietnam, 10 provinces: To improve the Vietnam Red Cross (VNRC)’s ability to cope with crisis through the strengthening of its preparedness to respond in disaster situations by strengthening and improving VNRC’s disaster preparedness (DP) capacity in selected high risk areas nation-wide; developing and carrying out CBDP activities at the national, provincial, district and commune levels; developing and improving human resources of the VNRC in CBDP from the HQ down to grassroots level; consolidating and partially equipping some of the VNRC’s DP centres.

   >OXFAM GB in Indonesia: To make Oxfam and a range of NGOs better placed to analyse the sensitivity of, and needs arising from, emergency situations; act as a mechanism for effective relief response where appropriate; share the analysis with other international stakeholders, such as the United Nations; build a network of NGOs capable of undertaking effective disaster response work quickly; and improve standards of information-gathering in-country.

   • UNDP in Vietnam: The development of a community based disaster preparedness training programme that can be extended through the school system to communities throughout Vietnam; the creation of durable links between disaster management organisations and grassroots disaster preparedness and training activities through the establishment of a nucleus of master trainers for overseeing and promoting community based training initiatives; and institutional strengthening in disaster management and response in Vietnam through the collaboration of officials from the VNRC, the Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Health, and the Standing office of the Central Committee for Flood and Storm Control in the development of this joint grass roots training programme. Evaluation method(s) applied

2. Evaluation method(s) applied

   The methodology for evaluation of the strategy had two main components: the project evaluations and a review of the DIPECHO regional/country strategy. All 10 project evaluations were qualitative and based on project evaluation guidelines according to Royal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norway handbook of development assistance. No formal set of indicators was used to measure performance. Project evaluations were based on interviews with staff, expatriate and local partners, local authorities and, where possible, beneficiaries. Where the project included field based activities (irrigation schemes, water, sanitation and reforestation), visits were made to representative sites to assess component performance. Project files and correspondence was also reviewed. Analysis of qualitative data collected focused on establishing the current status of each project against project objectives and activities. Outputs were examined on the basis of their effectiveness, efficiency, relevance, sustainability and visibility (of DIPECHO strategy in the field).