EVALUATION PROCESS

Evaluation Team, InteRed team and ADNU team in a Bangca Going from Nato to Atulayan Island for inspection and FDGs

InteRed and its partners have undergone already half of the period of implementation of the "convenio".  Therefore, one of the objectives has been to assess how well things have been done, what needs to be improved and what things we can learn.

Evaluation team got stuck going to Presentacion by land

For this, InteRed hired an independent group of Evaluators from Leyte, who have a very strong development background and who, after a series of meetings in which they were oriented, received feedback about the convenio and were prepared, proceeded to the field.

The evaluation process lasted 2 months and at the moment we are on the phase of writing up the draft of the report, whose final version will be ready by September and the results will be shared among partners, AECID and beneficiaries as soon as it is released.

 Left, Inspection of proposed building for makeshift in San Antonio / Right: Gender, Health and Education FGD in Sabang Adgawan, Agusan Marsh, Caraga.

 

The first part of the evaluation was a documental review, followed by a long and sterling process of fieldwork and interviews.  For these visits, InteRed wanted to assist the evaluators as much as possible, therefore we accompanied the team at all times.  But, on the other hand, in order to ensure independence and neutrality, InteRed was absent during the FGDs and interviews, and limited its presence to introduce the team and doing ocular inspections on the side 

The evaluation team met with Municipal and local authorities: Mayors, Agriculturists, Health Workers, Development Planners, Environmental Workers; and also with the POs and their committees and with the partner NGOs: COs/CDFs, PC, ED, etc.

Meeting with Mayor of Alegria and his team.

 

Beneficiaries in Escuala

These meetings and visits have proved to be extremely important for the "convenio" since we have already learnt many lessons.  Besides, involving the communities and every stakeholder in the evaluation process has been an excellent activity to share experiences and allow everyone to be a part of the management of the "convenio". 

  AECID has also been involved, and a meeting in Manila was held on August 12th where evaluation team, InteRed (and the beneficiaries through the evaluation) and AECID could share opinnions, views and learn from the process. This also proved to be a very important aspect of the evaluation since for AECID it is necessary to participate in these processes and also since they have already made some important notes about the lessons learnt.

I want to thank everyone involved in this process for the good work, the sincerity, the efforts done, the excellent way in which the comunities received and treated us and for the smiles and good times too.

Special thanks go to the beneficiaries who have put aside their daily tasks to make some time to assist the meetings, some of them on difficult hours and dates (Sundays for example), and to barangay oficials who have even provided us with accommodation when needed.

Thanks to everyone.