Strategic Evaluation of the Effectiveness of WFP Livelihood Recovery Interventions

2.1 ENABLING ENVIRONMENT 

2.1.7 Institution and capacity strengthening on IE

Recommendation: 1. Ensure projects include focus on capacity strengthening of institutional partners and dissemination of project learning as specifically related to the IE:

• Include focus on capacity strengthening of government institutions including local authorities.
• Promote training of trainers in government institutions so that they can continue to train others in their respective offices.

Reference: Harvey, Paul; Burton, Cynthia; Wilkinson, Laura, 2009. Strategic Evaluation of the Effectiveness of WFP Livelihood Recovery Interventions, Thematic evaluation, A Report from the Office of Evaluation, WFP, Brussels, Covered countries: Bangladesh, Colombia, Lesotho, Nepal, Uganda..

Evidence sample: A GP linked Lesson Learned from a WFP thematic evaluation concluded: for governments to be better equipped to support the livelihood needs of their own citizens it will need to invest more in developing its capacity building policies and capabilities. This needs to be better articulated and put into practice.

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2.1 ENABLING ENVIRONMENT 

2.1.7 Institution and capacity strengthening on IE

Recommendation: 2. Ensure that projects include systematic approaches to clearly identify the desired capacity strengthening outputs and outcomes on the IE.

• Assess the capacities and performance of cooperating partners at different levels.
• Develop standard tools for capacity assessment of local partners based on past experience in the local context.

Reference: Harvey, Paul; Burton, Cynthia; Wilkinson, Laura, 2009. Strategic Evaluation of the Effectiveness of WFP Livelihood Recovery Interventions, Thematic evaluation, A Report from the Office of Evaluation, WFP, Brussels, Covered countries: Bangladesh, Colombia, Lesotho, Nepal, Uganda.

Evidence sample: the evaluators indicated that WFP should do more to review its partnership arrangements and assess the capacities and performance of cooperating partners.

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2.4 APPROACHES TO ENHANCE LIVELIHOODS, EQUITY AND INCLUSION

2.4.3. Social protection

Recommendation: 14) Note when developing project design that targeted social protection (including safety nets) may offer extremely vulnerable people better alternatives than support for micro-credit. A broad analysis of experience targeting destitute and extremely vulnerable people indicates that social safety net programs and investments in infrastructure and production technology may offer better alternatives than microcredit.

Reference: Harvey, Paul; Burton, Cynthia; Wilkinson, Laura, 2009, Strategic Evaluation of the Effectiveness of WFP Livelihood Recovery Interventions, Thematic evaluation, A Report from the Office of Evaluation, WFP, Brussels, Covered countries: Bangladesh, Colombia, Lesotho, Nepal, Uganda.

Evidence sample: the thematic evaluation of WFP’s programming on livelihoods is increasingly finding itself engaged in debates about the role of food assistance within wider approaches to social protection. This potentially provides a different way of conceptualising livelihoods recovery. As social protection responses to chronic poverty become more widespread there may be opportunities to expand welfare safety nets during periods of crisis and to support transitions from emergency assistance to longer term social protection and safety net programmes.

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2.4 APPROACHES TO ENHANCE LIVELIHOODS, EQUITY AND INCLUSION

2.4.10. Strengthening IE with attention to migrants, refugees, trafficked persons

Recommendation: 9) Carry out more analysis on disaster impact related to employment/people dependent on the IE. Analysis is needed of:

• Impacts of disasters and trends on the household level employment context (e.g. out-migration, selling labour and advance)
• Broader labour market impacts and trends.
• Gender differences in coping strategies with respect to sustainable livelihoods with people dependent on the IE.

Reference: Harvey, Paul; Burton, Cynthia; Wilkinson, Laura, 2009, Strategic Evaluation of the Effectiveness of WFP Livelihood Recovery Interventions, Thematic evaluation, A Report from the Office of Evaluation, WFP, Brussels, Covered countries: Bangladesh, Colombia, Lesotho, Nepal, Uganda.

Evidence sample: the evaluation noted that some information and analysis was collected by WFP on the impacts of the disaster on the household level employment context (e.g. out-migration, selling labour and advance). This needs to be complemented by greater attention to broader labour market impacts and trends. Gender differences in coping strategies were also not analysed. Assessments in Nepal were framed in the sustainable livelihoods context, examined assets and gender differences in coping strategies and did some limited assessment of labour markets.

The evaluation also discussed the challenges that the World Food Programme (WFP) faces when trying to support a shift from relief support to recovery.

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2.4 APPROACHES TO ENHANCE LIVELIHOODS, EQUITY AND INCLUSION

2.4.10. Strengthening IE with attention to migrants, refugees, trafficked persons

Recommendation: 15) To protect investments post disaster in livelihoods of the poorest IE groups, provide cash transfer but also additional short-term support to cover the gap in essential needs so that working capital of their livelihoods activities are not affected. This may include food aid and support to obtain basic household needs kits.

Reference: Harvey, Paul; Burton, Cynthia; Wilkinson, Laura, 2009, Strategic Evaluation of the Effectiveness of WFP Livelihood Recovery Interventions, Thematic evaluation, A Report from the Office of Evaluation, WFP, Brussels, Covered countries: Bangladesh, Colombia, Lesotho, Nepal, Uganda.

Evidence sample: the strategic evaluation indicated that most beneficiaries in Bangladesh expressed a desire for more community and/or household level activities to restore or improve their income earning capacity, including home-based FFW/CFW employment opportunities for women, as some faced social criticism for working outside of the home. Eleven months after the cyclone, when asked what would assist communities and households to recover most quickly from a disaster, the most common responses the evaluation team received from beneficiaries were:

- Provide both food aid and cash grants, cash only or FFW/CFW so we have enough to eat and can afford to replace the things we lost at the same time; cash is also less easy for officials to manipulate: “We can better ourselves – we would rather not have to take relief or take out another loan;”

- Start livelihoods recovery activities earlier and do them for longer (including SFP);

- Provide us with some skills training or other means to get longer-term employment.

The evaluation noted that, in Nepal, when asked what would be the most effective assistance to communities and households to assist them to recover, the most common responses were:

- Help us to improve our ability to produce more from the land – e.g. vegetables, cereal crops, fruit, livestock rearing;

- For women specifically: Introduce technology such as smokeless stoves and grain-grinding mills;

- Provide us with some skills training or other means to get longer-term employment.

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2.4 APPROACHES TO ENHANCE LIVELIHOODS, EQUITY AND INCLUSION

2.4.10. Strengthening IE with attention to migrants, refugees, trafficked persons

Recommendation: 17) When planning food security programs in disaster/refugee situations—in addition to focusing on measuring food needs and quantifying levels of food insecurity—consider how food aid could contribute to the recovery of livelihoods of people dependent on the IE. Include measures on strengthening livelihoods based on assessments and inputs from community members.

Reference: Harvey, Paul; Burton, Cynthia; Wilkinson, Laura, 2009, Strategic Evaluation of the Effectiveness of WFP Livelihood Recovery Interventions, Thematic evaluation, A Report from the Office of Evaluation, WFP, Brussels, Covered countries: Bangladesh, Colombia, Lesotho, Nepal, Uganda.

Evidence sample: the evaluation concluded that there is a tendency for assessments food security programs in disaster/refugee situations to focus on measuring food needs and quantifying levels of food insecurity without considering how food aid could contribute to the recovery of livelihoods.

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2.4 APPROACHES TO ENHANCE LIVELIHOODS, EQUITY AND INCLUSION

2.4.10. Strengthening IE with attention to migrants, refugees, trafficked persons

Recommendation: 19) Note that in fragile country situations it is particularly important support the rural communities in such a way that they can utilise their own resources and improve their incomes. This will also prevent the potential of more conflict from re-emerging. This means transitioning from food distribution to support with livelihoods development as quickly as possible.

Reference: Harvey, Paul; Burton, Cynthia; Wilkinson, Laura, 2009, Strategic Evaluation of the Effectiveness of WFP Livelihood Recovery Interventions, Thematic evaluation, A Report from the Office of Evaluation, WFP, Brussels, Covered countries: Bangladesh, Colombia, Lesotho, Nepal, Uganda.

Evidence sample: the evaluation noted that there is a weak evidence base and assessment process for determining recovery needs and when and how to shift activities from relief to recovery objectives.

The evaluation does, however, recommend start livelihoods recovery activities earlier and do them for longer.