Mid-Term Evaluation Report of Integrated Community Development Program (ICDP)

Background:
Sancred Welfare Foundation (SWF) is a non-profit and non-political national NGO established in 2005 aiming at implementing charitable and social welfare activities for the poor and disadvantaged section of the society. The ICDP began in January 2007 for a 5-year period along with other on-going development projects of the organization.

Purpose/objective:
SWF organized this Mid Term Evaluation to review the achievements, progress and constraints of the program. The overall purpose of this evaluation is to produce sufficient evidence that should address the existent situation.
The main objectives of the MTE are:
• To review the status of performance and progress of the program implementation
• To explore the progress towards localization and sustainability of the program
• To examine the relevance of the program in respect to the cost (cost-benefit analysis)
• To review the management status  (administrative, financial, implementation)
• To assess the program achievements in line with the project objectives
• To explore the effectiveness of the capacity building initiatives.

Methodology:
Due to the nature of the project, the evaluation was conducted using a qualitative approach. A quantitative approach was utilized to uncover some aspects of the program. The evaluation process followed an in-depth research approach focusing on one district that covered 13 villages in 4 upazilas. For each site, the evaluation team focused on drawing a picture of issues related to the goals and objectives following the Terms of Reference provided by the organization. The evaluation team carried out field study during 19-25 November 2009

Key findings:
The evaluation found ICDP to have a strong positive complementary role in the program. ICDP skill trainings help to build up linkages between the social capital and financial capital (the Micro-Credit operations). Her lies the success of ICDP.
For Health education and assistance presently ICDP is focusing more on the secondary role, instead of the primary one. As an NGO program, through health education, ICDP is trying to raise health awareness in its working areas and through assistance providing medical services in its capacity. All these are effective without any doubt. People are being benefited through ICDP’s secondary role. However, the evaluation team strongly suggests that ICDP focuses more on its primary role during the remaining period of the program and beyond.

ICDP planned to develop agriculture sector in its working areas through transferring knowledge and technology on various types of trainings viz. fish culture, duck rearing, poultry, cow-fattening, composed fertilizer preparations, integrated pest management, homestead gardening, livestock vaccination, social forestry, etc. People’s capacity and skills are being improved and are well benefited through all these trainings.
Distribution of quality seeds- free distribution of seeds after training for vegetable cultivation encouraged the trainees tremendously. There is a huge demand of quality seeds in the area and people are ready to buy seeds from unit offices of ICDP. Demonstration of integrated farming: ICDP/SWF developed a demonstration farm with cow, fish, nursing plants, composed fertilizer preparation, etc in one place at Bishamverpur upazila. The farm is already a model demonstration venue for farmers and they buy seedling from the firm.

Family planning is considered only a women issue; not issue of the couples. There is also no effort from the health workers, volunteers and committee members to involve couples in their educational and assistance approach. The ICDP project proposal is very clear as it has presented family planning as a couples’ issue; but the understanding and practice at the field level is not the same.

Recommendations:
• Focus on the primary role of ICDP in health education and assistance for linking poor and marginalized with Government Health Services through advocacy and building networks of people and NGOs.
• The evaluation report strongly recommends that ICDP Health Committees and Health Volunteers go through a participatory strategic planning process with other local NGOs for identifying strategic directions and preparing an Action Plan on the primary role of the ICDP. This should be done as soon as possible.
• Family planning should be considered as a couple issue as per the project plan and should not be considered only as a women issue as done at the field level.
• Provide softer loans to Hajong people for the release of Mortgage and other lands.
• Support access to agricultural common property. It is essential for the ICDP to provide necessary advice and support to groups to access Khas lands and parts of Haor water bodies.
• Improve gender concept and practice in ICDP. Women should get some leadership opportunity in the project for such improvements.
• Creating opportunity for men with women for gender balance. Participation of men and women is essential for gender development in the cultural context of Bangladesh. The ICDP needs to develop some specific strategy and effort during the remaining period of the present phase of ICDP and beyond.