Ethiopia -Rayitu Community Development Project (2011-2013) Final evaluation

Background:
As part of the national effort of contributing to the country’s socio-economic development in general and improving the socio-economic life of the project area in particular, the EECMY/DASSC-WBS has been implementing a development project entitled Rayitu Community Development Project in Rayitu district of Bale zone. The project just completed its third phase (2011-2013) and started with 4th phase (2014-2017). The project directly targeted 8 PAs (5 new and 3 old intervention areas) with such major project activities as clean water supply, education, gender, and stakeholder capacity building.  In the old intervention PAs, this phase of the project makes one-time investments (such as grinding mill purchase and supply) or slight follow-up supports (such as follow-up of cooperative societies).

Purpose/objective:
The evaluation is mainly intended to assess the performance against the agreed plan & other procedural & technical issue of the project and provide the outcome of the evaluation to the relevant government bodies and to the implementing agency Ethiopia Evangelical CMY and Norwegian Lutheran Mission to fill their information gap.

Methodology:
In effort to collect the necessary data and information for the purpose of this evaluation, the evaluation team has used the following methods:

- Held discussion with the project management and staffs at the project site(Rayitu project office)
- Reviewed the project document as well as periodical reports of the project,
- Holding discussion with the project beneficiaries especially on in different schools and the surrounding community and interviewed some of them on individual basis,
- Conduct discussion with the concerned stakeholders and district line department.
- Observation on the project sites in order to see the implementation of the project as per the agreement.

Key findings:
Generally during our observation there is a big behavioral and physical change that makes the community to increase the awareness in Education and economic status. Especially activities done on community awareness in order to provide knowledge about hygiene and sanitation , HIV/AIDS and Gender equality is the best choice to improve  health status of community. So this program solved many community problems if it is sustainable and expanded to the rest neighboring PAs.

Most of the activities planned for the project phase have been implemented. During the project life time three new ponds, two traditional ponds has been excavated and maintained. More over two water tankers/reservoir/ has been constructed and two others maintained. And the project is running non formal basic education school age children and adults in the target kebeles, Two literacy shelters has constructed ; six blocks of literacy shelter has renovated with concrete floor work and mud plastering, two cooperative offices and store has constructed many cooperatives have been formed and registered. The project has achieved significant changes among the target groups as a result of staff commitment, good net-working and cooperative relationship between the project and its stake holders.

Recommendations:
- At the moment the project focused only on primary education first cycle it was good if it also facilitate secondary cycle and helps students to learn around their home.
- The pond which was constructed by the project was good but, the pond was not contracted on time and which contain little amount of water that used for a short period of time, if it is contracted on time and widen making deepest to develop the capacity of the pond for a long period of time
- During the two phases, RCDP cannot concentrate dry land agricultural development. To be able to manage the dry land the society must be experienced. So that, it is better if RCDP can be experience on drought resistance improved seed.
- The community has the problem of millstone for grinding grain. It was the main significant thing for the society. Additionally women’s around 2 peasant association said that “why the NGO not help us around the problem explained above the problem? “So that if this problem reduced the women is advantageous.
- The effort made on organizing and establishing cooperatives was appreciable. But Members still required further trainings especially at some target PAs and follow up both by the project and district cooperative office for better sustainability.
- As far as possible the organization should have the basic understanding of regional NGOs guide line. For instance, whether there is activity or budget change of plan, there should be with notification letter or should be with full knowledge of co-signatory Bureaus.
- By knowing the   benefits of modern beehives they create the way that the modern behaves were expanded.

Comments from the organisation, if any:
RCDP has been in operation for about 10 years. The project is operating in one of the most marginalised areas of Ethiopia where drought and harsh climate is continuously hampering crops growth and subsequently leading to movement of community in search for water. The project have completed its 3rd phase and started 4th phase (2014-2017) which shall rotate to 4 new Peasant Associations.