 EDUCATION
The education component includes three major areas: non-formal basic education, upgrading of the existing formal schools and capacity building.
The main direct achievements in education include:
- Establishment of 13 alternative basic education centres (ABEC). Formerly described as Non-formal basic education centres (NFBEC)
- Upgrading and renovating nine formal primary schools
- Capacity building through provision of training, materials and financial support to government project implementing partner offices. This includes training of educators, provision of textbooks and a number of other activities.
RELIEF
Most of the programme area characterised by recurrent drought and food shortage. The food insecurity adds to the vulnerability of the population and affects programme activities adversely. E.g. many students drop out of schools and ABECs because parents cannot feed them during such crisis especially in the period from March to September.
In order to mitigate the problem and ensure the smooth running of the programme, relief assistance has been provided during the last phases of the program. Many activities are implemented by the use of Food for Work or EGS (Employment Generation Schemes) and financed through relief. Thus the relief is being used to ensure long-term solutions like soil and water conservation, where grain payments are an important component. The programme has at the same time been able to secure extra relief in times of extreme scarcity making it possible to provide emergency drugs and special support for vulnerable children.
A budget (outside the regular budget) for contingency relief in times of extreme scarcity has been reserved.
The budget reservation has been used in all three phases of the project.
IMPACT STUDY GROUP
The objectives of the Impact Study Group is to study:
- To study the present food security situation and people's livelihood strategies in the Programme area and to identify how various factors affect household food security/insecurity.
- To study the impact of the Programme on the food security situation in the Programme area, with a focus on the interaction of agriculture, nutrition, health, and primary education.
- To investigate the impact of the Programme on the capacities of local community and government institutions for enhancing food security.
- To examine the effectiveness of the aid model and the strategic approaches of linking relief and development and project-integration, as well as the aid relationship.
- To contribute to the strengthening of Programme planning and implementation by sharing research findings and offering advice to the NGOs and local authorities.
Within the course of Phases a number of studies have looked into the impact of NGO projects or certain aspects of the projects.
INFORMATION
During Phase 1 and 2 different information activities have been carried through for the press in the organisations and others. Several articles in newpapers, magazines etc. has been produced.
A documentary film by Andres Riis Hansen has been produced and is avalaible upon request to either the organisations or to the Secretariat. The video last for 33 minutes.
A special issue of the youth magazine ZAPP produced by Mellemfolkeligt Samvirke - Zapp, December 2001.
The Danish photographer Heine Pedersen has visited the area several times. The photos are at the Secretariat and the organisations can use them for articles etc.
Previous Programme Experiences
The projects have brought along considerable positive changes in the everyday life of the beneficiaries. Through the construction of eight new health posts (and renovation of two) and construction of two health stations, the population in these kebeles now have access to modern health provision and health education.
Children in five kebeles have achieved the possibility to attain alternative basic education at the newly constructed ABE centres, and in five other kebeles formal schools have been reconstructed/upgraded and equipped with new teaching aids.
In periods of food shortage, participation in food-for-work projects has carried the farmers through the crisis; more than 46,000 beneficiaries have participated in food-for-work projects during Phase 2. The construction of the two irrigation schemes have been finalized and people are expected to earn a good income through marketing of fruits and vegetables cultivated in the schemes.
All partners have together and independently worked with community development and sensitization. Animators are used. User committees established. COLTA (Community Organised Leadership Training for Action) groups, ABE centre management committees and Red Cross Committees are active in many kebeles and cooperating.
It is difficult to assess exactly how many beneficiaries the programme has. LWF estimates that at least 3,400 households in the project area benefit from the two completed and two near completion river diversion irrigation schemes, by irrigating 613 ha of land. This has contributed to the reduction of the effect of drought over the last 2-3 years. More than 45.000 persons have benefited from food-financed activities (Food-for-work and Employment Generation Schemes).
Health institutions and outreach services are greatly improving the health coverage in the woredas. Eight health posts constructed during phase 1 and 2 serve a population of up to 40,000.
By renovating 9 primary schools and establishing 13 ABECs in areas without access to schools during phase 1 and 2 more than 5,800 children now have access to education.
BUDGET
The total phase 3 budget from June 1. 2001 – May 31. 2004 comes to
DKK 41.225.050, –
and in addition a reservation of
DKK 5.000.000, –
for contingency relief only to be released in agreement with Danida in case of emergency during the programme period.
Summary of the Phase 3 application to DANIDA (word-format)
More information can be found under Documents & Reports
|
