Format Project Progress Report - CARE ÖsterreichContract No. 2729-02/2014 |3 among the 10...
Transcript of Format Project Progress Report - CARE ÖsterreichContract No. 2729-02/2014 |3 among the 10...
PROJEKTDOKUMENT
Format
Project Progress Report
Austrian Development Agency
Zelinkagasse 1010 Vienna Austria
phone: +43 (0)1 90399-0
fax: +43 (0)1 90399-1290 [email protected] • www.entwicklung.at
Contract No. 2729-02/2014
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Project Progress Report
Contract No. 2729-02/2014
As at August 31st 2015
Contractor/ applicant:
Name: CARE Österreich
Address: Lange Gasse 30/4, 1080 Wien
Phone, email: +43 (1) 7150715, [email protected]
Contact person for the action: Marion Ehalt ([email protected])
Project title:
Improving Access to Reproductive, Child and Maternal Health in Northern Uganda
Local project partner:
Name: Gulu Women’s Economic Development and Globalization (GWED-G)
Address: PO BOX 1257, Gulu
Phone, Email: 077-2-644729, [email protected]
Reporting period:
Reporting period: 01.09.20141 – 31.08.2015 Report submitted on (date): 18.12.2015
Due date: 31.10.2015
Planned project duration from: 01.09.2014 Until: 31.08.2017
Reallocations: 4,000 EUR (see below page 16) Extended until: /
1 Due to late contract issuance, the project implementation could not start before November 2014.
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Summary of the project progress
Narrative description of project progress, particularly with regard to the achievement of objectives,
expected results and indicators, monitoring and necessary management measures in accordance with
chapter no. 6 of the project document (Monitoring and Evaluation).
CARE and GWED-G are implementing the “Improving Access to Reproductive, Child and Maternal
Health” project as part of CARE’s Northern Uganda Women Empowerment Programme (NUWEP). It
builds on work around engaging men and boys in different initiatives. Past experiences have
highlighted gaps such as limited decision making around women’s reproductive health decisions, low
uptake of family planning services and inadequate male involvement in contributing to parenting
responsibilities. The initiative is also designed to address service governance gaps, especially in
relation to health related service provision. The initiative therefore aims to overcome barriers to
accessibility of sexual, reproductive, maternal and child health (SRMCH) services that arise from
social constructs, specifically gender norms.
The project already shows several achievements after one year of implementation.
Expected Result 1: All members of participating households have the required, age
appropriate, knowledge about SRMCH issues to support family members in accessing services
9,366 household members (4,132 males, 5,234 females) were reached by the project in year one.
Household interviews and interactions with women and men indicated increased knowledge by
participating household members on issues regarding SRMCH. There are changing perceptions and a
willingness of men to increasingly support reproductive health issues. Reports from the Community
Based Facilitators indicated that more men are supportive in their households, helping their spouses to
take care of their children. Relationships among spouses have improved; they communicate better
within the households and with their children. Both men and women reported increased appreciation
of the importance to attend to their sexual and reproductive health (SRH).
The project has also targeted different age groups, providing age appropriate information. Adolescent
boys and girls were actively engaged through dialogues on communication issues among adolescents
and their parents, demystifying the many myths and misconceptions on sexuality. Young people have
also been trained on various life skills.
Women have been involved in discussions with their spouses on SRMCH with different health workers
reaching out to the communities to sensitize them and share information. Male participants and their
contribution to supporting SRMCH have been central to all discussions. The percentage increase in
knowledge of participating household members on key age appropriate, SRMCH issues will be
measured after baseline values have been established (see below under “Evaluation”).
Result area 2: Men and adolescent boys demonstrate supportive behaviours with regard to
household members accessing SRMCH health services.
The initiative worked with men, boys and couples to model behaviours that are supportive for SRMCH.
Men were supported through five (5) community dialogues/meetings and discussions to reflect and
discuss gender norms, reproductive health behaviours, their own health and women’s health. From the
discussions, men reported that they are actively involved in supporting their spouses in accessing
reproductive services, child care and that couple communication within their families is improving.
Through various feedback meetings and community dialogues, women testified on the support
provided by their spouses and changes that have transformed their families. Role model men have
started holding dialogue sessions on sexuality education issues with their spouses and children
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among the 10 households that each of them engages. In total, 2,747 household visits (reaching 4,132
males and 5,234 females) were made.
Young men and boys, both in and out of school, have also been involved in the program. School
programs have provided spaces for mentorship of youth and adolescents in life skills and adolescent
sexual health and for discussions on relationships. Youth have reported improved relationships within
their schools, and supportive behaviors towards their peers.
The actual increase in supportive behaviors of participating male household members, as reported by
both male and female household members, will be established after the baseline is concluded (see
below under “Evaluation”)
Expected Result 3: Health & Education Service providers are more aware of demand driven obstacles and actively engage to mitigate deterrents – thereby increasing access to service
The project engaged with service providers in the health units, local leaders in the sub-counties and
traditional leaders within the communities. Leaders in Action meetings currently bring together the
various stakeholders to reflect on the services provided, the challenges, what improvements they
would like to see in their communities on how reproductive health services are delivered and the level
of involvement expected from the different service providers. The health workers, local leaders and
communities report improvements in service delivery due to continued reflective dialogues and
feedback between the health workers and other stakeholders. Spaces for review and genuine
feedback among stakeholders have been opened up, allowing for improvements in service delivery.
The visited health service providers report an increased number of visits by women for antenatal care
(ANC) services and an increased number of women coming with their spouses.
Background/ context
Update of the description of the project environment with regard to background and context (see
chapter no. 2 of the project document): Description of changes in the project environment with regard
to assumptions made (see chapter no. 5 of the project document), possible impact on project design,
planning and implementation in terms of being able to achieve the project’s objectives.
The project environment has not changed much during the reporting period. While there have been a
few disruptions given the preparations for the forthcoming elections, major disruptions may be felt
more during the first part of the second year as campaigns for presidential, parliamentary and local
councils elections shall be taking place.
Negative gender norms still greatly affect and influence outcomes within the region. Women and men
continue to grapple with power issues at the household level and men make most decisions on many
of the issues around sexuality and reproductive health in their families. Addressing power relations at
the household level still remains relevant for the program with men’s involvement being crucial.
Health, reproductive health and maternal health indicators continue to be relevant as part of the
sustainable development goals. While globally it is acknowledged that maternal mortality fell by 45
percent, and worldwide there has been an over 50 percent decline in preventable child deaths, it is
also true that an integrated approach is crucial for progress across the multiple goals. Empowering
women and promoting gender equality is crucial to accelerating sustainable development. Ending all
forms of discrimination against women and girls is not only a basic human right, but it also has a
multiplier effect across all other development areas.
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The project design therefore remains relevant. Working with role model men as gate keepers, decision
makers and involving couples and spouses to reflect on key SRMCH issues is very important as this
builds trust and dialogue to negotiate power differences in a safe environment. Gender and age
appropriate interventions have been important in ensuring that various participants draw on peer
support. It also complements the women empowerment initiatives that are implemented in the
Northern Uganda program areas.
The project continues to be implemented in line with the Government policies, Ministry of Health
(MoH) guidelines and strategies to involve men in promoting access to SRMCH services, e.g. through
role model men conducting monthly household visits and sensitizing the community with support from
local leaders and health workers. However, some role model men have reported challenges due to
agricultural activities that took place between April and June 2015. Indeed, some household members
went to and stayed on their farm land and returned only after the harvest. It was foreseen in the project
proposal that the participation in project activities might decrease during harvest time due to the fact
that the majority of the project beneficiaries rely on subsistence agriculture.
Target group, beneficiaries and local project partner
Update of the information regarding the target group, beneficiaries and project partners or rather the
structures and processes for project implementation: description of changes and impact on project
design, planning and implementation in terms of being able to achieve the project’s objectives.
The project beneficiaries comprise 100 trained role model men and their immediate families. In
addition, each role model man has a network of 10 households who they engage for sharing
information on SRMCH.
Within the households, the role model men are working with couples and conduct dialogues on
SRMCH issues. They also engage adolescent boys and girls, in and out of school, to discuss
parent/father communication within the household, demystify myths and misconceptions on sexuality,
facilitate access to age appropriate information for adolescents and create awareness regarding safe
mother- and fatherhood for the adults.
The project has strengthened and supported men and boys, increasing their knowledge on SRMCH
issues (culturally these are perceived to be women’s issues and responsibilities). This has helped
changing their perceptions around reproductive health issues and they report more supportive
behaviours like helping with household chores, supporting spouses to access health services and
hence challenging traditional roles ascribed to women and men.
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Intervention logic
Narrative description of the progress of the expected results and their visible effects and impacts. To
what degree has the project purpose been achieved, to what extent have the results contributed to the
achievement of the project purpose?
Result 1 – All members of the participating households have the required, age appropriate knowledge
about key SRMCH issues to support family members in accessing services.
A joint desk review of male engagement materials was conducted by CARE staff, GWED-G and the
representative from the District regional trainer for reproductive health. The team agreed to adapt
various materials from the already existing materials in order to train the role model men and their
spouses.
CARE in partnership with GWED-G conducted trainings (6 days, 2 for each of the three sub-countries)
for the role model men. 100 role model men were identified and trained on SRH/maternal and child
health (MCH) issues including safe motherhood, abortion, family planning and infertility. Other training
sessions and topics included facilitation skills, advocacy skills, personal hygiene, sexually transmitted
infections/HIV-AIDS, immunisation, growth monitoring for infants and appropriate nutrition for both
mothers and children. The role model men gained knowledge and information from the trainings. This
helped in addressing their information gaps and they are now able to articulate and share information
on SRMCH with confidence. Each role model man has been attached to 10 households which they
visit monthly to discuss issues related to SRMCH.
Following the training, the role model men also demonstrated increased competences in working with
health service providers, for example they supported the COOPEE health centre to conduct HIV
counselling and testing for households. 43 people were counselled and tested (29 female, 14 male). In
addition, the role model men have been sharing their experiences on how men and women can spend
their time at home and the importance of shared responsibilities as well as couple communication.
Result 2 – Men & adolescent boys demonstrate supportive behaviours with regard to their family
members accessing SRMCH services
Household Dialogues:
The trained role model men conducted this year 2,747 household visits/dialogues with 9,366
household members (4,132 males, 5,234 females). Various topics related to men’s roles as fathers
and parents, adolescent communication, and other reproductive health issues were discussed.
Dialogues and debates are conducted to address harmful practises among youth and adolescents and
various male behaviours that are not supportive of women’s access to SRH and MCH services. The
dialogues have increased awareness on contraceptive use. Women in the project area testified that
they can now easily discuss with their spouses the use of contraceptive methods, which has in turn led
to an increase in demand for family planning services (according to role model men reports, health
workers’ reports and statistics from Health Centers).
Male Engagement Dialogues
21 male engagement dialogues were conducted by the role model men, targeting men and male youth
from the participating households between the months of April and August 2015. The dialogues were
conducted jointly by different groups of role model men so that they can provide support to each other
during the discussions and share the facilitating processes. The dialogues have enabled the role
model men to interact more closely with adolescents, understand their challenges and explore the
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physical, emotional and psychological changes that adolescents and youth undergo, enabling them to
open up spaces and freely interact with peers and adults. A total of 725 people comprising the
Community Based Facilitators, role model men, adult men, adolescents and local council leaders
participated and shared experiences and challenges facing men in addressing SRH/MCH problems.
Awareness trainings with leaders (administrative, political, traditional and religious leaders)
65 administrative, political, traditional and religious leaders from the sub-counties of Awach and Koch
Goma were engaged during the first year of implementation and involved in reviewing and
understanding the project initiative in order to rally their support and ensure they encourage the role
model men in their communities. Together with the leaders, CARE staff and Community Based
Facilitators, the team discussed SRMCH governance indicators that would help them monitor the
initiative and provide appropriate support to the role model men. The leaders proposed a multi-
stakeholder platform that should bring the men, duty bearers and other players together to discuss and
find solutions to challenges that the role model men will be uncovering in their communities. They also
proposed support to ensure that these spaces are institutionalized and expanded as currently the
reproductive health working groups mostly target practitioners and stakeholders directly involved in
health provisioning.
Leaders in Action Meetings
Leaders in action meetings (10 meetings, attended by 293 participants (182 males, 111 females) have
been conducted in the sub counties to enable role model men to provide feedback to their
communities on the work they have done, their successes and challenges. The leaders in action
meetings were conducted in the sub counties of Bungatira, Koch Goma, Patiko and Alero. These
meetings brought together political, religious, opinion leaders and women’s leaders of VSLA groups.
The role model men regularly share with the leaders their activities with the 10 households and the
community. Together, they have been able to explore the various local government policies and seek
support for the implementation of other government framework policies, such as ensuring men’s
involvement and support to their spouses in accessing health services. These meetings also provide
opportunities for various leaders to update each other and provide feedback on challenges within their
jurisdiction. The feedback sessions have created spaces for improved dialogues and relationships
among the leaders and role model men. The meetings also result in information-sharing and
discussions around challenges as communities can now directly and more often interact with the
leaders on reproductive and SRMCH issues.
Result 3 – Health & Education Service providers are more aware of demand based obstacles and
actively engage to mitigate deterrents – thereby increasing access to service
Two (2) community feedback sessions and health service forums were conducted (one for the sub
counties of Awach, Patiko and Bungatira and one for Koro, Bobi and Koch Ongako). A total of 60
participants (36 men and 24 women) comprising health workers, the role model men, VHTs (Village
Health Teams) and community leaders attended the dialogues. They discussed issues such as safe
delivery and support from men to their spouses regarding ANC, based on the inputs they received
during household dialogues, men engage sessions and leaders in action meetings. This has
contributed to addressing service providers’ obstacles hindering access to SRH/MCH services. Some
of the obstacles that were being cited included stigmatisation and exclusion of women who do not
attend maternity health services with their spouses and polite communication of health workers with
their patients. In Awach sub-county, health workers and role model men held joint community
dialogues at the health facility during clinic days. They also discussed how access and service
provision can be made easier through joint collaboration efforts of the various stakeholders.
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Project results/ project status
Intervention logic Indicator as
planned (target)
Indicator actual
status as at date
(achievement)
% achieved Sources of
Verification
Deviations/ comments/
observations
Overall Objective
Contribute to improved
SRMCH amongst the target
population
(Changes of) Assumptions
N/A
Project Purpose
Overcome the barriers to
accessibility of SRMCH
services that arise from the
social constructs,
specifically gender norms
20% increase in
reported service
utilization in
participating
households
To be established
when the baseline is
completed.
The majority of the
participating households
now know the importance
of and/or have
increasingly started to
use family planning,
access ANC and general
reproductive health
services.
Role model men
referral reports.
Testimonies from
the households.
The baseline values have not
been established yet (see below
under “Evaluation”).
(Changes of) Assumptions
N/A
Expected Result 1
All members of the
participating households
have the required, age
appropriate, knowledge
about SRMCH issues to
support family members in
accessing services
50% increase in
knowledge of
participating
households
members on key,
age appropriate,
SRMCH issues
A training guide has
been developed, 100
role model men trained
and coached on
SRMCH issues. Other
materials, including
posters, flyers and
other brochures have
not yet been
developed.
While the KAP survey
has not been conducted
yet, many of the targeted
households are
knowledgeable on the
discussed information
related to family planning,
parenthood, men and
reproductive health roles,
SRH.
Household
members
interviewed,
testimonies by
household
members.
When baseline information and
KAP survey tools are agreed
upon after the participatory
research, information will be
collected for this indicator.
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Major activity planned Current status as at 31st August Deviations/ comments
Activity 1.2: Training of role model men A five day training took place. 100 role model men
participated and were trained on how men and their
spouses spend their time in a day, healthy
sexuality, family planning, looking to the past and
planning the future, the legacy of the father, family
life and communication, parents by accident,
alcoholism, child rights and protection, gender, non
violence/gender-based violence (GBV), pregnancy
care giving, “mother of my child and me”, parent to
child communication, safe motherhood and sex
education.
GWED-G conducted follow-up trainings for the role
model men in August for 6 days in three sub
counties (each 2 days). Topics focused on
advocacy skills, facilitation skills and personal
hygiene. Participants also shared their experiences.
The role model men have increased knowledge on the
topics covered during the training according to their
testimonies.
Expected Result 2
Men and adolescent boys
demonstrate supportive
behaviours with regard to
household members
accessing SRMCH services
20% increase in
supportive
behaviours of
participating male
household
members, as
reported by male
households
members
Male and adolescent
household members
report increased
supportive behaviours
of male household
members after the
dialogues.
Men are increasingly
accompanying their
spouses to the health
centres for ANC,
delivery and other
services.
KAP survey to be
conducted with
establishment of baseline
data.
Male engagement
dialogues reports
Health unit
information system
Household member
interviews
Traditional and cultural beliefs
and norms in which reproductive
health and SRMCH are
considered part of women’s roles
are still observed in the
community.
20% increase in
supportive
Female household
members reported
To be established after
the baseline values are
Households
interviews
Men need continuous
sensitization and support to
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behaviours of
participating male
household
members, as
reported by female
household
members
increased supportive
behaviours of male
household members
during the dialogues.
established. (dialogues)
Focus group
Discussions
Testimonies from
local leaders
maintain the supportive
behaviours shown.
Major activity planned Current status as at 31st August Deviations/ comments
Activity 2.1: Conducting Households Dialogues –
monthly visits to 1000 Household
A total of 2,747 household visits were made
reaching 9,366 persons (4,132 males, 5,234
females). As part of the household dialogues, 5
meetings were conducted targeting adolescent
boys and girls to understand issues related to
communication between men and their children.
The parents have problems discussing sexuality issues
with their children. They still believe that mothers should
talk to their daughters and fathers to their sons.
Activity 2.2: Conducting male engagement
dialogue sessions
21 male engagement dialogues sessions were held.
725 local leaders, adolescents as well as role
model men participated in the dialogues.
Myths and misconceptions around family planning and
infertility continue to abound and are a source of
uncertainty especially with reference to the use of family
planning methods.
Activity 2.3: Awareness training with leaders
(traditional, religious, political etc.)
65 local council leaders, traditional and religious
leaders rallied to seek support for role model work.
Leaders discussed governance indicators and
defined roles they could engage in to support the
initiative.
Leaders are willing to support the role model men in
carrying out activities on SRH.
Activity 2.4: Conducting leaders in action
meetings
10 leaders in action meetings were held, 293
leaders attended (182 males, 111 females) from
Koch Goma, Ongako, Lamogi, Bobbi, Bungatira
and Awach sub-counties. The role model men
shared with the leaders their activities within the 10
households and the community.
Leaders report the constant support and their reduced
workload as a result of role model men’s work in the
community.
Expected Result 3:
Health and Education
service providers are more
20% of health
service providers
that demonstrate
Health service
providers engaged in
the dialogue are
Baseline values to be
established and KAP
survey to be conducted.
Health workers
interviews, focus
group discussions,
Communication problems and
negative perceptions still exist on
how the health workers treat
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aware of demand driven
obstacles and actively
engage to mitigate
deterrents - thereby
increasing access to
services
changes /
improvements in
how service is
offered
demonstrating changes
in attitude,
commitments and
support to the
community.
testimonies from
the households who
have accessed
services from the
health centres.
mothers seeking services.
Health workers have committed to
refrain from using abusive
languages.
Major activity planned Current status as at 31st August
Activity 3.1: Community feedback sessions and
Health services forums
Health workers, role model men and community
leaders participated in 2 feedback sessions in
Bobbi, Koro and Ongako sub counties. A total of 60
participants (36 men and 24 women) attended and
shared their experiences on SRMCH.
There were only few sessions given other competing
priorities for the different stakeholders.
Activity 3.2: Training Health Service providers Activity not yet conducted.
Activity 3.2: Connecting Teachers and Parents. Not yet conducted
(Changes of) Assumptions
for Expected Results and
changes, if any
Baseline See below under
“Evaluation”: The
quantitative baseline
survey will be
conducted after the
participatory research.
The participatory research is
funded by CARE Austria.
However, in order to add more
resources to the logistics of
organizing both a participatory
research and a quantitative
baseline survey, the budget lines
for the refresher training of role
model men, household dialogues
and male engage dialogues will
be slightly reduced (3%-7%). This
will not affect the expected
deliverables.
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Monitoring, Project management (difficulties encountered, management
measures)
Difficulties encountered during project implementation and management measures applied to solve
the problems, e.g. changed project environment, target group, local partner organization and other
local parties involved and/ or other difficulties encountered that have led to a change in project
planning. Lessons learnt as a result and how they have been taken into consideration for further
project implementation.
Status of implementation of recommendations made by ADA and/ or the respective Coordination
Office (e.g. EIA and gender assessment, external project progress analysis).
Documentation/ publications/ visibility: what activities have been carried out to publish project results
and lessons learnt?
Key challenges/difficulties encountered during project implementation:
A few challenges were faced during the implementation:
The project implementation started later than initially planned due to late contract issuance.
As communicated to the ADA, the Voluntary Initiative Service Organization (VISO) that was
originally identified to implement the initiative with CARE was replaced following a number of
structural changes that directly affected their ability to implement projects. Taking on a new
partner, Gulu Women’s Economic Development and Globalization (GWED-G), and orientating
them on the modalities of implementation also impacted on the startup and implementation
progress.
At the community level, women have limitations to participate and be represented in public
spaces. Within their homes and communities they do not articulate issues that affect them with
confidence. This is even worse for sexual and reproductive health issues as they are considered
very private. This was noticed during household dialogues where women mostly agree to what
their spouses have suggested.
Among the elderly in the household and community, strong cultural beliefs that reinforce gender
inequalities such as valuing early marriages and teenage pregnancy still prevail. This explains
among other factors why there is a high rate of early marriage and forced early marriage. The
health workers have reported in some areas underage girls who may need specialized support.
Most communities in Northern Uganda are patriarchal. Decision-making solely lies with the male
or elderly people who have negative attitudes towards family planning and other components of
SRMCH.
Due to the patriarchal nature of the Acholi homes, most role model men find it still challenging to
freely talk about sexuality topics to the elderly men because it is considered a taboo in their
culture.
Traditional beliefs are still a major hindrance factor as many prefer to go to the native and witch
doctors instead of going to the hospital for appropriate SRH services.
April-June was a season for cultivation and harvesting, during which people are involved in
agricultural work. This affected the hours of dialogue sessions, making them end very late.
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Staff reported difficulty in accessing some villages due to poor road networks as a result of poor
management of the roads and too much rain.
Some couples share medicines when the man refuses to access services. For example, a lady
testified “I have been on antiretrovirals (ARVs) since I was tested positive during ANC. My spouse
has never tested but keeps stealing my drugs”.
Some men and women in the community still abuse alcohol. During meetings and sessions, some
came very drunk and were unable to concentrate.
Some of the management measures which have been applied to address the difficulties
encountered were the following:
Health workers have been encouraged to conduct outreaches in hard to reach areas so that every
individual has access to SRMCH services.
GWED-G staff discusses convenient times and schedules meetings after the communities return
from their fields for the dialogues to start.
The religious leaders and local council leaders are also encouraged to attend meetings so that
they understand the essence behind family planning in order to remove the myths and
misconceptions that some leaders have on the use of family planning.
Health workers encourage women and men to access services as couples, e.g. going together for
HIV counselling and testing in order to avoid issues of men having to share ARVs with their wife.
Gulu district has come out with a GBV bill to re-enforce the penal code act of 1950 and the related
amendments of 2006. Also, a draft ordinance against production, selling and consumption of
alcohol has been brought for council’s first hearing. This, when approved, will legislate against
early marriages and alcohol abuse in the community.
Lessons learnt that have been taken into consideration for further project implementation:
Continuous sharing of information and counselling of household members by the role model men
has reduced the rate of domestic violence at household level, leading to productive community
collaboration.
Cooperation exhibited by the household members allowing the role model men to talk about
SRMCH to their families has increased knowledge of people and understanding of issues affecting
them which are related to reproduction.
The good partnership that exists with the local government leaders, the service providers,
traditional leaders, opinion leaders and political leaders has given a very good support to the role
model men and Community Based Facilitators working in the project. This also reinforces project
sustainability. Community sensitization on alcohol consumption is jointly conducted by the role
model men and local leaders, for example in Pawel, Patiko and Ibakara in Koro Sub County.
Involving the religious leaders enables them to support their families and communities to access
SRH services.
Inviting health care providers to conduct outreaches where community dialogues are organized
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helps bring services nearer to the people. For example COOPEE health centre II joined the role
model men during their dialogue and carried out HIV testing for 43 people (29 females, 14 males)
and counselled 51 people in Bungatira sub county.
Evaluation
In case evaluation measures have been carried out during the reporting period please provide a short
summary, including relevant findings and recommendations. In case no evaluation measures have
been carried out during the reporting period, please indicate the date when they will be carried out and
what the actual state of preparations is. How will the evaluation results be taken into consideration for
the further project implementation?
At the beginning of the project, the first activities included stakeholder meetings and a mapping of key
sub counties for intervention. The project team held discussions with various stakeholders and
beneficiaries, including role model men, women and young mothers, in order to understand their
attitudes, knowledge and practices in relation to SRMCH in their communities. Many challenges were
mentioned and it appeared impossible to conduct a quantitative baseline survey without first collecting
qualitative data to better understand men’s knowledge, attitudes and practices around SRMCH.
It was decided to conduct a participatory research, funded by CARE Austria. This research started in
August 2015 and shall end at the beginning of 2016 (processes might be delayed due to the upcoming
elections). As mentioned in the consultant’s inception report, for the purpose of this research project,
role model men will be the main participants, “playing a role as co-researchers and as such working in
partnerships with professional researchers and with CARE staff members. In other words, we aim at
creating a collaborative process based on the recognition that each actor brings to the research
process a unique perspective and expertise. No one can understand better than role model men the
subjective experiences of boys and men in their communities with respect to SRH issues. They either
went through these events or are living in such a reality in the present moment. Professionals working
in CARE and external professional researchers also bring their own experiences and research skills
which in synergy with role model men can create a meaningful and high quality research study.
Breaking the traditional subject-object division in research, (...) role model men research themselves,
exploring their own attitudes and practices and reflecting on how social norms about gender and
manhood impact on their communities in relation to issues of sexualilty and reproduction. That is, to
respond to the agreed research questions a group of role model men will collect and analyze
information (attitudes, beliefs, perceptions and practices) about SRH from them and from other role
model men”.
Although the final framing of the research will be done with the role model men, it is anticipated that
the following questions will be at the core of the study design:
1. What are men’s knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding SRH and MCH?
2. What factors inhibit men and boys from accessing SRH services?
3. What factors prevent men from supporting their female partners to access SRH services?
4. What roles do men think they should play in SRH and MCH?
5. What are the beliefs and attitudes of health center workers about men’s involvement in SRH
and MCH?
The quantitative baseline survey to measure the logical framework indicators will be conducted after
this participatory research. Both surveys will be shared with the ADA.
Contract No. 2729-02/2014
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Sustainability
According to chapter no. 7 of the project description
GWED-G signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the local district government to partner
with the local government structures and other NGOs which are doing similar activities. Their services
can now be utilized by the project’s beneficiaries. For example, organizations like Marie Stopes
International and the Straight Talk Foundation respectively offer services specializing mainly in family
planning and in comprehensive abortion care. Thanks to the MoU, project beneficiaries can be linked
to access these services during but also after the project.
Moreover, the project organized sensitization meetings and dialogues with leaders and health workers
on SRH/MCH issues affecting the community. This is done so that the leaders and health workers can
take the lead in advocating for SRH uptake and utilization, even after the implementation of the
project.
Finally, CARE International and GWED-G are strengthening the capacities of role model men. They
are now able to offer free services, conduct household dialogues and sensitize communities on
SRMCH issues. Leaders have also been sensitized to give support to the role model men in carrying
out their work. Using all these structures will contribute to the sustainability of the project beyond the
implementation period.
Perspectives
Changes and adjustments necessary with regard to the following reporting period (see chapter no. 6 of
the project document).
As mentioned above, slight changes are proposed in the Budget (see attached):
Budget line 1.3 (Refresher trainings for role model men): a reduction by 1,142.86 EUR (3,6 %)
Budget line 2.1 (Household dialogues): a reduction by 1,428.57 EUR (7,6 %)
Budget line 2.2 (Male engagement dialogues) : a reduction by 1,428.57 EUR (7 %)
Budget line 8.1 (Baseline survey): an increase by 4,000 EUR (116 %)
The changes will support the processes to conduct the baseline for this project (participatory
qualitative research financed by CARE Austria and quantitative survey financed by the project budget).
Annexes of the progress report
- Financial report
- Confirmation of the interim financial statement
- Audit report
- Budget amendment sheet
Contract No. 2729-02/2014
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Request for next disbursement
Summary project
budget (relevant for
accounting) according
to contract
Amount approved so
far
Amount presented for
verification as at due
date
Remaining budget
333.333,88 EUR
0 EUR (first report)
51.771,40 EUR
281.562,49 EUR
Request for disbursement for the next accounting period: 144.082,58 EUR.
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