Final Evaluation – Education for Women and Children (EWC) Sudan

Background: The Sudan intervention was located in three of the displaced resettlement areas outside of Khartoum; Umbadda, Kerery, and Haj Yousif localities. ADRA has been operating in these localities since 1994 with interventions aiming to improve the self-reliance of IDP women and their families through activities such as literacy, credit and loan scheme, HIV/AIDS campaigns etc. Purpose/objective: • To increase the level of literacy of 2250 participants (1250 and women 1000 children able to read, write and do simple numeracy)• Reintegrate 600 children into school• To increase livelihood coping mechanisms for 1440 low income IDPs through skills training• To increase the level of awareness of 1500 women on the prevalence and prevention measures for HIV/AIDS.• To improve environmental reclamation through awareness raising campaigns for 2250 literacy Methodology: Various data collection methodologies were used, including review of project documents, focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and observation. Household surveys were conducted based on a sample size of 300 households. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyse the data.Key findings:• literacy in the target area increased by 31%, with 77% of female respondents demonstrating a sufficient skills level.• 774 women and 2167 children successfully completed the literacy/numeracy programme• 967 of these children reintegrated into school, 340 of these being girls.• 1659 women received vocational training through the EWC programme, with 137 (8% of participants) employed or having started their own business.• A positive change concerning HIV/AIDS misconceptions was on average 50% over baseline. • 2250 beneficiaries taking part in 33 cleaning campaigns outside Khartoum and planting 2000 seedlings. • 71% of respondents are environmentally aware, compared to a target of 60%.  Recommendations: • The literacy shelter construction, though cheap, was not sustainable in the Sudanese environment. Better quality construction is needed, which will in turn avoid extra renovation costs.• Of the nine learning shelters that were visited by the consultant, none of them had any ADRA branding. It is recommended that in the future, branding be made mandatory.• Beneficiaries should be consulted as to what time of the day is best suited for carrying out training/education activities.• Learning shelters should be child friendly and include toilets. This was not the case in the program. Comments from the organisation, if any: • The ADRA Norway new programme has a core component on creating child-friendly learning environments based on UNICEF standards. Separate toilets for girls and boys is a basic part of this approach.• ADRA Norway is currently working on a branding policy, which we will share with our implementing partners.• ADRA will consider the possibility of having evening literacy/vocational training as there is a lot of demand for these activities, some need to undertake important activities during the day.