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4.1.1 Conduct end-line monitoring and assess achievement of project outcomes
4.1.2 Participatory project review
4.1.3 Conduct process evaluation
Tools and resources helpful to supporting this step
4.1.1 Conduct end-line monitoring and assess achievement of project outcomes
Carry out final end-line monitoring on all indicators of animal welfare and behaviour addressed by the project in accordance with monitoring plan. Once data is analysed, compare end-line results with baseline assessment results to determine the extent to which project objectives were achieved and preconditions for adopting and maintaining the desired behaviours have been addressed (e.g. barriers and motivators to desired behaviours). Identify successes as well as underperforming outcomes for further follow-up discussion, reflection and learning with communities.
4.1.2 Participatory project review
Organize community meetings to present and discuss monitoring results with community members and CCAs, assess outcomes in terms of successes and underperformance and any recommendations for how any underperforming outcomes could have been improved. In addition, reflect on changing trends in the welfare of their animals and their behaviours, as well as reflect on the impact to their lives because of involvement with the project and associated animal welfare improvements.
Consider using the Before and now change analysis (T11b) tool to support this process.
4.1.3 Conduct process evaluation
Conduct an evaluation of the project using internal or external evaluators, with preference for using impartial third-party evaluators whenever feasible. These process evaluations are particularly essential if desired behavioural change is not achieved as it will enable you to assess whether there is anything you could do to improve the project implementation strategy or processes to improve outcomes, can inform your decision as to whether you continue to support the project using a different strategy.
Evaluations should seek to assess the following in consultation with relevant stakeholders:
- The appropriateness and effectiveness of the processes employed to:
- improve and sustain animal welfare and the adoption of desired behaviour change,
- promote participatory engagement and empowerment of communities, and
- promote gender equality and safeguarding of vulnerable groups.
- Stakeholder satisfaction with project. Stakeholders may include CCAs, target peer groups, partners and local animal resource and service providers as relevant. Consider assessing stakeholder perceptions related to the benefits and value of the project both in terms of animals and people, overall project accountability and transparency, satisfaction with the project/supporting organization, as well as recommendations for improvement.
Based on results of monitoring and evaluation and the participatory project review, determine which of the following options is most appropriate and feasible depending on your assessment:
- Withdrawal Support and Exit: this option is recommended when:
a. The desired behavioural change and related animal welfare improvements have been achieved, or
b. When the desired behavioural change and related animal welfare improvements have not been achieved/seem unlikely to be sustained and feasibility of achieving them is unlikely.
- Continue Support and Do Not Exit: this option is recommended when desired behavioural change and related animal welfare improvements have not been achieved or are unlikely to be sustained due to issues with strategy or organizational capacity, and the project/organization has the necessary resources to continue supporting the project. In such cases, it is recommended you build the necessary capacity and/or adapt the community engagement strategy and re-plan in collaboration with the community to continue working to achieve desired results.
Evaluation results and next steps in terms of gradual withdrawal of support or the organizations’ desire to continue support should be shared and discussed with the animal owning community and other relevant stakeholders for full transparency and accountability.
Link to References Cited
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4.2.1 Gradual phase out of external support and project exit
4.2.2 Follow-up monitoring to assess sustainability of change
4.2.1 Gradual phase out of external support and project exit
Once the project is ready to exit, it is recommended to withdraw support gradually, establishing mechanisms for ongoing light touch support for 1+ years, or as your project resources and capacity permit. It is important to recognize that without ongoing incentives or compensation from the project, CCAs often do not continue directly supporting their peers through ongoing activities. However, we have found that their involvement with the project often results in their internalization of compassion for animals and animal owning households and has resulted in their continued indirect support and encouragement of animal welfare improvements within their communities. Through CCAs and their target peers’ behavioural modelling and built capacity, the proliferation of knowledge, skills, and social norms related to animal welfare can continue to be maintained and shared throughout their communities.
Consider adopting the following key steps to support a gradual withdrawal from the project area:
- Hold discussions with CCAs and their target peers and other relevant stakeholders about how they can continue to support each other and their broader community upon the projects withdrawal of support. Consider including discussions on sustainable financing to promote continuation of any work desired by stakeholders as appropriate.
- Conduct outreach with project stakeholders as well as the broader community to inform them about the project ending and withdrawal of project support, as well as promote public recognition of CCAs and any other relevant stakeholders’ efforts and expertise (e.g. government agencies, service providers) to promote their continued utilization by their community.
- Leave essential resources with CCAs or other relevant stakeholders as appropriate to support their continued promotion of animal welfare improvements within their community (e.g. posters, training resources).
- Ensure necessary linkages have been made between CCAs, target peers, and animal related resource and service providers and/or other relevant stakeholders (e.g. government agencies) to promote ongoing coordination of support for each other and the sharing of key messages. This should include the development and dissemination of a phone directory of CCAs, target peers, animal related resource and service providers and any other relevant stakeholders, which can also help the project team coordinate any follow up visits and/or periodic educational activities as needed.
- Establish mechanisms for the community to contact your organization to share its concerns and highlight any emergent welfare issues. Consider the feasibility of establishing a one-way toll-free text/call option the community can use to contact your organization.
- Schedule periodic communications with CCAs, target peer groups, and local animal resource and service providers either through mobile communications or site visits to discuss any challenges to the maintenance of desired behaviours and animal welfare improvements and provide support as needed to enable relevant parties to address them.
- Conduct an annual CCA retreat to share success stories and discuss challenges and solutions to any issues faced during the project, and which may be anticipated upon project exit, and to celebrate and generate continued buy in for their participation, leadership, and lasting commitment to improving animal welfare in their communities.
- Consider including outreach activities to support continued maintenance of desired behaviours, provide reminders to action at relevant times (e.g. regular animal health checks), and/or continue fostering social norms to encourage the long-term sustainability of behavioural change as appropriate (e.g. radio or TV shows, posters, mobile messaging etc.). The Societal Outreach and Campaigns Approach provides guidance on developing effective outreach strategies if needed.
4.2.2 Follow-up monitoring to assess sustainability of change
Animal welfare improvement projects are only truly a success if the desired behaviours continue to be practiced by target groups and the related improvements in animal welfare are sustained over the long term. As such, it is essential to conduct follow-up monitoring for a period after all support has been withdrawn. This will enable the project to use learnings from results to adapt its implementation strategies as needed, and potentially re-engage the community to support maintenance of desired change. Consider continuing monitoring activities on a yearly basis for up to 2-3 years before determining the extent to which the project has been a success.
It is recommended you develop post-exit re-entry criteria for providing spot interventions to address underperforming indicators identified through monitoring. For example, you may consider providing additional project support if results show two or three indicators are not being maintained, or if any indictor falls below a certain limit of acceptance. Continue periodic monitoring to assess improvement in underperforming indicators because of any re-entry activities.
Link to References Cited