Nepal Evaluation and Assessment Team

Background

The global development communities and governments are making efforts to achieve Millennium Development Goals by 2015. There is a growing need of systematic efforts in monitoring and evaluating development programs to enhance accountability, transparency and governance in developing countries like Nepal. In this context, a team of professionals with experiences in monitoring and evaluating development programs realized the need to establish a separate organization with specializations in development program monitoring, evaluation and assessments possessing relevant innovations, expertise, dedication and resources.

Nepal Evaluation and Assessment Team (NEAT) works extensively in exploring and developing knowledge base on qualitative as well as quantitative aspects of evaluation and assessments. NEAT aims to bring modern innovations and approaches in study methodologies in a way that various development agencies will benefit from it.

Broader organizational goal

The long term goal of NEAT is to contribute in strengthening of development efforts to meet development objectives of the country by providing technical inputs in evaluations and assessments for Government, Donors, INGOs, NGOs and other organizations.

Objectives

The general objectives of NEAT are:

• Develop knowledge base on monitoring, evaluation and assessment along with dissemination of relevant experience and learning;
• Conduct monitoring and evaluation related studies for various organizations (government, donors, INGOs, NGOs and business organizations);
• Contribute in bringing and practicing meaningful innovations in program monitoring and evaluations; and
• Help development agencies in program planning and development, identification of performance indicators, and establish result based monitoring and evaluation.

Experiences

NEAT was established recently and possesses less organizational experiences. However, it was established by the team of professionals having loads of experiences and expertise in designing and conducting evaluations, monitoring (baseline, mid-term, and end line) and assessments. Key recent activities of NEAT include:

• A case study on performance assessment of Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs) conducted with support from Resource Center for Primary Health Care (RECPHEC) during September – October, 2011. The assessment included survey among FCHVs from Saptari and Gorkha districts, and in depth FGDs with the volunteers. The study relied on qualitative data for the analysis.

• A study on irrational use of medical diagnostic and its impact on people’s access to health services conducted with support from Resource Center and Primary Health Care (RECPHEC) during September – October, 2011. The study involved survey among health service beneficiaries, interviews with various stakeholders, and FGDs with a group of community people. The study report is expected to form basis for people’s health rights advocacy.

• Annual Monitoring and Evaluation of Quality Education through Disaster Resilient Schools in Kailali district of Nepal implemented by Action Aid Nepal in partnership with FAYA Nepal with financial support of Vodafone, Qatar Foundation (Reaching Out to Asia) for the period of September – October, 2011. The evaluation study reviewed the first year performance of the project in line with its objectives and output/outcome indicators. It utilized qualitative data collection and analysis as primary basis for evaluation.

• Impact Evaluation Study of Education for Youth and Youth for Peace and Development Project implemented by Underprivileged Children’s Educational Programmes (UCEP) with financial support from Save the Children, Nepal for the period of August – September, 2011. The evaluation study adopted DAC method of evaluation backed up by Most Significant Change (MSC) techniques. The evaluation study included field visits, interview with key stakeholders, FGDs with beneficiaries, and consultation/brainstorming at central level.

• External Evaluation of Teacher Training Initiatives in Nepal commissioned by UGESP (Underprivileged Girls Education Support Program) under Center for Democracy and Development (CDD) during August – September, 2011. The evaluation included assessment of the effectiveness and impact of the teacher training program. Key activities within the evaluation included interview with trainer, organizers, school management officials, and trainees.

• Development of resource book on “Promoting Rights of Schools in Nepal” commissioned by ActionAid Nepal for the period of July – September, 2011. The study included review of international document on promoting rights in schools along with many other documents which includes constitution, and education acts/rules. The document was translated to Nepali language and brought under discussion among various stakeholders within and outside Action Aid Nepal.

• Baseline Survey of Citizen Initiatives for Education Rights (CIER) Project implemented in five districts (Dhanusha, Kapilbastu, Dang, Baitadi, and Bajura) commissioned by Action Aid Nepal. The survey was conducted during the period of December, 2010 to February, 2011. The survey covered around 80 school included in the study involving both qualitative and quantitative data. NEAT provided support in designing baseline survey, developing methodology and tools, orienting the project officials, analyzing the collected information, and drafting the report.

• A Baseline survey of Quality Education through Disaster Resilient Schools in Kailali district implemented by Action Aid Nepal/FAYA Nepal and funded by Qatar Foundation – Reaching Out to Asia. The survey was carried out during December, 2010 to January, 2011 period. The survey, being conducted in 75 schools, included information collection from 75 schools, respective VDCs, FGDs with mothers, children and teachers, consultation with SMC/PTA and mini-survey in Badi and freed Kamaiya community. NEAT provided support in designing baseline survey, developing methodology and tools, orienting the project officials, analyzing the collected information, and drafting the report.

• A Field Study on Essential Health Care and Maternity Services commissioned by Resource Center for Primary Health Care (RECPHEC)/International Health Partnership (IHP) during December, 2010 – January, 2011. The study included survey of 750 households from five different districts (Bajura, Salyan, Myagdi, Saptari, Jhapa), information collection from 25 health posts, FGDs with beneficiaries of health facilities, interview with CSOs and health professionals, and central level consultations/discussions. The study included qualitative and quantitative analysis of the data.

• An External Evaluation of Right to Primary Education (RIPE) Project commissioned by Action Aid Nepal during August – September, 2010. The study included evaluation of quality education targeted activities carried out by Action Aid International Nepal and its partner organizations in around 50 schools of four districts (Baitadi, Dang, Kapilbastu, Dhanusha). The evaluation study included activities like FGDs with school stakeholders, interview with project officials, collection of school level data, and central level consultation meetings. The study included quantitative analysis of project indicators and qualitative analysis of the discussion findings.

• Publication and dissemination of Development Observer every week since February, 2011. NEAT publishes and distributes weekly newsletter called “The Development Observer” which compiles various news and developments on various aspects of development including education, health, equity/inclusion, disaster and climate change. The observer discusses one development issue each week, and also includes value added section contributed by various development professionals. By end of August, 23 issues of development observers have been published and disseminated to wider audience including donors, INGOs, NGOs and other individuals. The newsletter can be subscribed in www.neatnepal.org and downloaded in: www.neatnepal.org/download.

Approach

• Right based approach to development
• Participatory approach to monitoring and evaluation
• Independent evaluation
• Appreciative Inquiry
• Evaluation as stock taking assignment