Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ABIDJAN555
2007-05-24 18:18:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Abidjan
Cable title:  

MONITORING AND EVALUATION REPORT FOR IRC COTE

Tags:  PREF PHUM IV 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO5889
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHAB #0555/01 1441818
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 241818Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY ABIDJAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3014
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0553
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ABIDJAN 000555 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR PRM/AFR/CACHANG
GENEVA FOR RMA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF PHUM IV
SUBJECT: MONITORING AND EVALUATION REPORT FOR IRC COTE
D'IVOIRE: SPRMCO06CA201

REF: ABIDJAN 293

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ABIDJAN 000555

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR PRM/AFR/CACHANG
GENEVA FOR RMA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF PHUM IV
SUBJECT: MONITORING AND EVALUATION REPORT FOR IRC COTE
D'IVOIRE: SPRMCO06CA201

REF: ABIDJAN 293


1. Summary: The Abidjan-based Refugee Coordinator
(RefCoord) for West Africa conducted a monitoring and
evaluation (M&E) assessment of the International Rescue
Committee's (IRC) PRM-funded project, "Durable Solutions for
Liberian Refugees in Cote d'Ivoire" in February and May 2007.
RefCoord was disappointed with IRC's progress in certain
areas but it appears to be on track to turn over most
activities to local authorities by the end of the project.
Although IRC has been a solid PRM partner in this region over
the last several years, RefCoord did not see any specific
critical needs that would warrant continued PRM funding to
IRC at this time. End Summary.


2. The Abidjan-based Refugee Coordinator (RefCoord) for West
Africa conducted a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) assessment
of the International Rescue Committee's (IRC) PRM-funded
project, "Durable Solutions for Liberian Refugees in Cote
d'Ivoire" in February and May 2007. RefCoord traveled to
project sites in Tabou, Georgetown, Gozon, and Yeouli.
RefCoord met IRC staff, Maurizio Crivellaro (Country
Director),Kakule Dieudonne (Head of Office, IRC Tabou),
Valery Biyiriri (IRC Tabou),Blasius Abonge (IRC Tabou),
Anthony Harmon (Education Assistant, IRC Tabou),Virginie
Tanou (GBV Manager, IRC Tabou),Beatrice Kouadio (Wat/San
Manager, IRC Tabou),and Germain Chabi (Agricultural Monitor,
IRC Tabou). RefCoord also discussed the IRC project with Dr.
Mahamadou Toure, Head of Field Office for UNHCR Tabou.

OBJECTIVES AND INDICATORS
--------------


3. Objective 1: To increase access to and improve
sustainable health care and improve the knowledge, attitudes
and practices regarding maternal and child health.

- Construction of Gozon Health Center completed.
- Five of the six health posts have been supplied with an
initial stock of drugs. However, procurement of medical
supplies and equipment for the sixth health post, the Gozon
Health Center, has not been done and the Center has not been
functional since January. IRC staff stated they believed the
health supplies would arrive before the end of May 2007. IRC
expects to complete an MOU with the Ministry of Health for
transfer of their facilities before the end of June;
- IRC is not on target to meet the indicator for vaccines by

the end of the project, although they should be close to the
50% goal in most categories;
- IRC in only reporting the number of deliveries done in
health posts and at home.
- IRC stated that the KAP survey will be completed at the
end of the project.


4. Objective 2: To reduce the risk of waterborne and
hygiene-related diseases in areas of significant integration
of Liberian refugees and ensure community self-reliance and
capacity of communities to manage core environmental health
activities.

- IRC is not able to state if water is safe and free of
faecal coliforms as described in indicators one and two. IRC
staff said they had no idea when the testing would be done as
they were waiting for a testing kit from their Man office;
- IRC reported they will meet their indicator for the
construction and rehabilitation of wells;
- IRC stated they have constructed 70 family latrines and 4
VIP latrines. IRC staff said they will not be able to
complete the fifth VIP latrine by the end of the project;
- IRC will measure the impact of the sensitization campaigns
on the importance of hand washing during the KAP survey at
the end of the project;
- IRC staff believe they will meet the indicator on the
number of established Environmental Health Committees
(currently over 50% - target: 75%).


5. Objective 3: To improve access to and quality of
education for Liberian students in Ivoirian schools and to
improve knowledge and practices of youth as related to
HIV/AIDS prevention.

- Only 37% of the remaining Liberian refugee students (366
out of 987 registered at the beginning of the school year)
are presently enrolled in Ivoirian schools (target: 50%);
- IRC will not meet the target for classroom construction.
Although their second quarterly report indicates IRC decided
not to construct additional classrooms in Gozon due to a lack

ABIDJAN 00000555 002 OF 003


of community interest, it appears they instead used funds
from Gozon to cover additional costs in other villages where
classrooms were built rather than to identify new communities
as reported in January;
- IRC has trained all 5 parent-teacher committees (COGES) to
establish and maintain a functioning revolving fund;
- Condom use will be assessed in the KAP survey at the end
of the project.


6. Objective 4: To ensure a suitable protection environment
for separated and/or at-risk children, accelerate
cross-border reunification, and find durable solutions for
children who are not reunified with their families.

- IRC reports their caseload of separated children has
declined from 35 at the beginning of the project to 30. They
have not received any new cases since the start of the
project;
- IRC reports that the local Red Cross is not capable to
take on child caseloads and identified a different local
partner, the Child Rights and Protection Committee (CPD). It
is doubtful, however, that they will meet this indicator
before project end;
- IRC will not meet the indicator to train 260 local
officials on child rights and child protection, although IRC
staff said they will exceed 100 trained officials;
- IRC has not received any cases of child survivors of
commercial sexual exploitation since the start of the project;
- The indicator on Best Interest Determination (BID) was
supposed to be met by December 2006. IRC staff explained at
length what they were doing to develop this process, but
RefCoord doubts they will meet this indicator.


7. Objective 5: To prevent and respond to GBV through
increased community awareness and strengthened support
services for GBV survivors while building local capacity.

- IRC has met or will meet all of their GBV indicators. The
KAP survey to be conducted at the end of the project will
determine the number of persons who can identify two health
consequences of GBV (target: 50%).

PROGRAM ISSUES
--------------


8. Cross-cutting Goals: IRC activities in Tabou put
particular focus on women and children. IRC is also
responsible for distributions to vulnerable groups with UNHCR
funding in Tabou. IRC has tried to elicit interest from the
local authorities on the hand over and transfer or
responsibilities for their project activities.


9. Coordination: IRC works closely with UNHCR and local
authorities in conducting all project activities.


10. SPHERE Standards: IRC is using Ivoirian national
standards in carrying out its Wat/San activities and has
signed an MOU with the government on standards for phasing
out and handover of responsibilities.


11. Personnel/Oversight/Security: IRC Tabou has seen
several different Program Coordinators over the last couple
years. They have sent several staff to participate in
training activities sponsored by IRC and UNHCR. At this
time, however, they are beginning to phase out of Tabou and
one third of their staff will be let go in July, with the
rest to leave at the end of the year when their UNHCR funded
activities are concluded. IRC Tabou reported adequate
financial and HQ oversight, but RefCoord noted that IRC staff
were unable to answer specific questions related to
expenditures for classroom construction under Objective 3.
IRC reported no specific security issues during the course of
the current project cycle.


12. Problems: IRC reported serious problems with community
participation and cooperation from local officials. IRC
staff reported most persons appeared only to be interested in
receiving financial benefits from cooperation and this led to
serious delays in achieving certain objectives. Although
they have a close operational relationship with UNHCR, they
stated that UNHCR was not always willing to help them in
their negotiations with local officials.

COMMENT
--------------


13. RefCoord was disappointed with IRC's progress in certain

ABIDJAN 00000555 003 OF 003


areas but it appears to be on track to turn over most
activities to local authorities by the end of the porject.
Also, most of IRC's statistics do not disaggregate refugees
from local populations and it thus impossible to know to what
extent remaining refugees are benefiting from efforts to
support local structures. RefCoord believes many local staff
are concerned that they will lose their jobs as activities
draw to a close and this has probably affected morale in the
Tabou office. Although IRC has been a solid partner in this
region over the last several years, RefCoord did not see any
specific critical needs that would warrant continued PRM
funding to IRC at this time. RefCoord also notes that one
IRC staff member, a Liberian national from Maryland County,
has already sent his family back to Liberia and is seeking
letters of support for his job search with NGOs in Liberia.
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