ERIA PROGRAMME PLAN 2014 1 Introduction Liberia continues to transition from post-conflict rehabilitation towards development after the devastation and disruption caused by 14 years of civil conflict (1989 2003). In the 1970s Liberia was a middle income level country, albeit with vast inequalities but is currently ranked 174/187 on the UN HDI (2013). Since the end of the war Liberia has been one of the low income countries making significant gains. Nevertheless key development challenges persist at this time and include: the rapid population growth (with a high proportion of young people (64%) below 25 years age); the deterioration of the road network; the migration of young people from rural farming communities exacerbating already severe labor shortages; and the widening gap between supply and demand for employment and basic services from a developing, largely natural resource based economy. Of the country s 4.2 million population, 84% live on less than $1.25 per day: 1.7 million are described as poor and 1.3 million as extreme poor. The cycle of poverty is compounded by: low literacy rates (only 59% of adults are literate and only 44% of 6-14 year olds attend school); food insecurity (55.8% have difficulty accessing food) resulting in chronic malnutrition (42%) with 35% of under 5 mortality linked to malnutrition; and poor health status, including high levels of malaria, acute respiratory infections and diarrhea related illnesses; only 58% of the population has access to safe drinking water; 37% has access to improved latrines; the HIV&AIDS prevalence rate is officially at 1.5%, but widely considered to be around 5%; and there are high levels of teenage pregnancy (adolescent birth rate being the 2 nd highest in the world). There continues to be a strong case for Concern s support in Liberia in the remaining years of the MDG era. In 2013 the President continued to establish her post war legacy based on peace, inward private investment (especially in the natural resource sectors) and sound policy formulation. The economy continues to increases by 5 6% per year and Liberia is on track to retain its middle income status in the next 10 15 years. The second poverty reduction strategy is guided by the Agenda for Transformation now including social protection as a key component. Additionally there has been partial decentralization (though this remains slow due to the continued concentration of power in Monrovia and the lack of institutional and HR capacity at county and district levels) with the relocation of some administrative functions outside of Monrovia. The country continues to receive significant private sector investment in rubber, oil palm, timber, diamonds, gold and iron ore. Offshore oil reserves have now been discovered and this is expected to contribute to economic growth as an oil service sector continues to grow. Liberia continues to have a good image abroad through the good will entrusted in our President which also has resulted in continued institutional donor support (World Bank, USAID and EU). On the more negative side there appears to be a lack of real reconciliation in addressing the root causes of the civil war; widening inequalities; the re-establishment of the old elite order; a return to the politics of patronage; and continued endemic corruption throughout society and ever more increasing in connection to the growing number of concessions being offered to private multinational companies. The new approach to programming established within Concern Liberia in 2012 has been consolidated through the development of a new Country Strategic Plan (2013 2017). Our contextual analysis (CA) in January 2012 identified the extreme poor as being approximately 40% of the rural communities assessed and comprised of: extremely poor farming households, female headed households and youths from extreme poor families characterized by shortages in human resource (labor, education and skills) and limited access to and control over their land. Additionally, we identified girl children from extreme poor households, children under five, and the elderly, disabled, chronically sick etc. from extreme poor families, who are dependent upon welfare provision from family and friends. The CA and resulting
integrated area based programs in Lofa and Grand Bassa (established in 2012) will form the foundation of our future country level strategy with core IAPF funding in both counties for the period 2012 2015. The CA continues to form the basis of our current and future programming: problem analysis and strategization of our new area based programs by incorporating FIM, Health & Education interventions in a coordinated and integrated fashion, targeting the extreme poor groups. 2 Programmes We have a theory of change which focuses on Livelihood Security, Learning and Health through the use of our organisational programming instruments: FIM/ Health / Education sector interventions. The main actions address improved household food security; improved nutritional status; improved caring environment and improved public health and hygiene practices. This is underpinned by the promotion of improved informal and formal learning outcomes and addressing the core problem of the entrenched attitude and behavior in relation to men s dominance over women, prevalent here in Liberia. Our new programming approach aims at strengthening linkages between the micro (community) and meso (County and District) level structures shown within our County Results Frameworks (finalized in early 2013); and with our macro (national) level work focusing on advocacy, influence and engagement on national social protection, gender based violence, the scaling up of WASH interventions and quality basic education through improved teaching and learning in the classroom. Within this strategy we have four core programs for 2014: Programme county based Closure/ opening of new locations 1 BRED Area Based Program in Grand Bassa (Building Resilience through Equitable Development) 2. BASE - Area Based Program in Lofa (Building Assets for Sustainable empowerment) 3. EQUAL Education project in Grand Bassa (Education Quality & Acces in Liberia) 2012 2015 with core IAPF funding plus Tony Foster Triathlon and Irish Aid WASH consortium (all active grants) 2012 2015 with core IAPF funding plus Vitol Foundation, BOI & IOM (all active grants) 2013 2017 a large $7 million four year USAID funded intervention (active) 4. Montserrado WASH program 2014 2015 a 1 million two year DFID funded intervention (pending an award in early 2014) In 2014 we plan to commence a further scoping and mapping exercise, in accordance with our CSP, to identify new poor & vulnerable locations. Preliminary findings suggest that this might be in Liberia s neglected and isolated South East. We plan to explore the possibility of joint programming with our Alliance 2015 partners in Liberia for possible implementation from 2015. This could involve: livelihood and agriculture interventions by WHH, education interventions by IBIS and WASH interventions by CW.
Area Based Program RF for Grand Bassa - BRED Programme Results Framework : Liberia, Grand Bassa (The RF for Lofa is similar) Intended Impact For the extreme poor target groups: increased livelihood security; increased resilience to shocks; and increased voice in influencing more pro poor responsive state and CSO structures and service delivery (micro/ meso/ macro) 1. Dimensions of Extreme Poverty 2. Programme Outcome 3. Indicators 4.Baseline value and source 5. Target 2013 6. Target 2015 2013 value and source 2014 value and source 2015 value and source Assets (and Return on Assets) Outcome(s) 1. Increased and diversified food consumption among Extreme Poor groups 1.1. Reduction in hunger gap among 450 households in 50 communities in Districts 2 and 4. 3 months 2.5 months 2 months 1.2 Average number of different foods consumed by household over past 24hours (Household Diversity Score HDDS) Male Headed Households (MHH): 3.0 Female Headed Households (FHH): 2.8 (CWL BL) MHH: 3.5 FHH: 3.3 MHH: 4.5 FHH: 4.2 2.Improved formal and informal educational learning outcomes (micro/meso) 2.1 Improved Early Grade Reading Assessment (EGRA) and Early Grade Math Assessment (EGMA) results Grade 2 (average 33 cpwm clearly pronounced words per minute) and Grade 3 (average 39 cpwm) (Concern, Grand Bassa education survey, 2011) Grade 2 (average 40 cpwm) Grade 3 (average 45 cpwm) Grades 2 & 3: 50 cpwm (clearly pronounced words per minute) Grade 1 average: 4 out of 10 numbers correctly identified Grade 1:6 out of 10 numbers correctly identified Grade 1: 8 out of 10 numbers correctly identified Grade 2 average: 6 out of 10 numbers correctly identified Grade 2: 8 out of 10 numbers correctly identified Grade 2: 10 out of 10 numbers correctly identified 2.2 Number of supervisory and M&E visits by the DEO per school per year (meso) 2.3 Percentage of those trained in literacy/ vocational skills Average of 1 visit per school per year Average of 1.2 visits per school per year 0 20% of those trained (male and female) Average of 1.5 visits per school per year 30% of those trained (male and female)
using those skills for gainful employment/ income generation 3.Increased access to and use of improved drinking water 3.1 % of water points functioning and in use 52% 54% 60% 3.2 49% (Liberia water mapping 2011) 52% 60% % of households drinking safe water year round Inequality Outcome (s) 4. Greater access, control & voice for poor women & girls to resources, institutions & services (micro/meso) 4.1 Per cent of women who report that they are involved in decision-making over household assets (buying clothes, food, investments and children s medical care) 63.5% 65% 70% 4.2 Men: 59% Men: 62% Men: 68% Increase in gender equitable attitudes among target community members (male/female) Female: 64% Female:66% Female: 70% 4.3 CDC: 38% CDC: 40% CDC: 44% Proportion of women s representation in County Development Councils (CDCs) and District Development Committees (DDCs). (meso) DDC: 10% DDC: 12% DDC: 16% 4.4 Boys: 22% Boys: 25% Boys: 35% % of boys and girls enrolling in grade 1 at 6 years of age, in line with GOL policy Girls: 31% Girls: 35% Girls: 45% 5.District/ county level structures and institutions are more responsive to the priorities of the extreme poor (meso) 5.1 County and district plans include pro poor targets and extreme poor priorities No EP group specific priorities reflected in the plans Needs of one EP (FHH) reflected in plans Needs of one EP (FHH) reflected in plans
Risk and Vulnerability Outcome(s) 6.Improved resilience to shocks for extreme poor (micro/meso) 6.1 Reduction in post-harvest losses amongst farmers 44% harvest loss for rice and 30% for cassava 42% harvest loss for rice and 28% for cassava 35% harvest loss for rice and 24% for cassava 6.2 25% 27% 31% % of extreme poor in community owning livestock (sheep or goats) 6.3 1 2 3 Number of other stakeholders replicating a sustainable Village Savings and Loans Associations model (meso) 7.Reduced risk of morbidity and mortality amongst the extreme poor (micro/meso) 7.1 Incidence of diarrhoea/malaria among children (0-59 months) as reported by caregivers in the last two weeks Diarrhoea: 16.1% Malaria: 60.7% Diarrhoea: 15% Malaria: 58% Diarrhoea: 13% Malaria: 55% 7.2 Male: 22% Male: 25% Male: 30% % of community members demonstrating comprehensive correct knowledge about HIV & AIDS (2 ways to prevent HIV infection and reject 3 misconceptions) Female: 32% Female: 35% Female: 40% 8.Improved hygiene behaviours and use of improved sanitation facilities 8.1 Percentage of beneficiaries that know hand washing at the 5 critical moments Male: 35% Female: 60% Male: 40% Female: 62% Male: 50% Female: 70%
8.2 51% 53% 60% % of target poor using improved sanitation facilities 9.Safe child friendly school environment (micro/meso/ macro) 9.1 % increase in enrolment, attendance and retention (disaggregated by gender) Enrolment: Attendance rates - Boys: 67% Girls: 66% Attendance rates - Boys: 70% Girls: 69% Attendance rates - Boys: 73% Girls: 72% Retention rate: Retention rate: Retention rate: Boys: 30% Boys: 32% Boys: 35% Girls: 22% Girls: 25% Girls: 28% 9.2 Girls: 47% Girls: 45% Girls: 40% Reduction in incidence of reported physical & sexual harassment in target schools (disaggregated by gender) Boys: 40% Boys: 38% Boys: 32% 9.3 60% 62% 65% % of county and district level MoE officials who say they value education of both boys and girls. (meso) 9.4 2.8% 2.9% 3.2% % of GOL education budget allocated to in-service teacher training (macro) Baseline Plan Date Baseline (completed by) February 2013
1. Integrated Area Based - Building Resilience for Equitable Development: two districts (District #2 and District #4) in Grand Bassa. This integrated area based program aims to impact on the lives of 24,892 beneficiaries over the four year period by targeting 71 primary communities (19,945 persons) and 17 secondary communities (4,948 persons). The specific objectives are the same as BASE. Here we present the nine main outcomes or results to be achieved according to how CW addresses extreme poverty: By increasing assets and the return on assets: (1) increased and diversified food consumption among Extreme Poor groups; (2) improved formal and informal educational learning outcomes; and (3) increased access to and use of improved drinking water. By reducing inequality: (4) greater access, control & voice for poor women & girls to resources, institutions & services; and (5) district/ county level structures and institutions are more responsive to the priorities of the extreme poor. By building resilience and reducing vulnerability: (6) improved resilience to shocks for extreme poor; (7) reduced risk of morbidity and mortality amongst the extreme poor; (8) improved hygiene behaviours and use of improved sanitation facilities; and (9) through providing a safe child friendly school environment. HIV and AIDS is not now mainstreamed but incorporated through our programming analysis, identified as a key risk to the extreme poor and programmed through interventions related to outcome 7. Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) is also not mainstreamed as such but addressed through our analysis of risks and vulnerabilities of our extreme poor target groups to which the four related outcomes aim to reduce the associated risks and strengthen vulnerabilities. Social protection is not included as a micro level intervention but the two area based programs both aim to inform national policy through CW s engagement in (1) developing a national social protection policy & strategy for Liberia in 2012, which has since been approved by the President and by Cabinet in 2013; and (2) through CW s championing of a civil society Social Protection Platform in Liberia aimed at increasing knowledge and awareness of social protection as a means to poverty reduction and holding the Government to account on its commitment to establish a national social protection program (now also incorporated into the PRS II Agenda for Transformation ). 2. Integrated Area Based - Building Assets for Sustainable Development (BASE): two districts (Zorzor & Salayea) in Lofa County. This integrated area based program aims to impact on the lives of 34,420 beneficiaries over the four year period by targeting 52 primary communities (12,492 persons) and 23 secondary communities (21,928 persons). Primary communities are often small remote and isolated with minimal presence of other actors who will receive the main hardware inputs. Secondary communities are often larger and have received previous assistance from NGOs like CW and so our interventions here will only focus on training and awareness campaigns. Specific objective: To increase the livelihood security of the extreme poor target group; their increased resilience to shocks; and to have a voice in influencing more pro poor responsive state and civil society structures, and social service delivery. In terms of impact on the targeted extreme poor groups, BASE aims to impact significantly on the lives of the target beneficiaries through: (1) Increasing their livelihood security by both building their household assets and supporting measures that enable especially women to have greater control over their assets; that women and children especially are not malnourished and experience reduced risk of any form of gender based violence; that all girls complete school; and that the attitudes and behaviours of men and boys towards women and girls are greatly improved; (2) Increased resilience against shocks which in Liberia is largely in relation to death or sickness of a key family member. Our actions aim to strengthen the target populations coping mechanisms against shocks, to improve the health and nutritional status of the population, enable cash to be available at critical times and to build capital assets at both the household and wider community level; and (3) Increased voice and representation of the extreme poor to ensure that their priorities are reflected both at district/ county and
national level; that the extreme poor have greater access to adequate education, health, protection, nutrition; and that especially women have increased influence in the Public Sphere within the community and wider institutions. The main outcomes are the same as for BRED as above. Implementation is by direct implementation with the exception of the education component implemented by our partner (since 2012) ChildFund. 3. Education Education Quality & Access in Liberia (EQUAL): across three districts (District #2, #3 and #4) in Grand Bassa (90 schools) and the County town of Buchanan (10 schools). EQUAL overlaps and complements our BRED interventions whilst going to significant scale in a total of 100 schools. EQUAL aims to impact positively on the lives of 14,992 students and more than 450 teachers. EQUAL has the following purpose: Girls and Boys in 100 schools in Grand Bassa County access safe, quality education and achieve basic literacy and numeracy skills in the first three years of formal schooling that enable them to access the curriculum and succeed in their education; and with the following three outcomes or results: (1) improved learning outcomes in early grade literacy and numeracy in target schools; (2) District/ County/ National level structures and institutions promote attendance and improvement of children s learning outcomes; and (3) safe and child friendly school environment is experienced in all target schools by 2017. The project will be implemented with a technical local partner TRALO who specialise in mother tongue literacy through which this project aims to pilot a new method and approach with the potential to influence national basic education policy across Liberia. At macro level our specific policy engagement and advocacy is planned to be via the NGO education forum (jointly chaired by IBIS and Concern), through the Education Sector Development Committee (established as part of the Global Partnership for Education) and through a joint research project on SRGBV with four consortium partners: IBIS/ SCUK/ Concern & NRC; after which findings will be disseminated and an advocacy plan established in 2014. 4. WASH program: currently our last, stand alone, WASH intervention is due to close in November 2013 (significant WASH interventions are programmed through BRED & BASE). Large scale WASH programming in 2014 will be based on our active engagement with Oxfam and the other Liberia WASH consortium partners in competing for funding from the DFID sponsored WASH Results Challenge an on-going process throughout 2013. If funded then CW s contribution would be: 40% resources on rural WASH interventions integrated into our BRED and BASE programs in Grand Bassa and Lofa respectively; and 60% of resources targeting urban actions in Monrovia and peri urban Montserrado. The wider impact of this project is expected to be: reduction in WASH-related diseases and significant contribution to improved quality of life for women & girls in Liberia; and the outcome of this project is expected to be: targeted (unserved and underserved) population in 6 counties of Liberia have equitable and sustainable access to improved water and sanitation services and are motivated to practice key sanitation and hygiene behaviours. At macro level our specific policy engagement and advocacy is planned to be via the Liberia WASH Consortium (Oxfam/ ACF/ Tearfund/ Water Aid/ Population Services International & Concern Worldwide) to support and encourage the roll out of policy implementation of the recently signed WASH compact. The LWC has developed its 3 year strategy (2013 2015) and through this a joint advocacy plan is to be developed and implemented.
Emergency Preparedness and Response In the post-civil war era Concern has responded to two emergencies in 2009 (a locust infestation) and in 2011 (large influx of 250,000 refugees from Ivory Coast). During 2012 tensions continued along the western border with Ivory Coast with up to 80% of refugees returning and with minor inflows (3,000) due to localized civil unrest. The other main risk is the seasonal high prevalence of diarrhoea in the rain season which can result in cholera (last seen in Liberia in 2007) but occurred in both neighbouring Sierra Leone and Guniea during 2012. We now have a PEER plan developed in 2013 and the corresponding action plan commitments will be addressed throughout 2014 to ensure that CW Liberia is both prepared and effective should another significant emergency arise. Humanitarian Accountability Partnership In 2011 we developed a four year HAP plan (to 2014). We remain committed to those commitments established in our accountability framework. The annual plans will continue to be reviewed on a six month basis with realistic targets established. We plan to develop one pilot CRM in 2013 for learning to our wider programs in 2014. 3 Monitoring and Evaluation The M&E function has been strengthened in 2013 with comprehensive baseline studies in both Area Based Programs; the introduction of the use of DDGs; support from PALU; the recruitment of a national M&E manager (for BASE & BRED); and the development of a comprehensive M&E database for each area based program. Planned M&E actions in 2014 are included in the table below: ; Programme BASE & BRED BASE & BRED BASE & BRED BASE & BRED EQUAL EQUAL EQUAL WASH WASH Contextual analysis February 2012 February 2012 February 2012 February 2012 Early 2014 Survey Annual HH survey (Oct) Annual EGRA & EGMA survey (Oct) Completion of baseline surveys (Jan & Feb) Annual EGRA & EGMA survey (Oct) Pre KAP survey (April) MTR/ Evaluation Mid-year review (July) MTR (Aug) Mid-Year review (July) Mid-Year review (July) / External External or Dublin advisor External analysis + ED advisor support External analysis External uniform survey across all LWC partners - peer review amongst all partners Donor IAPF IAPF IAPF IAPF USAID USAID USAID DFID DFID