AFRO-NETS> Lessons Learned in Liberia

[Mark Hammersley <mark.hammersley@aidworkers.net>]

Lessons Learned in Liberia
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AID WORKERS EXCHANGE - October 1, 2003
 
Previous lessons learnt are often communicated through evaluation 
reports. This week, Rachel Houghton analyses some evaluations of 
past projects in Liberia.
 
The LIBERIA HELP DESK is now online at:
http://www.humanitarianinfo.org/liberia/help_desk/index.asp
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KEY LESSONS FROM EVALUATIONS OF HUMANITARIAN ACTION IN LIBERIA
By Rachel Houghton
 
This short briefing distils key lessons and examples of good 
practice from past experiences in Liberia. It is based on seven 
evaluative reports available from the ALNAP Evaluative Reports 
Database.
 
PROGRAM PLANNING AND DESIGN
 
1. Clear objectives and indicators
 
Our programmes are increasingly assessed on longer-term impact 
(e.g., livelihood recovery of local populations and psychological 
well-being) in addition to their immediate outputs. The most suc-
cessful projects were those that started with clear objectives 
and qualitative as well as quantitative indicators. This enabled 
on-going progress monitoring and avoided later delays or cancel-
lations. Taking time out at the start to make a good plan really 
does pay back many times over.
 
2. Multi-scenario planning and programme flexibility
 
In a volatile and unpredictable environment there will always be 
unanticipated developments. Identifying different scenarios is 
helpful when drawing up flexible plans. UNHCR's past success in 
Liberia is a result of innovation, open-mindedness and creativ-
ity. On-going monitoring, including of your external environment, 
makes for responsive and adaptable programming.
 
3. Situation Analysis
 
Early situation analysis is particularly beneficial for reinte-
gration programmes. A good understanding of the composition and 
dynamics of the communities helped UNHCR to avoid confusion over 
child protection. Knowledge of the local socio-economic situation 
helped to ensure sustainability and effectiveness of micro-credit 
programmes.
 
Good coordination between agencies was key to effective needs as-
sessment - for example, joint assessments of damages and needs 
helped to avoid the application of different food basket and ra-
tion scales to beneficiaries in the same area.
 
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WFP's food-for-work programmes in Liberia took a development per-
spective from the start. They transformed relief into 'productive 
relief' by providing:
 
* incentives for teachers in refugee and IDP schools;
 
* inputs to agricultural and income-generating projects that pro
  moted longer term self-sufficiency;
 
* payment in kind for a wide range of manual work undertaken by
  ex-combatants. 
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PROGRAMME DELIVERY
 
4: Appropriate targeting
 
The basic beneficiary categories of refugees, IDPs and war-
affected all face different problems and have different needs; 
different regions and towns have different needs depending on 
their demographics (also rural vs. urban, etc). In the early 
stages of response, targeting based on actual need is more effec-
tive than universal programming.
 
Conversely, the 'whole community' approach is important over the 
longer term. UNDP adopted an 'area based' and multi-sectoral ap-
proach at community level for the longer term reintegration of 
war-affected populations. UNHCR followed a similar approach in 
its child protection programming.
 
5: Community participation for sustainability
 
The most successful programmes involve communities not only in 
their identification, but also in their design, implementation 
and maintenance. However full-scale participation can delay pro-
gramme delivery so many projects start with 'partial participa-
tion'. Genuine collaborative relationships with beneficiaries are 
important: there is much more to participation than simple con-
sultation.
 
Consider relevant indicators of participation and empowerment 
when designing your programme. Ensure that those you deal with in 
the community also represent the needs of women, children and the 
landless.
 
6: Comparative advantage, harmonisation and coordination
 
Regular coordination meetings with UN agencies, NGOs and donors 
really are worthwhile! Previously in Liberia they have helped in 
planning joint strategies and effective resource allocation, as 
well as linking relief, rehabilitation and development program-
ming.
 
Effective coordination improves individual agency effectiveness 
while simultaneously enhancing overall assistance. Joint assess-
ments of damages and needs have been excellent starting points 
for coordination.
 
Harmonisation also applies to the integration of programmes 
within a single agency. UNDP in Liberia learnt the importance of 
conceiving and planning demobilisation and reintegration pro-
grammes together.
 
7. Effective mainstreaming and the role of specialist staff
 
The goal of mainstreaming is vital, be it with regard to gender 
analysis or child protection, etc. Specialist staff have played a 
pivotal role as they can facilitate and deliver training and ca-
pacity building, help with appropriate needs assessment, assist 
field managers to bridge the policy / practice divide, assist 
with coordination, etc.
 
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Rachel Houghton is a researcher with ALNAP, an interagency forum 
working to improve learning, accountability and quality across 
the Humanitarian Sector. This article is excerpted from a longer 
document available to download (in English only) from 
http://www.alnap.org, where you will also find links to the 
original reports on which it is based. 
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YOUR SAY...
 
How have you addressed these issues in your programming? Can you 
suggest any other examples of good practices?
 
mailto:exchange@aidworkers.net or join the discussion online at 
http://forum.aidworkers.net/messages/258/11556.html
 
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Aid Workers Exchange 01-OCT-03 ISSN 1478-5137 previous issues 
available at http://www.aidworkers.net/exchange

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