The report presents the results of an evaluation of Hogaan iyo Nabad, a Community Driven Reconstruction (CDR) programme in Somaliland and Somalia.The programme was funded by DFID and implemented by CARE, DRC and IRC, and aimed at strengthening local governance in rural and rather remote districts in Somaliland (Erigabo) and Puntland (Galkayo and Burtinle). To work towards making local government more responsive, accountable and effective, the programme aimed to achieve two outcomes:
- Outcome 1: Citizens’ participation in decision-making and conflict management is enhanced.
- Outcome 2: Village-level institutions have improved their ability to plan, manage and advocate for community priorities.
Based on a mixed methods design, the evaluation assesses whether these two outcomes have been achieved and examines the mechanisms by which the programme worked. Qualitative research was conducted to find out if basic assumptions and concepts of the programme corresponded with local meanings and practices. Findings were used to operationalise and, if necessary, refine these concepts for the evaluation and to support the interpretation of evaluation results. Quantitative tools (household and leadership survey) were used to estimate programme effects. The originally planned baseline/endline comparison was dropped in favour of a design that compares villages that have received the Hogaan programme (implementation villages) with similar villages that have not (non-implementation villages).
The main evaluation findings were:
- An increase in participation and in citizens’ perception of inclusiveness in decision-making, as well as a decrease in the difference in participation rates between majority and minority clans.
- An improvement in the relationship between village authorities and the District Council, an increase in trust in the village and district councils, and an inprovement in the resolution of leadership conflicts.
- Evidence of a strong relationship between programme participation and a positive view of village level governance; there were large attitudinal differences between programme participants and non-participants in Hogaan villages, while there was little difference between non-participants in villages and citizens in non-implementation villages.
The evaluation did not find evidence of any overall change in:
- The balance of responsibilities between formal and customary authorities.
- Responsiveness of local governance institutions.
- Inclusion with respect to gender and youth, or empowerment of youth or women to participate in decision-making.
- Overall citizen satisfaction with local governance service delivery or locally governing institutions.
- Overall perceptions of conflict resolution.
