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Social appraisals and impact assessments

Review of Homeworkers Mapping Project

SDDirect conducted an independent project completion review of the HomeWorkers Worldwide mapping project. This innovative DFID-funded initiative worked closely with national NGOs, activists and trade unions in South Asia, South America and Eastern Europe through a participatory research process with homeworkers themselves which provided the basis for advocacy and policy recommendations, and generated new homeworkers’ organisations. Based on the review, SDDirect prepared a Briefing Note for DFID staff setting out the challenges of promoting better labour standards amongst home-based workers, and highlighting examples of good practice from the programme.

Core labour standards mapping study

Working with the Social Protection Team in DFID, SDDirect conducted a mapping study of DFID’s work to support core labour standards. The report provided information on how effectively the commitments in DFID’s policy paper Labour Standards and Poverty Reduction are being taken forward.  The information was analysed to identify regional trends and covered both completed and ongoing work relevant to all four of the core labour standards, namely: freedom of association and the right to free collective bargaining; elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labour; effective abolition of child labour; and elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.

Poverty Impact Assessment of Small and Micro Enterprise Facility

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development implemented, with DFID support, the Tajik Small and Micro Enterprise Facility, which provided micro-credit to small scale entrepreneurs.  SDDirect was commissioned to undertake a poverty impact assessment of the facility and to provide recommendations on the nature of any future DFID support to the Facility, given DFID’s poverty reduction mandate.  The SDDirect team designed and implemented an impact assessment methodology, which drew upon quantitative data available from the Facility’s MIS system and new data gathered through semi-structured interviews with clients, clients’ employees and ex-clients.  The assessment’s findings revealed that the Facility had an indirect impact on the poor, largely through the employment of the poor in client enterprises, which could be enhanced through the increased targeting of small scale (rather than micro) enterprises.  In addition to recommendations on DFID’s future support to the Facility, SDDirect provided advice on how the Facility’s MIS system could be adapted to strengthen its impact assessment abilities.

Rural Livelihoods Evaluation Partnership in Bangladesh

Over a three year period, the Rural Livelihoods Evaluation Partnership monitored and evaluated all projects supported under DFID’s Rural Livelihoods Programme. This included sustainable livelihoods, community based natural resource management and aquaculture projects. SDDirect input ensured that issues related to citizen participation, exclusion, rights and gender were addressed in evaluation processes. We advised on indicators and monitoring frameworks; and participated in project level evaluations. The latter involved a mix of participatory review at the community level; and qualitative research with project partners and other stakeholders. As part of the contract, SDDirect conducted a major thematic review of gender equality and women’s empowerment within DFID’s rural livelihoods portfolio. For this, we worked closely with projects, communities and DFID in order to identify lessons on programme design, and institutional concerns. These lessons were captured in the publication 'Bridging the Divide' and in thematic lesson learning papers on reaching the poorest and gender.