1. Appraisal of Activity Design for [Activity Name] Version: May 2013
dd mm yyyy Name Role / Title MFAT Div/Post or Org
Activity Manager (AM): HEATER HAIDEN [CEO] [SAVE THE CHILDREN
NZ]
Activity Design (ADD) author:[DM PRACTICES &
PROCESS]
ACTIVITY QUALITY
POLICY]
[MFAT]
Usually same as AM if ADD MFAT-led
Author of this appraisal: [SAMUEL GYASI] [APPRAISER] [LU]
Usually AM if ADD partner-led (or specialist). Cannot be same as
author of ADD
Proposed implementation
lead
: [TO IMPROVE THE LIFE
OF CHILDREN IN
UDAYAPOR, NEPAL,
THROUGH LIVELIHOOD
AND SOCIAL
PROTECTIONYUR]
2. Summary
Activity name: [Appraisal: Improving the lives of children in Udayapur,Nepal,
through livelihood and social protection]
Programme name: [Children Livelihood and Social Protection (CLSP)]
Country(s) where
Activity is to be
implemented:
[NEPAL]
Sector: OTH: Activities across multi-sectors Reflect the most
significant component of the Activity.
Expected MFAT budget: $[1,075,143] If different/relevant Total
budget:$1604690]
Proposed modality: Joint project (MFAT facilitated)
Overall Activity risk: Low (hyperlink to completed Activity Risk Register)
Includes assessment of partner risk
Category B Environmental and social impact category
RECOMMENDATION: Address identified issues; resubmit for appraisal
Key issues: List the key issues identified with the quality of the Activity
design and the changes that will be/are being taken to address
them. If n/a, delete.
Focus on building the capacity of village development
committees and women
focus on improving family income
Address issues of education especially the girl child
Address land accesiility by women
E.g. ADD not completed to an adequate standard regarding:
Analysis of relevant issues (country, region, sector, cross
cutting etc)
Specific development need(s) and activity(s) to address
them
Engagement of stakeholder(s), application of lessons
learned
Alignment with partner or MFAT development policies and
strategies
Logical Results Diagram that meets MFAT standards
Measurement of results as per Results
MeasurementTable and M&E Workplan to MFAT
standards
Risk management framework, including environmental
& social risks
Implementation period, approach and partner(s)
Detailed management and governance arrangements
Appropriate level of detail in budget, which must be linked
to the Results Diagram
Description of transition or exit planning
Activity quality ratings
DAC Evaluation Criteria Best Practice Criteria
Relevance 4. Very good Development Effectiveness 5. Excellent
Likely effectiveness 5. Excellent Managing for results 3. Good
3. Likely efficiency 4. Very good Gender equality & women’s
empowerment
5. Excellent
Likely impact 5. Excellent Human rights 5. Excellent
Likely sustainability of
benefits
4. Very good Environment and climate
change
4. Very good
Guidance
The appraisal should be brief. It does not need to repeat information contained in the
Activity Design Document – the ADD should be linked as an attachment to the appraisal.
It should contain concise and objective judgments about what is likely or could be
expected to happen based on the Activity Design Document presented.
Written comments should justify each section’s numeric rating.
Refer to the Activity Quality Policy for MFAT’s five point rating scale, measures for each
rating, and a full list of aspects to consider for all of the DAC evaluation and best practice
criteria. Remember that all the criteria are used in combination, not isolation, and that
information may fit under more than one criteria so there may be overlap – use common
sense to avoid repetition.
Note: Please delete the guidance text (i.e. the text in plum italics) before the final
version of this document is published or distributed. In order to delete guidance text you
need to temporarily remove protection by going File/Protect Document/Restrict Editing.
You will need to resume protection in order to fill in the template. Do not enter a
password when re-enforcing protection.
Relevance: Will this Activity do the right things?
Rating 4. Very good
In particular, consider the extent to which the Activity design:
Is based on analysis of relevant issues (what are local
development needs; sector, political, economic, social context etc)
Links the specific development need(s) to be addressed,
including any development effectiveness or cross-cutting issues, to
the inputs and approaches to address those needs
Aligns to MFAT policies, strategies and priorities
Aligns to beneficiary & stakeholder capacities, views and
participation (e.g. there is good stakeholder engagement, with
contribution from…)
This activity will go a long way to do more than good, taking childrens
needs into consideration is just a step in the right direction especially
improving their access to education which will help reduce child
labour in Udayapour district of Nepal.
Very vulnerable households in the project area face threats as high
poverty, high malnutrition, school drop out, poor conditions of health
and inadequate social protection which the project aims at correcting
4. More so, the activity is in correlation with the donor country's goals
strategies ans aims of supporting developing countries to develop
sustainable livelihoods reduce poverty and increase food security.
Also, Building the capacities of village development committes,
farmer groups and cooperatives and other government agencies
through through the establishment of systems, pricedures and
formidable structures.
Equity is ensured through the responsive effort of including female's,
ethnic groups to the use of climate smart agriculture technologies for
food production.
Project implementation will be much effective by involving relevant
parties and also other stake holders as food and agriculture
organization and world food programme.
Finally the relevance is premised on the fact that specific needs of the
people as school drop out, poverty and gender inequality are being
rectified gradually. ]
How well is this Activity designed to promote and pursue Gender Equality
and Women’s Empowerment?
Rating 5. Excellent
In particular, consider the degree to which the proposed design:
Integrates gender analysis (e.g. in the rationale, stakeholder
analysis, risk management framework etc) and appropriately
reflects the needs, strengths, voices, rights and involvement of
women and men, girls and boys in Activity planning
Integrates gender analysis in the Results Framework, including
as appropriate outputs and outcomes, indicators, targets, sex-
disaggregated data
Appropriately identifies and targets opportunities for women’s
economic and political empowerment e.g. violence against women,
decision-making, employment, property, services, rights etc
Considers availability of resources and competencies to deliver on
gender equality and women’s empowerment outcomes
[Building the capacity of almost 50% females in vocation and micro
enterprise will help in empowering the women and bridging the
gender inequality gap. This will help in improving their income status
through trade and other micro enterproises.
Seeking to also involve women who are bread winners at
implementation levels is good and also ensuring that the girl child has
access to good and quality education.
Prompt project monitoring with gender and social analysis will
enhance the participation of women. Enhancing the knowledge base
of the boy and girl child will help in the long term and also the
5. inclusion of women and children ministry will enure more to the
benefit of women.
Moreover, the indication of 10% of women having access to land is
very much imballanced so far as land ownership is concerned but the
acticity did not indicate the mode of correction(Centre Bureau of
Statistics 2011).
Finally risks as girls not benefiting fully from funds, the over
burdening of women in farm activities, child beafring and other
household chores and men excluded from parenting and nutrition
awareness.]
How well is this Activity designed to protect and promote Human Rights?
Rating 5. Excellent
In particular, consider the degree to which the proposed design:
Appropriately integrates analysis of human rights, capabilities
and obligations regarding any potentially vulnerable or
disadvantaged groups, such as children, ethnic minorities, people
with disabilities, in the rationale, stakeholder analysis, risk
management
Integrates analysis of human rights in the Results Framework,
including as appropriate outputs, outcomes, indicators,
disaggregated data
Identifies and targets available opportunities for equality of
access to, participation in and benefits from the Activity by
potentially vulnerable or disadvantaged groups, or for
implementation of human rights obligations
Considers availability of resources and competencies to deliver on
human rights outcomes
[This is done by protecting the right of the child with good and quality
education because the earliest stage of cognitive development is
childhool. The goal of economic empowerment and social inclusion
adds to the protection of human rights of the people in Udayapor.
The achievement of article 9 of the international covenant on
economic, social and cultural rights in connection with the
convention on child rights(CRC) will also help in enhancing their
rights as humans.
More so, opportunities in improving the human resource of women
and men through trainings and other capacity building activities as
work shops in the project area.
Finally the activity is bent on targeting marginalised and vulnerable
households in the area, with much community inclusion, gender
and social protection tools to help empower all in the target area.]
6. Environment and Climate Change: Is this Activity design likely to enhance
the environment and sustainability, and how well will it manage and
mitigate any potential negative impacts?
Rating 4. Very good
Environmental and social impact category: Category B
Refer to classification framework and ADD and design appraisal rules in the Environmental and Social
Impacts Operational Policy
In particular, consider the degree to which the proposed design:
Provides an appropriate and accurate rationale for the
Environmental and Social Impact Category given
Appropriately identifies possible interventions to promote
environmental integrity and sustainability, opportunities to address
environmental commitments made by NZ and/or partners, or
support for climate change adaptation/mitigation or resilience to
natural hazards etc
Addresses all adverse impacts identified in the Impact Assessment
(IA) and Impact Management Plan (IMP) in a way that
demonstrates consistency with the Environmental and Social
Impacts Operational Policy and relevant regulations of the partner
Government
Integrates the results of an assessment of environmental and
social impacts or risks (e.g. in the rationale, stakeholder
analysis, risk management and Results Framework, including
outputs, outcomes, indicators, targets, baseline data etc
[The use of older farming systems and unapproved technologies in
the project area might have impacts on the sustainability of their
environmen but iInterventions to promote good farming system such
as the training of farmer groups by the introduction of appropriate
technologies by partners will help in environmental sustainability but
the activity is at a landlocked area therefore the impact of climate
change will be very much insignificant.
Finally,Sessions which include trained LRPs leading and training
traditional farmers on farmer business school and approaches and
methods which can help them to commercialize without necessarily
destroying the environment.]
How well does this Activity design apply development effectiveness
principles?
Rating 5. Excellent
In particular, consider the degree to which the proposed design:
Promotes or supports ownership by the development partner(s)
7. Where the primary partner is a Goverment, proposes appropriate
use of partner government PFM systems and includes
Assessment of National Systems report
Proposes use of partner or multi-stakeholder results monitoring
frameworks and processes, including statistics collection systems
Has a well-articulated approach and intention to develop the
capacity of local partners
Coordinates with other development initiatives and avoids
duplication of effort
The activity apply development effectiveness by the ensurance of
quality project and through its alignment with sector priorities of
the Newzealand Development aid.
The program is of much importance to the government of Nepal
and will help in improving the the on going social programs by
making sure the right systems are put in place.
Implementing partners with high quality standards as Ministry of
federal affairs,District Development Committee and Children
Endowment Fund will help in social welfare delivary and capacity
building.
Finally the capacity building of staff on the effective management
of social protection will increase sustainability also another key
aspect is to build local capacity in collecting and analysing data in
other to know how well the project is doing.]
Effectiveness: Is this Activity likely to work?
Rating 5. Excellent
In particular, consider the degree to which the Activity design:
Has a strong Results Diagram with logical flow between key
outputs, outcomes and goal, and these reflect the development
need(s) identified, and the diagram meets MFAT standards as per
the Developing, Appraising and Approving a Design Guideline
Has a risk management framework that includes risks and
mitigations for implementing partners, development effectiveness
and cross-cutting issues, and environmental and social impacts
[There is much coherence between the various activities and specific
short and medium term purposes in other to achieve the ultimate
goal.
The probability of improving social protection for the boy and girl
child is very high. And with implemented structures the
implementation of activities can be guaranteed, and also recitation by
CSSP and SC Nepal through the successful execution of livelihood and
nutrition programs helped the design of the activity.
A well grounded monitoring and evaluation mechanism will help
increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the activity action plan,
8. baseline data collection and risk management mechanisms will also
help in enhancing effectiveness.
Building the capacity of village development committes, small scale
farmers,other beneficiaries and front line staff will help in achieving
the project goal. ]
Managing for Results: Are we likely to be able to assess the real progress of
this Activity, and will this information be useful for Activity management?
Rating 3. Good
In particular, consider the degree to which the proposed design:
Has a Results Measurement Table that includes clear indicators,
targets, baseline information and methods for measuring each
output and outcome identified in the Results Diagram (including
any cross-cutting or development effectiveness results), in
accordance with MFAT standards as per the Developing, Appraising
and Approving a Design Guideline
Has an M&E Workplan that identifies the methodology and
approach including key tasks required to implement the RMT, in
accordance with MFAT standards as per the Developing, Appraising
and Approving a Design Guideline
Considers the ability and capacity to collect, analyse and reflect on
Activity performance information, and the resonableness and
appropriateness of cost (human and financial resources) of
collecting such information
[The monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning(MEAL)
frame-work of save the children international will ensure that stake
holders and beneficiaries have adequate participation in all aspects of
the project.
The quarter and semi annual reviews by SC Nepal will also access
project progress and development. But much of data is not available
this indicates the need to work more on baseline data by training
suitable people to collect and analyse data to help project results.]
Efficiency : Is this Activity likely to make good use of tax-payer funds?
Rating 4. Very good
In particular, consider the degree to which the Activity design:
Is likely to deliver value for money and convert resources (funds,
expertise, time etc) to results – (e.g. the amount of funding is
appropriate for the quantity and quality of development outcomes
likely to be achieved.
Provides a clear Activity implementation period, approach, and
reflects capacities of proposed partner(s) to deliver and account
for the Activity (e.g. the approach is technically feasible… based on
proven performance… lessons from the past such as…)
9. Sets out what procurement and financial management
arrangements will apply and provides compelling reasons for
their appropriateness to the activity and context
Details management and governance arrangements including
structure, and roles and responsibilites of partners)
[There is an accountability and transparency measure to ensure a
very good use of tax payers money. Monies allocated for the project
are going to be used judiciously.
Very good procurement culture and also the cost of capital items will
be premised on SC nepals procurement agreement, providing cost
efficiency through bulk purchases and limiting market fluctuation
Government and NGO's will be able to keep workers to a minimum
,assumptions that have been made in relation to 10% growth rate
will take care of future fluctuations and also VSA cost will be paid
directly by SCNZ as contributions.]
10. Budget appraisal
Notes: The level of output (and if required input) detail required will
relate to the modality (form of aid delivery) chosen and to the
partner and risk assessment. Reference to the Budget Appraisal
template would also help with this section.
In particular, consider the extent to which the Activity budget is:
Clearly linked to results in the Results Diagram. Outputs-based
budgets should be used for most Activities except those applying
higher order aid modalities e.g. budget support.
Reasonable and cost-effective in the circumstances (e.g. the
cost of each input or total output compares to market fee rates or
similar activities; admin charges are within amounts MFAT would
normally pay)
Complete – includes sufficient details that match the Activity
workplan and M&E Workplan (e.g. it reflects all work proposed to
be undertaken including the number of people, days etc)
Accurate – e.g. all totals (and formulas) are correct & add up
[The direct input and output cost will help the project to keep with in
budget allocation, other support cost such as direct and indirect
support cost will help project activity.
Cost has also been based on related project undertaken by SC Nepal
and with this past experience of previous projects SC Nepals accurat e
procurement policy the budget will be succesfully meet.]
Impact: Is this Activity likely to achieve positive long-term changes?
Rating 5. Excellent
In particular, consider the extent to which the Activity design:
Is likely to achieve the goal and positive long-term effects,
usually at the country / societal level (e.g. due to a good logical
flow between outputs and outcomes)
Is likely to deliver tangible benefits rather than negative results
(whether intended or unintended, direct or indirect)
[The conceptual framework of the entire project indicates an
excellentand logical sequence between activities, outputs and
outcomes. Each and every output has a set of defined activities to
help achieve them this will help on the project goal.
The ultimate goal when achieved will impact positively on the lives of
the beneficiaries in Udayapu, Nepal. The use of the right technologies
by some beneficiaries will also help impact positively on the
environment. ]
11. Sustainability : Is it likely that Activity benefits / outcomes will last?
Rating 4. Very good
In particular, take into account the degree to which the design:
Includes a description of transition or exit planning when
support from the aid programme will change or end
Considers durability of improved systems or processes or skills /
knowledge and how these will be bedded-in or followed-up
Considers the institutional environment, workforce planning etc
Considers the political and financial viability of partner(s)
Deals with asset maintenance and recurrent / long term costs
Capacity building programs will ensure the participation of
beneficiaries and also give them a sense of ownership of the project,
this will go a long way to ensure sustainality.
Farmer group registration and the use of appropriate technologies for
training will ensure a continum of those suitable technologies.Also the
MOU signed between the ministry of industry and distrkict cottage
industry will ensure sustainability. Community mobilisation gender
inclusion and training of local service providers will also help in the
sustainability of the project.
Finally the activity will establish a good coordination relationship
between the community and district line agencies that will provide
continual expertise for the sustainable and effecthive delivary of
social protection schemes.]
Conclusions and Recommendations
Write a concise concluding sentence about the overall quality of the
design.
In conclusion, [This multi-dimensional activity has been achieved to
appreciable standards. Taking into consideration the various key
issues as improving the education of children in Nepal, empowering
women and improving gender equality, sustainability, empowering
farmers and front line staff. effectiveness and efficiency of the project
is also guaranteed based on quality assurance and standardized
procedures of the activity quality policy.]
If there are issues with the design, state who will be/is responsible
for doing what change(s) / action(s) to address them.
]
I therefore recommend: Delete the ones that are not applicable.
Do not proceed
Address the identified issues; then resubmit for appraisal
Address the identified issues; then resubmit to the Chair of the
Appraisal Meeting for final approval to proceed
Proceed; no changes are necessary
12. Next Steps
Lead appraiser to complete in discussion with line manager – if any step(s) are not relevant, state
“n/a”.
Additional / specialist appraisers preparing a separate written appraisal document from the lead
appraiser may delete this section.
Who Role Completed
Consultation with: [???] [???] dd mm yyyy
Additional appraiser(s): [???] [???] dd mm yyyy
Note: Additional appraisers are mandatory for ADDs >$1.5m. A single appraisal doc can be
prepared collaboratively for low-medium risk Activities between $1.5m-$3m. For high risk Activities
and all Activities over $3m, two separate appraisal docs must be prepared. Participation by one or
more relevant cross-cutting specialists in appraisal of a design is mandatory for Activities assigned to
category A or P(A).
Amendments to ADD: [???] [???] dd mm yyyy
Completion of this appraisal,
including Risk Register:
[???] [???] dd mm yyyy
Design appraisal meeting: [???] Mandatory if >$1.5m [???] dd mm yyyy
Finalisation of ADD according
to meeting recommendations:
[???] [???] dd mm yyyy
Changes (due to feedback)
summarised in updated
Meeting Minutes
[???] [???] dd mm yyyy
Approval of ADD: [???] Mandatory before PAA [???] dd mm yyyy
Acceptance of responsbility for
implementation by Div/post
[???] Mandatory before PAA [???] dd mm yyyy
Financial authority (PAA) [???] [???] dd mm yyyy
13. Significant divergent views:
If this appraisal is being prepared collaboratively, record any
significant divergent views not incorporated into the analysis above.
[name, role] – [???]
or
[Colleagues consulted in preparing this appraisal (refer above) did
not express any significant divergent views]
Suggested amendments to the Risk Register:
If this appraisal is being prepared collaboratively, record any
suggested amendments not already incorporated into the Activity
Risk Register.
[name, role] - [???]
or
[Colleagues consulted in preparing this appraisal (refer above) did
not suggest any amendments to the Activity Risk Register]
Hyperlinks to attachments
Lead appraiser to complete. Additional / specialist appraisers may delete this section.
Approval of Activity Concept: [???] If n/a, delete.
Activity Design Document: [???] (State version and date)
Note: If several docs constitute an Activity’s ADD, clearly record all such docs here.
Activity Risk Register: [???] (State version and date)
Appraising a Budget Checklist[???] If n/a, delete.
Other separate written
appraisal(s)
[???] If n/a, delete.
Assessment of National
Systems (or equivalent)
[???] If n/a, delete.