EXTERNAL EVALUATION 
REPORT
Project: ESCAPE: Emergency Support to Conflict 
Affected Populations in Eastern DRC, Award No: 
720FDA20CA00021
Tapstand in South Kivu
Data and Logistic Consulting
Dr Prince Musubo, Director
directiondlcgl@hotmail.com
Publication date: 12/12/2022
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INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
I.1 Background to the project and description of the action
In response to significant instability and displacement in eastern DRC, Tearfund received 
humanitarian funding from USAID/OFDA in June 2020 to provide a 24-month WASH and 
food security emergency response to reach 459,000 people including 210,000 displaced 
people. The project "Emergency Support to Conflict-Affected Populations in Eastern 
DRC » targeted the construction and rehabilitation of water sources; the construction of 
emergency latrines and shower blocks in camps for internally displaced persons; NFI -WASH 
distribution to vulnerable displaced persons; hygiene promotion campaigns leading to 
behavioural change; the provision of seeds and tools to vulnerable displaced persons; and 
training on improving agricultural techniques for vulnerable IDPs. Tearfund implemented the 
WASH component of the project while Tearfund's local implementing partner, Mavuno, was 
responsible for the food security component.
During the first 12 months of the award, WASH activities were implemented in Mabalako 
Health Zone (North Kivu), Kimbi-Lulenge Health Zone (South Kivu) and Lita and Drodro 
Health Zones (Ituri). Food security activities were implemented in the Mabalako and Oicha 
health zones (North Kivu) and in the Komanda health zone (Ituri).
In the last 12 months of the award, WASH activities have been implemented in Beni and 
Kalunguta health zones (North Kivu), Nundu and Fizi health zones (South Kivu) and Rwampara 
and Bunia health zones (Ituri). Food security activities have been implemented in the Mabalako 
health zone (North Kivu) and the Mandima health zone (Ituri).
This final evaluation was conducted for the completed project using quantitative and qualitative 
data collection methods and a document review was conducted for project documents, including 
the project proposal, theory of change and various reports.
I.2 Objectives of the final evaluation
This assessment is designed as a positive learning experience for organizations, partners and 
the sampled population. It should make it possible during the final study to obtain a picture of 
the achievements of the project, its traces within the community and support the reflection for 
subsequent visions with a view to a sustainable action of the services in favor of the 
beneficiaries.
The main objective of this project evaluation is to learn, measure its impact to inform and 
shape Tearfund's future programs, including the introduction of improvements.
Secondary objectives are to hold BHA, the government and the beneficiary community 
accountable by measuring the effectiveness, relevance, participation, satisfaction and 
sustainability of the project beneficiaries.
II. METHODOLOGY OF THE STUDY
This study was conducted in a participatory manner involving all project stakeholders 
throughout the stages of this final evaluation in learning dynamic to ensure that the information 
comes from credible and varied sources. The methodology consisted in crossing quantitative 
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and qualitative approaches, which is also creative, inclusive and participatory with a 
triangulation of data sources.
The usual rules of ethics were applied such as the voluntary participation of respondents and 
confidentiality where the protection of the identity of the participants was mandatory at all 
times.
The method chosen was based on the collection of qualitative and quantitative data using 
interviews (semi-structured or structured). The list of key informants had been proposed by 
Tearfund and the final selection was discussed with Data and Logistic Consulting (DLC). To 
collect quantitative and qualitative data, DLC used the survey questionnaire, focus-group 
guides and key informant interview guides. The survey questionnaire approved for this study 
was designed by DLC's technical support team in Kobo Collect which is a mobile data 
collection tool. The kick-off meeting focused on the methodology for taking into account the 
contributions and additions to enrich this evaluation.
The gender and inclusion dimensions were at the heart of the evaluation process, so all data 
were gender-sensitive, the most vulnerable or marginalized people who were sought with 
particular attention to isolated women with children or other elderly dependent adults, people 
living with disabilities (adults or children) and indigenous peoples.
II.1. Study target areas
The final assessment was conducted in three (3) provinces: North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri, 
and more specifically in thirteen (13) health zones (4 in North Kivu, 3 in South Kivu and 6 in 
Ituri) in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
- In Ituri, these are health zones of Lita, Drodro, Komanda, Rwampara, Bunia and 
Mandima.
- In South Kivu, the assessment focused on the health zones of Nundu, Fizi and Kimbi￾Lulenge.
- In North Kivu, the health zones of Mabalako, Beni, Kalunguta and Oicha.
o The choice of villages
Thus, in the context of this study, 15 villages were considered as one (1) village per health zone 
and health area. Apart from this criterion, the village was selected also taking into account the 
year of intervention and the sector of activity.
The choice of villages was important because the evaluation is based on a small sample and 
therefore it was essential that we could ensure that the villages were accessible in terms of safety 
and roads or means of communication but also that they were representative in size, ethnicity, 
history, environment and success or obstacles encountered by the project. This selection in a 
participatory logic was therefore made with the technical staff of TF. The localities/villages 
selected represent a sample of different social, cultural, historical and environmental 
contexts. Access and security conditions were also considered throughout the data collection 
process.
II.2. The period of the study
This final evaluation lasted 30 working days from August 30 to September 28, 2022 inclusively.
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II.3. Data collection methods
For this study, we used a mixed approach (combining quantitative and qualitative methods) to 
collect data relevant and appropriate for achieving the study objectives.
II.3.1. Qualitative component
The qualitative component of the study made it possible to gather, among other things, the 
views and recommendations of stakeholders, authorities and beneficiaries on the various 
themes during the study. To do this, we used the classic methods of qualitative data collection, 
namely: documentary review, individual interviews (KII) and focus groups (FGD).
o Literature review
The evaluation started with the literature review. This consisted of collecting and exploiting all 
the documentation available on the project, namely: the concept note, and the documents that 
are the evidence of the implementation of the project, including: activity reports, monthly 
reports, the basic survey report, the theory of change, etc.
The data collected from this literature review were used as additional information in the analysis 
of the evaluation data.
o Group Discussions (FGD)
Homogeneous discussion groups were organized for men, women, community members 
selected from community relays, school principals, teachers, parents' committees, school 
crossing guards, local authorities and communities, representatives of IDP committees, 
representatives of host families, representatives of WASH committees, representatives of 
village committees, community leaders, representatives of water point committees, 
representatives of complaint management and accountability committees, grassroots 
administrators (cell and others), and members of religious structures: pastors, parish priests, 
etc. With a view to maximum inclusion, young people, the elderly and people with disabilities 
or at risk of discrimination were invited to join the focus groups.
The guides for holding the FGDs and interviews were designed with reference to the project 
indicators. A total of 30 homogeneous discussion groups (15 for men and 15 for women) were 
organized in the 3 Provinces: North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri, due to 12 Focus groups in North 
Kivu Province, 6 Focus groups in South Kivu Province and 12 Focus groups in Ituri 
Province. Each focus group was facilitated by two facilitators, including a moderator and a 
note-taker.
Table N°1: Number of participants in focus groups
Province FGD Participant Workforce
Men % Wives % Together %
North Kivu 54 51% 51 49% 105 100%
South Kivu 30 56% 24 52 54 100%
Ituri 54 47% 60 49 114 100%
Total 130 51% 124 49% 254 100%
o Key Informant Interviews (KIIs)
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Based on a semi-structured interview guide, interviews were conducted with key informants or 
resource persons, physically and/or remotely with internal and external actors to inform 
research questions, including the level of partnership. A total of 65 individual interviews were 
organised at 3 levels:
⇨ At the internal project level: interviews were carried out with the Tearfund team 
including the monitoring and evaluation department (M&E); the project coordination 
team and the project implementation partner (MAVUNO)
⇨ At the level of the health zone: the chief medical officers of zones, administrators 
managing health institutions (AGIS), the politico-administrative authorities, the local 
civil society organizations, the media, ministries: health, hygiene and prevention; 
agriculture, fisheries and livestock (AGRIPEL), nurses, SENASEM, health inspectors, 
nutritionists, agricultural monitors, hygienists, health committee (COSA) and 
the community relays.
⇨ At the community level: principals, teachers, parents' committees and school crossing 
guards, local authorities and communities, IDP committees, host families, EHA 
committee members, village committee members, community leaders, water point 
committees, complaint management and accountability committees.
II.3.2. Quantitative component
o Household surveys
The quantitative component collected the data necessary for the quantitative evaluation of the 
project's result and change indicators. This was a survey of populations in the target areas of 
the project. In all 15 villages in 15 health areas, 13 health zones and 3 provinces (North Kivu, 
South Kivu and Ituri) were covered by this collection. A total of 514 people including 168 men, 
or 33% and 346 women, or 67% were affected by the survey questionnaire. Sampling for this 
study was based on the following factors: margin of error and confidence level.
➢ The margin of error was estimated at 5% and;
➢ The confidence level at 95%.
The demographic and geographic size of the health zone guided the choice of a two-stage cluster 
survey. The first degree of sampling corresponds to the drawing of clusters according to 
demographic information (number of people living in each geographical unit) provided by the 
Central Office of the Health Zone (BCZS).
The second stage focuses on the random selection of survey households within each cluster.
● First degree: selection of clusters
Health zones have been divided into health areas, and each health area into villages and/or 
neighbourhoods, which constitute the smallest geographical unit and cluster site. The allocation 
of clusters was done at random, in proportion to the size of the population of each village and/or 
neighbourhood, in order to guarantee the same chance of being surveyed within the health zone.
● Second degree: selection of households within clusters
The households in each surveyed cluster were selected by the supervisors using a simple random 
survey (random draw) or a systematic random survey (calculation of a survey step), depending 
on the structure and size of each village and/or neighbourhood and following the following 
procedure:
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- Circumscribe the geographical boundaries of the cluster in the field with the help of at 
least one person from the community (preferably the village and/or neighbourhood chief 
or someone familiar with the village as the community relay),
- Draw up an exhaustive list of households in the cluster with the help of these persons in 
order to limit the risk of omission and ensure the highest possible reliability of the list,
- Draw lots (clusters of less than 50 households) or systematic random sampling (clusters 
of 50 or more households) the expected number of households to be surveyed during 
the day.
III. OUTCOME OF THE EVALUATION
III.1. ANALYSIS OF PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION
Relevance
The project is sufficiently relevant and meets the relevance criteria; the project contributes to 
the achievement of the goals and objectives expected at the end of the project, below are the 
main findings:
⮊ The consultation of the targeted communities shows that the project has reached their real 
needs because they are experiencing difficult situations due to multiple conflicts and 
violence, which means that the available water resources have become insufficient 
following the population movements of several communities that shared the same water 
sources. Most of the community members consulted indicate that the project meets 
their needs and provides them with good quality and sufficient water.
⮊ In addition, lack of hygiene knowledge and poor hygiene and sanitation practices have led 
to the spread of many diseases, and the project had solved many of these problems, but 
informants believe that further work is still needed;
⮊ The construction of the structures was done by the "local providers" approach, which took 
into account local skills under the supervision of the health zones to sign contracts with 
providers;
⮊ Tearfund's actions are remarkable because they were carried out in a situation of complex 
security crises characterized by conflict and violence, and many humanitarian partners 
were unwilling to work in these conditions.
⮊Throughout the project, the needs of the populations were regularly assessed and 
analyzed before any intervention;
⮊ This relevance is also seen in the fact that the project has come to introduce sustainability 
in emergencies. This specificity has been beneficial now and for years to come. The 
ordinary still wants that in emergency situations we draw and distribute water directly to 
the displaced, which is only a palliative solution but Tearfund through its donor USAID 
has set up a series of sustainable works of water points, latrines, showers, etc. where several 
humanitarians do not usually intervene.
With regard to the area of food safety, we note the following observations:
⮊ The project was inspired by OCHA reports and alerts from the food security cluster. The 
choice was focused on the most affected and needy areas throughout the 
cluster... Support for food security was very relevant because from 2020 to 2021, 
many population movements caused increased food needs; thus, the project assisted not 
only the displaced but also the host families, the host population and the returned 
families.
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⮊ The support was based on agricultural inputs composed of Vegetable and Food Seed Kit 
but also Farm Tools Kit. Thus, the project partners opted for seeds that mature or 
produce in the short cycle or term, which was a response adapted to the urgent needs of 
the populations.
⮊ The populations on the move were stripped of their land, farming tools and seeds to 
survive; thus the actions of the project met the expectations and needs of the 
beneficiaries. For example, many of the beneficiaries in Mabalako and Oicha health 
zones who fled to Komanda said they continued to produce for their survival in an area 
where they were displaced. The project provided them with farming tools, seeds and 
supported them in advocating for access to land with local concessionaires. The 
National Seed Service (SENASEM) was involved in certifying the seeds and all the 
food safety work was supported by the territorial inspectors, agronomists and 
agricultural monitors in the project implementation sites. Local advocacy has made it 
possible to have access to the fields with concessionaires through social negotiations.
⮊ The largest number of beneficiaries recognize that the project has relieved 
malnutrition and food insecurity through its activities of providing seeds, farming 
tools and the organization of training in agricultural techniques.
⮊ Most participants feel that the project was adapted to the local realities of their 
community and to the socio-economic and cultural context as the project built on the 
previous achievements and experiences of the beneficiary communities in the 2 
intervention sectors (WASH and food security).
⮊ WASH support relied on CSOs, local authorities, local service providers and the 
National Rural Hydraulic Service (SNHR) and water committees, while food security 
relied on the expertise of SENASEM, agronomists and agricultural monitors to ensure 
the sustainability of the actions initiated by the project.
⮊ Thanks to the activities carried out, the communities were able to take ownership of 
the approach, and the beneficiaries had the necessary means to pay the royalties to the 
fields once exploited free of charge, others found ways to undertake in small businesses.
Efficiency
The project was implemented with a good level of efficiency. WASH activities for 
agriculture and food security were implemented in accordance with the project design. In 
addition, the implementation plan and agenda were respected in the implementation 
process by the project stakeholders despite some logistical and structural difficulties related to 
the state of road in some areas of Fizi in South Kivu. Starting from the community consultation 
and the results evaluated; the project was implemented with an adequate level of 
effectiveness with respect to the following expected results:
III.2 Level of Achievement of Project Activity Indicators
Table N°2: Level of achievement of activity indicators by province
Activities INDICATOR LEVEL BY 
PROVINCE
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ITURI NORTH 
KIVU
SOUTH 
KIVU
Identification and ownership of the project 100% 100% 100%
Hygiene and sanitation 103% 100% 99%
Distribution of NFI WASH Kits 100% 100% 100%
Distribution of agricultural input kits (seeds and 
farming tools) 100% 100% -
Water hygiene 100% 101% 100%
Construction / Water supply 100% 100% 100%
Visibility of the funder and Tearfund 100% 100% 100%
Monitoring and evaluation 100% 100% 100%
Reporting 100% 100% 100%
Total achievement 100% 100% 100%
From this table we note that all the planned activities have been carried out, or even 
exceeded the expectations for some activities.
Water supply
The beneficiaries met and interviewed are informed of the water, hygiene and sanitation 
activities implemented by Tearfund. They testified that they had benefited from training, 
awareness-raising in hygiene promotion and construction/rehabilitation of water works in their 
respective communities. They were overwhelmingly satisfied as existing water supply works 
were not only strengthened but also new sources were captured by bringing the abundant and 
drinking water closer to the community. These assertions are confirmed by the following 
results:
Figure 1: Assessment of wait times at the water point
Several beneficiaries believe that thanks to the intervention of the project they have been 
brought closer to the water works as illustrated in this figure.
Figure (1) shows the wait times at water points in the households surveyed for the three 
provinces. We note that overall, more than 75.6% of respondents wait less than 15 minutes at 
the water point to find water. This reality is more expressed in Ituri Province (88%), followed 
by North Kivu Province (71%) and South Kivu Province (68%).
Figure 2: Estimated temporal distance between the household and the water point
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Figure (2) illustrates the time taken to fetch water from the households surveyed for the three 
provinces. Overall, the majority of respondents, 54% on average, take less than 15 minutes to 
fetch water. A high proportion is constantly high in the provinces of South Kivu (63%), 
followed by ituri province (60%). We also note that this reality is different in the province of 
North Kivu where a large part of the respondents, 49% spend 15 to 30 minutes.
Figure 3: Permanent access to water
Hygiene promotion
The project has succeeded in improving community hygiene; through improved accessibility to 
handwashing devices in public places. The project's contribution has enabled communities to 
change their perceptions of hygiene and sanitation practices. Thanks to the project's actions, 
citizens have gradually become aware of the crucial importance of regularly washing their 
hands and building latrines.
Figure 4: Accessibility of handwashing devices in public places
Food security
Figure 5: Purchasing power of beneficiaries to feed themselves
Figure (3) demonstrates the views of the households 
surveyed on the issue of ongoing water accessibility. We 
note that the majority of respondents, 85%, admit to 
having access to water at all times. This reality is 
different depending on the province, where we note that 
in Ituri province 97% of respondents admit to having 
access to water permanently followed by North Kivu 
province (81%) and South Kivu province (78%). On 
average, more than 85.3% admit to having access to 
water at all times.
Figure (4) shows that on average 75% of households 
surveyed acknowledge the existence of handwashing 
devices in certain public places. The analysis 
revealed observable variations between the three 
provinces where we notice that 82% in North Kivu 
province, 74% in South Kivu province and 89% in 
Ituri province.
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Many of the direct beneficiaries interviewed during the community consultations, however, 
acknowledged that they still had the purchasing power to feed themselves. 
Figure 6: Access to sufficient food
Figure 7: Possibility of beneficiaries to have a food stock
Beyond these observations, the analyses show that:
- On average 73.5% of respondents have the possibility of having a food stock that 
guarantees their survival between cropping periods, followed by 15.5% of 
respondents who can have a food stock ranging from 1 week to 1 month, which is a 
significant gap in terms of food security among indirect beneficiaries;
- Agriculture is the main source of food supply for 78% of respondents. This reality 
varies according to the provinces, where we observe a high percentage, 87% in the 
province of North Kivu and 69% in the province of Ituri.
- For 76.5% of respondents, agriculture is the main source of their income. This reality is 
almost identical in the provinces of North Kivu (78%) and Ituri (75%).
- The majority of respondents, i.e. 61.5%, think that the means/inputs of the project have 
helped to improve the food security of their entity, followed by 37.5% of people who 
recognize that the project has helped them a lot in this area despite population 
displacements due to clashes between armed groups in Beni and Fizi.
- In all of two provinces, 66.5% of respondents who used project seeds are satisfied with 
the results after using said seeds and 33.5% were faced with clashes between armed 
groups. They didn't have time to harvest.
Figure (5) Shows that the majority of respondents, an 
average of 57.5% in both provinces as a whole, have 
purchasing power that sometimes allows them to feed 
themselves, followed by an average of 19.5% of 
respondents who say that their purchasing power never 
allows them to feed themselves and 19% who say that 
their purchasing power rarely allows them to feed 
themselves.
Figure shows that; about 61.5% of the households 
surveyed said they sometimes had access to food in 
sufficient quantities, followed by 22% of respondents 
who said they never had access to food in 
quantity. Only 7.5% have access to food in 
quantity. These realities demonstrate that the need for 
food in quantity remains a concern in these areas.
Figure (7) illustrates the possibility of beneficiaries having 
a food stock. We note that on average 55.5% of respondents 
sometimes have the food stocks, followed by 15.5% who 
live from day to day. We note that a large proportion of 
people living from day to day, 23% are in Ituri province.
But the direct beneficiaries believe they have enough stock 
despite the displacements due to the clashes.
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- On average 87.5% of respondents think that the project has not accompanied them to rent 
fields on an occasional basis. This is observed in the province of Ituri, 89% and the 
province of North Kivu, 86%.
Most of the beneficiaries say that the project has improved their diet through training that has 
helped them understand the need to have home gardens for displaced families and for host 
populations, which has enabled them to produce on small surfaces following good agricultural 
methods and practices.
According to the testimonies of several informants, after the project some beneficiaries began 
to operate small businesses, to pay royalties directly to landowners, to leave the camps to take 
a lease, and there was a reduction in cases of acute malnutrition. The health of families and 
children has improved as a result of these interventions and they now have access to a 
variety of food and cases of acute malnutrition have been significantly reduced.
III.3 EFFECT OF THE PROJECT
According to the results of community consultations and field observations, the effects of the 
project are very satisfactory. This assertion is demonstrated by the results below:
WASH
- Overall, more than 74.6% of respondents agree that there are fewer cases of diarrhoea 
thanks to the project's support. This observation is much more remarkable in South Kivu 
province (94%), followed by Ituri province (84%) and North Kivu province 
(46%). According to several informants in South Kivu province, diarrhoea cases have 
been significantly reduced.
- Several respondents (59.3%) believe that the project has contributed to the change in 
hygiene practices. This reality was observed in the province of South Kivu (100%) and 
Ituri (58%). In addition, a difference was observed in the province of North Kivu where 
a large proportion of respondents (80%) are of the opposite opinion because of 
population displacements.
Figure 8: Attitudes when latrines are full
This figure shows the attitudes to be taken by the respondents in the face of a full latrine. We 
note that the majority of them, more than 65.3%, think that a new pit should be dug, followed 
by 16% of respondents who think that it is better to empty the pit.
Figure 9: Changing lifestyles through the project's awareness messages
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Food security
In the area of food security, the project has changed the way of life of displaced people and host 
communities through the introduction to the practice of hut gardens. This innovation has 
allowed communities to change the way they grow and diversify their diets. This is what these 
results show us:
- Overall, 66.5% of respondents sometimes (not always) depend on food aid to 
survive. This proportion is much higher in North Kivu province (74%) than in Ituri
province (59%).
- 55.5% of respondents believe they have had access to a very rich diet thanks to the 
project. This reality is observed differently in North Kivu province (80%) than in Ituri 
province (31%).
III.4 SUSTAINABILITY
WASH
The sustainability of the effects produced by the implementation of the project is proven by 
the following results:
- More than 88.6% of respondents say they are aware of the existence of a local water 
management committee in their community. This proportion is high in Ituri province 
(91%), followed by South Kivu province (89%) and North Kivu (86%).
- A large number of respondents, 89.6% overall, say that their entity's water management 
committee is active and functional and 94% of respondents say that decisions within 
water committees are executed;
- More than 61.6% of respondents contribute to the costs of upkeep and maintenance of 
WASH structures or infrastructures. A high turnout is observed in the provinces of 
North Kivu (80%) and South Kivu (73%). Due to the movement of populations, it is 
difficult to maximize revenue for the maintenance of the works and other works are 
abandoned because of the clashes.
- For 58% of respondents find that the price of participation in the care and maintenance 
of WASH structures is reasonable. This reality varies in the province of North Kivu 
(69%), South Kivu (57%) and Ituri 48%. It should be noted, however, that some 
respondents contacted in Ituri Province stated that after the handover of the water supply 
works, the water committees increased the price of access to water supplies, which 
forced many beneficiaries to resort to the water sources used in the past. This bill was 
binding as the community did not have the culture to buy water supply services on the 
one hand and lack of resources on the other.
Figure 10: Reasons for Not Attending Water Committee Meetings
This figure shows the impact of the awareness-raising messages disseminated during the 
implementation of the project on the way of life of the beneficiaries. We note that a large part 
of the respondents, 50% were marked moderately by these messages, followed by more than 
39.6% who think they were strongly marked by these messages.
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Most of the respondents said that a high workload is causing them not to participate in water 
committee meetings. This reality varies in the province of South Kivu (40%), North Kivu (27%) 
and Ituri (19%).
Apart from these results, several informants report that insecurity, refusal to pay dues and poor 
maintenance of structures undermine the durability of equipment. There is also a lack of 
involvement of public authorities and community ownership (ASUREP and Water Committee).
Food security
Figure 11: Food Aid Dependency After Project Support
III.4 PARTICIPATION AND SATISFACTION OF BENEFICIARIES
WASH
The participation and satisfaction of beneficiaries was considered laborious. This is 
demonstrated by the following results:
- The majority of survey participants (73.6%) say they received hygiene awareness 
messages during the 12 months of the project, including 88% in South Kivu and Ituri 
and 45% in North Kivu. On the other hand, 26.3% of participants believe they did not 
have the messages during the year;
- 65% prefer to receive awareness messages through community relays;
- Overall, 88% of respondents agreed that these messages were very useful. This reality 
varies in Ituri Province (93%), 89% in South Kivu and 82% in North Kivu.
Figure 12: Satisfaction of water quality received from the project
Figure 13: Satisfaction with the amount of water received from the project
Overall, 66.5% of respondents sometimes 
depend on food support despite project 
support. This reality varies in North Kivu 
Province (74%) and Ituri Province (59%).
78.6% of household survey participants felt 
that they were satisfied with the water quality 
received from the project. This is 89% in Ituri, 
81% in South Kivu and 66% in North Kivu.
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FOOD SAFETY
In the area of food safety, the following observations have been demonstrated:
- 58% of participants in household surveys believe that the training received in food safety 
was essential. This proportion is higher in North Kivu Province (71%) than in Ituri 
(45%).
- More than 63% of respondents believed that their knowledge and skills acquired through 
food safety training have improved significantly. This reality varies in Ituri Province 
(88%) and North Kivu Province (38%);
- Overall, 52.5% of participants said they were satisfied with the results of using farming 
tools. This was observed in North Kivu province (53%) and Ituri province (52%).
Note: The post-implementation war context disrupted the stability of the population and 
impacted beneficiary’s outcomes.
III.5 THE SECURITY SITUATION AND THE PROJECT
On the basis of community consultations and observations on the ground, the following findings 
emerge:
- 55% of respondents believe that the project has had a lot of impact on conflict and 
violence of displaced people, followed by 34% of respondents who acknowledge 
some impact of the project on conflict and violence of displaced people. Some 
respondents say that with the increase in the amount of water and the bringing of 
drinking water closer to the community, there has been a reduction in quarrels and 
disputes at water points.
- Most beneficiaries (55%) believe that the project has not improved the safety 
conditions of women and children at all. On the other hand, 58% of people think 
that the project has been involved in improving the living conditions of people 
living with disabilities through the implementation of disability-sensitive structures.
LIMIT AND CHALLENGES
This final assessment mission experienced a number of limitations and challenges, the main 
ones being:
● At the time of the investigation, there were armed clashes between militias in a few target 
villages, resulting in some villages initially targeted being replaced on the ground.
● Data collection was carried out during the rainy season, as a result, some villages were 
deemed inaccessible even for vehicles, making it difficult to meet the beneficiaries.
● It was also the time when farmers are busy on their farm (seasonal period of agricultural 
preparation), which occurs far from their village. Supervisors and investigators 
encountered difficulties in moving around the different targeted areas due to distance, poor 
road conditions, flooded areas and difficult terrain in the three targeted Provinces; it also 
meant that enumerators had to walk everywhere on foot rather than using vehicles.
85.3% of household survey participants felt 
they were satisfied with the amount of 
water received from the project. This is 
97% in Ituri, 81% in South Kivu and 78 
North Kivu.
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● Communication is one of the major coordination constraints. Most interviews with 
stakeholders and key informants were conducted by mobile phone. This was difficult due 
to the lack of power source to charge the phones and the limited cellular coverage in the 
areas. As a result, these activities took longer to complete.
The four challenges mentioned above may have an impact on the analysis of the data collected 
and their interpretation in the evaluation, but we believe that we have limited the risks of bias 
in order to produce a quality report both in form and in substance. The strategy of organising 
separate focus groups from women and men has contributed significantly to reducing this gap 
in the involvement of women and men in this evaluation and its impact on the technical report.
ANALYSIS OF THE Project Theory of Change
The results of this evaluation show that the theory of change developed by Tearfund and the 
beneficiaries was well founded; it constituted a solid framework for this project, the 
indispensable basis of its structuring. Indeed, the activities put in place or the contributions were 
based on a contextual analysis that was both realistic and detailed and showed all its 
relevance. The results and repercussions largely met expectations despite an extremely difficult 
context in terms of security.
It is only desirable that in a next phase these issues of safety and protection against GBV be 
better integrated if only on WASH (fetch water or take a shower) where some results remain 
weak.
Overall, this theory of change should still be taken up again with a gendered and more inclusive 
analysis and vision that makes it possible to target more precisely the specific needs of change 
to women and young people as well as people living with disabilities.
Finally, a refinement would also be desirable according to the types of populations, which 
would lead to distinctions between the ethnic groups concerned, the host populations, those 
displaced those who have returned, as well as political commitment when we know that some 
sites are under the umbrella of armed groups.
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
This report presented the key results of the final evaluation of the project: "Emergency support 
to conflict-affected populations in eastern DRC". The results show that the project design was 
relevant to meet the needs of the target populations. By analyzing the performance of the project 
against its indicators, it is apparent that the project was more effective in meeting the expected 
results. The project met the targets for all expected indicators for year 1 and 2. Moreover, 
according to the results of community consultations and field observations, the effects of the 
project are very satisfactory. On the other hand, the sustainability of the effects produced by the 
implementation of the project was present and proven by its results. In the end, the participation 
and satisfaction of the beneficiaries was considered laborious.
Based on these key findings, the following recommendations were made:
 Tearfund
- Make more efforts to involve women, youth and persons with disabilities in project 
activities and consider their specific needs. The results of the community consultations 
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show that the organization of activities to involve women and youth has not been very 
satisfactory. There remains a reluctance of adult men to take into account the opinions of 
women and young people. For this reason, educate adults about the benefits of inclusive 
decision-making. Activities that aim to improve women's and youth decision-making 
should include adult men and decision-makers with a positive masculinity approach to 
guide them towards more inclusive decision-making processes at the family and 
community level. In addition, the needs of people living with disabilities have been directly 
taken into consideration because the location of these water points and the architecture of 
the structures are sensitive to people with disabilities.
- Improve the mechanisms of transfer of responsibilities to local structures for the 
sustainability of activities after the end of the project through more effective collaboration 
with community leaders that could facilitate the sustainability of activities and a system of 
continuous monitoring with young leaders. Before the end of the project, ensure that the 
leaders in charge of the different structures are engaged and equipped with the necessary 
skills to continue to meet without project support, and that they are supported by local 
authorities and other community leaders;
- Develop a mechanism for securing the Wash structures to avoid dirt and unsanitary 
situation emanating from rainwater. This can be done, for example, by planting trees, 
building small walls around the works or building gutters all around the works for their 
safety in the event of a landslide on uneven ground.
 In Mavuno
- Plan and budget the seed security kit (to secure the consumption of seeds before the first 
harvest) and the land/field rental fund in the displaced areas;
- Take into account the needs of host populations during distributions. This approach will 
avoid tensions between the host population and displaced persons;
- Organize seed fairs, NFI and WASH in communities;
- Organize capacity building training in food security for partner Civil Society Organizations, 
Security and Protection within the framework of skills transfer;
- Develop gender-sensitive SECAL image boxes
 To the Congolese government
- Strengthen the mobilization of provincial and territorial authorities in South Kivu, North 
Kivu and Ituri to address the insecurity that persists in the eastern region of the DRC.
 To the community
- Participate massively in the costs of care and maintenance of Wash structures;
- Strengthen community work around Wash structures.
ANNEXES