Final Independent Evaluation of the project 'Livelihoods and Economic Recovery in Northern Uganda (LEARN-1)'

The evaluation was conducted in July 2010, roughly six months after the final cash disbursement and the end of the project. It was hoped that this time delay would allow for better conclusions about the impact of the project to be drawn. The following indicators and issues were to be addressed in detail by the evaluation:

• The standard DAC criteria for project evaluations (Impact, Sustainability, Relevance / Appropriateness, Coverage, Coherence / Coordination, Effectiveness, Efficiency)
• The contractual indicators from the project LFA
• The mechanism of cash transfer through bank accounts
• The evidence concerning the three project research hypotheses:
  (i) Cash transfers work better/more sustainably than in-kind programmes (e.g. agro/IGA kits) due to more involvement in decision making and empowerment for the participants.
  (ii) Cash transfers facilitate work with EVIs, due to additional flexibility to cover immediate and longer term needs, and hence EVI households are able to evolve and develop, as they do not have to jeopardize their immediate needs over longer term investment and skill transfer.
  (iii) Cash transfers can have a measurable impact on the nutritional and dietary status of the participating households.