Partner:
UNICEF / World Bank / DFID
Period:
May 2009 – December 2011
Country of Operation:
Ghana
Category:
MERL / Organizational Development
Project Snapshot:
PDA participated in an independent 5-year external evaluation of the Millennium Village Project in Northern Ghana, led by an ITAD UK consortium. The evaluation used mixed methods and consisted of three rounds of qualitative assessments using Participatory Rapid Appraisal (PRA) and Reality Check approaches.
- PPVA I (June 2009): A national study was conducted by a 20-person research team across 17 sites in the three northern regions and in migrant communities in southern Ghana, contributing to the 2009 World Bank Poverty Study. A national workshop in August 2009 presented the findings to development organizations in Accra.
- PPVA II (October 2009): The research teams revisited the same communities to share findings, invite feedback, and conduct additional research on labor-intensive public works and the government’s LEAP cash transfer programme.
- PPVA III (February – March 2010): A further intensive round of research focused on education and social protection.
In June 2011, a consolidated report of all three rounds was published. Additionally, during 2010/2011, PDA collaborated with the client organizations and the Government of Ghana to write briefing papers and organize high-level national meetings for disseminating and implementing the PPVA findings.
Project Objectives:
- Establish baselines and monitor changes in poverty and vulnerability over the project lifecycle.
- Capture and analyze community coping strategies in the face of economic and social challenges.
- Provide evidence-based recommendations to inform policy and programme adjustments in poverty reduction.
PDA’s Task:
PDA managed the qualitative components of the evaluation using PRA and Reality Check methodologies, coordinating data collection, analysis, and stakeholder engagement throughout the study phases.
How We Went About It:
- Deployed a multi-disciplinary research team to conduct fieldwork in diverse communities.
- Organized workshops to share findings and validate results with community members and stakeholders.
- Synthesized insights into a comprehensive evaluation report and facilitated dissemination events with national policymakers.