Project Evaluation

1. Introduction

The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is an international humanitarian and development organization dedicated to serving vulnerable communities regardless of ethnicity, political affiliation, age, gender, or religion. In Sudan, ADRA implements integrated humanitarian, recovery, and resilience programmes aimed at strengthening livelihoods, improving food security, enhancing access to basic services, and building the resilience of conflict-affected and vulnerable communities. The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Sudan is implementing the project "Improving the Livelihoods of Conflict-Affected Communities" (Project No. A-SDN-2024-0251) with the objective of improving the resilience and well-being of conflict-affected households in Kerenik, Jebel Moon, Sirba, and Geneina localities of West Darfur State, Sudan. The project is being implemented over a 27-month period, from 1 November 2024 to 31 January 2027 targeting 11,901(5,788 female, 6,113 male) direct beneficiaries, in response to the prolonged humanitarian crisis, displacement, and deteriorating food security and access to basic services in the targeted areas. The project is funded by Bread for the World, aims to support the implementation of integrated food security, livelihoods, and WASH interventions aimed at strengthening the resilience of conflict-affected communities in West Darfur. The project is implemented in West Darfur State, one of Sudan's most conflict-affected regions, where recurrent violence, large-scale displacement, and prolonged humanitarian needs have significantly affected livelihoods, food security, and access to essential services. The conflict has disrupted agricultural production, weakened local markets, damaged critical infrastructure, and reduced communities' access to safe water, sanitation, healthcare, and other basic services. The presence of internally displaced persons (IDPs), combined with limited livelihood opportunities and environmental degradation, has further increased the vulnerability of both displaced and host communities. In addition, insecurity, population movements, logistical constraints, and seasonal access challenges have created a complex operating environment that requires flexible and adaptive programming. These contextual factors are important considerations for the evaluation, as they have influenced both project implementation and the achievement of intended outcomes. The project seeks to address the immediate and longer-term needs of conflict-affected communities through an integrated approach combining food security and livelihoods interventions with Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programming. The intervention is guided by two overarching objectives:

Project Objective 1: Conflict-affected target communities’ livelihoods are enhanced.

Indicator 1.1: At least 560 (336 female) households increased their acceptable Food Consumption Score (FCS) by 65% (i.e., from 0 to 65%)

Indicator 1.2: At least 450 (225 female) households have diversified their livelihood options (by engaging in small-scale farming, livestock rearing, petty trade, artisanal work, and participation in local cooperative businesses)

Indicator 1.3: At least 525 (250 female-headed) households in the target areas have reduced their food gap from 2 months to zero months.

Project Objective 2: Target communities' Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) practices have improved.

Indicator 2.1: At least 70% out of 1000 households have got access to potable drinking water.

Indicator 2.2: 90% of the community representatives (community leaders, elders, and women) reported that changes in sanitation and hygiene practices within the targeted communities and IDP sites. Under the first objective, the project aims to improve household food security and strengthen livelihood resilience by increasing acceptable Food Consumption Scores (FCS), diversifying household livelihood opportunities through agriculture, livestock, petty trade, artisanal work, and cooperative businesses, and reducing seasonal food gaps among vulnerable households. Under the second objective, the project seeks to improve sustainable access to safe drinking water while promoting positive sanitation and hygiene behaviors among target communities and internally displaced persons (IDPs). To achieve these objectives, the project implements a comprehensive package of interventions across three main technical components. The Food Security component provides unconditional restricted food vouchers to 750 vulnerable households, accompanied by beneficiary identification and verification processes, community sensitization, and regular Post-Distribution Monitoring (PDM) to assess the effectiveness and accountability of food assistance. The Agriculture and Livelihoods component focuses on strengthening productive capacities through Farmer Field Schools (FFS), Pastoralist Field Schools (PFS), the provision of seed and agricultural tool vouchers, establishment of tree nurseries for environmental restoration, and support for irrigation rehabilitation and solarization through Community Action Plans (CAPs). These interventions are designed to increase agricultural productivity, diversify income sources, improve climate resilience, and enhance sustainable natural resource management. The Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) component aims to improve access to safe water and promote healthy hygiene practices through the rehabilitation and solarization of water yards, rehabilitation of hand pumps, installation of handwashing stations in IDP sites, distribution of hygiene kits, production and dissemination of Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials, and capacity strengthening of Water User Committees and Hygiene Promoters to support sustainable management of water infrastructure and community hygiene promotion. The project is implemented by ADRA Sudan in close collaboration with local authorities, government institutions, communit