This report highlights the findings of the mid-term evaluation for the Advancing Peaceful
Co-Existence and Respect for Human Rights among Refugees and Host Communities in
Northern Uganda Project. It points out the general context in which the project is being
implemented, the status of progress towards achieving the desired outcomes, lessons learnt,
challenges and recommendations for improvement in the remaining project period.
This mid-term evaluation had two forms of scope namely; the physical/geographical coverage
and the thematic area of area of coverage. Geographically, the study was conducted in Yumbe
district – specifically Bidi Bidi refugee settlement in Yangani and Abirimajo Zones, Terego
and Madi-Okollo districts in Omugo 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and Arianze 1 & 2, Odobu 1&2 for Rhino
camp and, Lamwo District – Palabec settlements, zones 8, 5A, 5B, &7. Demographically the
project targets Citizens/refugees and Host communities, Paralegals/Community Peace
keepers, Elders/women leaders/RWCs/LC leaders, OPM/Police/UNHCR/Protection partners,
duty bearers who include technical and political leaders at sub county level including RWCs.
The evaluation aimed to achieve 11 objectives which included; the review of the contextual
analysis and baseline report/ data to examine the extent to which project outcomes have been
achieved, examine the extent to which project interventions have contributed to project
outcomes, examine the appropriateness and relevance of the approaches used to deliver
project results, examine the project assumptions, risks and challenges and the extent to which
they affected the project outcomes, document key insights and lessons and how they can
inform future programming, review the relevance of the theory of change for the project,
assess the level of collaboration with other partners and its relevancy to achievement of
project results, suggest practical recommendations in relation to approaches and interventions
that can contribute to achievement of Project outcomes.
From the midterm evaluation, a snapshot of the findings indicated hereunder presents that
there is increased knowledge on legal, human rights, peace, resiliency and response to
psychosocial stress particularly among the paralegals as compared to the refugees and host
communities where 50% of the refugees and host communities reported relative peace and
reduced violence at community from 35% at baseline. However, little attention was given to
the psychological aspects/effects of violence and human rights violations in the design and
implementation.
There are more documented cases by the paralegals in the refugees’ settlements than there
was before commencement of the project with 21.1% at baseline and 25.1% at midterm of the
beneficiary’s sought justice for any forms of human rights abuses.
There is increased access & use of mediation & local/traditional conflict resolution strategies
for community-based since there more cases that are settled though family courts and elder’s
councils than those addressed through litigation with 80% of project beneficiaries
acknowledged to having their cases resolved through mediation and other alternative dispute
resolution mechanisms in the host and refugee communities at mid-term.
Findings revealing that 37.9% of beneficiary at midterm acknowledged in participation in
leadership, decision making and policy development against a baseline of 16.5%.
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