In-house development project evaluation, FEM

In house development project evaluation, FEM (2006-2008)

The FEM project made it possible to assist women micro-entrepreneurs in the Mediterranean basin (Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco and Tunisia) by enhancing their ability to create, run and develop their micro-enterprises via non-financial advisory services (BDS- Business Development Services).
The project was financed by the European Commission and brought together five partners: The Tunisian NGO Enda inter-arabe (the project leader), the Zakoura Micro-credit Foundation (Morocco), the Egyptian Association for Comprehensive Development (Egypt), the Lebanese Association for development Al Majmaoua, the CLEF (Learning and Training Center for Employment) and BATIK International (France).

The development and implementation of the monitoring and evaluation system for the FEM project were run by BATIK International in close coordination with the partners. At the beginning of the project, they all gathered for a 4-day workshop dedicated to the development of the system.

The monitoring and evaluation of the FEM project was carried out using two complementary approaches.

• Monitoring of the objectively verifiable indicators of the Logical Framework corresponding to 5 evaluation criteria (impact, relevance, empowerment, efficiency and efficacy): for each activity, each partner defined indicators and related verification sources.
• Analysis of the “Project book” held by each Project manager and contributed to by people involved in the project, where the project’s significant events and results were written down in a narrative and personal way.

The project evaluation indicated that, thanks to the FEM project, women:

• improved their turnover,
• invested better in the development of their micro-enterprise,
• increased their standard of living, thus encouraging better access to health care and education for their children,
• gained more self-confidence throughout the project,
• now have more influence in decision-making at home.

Project partners:

• Enda inter-arabe, Tunisia (project leader)
• Zakoura Micro-credit Foundation, Morocco
• Egyptian Association for Comprehensive Development, Egypt
• Al Majmoua, Lebanon
• BATIK International, France
• CLEF, France