SCADeP is a Government Sierra Leone Initiative funded by the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank, and Department of International Development (DFID) of the United Kingdom. The Project, being implemented through the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security and other agencies, is designed to harness existing opportunities and address challenges that infringe commercialization of farming. The main aim of SCADeP is to promote smallholder commercialization by fostering productive business linkages between smallholder farmers and selected agribusiness firms and other commodity off-takers.

Consultants from Seray were commissioned to carryout baseline survey that addresses indicators described in the project results framework, and ensured baseline data were properly benchmarked to inform attribution of SCADeP outcomes/impacts. We also secured sufficient baseline information on the feeder roads situation in the targeted areas as required by the checklist of indicators. In addition institutional capacity assessment including participating Financial Institutions (APEX Bank, selected Financial Service Association and Community Banks) and implementation stakeholders was conducted. The geographic spread was nationwide (all 13 districts) with focus on chiefdoms/communities where agribusinesses and out-growers are located. The Survey started in July 2017 and Ended October 2017.

Contact Details of Reference:

Alimamy Kargbo
The Grants Manager
Smallholder Commercialization and Agribusiness Development Project (SCADEP)
Address: 1 st Scan Drive, Off Spur Drive, Wilberforce
Freetown - Sierra Leone
Tel: +232 30649025, +232 79259250
Email: alimkargbo200@yahoo.com

Prior to establishment of decentralization in 2004 , Sierra Leone had some of the poorest health indicators, with life expectancy of 47 years, infant mortality rate of 92 per 1000 live births, under-five mortality rate of 156 per 1,000 live births, and a maternal mortality ratio of 1,165 per 100 000 births. In addition, 46% of pregnant mothers attending antenatal care services had delivery out of health facilities. The Government initiated the Reproductive and Child Health Project (RCHP 1 and 2), and the Free Health Care Initiative (FHCI) aimed at improving the health status of patients and the deteriorating institutional disposition of the health system. The key problems that the RCHP II funding set out to address were high infant mortality rate due to malaria, pneumonia, diarrheal and malnutrition. RCHP II was also designed to ultimately improve maternal, under-five and infant mortality from 2005 values; these are supposed to be reduced by 30%. The overall object of the programme was intended to achieve through increased utilization of a package of essential health services by pregnant and lactating women and children under the age of five supported by the following health outcomes.

The objectives achieved included:

1. Reviewed the accuracy of the facility data from the registrars and other records;
2. Analyzed an agreed sample of data of one year of service delivery data covering all benefitting facilities and all quarters of 2013, 2014 and 2015;
3. Reviewed the roles and responsibilities of the different PBF stakeholders and advise on the areas of improvement;
4. Evaluated progress made since the external verification;
5. Evaluated the cost-effectiveness of the scheme;
6. Evaluated the benefits of the performance based financing in term of services delivery, strengthening the health system information. This verification of data and timely reporting), the governance of health facilities (management of human resources, environmental health, financing, etc.)

Contact Details of Reference:

Dr. Sas Kagbo
programme Manager
Project Evaluation Reproductive and Child Health Project (RCHP II)
Tel: +232 76603274
Email: saskargbo@gmail.com

Prior to establishment of decentralization in 2004 , Sierra Leone had some of the poorest health indicators, with life expectancy of 47 years, infant mortality rate of 92 per 1000 live births, under-five mortality rate of 156 per 1,000 live births, and a maternal mortality ratio of 1,165 per 100 000 births. In addition, 46% of pregnant mothers attending antenatal care services had delivery out of health facilities. The Government initiated the Reproductive and Child Health Project (RCHP 1 and 2), and the Free Health Care Initiative (FHCI) aimed at improving the health status of patients and the deteriorating institutional disposition of the health system. The key problems that the RCHP II funding set out to address were high infant mortality rate due to malaria, pneumonia, diarrheal and malnutrition. RCHP II was also designed to ultimately improve maternal, under-five and infant mortality from 2005 values; these are supposed to be reduced by 30%. The overall object of the programme was intended to achieve through increased utilization of a package of essential health services by pregnant and lactating women and children under the age of five supported by the following health outcomes.Prior to establishment of decentralization in 2004 , Sierra Leone had some of the poorest health indicators, with life expectancy of 47 years, infant mortality rate of 92 per 1000 live births, under-five mortality rate of 156 per 1,000 live births, and a maternal mortality ratio of 1,165 per 100 000 births. In addition, 46% of pregnant mothers attending antenatal care services had delivery out of health facilities. The Government initiated the Reproductive and Child Health Project (RCHP 1 and 2), and the Free Health Care Initiative (FHCI) aimed at improving the health status of patients \and the deteriorating institutional disposition of the health system. The key problems that the RCHP II funding set out to address were high infant mortality rate due to malaria, pneumonia, diarrheal and malnutrition. RCHP II was also designed to ultimately improve maternal, under-five and infant mortality from 2005 values; these are supposed to be reduced by 30%. The overall object of the programme was intended to achieve through increased utilization of a package of essential health services by pregnant and lactating women and children under the age of five supported by the following health outcomes.

Seray Consulting and Associates was commissioned to evaluate RCHP II. The general purpose of the final evaluation was to provide an objective assessment of the impact of RCHP on primary health care delivery system in Sierra Leone and measuring the achievement of specifically project objectives. The assessment served as a means for Directorate of Policy, Planning and Information (DPPI), the RCHD of MoHS and Integrated Project Administration Unit (IPAU) to be assured that the activities implemented by the different components achieved the PDOs hence value for money.

Contact Details of Reference:

Dr.Sas Kagbo
programme Manager
Project Evaluation Reproductive and Child Health Project (RCHP II)
Tel: +232 76603274
Email: alimkargbo200@yahoo.com

Given below are the roles that Seray Consulting Associate performed on the project.

1. Assess the structure and delivery mechanisms of each of the project components, and determining whether or not these mechanisms were adequate to realize the intended objectives;
2. Determine the extent to which the project implementation processes have delivered the planned outputs, and whether these are facilitating realization of expected outcomes;
3. Capture and assess the opinions of key stakeholders, including beneficiaries, on the relevance, design, implementation structure of the project
4. Capture and assess the opinions of key stakeholders on what went well, or not so well, in the project management;
5. Highlight success stories from the project beneficiaries;
6. Identify critical factors that may have supported or impeded the project in realizing its expected outcomes;
7. Assess the adequacy of the project monitoring and evaluation arrangements, the knowledge management systems of the project, and documenting lessons learnt in the course of project implementation;
8. Assess the efficacy of the different models utilized by the project;
9. Estimate key benefit flows from the project, and based on an assessment of the project inputs and costs, undertaking a benefit-cost analysis (BCA) of the project;
10. Identify key challenges and gaps that may have affected the attainment of the project development objective and recommending actionable interventions that should be considered by the Government of Sierra Leone and her development partners in designing similar projects in the future.

Country: Sierra Leone (All 13 Districts at the time)