Endangered and Engendered Realities

An evaluation framework for high risk adolescent girls in South AsiaCOE/ISST/PWN Joint Project

Sonal Zaveri, PhDDublin, EES 2014

Collaboration between network of evaluators, action research institute, network of feminist evaluators and civil society

Community of Evaluators South Asia, Institute of Social Studies Trust + Feminist

NetworkPositive Women’s Network India

Four field organizations Buds of Christ Charitable Trust, Tamil Nadu Jabala Action Research, West Bengal Child in Need Institute, West Bengal Asmita Collective, Andhra Pradesh

Project Partners

Understand what are the gaps in interventions for highly vulnerable girls – (HIV+ or affected, children of sex workers, stigmatized)

Understand what evidence will enable decision makers to better plan interventions for highly vulnerable girls

Listen to girls’ voices using gender aware tools Analyze our findings to develop evaluation

guidelines for this group Disseminate to decision makers in South Asia

and seek buy-in

Project Aims

Conducted sensitization and planning workshop in May Four field organizations committed to collect field data Formed an advisory group of feminist evaluators Developed A Methods Guide of PRA adolescent

friendly tools and interview guides for key stakeholders and family.

Adopted ethical guidelines Piloted the PRA tools Data collection ongoing Prepare consolidated Report and draft evaluation

framework/guidelines Develop ‘USE” plan to disseminate findings and

evaluation guidelines Plan for dissemination to key decision makers

Project Activities

Education limited by socio-cultural engendered barriers affecting achievement, aspirations and available options

Risk awareness does not necessarily lead to safer choices

Girls cannot perceive their own strengths nor envision a positive future

Girls’ lives closely intertwined with their mothers/family- addressing only girls in programs has limitations

Emerging Outcomes

Lived realities reflect restrictive environments and lack of positive role models

Widespread discrimination and abuse (verbal, emotional) – contextual, linked to mother’s status

Early marriage closely linked with vulnerability; lack of support systems

High vulnerability is context specific and requires nuanced response; sense of hopelessness is high

Implementing organizations (in this study) increased their capacities about evidence gathering

Issues and Learning Points

THANK YOU!sonalzaveri@gmail.com