End-Line Evaluation Survey for Kenya Rangelands Ecosystem Services Productivity Programme (RANGER)

End-Line Evaluation Survey for Kenya Rangelands Ecosystem Services Productivity Programme (RANGER)

February 7, 2025Posted inAgriculture and Market Systems, Capacity Building and Business Development Support, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management, Human Capital and Public Sector Reforms, Social Research
Programme (RANGER) Northern Rangelands Trust and funded by European Union INSIGHTS conducted an endline evaluation of the Kenya Rangelands Ecosystem Services Productivity (Ranger) program, evaluation commissioned by NRT and funded by the European Union, which addresses challenges in the Amaya Triangle region of Kenya, covering Laikipia, Baringo, Samburu, and Isiolo counties. [showhide] The program aimed to build resilience, sustainability, and peace by supporting community conservancies, promoting climate-resilient livelihoods, and improving governance. A consortium of ten partners, including World Agroforestry (ICRAF), Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), and Entrepreneurs for Impact (E4I), led these efforts. Despite successes in improving local communities and conserving natural resources, the region continues to face challenges, necessitating the endline evaluation. The evaluation assessed the program's performance using the OECD DAC evaluation criteria: relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, and sustainability. It aimed to determine the impact of key program indicators, evaluate the program's alignment with conservancy needs, and review its implementation efficiency. Additionally, the evaluation included a human rights audit, identified areas for future learning, and provided strategic recommendations for stakeholders to improve the program's outcomes. The RangER program has worked to improve livelihoods, enhance ecosystem service productivity, support climate-smart natural resource management, and foster peace and security, all of which contribute to the resilience of local communities, ecosystems, and wildlife in the face of climate change. [/showhide]
Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) framework

Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) framework

February 7, 2025Posted inCapacity Building and Business Development Support, Human Capital and Public Sector Reforms, Social Research
INSIGHTS developed a comprehensive and user-friendly Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) framework for SOS Children’s Villages International's Somaliland office. The primary objective of this assignment was to create a robust MERL framework and implementation plan that would serve as the foundation for performance evaluation. [showhide] The framework aimed to build the capacity of SOS International staff and their implementing partners, enabling them to conduct activities in line with MERL guidelines and establish baseline benchmarks. It was designed to better account for the project's achievements, evaluate its impact on beneficiaries, and ensure that it contributes to the desired outcomes. The MERL framework was crafted to provide a dynamic and participatory monitoring and evaluation system, adaptable to innovations at various stages of project implementation. It supports the project management team and decision-makers by offering tools and methodologies to assess the overall progress, effects, and impact of activities in the short, medium, and long term. Ultimately, the framework enhances the ability to evaluate and improve project performance, ensuring that activities are effectively contributing to achieving the expected results. [/showhide]
Child Safety audits and Mapping

Child Safety audits and Mapping

February 7, 2025Posted inCapacity Building and Business Development Support, Social Research
INSIGHTS conducted a series of safety audits, walks, and mapping approaches to identify safety and protection issues for children in IDP camps and host communities in the Middle Shabelle region. Commissioned by SOS Children's Villages International through funding from UNICEF, the assessment aimed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the protection risks and vulnerabilities faced by children in the Jowhar, Balcad, and Adale areas of Middle Shabelle. [showhide] The safety audits were designed to identify specific safety concerns, map out areas with heightened risks, and assess the availability and accessibility of child protection services, ensuring that all key vulnerabilities were considered. This participatory approach included consultations with children and adolescents, whose voices and experiences were central to the process. By actively involving children in the assessment, they were empowered to contribute to decision-making and problem-solving efforts focused on improving their safety and protection. The findings of the assessment are set to inform the development of a comprehensive protection strategy, which will specifically target the identified risks and vulnerabilities. This strategy will address the gaps in child protection services and improve coordination to ensure that children’s rights to safety, protection, and well-being are upheld in these areas. By focusing on the specific needs and challenges of children in the Jowhar, Balcad, and Adale regions, the goal is to mitigate risks and improve both immediate and long-term humanitarian outcomes. The insights gathered from this assessment will not only help enhance the protection mechanisms available to children but also contribute to improving the overall humanitarian situation for children in Somalia, particularly in IDP camps and vulnerable communities. [/showhide]
Business Development Services (BDS), mapping and profiling of individuals and private sector businesses engaged in fish retailing, and scoping exercises for fish retailer technology suppliers/providers /fabricators in Mogadishu and Kismayo

Business Development Services (BDS), mapping and profiling of individuals and private sector businesses engaged in fish retailing, and scoping exercises for fish retailer technology suppliers/providers /fabricators in Mogadishu and Kismayo

February 7, 2025Posted inCapacity Building and Business Development Support, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management, Social Research
Inclusive Resilience in Somalia (IRiS) is a five-year project (2022–2027) funded by USAID and the UK's FCDO, aimed at accelerating economic development for marginalized groups in Somalia. The project enhances resilience through rural and urban livelihood diversification and inclusive economic market systems. IRiS focuses on the agriculture, livestock, and fisheries sectors, addressing key shocks like climate variability, conflict, and economic instability. The project targets integration of the urban poor and IDPs into urban economies, promotion of private sector investments, policy and regulatory strengthening, and expanding financial services for marginalized populations. [showhide] INSIGHTS was tasked with mapping and profiling individuals and businesses engaged in fish retailing and the fabrication/sales of fish retail facilities in Mogadishu and Kismayo. INSIGHTS supported collecting comprehensive data on these businesses, facilitating training for women and youth on record keeping and business management, and linking these market actors with financial institutions and technology providers to support the establishment of 400 standard fish retail outlets. [/showhide]