Income-Generating Activities - Action Against Hunger

Field handbook • Scientific and Technical Department
• Sustainability: Will the achievements of the programme be maintained over
time
Depending on the duration of the programme, various evaluations can be planned.
In programmes designed for two years or more, it is recommended to have both an intermediate
and final impact evaluation.
The intermediate evaluation is often carried out the by team involved in project
implementation and can be used as an internal exercise. This evaluation helps to determine
the progress and identify the possible difficulties or unexpected effects; it is
a good exercise to reorient, strengthen or improve the programme. The evaluation
can focus on specific topics of interest or cover the programme in its entirety.
Example 28: Intermediate evaluation of group work in Azerbaijan 2004
The functioning of 52 groups supported by ACF in Azerbaijan was evaluated in the
summer of 2004. The differences found between the groups made it possible to define
four categories:
A: those that carry out all their work as a group and want to be legally registered
B: those that work together in some activities and individually in others, but in
a stable and motivated manner
C: those that do not work as a group, but are still motivated to participate in the
programme and follow the arranged agreements
D: those that do not work in groups and do not fulfill the commitments to the
programme. These are called «non viable» groups.
The intervention strategy was adapted based on the results of this evaluation,
defining working methods to respond to the different capacities, needs and motivation
of categories A, B, and C. It was decided that groups labeled as non-viable,
whose members had no interest in taking part in the programme, would not continue
to be supported and would stop being programme beneficiaries after paying their
debts to the revolving fund.
Measuring the programme impact is an integral part of the final evaluation, but
analysis process depends on the nature of the programme and the objectives established.
In the case of the IGA, the impact achieved should be analyzed on different
levels:
• Impact on the livelihood systems of the family units:
— Financial capital: Changes in income due to variations in quantity, sources,
seasonality, etc. Increase in access to credit.
— Variation in consumption and in the use of income: increase in expenses for
food and other basic needs. Reduction of family debts and increase in sav-
INCOME GENERATING ACTIVITIES: A KEY CONCEPT IN SUSTAINABLE FOOD SECURTIY
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