Evaluation Report

Executive summary
This report presents the finding, conclusion and recommendations of a monitoring and evaluation project on the peace
and security of women in 15 provinces of Afghanistan. The aim of this evaluation is to assess the situation of peace
and security goals mentioned in the UNSCR 1325. In order to build link with the women at the grass root level, it is
important to develop a network between some strong, influential, and powerful women for advocacy, capacity building
and awareness raising. EPD created a network of these women called Provincial Women Network in 15 provinces of
Afghanistan to strengthen the role of women in social, political, development, advocacy and decision-making processes,
while providing accountability and oversight into public service delivery. The PWN creates a platform that brings
women from different walks of life together for training and capacity building purposes. EPD began the establishment
of PWNs as early as 2013 and since then, it has been established in 15 provinces like Kabul, Herat, Bamyan, Nagarhar,
Kunduz, Kandahar, Laghman, Helmand, Uruzgan, Parwan, Balkh, Daikundi, Badakhshan, Paktia and Faryab. EPD has
already conducted the first round of this evaluation in which we saw certain amazing achievements of these networks
at the grass root level. The main this Round II assessment is to measure the change among the PWNs and other
concerned stakeholders, regarding their attitudes, perceptions, and behaviors towards UNSCR 1325 goals, after EPD’s
intervention in the target districts. In Round II also, EPD evaluated the progress and effectiveness of the 15 PWN
branches from the perspective of members as well as the influential stakeholders, who support their work in achieving
the goals of UNSCR 1325. This assessment report identifies opportunities for strategic and operational improvement,
through recommendations proposed by the networks and stakeholders regarding, enhancing the condition of women’s
peace and security at the grassroots level. This assessment falls under the goal of the Monitoring Women’s Peace and
Security project, generously funded by the Royal Netherlands Embassy, to contribute towards an enabling environment
for women across Afghanistan.
The assessment presents the main activities that the PWN is conducting, their advocacy activities related women
peace and security including activities for prevention of women from, violence Against women (VAW), protection of
women, rehabilitation of women, political participation of women and capacity building. It also gives an insight into the
capacity of PWN with regard to communication skills, advocacies, awareness raising and monitoring women’s peace
and security at the grass root level.
According to the report, it is also evident that most of the networks have succeeded to build good interaction and
communication with other institution and organization in order to smoothly function in the province. The PWNs
successfully have conducted various trainings like (In her shoes, UNSCR1325 and WPS), documentary screening,
advocacies for ensuring the women’s peace and security and also have managed to involve men in their activities
at grass root level. The stakeholders almost in all of the provinces appreciated the efforts of the network, even in
provinces with restricted norms and culture.
The report gives an insight into the significant achievements of PWN’s as well as challenges they face while working
for WPS at the grassroots level. Some of the major achievements of the PWNs include, provision of the scholarships,
holding demonstrations in response to violence against women, solving VAW cases, involvement in reintegration
process, promoting women’s participation in peace building and decision making and many other initiatives to support
women’s peace and security. The report has also provided a list of recommendation to address the challenges that the
PWN’s face, in order to implement effectively four pillars of UNSCR 1325. A large number of participants in the survey
and the stakeholders emphasized that the networks’ coverage area should be expanded and it should reach out to the
district level.
Evaluation Method
To undertake M & E of the PWN branches, the researchers utilized both qualitative and quantitative methods to evaluate
their performance. The evaluation started with completing a basic questionnaire to assess program management,
followed by a survey for the PWN members to provide insight into the functioning of the network and to identify
challenges. Finally, key informant interviews were conducted with community, civil society and government stakeholders
to review the network’s impact and progress made. By collecting information from both inside and outside PWNs, the
evaluation’s methodology aimed at providing an objective assessment of the network involving all key actors.
The tools included a questionnaire containing basic questions about the network’s administration, logistics and filing.
The survey posed questions related to the projects overall operations, activities, outreach, challenges and constraints,
EQUALITY for Peace and Democracy
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Provincial Women's Network Evaluation Report