Annual Results Report: Girma

The project area was only slightly affected by the COVID-19 epidemic, with no confirmed cases over Q3 and Q4. A cholera outbreak affected six villages in Q4 but was largely resolved after less than one month. Girma responded with a Social Behavior Change (SBC) contingency plan. Key interventions include Maison Familiale Harmonieuse (MFH), literacy and numeracy training, leadership training for women and youth, including persons with disabilities (PWD), care groups with home gardening, time-saving technologies to reduce women's labor burden, health system strengthening, fertility awareness methods, GrowUp Smart to build adolescent life skills and fertility awareness, and construction/rehabilitation/governance of multiple-use water systems. The project targets 842,645 individuals in 135,251 households, of which 25% are extremely vulnerable and 27.8% are very vulnerable. At present, Girma has reached 337,336 direct participants, with a gender distribution of 42% male and 58% female, and 34% aged 15-29 years. The project is now present in 622 villages, with a satisfactory level of integration, and will not expand into more villages. The sequencing of activities was improved over the fiscal year, with 420 villages conducting all preliminary activities before starting with sectorial activities. However, the layering of activities at the household level will be Girma's new challenge for FY22, as only 34% of households currently participate in three activities or more. To improve layering, the MEAL team is generating households' lists for every village, mentioning the number of activities in which every household currently participates. The Theory of Change analysis showed that pathways and assumptions are still appropriate with regard to the context. Outcomes are likely to be met at the end of the project, with transformative change visible in terms of women's participation in the public sphere, youths becoming influencers on positive behaviors in their households, children's dietary diversity, participation of women and youth in economic activities, and proactiveness of local institutions. However, the delay in the implementation of the Economic Empowerment Package (EEP) for destitute households due to operational challenges in the voucher component and a delay in the start of coaching activities poses a challenge.