End of Project Evaluation

The project's overarching theory of change posits that if youth can work together to improve their lives, they will be less likely to engage in violence. The project's three interrelated objectives are to increase youth's ability to be resilient and plan for the long term by working together on livelihood initiatives, strengthen the capacity of youth, communities, and local government to protect their communities, and increase youth's ability to constructively engage their communities and government on issues that affect them. During the quarter under review, October 1 to December 31, 2013, the project continued to implement activities despite the challenges posed by the political environment. The project scaled up interventions to improve economic opportunities for youth by facilitating vocational training, and successfully conducted training on ISAL in Chitungwiza, which resulted in the formation of eight savings and loans groups. The project also conducted an analysis of the youth-led market assessment and produced a report with recommendations to enable youth to take advantage of market-based approaches in their livelihood strategies. To build the capacity of youth to constructively engage with local and national governments, the project worked with partner Youth Empowerment and Transformation Trust (YETT) to conduct meetings with the Ministry of Youth and the Organ on National Healing. The project also conducted exchange visits between Buhera and Chitungwiza, allowing youths from rural areas to learn about the challenges faced by their urban counterparts and vice versa. An assessment of the feasibility of setting up an early warning and early response system for violent conflicts was conducted by an international consultant, who recommended that the project focus on community hazards and capacitating local structures to take on the role of community monitors. The quarter under review was marked by significant contextual issues, including the end of the inclusive government and the appointment of a new cabinet. The demise of the inclusive government necessitated the filling of vacant ministerial posts, which led to delays in completing planned activities. The new Minister of Youth, Francis Nhema, is expected to have a noticeable impact on the country's issues related to youth and indigenization. The project's implementation was also affected by the beginning of the 2013/14 agricultural season, which led to a decrease in participation in project activities as young people prioritized productive activities. The government's failure to address food shortages and register households for food aid and input distribution for the forthcoming season also posed a challenge to project implementation. The TYZ project area, Buhera, is prone to droughts and associated food shortages, which are likely to slow down project implementation. Despite these challenges, the project continues to make progress in achieving its objectives, including increasing youth's ability to be resilient and plan for the long term, strengthening capacity to protect communities, and increasing youth's ability to constructively engage their communities and government. The project's activities during the quarter under review included: * Scaling up interventions to improve economic opportunities for youth by facilitating vocational training * Conducting training on ISAL in Chitungwiza, which resulted in the formation of eight savings and loans groups * Conducting an analysis of the youth-led market assessment and producing a report with recommendations * Building the capacity of youth to constructively engage with local and national governments through meetings with the Ministry of Youth and the Organ on National Healing * Conducting exchange visits between Buhera and Chitungwiza * Assessing the feasibility of setting up an early warning and early response system for violent conflicts The project's progress during the quarter under review was marked by the following achievements: * A total of 434 youths (209 female and 225 male) were reached, adding to the cumulative total of youth who have benefited from the project to date * The project successfully conducted training on ISAL in Chitungwiza, resulting in the formation of eight savings and loans groups * The project produced a report with recommendations to enable youth to take advantage of market-based approaches in their livelihood strategies * The project conducted exchange visits between Buhera and Chitungwiza, allowing youths from rural areas to learn about the challenges faced by their urban counterparts and vice versa The project's challenges during the quarter under review included: * Delays in completing planned activities due to the appointment of a new cabinet and the need for the new Minister of Youth to approve activities * Decreased participation in project activities due to the beginning of the 2013/14 agricultural season * Food shortages and the need for households to register for food aid and input distribution for the forthcoming season The project's plans for the next period, January to March 2014, include: * Rescheduling activities that were delayed due to the appointment of a new cabinet * Continuing to implement activities to improve economic opportunities for youth by facilitating vocational training * Building the capacity of youth to constructively engage with local and national governments through meetings with