Demistyfing equity-focused evaluations [EFE] Marco Segone, UNICEF Evaluation Office Anne-Claire Luzot, M&E Regional Advisor, UNICEF CEECIS EO is developing a resource package on EFE. This presentation is therefore a work in progress

Outline What does Equity mean? Why does Equity matter? What is an equity-focused evaluation? How to manage an Equity-focused evaluation?

What does equity means?

Defining Equity Equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop, and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism The disparities between population groups that are not driven by biology, are avoidable and unfair are termed inequities. Equity is therefore based on notions of fairness and social justice

All rights for all children everywhere, by prioritizing the most deprived Graph 1: % of children (7-14 years old) out of school, by race/ethnicity 2000 Baseline and goals for national average, black and white children 2010 Goal: reduce by 50% the national average and the equity ratio between black and white children 5.5 2.8 3.8 2.2 6.9 3.1 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Equity Ratio : 1,8 Equity ratio: 1,4 Black children White children National average

Drivers: Income UNICEF Source: DHS data. From NAGA pg. 27 6

Drivers: locations District level Data - Nyanza Province UNICEF UNICEF

Drivers: education UNICEF UNICEF

Drivers: Gender The majority of out-of-school children continue to be girls (53%); achieving gender parity would mean 3.6 million more girls in primary school

Drivers: Disabilities 90% of children with disabilities in developing countries do not attend school

Multiple Dimensions: Who is not learning? Disparity in learning

How is equity different from or similar to the Human Rights Based Approach and CRC? UNICEF’s foundation strategy of a human rights based approach underpins the equity agenda. Equity cannot be effectively pursued outside of a human rights framework, while human rights cannot be realised while inequity persists. Reaching the marginalized and excluded has always been integral to UNICEF’s work (Progress for Children 2010). We are doing it. But are we doing it sufficiently and everywhere? The equity approach also draws upon UNICEF’s long-standing relationship with key human rights mechanisms, most notably the Committee on the Rights of the Child and the Committee on Discrimination Against Women. In particular, UNICEF’s support to the reporting processes for these and other human rights mechanisms provide opportunities for identifying and raising equity issues.   This foundation of the equity approach within human rights means that UNICEF’s policy guidance and programmatic tools are well-suited to addressing considerations of equity. Exercises such as causality or vulnerability analysis, or the production of situation analyzes, place emphasis on looking at the most disadvantaged, and the root causes and drivers of disadvantage. The equity approach requires using those human rights based tools to their full, and emphasising their role in shaping programme and policy interventions. Equity is not business as usual Business as usual will not take us to the MDG targets with equity so we need to change strategy and focus on the most vulnerable. The organization-wide thrust is being rolled-out as an ED/HQ inspired but field led. It will require programme and operation staff to work together to identify the implications and changes needed Aligning office capacity, programme & operation structures, resources, attention, partnerships

Why does equity matter?

Why equity   Equity has a significant positive impact in reducing poverty Poverty is very sensitive to income distribution changes, and small improvements in income distribution can have an important positive effect in reducing poverty. Equity has a positive impact on economic growth Equity and economic growth rates are directly related, with higher equity having a positive impact not only on poverty reduction but also on economic growth itself. Higher equity can therefore benefit the poor in two ways: by increasing the overall growth rate and average income, and by letting them share in that growth, since growth with less inequity benefits the poor more.

Why equity Equity has a positive impact in the construction of a socially fair and democratic society Unequal opportunities of social groups in society is often a significant factor behind social unrest, which may lead to crime or even violent conflict, with negative effects for the social cohesion of a society.   Prolonged inequity may lead to the “naturalization” of inequity The long “stability” of inequity in several countries makes it something “natural”. When inequity is perceived as a natural phenomenon, society develops theoretical, political and ideological resistances to identify and fight inequity as a priority in public policies. Inequity constitutes a violation of human rights and hampers the equitable achievements on Human Development and MDGs

What is an equity-focused evaluation?

What is an equity-focused evaluation? A judgment made of the relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact and sustainability of interventions on equitable development results.

Purposes of equity-focused evaluation Accountability Organizational learning and improvement Evidence-based policy advocacy Contribute to Knowledge Management National Capacity development for equity-focused M&E systems Empowerment of worst-off groups

Involve worst-off groups: Empowering worst-off groups, including children, through Equity-focused evaluation processes Involve worst-off groups: To ensure relevance, effectiveness, ownership of evaluation Focus on Evaluation process use to empower worst-off groups through the evaluation process Including children Understanding the cultural, political economic and social context that influence inequity, including perception of, and attitudes to, equity

Why are equity-focused evaluation required? Because “conventional” evaluations have some potential limitations in evaluating equity-focused interventions: going beyond conventional quantitative data to analyze behavioral change, complex social processes and attitudes, and collecting information on difficult-to-reach socially marginalized groups. In addition, conventional evaluation are often weak on process and contextual analysis.

Is equity-focused evaluation a completely new approach? No. While some new analytical tools are introduced, most of the EFE data collection and analysis techniques are built on existing approaches The emphasis is on refining and refocusing existing technics – and enhancing national capacities to use those technics

HOW to manage Equity-focused evaluations?

Key Steps 1 2 5 6 3 4 2. Preparing the ToR of an EFE 4. Collecting/ analysing evidence 6. Utilizing the evaluation 1 2 5 6 3 4 5. Findings, conclusion and reccs 1. Preparing for the EFE 3. Designing the evaluation MANAGE RISKS * MANAGE RISKS * MANAGE RISKS * MANAGE RISKS

MANAGE RISKS * MANAGE RISKS * MANAGE RISKS * MANAGE RISKS Key Steps 1 2 5 6 3 4 1. Preparing for the EFE MANAGE RISKS * MANAGE RISKS * MANAGE RISKS * MANAGE RISKS

. Preparing for the Equity-focused evaluation Determining the evaluability of the intervention’s equity dimensions Identifying evaluation stakeholders, including worst-off Identifying intended use by intended users Identifying potential challenges in promoting and implementing Equity-focused evaluations

2. Preparing the ToR of an EFE Key Steps 2. Preparing the ToR of an EFE 1 2 5 6 3 4 1. Preparing for the EFE

Preparing the ToR of an EFE Defining the scope and purpose of the evaluation Framing evaluation questions focusing on equity Selecting technically-strong and culturally-sensitive evaluation team Ensuring appropriate budget

Framing evaluation questions focusing on equity DAC criteria adapted for EFE Relevance Impact Effectiveness Efficiency Sustainability

2. Preparing the ToR of an EFE 3. Designing the evaluation Key Steps 2. Preparing the ToR of an EFE 1 2 5 6 3 4 1. Preparing for the EFE 3. Designing the evaluation

Designing the evaluation Selecting the appropriate evaluation framework Theory of Change Bottleneck analysis

Use of services by vulnerable population Bottleneck supply and demand framework: factors affecting use of services by vulnerable populations Contextual factors Economic Political Institutional Legal and administrative Environmental Supply side factors Coverage Budgets and available resources Culturally acceptable services Culturally sensitive staff Demand side factors Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice of vulnerable groups Community ownership factors affecting access distance cost of travel and fees available transport cultural constraints time poverty Use of services by vulnerable population

Designing the evaluation Selecting the appropriate evaluation framework Selecting the appropriate evaluation design

Selecting the appropriate evaluation design and tools Contextual factors Economic Political Institutional Legal and administrative Environmental Supply side factors Coverage Budgets and available resources Culturally acceptable services Culturally sensitive staff Demand side factors Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice of vulnerable groups Community ownership factors affecting access distance cost of travel and fees available transport cultural constraints time poverty Use of services by vulnerable population Mix-Methods

Designing the evaluation Selecting the appropriate evaluation framework Selecting the appropriate evaluation design Selecting the appropriate evaluation methods

Key Steps 1 2 5 6 3 4 2. Preparing the ToR of an EFE 4. Collecting/ analysing evidence 1 2 5 6 3 4 1. Preparing for the EFE 3. Designing the evaluation MANAGE RISKS * MANAGE RISKS * MANAGE RISKS * MANAGE RISKS

Selecting the appropriate evaluation methods

Approaches to be used to evaluate complex equity-focused policies and programmes Systems approach to evaluation Unpacking complex policies into components that can more easily be evaluated Pipeline designs Policy gap analysis Using other countries or sectors as the comparison group Concept mapping Portfolio analysis

Key Steps 1 2 5 6 3 4 2. Preparing the ToR of an EFE 4. Collecting/ analysing evidence 1 2 5 6 3 4 5. Findings, conclusion and reccs 1. Preparing for the EFE 3. Designing the evaluation MANAGE RISKS * MANAGE RISKS * MANAGE RISKS * MANAGE RISKS

Key Steps 1 2 5 6 3 4 2. Preparing the ToR of an EFE 4. Collecting/ analysing evidence 6. Utilizing the evaluation 1 2 5 6 3 4 5. Findings, conclusion and reccs 1. Preparing for the EFE 3. Designing the evaluation MANAGE RISKS * MANAGE RISKS * MANAGE RISKS * MANAGE RISKS

Utilizing the evaluation Preparing the evaluation report and alternative forms of reporting Disseminating the evaluation and preparing a Management Response

Do you want more? List the top 3 risks (substitute in one if taken by another group) Look for common themes 41

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This is NOT what I was expecting!!!!! Remember This is NOT what I was expecting!!!!! Whose fault is it? Invest time/energy in designing a good quality ToR with all main intended users, and make sure consultants understand it and are comfortable with it 43

Thank you

. Group work Identifying potential challenges in promoting and implementing Equity-focused evaluations Identify possible way to address the challenges What support would you need?