Central Asia on the Move (2012-15) was a complex, four-country programme (Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation) involving a large range of NGO and other partners on an important theme – migration, both internal and across borders. It is jointly funded by Danish Chruch Aid, (DCA), ICCO Cooperation and Brot für die Welt (BftW). The use of a new programmatic frame – Theory of Change – allowed the donors and their partners a much-needed flexibility in planning and adapting actions to the situation and target group needs in the target countries, in a fast changing external environment. The programme delivered its objectives through research, advocacy, defence of rights and promotion of new services for migrants and their families.
The evaluation assessed the effectiveness and outcome of Central Asia on the Move Programme in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, with a specific focus on their contribution to the reduction of inequalities and poverty for migrants women, men, children and elderly and generated recommendations and guidance for a possible next funding phase of the programme. The evaluation applied the OECD/DAC evaluation criteria – relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact and sustainability. In addition it considered the benefits and challenges of the programme partnership approach and formulated recommendations for the way forward and the design of an exit strategy. The latter included proposals on how to effectively support partners’ organisational development and sustainability as a contribution to civil society development in the region.
INTRAC used a participatory, gender sensitive, fit for purpose methodology for the evaluation to ensure that the local NGO partners and the rights holders targeted by the programmes contributed fully. The evaluation team of three included a Tajik-speaking and a Kyrgyz-speaking evaluator: all consultants were Russian and English speaking. The evaluation inlcluded a document review, field visits and consultations with stakeholders, and an in-country partner workshop with all stakeholders where the recommendations follow up on the recommendations were discussed.