UNICONS won the bidding process for conducting the final evaluation of the program that was implemented by the Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRCS) in Jebet Al-Maaden in Red Sea state in Sudan. The SRCS had implemented the Food Security/Livelihood Program” with technical support from the Spanish Red Cross and financial support from the EU and in close consultation and cooperation with the local communities and local authorities mainly government institutions. The overall objective of the program was to improve livelihoods and achieve sustainable reduction in the food insecurity of the rural population of the Red Sea state. The evaluation was conducted by Unicons with the aim of: (i) assessing the work done by the program in enhancing food security; (ii) providing SRCS, EU and other stakeholders learning tools for informal judgment about the implementation and impact of the program; (iii) documenting lessons learned and experience gained in order to inform future programs.

The evaluation assessed the program following the EU evaluation criteria where the program objectives, results achieved, level of performance and change made together with the program concept, strategy and implementation process were assessed through their relevance, efficiency, effectiveness and impacts.

Inorder to conduct the evaluation, UNICONS formed a team comprised of a lead consultant with the necessary expertise who was assisted by a female gender specialist. The latter was important to take into consideration the cultural sensitivities of Eastern Sudan. The evaluation focused on participatory methods using tools including questionnaires and checklists Focus Group Discussions, direct observations and interviews. Data sources included Households, Village Development Committees, community leaders and women groups inaddition to stakeholders/partners of the relevant government institutions. This fieldwork necessitated extensive logistical arrangements in the area of the program which is characterized by extreme poverty, very rough roads and lack of basic services