| General Information |
Project/Program |
Project |
| Project Name |
Buddist Leadership Initiative |
| Duration |
2008-2012 |
| Donor |
United Nation Children's Fund (UNICEF) |
| Implementiong Organization |
Ministry of Cult and Religion (MoCR) |
| Sector and/or Subsector Classification |
Others |
| Region |
N.A. |
| Financing |
N.I. |
| Analytical Information |
Stakeholders |
Community Support Organization (CSO), District Office of Cult and Religion (DOCR), Ministry of Cult and Religion (MoCR), Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS), Ministry of Health (MoH), Provincial Department of Cult and Religion (PDCR), Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, United Nation Children's Fund (UNICEF) |
| Cross-cutting Issue |
Environment |
No environment issue mentioned in the evaluation report |
| Gender |
No gender issue mentioned in the evaluation report |
| Impact Analysis |
The objectives of the Buddhist Leadership Initiative were found to be in line with and therefore relevant to national and UNICEF strategies and policy frameworks. At national policy level, the Buddhist Leadership Initiative directly responded to the government's 'Policy on Religious Response to the HIV/AIDS Epidemic' in Cambodia which was the first of its kind in May 2002. Alongside this, other HIV focused policies make specific references to the role of faith leaders including the National Stretegic Plan for the Comprehensive and Multi-sectoral Response to HIV/AIDS 3 (2011-2015) which promotes the role of faith leaders in reducing stigma and discrimination. |
| Effectiveness |
Ownership/Partnership |
Evaluation |
The ownership of the programme implementers are considered unsatisfactory, as the report states following. At most levels of organization of the programme, implementers and participants alike did not seem to claim ownership over the activities, meaning they did not feel in charge. It seemed to them all that someone else was responsible and they did not want to suggest changes or take ownership for fear of "stepping on toes". This is potentially not problematic among monks who arguably should be more at the center participation spontaneously by meeting regularly within their communes once a week or more. |
| Rating |
2/5 |
| Policy Coherence/Harmonization |
Evaluation |
Policy Coherence and Harmonization not mentioned in evaluation report. |
| Rating |
N.A. |
| Evaluation Framework |
Evaluation |
The evaluation of the Buddist Leadership Initiative, Cambodia, took place through a desk review of programme documents, a literature review, and quantitative and qualitative data collection in five provinces: Kampong Thom, Kampot, Siem Reap, Takeo and Prey Veng. Interviews were conducted with key stakeholders and activity implementers including representatives of the Ministry of Cult and Religion, Provincial Departments of Cult and Religion, UNICEF country office and sub-national staff, NGOs, monks and programme participants. A quantitative survey was administered to programme participants in all five provinces over 15 consecutive days in August 2012. Twenty focus group discussions were conducted with programme participants (adults, children and monks) in the same time period. |
| Rating |
4/5 |
| Alignment/Composition of Finance |
Evaluation |
Regarding sustainability of the programme, the evaluation report states as following. Most of the activities as they are currently implemented rely on external donor support. Some one-off or time-limited activities have had profound results and do not need to be repeated consistently, such as the first home visit to a person living with HIV which can significantly reduce stigma and discrimination experienced by the person. The activities seem more likely to be sustainable if they originate from each wat rather than organized by the Ministry of Cult and Religion at provincial level. |
| Rating |
3/5 |
| Other Remarks |
|
