BESTWA West Africa:
War Orphan Feeding Program Evaluation
Challenge: BESTWA Liberia is dedicated to providing essential support, including a critical war orphan feeding program, to vulnerable children across Liberia.1 To effectively expand this program throughout West Africa, BESTWA required a robust monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework. They needed to:
Demonstrate the program's impact on the children's health and well-being.
Identify areas for improvement and optimize program delivery.
Provide data-driven evidence to attract sustainable funding for expansion.
Create a system that allowed for scalability of data collection, as the program grew.
Solution: Bridging Analytics partnered with BESTWA Liberia to design and implement a comprehensive M&E system tailored to their war orphan feeding program. This collaboration included:
1. Development of a Customized M&E Framework:
Bridging Analytics worked closely with BESTWA's team to define clear program objectives and develop relevant indicators to measure impact.
They created a logic model that outlined the program's inputs, activities, outputs, outcomes, and impact.
Key indicators were established to track:
Nutritional status of children (e.g., weight, height, mid-upper arm circumference).
Health improvements (e.g., reduction in illnesses).
Program reach and accessibility.
Beneficiary satisfaction.
They assisted in the development of data collection tools that were appropriate for the environment that BESTWA worked within.
2. Data Collection and Management:
Bridging Analytics provided training to BESTWA staff on data collection methodologies, ensuring accurate and consistent data gathering.
They assisted in the implementation of data management systems to organize and store program data effectively.
They helped to provide systems for tracking the distribution of food, and other resources.
3. Data Analysis and Reporting:
Bridging Analytics conducted regular data analysis to assess program performance and identify trends.
They generated clear and concise reports that highlighted key findings and recommendations.
These reports enabled BESTWA to:
Demonstrate program impact to donors and stakeholders.
Make informed decisions to improve program delivery.
Track the program's progression towards its goals.
4. Capacity Building:
Bridging Analytics focused on building BESTWA's internal capacity to conduct ongoing M&E activities.
This ensured the sustainability of the M&E system and empowered BESTWA to independently monitor and evaluate its programs.
Results:
Improved Program Effectiveness: The M&E system enabled BESTWA to identify areas for improvement and optimize its feeding program, leading to better outcomes for children.
Enhanced Accountability and Transparency: Data-driven reporting increased accountability to donors and stakeholders, building trust and strengthening relationships.
Increased Funding Opportunities: The ability to demonstrate program impact with solid data strengthened BESTWA's ability to secure funding for program expansion.
Scalable M&E System: The implemented system allowed for the ability to scale data collection, and analysis, as BESTWA expands their operations.
Strengthened Organizational Capacity: BESTWA staff gained valuable skills in M&E, empowering them to continuously improve program quality.
Conclusion:
Bridging Analytics' collaboration with BESTWA Liberia highlights the crucial role of M&E in maximizing the impact of humanitarian programs. By establishing a robust and sustainable M&E system, Bridging Analytics empowered BESTWA to effectively measure and demonstrate the impact of its war orphan feeding program, paving the way for its expansion across West Africa.