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Global action programme on migrant domestic workers and their families - Final Evaluation

eval_number:

1947

eval_url:

https://webapps.ilo.org/ievaldiscovery/eval/1947

lessons_learned:

themes:

theme:

Organizational learning

category:

Organizational issues

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comments:

ILO – and their project design teams.

challenges:

Some headquarters staff felt less ownership on the project due to not having budget and overall managerial responsibility for the corridors they worked on. Team and personnel are also important when working with partners. As mentioned many delays were outside the control of the project, yet were typical. The research cycle includes drafting and circulating the research terms of reference for comments, selecting research bodies/ researchers, elaboration of progress reports, circulating drafts for comments, validating reports, incorporating recommendations into a final report. This takes 8 months at least (depending on quality of researchers) rather than the anticipated 4 months. In Lebanon for instance, a bidding process was put in place to conduct a survey of employers of migrant domestic workers. A second call had to be issued, delaying the process by 5 months. In terms of project teams, this project was managed from ILO headquarters without adequate field staff. Headquarters staff generally provided continuous guidance, and responsive decision-making regarding arrangements or judgement that can only be made by headquarters. Many ILO field staff felt unable to take responsibility for deliverables, without a national coordinator. At least ten field or regional ILO offices were involved. GAP-MDW only has two full time designated GAP-MDW staff persons (a project coordinator and a project administrative /financial assistant). Team structures and clear reporting channels should be carefully worked out.

success:

-

context:

ILO should at this stage be fully aware of how long it takes to set up partnership initiatives (such as collaboration with research institutions). Known and typical delays inherent in a project of this nature should be carefully planned for from the start. Most delays were outside the control of the project and could not have been avoided. The unstable political situation in Lebanon and Ukraine with the accompanying influx of displaced persons or refugees took from a focus on migrant domestic workers. Elections often mean that some stakeholders find it difficult to engage in projects (for example KSBSI in Indonesia in July 2014); or in Paraguay elections led to a change in the ruling coalition in August 2013 with a less harmonious relationship between the government and trade unions. In Nepal there was a horrific earthquake. The EU delayed in the transfer of funds until November 2014.

description:

Building teams for coordination is an important project management issue, as is the need for careful planning for typical delays inherent in a global project with so many collaborations and partnerships. Building teams and ensuring there are realistic time frames set is an important lessons learned. Good practice in project design and development focuses more and more on the project team and personal. When interviewing non-ILO project stakeholders in both the Ukraine and South Africa, many raised the fact that the ILO intermediary who interfaced with project partners had to be well trusted for the project to progress. Thus a lessons learned is that apart from their technical competence, there should always be a strong focus on the team and how they interact with project partners. A related project management issue is that this project experiencing implementation delays (although most outputs were delivered with the project extension). Although many issues were political and outside the control of project management, some could have been better planned for. For example collaboration between project partners (OHCHR and UN Women) and project associates (ITUC and IDWF) takes time for consultation and planning. A lack of national staff produced delays in the implementation of activities. The appointment of the CTA was delayed. Research took much longer than anticipated. In general, the primary focus should be on the ability of the project team to deliver ensuring that what is within the control of the project is delivered in a timely manner, anticipating delays.

administrative_issues:

More attention to team building and anticipating delays in project management

url:

https://webapps.ilo.org/ievaldiscovery/lessons/186168

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location:

country:

Inter-Regional

region:

Inter-Regional

---

eval_title:

Global action programme on migrant domestic workers and their families - Final Evaluation