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Strengthening labour administration in Afghanistan - Final evaluation

eval_number:

2391

eval_url:

https://webapps.ilo.org/ievaldiscovery/eval/2391

lessons_learned:

themes:

theme:

Planning and programme design

category:

Organizational issues

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comments:

Project designers in fragile states

challenges:

The SLLGA project was about technical cooperation and some of the major shortcomings of the design were overambitious objectives, and unrealistic time frames, especially in relation to labour law reform. This involved achievements that are beyond the control of the ILO and the tripartite constituents, such as the approval of law reform instruments, which implicated the Ministry of Justice, the Council of Ministers and Parliament and the challenge of overcoming institutional inertia. Moreover, the start up time was underestimated, with the project manager coming on board only after nine months of operation, and there was general unwarranted optimism that everything would go according to plan, as explained below regarding assumptions made. These factors contributed to difficulties in implementing the project, particularly under the law reform outcome. The project design would have benefited from a proper risk assessment and risk management strategy. As noted previously, some of the assumptions in the project document were unlikely to hold true and ultimately affected the project’s effectiveness and efficiency. Problems that flowed from this could have been more easily dealt with if the prodoc had included adequate analysis of the risks associated with implementing a project in a fragile state such as Afghanistan, which necessarily implies risks associated with security, political cycle, conflict and so on. A risk management strategy could have assessed the severity of each risk and provided strategies to mitigate the negative effects. Fortunately for the project, very able project staff and ILO management on the ground in Afghanistan were able to react in a flexible and practical way to deal with problems as they arose.

success:

Fortunately for the project, very able project staff and ILO management on the ground in Afghanistan were able to react in a flexible and practical way to deal with problems as they arose. These included using ILO funds to complete project activities delayed beyond the project lifetime and carrying out activities abroad or via video conference when required by the security situation in Afghanistan. Increased attention to risk management is especially needed in fragile states. It is important to incorporate particular considerations when designing projects in fragile states with on-going security challenges. (1) Try to avoid incorporating activities that would require prolonged stay of international experts in-country. If required however, try to target relatively safe provinces outside of conflict zones to conduct training of trainers workshops and rely on local counterparts to replicate in other places. (2) Be aware of the seasonality of armed conflicts, which are more plentiful from spring to autumn but calm down under the snow in winter.

context:

The SLLGA project made a series of assumptions that were unlikely to hold true and ultimately affected the project’s effectiveness and efficiency. To provide just one example, the project assumed that the political and security situation in Afghanistan would not deteriorate and that the government would support the project throughout with the highest level of commitment and participation. In a country that has already faced over three decades of conflict, it would seem unreasonable to assume that the political and security situation in Afghanistan would remain stable during the project duration.

description:

Good project design is essential for the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the project

administrative_issues:

N/A

url:

https://webapps.ilo.org/ievaldiscovery/lessons/213351

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location:

country:

Afghanistan

region:

Asia and the Pacific

---

eval_title:

Strengthening labour administration in Afghanistan - Final evaluation