Category: Evaluations-Audits

The “Alley-Oop Africa” project benefited from a collaborative, innovative, and rigorous evaluation methodology deployed by ALG in partnership with “Initiatives et Impacts Territoires.” Our mission was to deliver a 360° strategic perspective to significantly enhance the project’s impact and ensure its long-term sustainability.

Our expert approach was built on the following key pillars:

1. Multidimensional and Integrated Analysis

We moved beyond a simple review of outcomes to thoroughly explore all aspects of the project, ensuring a complete understanding of its operational mechanisms:

• Strategy & Governance: We analyzed the management structure and key decision-making processes.
• Design & Tools: We assessed the suitability of planned activities and the quality of deployed resources.
• Operational Deployment: We reviewed the concrete implementation of activities, from local field actions to digital tools.

2. Transforming Diagnosis into Strategic Recommendations

The core purpose of our involvement was to convert analytical findings into actionable steps. We formulated concrete avenues for reflection and improvement designed to strengthen every component of the project. This forward-looking perspective empowers “Alley-Oop Africa” to adapt dynamically to real-world conditions.

3. Co-creation for Success and Ownership

ALG and “Initiatives et Impacts Territoires” firmly believe that an evaluation is only effective when fully embraced by those actively involved. Therefore, our methodology culminates in a co-creation workshop:

• Collective Intelligence: Final recommendations emerge from direct dialogue and collaboration with the project team.
• Shared Validation: This process guarantees that the proposed solutions are realistic, fully operational, and perfectly aligned with the organization’s overarching objectives.

4. Agility and Adaptability in Execution

Acknowledging the dynamic nature of development initiatives, we employed a flexible, indicative timeline. This agility allowed us to adjust our approach based on the project’s actual on-the-ground progress, ensuring the evaluation remained current and relevant to the mission’s evolving state.Conclusion

This collaboration between ALG and “Initiatives et Impacts Territoires” provided “Alley-Oop Africa” with more than just an assessment: it delivered a vital strategic compass. By skillfully combining high-level technical expertise with a deeply participatory approach, we reaffirm our dedication to guiding high-impact social projects toward operational excellence.

We are proud to announce the completion and approval of the impact assessment report for the Order of Malta Hospital in Elavagnon, Togo (HOME), a mission conducted by ALG on behalf of the Order of Malta France (OMF), with the support of the International Foundation (IF).

This strategic study is part of the overall objective to ensure the sustainability and optimization of hospital services dedicated to mother and child, while seeking a technically and financially viable structural model.

ALG’s mission had three crucial specific objectives:

1. To assess the maintenance of the level of activity of mother and child services at the Order of Malta Hospital in Elavagnon (HOME).

2. Evaluate the level of improvement in the quality and medical services offered by the hospital.

3. Evaluate the continued status of HOME as a referral hospital, as recognized by the Togolese government.

To ensure the reliability and consistency of the findings, our methodological approach comprised two main components:

• Quantitative Component: A thorough documentary analysis of data from reports by HOME and other health services in the Est-Mono prefecture.

• Qualitative Component: Fifteen (15) interviews (individual and group), including HOME administrative and technical staff, resource persons from the Prefectural Health Directorate, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and community and religious leaders.

Based on these results and analyses covering the quality of medical services and the hospital’s status as a referral center, the final report provides a detailed roadmap, including an operational plan for the HOME’s activities over the period 2022-2025.

The success of this mission reaffirms ALG’s expertise in evaluating healthcare projects with a strong social impact. We thank the Order of Malta France and the International Foundation for their trust and commitment.

ALG is proud to announce it has completed a comprehensive technical and financial audit for the Results-Based Water Supply and Sanitation Project, which is funded by the World Bank. Commissioned to assist the National Office of Water and Sanitation (ONEA), this audit plays an essential role in maintaining transparency and efficiency in key infrastructure projects within a region facing significant security and climate difficulties.

Context: The Importance of Water Management in Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso is currently home to around 2.06 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) and is seeing a troubling drop in per capita water availability, now below critical levels. This reality highlights the pressing demand for stronger water resource management.

Audit Overview: Major Results and Methods

With funding from agreement N6255-BF, ALG assembled a specialized team—including water engineers, procurement experts, and financial auditors—to review activities across 23 urban centers and rural communes throughout Boucle du Mouhoun, Cascades, Hauts-Bassins, and Sud-Ouest.

The audit resulted in both Provisional and Final Technical and Financial Reports. Key outcomes included:

• Extensive Procurement Evaluation: ALG thoroughly examined every stage of the contracting process, from initial tenders to final awards, confirming adherence to economic, efficient, and transparent practices. They compared institutional frameworks with the public service procurement code for greater insight.
• Infrastructure Validation: The team rigorously checked technical studies and inspected water and sanitation facilities on-site, verifying that they conformed to project requirements and cost targets.
• Financial Review: The auditors ensured project funds were used exclusively as intended, carefully examining transactions and accounting records for compliance with accepted principles—directly tackling the need for better financial oversight.

Client Response: Outcomes and Progress

The World Bank Team commended the audit’s thoroughness and useful recommendations. Rather than just pointing out issues, ALG offered guidance for strengthening institutional capacity.

• Improving Financial Oversight: After uncovering more than CFAF 32 billion in unsupported commitments in an earlier review, the audit clarified ONEA’s financial management, providing a foundation for reliable future tracking and use of funds.
• Practical Recommendations: Beyond identifying compliance problems, ALG suggested ways to improve internal procedures at ONEA, aiming to strengthen contract management systems and information reliability for future water projects.
• Assisting Vulnerable Communities: By verifying how efficiently investments are made, the audit helps ensure continued water access for the 78.3 percent who depend on these services, especially in rural zones where coverage has been lacking.

This collaboration marked a step forward for transparency and resilience in Burkina Faso’s water sector, helping guarantee that development resources benefit the people who need them most.

The program received funding from the European Union as part of the ACP-EU partnership framework. It was executed by an international consortium. ALG has been engaged to carry out the final evaluation, which occurred from February to June 2024.

Scope of the evaluation

The external evaluation of the “Create in Central Africa: Support for the Cultural and Creative Sectors” Programme under the ACP-EU Culture Programme comes in a context of renewed interest in the cultural and creative industries. The cultural and creative industry (CCI) is considered today as one of the fastest growing sectors in the global economy. The CCI constitutes a real economic challenge given its considerable weight in the global economy.

The external evaluation of the Programme has been commissioned to:
● provide a comprehensive history of the project and assess its overall impact with the aim of improving future cooperation projects aimed at strengthening the competitiveness of the cultural and creative industries in ACP countries;
● analyse the implementation of the project in relation to its initial objectives while providing its partners with an independent review of the activities and results.

The evaluation team used the available evidence to examine the technical and management aspects of the Programme. It considered the issues of effectiveness, efficiency, relevance, preliminary impact and sustainability to identify the factors that facilitated and/or hindered the achievement of the objectives. Particular attention was paid to the elements related to the projects funded as well as to the overall picture of the Programme.

With regard to the elements related to the projects funded, the evaluation:

• identified and developed quantitative and qualitative indicators to assess the projects funded, in terms of work plan, areas of work, results and final beneficiaries;
• assessed the sustainability and possible future replicability of the projects funded;
• identified best practices of the 40 projects funded based on their achievements;
•  assessed the impact of the communication of the projects funded and the visibility of the EU in the context of Create in Central Africa
•  examined and analysed how the projects funded contributed to achieving the objectives of the Create in Central Africa Programme.

Regarding the overall view of the Programme, the evaluation:

• assessed and analysed the results and overall impact achieved by the Programme and its contribution to social cohesion, inclusion and job creation;
•  identified lessons learned and provided recommendations for follow-up actions as well as for future projects and programmes on intercultural dialogue;
• assessed mobility and networking activities.

Based on the main lessons learned, the evaluation resulted in recommendations that could benefit the various stakeholders. These recommendations will increase the sustainability of the Programme, provide means to assess the extent to which the consortium has contributed to strengthening the capacities of beneficiaries for the improvement of the governance and financing framework as well as the production of cultural products at the sub-regional level.

In addition to the executive summary, the general introduction and the conclusion, the report consists of four parts: (i) the description of the Programme, (ii) the methodology and main stages of the evaluation, (iii) the results of the evaluation and their implications, (iv) the lessons learned and the recommendations.

Final Evaluation Summary: PROTEJEM Program

Client: Save the Children International / Terre des Hommes

Location: Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Guinea, Senegal

Implementation Period: August – December 2023

Overview

ALG conducted a comprehensive final evaluation of the PROTEJEM program, an initiative designed to safeguard vulnerable children and promote their rights across West Africa. The evaluation’s purpose was to assess the program’s effectiveness, measure its impact, and extract valuable lessons for subsequent initiatives.

Evaluation Focus

The primary objectives of the assessment were to:

1. Measure the program’s overall effectiveness and efficiency in achieving its stated outcomes.
2. Determine the relevance and long-term sustainability of the implemented interventions.
3. Gather stakeholder feedback, particularly from beneficiaries, regarding satisfaction and opportunities for improvement.

Methodology

A mixed-methods approach was utilized, incorporating quantitative data from surveys with qualitative insights obtained through interviews and focus group discussions. Stakeholders in the four target countries—Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Guinea, and Senegal—were engaged to ensure a holistic view of the program’s impact.

Key Findings

The evaluation concluded with positive outcomes, reflecting the program’s strong performance:

• Impact and Effectiveness: The PROTEJEM program was highly successful in strengthening child protection mechanisms regionally. A majority of beneficiaries reported greater awareness of their rights and improved access to protective services.
• Stakeholder Endorsement: Local partners and beneficiaries expressed high satisfaction with the program’s implementation, highlighting its relevance to local needs and its adaptability to the specific socio-cultural contexts.
• Sustainability: The program has created a solid basis for sustained impact. Capacity-building initiatives with local organizations were successful, laying the groundwork for continued child protection efforts after the program’s conclusion.
• Challenges Identified: Logistical constraints and inconsistent engagement levels across different local communities were noted as areas for improvement in future programming.

• Project: Evaluation of the Support Program for the Implementation of the Response Plan for Educational Continuity in Burkina Faso
• Country: Burkina Faso
• Client: Agence Française de Développement (AFD)
• Period: October 2022-March 2023

Description of the intervention:

ALG was recruited by AFD to conduct the final evaluation of the Response Plan Support Program to (i) report on the activities financed with regard to the criteria of relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability, gender equality and equity; (ii) highlight what this health crisis has revealed about the functioning of the education system; and (iii) contribute to learning lessons from the management of this situation by the education community, by striving to show the progressive progression of the stages between observations (raw data), findings (developed indicators, ratios), judgments made and lessons/recommendations.

The objective of the service is to conduct the final evaluation of the Support Program for the Response Plan for Educational Continuity in Burkina, which will be carried out at the end of the eighteen months of implementation and will make it possible to report on the activities financed with regard to the criteria of relevance, effectiveness and efficiency.

Beyond the program financed by the GPE, the evaluation will focus on highlighting what this health crisis has revealed about the functioning of the education system to help learn lessons from the management of this situation by the education community. The service provider will strive throughout its work to clearly show and explain the progressive progression of the stages between observations (raw data), findings (developed indicators, ratios), judgments made and lessons/recommendations.

Project: ICT for Health in Africa

Client: Islamic Development Bank (IsDB)

Duration: November 2022 – March 2023

Status: Project completed

Scope: 12 sample African member countries across the continent

Project Summary: 

The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) commissioned and successfully executed a comprehensive assignment to transform healthcare delivery across Africa through the strategic integration of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). This initiative culminated in the development of a patient-centric eHealth program, successfully harnessing digital connectivity to enhance health outcomes continent-wide.

The project established a sustainable eHealth framework, which is now operational and ensures fair access to high-quality health services for all citizens in IsDB’s African member countries.

Key Achievements

The project successfully addressed its three specific, critical objectives:

1. Improved Access to Quality Health Services: The study’s recommendations were implemented, and ICT-enabled platforms are now operational. These platforms have successfully removed historical barriers, seamlessly connecting patients with healthcare providers for timely consultations, diagnostics, and treatment across the continent.
2. Mitigated Hospital Overcrowding: The project successfully implemented innovative solutions, including widespread adoption of telemedicine and mobile health applications. This has significantly alleviated the excessive demand on physical hospitals and medical centers, leading to more efficient and effective facility operations across the member countries.
3. Optimized Healthcare Personnel Allocation: The deployment of digital health solutions has successfully addressed the maldistribution of medical staff. The optimized deployment model ensures that underserved regions now receive the critical attention and care they require through remote and digitally-supported services.

Outcomes and Future Investment

To achieve these successes, the study first conducted a thorough assessment, providing a robust understanding of the existing ICT and innovation landscape within the health sectors of the 12 selected countries, including a detailed review of governance structures, current health systems, and the utilization of digital technologies.

The project emphasized a highly collaborative approach, with extensive consultations involving government bodies, development partners, the private sector, NGOs, and CSOs, ensuring the resulting program was well-informed and directly aligned with community needs.

The findings and recommendations from this study served as the vital foundation for the Bank’s transformative investments in digital health. This work has successfully laid the groundwork for a more integrated and effective healthcare environment, significantly improving health outcomes across Africa.

More about our eHeath Consulting. 

• Zone d’intervention: Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso
• Client: UNESCO
• Période de la mission: Janvier-Février 2022
• Titre du projet: Renforcer la résilience des jeunes face à l’extrémisme violent et leur engagement pour la construction de la paix à travers l’éducation

L’objectif principal de cette mission est de disposer d’une ébauche de modules de formation sur la base du rapport issu de l’évaluation des besoins des jeunes qui a été conduite dans les 3 pays. Les modules de formation seront utilisés par des formateurs/facilitateurs pour le renforcement des capacités des jeunes (filles et garçons) en matière de résilience, de construction de la paix et de l’état de droit et des compétences leur permettant d’être des agents de la paix.

• Project: Youth Empowerment through TVET in The Gambia
• Country: The Gambia
• Client: UNESCO
• Period: January-March 2022

The evaluation team will aim to achieve the following objectives:
i) Assess the appropriateness of the project strategy and design in relation to outcomes and progress made;
ii) Assess the strategic positioning of the project within the UN system and the broader landscape of TVET-related actors and programmes, taking into account relevant enabling policy frameworks to which the work of the project responds;
iii) Assess how the project aligns with The Gambia’s needs, as well as SDG targets, relevant international policies and norms, and UNESCO strategic objectives and Global Priorities;
iv) Assess contributions towards gender transformative change;

v) Assess managerial arrangements and work planning; finance and co-finance, risks to sustainability (financial, socio-economic, institutional framework and governance, environmental, etc.);
vi) Evaluate the current exit strategy and likelihood of sustainability of activities and preliminary project gains; and
vii) List obstacles the project confronted, and lessons learned moving forward.

• Project title: Support the capacity of the Government and national stakeholders to establish credible transitional justice processes and mechanisms that promote reconciliation and sustainable peace in The Gambia.
• Country: The Gambia
• Client: UNDP
• Period: June-July 2021

The evaluation had five key objectives:

1. To assess the contribution of the project activities to the realization of project objectives and outcomes by determining how relevant, efficient, effective, and sustainable the project is.
2. To identify and provide analysis of the factors that have either positively or negatively affected/impacted the project beneficiaries.
3. To recognize any possible catalytic effects of the project.
4. To assess the project’s contribution towards national strategies on transitional justice and human rights, as well as peacebuilding, including its contribution towards strengthening Government-led coordination and planning in this sector.
5. To provide recommendations for improving UN support to transitional justice and human rights in The Gambia, including the country’s sustainable peace agenda on transitional justice and human rights.