34 This BALANCED seed grant provided EWNRA with 32,500 in funding over a period of three
years. While this was a relatively small grant, the achievements were big in terms of increasing access to FP commodities and winning the minds of the community and government decision-
makers on integration. Among the best achievements are the lessons learned about what works and what does not work. Many other NGOs have learned from EWNRA, which has received a
total of 185 visitors to their project sites. EWNRA is pleased with its achievements and is, therefore, scaling-up the integrated approach to additional kebeles with funding from other
donors, most recently the Barr Foundation. EWNRA decided to retain the PHE Coordinator to continue monitoring and supervising BALANCED-trained community volunteers, and it plans to
continue advocating for PHE within Ethiopia and beyond. The success of the project was attributed to the devoted staff. They were careful not to raise the
expectations of stakeholders. Trust earned was through transparency with decision-makers and the community, including openness about their financial plans. During a government-NGO
forum sponsored by Christian Relief and Development Association, EWNRA presented its partnership with government as a best practice. They explained that the project was participatory
in nature from design to implementation. Results from Activity 3.3
• Final report on ENWRA seed grant, including results of the project and lessons learned.
3.4 Provide seed grant and technical support to WCS Zambia
BALANCED is providing seed grant funding and technical assistance to WCSZambia to integrate family planning into its conservation and livelihood activities in the Luangwa valley.
WCS implements the Community Markets for Conservation COMACO Program to provide sustainable sources of alternative incomes and other incentives for conservation to families living
around Zambia’s national parks in the Luangwa Valley. It recognizes that integrating FP information and services in WCSZambia’s livelihood and wildlifenatural resources
conservation program can contribute to a better life for the nearly 55,000 families they serve During the last reporting period, the BALANCED EAC facilitated a four-day YPE TOT for 10
participants—eight COMACO extension officers and two nurses from the nearby MOH zonal health center. The 10 YPE master trainers 8 from WCS and 2 from MOH, in turn, trained 220
youths ages 15 to 24 years from the three regions of Mfuwe, Chama and Lundazi on youth peer education.
Also, the EAC traveled to Zambia on March 9 to 21, 2012 to monitor the progress of the BALANCED seed grant project and help WCS identify the key success factors and barriers that
influence behavior change to ensure that project and behavior change activities are implemented to achieve maximum impact. Recognizing the factors that lead to success as well as those that
can be barriers to successful behavior change enables project managers to address these factors and their potential impacts on long-term, sustainable behavior change. Toward that end, Dr.
Hernandez facilitated a three-day DBC workshop with seven extension officers male and one Ministry of Health MOH nurse female. During the workshop, the participants developed a
35 questionnaire, a DBC framework and IEC messages for practicing the behavior change
methodology. In the next reporting period, WCS will conduct a DBC questionnaire to identify key factors in the success of or barriers to their PHE activities.
The EAC also monitored the PHE activities with WCS staff and made recommendations for adjustments as needed. He also provided input on their Better Life Booklet and encouraged WCS
to include the tagline “Planned families and healthy ecosystems for food and income security” on all IEC materials. He also helped staff develop a survey that would be conducted among the
APEs, the results of which will determine the topics to be covered in the upcoming PE refresher training. Lastly, Dr. Hernandez helped staff select the IEC messages that would be incorporated
into the PE job aid, prior to its translation into the local language and distribution to the PEs. Subsequent to the EAC’s visit, WCS conducted the following activities:
• Printed and distributed copies of the Better Life booklet to a total of 2,768 producer groups from COMACO’s operational areas. The Better Life booklet is read and disseminated by
trained lead farmer and producer group leaders who are responsible for carrying out FP sensitization among the other COMACO farmers. These IEC materials included information
on the FP methods available and on reproductive health in general.
• Obtained the MOH endorsement for COMACO’s PHE program in the districts where it is currently operating. This allows COMACO to collaborate fully with the MOH through the
District Health Management team as well as act as an intermediary between the community members and the clinics. This endorsement also allows for joint trainings and monitoring
activities on the distribution and use of the FP methods available within each district.
• Conducted refresher trainings for 308 APEs in Mambwe, Lundazi and Chama. The purpose of these trainings was to update the APE’s skills on PHE integration, human fertility and
reproduction, contraceptive methods, sexually transmitted infections, and effective peer communication skills and reporting.
• Developed a WCS FP Compliance plan required by USAID, which stipulates how staff on the project must behave, and how to handle any violations to the regulations set forth.
Results from Activity 3.4 • 8 people 7 male, 1 female trained on DBC 1.1
• 308 adult PEs 188 male, 120 female re-trained on PHE and RHFP topics 1.1 • 1 trained WCS staff conducted the APE refresher training 1.2
• Zambia MOH endorsement for COMACO Program 1.3 • Technical assistance provided on IEC, job aids and DBC 1.4a
36
3.5 Provide seed grant and technical support to Woodland Park Zoo for TKCP Project
