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Basil Dilemma
I planted genovese basil from seed a couple of months and I harvested it a few times to make pesto. I remember it being really really good. Then all of a sudden I made it and it started tasting of licorice. I was wondering if this was a normal thing too happen. Keep in mind I do have thai basil in another container. Is there a chance that having that nearby has influenced the flavor of this basil?
I also seem to remember this same thing happening to me when I planted last years basil.
This post was edited by danstah on Tue, May 7, 13 at 22:42
Taste is a subjective thing. Plus, there are many different basils with slightly different flavor. I ususaly have more than one kind. This year I have Italian and thai so far.
Another thing possibly is that basill'f flavor can change by age and growing condition(amount of sun, water..)

subset: commoncrawl


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Floridian: any personal stories relating to Citrus Greening?
Could you share your personal experience relating to Citrus Greening or Huanglongbing, especially if you are in Florida? Did you or your neighbors lose any trees? How was it diagnosed/handled? Have you replanted any? Your experience would be valuable to us in California - the newest state on the infected list.:(
Blaze, you're not going to be able to prevent it, so put away your whip :-) Dr. Dodds was pretty clear about that. Even a diligent commercial spraying program cannot eliminate 100% of the psyllids, and all it takes is ONE bite from ONE psyllid. So, truly, all we can do is be vigilant and report anything that looks like the disease to the correct folks.
Patty S.
Yeah, On another story. I called my local director of agriculture of whatever the name of the place is. It is the branch of The Universities of California that does all the testing for diseases and virus carrying pests. I told them that I found a glassy wing leaf hopper and now my plum tree is showing signs of a very serious virus as well as a huge avocado tree that could be a possible vector. She didnt seem alarmed and said in a snooty voice, "Well sir we are not allowed to tell you how to treat your trees. All we can do is tell you whats wrong with them and you can go to home depot where and "expert" can tell you what to do"...LOL I told her, I dont need advice on how to treat because if the tree is carrying the virus there is no cure. I will have to cut it down and burn it. I then told her that the glass wing leaf hopper is the wine grape and plum tree equivalent of the asian citrus psyllid and that YOUR OWN website has an entire section describing the dangers of the pest. I then asked her that if the tree samples Im bringing are positive would they come out to perform some kind of action? This pest and virus is serious according to the website. She said "Yes if you still have the remains of the bug" I said no but I seen it with my own eyes and if the two trees test positive that basically spells doom. Long story short she had no idea of what the bug or the virus was. Plus she was very rude...lol
What Im getting at is with this kind of treatment from the people who are supposed to be helping us no wonder things never get done.
I know Patty its sad. One bite from a bug and our trees are TOAST. Thats how I feel about my plum tree. I have done so much to keep it safe and imagined me and my family under it on hot days in the shade sharing plums. Well if things come back positive I have to start all over. Good thing I only have a few months invested in this tree. But with this huge "vector" avocado tree in my neighbors back yard that basically over shadows HALF of my yard, I cant grown anything without it eventually contracting a virus. I would have to get them to spray then chop the thing down. I hope there is no sign of the virus.
These diseases are basically TREE A.I.D.S.
Well, just so you know, AIDS (or actually HIV) is not a death sentence anymore, and it is very manageable (I'm an RN and do this sort of patient support all day long for a very serious chronic viral disease that can frequently be seen in conjunction with HIV). Sure wish it WAS like HIV. Let's hope that your plum tree is not infected. And, I would do some more searching online to see if you can contact someone actually connected with this disease state who might be more interested in what you think might be going on with your tree. Also, see if you can trap a sharpshooter and save it in a jar. That may help quite a bit. Let us know how it goes for you.
Patty S.
Well I took all the samples to my county extension office. Actually was the department of agriculture. I gave them cuttings of leaves branches and small fruit from my clementine mandarin, lanes late navel orange, improved meyer, santa rosa plum, satsuma plum, and my neighbors avocado. Ill let you know in 7-10 days what they say.
Oh BTW, I saw another leafhopper on my citrus and it escaped. Down at the county extension office they compared sharpshooter leafhoppers only second to asian citrus psyllids in southern California.
Sorry to go off topic. But I have no HLB stories;-)


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Volunteer with Portland Books to Prisoners!
From the open publishing newswire: Books to Prisoners is needing a few more volunteers! Help inspire and educate our brothers and sisters behind bars!
Portland Books to Prisoners is an all volunteer group meeting twice a month for "mailing nights". We could use some volunteers to help with answering letters, filling orders, wrapping packages and sending them out (U.S. postal service). Any kind of fund-raising ideas are also appreciated, as are tax-deductible donations, and book donations--mostly paperbacks as hardback are expensive to mail out. Paperback dictionaries are always a big request. We are also open to being in a new space if anyone knows of a space we could use that is close-in east side (dry basement or garage, church basement, etc.)
The next mailing night is this Wednesday, March 18th from 5:30-8:00!
WHAT: B2P mailing nights
WHERE: in the basement of the Red and Black Cafe (400 S.E. 12th, and Oak) come through the gate around back--look for the sign...
WHEN: First and third Wednesdays of every month
Contact: (503) 249-6343 for more info.
Out & About
From the open publishing newswire: Out & About With The Troublemakers! 3/13/2015
Going backwards is always my way. We attended the County Meeting on 3/12/2015 and offered the position of Individuals For Justice, (IFJ) on the problem of cell phones for the homeless. When your phone goes dead or you need a jump for it to continue working you plug it into your computer or outlet and you are good to go. What do you do if you live on the streets\? Street Roots did a wonderful job reminding us that José Serrica, a member in good standing, spoke of these a few months ago. So we used our 3 minutes of communication time to tell the Commissioners that it costs less than a penny to charge a cell phone from dead to let's make some calls. They seem to know what we were talking about, maybe because we sent them the article and gave them a heads up that we would be pressing them on this. We also sent copies to the 5 sh-ts at city hall and did receive a note back from our favorite of the 5, Comm. Amanda Fritz, who says they are working or talking about working or thinking of doing something to help. She is one of the few who try and in most cases answers her messages, we like that. "Trust what a politician says and you will get screwed, praise them only when they actually do something." (Joe Walsh 1971) Here is the video of our testimony/communication with the good county commissioners:
This day only two of us spoke and I am about 4 minutes in, the woman who talked before me is worth listening to because she also is talking about the homeless/houseless. We will keep the pressure on but you can call the chair of the commissioners here and just ask how they are doing with offering a safe place to allow citizens to charge their cell phone. Thank you Street Roots again for reminding us of this important issue. Chair of County Commissioners Kafoury's number: 503- 988-3308 City Commissioner Fritz's number: 503-823-3008
We went to the City Council Gathering of the 5 sh-ts on 3/11/2015 and had a time; they are so weird! The morning session was kind of boring, except for the wonderful kids who came from Harrison Park Elementary school to talk about leadership and the arts, we enjoyed their presence. We also did speak on item 258 concerning the Park Ranger Program. We like the rangers in general and ask that they act as ambassadors and not as cops, we objected to them excluding people from the parks for 30-60-90 days, somebody else should make that decision and not them. There are only 7 permanent rangers for over 200+ parks, we thought that was shameful, we need more rangers, less cops. On to the afternoon session which surprised me with the large number of people coming out to express their views on item 266 commonly called "Remove the Box" [...]
two snatched by Portland police at rally Tuesday 3/10 for Africa, recent victim of LAPD
From the open publishing newswire: Two people were arrested by police at the end of tuesday evenings solidarity rally and march downtown in honor of Africa, shot and killed by the LAPD.
In the longer ustream video the two people targeted were standing calmly nearby, without provocation the police arrest both, they say for disorderly conduct. Earlier an officer attempts to coerce someone's identity by threatening to give a citation for being in the street. Seems to me they were targeted for concealing their identity. What do you think\\\?
Clip of arrest: http://youtu.be/2zNQYQN\\\_UeI
Better context: http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/59762313
Relate pimc video post: http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2015/03/429362.shtml#441796
Here's a better quality shot of the arrests yesterday https://youtu.be/pgWdHLL5hD0 , thanks for being there videographers.
Anything for 3/11\?
From the open publishing newswire: Know of anything planned to celebrate 4 full years of Fukushima\?
NO NUKES - meet @ Pioneer Square @ Noon
Earth Lover: http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2015/03/429330.shtml#441769
3.11.15 @ 12-noon
"Meet at Pioneer Square at Noon to remember all who have died from Fukushima's ongoing radiation releases, from the people of Japan to the ocean animals and plant life, to the people across the world to those of us here on the West Coast who are being sickened and killed by radiation from Fukushima.
People should bring poster size photos and puppetry of ocean and river friends. Please bring the kids. Drummers welcome! To those who have gas masks, bring those. [...]
Related Video Post from the event: Video: Remembering Fukushima
(A-Radio) Interview with Radical Theory and Practice about its Emma Goldman project
From the open publishing newswire: The Anarchist Radio Berlin made an interview with the Russian-speaking anarchist publishing cooperative Radical Theory and Practice (RTP) about the cooperative, its recent project of translating Emma Goldman's memoires into Russian and a lot more.
You'll find the audio (to listen online or download in different sizes) here: link to aradio.blogsport.de
Length: 29:35 min
You can find other English and Spanish language audios here.
[ http://aradio.blogsport.de/englishcastellano/ ]
Cascadia Cypherpunk Convergence - April 11th
From the open publishing newswire: A cypherpunk is someone who uses cryptography and similar methods to achieve societal and political change.
Over the last two decades we have seen the Internet transformed from a tool of emancipation to the most insidious threat to human liberty the world has ever seen.
But amidst the seemingly intractable rise of a transnational surveillance society, there is a small spark of hope endowed on us through the power of mathematics.
It is possible to formulate a math problem (an algorithm) so difficult that even the mightiest superpower cannot decipher it. It is this fundamental property of our physical universe that provides some measure of hope in what otherwise seems to be very dark times.
Through this conference we hope to increase how networked our movement is and raise public awareness about issues of privacy, technology and social change in the digital age.
takes place on April 11th, 10am-7pm
Portland State University
Smith Memorial Student Union
out and about
From the open publishing newswire: My new t-shirt says:
Front---Individuals For Justice
Endorses Back---Anyone but Hales, novick.
I will be wearing it a lot for the next two years.
I am reminded of the saying,* "Beware of the Ides of March" as I look back to last week, which for me started by watching a foreign leader tell our congress of these United States that we are fools, and he did it to standing ovations, a lot of standing ovations by our representatives and senators; it was shameful. My sincere hope is that bibi natanyahu goes home to Israel, gets defeated, and goes the way of g.w. bush. The 15th of March is only a few days away, maybe a week depending on when you read this and I fully expect Caesar, AKA char-lie the hales, will announce he will become emperor of Rome. I know he is raising lots of money to screw over us for four more years, yes "Beware of the Ides of March" my friends. [...]
The second event was the city council meeting on the 5th seemed like a boring meeting unless you were hoping that the plan for the West Quadrant would be to your liking, on Thursday one of my friends asked me to join him and then did not show up, but I did learn some stuff. I learned that four of the five sh-ts were in the pockets of the big developers; deep in those pockets. The only person standing with the people, who testified, about 30 of them, was once again Commissioner Amanda Fritz. It was fascinating to watch, [...]
Next Thursday we will be going after the lack of opportunities for the homeless to charge their cell phones. There was a good article in Street Roots about this last week and we will be yelling about it to the commissioners who have a hand in this nonsense. Here is the street Roots article. http://news.streetroots.org/2015/03/06/homeless-phone-charging-thief-wanted-security
Video Instruction for "What is Cascadia\?" Zine
From the open publishing newswire: How to assemble the "What is Cascadia\?" Zine
double sided single sheet zine:
[pdf download] http://media.portland.indymedia.org/media/2015/01/429041.pdf
We now have a simple video explaining how to cut and fold (assemble) the booklet "What is Cascadia\?"
Please go to link, print out the double sided single sheet of the booklet and follow the video instructions (2 cuts and 4 folds and then staple on the spine of the your newly assembled "What is Cascadia\?" Zine)
[ link to freecascadia.org is to be mass printed hand distributed at events, gatherings, public places or handed to friends and the bioregionally curious.
Previous post on pimc: http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2015/01/429040.shtml
homepage: http://freecascadia.org/media/cascadia-booklets
The Shortwave Report 03/06/15 Listen Globally!
From the open publishing newswire:
Updated Post: 3.13.15 | 3.20.15 | 3.27.15
A weekly 30 minute review of international news and opinion, recorded from a shortwave radio and the internet. With times, frequencies, and websites for listening at home. 3 files- Highest quality broadcast, regular broadcast, and slow-modem streaming. NHK World Radio Japan, Radio Havana Cuba, Sputnik Radio, and Radio Deutsche-Welle.
The latest Shortwave Report (March 6) is up at the website http://www.outfarpress.com/shortwave.shtml in 3 forms- (new) HIGHEST QUALITY (160kb)(33MB), broadcast quality (13MB), and quickdownload or streaming form (6MB) (28:59) Links at page bottom [...]
Video: Health Care for All Oregon Salem Rally 2.11.15
From the open publishing newswire: Filmed in Salem Oregon on 2.11.15 on the steps of the State Capital
Health Care For All Oregon
This video is the complete rally and speeches
There was a gathering a few blocks away prior to the rally for organizing and workshop.
The video starts with a group from the workshop heading to the rally
The event had music provided by The Raging Grannies, Norman Sylvester, David Rovics, Dr. Atomic, Peter Bergel, Bob Wickline, Bajo Salario/Collective. and others
The video is 2 hours and 35 minutes: http://youtu.be/wenyi216uDQ
The speeches start around 59:54 in the video.
Around 1:45:49 Sen Demral announce the new bill SB 631 for "Single Payer"
Spring-Summer Internship Opportunity with Portland Fruit Tree Project
From the open publishing newswire: Announcement for an internship opportunity with a local non-profit organization, Portland Fruit Tree Project. Portland Fruit Tree Project is currently accepting applications for our 2015 Harvest & Stewardship Intern position! The Harvest & Stewardship Intern will aid in the implementation of Portland Fruit Tree Project's Harvesting, Fruit Tree Stewardship & Community Orchards programs by assisting in the coordination our Tree Care Teams program and Tree Care Workshop series, helping us maintain our existing Community Orchard sites, co-lead harvesting events, and assist in the coordination of our harvesting program in general. Time commitment: 12-20 hours per week for 26 weeks (schedule is somewhat flexible, 312 total hours minimum) Wednesday April 1st, 2015 - Wednesday September 30th, 2015 Location: You would be working primarily out of PFTP headquarters in NE Portland, but will be traveling throughout the City of Portland for site visits and events. This internship is unpaid, but the rewards are many - including a great learning experience and the unique opportunity to be a part of a vibrant and growing organization. You will gain great event coordination and volunteer coordination experience; connections in the local food & urban agriculture movement, and the fulfillment of knowing that your efforts will make a positive impact for hundreds of people in the Portland area! http://portlandfruit.org/2015-harvest-and-stewardship-intern-position-description
The application deadline is Sunday March 8th
homepage: http://www.portlandfruit.org
Portland's First Renters Assembl;y
From the open publishing newswire: Ani and Lyn talk w/ Tori Abernathy and Nick Caleb about the upcoming Portland Renters Assembly
We are pleased to have The First Portland Renters' Assembly organizer, art worker and activist Tori Abernathy, plus Nick Caleb, former city council candidate, professor of government and speaker at this event. Check details of this event out at FB [Tiny URL link to FB page] Listen and join the discussion on KBOO, Friday morning 8-9 AM
The Portland Renters' Assembly is a gathering of people united by the burden of rent. The housing struggle in Portland, much like activism of our time at large, often operates in a state of emergency. There is a need to stand behind those facing foreclosure, eviction, renoviction, homelessness, and rents rising well beyond livability. It is time for these concerns to stand in solidarity with the basic injustice underlying the concept of 'rent' itself. Come and share your experience as a renter or with rent-related issues, learn about the history of rent and tenant struggles, and share resources for moving forward together.
We just know listeners, that you've got stories and questions for our guests! Call in at 503-321-8187.
Portland's First Renters Assembly 232 SE Oak St - February 24, 2015 7PM to February 26, 2015 10PM
Housing as a Human Right by Arnold Kunzli, emeritus Swiss professor, in 2003:
The Shortwave Report 2/20/15 Listen Globally!
From the open publishing newswire:
Updated Post: 2.27.15.
A weekly 30 minute review of international news and opinion, recorded from a shortwave radio and the internet. With times, frequencies, and websites for listening at home. 3 files- Highest quality broadcast, regular broadcast, and slow-modem streaming. NHK World Radio Japan, Radio Havana Cuba, Radio Deutsche-Welle, Sputnik Radio.
The latest Shortwave Report (February 20) is up at the website http://www.outfarpress.com/shortwave.shtml in 3 forms- (new) HIGHEST QUALITY (160kb)(33MB), broadcast quality (13MB), and quickdownload or streaming form (6MB) (28:59) Links at page bottom [...]


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Izaak Walton
Izaak Walton (9 August 1593 – 15 December 1683) was an English writer. Best known as the author of The Compleat Angler, he also wrote a number of short biographies which have been collected under the title of Walton's Lives.
Walton was born at Stafford; the register of his baptism gives his father's name as Gervase. His father, who was an innkeeper as well as a landlord of a tavern, ... more »
Click here to add this poet to your My Favorite Poets.
Izaak Walton Poems
An Elegie Upon Dr. Donne
Our _Donne_ is dead; England should mourne, may say We had a man where language chose to stay And shew her gracefull power. I would not praise
To My Reverend Friend The Author Of The ...
Sir, I lov'd you for your Synagogue, before I knew your person; but now love you more;
Lines On A Portrait Of Donne In His Eigh...
This was for youth, Strength, Mirth, and wit that Time Most count their golden Age; but t'was not thine.
On The Death Of William Cartwright
I cannot keep my purpose, but must give Sorrow and Verse their way; nor will I grieve Longer in silence; no, that poor, poor part
Commendatory Verse To The Author Of Scin...
My worthy friend, I am much pleas'd to know, You have begun to pay the debt you ow ...
Commendatory Verse Prefixed To The Merch...
If thou would'st be a _States-man_, and survay Kingdomes for information; heres a way Made plaine, and easie: fitter far for thee Then great _Ortelius_ his _Geographie_.
Quotationsmore quotations »
Comments about Izaak Walton
Maya Angelou
(4 April 1928 - 28 May 2014)
Robert Frost
(March 26, 1874 – January 29, 1963)
Emily Dickinson
(10 December 1830 – 15 May 1886)
William Shakespeare
(26 April 1564 - 23 April 1616)
Pablo Neruda
(12 July 1904 – 23 September 1973)
Edgar Allan Poe
(19 January 1809 - 7 October 1849)
Langston Hughes
(1 February 1902 – 22 May 1967)
Walt Whitman
(31 May 1819 - 26 March 1892)
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(16 August 1920 – 9 March 1994)
William Wordsworth
An Elegie Upon Dr. Donne
Our _Donne_ is dead; England should mourne, may say
We had a man where language chose to stay
And shew her gracefull power. I would not praise
That and his vast wit (which in these vaine dayes
Make many proud) but, as they serv'd to unlock
That Cabinet, his minde: where such a stock
Of knowledge was repos'd, as all lament
(Or should) this generall cause of discontent.
And I rejoyce I am not so severe,
But (as I write a line) to weepe a teare
For his decease; Such sad extremities
May make such men as I write Elegies.
And wonder not; for, when a generall ...
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11 Mile Hike Very Much Worth It [VIDEO]
Seriously, one the hardest things I have done in a long time!
Seriously, one the hardest things I have done in a long time!
Alright Star Wars fans! This is pretty cool! A guy at an airport in Germany saw some crazy stuff then realized filming for the next Star Wars was going on!
I don't know who they are, but this little girl and her father singing together will make your Monday better. Too Cute!
This weekend Hot Dogs are on the menu at just about everyone's house for the 4th of July! Here are some great ways to make some delicious hot dogs!
The new season of Dr. Who starts August 23 on BBC. There is a new Dr. Who! I can't believe this makes the 12th Dr. Who!
We're excited about this year's Sparks in The Park 4th of July celebration at the Four States Fairgrounds Friday, July 4. We have some great live entertainment lined up for the evening. DRIVEN a local band from Texarkana will be kicking off Sparks at 6:30 p.m. on the Stateline Fireworks Stage.
We've all seen the picture of Peanut, the winner of the World's Ugliest Dog. Yeah, pretty creepy looking! Well, Jimmy Kimmel got the pup a makeover!
Wow! This is a cool story! Clark Little is a photographer of a different kind. His photo shoots consist of him getting in the ocean waves and the results are spectacular!
This September in theaters nationwide a faith-based movie 'Rumors of Wars' will be showing at Cimenark theaters. Back in in early May a limited showing was held at the theater because one of the stars of the movie is from Texarkana. Michael Ulmer a 2011 graduate of Redwater High School plays his first lead role in the movie. Ulmer is in town this week visiting family and he dropped by the Kicker studios for an interview.
Penelope Pit-stop, Smedley and Dick Dastardly, if those names don't bring back any memories, then this new commercial isn't for you. If they do then you have to see this!
Are you keenly aware of your surroundings, who's nearby, what they might have in their hands? You should be.
One of the best things about summer is fresh fruits and veggies! Our very own Gateway Farmers Market just came out with a jazzy little video!


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Ratings based on 1 Verified Reviews
They paid and stayed. We double-checked.
5.0 Room cleanliness
5.0 Service & staff
5.0 Room comfort
5.0 Hotel condition
They paid and stayed.
We double-checked.
We double-checked.
Recommendedby Brendafrom Altoona, Pa
Chic little hotel convenient to central London & heathrowPosted Nov 29, 2009
This was the second time that I stayed at this hotel. It's a lovely little hotel convenient to central London & on the Picadilly line to Heathrow. The continental breakfast is excellent with croissants, breads, fruit, cereal, European meats & cheeses. The staff is very helpful. The room decor is beautiful, as is the bathroom. But while beautiful, you must be aware that the room is extremely small. The hours for breakfast were a little inconvenient not starting until 8am on the weekend. All in all, a lovely place to stay in London & I' m sure that I will stay again.


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ŌĆ£We need to go on the offensive to put an end to this idea of ethnic cleansing in L.A.,ŌĆØ declares Noreen McClendon, executive director of Concerned Citizens of South Central Los Angeles. ŌĆ£It is not happening.ŌĆØ
McClendonŌĆöan African American who serves as vice president of operations for the Watts Gang Task ForceŌĆöis upset about a recent deluge of news stories claiming that Latinos are ŌĆ£ethnically cleansingŌĆØ their African American neighbors in southern California. The reports, which McClendon characterizes as dangerously misleading, have circulated widely in print, broadcast, and Web media, generating alarm in civil rights circles and unrestrained glee in those of anti-immigrant activists and white supremacists. In McClendonŌĆÖs view, all this hype obscures some basic realities: ŌĆ£Gangs kill each other. Gangs kill innocent people.ŌĆØ The ethnic cleansing label, she says, ŌĆ£is blown so far out of proportionŌĆØ with the facts on the ground.
Violent competition for control of the southern California drug trade between two prison gangs, the Mexican Mafia and the Black Guerilla Family, has been spilling onto the streets of L.A. for more than 15 years. Gangs that once included African American and Chicano youth are increasingly segregated. In neighborhoods like Harbor Gateway, racist, anti-Black graffiti has become commonplace. Last yearŌĆÖs trial of several Chicano gang members on murder and civil rights charges and other police investigations strongly indicate that some Mexican Mafia-connected gang members have crossed the line separating gang rivalry from deliberate, racially motivated crimes against innocent bystanders.
But the reasons for these developments, the scale of the problem, and what must be done have been largely lost amidst sensationalist media declarations that a ŌĆ£race warŌĆØ has broken out in Los Angeles. While it is now clear that racism has indeed played a role in some gang killings, other non-lethal attacks, and in the ongoing threats faced by African American residents of certain neighborhoods, the propagation of the ethnic cleansing frame has badly distorted a story that is sobering enough without the exaggerations.
Last November, three members of a street gang known as Avenues 43 were sentenced on federal civil rights charges for their roles in the murders of two African American men, Christopher Bowser and Kenneth Wilson, in separate attacks six years earlier in the Highland Park neighborhood of northeast Los Angeles. (A fourth convicted gang member was sentenced in January.) The victims were not gang members, and prosecutors successfully demonstrated that they had been targeted because of their race as part of an ongoing campaign to intimidate African Americans in the neighborhood. ItŌĆÖs the first time that the Justice Department has brought civil rights conspiracy charges against members of a street gang.
The following month, 14-year-old Cheryl Green was killed in a spray of bullets that also wounded three of her friends in the South L.A. neighborhood of Harbor Gateway. Green and her friends, all African Americans, had no gang ties. The LAPD says that attack was also racially motivated and has charged two members of the 204th St. gang with murder and hate crimes violations. Both the Avenues and 204th Street gangs are Chicano, andŌĆöin the current climate of heightened concern over African American/Latino conflict inside California prisons, politics, and schoolsŌĆöthese heinous crimes have made local and national headlines.
A recent wave of news stories on gangs in Los AngelesŌĆöknown as the ŌĆ£gang capital of the worldŌĆØŌĆöreveals that 2006 saw a 14 percent increase in gang violence and that racial hate crimes rose by 46 percent in 2005. An L.A. County Human Relations Commission report indicates that African Americans, who represent 9 percent of the countyŌĆÖs population, account for over half of its hate crime victims in 2005, and that Latinos were the perpetrators in 68 percent of those crimes (156 incidents). African Americans were the perpetrators in 93, or 76 percent, of bias crimes against Latinos, who make up a much larger share (45 percent) of L.A.ŌĆÖs population. Of the 56 cases of gang-involved racial crimes, the overwhelming majority involved Latino gang members and African American victims. According to LAPD figures, ŌĆ£seriousŌĆØ gang crimes (i.e. homicides, aggravated assaults and robberies) across racial lines rose 11 percent between 2002 and 2006: from 213 to 240 Black-on-Latino attacks (+12.6 percent); and from 247 to 269 Latino-on-Black attacks (+8.9 percent).
Despite this disturbing increase in inter-racial violence, the vast majority of gang crime has been and remains intra-racialŌĆöLatino on Latino and Black on BlackŌĆöa fact often lost in the jumble of crime statistics, and media coverage that highlights racial conflict between communities of color. Also, some of the incidents cited as evidence of ŌĆ£ethnic cleansingŌĆØŌĆösuch as the murders that resulted in convictions of Avenues 43 members on civil rights chargesŌĆötook place six or more years ago. Violent gang crimes are actually down from highs 10 years ago, overall crime in Los Angeles has dropped for five straight years and even bias crimes are below mid-ŌĆÖ90s and post-911 peaks. Between 2002 and 2005, only one African American was killed by a Latino, a gang member, in a racially motivated incident.
While these crimes statistics raise serious concerns and demonstrate that all is not well in SoCal, they do not support the charge of ethnic cleansing.
In January that phrase, which had previously appeared on gang-watch websites, was suddenly everywhere following the Los Angeles TimesŌĆÖ publication of an editorial by Rutgers Law Professor Tanya K. Hernandez. Referencing the trial of Avenues 43 members, Hernandez pronounced GreenŌĆÖs murder ŌĆ£a manifestation of an increasingly common trend: Latino ethnic cleansing of African Americans from multiracial neighborhoods.ŌĆØ Rather than explain this bombshell of a conclusion, Hernandez used the Green murder as an opportunity to present her thesis that Latino prejudices against African Americans often have roots in immigrantsŌĆÖ countries of originŌĆōa subject on which she has published scholarly articles. This argument deserves consideration, but in presenting it as context for the charge of ethnic cleansing, Hernandez provided ammunition for those who would argue that Latinos, as a generalized whole, are a threat to African Americans and that the danger posed by new (read ŌĆ£illegalŌĆØ) immigrants can be lethal. Ironically, the people actually charged with the Green, Bowser, and Wilson murders were members of Chicano gangs whose L.A. roots go back many decades.
On the heels of the Hernandez editorial and bolstering her charge, the Southern Poverty Law Center, best known for its research on and prosecution of white supremacist organizations, published an expos├® under the titles ŌĆ£L.A. BlackoutŌĆØ and ŌĆ£Ethnic Cleansing in L.A.ŌĆØ Writing for SPLCŌĆÖs Intelligence Report magazine, journalist Brentin Mock provided a chilling account of the racial boundaries drawn and violently enforced by Avenues 43 in Highland Park, and racial attacks by ŌĆ£Latino gangsŌĆØ against African Americans in other L.A. neighborhoods. However, the storyŌĆÖs main claim is that Latino gangs are waging ŌĆ£a campaign of ŌĆśethnic cleansingŌĆÖŌĆöracial terror that is directed solely at African Americans.ŌĆØ Mock claims that the Mexican Mafia prison gang (La Eme in Spanish) has issued a ŌĆ£green lightŌĆØ or ŌĆ£gang-life fatwahŌĆØ on Blacks all over Southern California, to be carried out by the numerous gangs under its influence. (A companion story labels the violence a ŌĆ£race war.ŌĆØ) The piece concludes with the message that Blacks everywhere in Los Angeles are considered ŌĆ£green lightŌĆØ targets by Latino gangs.
News outlets from National Public Radio to EnglandŌĆÖs Observer newspaper have picked up the ethnic cleansing frame. Even reporters who have avoided phrases like ŌĆ£race warŌĆØ and ŌĆ£ethnic cleansingŌĆØ have left Hernandez and MockŌĆÖs characterizations largely unchallenged. There has been no debate in the mainstream media as to whether these characterizations are legitimate. The Hernandez and Mock stories reached broad progressive audiences by means of alternative media websites such as BlackCommentator and AlterNet, respectively. One notable critique, by Roberto Lovato in The Nation magazine, was also republished by AlterNet. Perhaps unsurprisingly, some local African American community activists, concerned that law enforcement has been slow to respond to the dynamic of racial attacks, began using the term ŌĆ£ethnic cleansingŌĆØ to protest the situation in Harbor Gateway, the neighborhood where Cheryl Green was killed.
Racially motivated violence directed by some Chicano gangs against African Americans is an alarming development that warrants both sober investigation and determined community action. However, some violence prevention organizers in L.A.ŌĆÖs African American community reject the ethnic cleansing charge as wrongheaded and even outrageous.
Aqeela Sherrills, a former Crip who has been a leader in gang intervention efforts in L.A. and all over the United States for the past 16 years, insists, ŌĆ£There is no green light on African Americans.ŌĆØ Sherrills helped broker a famous truce between L.A.ŌĆÖs Crips and Bloods in 1992 and understands the dynamics of gang violence better than most. He says the Mexican Mafia is run by ŌĆ£businessmenŌĆösome of the smartest people around,ŌĆØ and would find no advantage in a generalized conflict with African Americans.
Noreen McClendon, at Concerned Citizens of South Central Los Angeles, questions the labeling of some high-profile crimes as racially motivated. She believes the murder of 14-year-old Cheryl GreenŌĆöwhich prompted the LA TimesŌĆÖ ŌĆ£ethnic cleansingŌĆØ editorialŌĆöwas revenge for the killing of Arturo Mercado, 34, the previous week, allegedly by an African American gang. Police have not solved that murder. Sherrills, too, believes GreenŌĆÖs death was ŌĆ£a random act, a conflict between a few 204th St. gang members and a local Black gang.ŌĆØ ŌĆ£Innocent people get caught in the crossfire,ŌĆØ he says. The ŌĆ£race warŌĆØ image, he concludes, ŌĆ£is driven by law enforcement and the media.ŌĆØ
Sheilagh Polk, the media relations manager at the Community Coalition, a South Los Angeles agency dedicated to addressing the socioeconomic conditions that lead to violence, is concerned about incidents of racially motivated violence against African Americans but fears the media hype could become a self-fulfilling prophecy. She notes that news media ŌĆ£have played a significant role in escalating gang violenceŌĆØ in the past. McClendon echoes this concern, saying, ŌĆ£When you have Fox news broadcasting about racial violence inside prisons, that creates pressure outside to retaliate.ŌĆØ
Pressed on the question of whether African Americans throughout L.A. and southern California might be under threat of violence from Latino gangs, Sherrills argues, ŌĆ£Gangs put out green lights on specific people or neighborhoods. If there were a green light [on all African Americans], there would be a lot more dead Black people and dead Latinos out there.ŌĆØ
Indeed, ŌĆ£ethnic cleansingŌĆØ conjures the massacres of Bosnian Muslims by Serbs (recently declared ŌĆ£genocideŌĆØ by the International Court of Justice), the slaughter of Tutsis by Hutus in Rwanda, and Sunni attacks on Shiites in present-day Iraq. It indicates a policy of forcible removal of whole communities and is sometimes a prelude to mass murder. However dangerous Highland Park, Harbor Gateway, and other L.A. neighborhoods have become for their African American (and other) residents, the charge of ethnic cleansing is inaccurate and unproductive. Rather, it distorts our understanding of the scale and nature of the actual problem and cheapens the meaning of the language we use to describe modern-day mass ethnic violence. Moreover, the misuse of the term ŌĆ£ethnic cleansingŌĆØ to describe the ongoing situation in parts of Los Angeles has played to the benefit of reactionary groups and movements unconcerned with racial justice.
Tony Rafael is the pen name of perhaps the most persistent purveyor of the ethnic cleansing frame. Described in the Southern Poverty Law Center story as ŌĆ£a respected writerŌĆØ who conceals his identity to avoid gang reprisals, ŌĆ£RafaelŌĆØ is a key source for its assertion that the Mexican Mafia has put out a ŌĆ£green lightŌĆØ for hits on all African Americans. Rafael operates a gang-focused blog site, In the Hat, where he has been making the ethnic cleansing charge against Latino gangs for the last several years. His liberal-baiting book reviews can be found on infamous rightwing culture warrior David HorowitzŌĆÖs Web magazine Frontpagemag. (Horowitz is a key figure in campaigns against affirmative action and campus multiculturalism.) In one such screed, Rafael tars liberals (e.g., John Kerry supporters) as approving of Holocaust denial theories that are, in point of fact, popular with the far right. His forthcoming book on the Mexican Mafia is from Encounter BooksŌĆōpublisher of Victor Davis HansonŌĆÖs anti-immigrant tract, MexiforniaŌĆöwhose catalog features such conservative stars as Horowitz, Ward Connerly, Thomas Sowell, and William Kristol. While the Mexican Mafia may indeed be ratcheting up racially motivated violence in some neighborhoods, Intelligence Report readers deserve to know that RafaelŌĆÖs analysis may be colored by his apparent rightwing leanings.
Tony Rafael sees the Mexican MafiaŌĆÖs alleged ethnic cleansing policy as an extension of its leadersŌĆÖ pride in their Aztec ancestry. In an interview published by SPLC, Rafael explains, ŌĆ£[T]here are no black people in the Aztec cultureŌĆ" They see themselves as a race unto themselves, and thereŌĆÖs really not too much room for anybody else.ŌĆØ Some Chicano activists refer to the southwestern U.S. as Aztl├Īn, the Aztec homeland. RafaelŌĆÖs characterization resonates with a popular racist Reconquista conspiracy theory, peddled by the Minuteman Project and other anti-immigrant groups, which holds that Mexico is infiltrating its citizens into the Southwest with the goal of reclaiming territory conquered by the United States in 1848.
Predictably, white supremacist and other anti-immigrant forces have exploited the ŌĆ£race warŌĆØ and ŌĆ£ethnic cleansingŌĆØ frames for their own purposes. In late March, African American Minuteman Ted Hayes led a ŌĆ£civil rights march to stop ethnic cleansing of U.S. black citizens by illegal aliensŌĆØ on the anniversary of a massive 2006 immigrant rights march. Hayes told some 200 supporters assembled before City Hall that, 40 years after winning civil rights legislation, ŌĆ£Here we are again in the streets of America fighting, marching for our civil rightsŌĆöthis time not from the racists down South but from people who are foreigners illegally within the borders of the United States of America.ŌĆØ
Such anti-immigrant rhetoric overlaps with problematic post-911 notions of national security, in which Latino immigration has been recharacterized as a terrorism threat. When asked who benefits from this framing, Noreen McClendon answers, ŌĆ£Follow the money.ŌĆØ SheŌĆÖs referring to Mayor Antonio VillaraigosaŌĆÖs efforts to maintain and expand federal funding for local law enforcement, which these days flows from a national security spigot. In February, L.A. played host to an international conference on gangs and, that same month, announced both a most-wanted list of 11 gangs and plans for another crackdown of the kind that has helped make the LAPD notorious for racial profiling and corruption. Capt. Ray Peavy, who heads L.A. CountyŌĆÖs Homicide Bureau, recently told the L.A. Times that the solution to gang violence is ŌĆ£the same thing you do about cockroaches or insects; you get someone in there to do whatever they can do to get rid of those creatures.ŌĆØ
Oversimplifying the gang problem as one of criminals and terrorists is another rightwing frame that encourages militaristic responses. Diverging from the martial plans being drawn up by law enforcement agencies, in January Advancement Project codirector and civil rights attorney Connie Rice released a major city-funded report on L.A. gangs, calling for a $1 billion ŌĆ£Marshall Plan,ŌĆØ with emphasis on school-based gang intervention and job programs. Rice appropriately reframes gang crime as an issue that requires more than just increased policing and more aggressive prosecutions. Unless viable economic and social opportunities are created in communities devastated by joblessness and structural racism, additional policing will simply swell already overcrowded prisons, themselves schools for criminality.
We mustnŌĆÖt turn a blind eye to the bigoted motivations of some Latino gang members who commit violent acts against African Americans. But neither can we allow rightwing interpretations of those dynamics to substitute for a deeper analysis that can give rise to responses that elevate racial and economic justice as their core objectives. The available evidence doesnŌĆÖt support the ŌĆ£ethnic cleansingŌĆØ claimed by ŌĆ£Tony RafaelŌĆØ and others. ThereŌĆÖs much more at stake here than semantics. Tragedies unfolding in L.A. neighborhoods are being hijacked by Minutemen and other rightwing forces. Let us not leave their framing of the issues unchallenged or, worse, become their unwitting messengers. The RightŌĆÖs ŌĆ£solutionsŌĆØ can only aggravate racial strife and increase the suffering of African American and Latino residents of Los AngelesŌĆōand beyond.
Tarso Lu├Łs Ramos is Director of Research at Political Research Associates, an independent, nonprofit, progressive research center for activists defending democracy, building equality, and challenging bigotry and oppression promoted by sectors of the Political Right.


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VIEWS: 6 PAGES: 26 CATEGORY: Business POSTED ON: 8/19/2011
Strategy Evaluation for Development Project document sample
Project Evaluation Livelihood development for vulnerable remote communities as alternative to relocation project Khoun and Kham districts, Xieng Khouang province (January 1 2004 – January 31, 2005) Conducted February 15 -19 2005 for CRWRC Mr. Steeve Daviau Team Leader March 03 2005 Table of contents Project Evaluation .......................................................................................................................................... 1 Table of contents ............................................................................................................................................ 2 I. Introduction to project background ............................................................................................................. 3 1.1 Objective of the evaluation .................................................................................................................. 4 1.2 Background information ...................................................................................................................... 4 1.3 Specific Objective:............................................................................................................................... 4 2. Scope of the evaluation .............................................................................................................................. 4 2.1 Evaluation methodology ...................................................................................................................... 5 2.2 Evaluation Team.................................................................................................................................. 6 2.3 Study constraints and limitations ......................................................................................................... 6 3. Resettlement issue ...................................................................................................................................... 6 3.1 Impact of resettlement ......................................................................................................................... 6 3.2 Resettlement issue in Xieng Khouang ................................................................................................. 7 4. Analysis of project outputs, impacts and weakness.................................................................................... 7 4.1 Road and foot path construction .......................................................................................................... 7 4.2 Food security ....................................................................................................................................... 8 4.3 Hygiene and sanitation and clean water construction ........................................................................ 12 4.5 Project implementation and community participation ....................................................................... 13 4.5.1 Participation ............................................................................................................................... 13 4.5.2 Implementation .......................................................................................................................... 13 4.5.3 Additional observations ............................................................................................................. 14 5. Conclusion............................................................................................................................................... 14 6. Recommendations .................................................................................................................................... 16 6.1 Efficiency in addressing Resettlement issue...................................................................................... 16 6.1.1 Relevance of the targeting: ........................................................................................................ 16 6.1.2 CRWRC involvement and resettlement issue: 3 cases............................................................... 16 6.1.3 New approach ............................................................................................................................ 17 6.2 Food security ..................................................................................................................................... 18 6.3 GFS.................................................................................................................................................... 18 6.4 Health................................................................................................................................................. 19 6.5 Road................................................................................................................................................... 19 6.6 Education ........................................................................................................................................... 19 6.7 Participation....................................................................................................................................... 19 6.8 Implementation .................................................................................................................................. 20 6.9 Gender issue ...................................................................................................................................... 20 6.10 Efficiency......................................................................................................................................... 20 7. Bibliography............................................................................................................................................. 22 8. Appendix .................................................................................................................................................. 22 8.1 Timeframe ......................................................................................................................................... 22 8.2 Participants to the presentation .......................................................................................................... 23 8.3 TOR ................................................................................................................................................... 24 Acronyms CRWRC Christian Relief World Reformed Church ECHO European Community Humanitarian Organization EUR Euro FUF Friends of Upland Farmers FY Fiscal Year GFS Gravity Fed System GOL Government of Laos Ha Hectare ICCPR International Covenant o Civil and Political Rights IRAP I Rural Access Profile LFA Land and Forest Allocation MCTPC Ministry of Construction Transport Post and Communication NFE Non Formal Education PHC Primary Health Care PTA Parents and Teacher Association PRA Participatory Rural Appraisal RRA Rapid Rural Appraisal UNDP United Nation Development Project UNESCO United Nation Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UXO Unexploded Ordinance VHV Village Health Volunteer XKH Xieng Khouang I. Introduction to project background 1.1 Objective of the evaluation The purpose of this End of Project Evaluation is to evaluate the project's effectiveness, and results measured against goals, objectives, results and outputs set forth in the project proposal. The evaluation will offer strategic and operational recommendations to ensure future direction, sustainability and effectiveness of this program. 1.2 Background information This Evaluation is focusing on the 13 months (January 1 2004 – January 2005) of implementation of the ECHO project totalizing 503,000 EUR. ECHO is the humanitarian aid office of the European Union. This project fits in the first year of a 5-year program. The project targets 3,332 beneficiaries in Kham and Khoun districts. 1.3 Specific Objective: According to the proposal submitted to ECHO, the project overall objective is to provide of alternatives to avoid forced resettlement of 12 ethnic minority villages in Khoun and Kham districts, Xieng Khouang province. Overall objective: The livelihood of vulnerable remote communities has been significantly improved so that relocation is prevented Project objective 1: The communities have better access to basic services and markets through improved foot path and road access Project objective 2: The communities have improved food security through increased agricultural production, better storage and marketing Project objective 3: The communities have access to sufficient safe drinking water 2. Scope of the evaluation The raison d'etre of this evaluation is because it was planned in the project proposal. The achievements may not have justified the holding of an evaluation at this stage since many activities just have been initiated and the impacts difficult to measure. Nevertheless, the consultant could assess the relevance of the main objective of the project: the maintenance of villages in their traditional setting to avoid forced resettlement. 2.1 Evaluation methodology As stated by the TOR, "Generally, the evaluation will be appreciative, participatory and learning centered in its approach. It will involve stakeholders who represent the community, project, CRWRC and GOL. An evaluation team will be formed of appropriate expertise selected by stakeholders. Relevant information will be gathered from reading, data analysis, one on one conversations/interviews, focus group discussion and debriefing of group and individual site visits. Participatory Rural Appraisal will be used as primary tools in the evaluation." 2.1.1. Prior going to the field: - Meeting with country director to discuss about the project - Secondary data including research on resettlement issue in Xieng Khouang - Project documents: Proposal to ECHO, Interim Narrative Reports, RRA and Appraisal Inquiries 03 2003, PRA 05 2003. 2.1.2. Xieng Khouang: - Briefly discuss with project staff; done during village visit - District level: vice governor - Sub-district level: head or vice head in Sadnoy and Nam Tehr sub-district. 2.1.3. Community level: - 7 target villages have been visited in three days - History establishment, number of families, provenance - Clan system - Migration patterns, since the establishment of the village - Plan of migration (whole village, segments, clans, households, individuals) to address the dynamic of migrations - Government policy; meetings, letters, villager's opinion concerning the resettlement of their community, resettlement site; status of the village - Activities implemented - Beneficiaries for each activity (wealth ranking for 5/7 villages) - Process of distribution/setting/planning and results. - Vision of the project, weakness and strengths and suggestions for improvement 2.2 Evaluation Team No. Name and Surname Responsibilities 1 Mr. Steeve Daviau Anthropologist, Team Leader 2 Mr. Sida Sayaphet Program Manager 3 Mr. Leexong Leetakoon Assistant Project Manager 4 Mrs. May Saydala Team Leader for Education 5 Mr. Bouaphan Phosana Head Social Relief Department Mr. Leexong and Mrs. May Saydala are both Hmong people and provide the team leader with valuable assistance in translating Hmong language. 2.3 Study constraints and limitations - Planned evaluation (usually the external evaluator plans the evaluation and select the villages to be visited and the stakeholders to be met). - Time limitation (1 hr/village; in reality the discussions extended longer in all villages). - Lack of documents prior to go to the field (the team leader received the village profile and the results of the RRA and the PRA conducted in 2003 between the field visit in Kham and Khoun district, so I didn't know about each village activities prior to go to Kham district. - It wasn't planned to meet any authorities at district and province level, but the team managed to meet authorities at sub-district and district level. - The time limitation did not allow using methodologies such as gender disaggregated focus group discussions, household interviews, etc. and the team had to limit the scope of the investigations to the village authorities: head, vice- head, party secretary, and key informants. - Some activities have just started and are not bearing fruits yet 3. Resettlement issue 3.1 Impact of resettlement Resettlement in the context of development has many devastating impact on resettled communities: brutal degradation of the living condition of the population involved, increased mortality, increased vulnerability, increased prevalence of water-born diseases, loss of food security, social conflicts, etc. There is growing awareness among donors, NGOs and government, but resettlement is still ongoing and the project aims to address this issue in the two target districts. Source: Laurent Romagny and Steeve Daviau, 2003; Synthesis on Resettlement in Long district, Luang Namtha province, Action Contre la Faim, Vientiane, Lao PDR 3.2 Resettlement issue in Xieng Khouang In the Nineties, about 2000 Hmong refugees from Thailand were repatriated. These repatriations were realized under the responsibility of the United Nations and many projects were implemented to facilitate their return and their integration. At the same time, the authorities of the province and districts initiated many resettlements of villages. According to the UNDP report from 1997, we observe that (between 1990- 97) more than 70 Hmong villages (14% of total of villages) were moved within the province and between the districts. The resettlements are directed from East to West with the districts of Kham and Pek as principal zones of settlement; some villages from north of Kham were also relocated to the south of this district. Villages visited in Kham after the Liberation, answering the call of the state to settle in the plain and cultivate paddy cultivation (Sanjohtai); but after the return of the Tai Dam that had left during the war, they had to give back the land to their owner according to the decree 194 on inheritance. Meuang Kham was established in 1784 (IRAP: 1998) and Hmong people arrived in Xieng Khouang after, starting from 1830 onward. The area has been the theater of important fighting during the war. In Houay Loun village, in Khoun was General Vang Phao Airfield while the hill over Sanchotai village in Kham district was an American base. People were trapped between two factions and many villages flew for more quiet areas only to come back at the end of the conflict. In both districts, all communities have faced migration from segments, households, clan out of their village toward the lowland, the US, Vientiane, the district or provincial center, etc. Many are almost half of the number of household they have been once. Local development strategy includes establishing village clusters (2 in each of the 3 sub- district in Kham). The villages closer to the road become the center; government will lecture the others to resettle near road or river. People will move. In Kham, the idea isn't to bring all upland villages to the lowland, but to fill the space available where land is available according to the Land and Forest Allocation (LFA). Ideally people will move not separated but all together, but split if no carrying capacity. 8 villages are concerned by resettlement in Kham and 1 village in Khoun district but this information is incomplete. 4. Analysis of project outputs, impacts and weakness 4.1 Road and foot path construction Outputs: - 12 villages were surveyed for foot path construction - Tools have been distributed - 9/12 villages have been digging their foot paths - 40 km of footpaths were upgraded (35+5) - 88.8 tones of rice distributed - 7,756 m3 of rocks destroyed using dynamite - 52,190 m2 of foot path cleared of UXO Impacts: - Transportation is eased from and to the villages, people are investing in transportation means like in Houay Hok, 5 household bought a motorbike. - In Phakok village, the price for hiring a truck to carry goods decreased from 800,000 – 1 million kip to 100,000. Rice price increased from 1,000 kip/kg to 1,300 kip/kg. Also, since the road is built, merchants come directly to the villages and villagers can negotiate more easily; before they would bring their harvest in the district centre and were more vulnerable and would accept lower price. Weaknesses: - Post distribution monitoring: in Keo Leuk, hoes were not enough for the labour, same for Houay Loun that is short 10 hoes. Generally, in many villages, shovels aren't used because people don't need them. - In Huayloun village, villagers complained about the poor supervision, since they dig in the wrong direction for the GFS pipeline system and lost their labour investments. - There was not enough technical supervision in Phakok that has a lot of un-used labour mentioned the village head resulting in delay in the realisation of the construction work needing technical expertise. - If villagers generally satisfied with the rice they received for their labour (rice for work), there has been delay in distributing rice in the rainy season. 4.2 Food security 4.2.1 Corn Outputs: - 116 kg of seeds provided to 33 households - 7.75 ha planted - 14,373 kg of maize were harvested Impacts: - Corn had had the best results in terms of production. Two maize per plant were harvested and up to 450 kg per kg of seedlings planted. - Better yields than the indigenous species that have been used many years Weaknesses: - The participation in planting cash crops is directly linked to the availability of the road to bring the production to the market. - Seeds were brought late in the season and the villagers had started to plant their own indigenous seeds in case CRWRC would never show up with the promised seeds. Then the surfaces were not available anymore when the seedlings finally arrived. - Distribution in sub-district centre. Villagers are told how to do by the head of the sub-district of Sadnoy. - No demonstration in field is implemented in many villages. Only in Keo Leuk village, villagers in Keo Leuk couldn't make it to the sub-district capital and missed the training. They picked up the seedlings and were told by the head of the sub-district how to plant. - In Houay loun, villagers say technical support advise them wrongly and there was a confusion between maize and soybean, and the farmers planted according to the technician' s advices, so it went wrong. - Planted too tight; then, they waited for the stalks to dry on feet, like for their indigenous species, but it moist and they lost sometimes half of one maize. - The new crop introduced will have a high yield only the first year because it is a hybrid seed that needs to be purchased each year. 4.2.2 Soybean Outputs: - 628 kg of seeds distributed to 68 households - 9.11 ha were planted - 379 kg of beans were harvested Weaknesses: - Soybean have been a total failure this year in all villages visited - The indigenous species produced also lower yields than usual, but nothing comparable to the seeds sponsored by FUF. 3 kg harvested for 2 kg planted in Houay Loun compared to 1/10 kg ratio for indigenous species. - 15 farmers planted soybean in Pa-Ham, 239 kg planted and 93 kg harvested. Planted too tight, diseases, - Slow distribution of seeds occurred here also and villagers planted their own seeds, fearing never to see the promised seeds. - In Pa-Ham, they are still interested in experimenting soybean; one year isn't conclusive, we need three years to have a good experiment say village head. 4.2.3 Cardamom Outputs: - 27,000 seedlings were distributed Impacts: - Villagers in Houay Loun are confident, and they got 10,000 kip/kg for indigenous species to merchants from Nong Het and Phonesavang; the domesticated species from the FUF should pay even more. - Contribute to long term development since the first harvest would occur about 3-4 years after the plantation. Weaknesses: - 70% of survival rate in Houay Loun. - 60% of the plants died in Nyodpied due to lack of training and demonstration; also because gasoline was accidentally spread over during transportation. - 50% of the plants died in Sanchotai village in early stage. The low participation is explained by the fact that villagers didn't want to carry the seedlings from Phonekham village. - In Pa-ham, villagers mentioned that the FUF advise them not to cut off the head of the plant. The distribution occurred during the rainy season and only the plant they cut survived; the other died. 4.2.4 Existing cash crops: CRWRC has introduced three crops, soybean, corn and cardamom. If the two first were already planted by the Hmong farmers, it's their first experience in planting cardamom usually harvested in the forest. The provider of seeds and seedlings is the Friends of Upland Farmers selected for its capacity to handle big amount of crops, furthermore both soybean and maize have been traditionally planted by Hmong farmers. But the evaluation team also acknowledged existing cash crops and marketing system in some target villages: - In Phakok, all household produce peanuts (70-80 bags in average) and got from 3,500 to 7,000 kip/kg; 100 tones were sold in 2004. There are three episodes of sales with the last giving better price. They cleared a space especially for the crop - Sunflower is the second cash crop produced. Merchants from Phonesavan and Vientiane buy the local production. - In both cases, merchant come and buy directly in the village but for the new crops introduced, the sales occur outside the village 4.2.5 Other outputs: Farmer Producer Associations In Pa-Ham, the association is active and regulations implemented. For instance, in the case where farmer receive seedlings but don't plant, he is penalized with a fine: 2kg for each kg of seedlings. Also, if a farmer does not cultivate an area that he has cleared, he is also fined for mis-use of the forest. The fine is calculated in amount of rice he would have harvested. Thresher: 3 have been delivered Weaknesses: - One has been installed in Phakok village, since there is no possibility to bring it to other community still inaccessible by road. - The village head manage the thresher himself and claims it as his own. This is an area of concern. - According to the village head, it won't leave the village to rotate between target villages as planned by CRWRC. People must pay fees for labour and also gasoline to use the thresher. - One thresher is in the middle of a field on the road to Keo Leuk but couldn't be sent to the village since the road isn't finished yet, while the third one is in Nyodpied, but the evaluation team could not assess its use. Storage: - In Phakok, fees have to be paid, only for crops to be sold while crops to be self- consumed are kept home or in rice loft. A percentage of the money will go to the fund. Regulations are not clear and some individuals – the Village Head in this case, is likely to take the benefits at the expense of the community is the situation isn't address rapidly. The activities did not allow increasing villagers' income since there is no marketing component linked to the production of cash crops. This lack of guarantees is directly responsible for the low participation and the amount of crops planted. Villagers still rely on subsistence farming and are cautious in their moves. Nevertheless, CRWRC is targeting a crucial issue here; many of the target villages were growing opium up to October – November 2004 when government went to cut down all standing poppy fields. 50 ha were destroyed in Kham district. Household income reached up to 6 millions kip for healthier households. The activity will contribute to replace the loss of opium and contribute to communities' wealth provided market agreements and once the roads are finished. 4.3 Hygiene and sanitation and clean water construction The project provides technical expertise altogether with government partners and material including pipes, cement, steel rods, etc. Villagers contribute with their labour and local material for fence building; establish regulations, payment of fees, etc. A community committee is established to manage the implementation of the activity. Outputs: - Design for 9 target villages have been realized - GFS have been finished in 4 villages and been 90% completed in 4 villages - Maintenance and management committees have been established in 8 villages totalizing 40 members - One training on Primary Health Care set up - 130 mothers and children immunized in collaboration with the health department - Family planning set up for 58 couples in 11 villages - 100 model families set up Impacts: Clean water will obviously reduce women and child burden in bringing water into the village and decrease the risks of malnutrition and insure healthy growth of children. - There are many water taps in each village, more than the standard of 80 people/tap, as in Sanjohtai where there are three taps for 125 people - Water tap are generally well located, like in Sanchotai with one tap near the school - Water quality seems fine in villages visited Weaknesses: - VHV have been set, but 100% are men. Illiteracy is the main constrains for women, but in Houa Hok village, a woman just married has a secondary 3 and could be trained as VHV. - Extension poor with training during village meeting, only males, head of household attends - Concerning GFS systems: the quality of the taps used is questionable; there was no evacuation drain for water in Pa-ham and in Huayhok village, water doesn't reach the village since the mason did not fallow the design done by the supervisor. - No clear criterions for model families establishment - The committee for GFS management don't have clear regulations and system - No hygiene kit and water use kit have been distributed. This should be considered to insure that water remain clean at household level. 4.5 Project implementation and community participation 4.5.1 Participation - Project plans to take into account local authorities and structures, the clan system for instance. Gender concerns are also mentioned in the project proposal; men and women equally encourage participating in village-based organization, and also the project aims targeting the most vulnerable as disabled. - In Khoun, almost no international agencies involved, government do not reach many upland communities, no vaccination or disease prevention campaign, few merchants go, poor road access. There are problems in almost every village in terms of authority, motivation of people that are opium growers, suspicious because they have been vulnerabilized with the destruction of the opium in October – November 2004. - In 5 villages visited out of 7, the team leader could register each beneficiary involved in the food security activities according to their status in the wealth ranking activity implemented by the project in the assessment phase. 25.6% of the wealthier households participate in seeds planting activities, compared to 30.9% of the middle-class and only 11.9% of the poorest households that can less afford to take risks planting new seeds since they lack labor and are food insecure. This result displays the socio-economic profile of the project beneficiaries for a sample of 193 households in Keoleuk, Houay Loun, Nyodpied, Phakok, and Sanjohtai village). District Village Households Wealthier Benefic % Middle- Benefic % Poor Bene % name iaries class iaries ficiar ies Khoun Keoleuak 34 12 5 41.7% 11 2 18.2% 12 2 16.7% Khoun Huayloun 44 3 1 33.3% 15 7 46.7% 26 0 0.0% Kham Nyodpied 28 3 0 0.0% 13 5 38.5% 12 4 33.3% Kham Phakok 63 15 2 13.3% 22 1 4.5% 26 1 3.8% Kham Sanjohtai 24 6 2 33.3% 10 7 70.0% 8 3 37.5% Total: 193 39 10 25.6% 71 22 31% 84 10 11.9% 4.5.2 Implementation - There are no data available at village level. A copy of village profile, activities implemented, group members, regulations, planning, etc. should be in villager's hands. - Rely too much on political rep and mass organization. No training has organized and no Village Development Committee has been set up yet. - Danger to implement political agenda through technical assistance (GFS in Keo Leuk) - CRWRC project staffs seem to rely too much on government staff for technical input - The timing of activities has not been planned according to the seasonal calendar and this has major impact of project efficiency. - The use of Lao language for training undermined the good understanding of villagers. - Despite the fact that staff received proper training and that external trainers with years of experience were contracted, there has been shortcomings in timing and the coordination of activities. 4.5.3 Additional observations The Education component was initially not included in the evaluation. Nevertheless, the evaluation team was favourably surprised by the non formal education activities implemented in Huayhok village and decided to mention the education outputs and achievements. Outputs: - 4 teachers provided for three villages - 7 schools in 7 villages and 3 groups of school have access to learning and teaching material - Parents and Teacher Association (PTA) set in each villages - Health curriculum improvement implemented in every school covering 354 pupils from primary 1 to 3 - There are 128 adults learning (123 females) and 6 teachers. Impacts: - NFE provide good opportunity for girls to study Lao language and writing. The class are held early morning from 5-7 o'clock. - High attendance for NFE class observed in Huayhok: 18/22 present on daily basis. - Good monitoring system with weekly visit from education team 5. Conclusion 5.1 The project objective to avoid resettlement of 12 upland communities by providing alternatives has been successful. Not only CRWRC achieved in fixing the villages in the upland, but insuring long term development since access is a crucial criterion insuring permanency of upland villages. On one hand, roads allow civil servants improved access to communities; one another hand, villagers have improved access to services and market. All the community members will benefit from the road. 5.2 The third objective related to access to sufficient safe drinking water has also been achieved. Here also all community members have improved access to water. 5.3 The objective that has been only partially achieved is linked to food security. Generally speaking, participation remained low due to the lack of guaranty for villagers about marketing avenues for the new crops introduced. Seeds have been distributed too late in the season; villagers fearing not to receive any seeds planted their indigenous seeds, leaving less space for CRWRC sponsored seeds. While maize has been very successful, soybean has been a failure; the harvest didn't cover the seeds planted. Storage activity is also problematic since it may serves only for commercial crops, not to protect food crops at community level; this means that only beneficiaries from agriculture component will share the benefits of the activity. The lack of marketing agreements and guaranty is the prerequisite for the success of the introduction of new cash crops in the target villages. The lack of authorisations in setting up FUF branch in the target area is a main constraint that limits people's production because since the road allow (or will allow very soon for some villages) the transportation of goods, the main constraint is the inexistence of markets. 5.4 Planning of activities need to be improved to insure increase efficiency. Seasonal calendar should be taking into consideration when planning activities such as seed delivery for instance. 5.5 The restitution of the evaluation in the CRWRC office allowed program manager to learn that VDC have not been implemented yet in the target villages. This suggests that reporting of achievements and the capitalization on activities implemented by reporting remain weak. The monitoring of the activities implemented could also be improved. 5.6 Training activities should also be improved. Women should be present for agricultural training since they are the one who in reality are in charge of this sector in the Hmong society. Training should focus on example and demonstrations instead of theory and lectures. The overall impact of the project is linked to the challenge to offer development alternative in mountainous area. If most of the international assistance is targeted toward easy accessible areas, CRWRC successfully offer development alternative in the mountain and the facto contribute to secure Hmong livelihoods by supporting development in situe, avoiding the bad consequences of resettlement in the lowlands. CRWRC had realized an impressive amount of outputs in the 12 months timeframe. Even if the overall objective of the project: to avoid forced-resettlement of Hmong upland communities have been successfully achieved, a second ECHO phase would be more beneficial since more than 12 months are needed for reaching sustainability and insuring everlasting of the action. 6. Recommendations 6.1 Efficiency in addressing Resettlement issue 6.1.1 Relevance of the targeting: - According to the project proposal, 12 villagers were selected out of 30 villages visited for their immediate needs and risks to be resettled if no appropriate measure were taken. Then, during discussions prior going to the field, there were supposedly only 5 villages out of 12 were to be resettled. 4/6 in Khoun and 1/6 in Kham. - The field visit revealed that no target villages were threatened by resettlement. Apparently, both Nyodpied and Namwaan villages wanted to move. The visit couldn't not address the motivation of villages: impact of opium crops destruction, pressure, etc. But according to the district authorities, villagers ask for moving. 6.1.2 CRWRC involvement and resettlement issue: 3 cases 1. Nyodpied: initially, government wanted the village to move out of a conservation forest area and settle in the IFAD supported project where villagers were promised paddy land. Since the project provided road access, clean water and cash crops, only 19 households are authorized to move and 12 forced to remain. The development activities forced 12 household to stay; if there is paddy 18 households may stay but if not, they may all finally leave. 2. Houay Loun: the visit revealed the existence of three segments, one of which is located 1 hour away and constituted from a segment left from another village resettled in the lowland and later incorporated in Houay Loun. The directive is to resettle 8 household into Houay Loun; 2 had already come and 6 don't want to move. This is a case of forced-internal resettlement. 3. Keoleuak: three segments also. GFS survey done with government staff according to which only possible to implement GFS in the segment downhill and two upland segments have to consolidate, and they refused. This explains why villagers didn't agree upon receiving clean water since it would push them to resettle. Despite the fact that this kind of migration implicate low risks in terms of food security and sanitation, the approach should be based upon villagers will. 6.1.3 New approach If CRWRC is really willing to address resettlement issue in the target area, there is a need to consider retargeting villages based upon the findings on priority area concerned by planned resettlement in Kham district and in Khoun district as handled out by district authorities on the demand of the team leader. Authorities are willing to discuss about their development strategy and about resettlement issue and there is no need to be over- cautious and self-censured. The two table below display data concerning the 2001-2005 Five Years Plan; this mean that more resettlements are likely to occur from 2006-2010. According to the discussions with Kham Vice-Governor, there were 79 permanent villages out of 120 districts and 41 were at risks and concentrated in three sub-districts. But the data sent by the district display a different rate: 8 villages will be resettled including 6 villages in Pheungsam sub-district. Sub district Data stable To be resettled Grand Total Bountin Number of Villages 11 0 11 Population 2,896 0 2,896 Heuangtai Number of Villages 11 1 12 Population 4,410 505 4,915 Khamneua Number of Villages 17 0 17 Population 8,297 0 8,297 Longmadtai Number of Villages 30 0 30 Population 13,122 0 13,122 Louangkhava Number of Villages 7 0 7 Population 2,108 0 2,108 Niotkeua Number of Villages 19 1 20 Population 7,722 325 8,047 Pheungsam Number of Villages 8 6 14 Population 2,568 1,942 4,510 Thei Number of Villages 9 0 9 Population 3,267 0 3,267 Total number of Village 112 8 120 Population 44,390 2,772 47,162 In Khoun district, the team heard about 6 villages targeted by resettlement. But according to the data sent by the district, there is only one single village in the resettlement list. Sub district Data Stable To be resettled Grand Total Keoset Number of Villages 6 0 6 Population 2,421 0 2,421 Longsan Number of Villages 8 1 9 Population 3,726 105 3,831 Ngan Number of Villages 16 0 16 Population 3,396 0 3,396 Samphanxay Number of Villages 11 0 11 Population 3,299 0 3,299 Sanlouang Number of Villages 5 0 5 Population 1,329 0 1,329 Sieng Number of Villages 27 0 27 Population 11,926 0 11,926 Youn Number of Villages 16 0 16 Population 5,608 0 5,608 Total number of Villages 89 1 90 Population 31,705 105 31,810 The survey of the potential for land suitable for paddy cultivation remain a crucial issue in the target villages since the availability of paddy is the main conditions for villages to be stable. 6.2 Food security CRWRC needs to understand the local situation and local mechanisms to insure food security within the community. Internal mechanisms of solidarity in each clan usually provide food for the poorest segments of the clans. - Distribution of seeds according to seasonal calendar - Training and demonstration in the fields with farmers - Involve women in training - Monitor the use of the thresher in Pakhok village - Support existing production (peanuts and Sunflowers) and marketing - Set up buying units at local level to insure higher price and better power to negotiate - Secure marketing opportunities with clear agreements, contract, and guarantees - Storage for cash crops, not for food security - Include women as beneficiaries because they are the one who plan the seedlings so empower them by inscribing their names in. - Improve the use and regulations of the storage built and its use not only for cash crops but for food items as well to avoid post harvest loss due to rats. - Develop or increase paddy land surfaces in target villages - Evaluate the indigenous peanut storage system and the potentialities for improving the marketing of the peanut to increase villager's profit. 6.3 GFS - Improve the technical support to villagers by insuring the presence of technical support during labor involvement from the community - Improve collaboration between technical supervisor and the mason in charge of building the water system - Set up clear regulations concerning the protection of the spring - Consider the distribution of basic hygiene and water use kit - Evaluate the possibility to improve the tap used to insure sustainability - Monitor the implementation of the construction in Houay Hok village 6.4 Health - Training of VHV should be done in Hmong language - Improve extension, now done during village meeting and only head of household participate. Women receive low, distorted, biased information. Set up proper community activities. - Require one female VHV per village 6.5 Road - Improve the planning of tool distribution from the beginning according to the number of labor. - Insure presence of technical support during labor involvement from the community - Plan to transport rice to the target area prior to the rainy season in order to avoid delays in delivery. 6.6 Education - Insure that government will support the teacher after the project's life. 6.7 Participation - Participation is linked to people's thrust and confidence in the project, if they see the benefits they can get is the best incentive for participation. - Set up Village Development Committee (VDC) in each village to support the emergence of a civil society; i.e. of decision making outside the mass organization that monopolize the political power. - Civil servant will lecture villagers that don't understand yet to improve their participation in the project. We have to be very careful not to support the domestication of Hmong communities under the name of development. - Villagers in Houay Hok mention the lack of rewards for the one that distinguish themselves for their implication in the project. - Villagers are involved in subsistence economy and undergoing a transition to market economy and CRWRC is introducing cash crops; we should keep in mind that those experimentations mean increased labor input and less time to produce their own food. Experimentation should be done in plots one year before delivering the seedlings to the farmers, to avoid that experimentations on yields or suitability been done at the expense of the communities. 6.8 Implementation - Make available a copy of village profile, activities implemented, group members, regulations, planning, etc. in each village. - Reinforce civil society and build local capacity to plan and manage village development by assisting villagers in setting up groups and regulations. - Improve community management capacity to insure project sustainability, - Upgrade staff capability to plan, monitor project activities - Closely monitor private company hired for sub-contracting: TEST for GFS design, construction workers for GFS construction, etc. - In field training, demonstrations with model/pilot farmers in each village. - Right timing for agricultural activities; based upon seasonal calendar. This should start with the making of seasonal calendar for each village. - Use Hmong language for training, to insure translation to reach wider audience - Project staff should spend more time in the field, not only for monitoring activities, but to implement activities at key episodes (planting, harvesting, construction, etc.) - Improve commitment of government staff to hasten the process of implementation 6.9 Gender issue - Gender issue has seriously to be addressed. Women's participation is low from grassroots to the top of the organization. It would be too easy blame on Hmong cultural traditions and clans system to explain women's lack of power in the decision making process. Other project working with Hmong communities in other provinces have been successful in targeting women and insuring their participation and benefits to project. One of the solutions is made possible by using female staff. In this case, CRWRC should imperatively increase the ratio of women ethnic Hmong to ease discussions and transfer of information. 6.10 Efficiency 1. Concerning the first objective (Communities have better access to local services and markets through improved village and area access), the project meet its objectives since most of the household use the new roads. The access of services will be eased in Kham district where a dispensary has been rehabilitated in the sub-district centre. In Kham district, the 18 km road improves access to the 9 villages located in the area. 2. The efficiency of the food security (Communities have improved food security through increased agricultural production and better storage of farm produce) is less tangible. In terms of yields, maize has proven to be very successful, but soybean disastrous. Both crops are ultimately designed to be sold. But the prerequisite for the success of this activity rely on the existence of road access, and of secure market agreements for villagers. The refusal from the provincial governor to authorize the setting up of a FUF branch to buy the crops and the state of achievement of the road system are the main constraint that undermined the efficiency of the activity and should be resolved over time. 3. The access to clean water will obviously improve the overall health situation as stated in the objective three. But the main constraint to reach efficiency is the extension of the basic PHC methods. VHV are 100% male and they have not organised community activities reaching women. Discussions are held during village meeting gathering only male-head of household. Women and children are not likely to receive many benefits of the PHC. Regulations concerning village sanitation are not clear, at least at this stage of the project life. 7. Bibliography CRWRC 2003 XKH New Project Implementation Mission 18-28 March 2003 - Laos FY 2004-2005 Joint Planning Form & Program Plans - Narrative Interim Reports, Framework partnership Agreements - Villages profiles GOUDINEAU, Yves (Eds). 1996 Resettlement and Social Characteristics of New Villages, Basic needs for resettled communities in the Lao PDR, An ORSTOM Survey. Vol. 1 and 2. Supported by UNESCO and UNDP. IRAP 1998 District Accessibility Profile. Kham district, August 1998, Prepared by IRAP Xieng Khouang with Rural Development Committee, MCTPC/UNDP Project Lao/95/001. 8. Appendix 8.1 Timeframe Date/Day Time Objectives Who 15/02/2005 06:00 Departure Steeve & Syda Travel to Thae area and overnight. Steeve, Syda, Lee, May and Bouaphan 15:00 Short debriefing with Veehan Steeve, Syda, Lee, May and Bouaphan 16:00 Meeting with Kham district Vice-Governor Steeve, Syda, Lee, May and Bouaphan Meet with Mr Khongmi. Head of Khet Steeve, Syda, Lee, May and Bouaphan 16/02/2005 06:00 Sanjohtai Steeve, Syda, Lee, May and Bouaphan 11:00 Pa-Ham Steeve, Syda, Lee, May and Bouaphan 15:00 Phakok Steeve, Syda, Lee, May and Bouaphan 17:50 Nyodpied Steeve, Syda, Lee, May and Bouaphan 17/02/2005 06:00 Travel in Sadnoy area Steeve, Syda, Lee, May and Bouaphan 09:30 Houay Loun Steeve, Syda, Lee, May and Bouaphan 12:00 Keo Leuk Steeve, Syda, Lee, May and Bouaphan 15:30 Meet with Vice -Governor Steeve, Syda, Lee, May and Bouaphan 18/02/2005 08:45 Houay Hok Steeve, Syda, Lee, May and Bouaphan 15:00 Representative of Khoun district Mr. Khamphay Steeve, Syda, Lee, May and Bouaphan 19/02/2005 AM Preparation Steeve 14:00 Presentation Steeve 20/02/2005 08:30 Departure to Vientiane Steeve, Syda, Viengxay and Bruce 21/02/2005 All day Reporting Steeve 22/02/2005 All day Reporting Steeve 8.2 Participants to the presentation No. name Position Organization 1 Thanongsay Road Engineer and Foot path CRWRC 2 Jessica Project Advisor English CRWRC 3 Viengxay Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare 4 Wihaan Project Manager CRWRC 5 Yangleng Project Advisor GFS CRWRC 6 Leexong Assistant Project Manger CRWRC 7 Chansmone Project Advisor Education CRWRC 8 Sengthao Project Advisor Agriculture CRWRC 9 Bounmee Deputy Social Welfare Khoun district 10 Sivachith Deputy Social Welfare Kham district 11 Seuvath Deputy Education Kham district 12 Tavone Deputy Education Khoun district 13 Seefoung P.A. Road and foot path CRWRC 14 Thayang P.A. Agriculture CRWRC 15 Oumma Team Leader Health CRWRC 16 Noy Irrigation and Foot path CRWRC engineer 17 Donesee P.A. Road and foot path CRWRC 18 Syda Program Manager CRWRC 19 Mai Team Leader Education CRWRC 20 Somphan Deputy Education Khoun district 21 Nooyang Deputy Agriculture Khoun district 22 Muavang Road and foot path engineer CRWRC 23 Chonsee Road and foot path engineer & CRWRC irrigation 24 Douangdee Team Leader Agriculture CRWRC 25 Mr. Bruce Advisor Mcknignt Foundation Shoemaker 26 Mr. Steeve Daviau Team Leader Evaluation Anthropologist * The name of female staff is written in bold 3/17 present for the presentation. 8.3 TOR Livelihood development for vulnerable remote communities as alternative to relocation project Khoun and Kham districts, Xieng Khouang province End of Project Evaluation (ECHO no. 1) Terms of Reference January 2005 1. PURPOSE The purpose of this End of Project Evaluation is to evaluate the project's effectiveness, and results measured against goals, objectives, results and outputs set forth in the project proposal. The evaluation will offer strategic and operational recommendations to ensure future direction, sustainability and effectiveness of this program 2. BACKGROUND INFORMATION This Evaluation is focusing on the 13 months (January 1 2004 –January 31 2005) of implementation of the ECHO project. ECHO is the humanitarian aid office of the European Union. This project fits in the first year of a 5-year program. For more information see project proposal and progress reports for details. 3. OBJECTIVES OF THE EVALUATION The program evaluation should produce the following results: 1. Assessment of project results. 2. Consolidation of a report on this assessment, the critical findings and recommendations for the future direction of community programs after the project life. Specific Objective: Provision of alternatives to avoid forced resettlement of 12 ethnic minority villages in Khoun and Kham districts, Xieng Khouang province. Indicator: Communities have remained at their present location and have an increased sense of security in their current circumstances Sources of verification: Observations in the field, beneficiaries interviews and reports Results: Result 1. Communities have better access to local services and markets through improved village and area access Indicator : Majority of families use new roads to access outside services. Sources of verification: Observations in the field, beneficiaries interviews and reports Result 2. Communities have improved food security through increased agricultural production and better storage of farm produce Indicator: Promoted crops are successful with good harvests. Sources of verification: Observations in the field, beneficiaries interviews and reports Result 3. Communities have improved overall health and hygiene situation through improved access to sufficient and clean water and basic primary health care method Indicator: All families use water system and implement village sanitation regulations. Sources of verification: Observations in the field, beneficiaries interviews and reports 4. METHODOLOGY Generally, the evaluation will be appreciative, participatory and learning centered in its approach. It will involve stakeholders who represent the community, project, CRWRC and GO. An evaluation team will be formed of appropriate expertise selected by stakeholders. Relevant information will be gathered from reading, data analysis, one on one conversations/interviews, focus group discussion and debriefing of group and individual site visits. Participatory Rural Appraisal will be used as primary tools in the evaluation. 5. TIME FRAME The evaluation will take place during the period of February 15-19, 2005 Day 1: Travel from VTE to the field 15/02/2005 Day 2: Field work Day 3: Field work Day 4: Field work Day 5: Analysis and Presentation (2 hours) Day 6: Traveling to VTE One day will be added for traveling and two days for preparation and reporting. Total days for this evaluation is 8 days. 6. REPORTING A draft report will be produced by March 04, 2005 and will highlight important summary of effectiveness of project, outputs and results, recommendations and conclusions. The report will be shared with the key stakeholders in the project including CRWRC and ECHO as Donor and communities. The final report will be submitted by March 18, 2005. 7. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES The evaluation will be carried out by a Team of Evaluators as selected and agreed to by the key stakeholders and project/CRWRC. The members of the evaluation team will be experts in the areas such as health, income generation, literacy, education, agriculture, NGO organization and community development. The Service Provider will be the evaluation team leader and will lead and facilitate the team in the evaluation process. He will carefully plan, implement and evaluate the process. He will write up all outcomes and analyses and recommendations in a short but clear report in English. Provision of transportation, food and accommodation is responsibility of the Agency.
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