TERMINAL EVALUATION
REPORT
AD/CAR/02/G41
Youth-Centred Drug Abuse and HIV/AIDS Prevention in
Antigua and Barbuda and
Grenada
Prevention Treatment and
Rehabilitation
Report of the
External Evaluator
Ken-Garfield Douglas
United Nations Office on Drugs and
Crime
Caribbean Regional Office, Barbados
Youth Centred
Drug Abuse and
HIV
I
AIDS
Prevention
in
Antigua
and
Barbuda
and
Grenada
l
Ttl
bLes
of
COII\,tell\,ts
Section 1: Project Overview
3
Section 2: The Project
Description
Subject Area(s):
4
Overview and Unique Approach
4
Context
4
Project Design
5
Overall Purpose and Objectives
5
Target
Audience/Beneficiaries
5
Roles
6
Expected Results 6
Monitoring and Evaluation Methods and Process
6
Sustainability
6
Section 3: The Intervention
(
General
)
Types of Programme Strategy - Implementation
Approach/Strategies/Modalities
7
Information and Communication
Channel/Technologies
7
Tools
7
Implementing and coordinating
arrangements
7
The
Implementation/Results/Challenges/Lessons/Recommendation
8
Intervention
Logic
-
Grenada
7
Youth Drop-In And Resource
Centre
17
Section 4.1: Discussions, Comments, Experience Sharing And Lessons
Learned
Grenada
Overall
comments
19
Organizational set-up, Coordination and Collaboration among
Agencies
19
Management and Networking (Personnel, Meetings,
Coordination
20
Financial Aspects and Logistics (Resource Mobilization, Procurement,
Cost-sharing
20
Capacity Building
(Training)
21
Place and Use of Research and
Evaluation
22
Recommendations-
Grenada
23
List of Youth Affiliated
Organizations
that
Participated
in Project Activities
24
List of Documents Reviewed and Persons Interviewed for
Grenada
24
Grenada's
Needs Assessment
Report
25
Flyer for drama production
"Choices"
26
Grenada
photo
gallery
27
Introduction
-
Antigua and
Barbuda evaluation
28
Intervention
Logic
-Antigua
and
Barbuda
29
Youth Centred
Drug Abuse and
HIV
I
AIDS
Prevention
in
Antigua
and
Barbuda
and
Grenada
2
Section 4.1: Discussions, Comments, Experience
Sharing
And Lessons
Learned
Antigua and
Barbuda
Organizational set-up, Coordination and Collaboration among Agencies
37
Management and Networking (Personnel, Meetings, Coordination
38
Financial Aspects and Logistics (Resource Mobilization, Procurement,
Cost-sharing
38
Capacity Building (Training)
38
Place and Use of Research and Evaluation
39
Recommendations
-Antigua
and
Barbuda
40
List of Documents Reviewed and Persons Interviewed for Antigua and
Barbuda
42
Antigua and
Barbuda
Needs Assessment Report
43
Antigua and
Barbuda
photo gallery
45
Disclaimer
Independent Project Evaluations are scheduled and managed by the project managers and conducted by
external independent evaluators. The role of the Independent Evaluation Unit (IEU) in relation to
independent project evaluations is one of quality assurance and support throughout the evaluation process,
but IEU does not directly participate in or undertake independent project evaluations. It is, however, the
responsibility of IEU to respond to the commitment of the United Nations Evaluation Group (UNEG) in
professionalizing the evaluation function and promoting a culture of evaluation within UNODC for the
purposes of accountability and continuous learning and improvement.
Due to the disbandment of the Independent Evaluation Unit (IEU) and the shortage of resources following
its reinstitution, the IEU has been limited in its capacity to perform these functions for independent project
evaluations to the degree anticipated. As a result, some independent evaluation reports posted may not be
in full compliance with all IEU or UNEG guidelines. However, in order to support a transparent and
learning environment, all evaluations received during this period have been posted and as an on-going
process, IEU has begun re-implementing quality assurance processes and instituting guidelines for
independent project evaluations as of January 2011.
Youth Centred
Drug Abuse and
HIV
I
AIDS
Prevention
in
Antigua
and
Barbuda
and
Grenada
3
Section 1: PROJECT
OVERVIEW
Project
Number
AD/CAR/02/G41
Project Full Title
Youth
Centred Drug Abuse and HIV
I
AIDS Prevention in Antigua
and Barbuda and Grenada
Country
Antigua and Barbuda
Grenada
Region
Caribbean
Duration
2 years
Executing Agency
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
Cooperating Agencies
Antigua and Barbuda: National Drug Information Centre (NDIC)
AIDS Secretariat
National Drug Council
Grenada: AIDS Secretariat
Drug Control Secretariat
Implementing Agencies
National
Coordinating
Agency
-
NDIC for Antigua and Barbuda
-
Nationals AIDS Secretariat for Grenada
National Steering Committees
Project Coordinator
Partner Organization
Grenada Red Cross Programme
Antigua Red Cross Programme
National Youth Councils
Budget Volume
$245,000 United States Dollars
Type of evaluation
Terminal
Date of evaluation
June 2005
Youth Centred
Drug Abuse and
HIV
I
AIDS
Prevention
in
Antigua
and
Barbuda
and
Grenada
4
Section 2: THE
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
2.1 Subject
Area
(s)
:
Prevention of
HIV
I
AIDS
Prevention of drug use
2.2 Overview and Unique
Approach
The Caribbean is one of the regions in the world with the most severe HIV
I
AIDS epidemic outside the sub-
Saharan Africa. According to UNAIDS estimates, approximately 480,000 in the region were living with the
virus at the end of 2001; some put this figures closer to 700,000. The rates continue to increase especially
among the young adult population. In fact AIDS is already the leading cause of death in the 15-44 year age
group. People between the ages of 15 and 44 represent 70% of the AIDS cases, half of which are in the 25-
34 age group. The HIVIAIDS pandemic has particularly devastating effects among young adults in their most
productive years, and it's potential to seriously compromise the economic growth of the region. Given that
more than half of the Caribbean population is under the age of 24, these implications hold a great
significance for the social, economic and political futures of this sub-region.
Another concern affecting youth in the Caribbean is the widespread use of alcohol and drugs. Drug use
among adolescents is in fact widespread to various degrees in the different regions of the Caribbean. Young
girls and boys may be tempted to begin experimenting with drugs at a very young age. According to the
Caribbean Adolescent Health (School) Survey, more then. 82% of adolescents have already used alcohol
before the age of 15. Furthermore, marijuana use in the Caribbean has become part of youth culture. Drug
use also appears to be identified as a strategy to cope with difficulties encountered in life, such as
unemployment, poverty, neglect, violence and sexual abuse.
It
is perceived that there are some links between drug use and HIV
I
AIDS in the Caribbean among young
people. Heterosexual contact is acknowledged as the main route of HIV transmission and accounts for the
majority ofHIV infections and AIDS cases. However, the behavioural dynamics that fuel the epidemic in the
Caribbean are linked to lifestyles and socio-cultural contexts of sex and sexuality, especially among young
people. The HIV
I
AIDS epidemic in the Caribbean region is mostly associated with high-risk sexual
behaviours, such as early initiation of sexual activity, multiple sex partners, unprotected sexual behaviours
and substance abuse.
There is evidence that drug use might play a major role in the spread of HIV
I
AIDS in this region. This
perceptible link is mostly associated to the lifestyles adopted by youth and remains a condition related to
risky behaviours. In fact, drug use or alcohol consumption impairs judgement and increases high-risk sexual
behaviour.
It
may be related to unprotected sexual behaviours that lead to HIV infection. Drugs usually alter
people's judgement and can lead to unsafe sexual practices (intercourse without a condom). Lack of
inhibition associated with drugs may result in unprotected sex. Intoxication can also complicate condom use
or the ability to negotiate safe sex.
2.3
Context
A major problem affecting the youth is the lack of information or the misconceptions related to these issues.
Methods used to transmit preventive messages are viewed as inadequate and do not have the desired impact
on youth. This project undertakes research to better understand the relationship between drug use and
HIV
I
AIDS in Antigua and Barbuda and Grenada. In order to provide proper information to youth, a peer
education programme and other alternative activities were developed. These not only provided life-skills
training to youth but empowered them by ensuring their participation in the planning, implementation and
organization of these activities. A Youth Forum was established to facilitate the exchange of information, to
discuss issues and
problems
affecting youth and identify possible solutions.
Youth Centred
Drug Abuse and
HIV
I
AIDS
Prevention
in
Antigua
and
Barbuda
and
Grenada
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2.4 Project Design
The project was designed to achieve the widest possible impact with limited resources. At the outset it was
foreseen that the project would be implemented over 24 months and would focus on five areas of action:
research and data collection; youth empowerment; capacity-building/life-skills training; creation
of
partnerships
and cooperation; and alternative
activities-
public education.
The national drug programmes and national AIDS programmes, in Antigua and Barbuda and Grenada have
identified preventing drug use and reducing the risk of IDV
I
AIDS respectively as top national priorities.
However there is little dialogue and cooperation between drug control and HIV
I
AIDS prevention agencies.
Consequently there are no programmes in both countries which directly address problems presented by the
direct interface between drug use and vulnerability to HIV infections. Changes will inevitably have to be
incremental, building on,
modifYing
and expanding interventions that are already in place. This project was
intended to facilitate the
progress
by linking both sectors through youth-driven activities.
It
is against this background that in June 2002, the UNODC approved a Programme of Assistance to Antigua
and Barbuda and Grenada with a
Youth-Centered
Drug Abuse and IDV
I
AIDS prevention component focused
on the improvement of adolescent/youth lifestyles primarily in the areas of risky behaviours, such as early
sexual experiences, multiple partners and alcohol and other drug use.
2.5 Overall Purpose and Objectives
The purpose is: "to contribute to a reduction in the incidence of drug abuse and HIV
I
AIDS in Antigua and
Barbuda and Grenada, specifically among young people between the ages of 13 and I8 years of age.
Stated main objectives expected from the operationalization of the project are:
I. To obtain a better understanding of the perceptions and behaviours of in and out of school youth on
the drug use and HIV
I
AIDS
situation, including their needs and views towards prevention practices.
2. To empower youth by increasing their involvement in the planning and implementation process of
prevention programmes including the creation of partnerships and cooperation among agencies and
community organizations dealing with the prevention and control of HIV
I
AIDS and drug use.
3 To provide information on
HIV/AIDS
and drug use with participatory activities to equip and
empower young people (and youth organizations) with skills and motivation and to sustain (or
change to) healthy behaviour.
2.6 Target Audience/Beneficiaries
Primary: Youth between the ages of 13 and I8 years
Secondary:
I
00 peer educators; 6-8 youth participating in the steering committee; and 20-30 youth
participating
in the youth forum
Indirect: Selected professionals in the field of health care, social work, education and community
development including personnel at government and non-governmental agencies.
The primary target
beneficiaries
are the adolescents/youth aged I3-18 years, chosen to benefit primarily from
the peer education component of the programme. Since the project will use an outreach approach, it will
reach youth from a wide spectrum of society ranging from the youth in the city and in the rural setting, in-
school and out of school, and youth in particularly difficult situations.
Youth Centred
Drug Abuse and
HIV
I
AIDS
Prevention
in
Antigua
and
Barbuda
and
Grenada
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2.7 Roles
The intervention is expected to increase or provide proper information to youth: peer education programme
and alternative activities components will be developed. These activities will not only provide life-skills
training to youth but also empower them by ensuring their participation in the planning, implementation and
organization of these activities. The youth forum will also facilitate the exchange of information, discuss
issues and problems affecting youth and identify possible solutions.
2.8 Time Frame
The Youth Centred Drug Abuse and HIV
I
AIDS Prevention in Antigua and Barbuda and Grenada was
estimated to start in August of 2002 and run for a period to two years (to July 2004)
-
the project document
was signed in June 2002. The project in Grenada was officially launched in October 2003 and in Antigua
and Barbuda in February 2003.
It
was then anticipated that for both countries the project would end in
December 2004. However, an extension was granted to March 2005. Unfortunately it would be realized that
implementation of some activities have continued into June 2005.
2.9 Expected Results
Major Proposed Outputs
1. Assess the drug use and HIV
I
AIDS situation and prevention strategies.
2. Establish a Project Steering Committee involving youth and stakeholders.
3. Provide training on youth
participation
for members of the Steering Committee.
4. Create a Youth Forum to increase awareness on the situation of youth.
5. Recruit and train Peer Educators.
6. Publish guide for peer educators on the prevention of HIV
I
AIDS and drug use.
7. Develop peer educators workshops.
8. Design and implement alternative activities.
2.10 Monitoring and Evaluation Methods and Process
1.
The project will be subjected to a tripartite review at least every 12 months.
2. The Project Coordinator shall prepare and submit Project Performance Evaluation Reports
(PPER) to each tripartite review meeting.
3. The Project Coordinator shall prepare and submit a project terminal report
4. The Project Coordinator shall prepare and submit (with support from the project Steering
Committee) project progress reports every six months.
5. The project shall be subject to an independent in-depth evaluation during the final phases of the
project implementation.
2.11 Sustainability
This project should serve as a model for further replication to other communities in the country to further
improve the knowledge and awareness of risky sexual behaviour and drug and alcohol use in both countries.
Youth Centred
Drug Abuse and
HIV
I
AIDS
Prevention
in
Antigua
and
Barbuda
and
Grenada
7
Section 3: THE INTERVENTION (GENERAL)
3.1 Types of Programme Strategy- Implementation Approach/Strategies/Modalities
The project intervention will be driven by four main programme
areas:
1. Research and data
collection-
comprehensive
assessment/rapid assessment
survey/situational
analysis
2. Youth empowerment
-
youth participation in planning and
implementation/community
mobilization
3. Capacity
building/life-skills
training-
peer
education/workshops/training
of
trainers/education
through entertainment
(enter-education)
4. Creation of partnerships and cooperation
-
advocacy/institution
support/ and
institution
building
3.2 Information and Communication Channel/Technologies
Radio
Television
Logo/Slogan
Group/Community
Printed Press
Drama/Popular Theater
Computers and Internet
Person-to-person contact
Music Promotional
items
3.3 Tools
Strategic
planning/consensus
building workshop (done as startup activities during
projectization)
Semi-qualitative
research study done at
start-up
Youth and community participation for
implementation
In-country management and coordination through Steering Committee and Project
Coordinator
Tripartite review, monitoring and
evaluation
3.4
Implementing
and coordinating arrangements
Antigua and Barbuda and
Grenada
3.4.1 In Antigua and Barbuda the NDIC will be the National Coordinating Agency (the
project
will be implemented under the overall coordination of the director of the
NDIC).
3.4.2 In the case of Grenada the National AIDS Secretariat will be the National
Coordinating
Agency.
3.4.3 Prior to
implementation
the Government will determine a venue for the
Steering
Committee meetings and training sessions (ideally a Drop-in Centre for
youth).
3.4.4 A Project Coordinator will be recruited on a part-time basic (to provide
project
management, recruiting and overseeing the work of consultants and
sub-contractors and
identifying and acting to defuse
bottlenecks)
3.4.5 A Steering Committee
will
also be created to assist in the
implementation
and
management
of the project (the committee will provide strategic direction, planning and guidance to
the
project).
Prior to the implementation of the project, the government of
Grenada and Antigua and Barbuda
will
determine a venue of the Steering Committee meetings and for the training sessions. This will be a drop
in
centre for youth in order to have easy access to project resources.
It
will also be used as a "safe place"
for
youth should they need support whether it is technical support or personal
assistance.
Youth Centred
Drug Abuse and
HIV
I
AIDS
Prevention
in
Antigua
and
Barbuda
and
Grenada
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The
11-'lA.:pleVVteV\,ttlttoV\,/Re.sult.s/CV!tllle e.s/Le.s.soV\,.s/RecoVVtVVteV\,oltlttoV\
,
Youth Centred
Drug Abuse and
HIV
I
AIDS
Prevention
in
Antigua
and
Barbuda
and
Grenada
9
1.
Assess
the drug use and HIV
I
AIDS situation and prevention
strategies
Immediate Objective #1:
To obtain a better understanding of the perceptions and behaviours of in and out of school youth
on
the drug use and
HIV/AIDS
situation, including their
needs
and
views
towards prevention
practices.
Outcome Objective
#1
(described in the project document as
outputs
)
:
Assess the drug use and HIV/AIDS situation and prevention strategies according to the
perspective,
behaviours and needs of youth at the outset of the project to establish a baseline as
well
as
continuously
during the course of the project through a continuous data collection process.
Project activities
Major accomplishments
(outputs)
Outcomes
Recruit consultant
Consultant and research team
identified and trained
Improved ability to successfully
carry out needs
assessment/applicable research
to
inform
proj_ect
activities
Establish study and data
collection instrument
Elaborate criteria and select
sample, pretest, collect, edit,
code and analyze data
Study conducted within
a
reasonable time before the actual
startup of the project activities
Guaranteed input from the research
Produce, publish and
disseminate the research report
Research completed (approved by
stakeholders and executing
agency) and accessible to all
stakeholders including policy
makers
Current information available to help
shape the messages and address
issues that youth identifies as
needing attention
Challenges/Delays Identified
Project Coordinator reports that no attempt was made by the Steering Committee
to.
analyze the findings of
the report in the context of making programme adjustments according to the results from the research. This
may have been due to the lack of capacity within the Steering Committee to make such an analysis and
coming up with possible programme adjustments
Lessons Learned
Needs assessment should be done during the design phase and results incorporated into the strategy for
implementation to guide outputs and activities
Youth Centred Drug Abuse and
HIV
I
AIDS
Prevention in Antigua and Barbuda and
Grenada
lO
2. Establish a Project Steering Committee involving youth and stakeholders
Immediate Objective
#2:
To empower youth by increasing their involvement in the planning and implementation
pr
programmes including the creation of partnerships and cooperation among
agencie
organizations dealing with the prevention and control of HIV
I
AIDS and drug use.
ocess
of prevention
s
and community
Outcome Objective #2 (described in the project document as outputs):
Establish a Project Steering Committee involving youth and stakeholders.
Project activities
Major accomplishments
(outputs)
Outcomes
Recruit coordinator
Project Coordinator recruited
Effective mechanism to manage and
coordinate the project
Selection criteria and
recruitment of Steering
Committee
An
11 member Steering
Committee established with a good
mix of participants
Effective body of stakeholders to
provide guidance to the Project
Coordinator (at least here at the
beginning)
Steering Committee and Project
Coordinator develop work plan
Work-plan and timetable for
implementation defined and
approved by Executing Agency
and stakeholders
Plan of action for implementation
Develop and organize Youth
Forum, Peer Education and
alternative activities
programmes
- Youth Forum not organized
until three months after
Project Coordinator recruited
- Peer Education training got
going after seven months
- Alternative activities eight
month after
Decreased
abilitY
of project to
achieve outcomes
Review existing youth
programmes and promote
integration of a drug use and
HIV
I
AIDS component
No real attempt made to review
existing youth programmes for
integration
Stakeholder from the drug field
gave support in tenns of some
training and material and the
HIV
I
AIDS programme continued
to support the project in tenns of
material and resources
No record of this activity being
implemented. This was not seen as
a priority by the Steering Committee
Challenges/Delays Identified
- Project coordinator was recruited nine months after the project activities actually started with
the
commencement of the RAS training
- Unable to recruit any person living with HIVIAIDS or recovering drug addict to the committee
as
stipulated. Recoding the experiences of ex-drug users and person living with HIV
I
AIDS (PL
WHA).
The Project Coordinator reported in January of 2004 that notwithstanding the arrangements
for
privacy and confidentiality, "fear of discrimination and getting into conflict with her father
hindered
the PLWHA from participating in this activity".
As the project developed:
I. Low youth participation in the Steering Committee
2. Low participation by Steering Committee members at meetings
3. No persons living with HIVIAIDS identified for the committee
4. No recovering drug addict on the committee either
5. No clear guidelines for Project Coordinator and Steering Committee in relation to roles,
responsibilities, processes and procedures
6. Problems with ministerial ownership of the project
Youth Centred Drug Abuse and
HIV
I
AIDS
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Grenada
ll
7. No programme infonnation collected, examined and disseminated
Lessons Learned
Stakeholders nominated to Steering Committee see this function as additional to their regular tasks and
requires some form of compensation or incentives to ensure participation. Government need to demonstrate
ownership of the project to facilitate and acceptable rate of implementation and future sustainability of the
project's efforts.
3. Provide training on youth participation for members of the Steering Committee
Immediate Objective #2:
To empower youth by increasing their involvement in the planning and implementation process of
prevention
programmes including the creation of partnerships and cooperation among agencies and
community
organizations dealing with the prevention and control of HIV
I
AIDS and drug use.
Outcome Objective #3 (described in the project document as outputs):
Provide training on youth
particif
ation for members of the Steering Committee.
Project activities
Major accomplishments
(outputs)
Outcomes
Collect training material on
youth participation and
empowennent
Not done
Train members of the Steering
Committee
Not done
No increac;e in knowledge of
Steering Committee members
in
terms
of how to encourage
or
influence youth participation
in
youth centered projects
Challenges/Delays Identified
Neither of these activities were given any consideration for implementation
Steering Committee decided that this was not a priority since most representatives of the committee had
some level of exposure to youth programmes previously
One might assume that the necessary material may not have been available
Lessons Learned
An
assessment needed to be made as to the availability of materials and a suitable trainer to facilitate
this
activity and if not available the Project Coordinator needed to be given the tools (the actual materials) and
the
resources (trainer) provided to effect these activities
Youth Centred Drug Abuse and
HIV
I
AIDS
Prevention in Antigua and Barbuda and
Grenada
l2
4. Create a Youth Forum to increase awareness on the situation of youth
Immediate Objective #2:
To empower youth by increasing their involvement in the planning and implementation process of prevention
programmes including the creation of partnerships and cooperation among agencies and
community
organizations dealing with the prevention and control ofHIV/AIDS and drug use
Outcome Objective #4 (described in the project document as outputs):
Create a Youth Forum to increase awareness on the situation of youth
Project activities
Major accomplishments
(outputs)
Outcomes
Develop a selection criteria for
members
An
ad hoc (semi-structured) means
was used to try and identify
interested youth
Very limited participation by youth
Recruit members for Youth
Forum
Only 21 youth identified to
participate
Attempts made to encourage more
youth to
participate
-
it was also
envisioned that the sessions would
be taped
Limited ability to properly articulate
or identify the problems and hence
identify resources at the community
level.
Determine schedule and agenda
for Youth Forum
At least one training-like event
took place for the Youth Forum
members
Two other attempts were made to
tape discussions around the issues
and problems facing youths
Limited involvement and benefit
from the Youth Forum activity
Outline the nature and extent of
the problems affecting youth
In the words of the Project
Coordinator
-
"the youth were shy
in participating in the forum"
No outline formulated
Identify community resources
Not done
No resources identified
Provide a series of
recommendations to
g_ovemment
Not done
No recommendations made
Submit the report to
government
Not done
No report produced
Challenges/Delays Identified
-
youth were "shy" in their participation
-
needed expert guidance to facilitate this activity
Lessons Learned
Satisfactory implementation of this kind of activity requires special skills and the Project Coordinator
was
unable to provide or acquire that skill (purchase or get the expertise from the stakeholders) to
successfully
complete the activity.
Youth Centred Drug Abuse and
HIV
I
AIDS
Prevention in Antigua and Barbuda and
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13
5. Recruit and train Peer Educators
Immediate Objective #3:
To provide information on HIV
I
AIDS and drug use with
participatory
activities to equip and empower young people
(and youth organizations) with skills and motivation and to sustain (or change to) healthy behaviour
Outcome Objective #5 (described in the project document as outputs):
Recruit and train Peer Educators
Project activities
Major accomplishments (outputs)
Outcomes
Develop selection criteria for peer
educators
The Red Cross standard
methodology was used for the
selection
Effective means of selection
Recruitment of peer educators and
members of the community
Well over
1
00 peer educators were
selected
National trainers
Determine activities and agenda
for training sessions
The Red Cross standard
methodology was used for the
training (curricula included issues
relating to drug abuse)
Greater harmony with other training
events for Peer Educators
in
the region
Collect existing Peer Education
materials
Not done
No tangible way of assessing what
improvements were needed if any
Provide training sessions for peer
educators and community
leaders*
Well over
81
peer educators were
selected and trained
in
three
workshops
18 Instructor trainers were also
trained
Training provided
Assumed increased knowledge of peer
educators on issues relating to
HIV
I
AIDS and drug abuse
Increased skills in communicating
messages to peers
Determine dates for follow-up
meeting and debriefing
A peer educators council have been
formed but the project is now at an
end and the follow-up activities had
not been articulated before project
end
Speculations as to post-project
continuity and sustainability of Peer
Education programmes specifically
targeting issues around HIVIAIDS and
drug use
Challengesffielays Identified
- The Red Cross had to be contracted to provide the training for peer educators under the project. This process
took some time since contract documents and logistics had to be worked out.
- Training began six months after official launch of the project
- No evaluation done of the training sessions
- The number of potential educators recruited for training did not tum up, hence the low number of persons
trained
- Red Cross was plagued with late disbursement of funds to begin training activities
Lessons Learned
In implementing many project activities, certain skills have to be acquired (bought) and it take a lot of time and
negotiation to get it done within the project timeline.
* It is noteworthy and commendable that the Instructors Training was dome using a regional standard methodology
and instruction guide
-
"Regional Manual on Participatory Education for Drug Abuse Prevention
-
Special edition
for Community Leaders. (Drug Abuse Prevention Programme Inter-American Children's Institute).
Youth Centred
Drug Abuse and
HIV
I
AIDS
Prevention
in
Antigua
and
Barbuda
and
Grenada
1.4
6. Publish guide for peer educators on the prevention
ofHIV/AIDS
and drug
use.
Immediate Objective
#3:
To provide information on HIV/AIDS and drug use with participatory activities to equip and empower young people
(and youth organizations) with skills and motivation and to sustain (or change to) healthy behaviour
Outcome Objective #6 (described in the project document as
outputs):
Publish guide for peer educators on the prevention of HIV
I
AIDS and drug use
Project
activities
Ma.ior
accomplishments (outputs)
Outcomes
Divide peer educators
into
working groups during
1st
training
Not done
Conduct the working groups
Not done
Review existing peer educators
training manual
Not done
Develop new guide
Not done
Pretest guide with the subsequent
training
Not done
Review guide
Not done
Publish guide and submit to
stakeholders
and
peer
educators
Not done
No contextual approach to future peer
educators training or workshops (needs
assessment results not incorporated,
the youth forum recommendations not
used and the peer educators are not
motivated to continue their work
because not it would have to be done
outside of the umbrella of the project)
Challenges/Delays Identified
Apparently not understood or noted as an output that had to be realized under the project activities
Lessons
Learned
Project outputs have to be clearly outlined at the beginning of the project and constantly revisited to make sure that
project activities are in keeping with expected outputs.
Youth Centred Drug Abuse and
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l5
7. Develop peer educators workshops
Immediate Objective #3:
To provide information on IllY/AIDS and drug use with participatory activities to equip and empower young people
(and youth organizations) with skills and motivation and to sustain (or change to) healthy behaviour
Outcome Objective #7 (described in the
project
document as outputs):
Develop and implement peer educators workshops
Pr
ect
activities
Major accomplishments (outputs)
Outcomes
Develop a plan of action and
time-table for
worksho_g_s
Not done
Create peer-educators' teams
Not done
Distribute guide to peer educators
Not done
Promote peer education
programmes
Not done
Identify and recruit youth for
workshops
Not done
Provide venue to access resources
and support
Not done
Provide technical and
psychological support to peer
educators
Not done
Challenges/Delays Identified
-
apparently not understood or noted as an output that had to be realized under the project activities
-
may have been constrained by the uncertainty of
sustainability
of the project activities
-
documentation for the Red Cross indicated thought that peer educators have been involved in various
community activities such as, painting of walls, community mobilization, lectures at school, open sessions
with
youths
(from an evaluation point of view this does not reach the requirements of the stated
output)
Lessons Learned
Like for the previous output, all project outputs have to be clearly outlined at the beginning of the project and
constantly revisited to make sure that project activities are in keeping with expected outputs.
Youth Centred Drug Abuse and
HIV
I
AIDS
Prevention in Antigua and Barbuda and
Grenada
1.6
8. Design and implement alternative
activities
Immediate
Objective
#3:
To provide information on HIV/AIDS and drug use with
participatory
activities to equip and empower young people
(and youth organizations) with skills and motivation and to sustain (or change to) healthy behaviour
Outcome Objective #8 (described in the project document as
outputs):
Design and implement alternative activities
Pro_ject
activities
Ma.ior
accomplishments (outputs)
Outcomes
Develop structured plan and
schedule for alternative activities
Sufficient planning and scheduling
(four types of activities were
conceptualized)
Organized plan of action
Recruit participants for
programme planning teams
Community members, youth and
stakeholder organizations were
recruited/pledge support
Positive exposure of wider community
to HIV
I
AIDS and drug abuse issues
Organize activities in the
community
- Theatre production (drama series)
- musical concerts
- music CD produced
- career fair organized
- motorcade staged
- sports and cultural fest organized
National participation and sharing in
the positive benefits
ofthe
project
Produce posters, t-shirts
brochures, etc
- 200 T-shirts printed and distributed
- logo and slogan designed
National appreciation of the project
and its objectives
Publish information and
educational materials
- radio and TV PSA's produced
- newsletter produced
Messages disseminated at the national
level
Challenges/Delays Identified
-
very late start to activities (seven months after Project Coordinator recruited
-
activities often plagued by disbursement/payment problems
-
to gamer in-country private sector support for such activities that could not be carried out without initial
commitment of payment (no tangible evidence that there was a willingness to continue to support activities
without payment were forthcoming)
Lessons
Learned
The wider community is willing to participate in HIV/AIDS and drug education efforts (especially those efforts th
at
are enter-education based). The willingness to participate must be seen as equally important to compensation
for
participation (particularly as
it
relates to the purchase of goods and services from the community).
Youth Centred
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Abuse
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17
YOUTH DROP-IN AND RESOURCE
CENTRE
The youth Resource and Drop-in Centre was refurbished between the months of October2003 and January 2004 and
officially opened to young people during February 2004. The centre provided services such as, counseling,
computer use, research and career development and recreation and youth spirituality.
It
was also used as a meeting
place for various youth groups such as the Positive Youth Network, Youth Prints and the Christian society of one of
the Community colleges. Groups and churches also used the centre as a venue for self development workshops.
Grenada's Youth
enjo_y
the
newl_y
refurbished
Drop-in
and
R.esources
Centre
Youth comments about the Drop-in/Resources
Centre
Equipment provided to the Drop-in/Resources
Centre
Chairs, tables, office supplies and games (UNODC and Youth Department, Gov't of Grenada)
Secured computers, televisions, cable access (private sector)
Secured telephone and internet access (Ministry of Health, Gov't of Grenada)
Secured library materials (Ministry of Education, UNODC and Ministry of Health)
The
following
activities were conducted at the Drop-in/Resources
Centre
Meeting place for youth groups
Venue for heated youth discussions about HIV
I
AIDS and drugs
A one-day a week computer math class
Conference hall by the New Testament church youth arm ofSt
George's
Used as a venue for the career training workshop organized by the project
Used as a venue for the Life-skills training programme for in-school youth organized by the Drug Control
Secretariat
Used as a venue for meetings of trainers attached to the Peer Education programmes
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Impact of other events (besides the
alternative
activities
)
Carnival Friday Road Show and Ground Outreach
Initiatives
The event was highly rated among participants and the general
public
......
.
Youth Centred
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1.9
Section 4.1:
DISCUSSIONS,
COMMENTS, EXPERIENCE SHARING
AND
LESSONS
LEARNED
GRENADA
Overall comments
From the stakeholders' perspective, the project was seen as having good recreational impact for the youth population
that has an opportunity to participate. It helped create bonding among Grenada's youth. The Red Cross Executive
Director of Grenada commented that "the initial approach of interagency planning during the feasibility phase of
the
project conceptualization was good. The orientation of the project around youth involvement, key stakeholders, the
thematic priority of drugs and HIV
I
AIDS, and the conduct of a needs assessment were all seen as the right way to go
to provide the impetus for a successful project.
Ironically it was noted that there was very positive stakeholder support for the project during the planning phase but
very little stakeholder commitment and support during the life of the project.
4.1.1 Organizational set-up, Coordination and Collaboration among Agencies
Project
Coordination
At start-up of the project, the in-country facilitation of the understanding of the project document in terms of the
governments' role and responsibilities (especially as it pertains to the national Steering Committee and the National
Coordinating Agency) and the mechanisms of implementation were not properly described or not understood.
Even though the effort were made and a successful needs assessment survey was completed there were no attempts
made to use the results to shape the direction of the project implementation as required and described in the project
document. The Project Coordinator, the Steering Committee, the National Coordinating Agency or other
stakeholders did not make use of the research results in light of the fact that its stated purpose was to inform the
project implementation. Maybe this needed to be clarified during the planning phase for the project and again at
start-up so that efforts would be made to use the information in the planning and implementation of the peer
education training/sensitization and alternative activities.
Output #3 (training of members of the Steering Committee) was also not seen or maybe not understood as an output
of the project. As such, no effort was made to facilitate training of the Steering Committee members in technique
geared towards youth involvement and community participation. This deficit is depicted later on as the project
unfolds in that there was very little commitment to the project by members of the appointed Steering Committee.
The management and coordination was based primarily on the efforts of the Project Coordinator and a "handful" of
members.
Another area that was lacking is the development of the Youth Forum and having the youth specifically address
issues affecting them and then identifying community resources and provide recommendations for project oriented
activities to address these problems or issues. The development of the Youth Forum was however plagues by low
youth participation and a 'shyness' on the part of the youth to engage in discussions. This was reported to be the
most challenging activity to get implemented in the project. Numerous efforts were made to tape the proceedings of
some of the discussions but there were many technical difficulties. However, no effort was made to document the
discussions of the consultation meeting that was held as part of the Youth Forum activities (no reports are available
and it was reported that this was not done). Hence there were also no recommendations around issues that needed to
be addressed around the nature and extend ofHIV/AIDS and drug use as problems affecting youth.
The project also called for an activity around the training of youth involved in the Steering Committee to actively
promote youth involvement in the project. This however was not prioritized as necessary since it was suggested that
most of those involved had been exposed to youth activities previously.
The Project Coordinator could have benefited from a more detailed explanation of the project document, primarily
in terms of understanding the relationship of activities and outputs and the elements of management needed to fit
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into the UNODC way of operation, for example, the whole issue of services and payment. The Project Coordinator
however must be complemented for her timely and detailed reporting on the project activities.
4.1.2
Management
and Networking (Personnel, Meetings,
Coordination)
National
Coordinating
Agency/Steering
Committee
It
was the opinion of some members of the Steering Committee that more could have been done on the government
side to support the project. There seems to have been inadequate support given by the government. The Project
Coordinator reports does substantiate that intermittent appeals were made to the government (even at the level of the
Prime Minister) before sufficient consideration was given from the government in support of the project. This
support came in the form of (a) attendance at the project launch by the Prime Minister and other key ministerial
representatives, (b) provision of office space in the early stages of the project, and (c) a refurbished building to
house the drop-in/resource centre.
Notwithstanding the late provision of the drop-in/resource centre, the National Coordinating Agency (the National
AIDS Secretariat) did provide the Project Coordinator with interim office space and some level of secretarial
support. Throughout the life of the project, The National Coordinating Agency did provide printing and
photocopying, some administrative support at start-up, material for the centre, and internet and telephone services
when the drop-in/resource centre finally got going. However when the Project Coordinator's office was moved to
the drop-in/resource centre the government was unable to provide support staff. This severely hampered the
operation of the centre since the Project Coordinator was only contracted for part-time work and the operation of the
centre was thus limited to only a few hours a day.
It
must be note too that the National Coordinating Agency did not
play an active role in the overall implementation of the project.
In terms of the expected commitment from members of the Steering Committee to attend meetings and provide the
guidance towards management, coordination and implementation of the project, this was not taken seriously. Most
persons appointed to the Steering Committee saw these functions as additional tasks needing some form of
remuneration or incentive to honour participation. As such, the meetings were sketchily attended and as the project
grew older attendance dwindled to only the committed few (three or four persons).
This unexpected low commitment contributed to:
Sometimes unilateral decisions made by the Project Coordinator and most time if an input is made by other
Steering Committee members it is done by telephone with the one or two that are interested
Great pressures on the Project Coordinator to "single handedly" implement the project.
4.1.3 Financial Aspects and Logistics (Resource Mobilization,
Procurement, Cost-sharing
The project was relying upon existing national capital and human assets within the organized social and health
structures for its implementation. Therefore, government contribution was expected to be of an in-kind nature.
Disbursement/Payments
The Project Coordinator was oriented around these sets of procedures as disbursements or payment for services
rendered for and on behalf of the project:
The Project Coordinator would get quotations for all needed services
Make arrangements for services to be provided
Invoice for services would be sent to Barbados when the event takes place or is taking place
Payment would be forthcoming from Barbados
This arrangement caused the most anxiety and sometimes embarrassment throughout the life of the project. The
Project Coordinator complained of having to wait month, in most instances, for payment to be made; having to face
distraught clients begging for their monies much to her embarrassment; not being able to get follow-up services
from clients who had previously gone through the ordeal of waiting; and in the case where down-payments were
necessary, the clients could not be engaged because the
procedures
did not accommodate this kind of arrangements.
Youth Centred Drug Abuse and
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Some complaints have been made about reimbursement for personal monies spend by the Project Coordinator (all in
good faith) in order to get some of the activities conducted and keep the project running. Other challenges faced by
the Project Coordinator relate to difficulty in finding persons to whom monies were owed because the payments
came months after the completion ·of the events. In addition, the Project Coordinator needed a greater level of
commitment on the part of the Executing agency in relieving the anxiety about payment for service during the
implementation of the project.
The project did benefit from private sector contribution to the project. This was realized both in monetary
contribution and donations of materials such as computers, refrigerator, television, cable installation, and
refreshments.
4.1.4 Capacity Building (Training)
Alternative Activities
Four types of alternative activities were undertaken under the project; songs, dance, drama and sports and cultural
fest. The drama series "Choices" was hailed as the highlight of the alternative activities.
It
was given great acclaim
for facilitating youth participation as cast members even though the main focus of the drama was on HIV/AIDS.
The benefits as indicated by two youth who saw the plays were, (a) 'it allowed an opportunity to stop and think', and
(b) 'it brought home the concept of consequences for your actions'. The following comments were also received
from other youth that were interviewed.
The main audiences were in-school students both in Grenada and Carriacou. Comments from the Chief Education
Officer did indicate that the Ministry of Education was in support of and would continue to support and encourage
the use of 'enter-education' as a vehicle to educate students about HIV/AIDS, drugs and other anti-social
behaviours. He did indicate thought that personally he was a little skeptical about the medium and messages since
Youth Centred
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he was wondering if the students were actually focusing on the messages or on the excitement of the acting, dancing,
and the language etc.
Having being also aired to an adult audience, it was seen as a learning experience for the adults in that it helped to
create opportunities for discussion between parents, guardians, adults and the youth. At the end of each
performance there was a discussion period and this was seen as providing added value in terms of value clarification
and open discussions involving the adults and youth.
Peer Education
Training
Despite the fact that the Grenada Red Cross Society have been involved in the training of peer educators for a long
time and actually had a current training programme, it took a considerable amount of time for the project to finalize
arrangement to contract the Red Cross to provide training for select youth educators. This activity too was plagued
by issues of payment.
Having had the training, the follow through to the next phase (development of teams and hosting of workshops) did
not materialize.
Drop-in and Resources
Centre
Notwithstanding the fact that the Drop-in/Resources Centre was opened 15 months after the project started, it was
"a
strong positive element of the project". This was the view of those members of the Steering Committee that were
interviewed. For its short life, (only seven months), it has been hailed by the youth as the most insightful and youth
oriented aspect of the project. It was a very useful mechanism for bringing youth and young people together.
However, the reward of getting it up and running was hampered by the break-in and theft of a computer only two
months after its opening.
Some of the shortcoming of the Drop-in and Resources Centre related to limited amount of informational material
available at the centre and the limited amount to take away as well. Most things had to be used at the center and
the
project was unable to produce or procure its own material and had to rely heavily on fliers, brochures, pamphlets,
fact-sheets, etc from the stakeholder organizations.
One other shortcoming was the central location of the centre. This meant that only the youth and young people in St
Georges had access to the centre during the 1Oam-5pm period in which it was opened. This also meant that on
average it could only served about 2000 youth and these were predominantly in-school students in and around St
Georges. Another parish like St Andrew and with a higher population density (both housing and school population)
was unable to benefit from this type of facilitation. The reality was that, these community members having heard
of
the Drop-in and Resources Centre in St Georges actually requested that one be opened in St Andrew parish to serve
their youth. But again, the issues of location, staffing, resources and equipment hindered its establishment.
As noted before, seven months into its operation, the centre, with all equipment and materials, was completely
destroyed by hurricane Ivan and no other location was provided up to termination of the project.
4.1.5 Place and
Use
of Research and Evaluation
Needs
assessment
The project must be complemented for getting the baseline need assessment study done in a timely manner and
before the start of the project activities. However, the reporting on the finding took a very long time in coming.
Although the final report was well put together it has failed to instruct the project implementation on specific issues
that needed to be address in the
recommended
"massive national sensitization and mobilization programmes". Since
the specific purpose of the assessment was to provide direction for stakeholders to adjust programmes based on the
research findings more should have been done to elaborate the intervention strategies that should have been
implemented through prevention education using peer education, alternative activities and even from a policy point
of view.
Within Project
Evaluation
The Project Coordinator must be complemented on adhering to the reporting requirements outlined in the project
Youth Centred
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document; however, there was a great divide between the progress reporting and the periodic process evaluation that
needed to be done. This is evident in the fact that there continued to be so much dissatisfaction between the Project
Coordinator and the executing agency over payments; as well as the fact that three major outputs of the project never
got activities implemented. These coupled with the very late implementation phases of most of the activities and the
apparent lack of governmental support should have been flagged as requiring within-project evaluation to sort out
the implementation issues and even advocate at the national level for greater support for the project as outlined in
theMOU.
RECOMMENDATIONS-
Grenada
1.
Better structure for engaging Steering Committee
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the government should specify clearly the agencies
and the level of commitment that they would have to make as Steering Committee members
An alternate member should also be appointed to facilitate attendance at meetings and insure
continuity of services when the nominated member is unavailable
2. Better commitment and obligations on the part of government with regards their input.
3. More extensive briefing of the Project Coordinator and where possible, periodic technical support in the
fonn of a programme implementation expert during the life of the project.
4. More emphasis on within-project evaluation: reporting, analysis of activities and outputs and proper
backstopping.
5. A more conducive payment scheme is needed to facilitate a more rapid rate of implementation and to foster
better community relation with the project office.
6. The government needs to commit to providing the infrastructure (such as the drop-in centre) up front before
the project can be officially launched in the country. Since the activities and outputs are so closely tied to
this kind of infrastructure maybe this would help to also increase the rate of implementation of the
complementary activities and cut the overall cost of implementation.
7. The project has to be designed to specifically target interventions and or programme activities at the out of
school youth. Almost every aspect of this project targeted the in-school youth population. More need to be
done to operationalize the project activities at the grass-root level and not always at the school level.
8. The Project Coordinator would have benefited from more regular communication and sharing with her
counterpart in Antigua since the projects were identical and they could have learned from each other
(challenges, opportunities, successes as the projects were unfolding in their individual countries). They had
not even met each other throughout the two plus years and shared less than a dozen emails.
9. Government need to take ownership of the project to ensure sustainability of activities and integration into
existing programmes or proposed activities.
Youth Centred
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24
Annex
List of Youth Affiliated
Organizations
that
Participated
in Project Activities (List provided
by
the
Project
Coordinator
)
Youth
Prints
Positive Youth
Network
T.A. Marryshow Community College Christian
Group
Sunset
Sunsteppers
Happy Hill Cheer
leaders
List of Documents Reviewed and Persons Interviewed for
Grenada
Youth Centred
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HIV
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in
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and
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25
Grenada's
Needs Assessment
Report
Youth
Centred
Drug Abuse and
HIV
I
AIDS
Prevention
in
Antigua
and
Barbuda
and
Grenada
26
A
drama
production
Of
the
Grenada
Fr ect
Youth Centred
Drug Abuse and
HIV
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AIDS
Prevention
in
Antigua
and
Barbuda
and
Grenada
27
Grenada's
phot
o
galler_y
Youth Centred
Drug Abuse and
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AIDS
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in
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28
The
IV\A:pleVVteV\-t ttoV\-/R.esults/CV\ lle es/LeSSOV\-S/R.eCOVVtVVteV\-v{
ttoV\-
Youth Centred
Drug Abuse and
HIV
I
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29
I
NT"f3R.V6NT10N
LOCfiC-
ANTlCfVLA
AN
D
lSAR.lSUDA
1.
Assess
the drug use and
HIV
I
AIDS
situation and prevention
strategies
Immediate Objective #1:
To obtain a better understanding of the perceptions and behaviours of in and out of school youth
on
the drug use and HIV
I
AIDS situation, including their
needs
and
views
towards prevention practices.
Outcome Objective #1 (described in the project document as
outputs
)
:
Assess the drug use and HIVIAIDS situation and prevention strategies according to the perspective,
behaviours and needs of youth at the outset of the project to establish a baseline as
well
as continuously
during the course of the project through a continuous data collection process.
Project activities
Major accomplishments
(
outputs
)
Outcomes
Recruit consultant
Consultant
and research team
identified and trained
Improved ability to successfully
carry out needs
assessment/applicable research to
inform project activities
Establish study and data
collection instrument
Elaborate criteria and select
sample, pretest, collect, edit,
code and analyze data
Study conducted within a
reasonable time before the actual
startup of the project activities
Guaranteed input from the research
Produce, publish and
disseminate the research report
Research completed (approved by
stakeholders and executing agency)
and accessible to all stakeholders
including policy makers
Current information available to
help shape the messages and
address issues that youth identifies
as needing attention
Challenges/Delays
Identified
As for Grenada, Project Coordinator reports that no attempt was made by the Steering Committee to analyze
the findings of the report in the context of making programme adjustments according to the results from the
research. This may have been due to the lack of capacity within the Steering Committee to make such an
analysis and coming up with possible
programme
adjustments
The draft and final reports took a long time to be submitted to the project by the consultant - five months
(September 03) for the draft and an additional four months (January 04) for the final report.
Lessons
Learned
Technical assistance to interpret the results of baseline studies and its implication for shaping programme
design and interventions need to be built into projects
Youth Centred
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2. Establish a Project Steering Committee involving youth and stakeholders
Immediate Objective #2:
To empower youth by increasing their involvement in the planning and implementation process of
prevention
programmes including the creation of partnerships and cooperation among agencies and
community
organizations dealing with the prevention and control of HIV
I
AIDS and drug use.
Outcome Objective #2 (described in the project document as outputs):
Establish a Project Steering Committee involving youth and stakeholders.
Project activities
Major accomplishments
(outputs)
Outcomes
Recruit coordinator
Project Coordinator recruited
Effective mechanism to manage and
coordinate the project
Selection criteria and
recruitment of Steering
Committee
A very committee was named at
the beginning. For better
management this was subdivided
into three committees
Effective body of stakeholders to
provide guidance to the Project
Coordinator (at least here at the
beginning)
Steering Committee and Project
Coordinator develop work plan
Work-plan and timetable for
implementation defined and
approved by Executing Agency
and stakeholders
Plan of action for implementation
Develop and organize Youth
Forum, Peer Education and
alternative activities
programmes
- Youth Forum not organized
until one year after Project
Coordinator recruited
Peer Education training got
going after 23 months (at the
end of the project)
Alternative activities 18 month
after
Decreased ability of project to
achieve outcomes
Review existing youth
programmes and promote
integration of a drug use and
HIV
I
AIDS component
No real attempt made to review
existing youth programmes tor
integration (HIV
I
AIDS personnel
and drug abuse personnel took part
in activities but the integration
process did not materialize)
No record of this activity being
implemented. This was not seen as
a priority by the Steering
Committee
Challenges/Delays Identified
- Unable to recruit any person living with HIVIAIDS or recovering drug addict to the committee as
stipulated
- The stakeholders appointed to the Steering Committee was not always the right person to represent
the stakeholders
- Attendance to meeting was haphazard
- Youth member of the Steering Committee felt intimidated by the adults
As the project developed:
- Low participation by Steering Committee members at meetings
- No clear guidelines for Project Coordinator and Steering Committee in relation to roles, responsibilities,
processes and procedures
- Government support the project in a limited way (Project Coordinator cites lack of ownership on the
part of the government)
- No programme information collected, examined and disseminated
Lessons Learned
Stakeholders nominated to Steering Committee did not take the responsibility seriously. Government need
to
demonstrate ownership of the project to facilitate an acceptable rate of implementation and future
sustainability of the project's efforts.
The importance of training the members of the Steering Committee on techniques to encourage
youth
participation was an important component that was overlooked
Youth Centred Drug Abuse and
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31.
3. Provide training on youth participation for members of the Steering Committee
Immediate Objective #2:
To empower youth by increasing their involvement in the planning and implementation process of
prevention
programmes including the creation of partnerships and cooperation among agencies and comm
unity
organizations dealing with the prevention and control of IDV
I
AIDS and drug use.
Outcome Objective #3 (described in the project document as outputs):
Provide training on youth particiation for members of the Steering Committee.
Project activities
Major accomplishments
(outputs)
Outcomes
Collect training material on
youth participation and
empowerment
Not done
Train members of the Steering
Committee
Not done
No increase in knowledge of
Steering Committee members in
terms of how to encourage or
influence youth participation in
youth centered projects
Challenges/Delays Identified
Neither of these activities were given any consideration for implementation
One might assume that the necessary material may not have been available
No clear indication whether it was decided that the activity was not needed or it was just overlooked as an
output (Project Coordinator indicated however that there was an inability in finding materials or trainer to
provide this activity)
Lessons Learned
An assessment needed to be made as to the availability of materials and suitable trainer(s) to facilitate
this
activity and if not available the Project Coordinator needed be given the tools (the actual materials) and
the
resources (trainer) provided to effect these activities.
The importance of training the members of the Steering Committee on techniques to encourage
youth
participation was an important component that was overlooked
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4. Create a Youth Forum to increase awareness on the situation of
youth
Immediate Objective
#2:
To empower youth by increasing their involvement in the planning and
implementation
process of
prevention
programmes including the creation of partnerships and cooperation among agencies and
community
organizations
dealing with the prevention and control
ofHIV/AIDS
and drug
use
Outcome Objective #4 (described in the project document as
outputs):
Create a Youth Forum to increase awareness on the situation of
youth
Project
activities
Major
accomplishments
(outputs)
Outcomes
Develop a selection criteria
for
members
Some 50 youths selected
for
participation in
sensitization
session about the
project
No reports to support the method
of
selection. However, there
is
increased likelihood that
youth
would be made aware of the
project
and be identified for
training
Recruit members for
Youth
Forum
Additional 50 youth participate
in
second
forum
Increased likelihood that issues
and
problems would be
properly
articulate and identified
the
problems together with
adequate
resources at the community
level.
Determine schedule and
agenda
for Youth
Forum
Youth participated
in
Satisfactory involvement
and
benefit from the Youth
Forum
activity - sufficient information
to
articulate
recommendations
Outline the nature and extent
of
the problems affecting
youth
Issues and problems
affecting
youth were
shared
Better understanding of the
nature
of
HIV
I
AIDS
affecting
youth
Identify community
resources
Not
done
No resources
identified
Provide a series
of
recommendations
to
government
AIDS secretariat prepared a
report
that outlined the
youth
recommendations
to
the
government
Recommendations made
Submit the report
to
government
No verifiable indication that
this
report was submitted to
the
Government
Challenges/Delays Identified
Activities around the youth forum got going very late in the project (18 months after official
launch)
Lessons
Learned
Satisfactory
implementation
of this kind of activity requires special skills and the Project Coordinator
was
unable to acquire that skill (purchase or get the expertise from the
stakeholders)
to successfully complete
the
activity
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5.
Recruit
and
train
Peer
Educators
Immediate Objective #3:
To provide information on HIVIAIDS and drug use with participatory activities to equip and empower young
people
(and youth organizations) with skills and motivation and to sustain (or change to) healthy
behaviour
Outcome Objective
#5
(described
in the
project document
as
outputs):
Recruit and train Peer
Educators
Project activities
Major accomplishments
(outputs)
Outcomes
Develop selection criteria for
peer
educators
The Red Cross
standard
methodology was used for
the
selection
Effective means of
selection
Recruitment of peer educators
and
members of the
community
Well over 100 peer educators
were
selected
National
trainers
Determine activities and
agenda
for training
sessions
The Red Cross
standard
methodology was used for
the
training and incorporated
issues
relating to drug abuse done by
the
national drug
council
Greater harmony with other
training
events for Peer Educators in the
region
Collect existing Peer
Education
materials
Not
done
Missed opportunity. to
incorporate
additional information into
existing
material or revise existing
material
Provide training sessions for
peer
educators and community
leaders
60 peer educators were selected
and
trained
20 Instructor trainers and 5
national
trainers were also
trained
Training
provided
Assumed increased knowledge of
peer
educators on issues relating
to
HIV
I
AIDS
and drug
abuse
Increased skills in
communicating
messages to
peers
Determine dates for
follow-up
meeting and
debriefing
Not done (the project is now at
an
end and the follow-up activities
had
not been articulated before
project
termination)
Speculations
as to post
project
continuity and sustainability of
Peer
Education programmes
specifically
targeting issues around
HIV
I
AIDS and
drug
use
Challenges/Delays Identified
-
The Red Cross had to be contracted to provide the training for peer educators under the project.
This
process took some time since there was no active peer education training process currently being
conducted
by the Antigua Red Cross (the entire process had to be
restarted)
-
Training began the last month of the project (23 months after the project
started)
-
No evaluation done of the training
sessions
-
Capacity was divided between training of national and instructor trainers as well as peer
educators
-
Red Cross was plagued with late disbursement of funds to begin
traini
activities
Lessons
Learned
Another example where the skills had to be acquired (bought) and it took a lot of time and manipulation to get it
done
From the outset of the project, proper background for programme design would have indicated that Peer
education
training would not be an attainable target in Antigua unless some ground work was laid at the very onset of
the
project.
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6.
Publish guide for peer educators on the prevention
ofHIV/AIDS
and drug
use.
Immediate Objective
#3:
To provide information on HIV/AIDS and drug use with participatory activities to equip and empower young
people
(and youth organizations) with skills and motivation and to sustain (or change to) healthy
behaviour
Outcome Objective #6 (described in the project document as
outputs):
Publish guide for peer educators on the prevention of
HIV
I
AIDS
and drug
use
Pro.iect
activities
Major
accomplishments (outputs)
Outcomes
Divide peer educators
into
working
groups during
1st
training
Not
done
Conduct the working
groups
Not
done
Review existing peer
educators
training
manual
Not
done
Develop new
guide
Not
done
Pretest guide with the
subsequent
training
Not
done
Review
guide
Not
done
Publish guide and submit
to
stakeholders
and peer
educators
Not
done
Challengesffielays Identified
There was not enough time for this to have happened after the training of the peer educators
-
as indicated before
the
training was done on termination of the
project
Lessons
Learned
Project outputs have to be clearly outlined at the beginning of the project and constantly revisited to make sure
that
project activities are in keeping with expected
outputs.
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7. Develop peer
educators workshops
Immediate Objective
#3:
To provide information on HIV
I
AIDS and drug use with participatory activities to equip and empower young people
(and youth organizations) with skills and motivation and to sustain (or change to) healthy behaviour
Outcome Objective #7 (described in the project document as
outputs
)
:
Develop and implement peer educators workshops
Project
activities
Ma.ior
accomplishments
(outputs)
Outcomes
Develop a plan of action and
time-table for workshops
Not done
Create peer-educators' teams
Not done
Distribute guide to peer educators
Not done
Promote peer education
programmes
Not done
Identify and recruit youth for
workshops
Not done
Provide venue to access resources
and support
Not done
Provide technical and
psychological support to peer
educators
Not done
Challenges/Delays
Identified
The actual training was completed at the end of the project
Lessons
Learned
Like for the previous output, all project outputs have to be clearly outlined at the beginning of the project and
constantly revisited to make sure that project activities are in keeping with expected outputs.
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8. Design and implement alternative activities
Immediate Objective
#3:
To provide information on HIV/AIDS and drug use with participatory activities to equip and empower
young
people (and youth
organizations)
with skills and motivation and to sustain (or change to) healthy
behaviour
Outcome Objective #8 (described in the project document as outputs):
Design and implement alternative
activities
Project activities
Major accomplishments
.
(outputs)
Outcomes
Develop structured plan
and
schedule for
alternative
activities
Sufficient planning and
scheduling
but few activities
were
conceptualized)
Dis-organized
plan of
action
Recruit participants
for
programme planning
teams
It
is apparent that
community
members, youth and
stakeholder
organizations
did not give
much
support to
activities
Project Coordinator ability to
garner
the support and actually effect
the
activities
lacking
Organize activities in
the
community
- Theatre production
(drama
series
)
- banners and posters
produced
- dance
workshop
National exposure and sharing
in
the positive benefits of the
project
Produce posters,
t-shirts
brochures,
etc
- 100 T-shirts printed
and
distributed
- logo and slogan
designed
National
appreciation
of the
project
and its
objectives
Publish information
and
educational
materials
- radio and TV message
produced
Messages
disseminated
at
the
national
level
Challenges/Delays Identifi
d
-
There was certainly enough time for activities to be
conceptualized,
designed and implemented,
but
most all activities got concentrate in a
seven-month
period (February 04 to August
04).
-
very late start to activities (15 months after Project Coordinator
recruited)
-
activities often plagued by
disbursement/payment problems
Lessons Learned
The wider community needs to be properly sensitized about the objectives and potential benefits of
projects
and the project (Project Coordinator and National Coordinating Agency) must be willing to advocate for
the
community
participation.
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Section 4.2: DISCUSSIONS,
COMMENTS, EXPERIENCE
SHARING AND LESSONS
LEARNED
ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
.
4.2.1
Organizational
set-up,
Coordination
and
Collaboration
among Agencies
Project
Coordination
As with Grenada, there is a sense that at the start-up of the project the in-country facilitation of the
understanding of the project document in terms of the governments' role and responsibilities (especially as it
pertains to the national Steering Committee and the National Coordinating Agency) and the mechanisms of
implementation were not properly described or not understood.
Even though the effort were made and a successful needs assessment survey was completed there were no
attempts made to use the results to shape the direction of the project implementation as required and
described in the project document. The Project Coordinator, the Steering Committee, the National
Coordinating Agency or other stakeholders did not make use of the research results in light of the fact that its
stated purpose was to inform the project implementation. Maybe this needed to be clarified during the
planning phase for the project and again at start-up so that efforts would be made to use the information
in
the planning and implementation of the peer education training/sensitization and alternative activities.
Output #3 (training of members of the Steering Committee) was not done. As such, no effort was made to
facilitate training of the Steering Committee members in technique geared towards youth involvement and
community participation. The implications of this were evident in that the youth felt intimidated to be in the
presence of the adult members of the Steering Committee and this because some members made them feel
they did not have a voice or should not have a voice.
Another area that was lacking is the development of the Youth Forum. They were held eight month apart,
and even though good efforts were made in having the youth specifically address issues affecting them and
then identifying community resources and
provide,
recommendations for project oriented activities to address
these problems or issues nothing was done with the recommendations. The report on the second youth
summit clearly outlines a summary of the students' suggestions about what needed to be done in addressing
HIV/AIDS and drug abuse issues for youth. However, there is no evidence that such suggestions were
compiled into a report and presented to government or any other action taken with regards the suggestions in
terms of programme introduction or modification.
The project also called for an activity around the training of youth involved in the Steering Committee to
actively promote youth involvement in the project. This however was not prioritized as necessary and never
got done.
The Project Coordinator could have benefited from a more detailed explanation of the project document,
primarily in terms of understanding the relationship of activities and outputs and the elements of management
needed to fit into the UNODC way of operation, for example, the whole issue of services and payment. The
Project Coordinator was very negligent is providing progress report on the project activities and it should be
noted that there was no tangible output to the project until 11 months after the official start (youth
sensitization sessions involving 50 students done in December 2004).
A major shortcoming in terms of the organizational setup for the project was in the prerequisite provision of
office facilities for the project. A suitable office space was not available at the start of the project and the
AIDS Secretariat was already very short of space. The project office was located in the kitchen/store area
and
a
telephone line was not available for this first 6 months. An extension of the AIDS Secretariat local
telephone line was installed in the project office in October 2003. This greatly facilitated communication.
However, internet access/email was not available in the office until the office was relocated to the main
Ministry of Health building in May 2004.
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4.2.2 Management and Networking (Personnel,
Meetings,
Coordination)
National Coordinating
Agency/Steering
Committee
The project document stated that the National Coordinating Agency in Antigua was the National Drug
Information Centre. The project was however located in the AIDS Secretariat. The head of the NDIC was on
study leave for one year and the post was not filled. Hence, there was very limited input from the NDIC. One
year after the project started, there was a change of government and the portfolios were changed. The
National Drug Council and the NDIC moved from Health and Social Improvement to the Ministry of Social
Transformation. The Ministry of Health became the Ministry of Health, Sports and Youth Affairs.
Possible Steering Committee members were identified by the Project Coordinator and the AIDS Secretariat.
The stakeholder organizations did not always send the most suitable person and the initial committee was
very large but not active. Smaller subcommittees were formed to focus on the three main activities of the
project and these met more frequently. By the end of the project the youth members of the committee were
the most active members and most of their time was spent focusing on the peer education workshops.
Collaboration between other
organizations
The youth project has made every effort to collaborate with other organizations involved in peer education.
These include the EU Drug Demand Reduction Programme which is based in the National Drug Information
Centre and the FATE (Fighting AIDS Through Education) implemented by Antigua Planned Parenthood and
Caribbean Family Planning Affiliation funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).
Each project is funded by a different agency and has budgetary allocations for peer education workshops.
With this arrangement there is a less than satisfactory use of resources around training of peer educators
through an integration process.
It
is important to continue collaboration so that the projects can work
together and avoid duplication of activities.
4.2.3 Financial
Aspects
and
Logistics
(Resource
Mobilization,
Procurement,
Cost-sharing
Disbursement/Payments
Payments from Barbados often took several months to process and this caused some difficulty as some
suppliers (e.g. Harpers stationary) were reluctant to provide any further services until they had been paid. The
Project Coordinator on several occasions personally paid in advance to ensure that activities were not held up
by delayed payments. The Project Coordinator also worked without a contract or payment for the first three
months
of2004.
4.2.4 Capacity Building
(Training)
Peer
Education
When the youth project started the Red Cross peer education programme was not active and so it was not
initially possible to partner with them or subcontract the peer education component of the project. Two
sensitization-type workshops were therefore conducted before a partnership was established with the Red
Cross. Through the assistance of regional trainers from the International Federation of the Red Cross, and
funding from the UNODC youth project, the Antigua and Barbuda Red Cross now has certified national and
instructor trainers and has been able to train 71 peer educators in a series of workshops. The project
coordinator has been involved in the workshops both as a national trainer and in providing logistical support
with assistance from the steering committee. Until the peer education workshops were subcontracted to the
Red Cross the Project Coordinator was responsible for all the logistical arrangements of the workshops.
Because of the late start, the accompanying programmes (guides for the peer educators and workshops
conducted by the peer educators were never implemented.
Youth
Forum
Two youth forums were held during the course of the project and a total of 100 youth attended. The first
forum focused on the issues of HIV and drug abuse and helped to create awareness of the project and
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provided an opportunity for young people to become involved in future activities. The second forum gave
young people the opportunity to discuss their concerns and prepare recommendations to the government.
Recommendations from this forum included the need for more peer education workshops, youth centres and
youth friendly health services.
Alternative Activities
Steering committee members and Red Cross Peer educators developed and participated in the alternative
activities. This component of the project was well received and the young people were very innovative in the
development of ideas. The theatre production was very successful and reached a large audience. The play
was supported by the Ministry of Education and the audience included teachers, parents and young people.
The FRIENDS Hotline has received an increase in the number of calls made as a result of the production.
Drop in Centre not established
The project has been unable to establish a drop in centre as a suitable building has not been identified. The
establishment of the drop
in
centre would have increased the likelihood of sustainability of the project and
increased the involvement of young people in the project and the development of alternative activities.
4.5 Place and Use of Research and Evaluation
Needs
assessment
Like in Grenada, the project must be complemented for getting the baseline need assessment study done in a
timely manner and before the start of the project activities. However, the reporting on the finding took a very
long time in coming. Although the final report was well put together it has failed to instruct the project
implementation on specific issues that needed to be address in the recommended "massive national
sensitization and mobilization programmes". Since the specific purpose of the assessment was to provide
direction for stakeholders to adjust programmes based on the research findings more should have been done
to elaborate the intervention strategies that should have been implemented through prevention education
using peer education, alternative activities and even from a policy point of view.
Within Project
Evaluation
The project suffered greatly from the lack of periodic process evaluation that needed to be done to sort out
the difficulties that were being experienced with implementation. This is evident in the fact that there
continued to be so much dissatisfaction between the Project Coordinator and the executing agency over
payments; the Project Coordinator and the National Coordinating Agency over office space and on-the-
ground support for the project; as well as, the fact that four major outputs of the project never got activities
implemented.
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Government in-kind contribution should be clearly identified at the start of the project
Input from National Coordinating Agency should be clearly outlined and a government counterpart identified
for the duration of the project. In addition, future project would benefit from:
a) Better structure for engaging steering committee
b)
An
alternative member on the steering committee
c) Government should provide infrastructure up front particularly in regard to physical
infrastructure such as a drop-in centre
d) Logistics of setting up and running drop in centre clarified at start of project e.g. staff,
furniture, materials, electricity, phone, etc.
e) Government needs to take ownership to ensure sustainability
2. Orientation for the project coordinator and government counterpart so that project documents and
outputs are clearly understood and any limitations or shortcomings are addressed.
3. Project coordinator and steering committee members would have benefited from either exchange
visits or communication with other programmes eg Grenada. Also training materials generated from
similar programmes in other countries could be exchanged.
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4. Collaboration with other projects- There are many organisations implementing similar projects eg
peer education, youth forums, poster, essay, art competitions. Efforts must be made to have all
projects focusing on youth, drugs and HIV/AIDS coordinate either through the AIDS Secretariat,
the Minstry of Education or the Ministry of Youth Affairs in order to share materials developed and
technical resources and to avoid duplication.
5. More extensive briefing of the Project Coordinator and where possible, periodic technical support in
the form of a programme implementation expert during the life of the project
6. More emphasis on within- project evaluation: reporting, analysis of activities and outputs and proper
backstopping. Project Coordinator to pay more attention to reporting requirements and asking for
help if there is not a full understanding of what these requirements are.
7. A more conducive payment scheme is needed to facilitate a more rapid rate of implementation and
to foster better community relation with the project office.
8. Future programme design must take into consideration that activities need to be implemented in
both islands (Antigua and Barbuda) alike and provisions must be made in the budget for this (very
little activities were focused in Barbuda).
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Antigua and Barbuda
Annex
List of Youth Organizations that participated in project activities
•
Red Cross youth section
•
Anglican Youth Ministry
•
FRIENDS Hotline
•
Volley Ball Group (Assasins)
•
Tristar MSM Group
•
Health Hope and HIV Foundation (HIV support group)
•
Bolans Community Youth Group
•
Optimists, Antigua State College
List of Documents Reviewed and Persons Interviewed for Antigua and
Barbuda
Documentation
1.1
Overall project document (AD/CAR/02/G41)
1.2
Needs Assessment Report (The Link Between Drug Use And HIV/AIDS
Among
Young People In Antigua (A semi-qualitative research study supported by
the
UNODC, Regional Office, Barbados)
1.3
Project Coordinator progress reports and year end
reports-about
7 reports
1.4
Semi-annual report
August-
December 2003
1.5
Work-plan for 2004-05
1.6
End of project report 2003-2005
1.7
Youth Summit (Forum) Report
1.8
News
_Qa_t:>_er
clippings
1.9
Red Cross training manuals
2.0
Scripts and music
CD's
2.1
Photos of events and activities
Personnel
2.2
Project Coordinator
2.3
Minister and Permanent Secretary of Health
2.4
Mr. Clarence Pilgrim, Chairman of the National Drug Council
2.5
Oswald Hannays, AIDS Secretariat
2.6
John Cole, Director of FRIENDS Hotline (drama)
2.7
Joan Gomes, Trainer from Antigua Red Cross Society (peer education programme)
2.8
Red Cross Peer Educators
2.9
Erica Phillip, Research Consultant and member of the Steering Committee
3.0
Leandra Lewis, Instructor trainer and Youth Coordinator of the Anglican Youth
Group
3.1
Zeadia Higgins, Steering Committee member and Instructor Trainer
3.2
Manuel Pena Lugo, Steering Committee member and National Trainer
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Youth Centred
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Youth
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Antigua and
l)arbuda
photo
galler_y
Youth Centred
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Youth Centred Drug Abuse and
lllV
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Post Report Comments and
Clarification
Grenada
1. The Project Coordinator rebuffs that some attempts were made by the Steering
Committee to use the findings of the study in programme activities. Indeed the
report was circulated to members of the Steering Committee and the National
Coordinating Agencies (Ministry of Health and Drug Control Secretariat) but
during evaluation there was no evidence that the project activities were adjusted
in any way from those outlined in the project. This in itself does not invalidate
the claim that the reports were circulated but as a
measure
of its
usefulness
within
the ambit of programme or project activities
one
·Would
need to also look at the
report provided by the Project
Coordinator
that
informed
the
development
of the
drama series.
2
Based on the numerous problems outlined by the Project Coordinator in getting
the Steering
Committee
to function as a
decision
making body for the project and
the composition outlined it is still my conclusion that there was low youth
participation
in the
Steering
Committee.
3. Speculations as to post-project continuity and sustainability of Peer Education
programmes specifically targeting issues around HIVIAIDS and drug
use-
this
comment is made in light of the fact that all project activities were done in
a
unilateral nature and did not form part of the overall in-country peer education
approach for the drug abuse and HIV
I
AIDS
prevention
programme.
4. The
willingness
to
participate
must be seen as equally
important
to
compensation
for participation
(particularly
as it relates to the purchase of goods and
services
from the
community).-
this statement
identified
as a lesson learnt simply
implies
that the community that is expected to support the
implementation
of
activities
views their participation as equally important to the financial compensation
that
would be realized for their participation. In other words, the
problems
encountered in relation to payment for services rendered would continue
to
hamper
future activities if a
better method
of
compensation
cannot be
worked out.
5. I would concur with the Project Coordinator that the project may have been
a
major catalyst for attitudinal
modification
-
one major component of the project
was the drop-in centre that was centralized; there is no evidence that outside of
the drama series and the pending distribution of the Music CD's that the peer
education programme, (which targeted the training of trainers and did not yet
translate into parish level
programmes),
another major component, has had any
far reaching
impact
on the
primary
beneficiary.
1
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Barbuda
1.
Maybe a distinction needs to be made between sharing the information with
the
Steering Committee members and using the information at the implementation
level to modify the programme activities or improve the quality of the messages.
The extent to which this was done is what the project was evaluated
against.
2
No real attempt to review existing programme
-
[Existing programme were
reviewed and every effort was made to collaborate with them. These included
the
FATE project, the EU Drug Demand Reduction project and the Red Cross peer
education]
-
the indication here from the Project Coordinator is that the listed
projects were reviewed but there is no report to the effect and in addition,
all
indications suggested that the Red Cross programme was in a state of flux at
the
time of the project. Nothing was actually done with the Red Cross until briefly in
March of
2(X)4
and then during the extension period of January to March of
2CXl5.
My point is that with the limited activities done during the life of the project
there
has been no tangible impact of the Youth Centred Project on existing
Government
or NGO programmes.
3.
It
is clear that some amount of clarity was needed to be given to the Red
Cross
about what exactly the Peer Education programme was supposed to output.
The
indication is that the onus was placed on the Red Cross to implement the
entire
component of the Peer Education training and follow-on activities without being
given a clear indication of what the project document outputs were. It is
also
clear that the main emphasis was on training and not on training to be able
to
initiate community level peer education and mentorship. I do not think
the
project's intention was for the Red Cross (as the trainers of the peer educators)
to
monitor and supervise the activities of the peer educators.
It
is implied in
the
project document that this activity was a core function of the
Project
Coordinator
IN
ational Coordinating Agency.
4.
Disorganized plan of action
-
'The same people were responsible for
conducting
all the activities. As Project Coordinator I had to focus on one activity at a
time,
be it youth forum, peer education or alternative activities. Several planned
activities were shelved eg concert with Health, Hope and HIV Foundation
because the steering committee members organizing this activity had to focus
on
peer education
'.
This is a disquieting statement since the project was designed
to
be implemented over a specific period of time and encompassing all the activities
proposed in the work programmes that were developed in-country. One can
understand that there are going to be implementation hiccups, but the project
could not have had the desired impact being implemented one activity at a
time.
2
