Final Evaluation of Village Services Program (VSP).

Project Overview

The village service program (VSP), is USAID-funded three-years project (2000-2003) implemented by Save the Children (SC). It was designed to increase community service activities that related to access the quality and sustainability in the basic services in education, agriculture, health, water and sanitation in order to improve the quality of life of children, youth, women and their families in the targeted communities in West Bank and Gaza Strip, toward empowerment of local communities. The overall goal of this project was divided into five strategic objectives in the following main areas:Education: Improve learning for targeted children; enhance their self-development and positive contribution to their family and community.Agriculture: Enhance economic opportunities and decrease the health risks in agricultural production.Health/Water & Sanitation: Increase access to key health related services including potable water and sanitation facilities, and improve health practices with a special focus on women, children and youth. Youth Development: Empower youth to make decisions and maintain positive social attitudes that will enhance their self-development and contributions to their communities, as well as to prepare them for healthy and productive adulthood.Community Empowerment: Enhance community participation in project management and local governance.After the end of program, the implemented and funded parties were planned to conduct a comprehensive final evaluation to VSP in objective manner. For that purpose, SC has contracted GCT to implement the required consylatncy service. The main of this evaluation was to was to help SC, Palestinian partner organizations, USAID and other stakeholders in evaluation the relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, potential sustainability and potential impact of VSP-funded infrastructure and empowerment program.