Mid-Term Review of Strengthening Livestock Holders’ Livelihoods in Area C Project (Rawasi).

Project Overview

Strengthening Livestock Holders’ Livelihoods in Area C (Rawasi), is two years project funded by the European Union's Food Security Thematic Program' (FSTP) which was launched in 2007, to address food security challenges at global and regional levels, and in exceptional transition situations as well as in fragile states, through a set of actions that ensure overall coherence, complementarity and continuity of EU interventions, including in the area of transition from relief to development.The Livestock-based Livelihood Support Program – with its both field (LbL-f) and institutional (LbL-i) level components – is financed by the FSTP. The overall objective of the (LbL-f) programs is to improve the food security and sustain the livelihoods of the vulnerable population in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, with a particular focus on “Area C”, while bridging emergency and development.Rawasi project under the field level component is partially funded by the Austrian Development Cooperation and implemented by CARE International in partnership with Palestinian Agriculture Relief Committee (PARC), and International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA).Its overall objective is to improve the food security and sustainable livelihoods of livestock holders, including herders, in the West Bank particularly Area C (north and central), with specific aim to strengthen the resilience and increase income of sheep and goat holders and special focus on women and Bedouins. To achieve these objectives, it targets 2000 sheep and goat holder households in 30 locations in Northern and Central areas in West Bank particularly Area C; 12,000 (individuals and members of 17 CBOs), and all livestock holders in target locations (5 central and northern West Bank districts: North East Jerusalem, East Ramallah, Jericho, East Nablus & Tubas (Center and North Jordan Valley).After 10 months of operation, CARE International has intended to conduct Mid-Term review to advise on any correction needed to strengthen the implementation mechanisms over the remaining duration by: Reviewing the main project documents and related action plans; Addressing the gaps and highlighting challenges in achieving the desired results and outcomes,Providing recommendations and corrective actions on the action plans, budget, M&E system, management structure and mechanisms. Assessing the synergies and challenges related to the existing coordination mechanism for the field component of LbL, and providing recommendations to enhance better outcomes as a result of a coordinated approach. To this end, CARE international has contracted GCT to undertake this evaluation assignment in professional and comprehensive manner.