External Evaluation of the Pilot Project of Community based Mine Risk Reduction (CBMRR)

In early 2001, the Cambodian Mine Action Centre , Handicap International Belgium, UNICEF and other members of the Mine Awareness Working Group designed a strategy for a more sustainable and community-oriented approach to mine awareness in Cambodia.  The goal was to reduce the mine and UXO risks for communities and individuals living in contaminated areas by developing their capacity to fully participate in the prioritisation and planning of mine action and using their own community resources for mine risk education.

During a pilot phase of the project, six districts were targeted due to the high casualty rates in these areas. This evaluation ot that pilot phase was conducted to look at the future development of the Community Based Mine Risk Reduction (CBMRR) project. The evaluation focused specifically on its design, set-up and the first months of implementation, its collaboration with mine action, and its links to disability assistance and community development initiatives.

The evaluation, which took place in October and November 2002, has the following objectives:

• To assess the progress of the pilot project towards reaching the original goal and objectives of the project and the effectiveness of the project activities undertaken to date, measured by the extent to which the indicators have been met, or are in the process of being met
• To assess the coherence and appropriateness of project design, strategies and procedures developed during the pilot
• To assess the effectiveness of the relationships among project staff, project participants and other stakeholders and partners
• To assess the longer-term sustainability of the project in terms of the capacity of CMAC to continue to manage and implement the project efficiently, and in terms of the perceived suitability and appropriateness of the project in the Cambodian context