By the end of the program, CARE reports that project activities in 23 countries had resulted in 871,906 (of which 529,965 women) of the most vulnerable members of communities (women, children -particularly girls and orphans, people living with HIV/AIDS, and remote small-scale farmers) increasing their livelihood security, through higher incomes, more nutritious food, better access to health care and education services, stronger participation in democratic processes and better skills to manage their natural resources - over 50% more beneficiaries than was planned (550,000) at the outset of the program. For example: In Zambia, the project sensitised more than 30,000 community members on children’s rights and on improved water and sanitation practices. In addition, the construction of new and improved facilities resulted in many more families accessing health facilities and having their children receive the necessary immunizations and treatment or referrals; in Ghana, the project provided 5,748 men and 3,823 women with knowledge and skills regarding alternative livelihood strategies such as dry season gardening, soap making and other small income generating activities; and in Rwanda, the number of project participants formally linked to Microfinance institutions totalled close to 24,000 (800 savings/loans groups) by the end of the project. Through their group membership, clients were able to access formal financial services, such as savings accounts and larger credit loans. By the end of the program, approximately 795 civil society organizations representing 423,469 women and 308,882 men, can now more effectively engage in policy and governance processes and dialogue and influence decision-makers. For example: In Nepal, the project created the Women’s Rights Forum and the Women’s Advocacy Forum that developed 12 advocacy plans on domestic violence, alcohol control/management, food security rights, caste-/gender-based discrimination, women representation and good governance to be implemented at local level; and in Malawi, the project implemented a successful ‘systems’ approach to girls education and violence against girls in over 100 schools, by effectively involving many other key actors at national and regional level, including local and national governments, in the creation of national policy regulation that stipulates no-tolerance for violence against girls in schools. Besides policy actors, the project also worked with many other stakeholders in the system, including village chiefs, mothers and fathers, parent school committees, boys and teachers. In an effort to improve project quality, reduce duplication of efforts and increase value for money, CARE supported 678 knowledge sharing practices (e.g. formally documented research, publications, conferences, topical workshops, exchange visits), reaching 144,101 people. For example, in both Tanzania and Ethiopia, the projects used the Community Score Card (CSC) as innovative participatory assessment process, whereby community members scored the effectiveness of community service providers such as health clinics and education authorities. The two projects worked together to share the ways each of them used the CSC and documented their common and differing experiences in a case study. It also produced a toolkit, including a video and a step-by-step guide, for communities to continue using after the end of the project and to be adopted by future governance programs. In addition, women and girls are more able to participate meaningfully in development processes and engage in activities to promote their rights and improve their welfare; an estimated 17,999 women and girls across the program have greater leadership/decision-making roles either at the household, community or district level. For example: in Mali, the project has taken the first steps towards significant transformative gender change in land ownership, decision making, public participation, and the division of labour; and in Ghana, the project created spaces for participation of women in decision making through leadership roles given to women in the Climate Adaptation Committees and District Assemblies.
