Submitted by The Global Citizens' Initiative (TGCI) to ... · MAKING ALL VOICES COUNT FINAL...
Transcript of Submitted by The Global Citizens' Initiative (TGCI) to ... · MAKING ALL VOICES COUNT FINAL...
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September 29, 2017
MAKING ALL VOICES COUNT FINAL EVALUATION REPORT
THE (LIBERIA) CITIZEN-GOVERNMENT
ENGAGEMENT PROJECT (CGEP)
Contract Reference # CIM 1013175
Submitted by The Global Citizens' Initiative (TGCI)
to Making All Voices Count
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TableofContents1. INTRODUCTIONTOTHELIBERIACITIZEN-GOVERNMENTENGAGEMENTPROJECT 41.1. THEEVALUATIONFRAMEWORK 5
2. METHODOLOGYFORTHEEVALUATION 6
2.1. OVERVIEWOFMETHODS 62.2. QUANTITATIVEMETHODS 72.3. QUALITATIVEMETHODS 82.4. DEVELOPMENTALEVALUATION:FEEDBACKLOOPSANDCOLLABORATIVEREVIEW 9
3. CHARACTERISTICSOFTHEPOPULATION 10
4. FINDINGS 12
4.1. HASTHEREBEENACHANGEINCITIZENS’KNOWLEDGEANDAWARENESSOFCHILDSEXUALABUSE?IFSO,WHAT
CONTRIBUTIONHASTHEPROJECTMADETOTHISCHANGE? 134.1.1. ATTITUDESTOWARDSCHILDSEXUALABUSE 144.1.2. PERCEIVEDDANGERSTOCHILDRENINCOMMUNITIES 164.1.3. IMPACTOFMULTIPLECHANNELSOFCOMMUNICATIONONCSA 184.1.4. SCHOOL-BASEDAWARENESSPROGRAMSONCSA 194.1.5. PERSISTENCEOFTRADITIONALATTITUDESANDPRACTICES 194.2. HASTHEREBEENACHANGEINTHELEVELOFCITIZENREPORTINGUSINGTHESMS/HOTLINE?WHATFACTORS
INFLUENCETHISUSAGE? 204.2.1. AWARENESSANDUSEOFTHESMS/HOTLINE 204.2.2. CONSTRAINTSTOCITIZENUSEOFTHESMS/HOTLINESYSTEM 224.3. GOVERNMENTRESPONSETOCITIZENREPORTSOFCSA 234.3.1. BARRIERSTOAPPREHENDANDCONVICTCSAPERPETRATORS 234.3.2. CULTURALPRACTICE:NEGOTIATING(COMPROMISING)WITHPERPETRATORS 244.4. ISTHEREEVIDENCEONANYCHANGEINTHEINCIDENCEOFCSA?WHATDOCITIZENSBELIEVEABOUTTHIS? 264.5. WHATHASBEENTHECONTRIBUTIONOFDEVELOPMENTALEVALUATIONUSINGFEEDBACKLOOPSAND
COLLABORATIVECONSULTATION? 28
5. CONCLUSIONSANDRECOMMENDATIONS 31
5.1. CITIZENS’KNOWLEDGEANDATTITUDESABOUTCHILDSEXUALABUSE 325.2. CITIZEN-GOVERNMENTENGAGEMENTINTHELEVELOFREPORTINGUSINGTHESMS/HOTLINE 335.3. GOVERNMENTRESPONSETOCITIZENREPORTSOFCSA 335.4. THEINCIDENCEOFCSA 335.5. THECONTRIBUTIONOFTHEDEVELOPMENTALEVALUATION 33
6. RECOMMENDATION 34
ANNEX1:TGCI-CGEPPOSTER 35
Tables
Table1:KIIsConducted,byTypeandGender..............................................................................................9Table2:SurveyRespondentsbyAgeGroupandCommunity/County.......................................................10Table3:EducationalAttainmentforAdults(age18+)byGender.............................................................11
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Table4:EducationalAttainmentforChildren(age13-17)byGender.......................................................11Table5:LiteracyandNumeracy,byGenderandAgeGroup.....................................................................12Table6:ExplicitPerceptionsofGBVStatedas“NeverOkay”....................................................................14Table7:IndividualPerceptionsofGBV:Percentageofsurveyrespondentsthatagreedwithstatement.15Table8:SummaryofGBVAttitudes,byGenderandAgeGroup(Higher%indicatesstrongerattitudes
againstGBV).......................................................................................................................................16Table9:Dangerstochildrenincommunity...............................................................................................17Table10:AwarenessofHotlinebyCountry...............................................................................................21Table11:HowRespondentHeardAboutTGCIHotline/SMSSystem.........................................................21Table12:SummaryofGovernmentCSATrackingDatabaseforfourCGEPCounties................................23Table13:ReportsReceivedandActedonbyQuarterforFourCounties..................................................26Table14:IncidenceofAbuseofChildreninlast3monthsinCommunity,byGender-%saying‘often’(on
scaleofdon’tknow,never,sometimes,andoften)...........................................................................27Table15:StructureofFeedbackLoops......................................................................................................29Table16:RepresentativeIssuesandRecommendationsfromFeedbackLoops........................................30
Acknowledgements
ThisreportwaspreparedbyGKConsulting(GwenHeanerandGenieBettencourt)with
technicalguidanceandreviewfromAshHartwellofUniversityofMassachusettsCenterfor
InternationalEducation(CIE),andRonIsrael(DirectorofTGCI)andDavidsonEfetobore(TGCI
LiberiaProgramDirector).ThefieldteamwasledbyEdwinMosesChea;criticallogisticaland
humanresourcesupportwasprovidedbyTGCIfieldoffice.Theresearchteamwishestothank
alltheparticipantsthattookpartinthebaseline,endline,andthroughthefeedbackloop
processeswhoofferedtheirtimeandcandidopinionsandideasaboutsomeverysensitiveand
importantissuesinLiberia.AllofTGCIwishtothankMAVCforthegenerousresearchgrant
thatmadethishugelyinsightfulevaluationprocesspossible.
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1. INTRODUCTIONTOTHELIBERIACITIZEN-GOVERNMENTENGAGEMENTPROJECT
TheLiberianCitizen-GovernmentEngagementProject(CGEP)seekstofosterthecollaboration
ofcitizensandgovernmenttocombatrampantpost-conflictchildsexualabuse(CSA).CGEPis
implementedbyTheGlobalCitizens'Initiative(TGCI),aninternationalnon-government
organization(NGO)whosemissionistoincreasethecapacityofcitizenstoaddressglobalissues
withinandacrosstheircountries.FundingsupportisprovidedbyMakingAllVoicesCount
(MAVC),aninternationalorganizationseekingtopromotetransparency,fightcorruption,
empowercitizens,andharnessthepowerofnewtechnologiestomakegovernmentmore
effectiveandaccountable.
CGEPworksincollaborationwiththeLiberianMinistryofGender,ChildrenandSocial
Protection;theMinistryofJustice;theMinistryofEducationandDevelopment;andthe
MinistryofHealth.ThecurrentMAVCprojectbuildsonapilotinitiativestartedin2014inthe
twocountiesofMargibiandGrandCapeMount,wheretherewerewidespreadreportsofchild
andyouthsexualabuse.FortheperiodofJune2016toAugust2017,theProjecthasexpanded
totwoadditionalcounties:BomiandtheWestPointDistrictofMonroviainMonserrado
County. ThegoalsofCGEPexpansionareto:
• Increasecitizenawareness,attitudesandknowledgeaboutCSAthroughthe
developmentofmultiplechannelsofcommunicationsincludingradio,postersand
flyers,publicforums,andschool-basedmeetings.
• Increasecitizen-governmentengagementandcollaboration,usingmobilephoneswitha
hotlineandSMSsystem,forcitizenreportingtogovernmentofCSAcases.
• Increasethecapacityofgovernmentagencies,includinginter-Ministrycooperation,at
bothlocalandnationallevelstoreceiveandtrackreportsofCSA,throughthe
developmentanduseofagovernmentdatabasetrackingsystem.
• Reducetheincidenceofcommunityandschool-basedchildsexualabuseinthesefour
counties.
• Introduceadevelopmentalevaluationprocesswherebycitizensandgovernment
collaboratetoregularlyassessdataandinformationonprojectimplementation,and
determinewaystostrengthenprojectinterventionsthroughconsultativeforums. TheProject’sTheoryofChangeisthat(i)theuseofamulti-channelcommunicationscampaign,
(ii)joinedwiththeuseofaSMS/hotlineplatformforcitizenstoreporttogovernment,(iii)a
governmentdatabasetrackingsystem,and(iv)theprocessofregularcitizen-government
consultationontheresultsoftheseinterventions,willincreasecitizenreportingofchildsexual
abuse,improvegovernment’sresponse,andultimatelyleadtoadecreaseinchildsexualabuse.
TheProject’sTheoryofChangeandoverallevaluationframeworkisillustratedbelow(see
Figure1).
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Figure1:LiberiaGovernment-CitizenEngagementProject:ProgramTheoryofChange
1.1. TheEvaluationFramework
TheCGEPevaluationframeworkusessurveymethodologytoassesstheimpactofvarious
activitiesonchangesoverthelifeoftheproject,usingbaselineandendlinemeasurements.The
baselineandendlinesurveysinvolvedapproximately400respondentsintencommunities
selectedinthefourcountiesplus8-10keyinformantinterviews(KIIs)ineachoftheten
communitiesforatotalofapproximately90participants.
Inaddition,CGEPusesadevelopmentalevaluationapproachinwhichcollaborative,
consultativemeetingswithcitizensandgovernmenttakeplaceregularly,informedbyfindings
fromfieldresearchusingKIIsandfocusgroups.Therewerethreefeedbackloopconsultative
reviewsineachofthefourcountiesduringtheProject:(1)oneinNovember,2016drawingon
theinformationfromthebaselinesurveyandinvolvedatotalof75participants,including
governmentofficials,women’sgroupleaders,pastors,imams,marketers,countyattorneysand
media;(2)oneinJanuary/February2017drewonfielddatafromfourteenfocusgroupsand26
keyinformantinterviews;and(3)oneinMay/June2017drewonevidencefromthreefocus
groupsineachof20communities(fivecommunitiesforeachcounty),plusafocusgroupof
governmentofficialsatthecountylevel,foratotalof63focusgroupswith819participants.
Thus,thefeedbackloopprocessinvolvedcitizensandgovernmentsbothatthecommunity
level,throughthefocusgroupsandinterviews,andatthecountylevel,wherekeycountylevel
communitystakeholders,governmentofficials,andteacherscametogethertoreviewthelocal
levelinformation,toreflectonprojectstrategies,andtorecommendstepsforstrengthening
projectactivities.
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Thefinalprojectevaluationseekstoanswerthefollowingquestionsregardingtheperiodof
timespanningthebaselineassessmentinSeptember2016totheendlineassessmentinAugust
2017: i) Hastherebeenachangeincitizens’knowledgeandattitudesaboutchildsexualabuse?
Ifso,whatcontributionhastheprojectmadetothischange?
ii) Hastherebeenachangeincitizen-governmentengagementinthelevelofreporting
usingthetheSMS/Hotline?Whatfactorsinfluencethisusage? iii) WhathasbeenGovernmentresponsetocitizenreportsofCSA?
iv) IsthereevidenceonanychangeintheincidenceofCSA?Whatdocitizensbelieveabout
this? v) Whathasbeenthecontributionofthedevelopmentalevaluationusingfeedbackloops
andcollaborativeconsultation? ThisfinalTGCI-CGEPEvaluationReportwillexaminetheanswerstothesefivequestions.The
reportisorganizedinsixsections:1)theintroductiontotheProjectandtheEvaluation
Framework;2)descriptionofthemethodologiesusedinthebaselineandendlineassessments;
3)analysisofthecharacteristicsofthepopulationinthefourcounties;4)findingsfromthe
baselineandendlineassessmentsandthethreefeedbackloopsthatanswerthefivekey
questions;5)ananalysisoftheevidenceforthecontributionmadebythedevelopmental
evaluationandfeedbackloopprocess;and6)finalconclusionsandrecommendations.
2. MethodologyfortheEvaluation
2.1. Overviewofmethods
Identicalmethodologywasusedinthebaselineevaluation(September2016)andendline
evaluation(August2017)toenablevalidcomparisonsacrosstimepoints.Theonlymodification
tothesurveyinstrumentwasthattheendlineaddedanumberofretrospectivequestions(e.g.,
“whatchangeshaveyouseenoverthepastyearin…”,)whilequestionsthatdidnotyield
especiallyusefulinformationatbaselinewereomitted.
FieldworkwasconductedintencommunitiesacrossthefourcountiesofGrandCapeMount,
Bomi,Margibi,andWestPoint(Montserrado).AcorefieldteamofthreeLiberiandata
collectorsandoneLiberianteamleader,alongwithfourenumeratorspercounty(14total),
completedtheworkwiththecloseoversightofaninternationaltechnicalleadwhoreviewed
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data(uploadedfromtablets)andphotographsoffieldnotes(sentusingWhatsApp)onanightly
basis.Priortodatacollection,onedayoftrainingwasheldintheofficetogoovertabletusage,
quantitativesurveys,andqualitativeinterviews(includingpracticingmockinterviews).Oneday
wasspentineachcommunity.
Thesampledcommunities,usedbothinthebaselineandendlinesurveys,wererandomly
selectedfromalistofallTCGIscale-upinterventionsites.Eachcommunitywasstratifiedbased
onthenumberofestimatedbeneficiaries(basedoninterventionsiteschosenfortheprogram,
andtotalpopulationsofeachcorrespondingdistricts).Assuch,oursampleincludedtwo
communitieseachfromBomiandMontserrado(focusingonlyonWestPoint,anurbanslumin
thecapital),threeinMargibi,andfourinGrandCapeMount.
2.2. Quantitativemethods
Thesurveywasadministeredtoatargetof40individualspercommunity(withquotastoreach
50%malesand50%females;25%childrenaged13-171).Respondentswerechosenrandomly,
using2-stageclustersamplingwhereclusteronewasthehouseholdandclustertwowasthe
personwithinthehousehold.Householdswererandomlyselectedbyfirst,visitingthevillage
chiefandaskingwhatthetotalnumberofhouseholdswasinthecommunity,andgettingan
ideaastotheboundariesofthecommunity.Then,asamplinginterval(n)wascalculatedusing
theequation:n=(totalnumberofhouseholds/40).Theteamwenttothemiddleofthevillage,
spunabottle,andbeganwalkinginthatdirection,selectingeverynthhousealongthewalk.
Whenaboundarywasreached,theteamreturnedtothecenterandrepeatedtheprocessuntil
40houseswereselected.Withineachhousehold,theadultoffirstcontactwasaskedtolistall
familymembersinthehouse,theneachwasnumberedandanumberwasrandomlyselected
fromahattoselecttherespondent).Teamalternatedineachhousebetweenlistingmalesor
femalesonly,andforeveryfourthhousetheylistedchildrenaged13-17only.
Toachieveaconfidencelevelof95%andaconfidenceintervalof+/-5%,wedecidedtosample
atotalof400citizens.Thetotalnumberofindividualswhowillbeprovidedwithservicesbythe
projectwasnotcertain,giventhatsecondaryreachisanticipated.Thereforeweoverestimated
thatthebeneficiarypopulationis500,000persons,inordertodetermineamaximumneeded
samplesize.Usingtheabovecriteria(95%with+/-5%confidenceinterval),thetotalsample
sizewas384persons.2Allowingforrejectedquestionnaires(assuming4-5%ofquestionnaires whichisagenerousoverestimategivenwewilluseelectronicdataentrydevicesthatminimize
1Throughoutthisreportwerefertoanyoneaged13-17asa‘child.’Werecognizethatolderchildrenmayalsobereferredtoas
‘youngeryouth,’sotheword‘child’couldbemisleadingsincethewordcouldalsorefertothosemuchyounger.However,we
theword‘child’throughoutthereportinsteadbecauseitreflectstherealityoftheLiberianlaw–thatthosewhoareunderthe
ageof18areconsideredchildren.Thus,wheneveranyoneundertheageof18iisthevictimofanyformofabuse,itis
consideredtobe‘childabuse’.Theissueathand,also,is‘childrape’,whichreferstotherapeofanyoneundertheageof18.2Thesamplesize--thenumberofpersonsfromeachtargetgroupofinterestwhowillbecontacted--isbasedonthe
calculationoftheacceptablemarginoferroras%,therateofchangeofvarianceoftheestimateas%,andtheconfidence
range.Thefollowingcriteriaareused,whicharetypicalforsocialscienceresearchofthisnature:Marginoferror(D)=5.0%;
Rateofchangeofvariance(R)=50%;Confidencelevel=95%withinthemarginoferror.
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routinganddataentryerrors),400wasthefinalnumber.Byselectingcommunitiesrandomly
fromthesamplingframeofallcommunitiesthatwillreceivetheintervention,andrandomly
selectingindividualswithincommunitiesandhouseholds,weensuredthatthesampleis
representativeofourentirebeneficiarypopulationwith95%confidenceanda+/-5%interval.
Thetotalsamplesizeimpactsthedegreetowhichweareabletoconcludethatanobserved
changeovertimeisstatisticallysignificantornot.Asageneralrule,thelargerthesamplesize,
thesmallerthechangethatisabletobedetected.Forthepopulationasawhole,weshouldbe
abletodetectstatisticallysignificantchangesofjustafewpercent;forsubgroups,though,only
largerchangesaredetectable.Itisimportanttonotethatthisdoesnotmeanthattherewas
notachange,butratherthatitwasnotdetectable.
Allquantitativeinterviewswereconductedbythecounty-levelfieldteam,andwere
anonymousatbothbaselineandendline.Wedidnottrackourbeneficiarieslongitudinallyfora
fewreasons:(1)Inordertoensurethatourparticipantsareasforthrightandcomfortable
talkingtousaspossible,wecollectedonlytheirfirstnamesandrecordednootheridentifying
information.Then,wewereabletomakeverycleartothemthatwewillinnowayattribute
theirresponsestotheyasindividuals-onlythecommunitylevel.Inourexperienceconducting
researchinLiberia,thisreallyopensupconversation,particularlyindealingwithsensitive
issues;(2)ItisquitedifficulttotrackpeoplelongitudinallyinLiberiagiventhehighrateof
mobility,soitwouldaddasubstantialamountoftimeandefforttoourresearch/learning
tasks;and(3)Withthequantitativeresearch,wesampledrandomlysuchthatwecouldcapture
arepresentativesampleofbeneficiariesintheregionsweareworkingin.Whilesomeofour
qualitativesamplewasindeedpurposive,wesoughttoselectparticipantswhorepresentedas
broadlyaspossiblethetypesofpeopleinthosecommunities(e.g.,socioeconomicstatus,age,
ethnicity,gender,jobtype,levelofeducation).
2.3. Qualitativemethods Thequalitativeinterviews,referredtoaskeyinformantinterviews(KIIs),wereledduringthe
baselineandendlinesurveysbythecorefieldteaminthefirstlanguageoftherespondent.The
sampleincluded8-10personsineachcommunityforatargetedtotalof80–100interviews.
Interviewswereconductedwithchildren,adults,schoolteachers/staff,governmentministries,
andotherkeystakeholdersinvolvedincitizenengagementand/orchildwelfaregender-based
violencereportingandresolutionmechanisms.Eachinterviewlastedapproximately30minutes
andwasguidedbyapre-developedguidethatwasspecifictoeachtypeofinterviewee:child
communitymember,adultcommunitymember,governmentofficial,communitystakeholder,
andteacher/schoolstaff.Respondentswereselectedbasedonpurposivesamplingofthose
whowouldhaveuniqueinsightintotheissuesathand;childandadultcommunitymembers
wereselectedafterthequantitativesurveybecausetheywereparticularlyvocalorengaged
withtheissues.Thekindsofprobingquestionsforeachinterviewwerelinkedtoproject
outcomes(seeAnnexforinterviewprotocol).Moremalesthanfemaleswereinterviewedin
generalbecausetheytendedtobethosewhoweretheministry/stakeholderrepresentativesin
thecommunitiesaswellastheschoolteachers/staff.Thetablebelowprovidesasummaryof
theKIIswhosevoicesarerepresentedinthebaselineandendline.TheAnnexprovidesalisting
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ofallKIIs(namesandlocationsredacted),includingtheroleintheirorganization(forleaders
andstakeholders)andtheirjobtype(fornon-students).
Table1:KIIsConducted,byTypeandGender
CategoryofKey
Informant
BASELINE ENDLINE
Female Male Total Female Male Total
Adult 13 6 19 8 11 19
Child 10 9 19 10 9 19
Ministry/Stakeholders 12 38 50 14 26 41
Teachers/SchoolStaff 3 7 10 2 7 10
TOTAL 38 60 98 34 53 89
2.4. Developmentalevaluation:Feedbackloopsandcollaborativereview
AdistinguishingfeatureofthedevelopmentalevaluationusedintheProjectwastheuseof
regularandfrequentcollaborativereviewsofprojectoutcomeindicatorsbyvariouscitizenand
governmentstakeholders.Thesecollaborationsarereferredtoasfeedbackloops.Intraditional
systems,projectstaffandsponsoringorganizationsaretypicallythemain,oronly,usersof
informationanddatathattraditionallyfocusesoninputs,activities,andoutputsratherthan
projectoutcomes(results).Incontrast,indevelopmentalevaluationandadaptive
management,regularrevieweffortsfocusonoutcomesandengagecollaboratorsthrougha
consultativeprocess.Twokindsofinformationareusedtoanalyzeprogresstowardsresults:(1)
explicitdatagatheredwithsystematicmethodsandinstruments,and(2)tacitorimplicit
informationthatstakeholdersbringtotheProject.Theseinsightshelptheprojecttogatherand
analyzeongoinginformationtodecidewhethertocontinuetheexistingcourse,createnew
strategies,ormodifyexistingpractices.
Inthisproject,threecollaborativecyclesofstakeholderconsultationstookplacethroughthe
useoffeedbackloops.ThesealltookplacewithinthefourcountiespilotingtheTGCIhotline
andSMSsystem(Bomi,Montserrado,Margibi,andCapeMount).
• Loop1(November2016):StakeholderConsultativeGroupmeetings,drawingonthe
evidencefromthebaseline,reflectedoninformationfrom75participantsinterviews
withgovernmentofficials,women’sgroupleaders,pastor,imams,marketers,county
attorneys,andmedia.
• Loop2(January/February2017):StakeholderConsultativeGroupsforeachcounty
reviewedevidencefromfourteenfocusgroupsand26keyinformantinterviews
conductedacrosscitizens,teachers,policeofficers,socialworkers,governmentofficials,
andjudiciarymembers.
• Loop3(May/June2017):StakeholderConsultativeGroupsforeachcountyreviewed
evidencefromfocusgroupsin20communities.Fivecommunitieswereselectedwithin
eachofthefourcounties.Ineachcommunity,threefocusgroupswereconducted:one
withcommunitymembers,onewithboys(rangingbetweenages12-17),andonewith
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girls(inthesameagerange).Inaddition,ineachcountytherewasonefocusgroupwith
ministryofficials.Thisledto63totalfocusgroups(oneadultgroupwasnotconducted),
involvingatotalof819stakeholders.
3. CharacteristicsofthePopulation Forthequantitativesurveys,therespondentgroupsattheendlinearenotdemographically
different(anymeasureddifferenceswerenotstatisticallysignificant)fromthoseatbaseline.
Thiscomparabilityindicatessuccessfulrandomsamplingofrespondents,andmeansthatthe
populationcharacteristics,suchasage,education,occupation(ofhouseholdhead),household
size,levelsofliteracy,andreligionareessentiallythesameforthesampleatthebaselineand
endline.Inthissection,wewillnotexamineparticipants’knowledge,attitudesandviewsabout
childsexualabuse.Instead,wewilldescribethosecharacteristicsonwhichtheProjectwould
havenoinfluence.Inthisdescriptionofthesamplecharacteristics,wewillonlyreportthe
endlinedata,exceptinthosefewcaseswheretherewerestatisticallydifferentcharacteristics.
Therewereatotalof403respondentsinthebaselinesurvey,and380attheendline.The
endlinerespondentswerenearlyequallydistributedbetweenmales(n=186)andfemales
(n=194),andcommunities(around40participantsineach).Wetargeted25%childrenineach
community,andaimedforaroughlyequaldistributionofyoungeradults(age18-35)andolder
adults(36-65)fortheremaining75%.Thetablebelowsummarizesthetotaldistributionof
participantsbygenderandagegroup.Mostofthedatainthisreport(andtheAnnex)are
disaggregated,ataminimum,bygenderandagegroup.Thetotalnvaluesforeachquestion
shouldbeassumedtobeexactlyaspresentedbelow,orveryclose(skippedorrefused
responseswereveryrare).Assuch,forreadability,wedonotreportnvaluesexceptwhenn
valuesaresignificantlydifferentfrombelow(forexample,whensurveyroutingwas‘if
answeredX,skiptoY’).
Table2:SurveyRespondentsbyAgeGroupandCommunity/County
Female Male Total
13-17 48 63 111
18-35 74 71 145
35-65 72 52 124
Total 194 186 380
Respondentsaveraged29.0yearsold(females30.3andmales27.7);femalechildrenwere
slightlyolder(15.8years)thanmalechildren(15.3years).Themeanhouseholdsizeacrossall
communitieswas7.8persons(3.7adultsaged18-65and3.4childrenaged13-17),withlarger
householdsinGrandCapeMount(8.3persons)andsmallerhouseholdsinMargibi(7.4
persons).Themainhouseholdincomegeneratingactivitiesforthemainincomeearnerofthe
household(nottherespondent)acrossallcountieswereowningabusiness(43.0%),farming
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(20.1%),professionalsalariedemployment(10.9%),andskilledservices(10.9%).Businesswas
significantlymorecommoninurbanMontserrado(64.2%)thaninBomi(32.9%),GrandCape
Mount(32.3%),andMargibi(46.3%).InruralBomiandGrandCapeMount,farmingwasfar
morecommon(34.3%and42.3%,respectively),whileinMargibi,therewasasignificantly
higherproportionofprofessionals(23.1%).
Mostadults,bothmaleandfemale,areeithercohabitingwithaboyfriend/girlfriend(not
married),orareinamonogamoustraditionalmarriage.Farmoreoftenyoungeradultsare
cohabitingandunmarried(22%)thanolderadults(8.6%),whotendmoreoftentobeina
traditionalmarriage(25.7%).Amongchildren,themajorityaresingle(97.4%),thoughmostof
theremainderareinarelationshipandnotlivingtogether(1.8%),especiallyfemales.
Educationalattainmentvariedsignificantlybetweenmaleandfemaleadults(age18+),asitdid
atbaseline,with25.3%ofadultfemaleshavingnoeducationatallversus9.6%ofmales.The
medianeducationlevelforadultfemaleswas‘somejuniorhigh’comparedto‘somehigh
school’formen.Amongchildren(age13-17),themedianeducationlevelformaleswassome
JuniorHigh,whileforfemalesitwasCompletedPrimary.Whileitisimportanttoremember
thatdespitefemalesbeinghalfayearolderthanmales,theystillhadlowereducational
attainmentthanboysbythetimetheyreachedage16(whereasbeforethatage,theywere
similarinattainment).Thissuggeststhatgirlstendtofallbehindordropoutaroundthatage–
notasurprisingfindingintheLiberiancontextgiventhehighprevalenceofteenagepregnancy,
andthedifficulttransitionfromJuniorHightoHighSchool.
Table3:EducationalAttainmentforAdults(age18+)byGender
Attainment Female Male Total
Neverattended 25.3% 9.8% 18.2%
Someprimary 7.5% 7.3% 7.4%
CompletedPrimary 3.4% 2.4% 3.0%
SomeJrHigh 11.0% 10.6% 10.8%
CompletedJrHigh 5.5% 8.9% 7.1%
SomeHighSchool 9.6% 17.9% 13.4%
CompletedHighSchool 23.3% 22.0% 22.7%
SomeUniversity 11.6% 16.3% 13.8%
CompletedUniversity 2.7% 4.9% 3.7%
Table4:EducationalAttainmentforChildren(age13-17)byGender
Attainment Female Male Total
Neverattended 6.3% 6.3% 6.3%
Someprimary 41.7% 42.9% 42.3%
CompletedPrimary 12.5% 11.1% 11.7%
SomeJrHigh 18.8% 25.4% 22.5%
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CompletedJrHigh 4.2% 9.5% 7.2%
SomeHighSchool 14.6% 4.8% 9.0%
CompletedHighSchool 2.1% 0.0% 0.9%
Overall,femalesweremuchmorelikelytolackbothnumeracyandliteracyskills(24.7%)versus
males(11.8%).Thiswascommonacrossallagegroups,butmostsignificantamongstolder
adults(36-65),asdepictedinthetablebelow.Youngerpeople(13-35)weremorelikelytohave
mathand/orreadingskillsthanolderadults(35-65).Overall,respondentsattheendlinewere
significantlymorelikelytohavebothreadingandnumeracyskills(70.0%)ascomparedtothe
baseline(60%);thiswasparticularlytrueamongtheyoungeradultsgroup(81.4%atendlinevs.
65.8%atbaseline)andolderadultsgroup(54.8%atendlinevs.46.0%atbaseline).Children’s
literacyandnumeracyskillswerethesameatbothbaselineandendline:
Table5:LiteracyandNumeracy,byGenderandAgeGroup
Neither Mathonly
Read
only Yesboth
13-17 8.1% 3.6% 16.2% 72.1%
Female 8.3% 2.1% 20.8% 68.8%
Male 7.9% 4.8% 12.7% 74.6%
18-35 11.7% 0.7% 6.2% 81.4%
Female 13.5% 0.0% 9.5% 77.0%
Male 9.9% 1.4% 2.8% 85.9%
35-65 36.3% 1.6% 7.3% 54.8%
Female 47.2% 1.4% 9.7% 41.7%
Male 21.2% 1.9% 3.8% 73.1%
FemaleTotal 24.7% 1.0% 12.4% 61.9%
MaleTotal 12.4% 2.7% 6.5% 78.5%
Total 18.7% 1.8% 9.5% 70.0%
ThereisaroughlyequaldistributionofMuslims(35.3%)andChristians(60.5%),whichisnot
typicalforLiberiaasawholewhereMuslimsareanestimated12%ofthepopulation.However,
thisregionofLiberia,particularlyGrandCapeMount,tendstohaveamuchhigherproportion
ofMuslims.AmongtheChristians,themajorityareEvangelical/Pentecostal(38.4%),or
ChristianCatholic(9.7%);theremainderareChristianMainlineProtestantor‘Other’Christian
(e.g.SDA,JehovahWitness,Mormon).Only2.1%classifythemselvesas‘other,’whichgenerally
meansAfricantraditionalreligions.
4. Findings ThefindingsfromthebaselineandendlinesurveysandKIIs,aswellasfromthefeedbackloops
arepresentedforeachofthefivekeyquestionsofthefinalevaluation:
13
i) Hastherebeenachangeincitizens’knowledgeandattitudesaboutchildsexualabuse?
Ifso,whatcontributionhastheprojectmadetothischange?
ii) Hastherebeenachangeincitizen-governmentengagementinthelevelofreporting
usingthetheSMS/Hotline?Whatfactorsinfluencethisusage?
iii) WhathasbeenGovernmentresponsetocitizenreportsofCSA?
iv) IsthereevidenceonanychangeintheincidenceofCSA?Whatdocitizensbelieveabout
this?
v) Whathasbeenthecontributionofthedevelopmentalevaluationusingfeedbackloops
andcollaborativeconsultation?
Theevaluationseekstofindwhether,overtheoneyearperiodfromthebaselinesurveyin
September2016totheendlinesurveyinAugust2017,thereisevidenceofasignificantchange
incitizen’sknowledgeandattitudesaboutchildsexualabuse;intheuseofthehotlineandSMS
toreportcasesofCSA;ingovernment’sresponsetocitizenreporting;andintheincidenceof
CSA.Finally,ouranalysisfocusesonthecontributionofthedevelopmentevaluationapproach
usedforthemanagementoftheProject.
Itshouldbepointedoutattheoutsetthatsuchchangesarecomplex,andthesocio-cultural
relationshipsthatshapeindividualandcollectiveattitudesandbehavioraredeeplyrooted.Itis
thusunrealistictoexpectthatasingleprojectoveroneyearshouldseedramaticchangesin
attitudesandbehaviorrelatedtoCSAfromitsevaluation.TheProjectwasnotdesignedwitha
rigorousresearchdesign,whichwouldrequireaplausible(andideallyrandomizedassignment)
counterfactual.Moreproblematic,therearetwosimultaneousforcesatworkinattemptingto
assesswhetherthanhasactuallybeenanyreductionoftheincidenceofchildsexualabuse.On
onehand,theprojectseekstoincreaseknowledge,awareness,andmechanismsforincreasing
reportingofincidentsofCSA.Thus,ifthiselementoftheProjectissuccessful,weshouldseean
increaseincasesreported.Ontheotherhand,theincreasedcitizenawarenessofthe
perniciouseffectsandthesocialcondemnationofCSAcombinedwiththeincreasedexposure
ofperpetratorstoarrestandconvictionshouldcontributetoadecreaseintheincidenceof
CSA.WhichofthesetwoforceswouldbethestrongestovertheoneyearperiodoftheProject
evaluation?WhilethequantitativedatafromthesurveysandfromtheGovernmentdatabase
onCSAreportsprovideusefulinformationonreporting,arrests,trialsandconvictions,the
qualitativedatafromtheKIIsandthefeedbackloopsprovideusefulinsightsontheseforces
fromcitizensandstakeholders.Asaresult,weuseallofthesesourcesofevidencetoanswer
thekeyquestions.
4.1. Hastherebeenachangeincitizens’knowledgeandawarenessofchildsexualabuse?Ifso,whatcontributionhastheprojectmadetothischange?
AkeyactivityoftheCitizen-GovernmentEngagementProjecthasbeentousemultiplechannels
ofinformationtoraiseknowledge,awarenessandtostrengthencitizencondemnationofchild
sexualabuse.ThroughcontractswithnineRadiostations,theproductionandwidedistribution
14
offlyersandposters(seeanexampleofaProjectposterinAnnex1),andthesponsoringof
forumsandeducationaleventsincommunitiesandschools,theProjecthascontributedtothe
widespreadpubliccondemnationofCSA.
However,itisdifficulttoattributeanychangesoverthelastyearincitizenknowledgeand
awarenesstoCGEP,sincethereareseveralotherNGOandgovernmentcommunication
initiativesinthisfield.
Withthatqualificationinmind,thefollowingarethefindingsfromthebaselineandendline
surveys,supportedwithinsightsfromtheKIIsandfeedbackloopconsultations.
4.1.1. Attitudestowardschildsexualabuse
Thequantitativeandqualitativedatainboththebaselineandendlineindicatethatchildsexual
abuseiswidelyconsideredtobewrongineverycase.Manypeopleattributethistothe
sensitizationtheyhavereceivedthroughavarietyofmeansincludingradio,workshops,
banners,andwordofmouth.ExplicitattitudestoCSAinthequantitativesurveyshowedthat
almostnoneoftherespondentsindicatedthatitwaseitheralwaysorsometimesOKfora
persontocommitanyactofsexualharassmentorabuseuponamaleorfemalechild,
summarizedinthetablebelow. Table6:ExplicitPerceptionsofGBVStatedas“NeverOkay”
Baseline Endline
Touchedaboyonhisprivatepartswhenhedidn'twantit 99.5% 97.5%
Touchedagirlonherprivatepartswhenshedidn'twantit 99.0% 97.3%*
Ateacherorschoolstaffaskedaboyforsextogetabettergrade 100.0% 97.5%
Ateacherorschoolstaffaskedagirlforsextogetabettergrade? 99.8% 97.3%
Apersonaskedaboyforsexinexchangeformoneyorothermaterialgoods(food,
schooluniform)? 99.5%
97.5%
Apersonaskedagirlforsexinexchangeformoneyorothermaterialgoods(food,
schooluniform)? 98.8%
97.3%*
Apersonthreatenstohurtaboybecauseherefusedtohavesex 100.0% 97.3%
Apersonthreatenstohurtagirlbecausesherefusedtohavesex 100.0% 97.3%
Apersonforcedaboytohavesexwhenhedidn'twantto? 99.8% 97.6%
Apersonforcedagirltohavesexwhenshedidn'twantto? 100.0% 97.3%
Asterisk(*)indicatesthechangeisnotstatisticallysignificant
DuringtheKIIs,participantswereaskedtodefinethetermchildsexualabuse.Largely,child
sexualabusewasstatedassexualactsbetweenadultsandchildren(undertheageof17),
includingthosethatresultedinchildhoodmarriageorteenagepregnancy.Theserangedacross
forcibleacts(e.g.,rape)toactswhereconsentcouldnotbegivenduetothechildren’sageor
circumstance(asonefemalestakeholderinBehTowndescribedit,regardless“whetherthechildagreesornot”).Actsofunwantedphysicalcontactsuchaskissingortouchingingenital
15
areaswasalsoincluded.Coercion,thoughnotexplicitlystatedassuch,wasrootedintheways
that“peopleinfluencechildrentosleepwiththemformaterialreasons,”suchasmoneyorjobs,
ortheuseofalcoholordrugstoimpairresistance.Whileinsomecasesonlygirlswereexplicitly
mentioned,mostparticipantsusedthetermchildrentoacknowledgethatthisabusecould
happenacrossgenders.
Inthequantitativesurvey,respondentswereaskedaseriesofsixteenquestionstoassesstheir
attitudestosexualandgenderbasedviolence(SGBV).Lookingattheindividualquestions,there
weresomeareasthatshowedastatisticallysignificantshifttowardsgreaterunfavorable
attitudes. Table7:IndividualPerceptionsofGBV:Percentageofsurveyrespondentsthatagreedwithstatement.
Statement Baseline Endline
1.Sometimegirlsdothingsthatmakesexualviolenceandabusehappen 89.8% 83.0%
2.Menandboyssometimeshaveagoodreasontouseviolenceagainstgirls. 31.2% 10.4%
3.Usingalcoholcancausesexualviolenceandabuseofgirls. 74.8% 98.9%
4.Sexualabuseandviolenceagainstwomenandgirlsisanaturalexpressionofmalesexual
urges.22.8%
15.4%
5.Ifsexualabuseorviolenceisreportedtothevillagechiefheorshemustdecidewhois
rightorwrong.Wehaveourtraditionallawsanddonotneedthepoliceorcourts.
8.5%
14.7%
6.Sexualviolencebringsshametothewholefamilyofthepersonwhocommittedthe
violence.89.5%
97.9%
7.Rapebringsshametothewholefamilyofthepersonwhoexperiencedsexualviolence. 89.8% 99.2%
8.Touchingagirl’sbreastorhittingherbutthelpsherdevelopphysically. 27.7% 2.8%
9.Achildstudenthavingsexwithateacherwillhelpthestudentandhis/herfamily. 1.3% 0.3%*
10.Menandboysaresuperiortowomenandgirls. 39.7% 32.8%
11.Adultswhohavesexwithchildrencauselong-termemotionalharmtochildren 97.5% 92.4%
12.SexualactivitybetweenadultsandchildrenisneverOK,nomatterwhat 80.3% 95.5%
13.Womenrefusingtohavesexwithpartnersisareasonmenseektohavesexwith
children16.8%
35.5%
14.Insomefamilies,sexbetweenadultsandchildrenisconsiderednormal 71.6% 50.0%
15.Trustedadults(teachers,priests,coaches,etc.)aremorelikelythanstrangerstosexually
abusechildren
63.9% 78.5%
16.Girlsdrawmen'ssexualattentionbythewaytheydress. 93.3% 85.8%
Asterisk(*)indicatesthechangeisnotstatisticallysignificant
TheTable8belowprovidestheindexedscoresonthisassessmentofcitizenattitudes,where
higherscoresindicatethepercentageofrespondentsthataremoreopposedtoSGBVattitudes.
ThereisasignificantincreaseintheaverageattitudesopposingSGBVatendlineamongfemale
adults,whereasthereisvirtuallynochangeinmen’sattitudes.
16
Table8:SummaryofGBVAttitudes,byGenderandAgeGroup(Higher%indicatesstrongerattitudesagainstGBV)
Baseline Endline
AgeGroup Female Male Total Female Male Total
13-17 46% 44% 45% 48%* 43%* 45%*
18-35 40% 48% 43% 54% 51%* 52%
35-65 44% 51% 48% 55% 49%* 52%*
Total 43% 48% 45% 53% 48%* 50%*
Asterisk(*)indicatesthechangeisnotstatisticallysignificant
Inqualitativeinterviews,manyofthedetrimentalviewsmanifestedthewaysinwhichchildren
weretaughttomonitortheirclothingortospecificallyavoidbadpeople.AwomaninJoseph
Townnoted,
“Theparentshavebeentoldtoadvisetheirchildrentobeverycarefulabouthowtheyinteractwithmenandboysinthetownandevenoutofthetown.Forinstance,Ipersonallytalktobothmygirlsandboystobeonthealertofbadpeopleinthecommunity.We(myhusbandandI)alsoexplaintothemallaboutrapeandtheconsequencesofbeingraped.”
AgirlinWestPointaddedtothislistbysharingthatchildrenwereinformedthat,“Weshouldnotgotobadplaceswheremenare.Weshouldnotwearshortclothesbeforemen.”Thesedetrimentalattitudesechoedtheconcernsthatmanifestedinthebaselineinwhichgirlswere
blamedforsexualassaultbytheirclothingchoices,proximitytomen,orplay.Atthesametime,
therewassomeprogressinthesedetrimentalattitudes.Comparedtothebaseline,inwhich
severalparticipantsexpressedtheconcernthatgirlsmightfabricateclaimsofrapetoextort
men,nosuchconcernsexpressedintheendline.Theevolutionofideasexpressedin
conjunctionwiththeprevalenceofsensitizingmessagessuggeststhatindividualsmaybe
gainingcriticalawarenessaboutsexualassaultanditsrealitieswithinthecommunity.
Suchgrowthwasalsoseeninparticipants’attitudesagainstSGBV,exemplifiedbymeetingsand
communityeventsthatemphasizedthat“realmendon’trape.”Mostprevalently,these
attitudeswereexpressedinthewaysinwhichparticipantsdefinedchildsexualabuse.
Repeatedly,participantsacrossrolesnotedthatchildrencouldnotconsenttosexual
relationshipswithanadultandthatcoerciverelationshipswereabusive.Afemalestakeholder
inWestPointdescribedthisas“manychildrenareinfluencedbyoldermenorfishermenwhomakemoney.Whenthechildrenareabused,theseguysprovidesomemoneytotheparenttokeepquiet.”
4.1.2. Perceiveddangerstochildrenincommunities
Atthebaselineandendlinesurveys,respondentswereaskedtoidentifythemostseriousissues
thatposeddangerstothehealthandwelfareofchildren.Thisquestionsoughttounderstandif
therewerechangesincitizens’perceptionsofthethreatposedbychildsexualabuse(rape)and
17
childsexualharassment.Table9showsthefourhighestrateddangerstowardchildren
alongsidethelowerratingontherelativedangersofchildsexualharassmentandchildrape.
Table9:Dangerstochildrenincommunity
TypeofDanger
Baseline
n=402
Endline
n=380
Teenagepregnancy 55% 66%
Basicneedsnotmet:food,shelter,clothing 55% 11%
Stealing 47% 45%*
Prostitution 30% 10%
Childsexualharassment 18% 27%
Childsexualabuse(rape) 18% 13%*
Asterisk(*)indicatesthechangeisnotstatisticallysignificant
Itisinterestingthatthereisadeclineinthe(non-statisticallysignificant)percentageofthose
whoseechildrapeasaseriousdanger,whilethereisanincreaseinthosewhoseechildsexual
harassmentasadanger.ThismayreflecttheimpactoftheProject’scommunicationsand
forums,resultingincitizens’perceptionsthatGovernmentisbetterabletoapprehendand
arrestchildrapeperpetrators.
Intheendlineinterviews,concernsaboutthedangersfacingchildrenechoedandamplified
thesecategories.Althoughtheendlinedidrevealasharpdeclineinthedangersrelatedto
unmetbasicneeds(thismayreflectLiberia’spost-wareconomicrecovery),lackofclean
drinkingwaterandaccesstosanitaryplumbingwerefrequentlymentioned.Inaddition,
participantsroutinelysharedthatmanyparentsintheircommunitieslackedthefinancial
resourcestosupportchildren,insteadrelyingonchildlabortohelpsupporttheirfamily.These
formsoflaborrangedacrossfarming,sellinginmarketplaces,washingcars,and,specificallyin
thecaseofDolo’sTown,workingonthenearbyrubberplantation.Inmoreseverecases,
childrensolddrugsorengagedinprostitutiontoearnmoney.Asonefemalestakeholderin
Tienistated,“Childrenarealsobeingusedasbreadwinnersforparents,soasaresulttheyfallvictimtomanyformsofviolenceand[have]theirwellbeingalsoatrisk.”Thefeedbackloopsandendlineinterviewsindicateabroadersensethatthelargerangeof
dangerspresentcontributedtoacultureinwhichchildrenwerehighlyvulnerabletothe
possibilityofrapeandharassment.Thisconcernparticularlyappliedtochildrenwhowere
orphans,prevalentintheaftermathoftheEbolaoutbreak,orleftwithoutparentalsupervision.
AsamalestakeholderinUnificationTownnoted:
“Parentsdon’tspendtimewiththeirchildren.Theyleaveearlyinthemorningandcomebacklateatnight.Childreenarebeingtrainedbythemselveswithnoparentalcare.Parentsarebusylookingforajobtogenerateincomefortheirfamilywhilethechildrenareleftalonewithoutguidance.”
Thesesituationsamplifiedpowerimbalances,athemethatarosethroughoutthediscussionof
genderbasedviolenceaschildrenwereattimescoercedintosexualactstoearnmoneyor
18
resources.AsamalestakeholderinUnificationTownnoted,“Thecommunityissufferingfrompoverty,thereforemostofthegirlsareabusedbymentogetmoney.”Theendlineanalysisbuildsuponfindingsthroughoutthepilotthathighlightthisvulnerability.
Thebaselineanalysishighlightedtheprevalenceofprostitutionamongstgirlstosupporttheir
familiesorindividualsthatwereabandonedbytheirfamilies.Inthefeedbackloops,particularly
thethirdcycle,participantsnotedthewaysinwhichchildsexualabusetrappedgirlsinan
exploitivecycle.Girlsexperiencedsexualabuseandthenwereblamedforcausingtheviolence
throughtheirbehavior(e.g.,dress,actions,location).Victimsreceivedfewresources,including
transportationtothecourtormedicalcare,andwereoftensociallyostracizedwhentheabuse
wasknownpublicly.Theendlinedatafurtherilluminatedthiscyclebyaddingthewaysinwhich
moneyperpetuatedsuchviolence,notingthatgirlswereoftencoercedintosexualactivitydue
topovertyandcouldbetrappedincyclesofpovertybyresultingpregnancy.
4.1.3. ImpactofmultiplechannelsofcommunicationonCSA
ThequalitativedatagatheredthroughtheendlineKIIsandinthefeedbackloopsrevealedthat
messagesaboutstoppingandpreventingchildsexualabusewerewidespread.Formsof
communicationincludedposters,flyers,andradioprograms,includingadramainwhichuseof
thehotlinewasactedout.Activeformsofeducationinvolvedmultipleawarenessprograms
spanningschoolsandcommunitymeetingssponsoredbyTGCI,theMinistryofGenderand
Children,andNGOssuchasSavetheChildren,theRedCrossandPlanLiberia.These
organizationsimplementednumerousmeasurestosensitizeindividualstochildsexualassault
andtoilluminateprocessesforreporting.Thesetrainingswereoftenalreadyinplaceduringthe
baselineevaluation,andformedpartofaperceptionthatawarenessofandenforcement
againstchildsexualabusewasontheriseinLiberia.Thus,individualsmayhavedeveloped
moreawarenessofinstancesofchildsexualassaultacrossthedurationoftheCGEPevenas
theyperceivedtheoverallclimateofviolencetobedecreasing.AgirlinBehTownnoted:“Childsexualabuseisnotpracticedherethatmuchbecauseofthelevelofsensitizationprogramsthenationalgovernmentputinplace.So,becauseofthis,peopleareafraidtogetinvolvedwiththeseacts.”
OneadultmaleinTienidescribedtheseeffortsas“relentless”duetotheirwidespreadprevalence.Largely,thesemessageswereseentohaveapositiveimpactonindividualsby
illuminatingissues,providingresourcesandinformation,andexplainingthereportingprocess.
AfemalestakeholderinTienewomansharedthat,
Childsexualabusehasbeenprevalentforthreeyears,butnowarelesseningwiththeawarenessandeducationthroughtheGenderMinistryandrelatedNGO,CSO,andINGOs.Peoplearegettingtoseethedangerofchildsexualabuseandthechallengeitposestothecommunity’swellbeing.
19
Inthisway,outreacheffortsalsohelpedtocreatecommunitynormsagainstchildsexualabuse.
Forindividuals,theinformationalsohelpedprovideaformofempowermenttochallenge
violenceinthecommunity.AsonemaninDolo’sTownmentioned,“alloftheworkshops,stakeholders’meetingandtheawarenessonchildsexualabusehasgivenmethezesttodomorebyreportinganycaseinvolvingchildrape.”Severalparticipantssharedthattheyusedtheinformationtheylearnedinmeetingstosharewithothersinthecommunitytoencourage
reporting.Whilemostparticipantssawtheseforumsaseffective,therewereafewoutliersthat
expressedtheideathatmeetingsoftentargetedthoseindividualsalreadyvigilanttostopping
childsexualabuse.AsamaninUnificationTownstated,“Iwouldsaymostpeopleattendingtheseworkshopsandtraining[arethe]onlyfewwhoarewillingtohelpsocietyindealingwiththesituationasothersdon’tseeitasnecessary.”Anadditionaldrawbackwasthattheseawarenesseffortscouldbeseenasdisconnectedfromdailylife,asoneindividualdescribed
thatatmeetings“welearnalot,butpeoplegohomeandforget.”
4.1.4. School-basedawarenessprogramsonCSA
AcrosstheProjectcommunities,schoolsweredominantsitesthatspreadthesemessagesto
childrenandteachers,andprovidedthemwithinformationonhowtostopandreportchild
sexualabuse.Asnotedinthebaseline,thesemessagesweresharedonposters/brochures,in
schoolclubs,inworkshops,andduringschool-widedramas.OnestakeholderfromDolo’sTown
sharedthathisgroup“workedinschoolsespecially,becausethereyouseethebulkofthecommunitypopulation,especiallytheyouthfulones.”Studentscouldbeempoweredtoaddress
sexualassault,suchasanexamplenotedbyaboyinUnificationTown:“Inourschoolwehaveagroup(WatchDog)monitoringteacherandstudentsinteractionandreportingtotheheadmaster.Thisgroupiseffectiveinmakingsurestudentsinterestareprotectedandreportedtimely.”However,schoolscouldalsobeproblematicbecausemanyperpetratorswereteachers.
OnegirlinUnificationTownsharedthatmostpregnantgirlswereassaultedatschool,whilea
stakeholderinthesamecommunitysharedanexampleofagirlwhowasrapedbyaprincipal,
whothencompromisedthecasebypayingherschoolfees.Thisdangerwasconsistent
throughouttheProgram,asafocusgroupinthesecondfeedbackloopsharedthat“wehavealsoconductedawarenessamongstudents,teachersandschoolprincipal.Tellingthemthatrapeisnotgoodand[ifa]teacherisinvolved,itisacrimethatcan’tbecompromised.”Schoolscouldhelptospreadawarenessandknowledgeofreportingsystems,butalsoinvolvedriskas
sitesofpotentialabuseandunequalpowerdynamics.
4.1.5. Persistenceoftraditionalattitudesandpractices
Regardlessoftheevidencethatthereisagreaterawarenessandknowledgeaboutchildsexual
assault,theKIIsandfeedbackloopsindicatethatsomeindividualscontinuetooverlookCSA
casesduetotheculturalnorms,illustratingareaswheresensitizationeffortshavefallenshort.
Forexample,amalestakeholderinTienisharedduringthebaseline:
“Peopleheredon'tseerapeasanissue…Islamisoneofthemajorreligionshere,theyusuallydon'tobeytherequisitelawsformarriage.Whenachildreachespubertytheyarrangeformarriage.Sometimesasyoungas12,13,14-yearoldchildrenarewivesinthiscommunity.”
20
Attheendlinesurvey,awomaninTienenotedaremarkablysimilarsentiment:“Thetraditionheredoesn’tseeearlychildmarriageasaproblem.MostoftheolderMuslimmenherehavemorethanthreewivesandchildrenunderageareamongthem.”Thesequotesillustratethattherearecommunitiesorinstancesinwhichchildsexualassaultisstillnormalizedasacultural
practice.Relatedly,therearestillbeindividualswhoseechildsexualabuseasdifferentfrom
actsofrapeoraggression.AwomaninJosephTownsharedthat“Therewasa28yearsoldmanwhowasinasexualrelationshipwitha14yearoldgirl.WhenInoticedwhatwashappening,Iinformedtheparentsofthegirl,butitseemstheywereinsupporttheact.”Thedeferencetoparentswascomplicated.Sometimes,relativeswerethemostlikelytoreportsexualviolence,
andtheirbuy-inandsupportofthehotlinewascrucial.Atothertimes,theirinvolvement
ultimatelyfueledthecompromiseofcases.Asaresult,individualsoftennegotiatedthese
complexrelationshipsonacase-by-casebasisduringthereportingprocess. Insummary,theevidencefromthesurveysandfeedbackloopsshowthatwhilegender-based
violenceagainstchildrenwasuniversallycondemnedatbothbaselineandendline,therewere
significantchangesinspecificattitudestowardsparticularbehaviors,withgirlsandwomen
generallygrowingstrongerintheircondemnationofallformsofsexualmisconductand
expandingtherangeofbehaviorswhicharecondemned.Further,thefeedbackloopsandin-
depthinterviewsrevealedalevelofcomplexityinchildsexualharassmentandabusethatis
relatedononehandtopoverty,andontheothertothepersistenceoftraditionalcultural
practicesofrelationshipsofoldermenwithyoungerwomenandgirls.
AlthoughitisclearthatCGEP’smulti-channelcommunicationcampaigncontributedtosome
changeinknowledgeandattitudesaboutCSA,thischangecannotbeeasilyquantifiedgiventhe
numberofotheragenciespromotingthecondemnationofchildsexualabuseinLiberia.Ata
deeperlevel,whateverchangeinknowledgeandattitudesisreportedisconstrainedbythe
persistenceoftraditionalculturalpatterns,andchildren’svulnerabilityarisingfrompoverty.
4.2. HastherebeenachangeinthelevelofcitizenreportingusingtheSMS/Hotline?Whatfactorsinfluencethisusage?
4.2.1. AwarenessanduseoftheSMS/Hotline
AtthetimeofthebaselinealmostnooneknewofahotlineorSMSsystemtoreportchild
sexualabuse,sincethiswasonlyintroducedintheclosingstagesofthefirstCGEPpilot.In
contrastattheendline,nearlythree-quartersofall422respondents,bothmaleandfemale,
knewoftheMinistryofGender,ChildrenandSocialProtection’shotlineforreportingCSA.
Althoughtherearevariationsbyageandgenderwithinthespecificcommunities,overallthe
percentageofmalesandfemaleswhoareawareofthehotlineissimilar(72%offemalesand
75%formales).
21
Table10:AwarenessofHotlinebyCountry
Themajority(70.7%)ofthosewhowereawareoftheMinistryofGenderhotlinewereableto
recitetheexactphonenumber.Thesurveyalsoshowedthat15%ofrespondentssaidthatthey
knewofanotherhotlinetotheMinistryofGender.
TheProjecthasdevelopedandusedvariouschannelsofcommunicationtoencouragecitizens
tousethehotline/SMSsystem.Oneoftheimportantrolesplayedbythefeedbackloopsand
stakeholderconsultationshasbeentoexaminetherelativeeffectivenessofthesechannelsin
reachingcitizensandtoencouragethemtousethehotline/systemsystem.Theendlinesurvey
examinedthewaysinwhichparticipantslearnedofthehotline/SMS(Table11).
Table11:HowRespondentHeardAboutTGCIHotline/SMSSystem
CommunicationChannel Female(n=146) Male(n=126) Total(n=272)
RadioJingle/Ad 82.5% 75.0% 78.7%
Friend/familytoldmeaboutit 59.7% 43.6% 51.6%
Communityannouncement/leader 13.0% 30.1% 21.6%
ChurchorMosqueannouncement 5.2% 5.1% 5.2%
Signboard 73.4% 66.7% 70.0%
Other(specify) 17.5% 16.0% 16.8%
RadiojingleswereakeyareatargetedthroughouttheProject,withrecommendationsarising
continuallyfromthefeedbackloopstousethistypeofoutreach.Forexample,afterthefirst
feedbackloop,onerecommendationwasto“engagelocalmediaorradiostationstoincreasetheamountoftimetheyspendineducatingcitizensonhowtousetheirphonetoreportcrimeandcasesofsexualabusetothenewplatform.”Afterthesecondfeedbackloop,therecommendationwasthat“radiostationsengagedshouldintensifytheirjinglesandawarenessmessagesinlocaldialects.Thiswillhelpthelocalpeopletoknowthehotlineandbeabletoreporttothesystem.”Afterthethirdloop,thisrecommendationwasalsorevisitedto“continuewithradiotalkshowsandjingles(especiallyinlocaldialectsandtheregularcolloquial)tohelpsensitizeandcreatemoreawarenessamongwomenandchildrenespeciallywhenitcomestosendingreportsofcasesofsexualabusetotheTGCIsystem.”Thus,itisnosurprisethatradiojinglesendedupbeingthemostprevalentvehicleforthisinformation.Otherformsoftargeted
announcementsthatwererevisitedduringtheProjectincludedpostersandflyersaswellas
liaisingwithspecificcommunityorganizations,leaders,andgroups(e.g.,churches).
County
Total
Bomi 61.0%
GrandCapeMount 74.3%
Margibi 70.4%
Montserrado 80.8%
GrandTotal 71.6%
22
4.2.2. ConstraintstocitizenuseoftheSMS/hotlinesystem
Thethirdfeedbackloopofferedthemostinsightintohowcommunitymembersperceivedthe
TGCIhotline/SMSsystem.TherewasnoclearpatternofpreferencesbetweeneitherSMSor
phonecallsacrossgroups,butratherasensethatbothformatswereequallyvaluableand
usefuldependingonparticipantneeds.SMSsystemsweremoresecretive,allowingparticipants
toreportanywhere.However,textingabilitywaslimitedbytechnicalknowledgeofphones,
literacy,andspelling.Individualsalsostatedtheirapprehensionthattheywouldsendatext
withoutknowingiftheinformationwasbeingactedupon.Callingguaranteedthatonewould
receivearesponse,butthereportercouldbeidentified.Thethirdfeedbackloopalsoconfirmed
whatwasfoundinthebaseline:thatmostchildrendonothaveaccesstoaphone,whilemost
adultsdo.Endlineinterviewsreinforcedthesethemes,notingthatthelackofaccesscouldbe
underestimatingthenumberofactualcasestakingplaceas“mostofthepeoplereportingarewomenandchildren”(stakeholderinUnificationTown).
Logistically,thetwomostcommonlycitedreasonsintheendlinefornotusingtheTGCI
hotline/SMSsystemwerelackofcoverageandtheperceptionthatoneneededcreditontheir
phonefirst.Additionalreasonsincludednotknowinghowtowritetosendatextmessage,not
havingaccesstoaphone,nothavingone’sphonecharged,orthefearofbeingcaught.Thelack
ofaccesstoamobilephoneinordertosendatextoraphonecall,whilestillabarrier,wasnot
asgreatabarrierasvisitingapolicestationinperson.Moreover,eventhoughreportingwas
saidtobeanonymous,therewasonecaseamongsttheKIIinterviewsinwhichthenameofthe
reporter,victim,andperpetratorwasdisclosed.Thus,practicingconfidentialitymaybedifficult
inwaysthatamplifytheseconcerns. Comparedtothesecondfeedbackloopinwhichthereseemedtobeasensethatmultiple
hotlinesexisted,awarenesswasclearerintheendlinethatthehotlinecamefromTGCI-CGEP.
Whiletherewasstillsomeminorconfusion,asseveralindividualsmentionedhearingaboutthe
hotlinetwoorthreeyearsago(priortotheimplementationofthecurrentProject),overall
participantsseemedtobeclearonthehotlineanditsuse.AsonewomaninJosephTown
surmised,
“Yes,IamawareoftheMinistryofGenderhotlinethatweareusingtosendreportsofchildsexualabuseto.Ihavebeenhearingjinglesandotherdramaontheradioconcerningthishotline(0775607493)andalsotherearepostersineverycornerofthistownthatcontainthehotlineandhowtoreportrapecasestothehotline.Therearetwowayswereport,bytextingthehotlineandbycallingthehotline.Ihavenotusedthehotlinetoreportbefore,butfriendsIknowhaveusedittoreportanditwaswonderfulbecausetheperpetratorshavebeenarrested.”
Insummary,itisclearthattheTGCI-CGEPhasbeensuccessfulinestablishingtheSMS/hotline
system.Citizensknowandappreciatethisresource,informedbythemultiplecommunication
channelsdevelopedandrefinedbytheProjectoverthepastyear.Asaresult,asignificant
numberofreportsaresubmittedtotheMinistryofGenderthroughtheProject.However,there
23
continuetobebarrierstotheuseofthesystem,includingtherelativelackofaccessfor
youngercitizenstomobilephones,thelowerlevelofliteracyforfemalespreventingtheuseof
theSMS,andalingeringsenseofthreatandvulnerabilityinreporting.Thisfinalpointis
particularlysalientfortheyoung,whoconsideritnecessarytoreportcasesthroughtheir
parentsoranothertrustedadult.
4.3. GovernmentresponsetocitizenreportsofCSA TGCIhaspioneeredinthedevelopmentandapplicationoftechnologiesofmultiple-channel
communicationstocitizens,andaninter-Governmentdatabasesystemtoreceiveandtrack
reportsofCSA.ThecitizenreportsarereviewedbytheMinistryofGender,ChildrenandSocial
ProtectionandtheMinistryofJustice,andwhentheymeetcriteriaofcompletenessand
plausibility,areenteredintotheGovernmentdatabaseatcountyandnationallevels.CGECP
hasassistedgovernmentinthedevelopmentandapplicationofthisdatabaseatthecountyand
nationallevels.ThepresentationofthatinformationforeachCountyforeachquarterofthe
yearisnowavailablethroughapublicwebsite.Asummaryofinformationfromthedatabase
(forallfourCGEPCounties)isprovidedinTable12.
Table12:SummaryofGovernmentCSATrackingDatabaseforfourCGEPCounties
AllReports
Receivedby
System3
CSAReports
Received,
Investigated,
Arrested
CSAPerpetrators
Charged
CSACasesin
Court
CSA
Perpetrators
Convicted
July-Dec2016 106 67 34 31 18
Jan-June2017 70 53 34 26 11
TOTALJuly2016-
June2017
176
120
68
57
29
Thissummaryshowsthat,forthesefourCounties,thenumberofCSAreportswhichhavebeen
acteduponthroughinvestigationsandarrestsisimpressive:120perpetratorshavebeenunder
investigation,and68ofthesehavebeenformallycharged.Itisnowalsopublicinformationthat
29perpetratorshavebeenconvicted.
4.3.1. BarrierstoapprehendandconvictCSAperpetrators
However,whatTable12doesnotrevealemergedinthefeedbackloopsandtheendline
interviews:theMinistryofJustice,thepolice,andthecourtsystemsareunder-resourced. Whiletheimplementationofthehotlinestreamlinedthereportingprocessandconnected
differentGovernmentagencies,therewereseveralchallengeswiththeMinistryresponse.Lack
oftransportationwasoneofthebiggestissues.AboyinDolo’sTownsharedoneexample:“I
3Thisfiguredoesnotincludereportsthatwerereceivedbythesystemthatweredeterminedtobeinvalidreports
(e.g.didnotincludeareportofanytypeofabusee.g.areportofaneedforroadrepairorbrokenwell;blank
messages,messagesof‘pleasecallme’etc.).
24
haveused[theTGCI]hotlinetoreportcasethatwasperpetratedagainstmysister.Butunfortunately,theperpetratorescapedbecauseittooktimeforthepolicetoarrive.”Lackofresourcescouldslowdowninvestigation,withastakeholderinWestPointnotingthat
“governmentresponsesaregradualbecausegatheringevidenceforcasestakestimeandwelackthetechnologytostrikefast.”Also,thelackofresourcesmeantthatwaslittlesupportforsurvivorsofsexualassault.Inthe
endline,oneexamplecamefromateacherinJosephTown:“Aladybetweentheagesof30-38wasraped,andtherewasnotrainedgenderbasedviolencenursearoundtocheckforevidence.Justicewasdestroyed.”AcrosstheProjectfeedbackloopsandinterviews,individualsrepeatedlyspokeuptonotethattheunderstaffedpoliceforce,limitedtransportationoptions,
lackofmedicalcare,anddistancetocourtfacilitiescreatedbarrierstopersecuting
perpetrators,supportingsurvivors,andensuringthatjusticewasserved.
4.3.2. Culturalpractice:Negotiating(compromising)withperpetrators
ThroughouttheProjectperiod,theissueofcompromisinghasbeenadominantchallengeto
addressingchildsexualabuse.Inthebaseline,KIIparticipantsmentionedthatparents
compromisedcasesinordertoreceivemoney.Inthefeedbackloops,instancesofcompromise
cameupwithparents,communityleaders,andevenpolice.Thiscreatedasituationinwhich
manycaseswereultimatelyunresolvedbecausetheywerecompromisedbeforeproperaction
couldbetaken.Inaddition,somecasescontinuetobeunreported.AsaUnificationTown
stakeholdernoted,“[manyfamilies]prefer[casesofsexualassault]betakentotheirelderfordiscussionthantobeforwardedtothecourtforproperinvestigation.”Victimswerepressured
tocompromisecases,suchasincreasingtheirageorrefusingtotestify.Schoolsand
communitiescouldcompromisetomaintaintheirreputationwhilefamiliessoughtoutfinancial
payoffs.Thisissueremainedconsistentacrossindividualsandtimepoints,showingthatit
continuestobeasubstantialobstacleinconfrontingchildsexualabuseinLiberia.
OneofthemostsignificantchangesduringtheProjectperiodwascitizen’sperceptionofthe
roleofGovernment.Citizenrespondentsinthebaselinesurveywerenotawarethatthe
governmentwasmandatedtofollow-uponreportsofchildsexualabuse.Incontrast,inthe
endline,participantsclearlysawthegovernmentasresponsibleforthisresponseandfulfilling
thisrolewithmoderatetohighdegreesofsuccess.Forexample,acrosstheendlineKIIs,
participantslargelyviewedministryofficialsastrustworthyandcommittedtofollowingupon
reports.Participantsidentifiedthewaysinwhichministryofficialswouldkeeptheminformed
ofdevelopmentswhetherthroughcalls,visits,ortheiroffice.AsonemaninBehTownshared,
“TheresponsefromtheMinistryofGendertocitizens’complaintsaboutchildsexualabuseisgood.Whenevertheyreceivethesecomplaints,theynormallypursuethesecasesandseetoitthatthevictimsarewelltakingcareofmedically,andjusticebeservedtotheperpetrator.TheGenderMinistryistrustworthywhenitcomestothesecases,excepttheyarenotinformedaboutit.Citizensarealwaysinformedabouttheircasesthroughvisitationandcellphones
25
communications.Wejustneedgoodroadsandcellphonenetworksystems,becausetheyarefactorsthathinderstheresponsivenessoftheMinistry.”
AboyinUnificationTownechoesthissentiment,sharingthat“wehaveseenthemactingandmakingsurecasesarefollowedandencouragingpeopletoreportchildsexualabuse.”ThesecitizenviewsoftheMinistryresponseandfollow-upnotedthatissuesof
compromiseoftenhappenedwiththoseclosesttothecase---parents,teachers,even
communityleaders.Inthesecases,policeandministryofficialswereoften,thoughnot
always,seenasmorereliableandlesslikelytobeinfluenced.Moreover,asparticipants
wereabletocitesuccessfulcasesthatwerereportedandadjudicated,individualswere
morelikelytobelievethatthegovernmentwassuccessfullyfulfillingitsrole.
Nonetheless,multipleindividualsalsomentionedthattheministrycoulddomoreto
collaborate.Forexample,endlineinterviewsrevealedadisconnectthatsometimeshappened
withthevictimandtheirfamiliesaftertheinitialreporting.AsastakeholderinJosephTown
explained,
Thevictims’familiesareimpatienttofollowuptheircase.Theyleavethecasethereandnevercomeback,buttheyareexpectingthecourttobecomemiracleswithouttheirpatience.So,whentheperpetratorsarereleased,theywouldsaythatwewerebeingbribedbytheperpetrator’sfamily.
Severalgovernmentofficialsnotedtheaccusationfromfamiliesthattheywerecompromising
thecase,suggestingthattransparencywasneededtoexplaintheprocessandroadblocksalong
theway.Thisconcernalsoechoedfindingsrelatedtothelimitedresourcesforvictims,asthe
lackoftransportationandstaffingmadegreatercoordinationbetweenMinistriesdifficult.
Insummary,weseethatduringthepastyearinthesefourCountiestherehasbeena
remarkableincreaseincitizenawarenessoftheroleandcapacityofgovernmentinaddressing
theproblemofchildsexualabuse.Citizensgenerallyviewgovernment’sroleinaddressingCSA
verypositively.Government,throughitsparticipationinpublicforums,ontheradio,andinits
publicwebsite,trackingprogressonreporting,apprehending,investigating,arrestingand
convictingperpetrators,hasearnedcitizen’sappreciationandrespect.However,itisalsoclear
thatthelackofresourcesfortheMinistryofJustice,andtotheMinistryofGender,isa
significantbarriertoapprehendingperpetratorsandtosupportvictims.Further,thepracticeof
protectingperpetratorsbyfamilymembers,schoolandcommunityleaders(andvery
occasionallygovernmentofficers),sometimeswithcompromisingpayoffs,andsometimesjust
toattempttokeepareputation,continues.
26
4.4. IsthereevidenceonanychangeintheincidenceofCSA?Whatdocitizensbelieveaboutthis?
Therearetwolong-termgoalsfortheProject:Increasedcitizenengagementwith
governmentonsocialpolicyandaction,andreducedincidenceofchildsexualabuse.The
overallhypothesisoftheProjectisthatthecombinationofcommunicationsandtheSMS/hotlinedatabasesystemwillcatalyzegreatercitizenengagementandactionablereporting,resultinginreducedincidenceofchildsexualabuse.Asnotedintheintroductiontothissectiononfindings,itwouldbeunrealistictoexpectthatinlittlemorethanasingleyear
therewouldbeevidencethatthesecondoutcomewasachieved.Wewouldhopetoseean
increaseinreportinginthefirststage,andonlyatasecondstageevidenceforthedeclinein
theactualincidenceofCSA.Thisdeclinewouldresultfromheightenedcitizenawarenessand
condemnationofCSA,andincreasedexposureofperpetratorstoarrestandconviction.The
evidencefromtheGovernmentdatabase,expandedoninTable13,indicatedthatalthoughthe
rateoftotalandacceptedreportsincreasedthroughDecemberof2016,itthereafterdeclined
throughJune2017.
Table13:ReportsReceivedandActedonbyQuarterforFourCounties
DateRangeReports
Received
CSAReports
Received,
Investigated,
Arrested
CSA
Perpetrators
Charged
CSACasesinCourt
CSA
Perpetrators
Convicted
July-Sept.2016 33 12 5 5 2
Oct.-Dec.2016 73 55 29 26 16
Jan.-Mar.2017 41 35 16 8 1
Apr-June2017 29 18 18 18 10
TOTAL 176 120 68 57 29
Howcanweinterpretthistrend?Isitbasedontheactualreductionofreportedcrime(all
reports)andCSAafterDecember2016?Orisitthattheincidenceandreportingissensitiveto
theseasons?Or,isitthatcitizensareforreasonsthatarenotclear,simplyreducingtheiruseof
theSMS/hotlinesystem?Theevidenceprovideddoesnotgiveusananswertothisimportant
question.Thus,wewillturntotheinterviewsandfeedbackloopstolistentothevoicesof
citizens,governmentofficials,teachers,andcommunityleaders. Accordingtorespondentsintheendlineinterviews,whenaskedwhethertheyhadheardabout
orexperiencedformsofphysicalandsexualharassmentorabuseagainstchildrenintheircommunityinthelastthreemonths,physicalabuseathomewasthemostcommon,followed
bysexualharassmentathome.Lookingatthechangeovertime,therearesignificantlymore
peoplesayingthatthissortofabusehappens‘often’.Thissuggeststhatcommunitymembers
aremoreawareofsuchincidences,ratherthantherebeinganactualincreaseinincidence
sincethebaseline.Inotherwords,thepictureatendlineislikelyamoreaccuratedepictionof
thesituationascomparedtobaseline,whentheissuewaslikelymoretabooandlessdiscussed.
27
Table14:IncidenceofAbuseofChildreninlast3monthsinCommunity,byGender-%saying‘often’(onscaleofdon’tknow,
never,sometimes,andoften)
Typeofabuse Gender
BASELINE
Often
(n=402)
ENDLINE
Often
(n=380)
Physicalabuseathome
Female 25.5% 32.5%*
Male 22.8% 53.3%
Total 24.1% 43.3%
Sexualharassmentathome
Female 12.0% 17.0%*
Male 6.4% 33.5%
Total 9.2% 25.6%
Sexualabuseathome
Female 2.0% 12.4%
Male 3.0% 25.5%
Total 2.5% 19.2%
Sexualharassmentoutsidehome
Female 51.5% 12.9%
Male 28.7% 30.2%*
Total 40.0% 21.9%
Sexualabuseoutsidehome
Female 10.5% 11.9%*
Male 9.9% 25.9%
Total 10.2% 19.2%
Asterisk(*)indicatesthechangeisnotstatisticallysignificant
However,codingoftheopen-endedresponsesduringtheendlineKIIsrevealedthatthe
majorityofparticipants(73%)intheseextendedinterviewsstatedthattheythoughtchild
sexualabusewaseithernotcommonordecreasingintheircommunity.Only16(18%)believed
thattheprevalenceofchildsexualabusewasthesameorincreasing.Theinterviewssuggest
possiblereasonsfortheseapparentcontradictions.
Aspreviouslymentionedwhendiscussingthecommunicationchannels,multipleparticipants
mentionedanincreasedcommunitypresencefromthegovernmentandNGOsthatspread
messagestosensitizeindividualstoCSA.Thus,individualsmayhavedevelopedmoreawareness
ofinstancesofchildsexualassaultacrossthedurationoftheCGEProjectevenasthey
perceivedtheoverallclimateofviolencetobedecreasing.
InthebaselineKIIs,participantsnotedthatrapecaseswereoftenhandledatthecommunity
levelratherthanwithpolice.Aperceptionoftheincreasecouldbethatthesereportsarenow
happeningofficially,ratherthanbeingsettledinthecommunity.Thisfindingiscomplicated,as
manyparticipantsidentifiedthatmultiplecasesarestillcompromisedinawaythatlimited
theirreportingandresponse.AccordingtoastakeholderinTiene,“Eventhoughitisstillhappening,butatalowerrate,morepeoplearehidingit.Wearegettingintelligenceandinvestigatingsuspectedcasesthathavebeencompromised.”AmaninWestPointoffered
28
anotherclearcomplication,sharingthat“Childsexualabusesinthecommunityarebeginningtoreduce.Twothingsmightbethereasons:peopleareafraidtoreportoritisnothappening.”Finally,theremaybeinstancesofchildsexualassaultthatindividualscontinuetooverlookdue
totheculturalnorms,illustratingareaswheresensitizationeffortshavefallenshort.For
example,amalestakeholderinTienisharedduringthebaseline:
“Peopleheredon'tseerapeasanissue…Islamisoneofthemajorreligionshere,theyusuallydon'tobeytherequisitelawsformarriage.Whenachildreachespubertytheyarrangeformarriage.Sometimesasyoungas12,13,14-yearoldchildrenarewivesinthiscommunity.”
Insummary,itisatthispointvirtuallyimpossibletodetermine,fromtheevidenceathand,the
trendintheactualincidenceofchildsexualabuse.Althoughrespondents’in-depthinterviews
attheendlinestatedthatCSAwaseithernotaproblemordecreasingandthedatafromthe
governmentdatabaseshowsadeclineinreportedcases,therearealsocounterindicationsthat
peopleareincreasinglyhidingcasesoracceptingcasesofchildmarriageasmerelycustomary.It
willtakemorethanayearoffulloperationsinthefourcountriesforthelong-termgoalof
reducingCSAbeginstobeevident.
4.5. Whathasbeenthecontributionofdevelopmentalevaluationusingfeedbackloopsandcollaborativeconsultation?
TheTGCI/CGEProjectseekstousedevelopmentalevaluationasanorganizationallearning
approachsoastoimproveitsstrategies,actionsandimpact.Evenmorefundamentally,
developmentalevaluation,asdesignedfortheProject,seekstoengagecitizenswith
governmentinlearningfromandimprovinguponthoseactivitiesthatstrengthencivilsociety
onsocialpolicyandpracticetoaddressthesocialplagueofchildsexualabuse.
Thedevelopmentalevaluationapproachisbasedonaseriesofwhatwastermed“feedback
loops,”comprisedofi)aregularcycleoffieldresearch,usingkeyinformantinterviewsand
focusgroups,toassesstheeffectivenessofprojectactivities;andii)theconveningofvoluntary
stakeholderconsultativemeetingstoreviewthatevidence,todrawfromtheirownexperience
andinsighttoassessthemeaningoftheevidence,andtomakerecommendationsforhowthe
Projectcanmakeadaptationstoimproveperformancetowardsthekeyoutcomesandgoals.
TheProjectseekstodemonstratehowthisapproachcanengagekeystakeholders(citizens,
communityleaders,governmentofficers,teachers,andstaff)aspartnersintheanalysisandco-
designersofimprovedinterventions.
Althoughthedatagatheringprocessforthefeedbackloopsworksatrepresentative,selected
communities,thestakeholderconsultationsareheldattheCountylevel.Duringtheperiod
fromSeptember2016whentheProjectevaluationbegan,throughtoAugust2017,theProject
carriedoutthreefeedbackloops:
29
Table15:StructureofFeedbackLoops
TIMEFRAME
Sourceofdataforanalysis&
consultations:FieldResearch
CountyLevelStakeholderConsultativeGroups
FeedbackLoop1
Sep2016–data
Oct2016-Meetings
Resultsofbaselinesurvey(402)and
interviews(98)summarizedfor
StakeholderConsultations.
Between15and20stakeholdersmetineach
countyforeachFeedbackLoop.Stakeholder
GroupswerecomposedofGovernmentOfficials
fromMinistryofGender,Health,Justice,
Education,andBureauofImmigrationand
Neutralization,NGOs,women’sgroupleaders,
youthleaders,pastors,Imams,peoplefromthe
media,civilsocietyorganizations,marketersand
theCountyAttorney.Therewereatotalof,on
average,75stakeholdersplusProjectstaffwho
servedasfacilitatorsforeachoftheoneday
consultativemeetingsheldinthefourcounties. TheStakeholderConsultativeGroupsmetforone
fulldayforeachofthethreeFeedbackLoopcycles
FeedbackLoop2
Jan2017-data
Feb2017–meetings
5localitiesforeachof4Counties,
with306interviews(15per
community)plus5focusgroups.
FeedbackLoop3
May2017-data
Jun2017-meetings
5localitiesforeachof4Counties
3focusgroupsineachlocality
(adults,malechildren,female
children)plusoneCountylevelFG
withgovernment&teachers.(total
of63focusgroups=819participants
Whenthefielddataforeachofthefeedbackloopswasanalyzedandsummarized(thiswas
donebyanexternalconsultant),itwasprovidedtotheStakeholderConsultativeGroups,
facilitatedbyCGEProjectstaff.Thefulldayconsultationsineachcounty,engaging15to20
representativesfromgovernment,civilsociety,youthleaders,women’sgroupsandreligious
bodies,examinetheinformationprovidedfromthefieldwork,providetheirviewsastothe
significanceandmeaningofthesefindings,determinethecentralissuestoaddress,and
providerecommendationsastonextsteps.Table16providesabriefsummaryofthisprocess
ofconsultation,drawingfromtherecordsofthefieldresearchandtheStakeholder
ConsultativeGroups.TheTablehighlightsthekeyissuesthatemergedfromtheanalysisofthe
feedbackloopfieldresearch,andsomeoftherecommendationsthatarosefromthe
stakeholderconsultationsheldineachofthefourCountiesforeachofthethreeFeedbackLoop
cycles.
30
Table16:RepresentativeIssuesandRecommendationsfrom
FeedbackLoops
KeyIssues:From
FieldResearch:FocusGroups&KIIs
SampleRecom
mendationsfrom
StakeholderConsultationsFeedbackLoop1
• Highlevelofcitizenaw
arenessthatCSAisprevalent,wrong,andillegal
• CitizensandG
overnmentAgenciespositiveabouttheuseofanSM
Sreportingsystem
•
Accessanduseofcellphones/SMSishighform
en,butverylow,lessthan
20%,forw
omen,andespeciallyyoungerw
omenw
hoarethemost
frequentvictims
• Needtohelpyoungerw
omengainaccesstocellphones–seekhelpof
older,trustedwom
anincommunity
• Provideguidanceastow
hereincommunitypeoplew
ithoutaccesstophonescangoforhelptoreportCSAcases
• Guidancetocom
munitym
emberstoassistlaw
enforcementofficersto
apprehendknownperpetrators
• Seekw
aystobetterpromoteknow
ledgeanduseofSMSplatform
inourcom
munities
FeedbackLoop2
• Schoolsareakeyplaceforaw
arenessraisingandbehaviorchangemessagesonG
BVandCSA-buttheycanalsobepredatory.Youthclubsandwom
en’sgroupscanstrengthenawarenesscam
paign.•
UseofSM
Sisimpairedbyilliteracy,espforw
omeninruralcom
munities;
alsonotedthatradiocoveragewaslim
ited.Expandradiocoverage,esp.inlocallanguagesusingdram
a,music,jingles.
• Reportingcanbehazardous,espw
hereperpetratorknowsthevictim
andthereporter.
• Significanceof‘com
promising’cases,bynegotiatingorpayingperpetrator
andvictimtorem
ainsilent.
• Increasethecam
paigninschoolswithm
eetings,posters,broadcasts;Engageyouthclubstoreachouttootheryouth,inschoolandout.
• Seekm
eansforprovidingyoungwom
enwithaccesstophones,helpin
sendingSMS(com
munications/radio)
• Stepupthedevelopm
entanduseofradioand‘pocket=sized’postersdistribution,sothateverycom
munityineachCountyisreached:use
schools,churches,mosques,tow
nhalls,markets,hospitalsandtow
nhalls.•
Inforumsandcom
municationsaddressissuesrelatedtopoverty,w
herebychildrenarehighlyvulnerabletoabuseinexchangeforgiftsand/ormoney.
FeedbackLoop3
• ProsandconsofSM
Svshotlinereviewed
• Recentincreaseinreachingw
omenandchildren,notedthatthepreference
wasforthosew
ithoutphonestoseekoutatrustedadult.•
YouthFGssaidtheydonotfeelsafeintheircom
munitiesw
ithdomestic,
sexualandphysicalviolencecommon,alongsidedruguse,neglectandeven
witchcraft.Youthneedtoreceivem
oreprotectionfromcom
munity
leaders,policy,schoolheads.•
GirlsFG
sfeltsexualharassmentandviolencew
ererampant,w
heretheywereabusedbyrelatives,strangersandadultsw
ithpowerandm
oney.Agirlbecom
ingpregnantfromrapeisstigm
atizedandisolated,sotheyfearcom
ingforward.
• Com
promise,w
herebyanadultinpowerseekstosuppressinform
ationaboutabuseandnegotiatew
iththeperpetratorcontinuestobeacommon
practice,
• Casesofyouthfriendshipandorganizationcanbothm
itigatetheisolationfollow
ingCSA,andcansupportthereportingoftheabuse.Youthclubsandorganizationsshouldbeassistedw
ithguidelinesandinformation.
• Continuew
iththeawareness-raisingcam
paign,craftingradioandposter/flyerm
essagesinresponsetoyouthvoicesandencouragingyouthfriendshipandorganization;
• Continuew
iththelocalradioprograms,jingles,anddram
a–thesearegainingw
idespreadfollowingandappreciation
• Enhancethecoordinationbetw
eenpolice,socialworkersandcourtsw
hoallplayakeyroleincoordinationofCSAcases.
• StrengthenthecapacityoftheM
inistryofGenderstafftoprovide
feedbackaboutreportedcasessoastoexpeditependingcasesofCSAinthecourts.
31
Therearetwoimportantoutcomesthatarisefromthedesignandapplicationofdevelopmentalevaluationusingfeedbackloops.First,itmodelstherelationshipbetweencivilsocietyandgovernmentinusingevidenceandstakeholdersownexperienceandinsightstounderstandkeysocialissues,analyzethefactorsrelatedtothoseissues,andpresentsolutionstoaddressingtheseissues.Secondly,theProjectitselfnotonlybenefitsfromtheeyes,experience,andjudgementofkeystakeholdersinshapingitswork,butsimultaneouslyhelpstobuildthelocalcapacitytoaddressissues.Inthiscase,theProjectbuiltcapacitytoaddressthehighincidenceofchildsexualabuse. However,thereisadownsidetothedevelopmentalevaluationmodelthatwasusedfortheTGCI/CGEProject.Itrequiresahighlevelofleadershipandmanagementaswellasasubstantialnumberandcapacityoffieldstafftocarryouttheresearch,toconducttheanalysisandpresentationofdata(theProjectrequiredexternalconsultantstoassistwiththiswork),andtofacilitatetheStakeholderConsultativeGroups.Finally,itrequiresresourcesfarbeyondtheusualprojectbudgetformonitoringandevaluation.Inthiscase,thedevelopmentalevaluationmodelneededabout10%ofthetotalprojectbudget.ThisillustratestheargumentthatdevelopmentalevaluationisparticularlyeffectiveforapilotProjectwhichseekstocreateeffectivestrategiesandactivitiesusingfeedbackandtoengagelocalpartnersandstakeholdersinthatlearningprocess.Thereisnosimpleanswertothequestion,“Isthisgoodvalueformoney?”Doestheextraeffortrequiredforthedevelopmentalevaluationandfeedbackloopprocessprovidebetterprojectresults(inthiscaseincreasedcitizenengagementwithgovernmentonsocialpolicyandactionrelatedtoCSAand,ultimately,thereductionofincidentsofCSA?)?TheevidenceprovidedinthisreportonthechangesincitizenknowledgeandattitudestowardCSA;thelevelofreportingusingthenewSMS/hotlinesystemandthegovernmentdatabasetrackingsystem;theincreaseincitizenawarenessoftherole,responsibilitiesandcapacitiesofgovernment;andtheearly,mixedevidenceonthereductionofchildsexualabuse,suggestthatthisProject,overtheperiodofjustmorethanoneyear,hasmadecommendableprogress.Itisevidentthatthedevelopmentalevaluationandfeedbackloopshavemadeanimportantcontributiontothatprogress,inparticulartotheimprovedrelationshipsandpartnershipbetweencitizensandgovernment,asexemplifiedbytheregularmeetingsanddeliberationsoftheStakeholderConsultativeGroups.
5. CONCLUSIONSANDRECOMMENDATIONS ThisevaluationsoughttoanswerfivekeyquestionsrelatedtotheProject’stheoryofchange:RegardingtheperiodfromthebaselineassessmentinSeptember2016totheendlineassessmentinAugust2017-
32
i) Hastherebeenachangeincitizens’knowledgeandattitudesaboutchildsexualabuse?Ifso,whatcontributionhastheprojectmadetothischange?
ii) Hastherebeenachangeincitizen-governmentengagementinthelevelofreportingusingthetheSMS/Hotline?Whatfactorsinfluencethisusage?
iii) WhathasbeenGovernmentresponsetocitizenreportsofCSA?iv) IsthereevidenceonanychangeintheincidenceofCSA?Whatdocitizensbelieveabout
this?v) Whathasbeenthecontributionofthedevelopmentalevaluationusingfeedbackloops
andcollaborativeconsultation? Toanswerthesequestionstheevaluationdrewonthequantitativeandqualitativedataandanalysisfromboththebaselineandendlinereports,andonthedata,analysis,andconsultationsfromthethreefeedbackloops.Thebaselineandendline,usingarandomlyselectedsampleofapproximately400respondents,providedthestatisticalpowertodeterminewhetherthechangessoughtbytheProjectactuallyoccurred.Wecanbeconfidentthat,inregardstothefirstthreequestions,therehasbeensignificantandpositivechange.Thefourthquestion,concerningevidenceonchangeintheactualincidenceofCSA,doesnotofferaclearansweratthispoint:asingleyearisaveryshorttimeforsuchadeeplyrootedperniciousbehaviortobetransformed.SincetheevidenceontheincidenceofCSAisonlynowbeginningtoemerge,weonlyhavethevoicesandopinionsfrominterviewsandstakeholdersthattheincidenceofCSAisdeclining.Finally,althoughitisnotpossibletoquantitativelyassessthecontributionofthedevelopmentalevaluationapproachusingthefeedbackloopstotheachievementofProjectoutcomes,webelievethatthisapproachmadeanimportantcontributiontototheimprovedrelationshipandpartnershipbetweencitizensandgovernment,asmodeledbytheregularmeetingsanddeliberationsoftheStakeholderConsultativeGroups.Thesefindingsaresummarizedbelow.
5.1. Citizens’knowledgeandattitudesaboutchildsexualabuseTheevidencefromthesurveysandfeedbackloopsshowthatwhilegender-basedviolenceagainstchildrenwasuniversallycondemnedatbothbaselineandendline,thereweresignificantchangesinspecificattitudestowardsparticularbehaviors,withgirlsandwomengenerallygrowingstrongerintheircondemnationofallformsofsexualmisconduct,andexpandingtherangeofbehaviorswhicharecondemned.Further,thefeedbackloopsandin-depthinterviewsrevealedalevelofcomplexityinchildsexualharassmentandabusethatisrelatedononehandtopoverty,andontheothertothepersistenceoftraditionalculturalpracticesofrelationshipsofoldermenwithyoungerwomenandgirls.
33
5.2. Citizen-governmentengagementinthelevelofreportingusingtheSMS/HotlineItisclearthattheTGCI/CGEProjecthasbeensuccessfulin(1)establishingtheSMS/hotlinesystem;(2)thatcitizensknowandappreciatethissystem,informedbythemultiplecommunicationchannelsdevelopedandrefinedbytheProjectoverthepastyear;and(3)thatasignificantnumberofreportsaresubmittedtotheMinistryofGender.However,therecontinuetobebarrierstotheuseofthesystem,includingtherelativelackofaccessforyoungercitizenstomobilephones,thelowerlevelofliteracyforfemalespreventingtheuseoftheSMS,andalingeringsenseofthreatandvulnerabilityparticularlyfortheyoung,whoconsideritnecessarytoreportcasesthroughtheirparentsoranothertrustedadult.
5.3. GovernmentresponsetocitizenreportsofCSADuringthepastyearinthefourProjectcountiestherehasbeenaremarkableincreaseincitizenawarenessoftheroleandcapacityofgovernmentinaddressingtheproblemofchildsexualabuse.Citizensgenerallyviewgovernment’sroleinaddressingCSAverypositively.Governmenthasearnedcitizen’sappreciationandrespectthroughparticipationinpublicforumsandtrackingprogressonreporting,apprehending,investigating,arresting,andconvictingperpetrators,.However,itisalsoclearthatthelackofresourcesfortheMinistryofJustice,andtotheMinistryofGender,isasignificantbarriertoapprehendingperpetrators,andtosupportvictims.Further,thepracticeofprotectingperpetratorsbyfamilymembers,schoolandcommunityleaders(andveryoccasionallygovernmentofficers),sometimeswithcompromisingpayoffs,andsometimesjusttoattempttokeepareputation,continues.
5.4. TheincidenceofCSAAtthispoint,itisvirtuallyimpossibletodeterminethetrendintheactualincidenceofchildsexualabusefromtheevidenceathand.Althoughrespondent’sin-depthinterviewsattheendlinestatedthatCSAwaseithernotaproblemordecreasing,andthedatafromthegovernmentdatabaseshowsadeclineinreportedcases,therearealsocounterindications.BothsurveydataandsomeKIIparticipantsbelievethatpeopleareincreasinglyhidingcases.WhenCSAinvolveschildmarriage,familiesacceptthisascustomaryandnotacaseofchildsexualabuse.Itwilltakemorethanayearoffulloperationsinthefourcountriesforthelong-termgoalofreducingCSAbeginstobeevident.
5.5. ThecontributionofthedevelopmentalevaluationTheevidenceprovidedinthisreportonthechangesincitizenknowledgeandattitudestowardCSA;thelevelofreportingusingthenewSMS/hotlinesystemandthegovernmentdatabasetrackingsystem;theincreaseincitizenawarenessoftherole,responsibilitiesandcapacitiesofgovernment;andtheearly,mixedevidenceonthereductionofchildsexualabuse,suggestthatinitsrelativelybriefdurationtheProjecthasmadecommendableprogress.Itisevidentthatthedevelopmentalevaluationandfeedbackloopshavemadeimportantcontributionstothat
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progress,particularlyinstrengtheningrelationshipsandthepartnershipbetweencitizensandgovernmentexemplifiedbytheregularmeetingsoftheStakeholderConsultativeGroups.
6. RecommendationInordertotransformhumanrelationshipsandbehaviortowardsgreaterjusticeandequity,anydevelopmentalprojectmustseektobuildgreaterunderstanding,capacity,andcommitmentswithlocalpartnersatthehousehold,community,county/districtlevels,national,andprogramlevels.Thisprocess,ashasbeennotedbymanywhoworkinthisfield,mustrecognizethatdevelopmentmeansbuildingrelationships.Thisrequirestimetodeveloptrust,appreciationandempathywithcommunitiesandstakeholdersalongsidepracticalknowledgeofhowtogetthingsdoneinacomplexandchallengingenvironment.TheTGCI/CGEProjectisstillattheearlystagesofapromisingapproachtoengagingcitizenswithgovernmentinaddressingthesocialplagueofchildsexualabuseinLiberia.ThisevaluationhasdemonstratedthattheProjectismakingprogressinanextremelychallengingandcomplexenvironment.Itisevolvingthroughthebuildingofrelationships,andcapacitiesthatprovidethefoundationforfurtherdevelopmentsandaction.TherecommendationisthatCGEPshouldcontinuetoexpand,tolearnandgrow,andtoputinplaceastrongdevelopmentalevaluationframework.ThiswillallowtheProjecttobothassessitsprogressandtocreateinnovativesolutionsforreducingchildsexualabuse,andmoregenerallygender-basedviolence.Ithasbuiltastrongfoundationtogrowthatimportantwork.
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ANNEX1:TGCI-CGEPPOSTER