Mongolia evaluation final
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The internal evaluation report summarizes the Travelling Libraries and Training Centres Project in Mongolia from 2010-2011. Key points: 1) The project aimed to improve access to information, education, and skills training for rural people through mobile libraries and training centers. 2) Evaluations with staff and beneficiaries found that the number and quality of trainings increased significantly over previous projects. Trainings covered topics like business, vocational skills, and civic education. 3) Beneficiaries reported improved knowledge, skills, incomes, and self-confidence as a result of the trainings. Staff also improved their professional capacities through their work on the project. 4) While the project made progress, staff noted
Mongolia evaluation final
- 1. Internal Evaluation Report of the Travelling Libraries and Training Centres Project Ilona Kalliola and Minna Ala-Orvola Project information Name of project: Travelling libraries - Training Centres TL-TC Name of organization: Information and Education Centre (IEC) Project duration: 2010-2011, continuation of 2007-2009 project Funding: The National Union of University Students in Finland SYL and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland The objective of this project has been to improve the access of rural people in Tov, Arkhangai and Dornod provinces in Mongolia to information services and civic education, vocational training and small business courses through improving the Travelling Libraries-Training Centres (TL-TCs). The first project was carried out in 2007-2009. Its main objective was to improve TL-TCs’ library and training services in Tov, Arkhangai and Dornod provinces. The library service was improved by increasing the number of municipalities visited (from 10 in 2006 to 55 in 2008), buying more materials for TL-TCs (4417 books during 2007 and 2008), hiring three new librarians and buying three new gers. The training service was improved by expanding the variety and number of courses held. In 2006 there were short basic knowledge courses held on civic education. Now the TL-TCs work more professionally in order to help people to generate income, to save money, to establish businesses and to co-operate in business, environment and other community issues, including working against violence towards women and girls, waste and other socio-economic problems. During 2007-2009 courses have been held on civic education, vocational skills training and small business training. For the years 2010-11 the focus was to better establish the current activities and to strengthen IEC´s capacity and self-sufficiency. The main risks identified were that the travelling libraries and training centres do not provide the information and education most needed, the quality of the library services and trainings do not meet the targets set, the project organization does not learn and respond to the changing needs of its beneficiaries and the uncertain financial situation caused by the global crisis. In advance, the number of people attending trainings per year in three provinces was approximated to be 1500. More than 60 % of beneficiaries were to be women.
- 2. Introduction to the evaluation The evaluation was done during two weeks in Mongolia, on 9.-21.8.2011. The project will still continue for four months after the evaluation. During the time in Mongolia we conducted 19 semi- structured interviews. Seven of them were group interviews with anywhere between three and 17 people. For some of the interviews we used an interpreter, for some IEC staff translated for us. In addition to interviews for beneficiaries we also conducted two evaluation workshops for IEC staff: the first one for the staff from Tuv and Arkhangai, the second for the staff from Dornod and the central office in Ulaan Baatar. As a basis for the evaluation workshops for the employees we used Max Peberdy’s three universal questions of evaluation (presented below). We only included trainings in the evaluation, as we agreed the libraries could be evaluated through numerical information. Due to limited time we only interviewed beneficiaries in Dornod and Tuv provinces, although the project has the same activities in Arkhangai province as well. In Tuv we visited the province center Zuunmod and rural areas like Jargalant soum, in Dornod we only visited Choibalsan. Main goals of the project In the evaluation we have compared the achievements of the project to the goals set in the project plan. The development objectives and results targeted with the project were the following: - Long term development objective: to reduce the negative impacts of poverty in Tov, Arkhangai and Dornod provinces - Direct objective (limited by area of implementation and group of beneficiaries): to provide an improved library and training service in Tov, Arkhangai and Dornod for the rural people of those provinces The results targeted by this project (only results for trainings included here): Expanded and improved Training Centres provide skills, small business and civic education training During the continuation years 2010-11 training centres were to concentrate on improving the quality of the courses according to participants’ needs. The aim of skills trainings is to provide new means of self-sufficiency and food security and to raise the awareness of civic rights for the rural people in Mongolia. Trainings will be conducted throughout the year. RESULT 1 Learning material is produced ACTIVITY - Development of learning materials - Purchasing training materials DATA - Learning materials distributed - Modules, curricula and learning materials developed
- 3. RESULT 2 The trainings are organized more systematically ACTIVITY - A training calendar will be established DATA - The training calendar will be documented RESULT 3 Trained people are satisfied with the trainings ACTIVITY - Surveying educational needs in every province through feedback questioneers after each training - Providing feedback and follow up mechanism DATA - Perceptions of students on quality and relevance of training (feedback, interviews) - Perceptions of students on quality and relevance of learning materials (feedback, interviews) RESULT 4 Children’s capacity for community action is improved ACTIVITY - Establishing new child groups, activating existing groups and connecting groups DATA - Number and age of children and youth participating in plays, trainings, competitions and other actions - Number and subject of activities for children RESULT 5 50 trainings are organized in each aimag ACTIVITY - Organizing 50 trainings in each province on the three topics (vocational skills, civic education and small business education), 150 trainings altogether DATA - Number and subject of trainings/courses RESULT 6 At least 60 % of the people participating are women ACTIVITY - Marketing trainings having women as a special target group DATA - Number of people attending the courses and age of participants RESULT 7 TCs’ trainings will become more known and frequented ACTIVITY - Marketing of trainings having women as a special target group DATA - Proportion of women attending courses All courses are not conducted every year. The trainings organized will be based on a needs analysis. - Vocational skills courses: Wool processing and knitting, Quilting and patchwork, Vegetable farming, Poultry, Dairy production and Farming - Small Business courses: Business idea development, Accounting, Budgeting, Marketing and Solidarity groups - Civic education: Topics for adults: solidarity groups, health, democracy, gender issues, children’s rights for adults; for children and youth: Environment, Health, Sexual education, Human rights, Children’s rights, Philanthropy, Democracy, Freedoms and Duties, Leadership, Communication, Economy, Computer, Internet, Professions, English and German languages and Handiwork
- 4. Main results of the evaluation Employees In the two evaluation workshops for the employees we discussed the project through the following questions: 1. Did we do what we said we would do? ● How has the project progressed?Compared to what you thought you would achieve, have you achieved a lot? ● How did the trainings succeed? Name some different trainings ● What changes have you made to the project and what do you do differently now than in the beginning? 2. Did we make any difference? ● What kind of feedback have you got from the beneficiaries? ● What changes have you noted in the lives of the beneficiaries? ● How has the work of IEC changed or improved during the project? 3. Did we do the right things? ● If the objective was to reduce poverty, are the library and trainings good activities to reach that? ● What would you do differently in the future? ● What else would you have hoped for from IEC/SYL? 1. How has the project progressed? Compared to what you thought you would achieve, have you achieved a lot? There was an agreement that the project has been implemented very successfully. The staff agreed that compared to the 2007-2009 SYL project, the main changes were that the number of clients has increased, the travelling library has become a very active NGO, other local NGOs are willing to cooperate with them and the TL-TCs have become the centers of information of their areas. There are more participants in trainings now, the number has roughly doubled and there are also more trainings. When SYL funding began, there were only civic education trainings, now there are also vocational and business trainings. The quality of trainings is better, as the materials, the trainers and the way the trainings are organized have all improved. The trainers are more experienced now, so the trainings are of a better quality than in previous years. The staff estimated that the trainings had been quite successful, as after the training two thirds had somehow changed their lifestyle or increased their income. It was thought that the project is effective because trainings are made to suit people, consultation services, networking of the organization and cooperation with other NGOs. There has been more planning of the activities and trainings than before, now the needs of the people in the countryside are the most important base for trainings, although it was noted that people may also have different needs. Now they also travel to soums in the winter as well, before SYL projects they did not.
- 5. With SYL support, NGOs, government officials and private organizations have learned to cooperate effectively. The behaviour and attitudes of many local government officials has changed as they have realised that NGOs have the same goals as the government. Co-operation with the government and other NGOs has become easier and more frequent. For some of the trainings the local government or other NGOs have asked the TL-TCs to organize these trainings, especially difficult trainings like those on human rights and violence and to give advice to other NGOs. Annual meetings with local governors and state librarians are also good for marketing IEC’s activities. 2. How did the training succeed? Name some different trainings. With SYL support, business and vocational trainings started and civic education trainings were improved. Trainings have become more versatile, as they now involve planning and consultation. The types of participants are different now, before many just came to gossip, eat and kill time and although there are still these people, now most come because they need the education. Before people came to the trainings alone, now they also make friends there and bring friends with them as well. Trainings have generally been popular, as they are totally new for many people. It has been easier to spread information now, as they have more contacts because of all the previous trainings. For example it was estimated that about 60 % of Tuv province’s people know IEC and many wait for their trainings. There is now a database of trainings containing their contents and ways of working and that is very important for improving IEC as an organization. In 2010 80 % of trainees were women, whereas the project aimed at training 60 % women. Now the quality of the trainings is evaluated with tests that measure the level of knowledge of participants before and after the trainings. Based on this information, the employees themselves estimated that business skills of trainees have increased 27 %, knowledge on civic education increased from 41-62 % and the knowledge of vocational trainees increased 30-33 %. Business trainings were very popular and the staff noted that the idea of business trainings has changed, as they realized that even a poor person can establish a business. A staff member concluded that some trainees could use the knowledge and skills to change their lives, but others lacked motivation and education, whereby the same trainings should be repeated to motivate them to be more active. Sometimes even though people attended the trainings they could not start a business, as they needed consultation for business plans and marketing. Therefore the TL-TC staff had started to help community groups and individuals to market their services and products and to participate in expos. Vocational training is important in the countryside, because people are only used to working with animals and a staff member thought that in Tuv the most effective training was the training on vegetable growing. The staff noted that for better trainings for example computers, copy machines and other technical devices would be needed.
- 6. 3. What changes have you made to the project and what do you do differently now than in the beginning? Compared to the first part of the project, in 2010-2011 new trainings were added, like reducing violence, legal training, the positive methods of growing up children, saltzteig, patchwork and cooking. TL-TCs now try to cooperate more with other NGOs as the staff had noted that the best results have been in cooperation with other organizations and they have managed to create cooperation networks in every province. For example, IEC had cooperated so well that they got equipment from Mercy Corps. “We are equipped, we have raised our capacity and developed our methodology”, said one employee. There is also extensive cooperation with local administration, the staff had learnt that they should know governmental policy programmes very well, participate in the programmes and cooperate. They had learnt that family business is the most effective form of business and also that people should work as a team or community, whereby they have encouraged the formation of groups. Many that take part in trainings now form groups on their own. There is a new method in use as the trainers try to involve the trainees during the training. 4. What kind of feedback have you got from the beneficiaries? 5. What changes have you noted in the lives of the beneficiaries? Feedback is collected after each training and 91,5 % gave an excellent grade to the training, based on the following criteria: teacher’s skills, abilities, training material, training environment (vocational and civic). There have also been suggestions to repeat trainings for certain groups and wishes for better technical teaching equipment. The atmosphere in trainings was seen as friendly and open. The TL-TC trainers have noted mental, economic and social changes in beneficiaries. The trainers can see the development in the trainees and sometimes the development is fast: for example 165 women in risky groups took part in a training and many of them got a job, went to the university, got married, had children, etc. The mentality of the citizens is changing. The basic knowledge and also specific knowledge on business has increased. The beneficiaries generate income and during our trainings people understand that they should have goals in life. Family incomes increase, people are more self-confident. A concrete result has been that people use raw material that went to waste before like yellow milk or parts of cloth. Organizing vocational trainings were more motivating to some as you can see the results faster and more concretely. Trainers got feedback from trainees of yellow milk training that they have increased family income or got a loan. Sometimes after business trainings people did not necessarily establish a business or get any additional income, but they learnt to produce products for family needs. If they would not know how to produce the product, they would have to buy it, so they save money by producing it themselves.
- 7. 6. How has the work of IEC changed or improved during the project? The staff felt that IEC is also a beneficiary and the capacity of the organization had really increased, there has been an increase in personnel and the organization is better known. Before SYL, IEC was a more hierarchical organization, now they are a team that is able to monitor and develop themselves. They feel they have a good team: dedicated people and good networkers. Work at IEC had also taught people a lot, “My speaking skills were zero, since I started at IEC I became a speaker, a lobby maker, learnt to develop manuals, learnt to plan and became open for surrounding people. I learnt to communication skills and became flexible. I’m a cleaner, trainer, librarian, manager, networker and person who can do monitoring.” IEC staff have learned to develop manuals and information sheets and pay more attention to planning, which has made their work more effective. In the beginning of the SYL project they organised anything, but now they plan and have a circle of trainings. Team members felt they had become more professional on working against poverty, “I gave private consultation to 109 people. 80 % of them received a loan from different sources, 90 people have a permanent working place and 220 people have seasonal jobs.” 7. If the objective was to reduce poverty, are the library and trainings good activities to reach that? Generally there was an agreement that the activities had been the right ones for the objective of reducing poverty. People get more information both from the library and the trainings and through that some also get more income. It was noted that although the libraries reduce poverty, trainings are more effective. In the conversations the staff spoke of the many different kinds of poverty like lack of knowledge and information, lack of skills and economic poverty. IEC has worked against all these forms of poverty, but they think that they should concentrate more on the lack of knowledge, because that changes behaviour and attitudes. Unfortunately it takes more time, resources and patience, but if they succeed in decreasing mental poverty, changing economic poverty will be easier. 8. What would you do differently in the future? The sustainability of the activities is a big challenge. The social need for TL-TC activities in Mongolia is great. “We have good personnel and a good team, but we need financial resources and that makes the continuity difficult.” There have been good results from the cooperation with SYL and it would be good to expand the activities to new areas. In the future one hoped for more TL-TC libraries, because they are the only travelling libraries in Mongolia and if they end, no one will take information to the nomads. With more support even more provinces could be reached. One idea for the future was that IEC could become a community group of its own that would earn its own income for its activities. Related to this was the idea that IEC should build teams, like their own, at the local level and serve people in groups, because it is more effective than serving individuals.
- 8. 9. What else would you have hoped for from IEC/SYL? In addition to more financial support, the staff wished for more capacity building to serve groups and people that run a family business. From SYL the staff hoped for experiences in other projects and an excursion to a country where there are strong community groups. Also, the need for an internet connection in the provinces was expressed as well as the need for devices like a projector and a laptop for trainings. Beneficiaries Although the initial idea was to concentrate on those who had been to IEC trainings in 2010 – 2011, during the evaluation it became clear that the results of these years will only be seen later and we also interviewed people who had been in trainings during 2007 – 2009. In general, many had heard about the trainings at the library, but not all were active library users, although all knew the library. Sometimes trainings were held at marketplaces and shops, because shop keepers are not able to leave their stores. The staff themselves noted that previously more people had just attended any training regardless of the subject and their need to learn. There were still some people who had been to all the trainings, for example a woman we met in Jargalant and a community group of vulnerable women in Dornod. However, some people went to many trainings on only one subject, for example all the business trainings or milk trainings. Sometimes many people in one family had attended different trainings or trainees wanted to teach the whole family what they had learnt. Some people felt they needed to attend the same training many times in order to be able to apply what they have learnt. Some staff members said that it is good to repeat trainings, as sometimes people do not learn everything at the first time. Some had attended trainings from the beginning of the TL-TCs, we met six women who had participated in vegetable growing, patchwork, quilting, yellow milk and business trainings. The first training was in 2005, when all the women attended berry and vegetable training and now each of them have five or six berry trees and they grow vegetables. The project aimed at 60 % of trainees to be women, in the end 80 % were women. We only talked with one male trainee and a woman who told us about the training her husband had been to. In both cases the men had been to a business training. Civic education Civic education courses included (from the project plan): Ø Topics: solidarity groups, health, democracy, gender issues, children rights for adults etc Ø Topics for children and youth: Environment, Health, Sexual education, Human rights, Children’s rights, Philanthropy, Democracy, Freedoms and Duties, Leadership, Communication, Economy, Computer, Internet, Professions, English and German languages and Handwork
- 9. Many who had been to civic trainings had also been to vocational and business trainings, and we tended to discuss these in more detail. It was sometimes hard for the people to put into words what they had actually learnt in civic trainings, although they said these were useful to them. Many civic education trainings seem to have been important especially for vulnerable groups in Choibalsan. The trainers had especially tried to find the vulnerable women to attend trainings. We met a group of 17 vulnerable women attending the Future without aids training, a series of trainings, with the first two years ago. The same women attend three or four trainings per quarter of a year on subjects like human trafficking, reproductive health, life without smoking and vodka, communication skills, human rights, civic education, legislation related to personal life, business training and management, the positive methods for growing children, sexual orientation, style training (suitable clothes), pearl training, weaving and saltzteig. It was difficult to discuss with this group, but those who spoke said every training was important and useful. Some said it was hard to start and continue with businesses, as they would need a loan, so they made pearl products just for themselves and to give as gifts. Mostly it seemed they get income still from prostitution. We met some beneficiaries who had been to the positive methods of growing up children -training in March 2011. One woman, a teacher, said the training was very creative and she will also teach other parents on how to communicate with children. For another woman it was useful that she could tell her many children about good habits. Both had also been to a business training. Another woman noted that before, if her child made problems, she was very angry, but now she is trying to communicate. One woman had three children and after the training she learnt to understand their behaviour. It was hard for many to express what they learned in civic trainings, but one said that after the training many things changed and she felt that in her life. Also health, safe food, HIV/AIDS, domestic violence, how to protect the soil and individual & society rights and responsibilities trainings had been attended by the people we talked to. In Dornod there is a danger of human trafficking because of the border with China and Russia. Some beneficiaries told us that before the training they knew about this, but now paid more attention to it. One woman noted that civic education about legislation for citizens on social welfare, taxes, labour and leadership training was useful, because she would never read such laws and now she got the important information. Women had heard about many of these issues earlier, but now got new information and asked questions. We did not meet any men who had been to civic trainings. We also met five women who were either employees or volunteers at different NGOs that were part of the network against violence in Choibalsan. The network was established two years ago and there are 16 member organizations, both governmental and non-governmental. They formed the network to work hard against domestic violence and sexual harassment. TL-TC is one member and was establishing the network as well. Most NGOs work with children and one with men. The women has attended many of our trainings like those on human rights and human trafficking in 2010, where they learnt how to help and recognize victims of human trafficking. They noted that the TL-TC library has many good books on these issues and they borrow social and human rights books from TL-TC for their own trainings. One woman worked at Save the children and attended the positive methods of growing up children training. She said the training was about human rights and what violence against children and domestic violence mean. These are annual trainings and she has been to them many times, related to her work, as well as been the trainer in one of these trainings. She saw the trainings as important, because some people think violence is a method of growing up children. There have also been trainings for children who are victims of violence.
- 10. We also met the chief of the legislation department of the provincial administration house. They had cooperated with the TL-TC in May and June 2011 to organize the Life without vodka and cigarettes -trainings. There was a province-wide campaign for disseminating information on this to citizens, the target groups were people of all ages. There were more than 150 people attending. Vocational education Vocational education included (from the project plan): Ø Wool processing and knitting, quilting and patchwork Ø Vegetable farming, poultry, dairy production and farming Sewing from left over materials (quilting/patchwork), dairy products and pearl trainings were the most common trainings we discussed with beneficiaries, but also vegetable trainings and saltzteig. Sewing trainings Products made by sewing from left over materials could be used to generate extra income. A woman with a fabric shop had learnt sewing from our training. She sews products using left over materials when there are no customers and sells these products also. TL-TC in Tuv had organized a training for 21 women on patchwork. We met a women’s group of seven women that was formed before the project. They sell products and give to friends. TL-TC used the room they work in for training, other trainees were neighbours from the area who work at home and sell products at shops. Our trainees made different things to be shown and sold at expos. Before the training they were already sewing, but now they get new income by selling products made from the left over materials that they used to throw away. Milk trainings Yellow milk trainings have been very beneficial, as people used to just throw yellow milk away or give to animals, although it is considered healthy. In yellow milk trainings people had learnt to make marmalade, bon bon, jam and other products that could also be sold. A woman in Tuv who had been to yellow milk and milk product trainings in 2009 still produces milk products together with her daughters, but just for family needs. Before the training she made just traditional Mongolian yogurt but in the training she learnt to make new products.. In Bornuur soum we met a woman who had a greenhouse on her yard, owned by a women’s group. The group was formed in 2009 after an IEC community group training and in the beginning they were six women, now they are five. The women also attended a yellow milk training in 2009. The group makes different products (jam, soft drinks) from yellow milk, vegetables and berries. The greenhouse and plants are owned by the whole group and they plant, water and cook together. In the summer of 2010 this group presented their products at a nationwide expo , where World Vision awarded them with a packing machine and a watering system for the greenhouse. The state laboratory accepted their products and they are on sale in Ulaan Baatar. The group is planning to go to another expo this year.
- 11. There is a state credit programme for small and medium size businesses and the group applied for it. Unfortunately they did not get a loan although they would need it to increase production. At the moment they make 1 400 000 - 2 000 000 tugriks per person per year (790 - 1 130 €). Some of the trainees had had other use of the training. We visited the Khian Embuu dairy in Jargalant that started in 2010, out of the 30 employees 60 % had been to an IEC yellow milk training in 2009. The dairy makes yogurt, quark and butter, which are taken to Ulaan Baatar for sale. The trainees had been employed partly because they had the basic knowledge of milk products from our training, although there was additional training from the dairy on how to operate machines. Before that they had tried to employ themselves, but were now happy about the jobs that pay 500 000 tugriks per month (280 €). The women also still make yellow milk products at home, because they get free yellow milk from the dairy. Other trainings As for other vocational trainings, at pearl trainings women learnt to make boxes for pencils, bags, etc. In 2010 a German volunteer taught saltzteig and pearls for children, there were also trainings in kindergartens. We talked to individuals and groups of women and many produced what they had learnt for family needs, whereby they had not made any income, but had saved money and made nice things for themselves and to give as gifts. They had fun and learnt new skills, but often the market is so small there that they could not sell those things. However, some people who had attended vocational trainings have also started businesses, although they had not attended an actual business training. Some people we interviewed, mostly about the business trainings, had got the original idea for their products from a vocational trainings. A group of vulnerable women had formed a community group in September 2010. They are 12 women and they found each other on the training for Aids and at the travelling library. We met three of them. They have been to all the trainings since 2010: pearl, growing children, business, human trafficking, life without vodka and patchwork. They had learnt from vocational trainings to make gloves and pearls and after the business training they began to sell these products to construction and factory workers. Their income has increased and they think that their own business is better than working for the government. The women learnt in the business training about calculating materials, market prices and making savings. They already had a business plan when they established the group. In the beginning they did not have savings, but now they have. Their income depends on the season, during holiday time they can earn more because people need to buy gifts. They meet at the TL-TC office three times a week, make pearl decorations and stitching work together and sell them to shops or at the TL-TC. They sell products together and divide the income. At first they got the pearls for free from the TL-TC, but now they pay for them. There are also two children’s groups in Choibalsan, the orphanage children and the children of vulnerable women, 21 children altogether. They have learned to make decorations from paper, pearls, geography, poems and singing. One woman from a member organization in the network against violence had been to our business training because the families of disabled children, that her organization helps, are very poor and she wanted ideas for how they could increase their income. She went to pearl, patchwork, how to plant flowers and how to plant vegetables trainings and takes fairy tale books to disabled children. These trainings were in 2010 and the parents were thankful for these trainings.
- 12. Small business trainings Business trainings included (from the project plan): Ø Business idea development, accounting, budgeting, marketing, solidarity groups We met many who had been to business trainings and they seemed to have been very popular, but it might have also been easier to find the beneficiaries who had actually started a business rather than just attended a training to increase their knowledge on a subject. After our trainings, some had been assisted in getting the business started by the government through loans or affordable rooms. There are also books on business in the library that support the business trainings. About half of the people we talked to had already had a business before the trainings and had simply improved it or started with accounting or saving, for example. Others had started a business after the training, some were quite large and successful businesses. Others would need a loan and as a business plan is a prerequisite for a loan, after the business plan training many had a better chance at applying for loans. Some had got ideas for businesses, but not yet started, especially those from the 2010 and 2011 trainings. We discussed whether business is when you sell to outside or also when you produce for your family, as it seemed that many trainees had at least not yet started selling products, but only producing for the family. Not all trainees attended the trainings for personal or family gain: the manager of a hotel was representing the workers of her company in a business training in February 2011. After a training she teaches other employees. She was attending the trainings of all NGOs, with TL-TC she attended the How to expand business and business plan trainings, where she learnt how to communicate with banks. She thought the TL-TC training was very important, many other NGO trainings are just about very specific things like how to make some handicrafts or a chicken farm. Businesses formed after an IEC training One of the successful businesses we saw was an ice cream factory in Choibalsan, owned by a local couple. They used to use yellow milk, which the wife learnt from our training years ago. Now they use normal milk and quark, because there is not enough yellow milk available for such a big production. They have had the business for three years and it is the only place that produces ice cream in the area. They bought three machines when they started, using savings from selling ice cream. In March 2011 the husband attended the start business and business plan trainings, made a business plan and is waiting for a big loan to buy one more ice cream machine. When they started the business, they did not note sales anywhere, but he took an accounting book for small business beginners made by IEC from our library. Now he is using an accounting program and went to an accounting training by some other organizer. He sold in seven shops at first, now 125 shops out of 160 shops in the area and employes ten people in the summer and four or five in the winter. When they started the business, their income was 30 000 tugriks (17 €), now around 400 000 – 500 000 tugriks (226 – 282 €) per month. Last summer they also established a ham factory. He said his biggest problem was his lack of knowledge in managing and starting the business. At first this business was in a business incubator: the state gave a room for the first month for no rent and for the second month with a small rent.
- 13. A woman had been to a business training in April 2011, after the training she started a tyre repair and car wash business. One person works there and he was unemployed before. The location and the profit are good and most useful was the confidence she got from the training to start the business and to make accounts. She would be interested in trainings on developing the business and accounting. We interviewed a woman who had been nominated the best business woman in Jargalant soum and Tuv province. She attended milk, patchwork and business trainings in 2009. With another woman from the neighbourhood she had attended patchwork and yellow milk trainings and they sew and sell quilted bags and grow vegetables. She developed a business plan and wants to establish a small family enterprise, but equipment would cost 10 million. Last year she got a loan of 1 million with 1% interest rate and bought three cows. She told that winning prizes gives attention, so it is easier to get a loan. Now they have less financial problems. She got help for accounting from IEC. She always takes notes from trainings to read the notes also later. On average she now makes 1 500 000 (847 €) profit annually. Her husband is disabled, so she makes most of the money. Patchwork products are part of her income: about 150 000 (84 €) annually. She sells patchwork and milk products in exhibitions in Zuunmod and Ulaan Baatar. She also attended the safe food training and received information about labels and hygiene. A woman who attended a business training in 2009 got the idea to sell tickets in buses and she also wants to start a small canteen. She rented a small room for it last year and ran it for two months, but it did not make any profit so she is making a new plan with TL- TC staff. The main thing she gained from the business trainings was that she developed two good business ideas (selling bus tickets and starting a canteen). Businesses planned after an IEC training A woman who in March 2011 was in our business training got the idea to have a chicken farm and learnt accounting. She has 14 chickens and next year she will buy more and sell to the school canteen where she is a teacher, so she is sure to have a market. In the training she learnt how to start a business, the stages of business and how to have a business idea. She has no time to learn more, she just wants to have a business in addition to teaching. She got many business ideas from the training and also planted seedbuckthorn, in three years it will grow and give benefits. Another woman from a very poor family had in March 2011 attended start business and business plan trainings. She has bought four chickens, eats eggs and plans to sell boiled eggs at the black market. She plans to buy more chickens, as now the eggs are not enough to sell, but she does not have the incubator for growing chickens. From the business training she learnt about accounting, where to sell the eggs, marketing etc. She has four children and she will teach them too. A woman who had been to a business training in February 2011 plans to open a little restaurant, but has financial problems and is now doing research on food prices etc. She learnt that she needs a business plan, how to solve problems with businesses and accounting. Business management, developing and plan trainings were very important to her, mainly she attended to help her children who want to establish businesses or a chicken farm together. Some other trainees had not yet made any plans for a business after the training, but for example a young student who had attended a business training said that now she has a good idea of what it takes to start a business.
- 14. Improving the business after an IEC training A woman attended the Start business training in April 2010 and in February 2011 Business developing and Business planning trainings. She had established a café in 2004 and after the training thought of advertisements and how the cafe looks from outside, so her income has increased. The cafe is her only income and she has 13 workers. All the trainings she attended were very important to her, she would be interested in all trainings on how to expand business and make accounts, because now they just calculate on paper. She has taken a loan after the training, as she understood how to make a business plan and this was very helpful for getting the loan. A woman in the Start business training in April 2011 already owned a photocopy service, but wants to have more income with maybe two more printers. She is not the only one with this kind of business so she learnt how to compete, as well as good management and accounting. This is her main income, but she has financial problems with expanding and is interested in a loan, but not sure about the interest. She would like a training on how to expand her business and investment. From the business training people had for example learnt how to save money from their income of the business, not to just use it all. Attending a TL-TC business plan training had helped several people to get a loan for their business, a woman in Tuv got a 200 000 tugrik (112 €) loan to start a business after the IEC business training, however she felt she needs another loan from the bank. A man attended a business training in 2009, developed a business plan and got a loan 13 000 000 tugriks (7 330 €) from a government fund, which is not enough but still good, without a business plan he could not get a loan from this fund. He used the money for buying tools and equipment. Now he makes things (gates, harvesting devices etc) from metal and wood, for which he receives orders from local people. They took the loan for three years, the interest rate is 1% per month. In 2010 the husband attended another business training and the family developed a business plan to plant seedbuckthorn, which seems to be a popular business in the area. Conclusion During the evaluation work we noticed that many people have benefited from our trainings and in general IEC has worked efficiently. In 2010 there were altogether 158 trainings in the three provinces, when the target was 150 trainings and 4 469 participants (1147 males/3322 females). In 2010 there was a 7,6 % increase in the number of participants, but the objective of 5 000 participants was not yet achieved. Related to the risks listed in the project plan, it can be said that IEC has managed to provide quality trainings and on the subjects most needed. Trainings have been successful and now they meet better the needs of the beneficiaries. Trainings are also of a better quality now because they are planned carefully, there is a database of contents, new training material developed by IEC and a circle of trainings in use. Along with trainings, help with planning and consultations are also offered. IEC has worked especially well in teaching people to use raw materials that went to waste before and in encouraging people to form community groups for working together. The organization has also managed to target the most vulnerable people with the trainings. 60 % of the trainees were to be women and in the end the figure was 80 %. In many cases it is definetely justified to aim at training women, but taking into account the specific problems like alcoholism, unemployment and
- 15. marginalization in society that many men encounter in Mongolia, there could also have been specific trainings for men. By helping men, such trainings might also have been effective in combating problems like domestic violence that touch women as well. One focus of this project has been to strenghten the capacity and self-sufficiency of IEC. We observed that IEC is a co-operative and reactive NGO. IEC is well-known in every province where it works and it has succeeded in establishing a co-operation network of NGOs and local governmental authorities in Tuv, Arkhangai and Dornod. IEC is also a popular partner in cooperation and other organizations as well as local governmental officials have asked TL-TCs to organize trainings. So IEC is trusted and well-known expert organization. TL-TCs have developed well during this project. Their methods of working have improved and the number of clients has increased. They also pay attention to the feedback of the trainees; every training is evaluated with tests and trainees also have an opportunity to wish for some specific training or to give suggestions on improvements. Feedback from the beneficiaries has been truly positive and after the trainings people have had more self confidence. Not every trainee used what they learnt, but a significant percentage did and it is also likely that the results of many 2010 and 2011 trainings will only be seen later. There are also several challenges. Many trainees produce e.g. quilted bags or pearl decorations just for family needs and gifts, because of the small market. One problem might also be that people get similar business ideas. We met many who wanted to establish a chicken farm, planted seedbuckthorn or sold patchworks. The challenge is to establish a unique business which would have enough of a market. On the other hand, we met also trainees who had unique and successful businesses, like the ice cream factory and tyre repair & car wash service in Choibalsan. Some businesses were so large that the owners had employed others as well. However, even those who produced for family needs were already saving money and had the possibility of selling the products later. Business trainings had improved the finance skills of trainees so that they were more capable of saving, planning and increasing their income. Many of the trainees spoke of the need for loans and many had also already taken a loan. However, we feel that people should plan carefully and realistically before taking a loan to make sure that they will be able to get extra income from the investment and later to pay the loan back. It is good that IEC offers consultation on these issues. Many of the results that the project aimed at, like self-sufficiency of the people, food security and awareness of rights were met. The project has also progressed towards the long term development objective of reducing poverty in the three provinces, both in terms of the poverty of knowledge and thinking and economic poverty. The direct objective of an improved library and training service in the three provinces has been met, but the sustainability of the TL-TCs is a big challenge. A lack of financial resources, after SYL support ends, is the biggest problem. In this evaluation we concentrated on the trainings, but the sustainability of the libraries is also important. The travelling libraries are more difficult to keep up, but the soum center libraries could still function within the IEC offices, as long as they have the offices, or in some other space. However, probably some of the staff would still have to have work in the office, although the libraries have also used volunteers. One possibility we discussed was finding new support for the libraries and IEC is constantly looking for support, but at the time had not yet applied for any. It is also possible for the libraries to continue functioning alongside another project and in Arkhangai IEC and SYL have planned a new project on community groups. The staff in Dornod had also
- 16. applied for funding for another project. The state could also fund the libraries, but there is no guarantee of this. There was also the idea of IEC working as a community group and producing the funding for the libraries, but there were no conrete plans for this yet. List of interviews 1. Tuv, Zuunmod, 9.8., woman: quilt training 2. Tuv, Zuunmod, 9.8., woman: business training 3. Tuv, Zuunmod, 9.8., one woman from women’s group: quilt training 4. Tuv, Bornur, 11.8., one woman from women’s group: community group and yellow milk trainings (2009) 5. Tuv, Jargalant, 12.8., three women at milk factory: yellow milk training (2009) 6. Tuv, Jargalant, 12.8., woman: yellow milk and milk products trainings (her husband: business plan training) (2009, 2010) 7. Tuv, Jargalant, 12.8., woman: yellow milk, patchwork, business training (2009), juridical legislation for citizens 8. Tuv, Jargalant, 12.8., group interview of six women: patchwork (2010), quilting, vegetable growing (2005), pearls (2010), yellow milk, health training, safe food, HIV/AIDS, domestic violence, how to protect the soil, individual & society (rights and responsibilities) 9. Tuv, Jargalant, 12.8., woman: patchwork, yellow milk, business, safe food, positive methods of growing up children (2009) 10. Choibalsan, 17.8., man: business (2011) and wife, yellow milk (2007/2008) 11. Choibalsan, 17.8., woman: business training, growing up children (2011) 12. Choibalsan, 17.8., woman: business training, growing up children (2011) 13. Choibalsan, 17.8., woman: business training (2011) 14. Choibalsan, 17.8., group interview of five women in the NGO network against violence 15. Choibalsan, 17.8., group of 17 vulnerable women (2010, 2011) 16. Choibalsan, 17.8., three women from a women’s group: many trainings (2010, 2011) 17. Choibalsan, 17.8., group interview of three women: business training (2011) 18. Choibalsan, 17.8., woman: business training (2011) 19. Choibalsan, 17.8., woman: business trainings (2010, 2011) The exchange rate 1 € = 1 773 tugricks was used in this report.