1.Independent Evaluation: School Feeding Program

Assessing Nutrition, Education, and Livelihood Outcomes in Fragile Contexts

Project Snapshot

Client: CARE International
Location: Somaliland, Somalia
Implementation Period: January – February 2026
Status: Completed
Sector: Monitoring, Evaluation, Research & Learning (MERL)
Evaluation Type: Independent End-line
Evaluation Target Groups: Schoolchildren, local farmers, women-led food suppliers, education authorities

Evaluation Objectives

The evaluation sought to:
1. Assess the relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, and sustainability of the program
2. Measure changes in school attendance, learning environment, and nutrition outcomes
3. Examine livelihood benefits for local farmers and women-led suppliers
4. Provide practical recommendations to inform future school feeding interventions

Background & Rationale

School feeding programs are a critical intervention for improving student attendance, learning outcomes, and child nutrition, while simultaneously supporting local agricultural markets. CARE International implemented the Home-Grown School Feeding Program to strengthen education outcomes and promote local procurement in Somaliland. To ensure accountability and generate evidence for learning and future programming, Tropical Consult was commissioned to conduct an independent evaluation of the program. The evaluation examined program performance, outcomes, and sustainability in a fragile context.

Scope of Work

Tropical Consult delivered the full evaluation process, including:
1. Development of the evaluation framework and inception report
2. Design of quantitative and qualitative data collection tools
3. Management of field data collection teams
4. Data analysis and synthesis of findings
5. Preparation of final evaluation reports and presentations

Methodology & Approach

A mixed-methods evaluation design was applied to ensure robust and triangulated findings:
1. Quantitative surveys with schools and beneficiary households.
2. Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with education officials and program staff.
3. Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with parents, farmers, and suppliers.
4. Application of OECD/DAC evaluation criteria.
5. Ethical compliance, data quality assurance, and validation processes.

Key Outputs & Deliverables

1. End-line Evaluation Report
2. Cleaned and validated datasets
3. Data collection tools and protocols
3. Executive summary for decision-makers
4. PowerPoint presentation of findings

Key Findings & Results

The evaluation highlighted that:
1. School feeding contributed to improved student attendance and classroom engagement
2. Local procurement mechanisms supported smallholder farmers and women-led businesses
3. Community ownership enhanced program sustainability
4. Strengthening routine monitoring systems would further improve program efficiency

Beneficiaries & Stakeholders

Primary beneficiaries:
1. School-aged children
2. Local farmers and food suppliers
Key stakeholders:
Ministry of Education
CARE International
School management committees
Community leaders