Child Rights Education and Action Movement (CREAM), BREADS Bangalore’s flagship programme for promoting child rights in 10 districts in Karnataka, successfully completed the second phase (2016-2020) of its implementation. In consolidation of its activities and impact during the project period, three reports were brought out by BREADS: Programme Report, Impact Report and External Evaluation Report. A brief summary of the External Evaluation Report is presented below.
An external evaluation was incorporated into CREAM’s programme design to promote learning and continuous improvement in ongoing activities. In consultation with BREADS’ funding partners, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, and Don Bosco Mondo, Germany, the CREAM II evaluation was assigned to Catalyst Management Services (CMS), Bangalore. The CREAM II External Evaluation Report is the documentation of their findings.
A mixed-method design, involving quantitative and qualitative methods was used for the evaluation. Evaluation tools included discussions with children, group interviews, semi-structured interviews, key informant interviews and outcome harvesting with the partners. The ex-post evaluation used the OECD-DAC criteria of relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, and sustainability.
The CMS evaluation found CREAM II to be highly relevant in the context of the SDGs, UNCRC, national schemes and acts, and the Karnataka State Child Protection Policy 2016. CREAM II was found to be highly effective as significant outcomes related to knowledge, attitude, behaviour, and practice-level changes were reported by children, parents, communities, community institutions and service providers. CREAM II was assessed as efficient and impactful because outcomes envisaged in the results frame were achieved to a large extent, with appropriate impact. Sustainability was being addressed through the institutionalising of child protection mechanisms and structures wherever possible.