CARE Ethiopia Learning Lab High-lights of our Program Shift Presented at ECAR Program Quality Working Group Meeting March 2009

Definition of a Program A program is a coherent set of initiatives by CARE and our allies that involves a long term commitment to specific marginalized and vulnerable groups to achieve lasting impact at broad scale on underlying causes of poverty and social injustice. This goes beyond the scope of projects to achieve positive changes in human conditions, in social positions and in the enabling environment.

8 Characteristics of a CARE Program 1.Impact Goal: specific group, broad scale 2.Analysis: UCP/V 3.Theory of Change 4.Coherent set of initiatives 5.Organizational & Social Learning: Knowledge and Evidence 6.Broad movements for social change 7.Leverage & influence: financial and other resources 8.Accountability: internal and external stakholders

CARE Ethiopia P-shift Action plan Action Plan A: Developing CARE Ethiopia’s Program Define impact groups; UCP/V analysis; Program Goal; Theory of Change; Design CO programs; Align CO current portfolio Action Plan B: Program Quality Baseline Establish for the Program Impact Groups

Action Plan C: Learning Questions 1.Learning Question: How to create a common understanding, sense of ownership and accountability to the program shift among CARE Ethiopia staff? 2.Learning Question: How to communicate, engage and involve strategic partners in the program shift? 3.Learning Question: What changes does Program Support services/functions need to realize to support the shift to a Program Approach? 4.Learning Question: How do we ensure risk management and analysis is an integral part of the development of our programs?

ACTION PLAN D:INTERNAL ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE Organizational Structure and Staffing Changes (based on what is known currently): Examine and pilot structural changes and staffing that enhance program impact. Apply appropriate change management tools and processes that enable managers to support shift to program approach. Organizational Structure and Staffing Changes (after UCP/V and Theory of Change finalized): Revise job descriptions, restructure where necessary, and conduct job evaluation to respond to the program shift. Establish accountability mechanisms.

Impact Group Sub set Population Target Population Stakeholder Groups

Impact Group The population group upon which the program (CARE and its partners) aims to have a positive impact with a long-term commitment to overcome their underlying causes of poverty and social injustice. As such, the impact group is at least at national level and is typically larger than the subset population directly impacted by an individual project or initiative at field level carried out by CARE or a partner.

Sub-set Population One of the disaggregated groups included in your impact group. Program strategies or initiatives may need to be focused specifically on a subset population. For example: women, children, youth; or a smaller representation of the entire impact group such as the chronic food insecure population in a region.

Target Group A group of people who are deliberately engaged in the program as a means for CARE and its partners to achieve impact on the intended impact group. While their lives may also be favorably impacted, it is the “impact group” and its subset populations to whom CARE’s commitment is long-term and focused. Example of target group: to deal with issues of absence of women’s rights, groups of men will clearly be part of the target group.

Stakeholder Group Any group of people who may affect (positively or negatively) or be affected by the program in some way. Stakeholders are not ‘targeted’ by activities or initiatives as target groups are.

CARE Ethiopia’s Program Impact Groups 1.Impact Group #1: Chronically food insecure rural, sedentary women with lack or absence of productive assets. 2.Impact Group #2: Resource poor youth in urban and peri-urban areas that are vulnerable to HIV & AIDS. 3.Impact Group #3: Pastoralist girls denied of their rights.