Summary of publication
The report evaluates the IAFFORD project (funded by the Australian Government through DFAT’s InnovationXchange) in terms of the quality of monitoring and evaluation systems (M&E systems), Effectiveness, Efficiency, Relevance, contribution to Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment; and Sustainability. The evaluation also identified Lessons Learned based from the implementation of the IAFFORD project’s digital infrastructure platform.
The independent evaluation assessed the performance of a project testing which used innovative technology and hence presented Lessons Learned rather than Recommendations. DFAT agrees in full with all four Lessons Learned which discussed (1) M&E Systems requiring a robust and built-for-purpose system, (2) Investment Governance that should be effectively set up to test the potential of the digital cash modality through the implementing partner’s expertise, (3) Intervention Design highlighting the platform more as a risk reduction modality and also conditional on getting factors right and in place, and (4) Use of the IAFFORD card as identification and a safeguard to potential abuse of the digital cash transfer platform.