A midterm evaluation on the ECLATU project in Masindi, Uganda, was held after 18 months of project implementation, in January 2006.

Here are the key findings of this evaluation:

• There has been a positive impact of awareness-raising on the problem of child labour in the project area
• Successful tripartite collaboration has been established between the tobacco companies, local governments and villagers
• Targeted child labourers now attend school regularly

However:

• Increased enrolment rate has put a strain on school facilities for extra school materials to accommodate these new students
• There are high levels of poverty in the project area; more precise action should be taken to this effect

The following are the evaluation recommendations:

• Boarding facilities are lacking for the vocational training institution in Kyema, which has an impact on attendance
• The project should be expanded to the entire Masindi district
• Existing labour laws prohibiting the use of child labour should be reinforced; laws or ordinances should be passed to make school attendance for all school-aged children compulsory
• There has been an abolition of a graduated tax, which has made it difficult for the local government to financially support the vocational training institute at Kyema as planned. There is great potential for the institute to support itself by generating revenue from the sale of products made by the students; it is recommended to capitalise the institution so as to make it self-sustaining
• Special emphasis should be made on providing for child labourers that are orphans
• In order to fight poverty, soft loans or micro-financing should be considered
• Graduates of the vocational training institution should be provided with a start-up capital so as to immediately start their own business

At the ECLT Foundation's March 2006 Board Meeting, an extension of the initial project was approved to respond to the evaluation's recommendations.

These are the project extension components:

• Additional facilities for the Kyema vocational training institue
  • Dormitory blocks for boys and girls
  • Dining room
  • Library
  • Teacher housing
• A revolving loan fund will be also introduced to facilitate the graduate student's entry into the job market
• A revolving grant fund for AIDS orphans will be developed to support this especially vulnerable group
• A revolving loan fund for income-generating activities will be made available to poor families whose children attend the Kyema vocational training institution
• In the extension phase, the awareness-raising campaign on child laboour will be expanded to the other sub-counties of the Masindi district. These interventions will also cover the education sector and skills training.

Geneva, 2 May 2006