USAID Coordinated Action Against Human Trafficking (CAAHT), Tirana, Albania (2004 -2009)

Project Description
ENCOMPASS has supported the launch and implementation of the Albania Coordinated Action Against Human Trafficking project implemented by Creative Associates International. ENCOMPASS provides ongoing facilitation and training for the Albania team and key NGO partners in information sharing and knowledge management.  In 2007, the project was extended to support the implementation and coordination of a national strategy for anti-trafficking work and the establishment of governmental regional Anti-Trafficking Committees. ENCOMPASS’ role was expanded to design and implement a nationwide participatory evaluation process using appreciative evaluation that engages all actors of the anti-trafficking movement. ENCOMPASS supports the CAAHT program in evaluation capacity building and developing effective approaches to sustainability through its stakeholders in Albania.

Methodologies and Activities
In the first three years of the project, ENCOMPASS supported the CAAHT initiative in its efforts to enhance collaboration among local government and civil society stakeholders to improve programming and services to prevent, protect and assist in the reintegration of trafficking victims into their communities.  ENCOMPASS designed and facilitated three annual conferences with key governmental and non-governmental stakeholders and conducted a participatory evaluation of the coordination of anti-trafficking work nationwide.  In the last three years of the project, ENCOMPASS’ role was expanded to include training, coaching and capacity building in monitoring and evaluation using a participatory approach to incorporate appreciative evaluation.  Two training workshops were conducted with key governmental and NGO partners to establish a management information system and ongoing coaching used to support implementation of the system to improve program management and planning.  The next phase will focus on impact assessment of the anti-trafficking work and factors that contribute to sustainability.

Accomplishments
ENCOMPASS’ contributions to the CAAHT initiative has enabled it to become one of the most innovative programs in anti-trafficking.  The evaluation of the coordination component conducted by ENCOMPASS gave solid evidence of the increased collaboration between government and civil society which resulted in the establishment of Regional Anti-trafficking Committees in each prefecture.  The use of a participatory approach to monitoring and evaluation and the introduction of Appreciative Inquiry techniques transformed the thinking about how information can be used to improve program management and planning and contribute to a learning community in anti-trafficking.  Systematic coaching and capacity building has also strengthened the technical ability of both the CAAHT staff and NGO partners in using effective questions and Appreciative Inquiry in deepening the evaluative process to really examine substantive issues and processes that can contribute to the sustainability of anti-trafficking work in Albania.

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