Project Profile. As a continuation of the RHI first phase, the Umbrella Project Support Unit (UPSU), became operational in July 2003. It was established as a part of UNFPA in Nepal for implementing and executing the RHIYA, with the objective of contributing to the improved SRH practices and to an improved utilization of SRH services among adolescents/youths.
UPSU specific objective was to assist UNFPA Central Office (CO) in its monitoring and evaluation responsibilities. It further aimed to strengthen CBOs/ NGOs’ capacity to reach A/Y with appropriate information and services, to strengthen collaboration / synergy between the Government, civil society & existing networks and to encourage community participation and local initiative. UPSU also helped to create a conducive and supportive environment for undertaking ASRH interventions. Until the end of the project in March 2007, UPSU was the focal point at the level of UNFPA CO for all matters concerning RHIYA.
UPSU managed and coordinated the implementation of RHIYA by the 7 partner NGOs, maintaining close working contacts with these NGOs, ensuring inter-project cooperation, joint actions, and complementarity with other NGO/UNFPA/EU programmes in Nepal and with Government of Nepal (GoN) national policies. It also facilitated the information flow between RHIYA partners, UNFPA CO, and the RHIYA Central Unit (CU). Furthermore UPSU provided NGOs with technical assistance and assisted individual projects in achieving their outputs.

Strategy. The UPSU worked as a facilitator and coordinating project and was expected to contribute to the outputs of individual RHIYA project and RHIYA programme in Nepal through its own outputs: 1) Enhanced linkages and networking to maximize synergy and co-ordination between RHIYA partners and national ASRH programmes / initiatives to prevent HIV/AIDS and Gender Based Violence (GBV); 2) Enhanced capacity of partner NGOs to increase knowledge and awareness on SRH and HIV/AIDS among A/Y, and improve assertiveness on GBV and girls trafficking; 3) Enhanced capacity of partner NGOs to improve access to quality SRH information and services for AY; 4) Enhanced capacity of RHIYA partners to manage and sustain SRH services and information for AY and activities promoting HIV/AIDS prevention and reduction in gender-based violence and girls trafficking; 5) Advocacy of RHIYA programme promoted.
While designing the individual output projects implemented by the partner NGOs, UPSU had its first-hand technical inputs wherein enough emphases were placed on social mobilization, collective actions, awareness creation and advocacy. Although the strategies varied between the individual projects, UPSU consistently monitored and advised the partners to implement models that are low cost, using existing organizational and physical infrastructure, which improved prospects for sustainability. UPSU worked with various stakeholders from community to international levels to reach its goals and encouraged community ownership of the project activities, institutionalization and mainstreaming and income-generation, which are key strategies for sustainability.

Outputs.
1) Coordination of RHIYA partners’ interventions and synergies between them increased & liaison/linkages between RHIYA activities and the GoN / other stakeholders improved: Partner NGOs were given advice and guidance for implementation of activities during the 40 coordination meetings organized by the UPSU. In addition, GoN officials from health sector and other gatekeepers were fully involved in the project through ASRH meetings, annual progress reviews, Advisory Group (AG) and final dissemination meetings besides youth camp and forums. This strengthened linkage, coordination and networking; participants could thus have insights of approaches / good practices used by RHIYA partners. Moreover, GoN official & AG members regularly visited the project sites to evaluate and give feedback on the implementation of RHIYA. 25 formal workshops were organized by other stakeholders beyond RHIYA: they enhanced the synergy and allowed experience to be shared.

2) Management and planning capacity of UPSU and NGOs staff was strengthened: This achievement was possible through various workshops, orientations meetings and trainings: UPSU staff participated in regional workshops on financial management, KMS and M&E and provided backstopping to all the finance staff of NGOs. In addition, UPSU staff, some GoN and UNFPA officials and partner NGOs’ representatives participated in the good practices exercice worshop. This helped to enhance staff’s knowledge, skills and efficient use of appropriate tools / methods, and to share experience / lessons learned. Moreover, NGO projects had annual work plans and targets helping to timely and effectively implement.

3) M&E systems for country and NGOs levels established and lessons learning/sharing of results established among all stakeholders: The BLS (Baseline survey) was carried out as the cornestone of the overall M&E framework, and its results were disseminated and shared among GoN agencies, I/NGOs and other satkeholders. UPSU also conducted 2 Client Exit Surveys to assess the SDPs, which indicated encouraging results with regard to progress made especially for female access to SRH services and concerning the perception of privacy during consultations. The web-based PTRS was installed and put into use from the 1st quarter 2004. Its correct use was possible owing to workshops on M&E, discussions over indicators, log-frames, reporting formats and outputs project, and regular consultations with the UPSU. In addition, UPSU ensured that all NGOs participated in at least one lessons learning in year 1. Lessons learning, written material, radio/TV shows were also transmitted / broadcasted for a better sharing between partners and stakeholders. UPSU also consolidated the Final Review of RHIYA Nepal, comprising lessons learned on project design, implementation, ASRH and general development issues which were presented at the final dissemination meeting. Finally the End line survey’s findings were also disseminated and shared among all stakeholders and were produced in 3 volumes: quantitative& qualitative findings and comparative report. Over 125 copies of the comparative report were distributed in the dissemination meeting alone.

4) Technical Assistance on ASRH to NGOs provided: the UPSU ensured that all projects received optimum supervision and TA: all projects received technical support including on M&E, KMS, financial management, PTRS use, assistance in setting targets and for presentations for annual progress reviews & AG meetings. It also supported NGOs in developing manuals for PE / teachers training on ASRH or GBV counselling, IEC materials, and guidelines / posters in YFC/ SDPs. In addition, to help the projects with their IEC/BCC activities, all received resource materials, including training manuals, flipcharts, newsletter, guidelines and promotional materials. UPSU coordinated the production & collation of these materials and also downloaded ASRH training/resource materials, including the manual on HIV counselling & testing for youth. It also coordinated with relevant national health bodies to provide technical inputs and make available their materials for the RHIYA activities.

5) Advocacy of RHIYA promoted: This output was best achieved through field visits from journalists to events such as the RHIYA launching, annual progress review meetings, AG meetings, or the National Youth Camp (NYC), where journalists from national mass media related news which were featured on national TV & newspapers, and correlatively enhanced RHIYA visibility. In addition, a video documentary on RHIYA activities and key ASRH issues was produced and telecasted through public and private TV channels besides being shared in regional RHIYA meetings. UPSU also produced a total of 5,000 copies of RHIYA Nepal brochure (in Nepali and in English). With an additional funding from the CU, UPSU incorporated RHIYA Nepal Radio programme, to reach remote population in the project districts and beyond. This played a pivotal role for RHIYA advocacy and visibility.

Lessons learned. Overall implementation: It is important to train periodically NGO partners for strengthening capacities and making the procedures uniform. Besides, the CES was a useful monitoring input on quality service delivery & IEC/BCC work, providing important feedback for improvement of projects. The youth camps / forums and brochures were powerful advocacy tools to get across ASRH issues and enhance RHIYA visibility at regional and country level.

On-going collaboration between UPSU and partner staff/other stakeholders is necessary for RHIYA success: collaborative actions, if planned, effectively implemented and closely monitored produce quality outputs avoiding duplication and wastages of resources. Participation of government officials and AG members in the project was also important for developing linkages and creating effective networks. It allowed solving problems, sharing experience, increasing knowledge of youth status & ASRH, supporting the programme and discussing the progress for recommendations: participants said that lessons learned & good practices would be translated into actions in the ARSH programming.

SRH knowledge: Edutainment IEC resources (Karaoke, radio, outreach van activities…) are more effective to raise ASRH awareness and made programmes more attractive for A/Y. Also, the NYC provided youth with a forum to interact and express views & concerns on SRH in a free and frank manner. Furthermore, the RHIYA poster presentation was a powerful means to present SRH issues among Nepalese youths and to speak for the need of concerted efforts from partner countries, international community and donor agencies to address these issues. Also, exchange visits allowed project’s staff to learn the best practices & innovative intervention models developed so to provide A/Y with better SRH education and services.

Key constraints: Delay in the GoN clearance led to a slow start of the programme; frequent changes of GoN official and turn over of staff obliged UPSU to brief and orient them many times; political disturbances/frequent insurgencies affected the smooth implementation of the project. Finally compared to UPSUs in other countries, UPSU Nepal had less time to fulfill its outputs due to large geographical coverage and large group of implementing partners.

Partner profile. The UPSU, as part of UNFPA, is the focal point for the RHIYA program in Nepal. It maintains close working contacts with all local RHIYA NGO partners, ensure inter-project co-operation, joint actions, as well as complementarily with other NGO/UNFPA/EU programs in the country. UPSU provided guidance and assistance to NGO partners in the country and create a common forum for collaborative actions to ensure effective use of resources and maximize the overall outcome of the RHIYA program partners.

Contact: For further information and/or copies of the newsletter, contact the EU/UNFPA RHIYA UPSU, P.O. Box 8975, EPC-1581, Kathmandu, Nepal, E-mail rhinepal@rhi.org.np