1. No category

Samuel Hall is a leader in conducting quality field
research and providing expert local intelligence, analysis
and strategic consultancy to public and private sector
organisations investing in emerging economies and
present and post conflict regions. It is pleased to share
its report on the achievements of the past fiscal year,
as well as its assessment of the socio-economic
statuses of the territories in which it is active.
ANNUAL REPORT
2014
SAMUELHALL.ORG
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Directors’ Statement
5
About Us
6
2014 In Review
8
2014 Achievements
12
Media Coverage
14
2014 Report Highlights
16
2015 and Beyond
30
DIRECTORS’ STATEMENT
O
ur organisation, by definition, requires us to operate and achieve results in the most challenging
settings – in environments that are embroiled in, or just emerging from instability, conflict and
its associated calamities. It is the case in South and Central Asia where we began operating in
2010, through our Afghan research centre; it is also true of East Africa and the Horn of Africa, where
we opened a new Kenyan hub. What have we learnt, as an organisation, from these five years?
First, contexts matter. Doing field research in Faryab province is not duplicable to South Central
Somalia; designing a relevant analytical framework on employment in Peshawar is different from
dealing with similar issues in Puntland. Still, how can we learn from our experiences of research in
Afghanistan, Iran, Yemen, Tanzania and Somalia, to provide decision makers with rigorous analyses on
growth in South and Central Asia, East Africa, Europe, and the Levant? Doing research has nothing
to do with applying the same theoretical recipes to different contexts; it is about being humble about
environments you think you already know – like Afghanistan – and confident about your ability to
contribute to new environments.
Secondly, innovation matters too. Samuel Hall teams are well versed in and effectively use proven and
field-tested methodologies from academic research methods to advanced modelling. Beyond this, we
explore and tailor methods and analysis, with the goal of improving our offer and providing a platform
to share knowledge and information to elevate both discourse and practice among stakeholders.
Ultimately, we hope that the Samuel Hall brand will be synonymous not just with core values of
integrity and analysis but also with innovation and creativity: establishing a cutting-edge research lab
to serve public and private sector actors as one of our main objectives for 2015.
Lastly, people are at the centre. In the settings we operate, we meet and build relationships with men
and women whose assistance is instrumental to the accomplishment of our goals. We thank them not
just for their invaluable contributions, but also for the trust and confidence that they place in us time
after time, faithful that our work will culminate in positive change for their communities. A special
thank you goes to our clients, our board of advisors, and our team.
Samuel Hall is now considered to be the focal point for both public and private organisations investing
in specialised data, local knowledge and strategic insight. As well as the consistently high quality of
our products, we credit this achievement to the fact that we have administered our organisation
to the professional standards expected of top tier private corporations. We know that this is a
characteristic of our organisation that is greatly valued by our clients, partners and staff. But it is not
enough and in 2015 and 2016, we will strive to be more flexible and creative: more flexible, to better
adapt our analytical lenses and methodological tools to fast-changing environments; more creative,
to find more dynamic, innovative and effective ways to talk about economic development, migration
patterns or social inclusion.
Nassim
Hervé
Nassim Majidi & Hervé Nicolle
Joint Founders and Directors
5
ABOUT US
Samuel Hall delivers a holistic approach that ensures quality research and strategic consulting
through wide-ranging access and a commitment to constant innovation. Our model puts us in a
unique position to advise and assist a variety of actors in achieving their strategic goals, creating
trusted partnerships along the way.
We provide our clients with:
STRATEGY development and counsel for efficient and effective programming that bridges the gap
between people and decision makers
ANALYSIS that is innovative, participatory and evidence-based for enhanced impact and
sustainability
ACCESS to the world’s most fragile yet resourceful regions through partnerships with universities,
local organisations and networks of enumerators to ensure relevance, linking local expertise with
global standards
Our adaptability to challenging contexts and networks across the world are supported by a core
philosophy to deliver the most technical input to our clients - both public and private sector.
THE TEAM
Our diverse team of researchers and managers is able to operate in challenging and demanding
environments and demonstrate a deep understanding of both the public and private sector through
past field experience and top academic qualifications from leading universities in North America,
Europe and Asia, including Cornell, Harvard, LSE, Oxford, KCL, Ecole Normale Supérieure, Sciences
Po, and UCL, amongst others.
Our core team of 20 men and women cover a range of nationalities, cultures and languages: from
France, Iran, India, Italy, Afghanistan, Kenya, Germany, Syria and the United States; and we regularly
work with external consultants from all over the world.
We are always on the lookout for independent and highly adaptable individuals to join our team.
These can be permanent for Junior and Senior Project Managers, or short-term for External
Consultants with particular technical and/or thematic expertise. At Samuel Hall, we believe in onthe-job training and always drive our team members to reach their full potential.
6
GEOGRAPHICAL PRESENCE
In 2014, we expanded our geographic coverage to include Tajikistan, Somalia, Uganda and Tanzania,
bringing to 11 the total number of countries we work in. These are Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, India
and Tajikistan in South & Central Asia, Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia, Tanzania and Uganda in East Africa,
and Yemen in the Middle East.
7
ITALIAN
IRANIAN
AMERICAN
DUTCH
BRITISH
INDIAN
FRENCH
AFGHAN
Figure 1: Map showing expansion in 2014
2014 IN REVIEW
PROJECTS AND REPORTS: THEMES
Wrapping up another successful year, Samuel Hall published over 30 reports across Asia, East Africa
and the Middle East. We published 15 reports on migration and displacement and monitoring and
evaluations in 2014. All these reports are available for download on our website at www.samuelhall.
org This year in 2015, we hope to take our work to a more strategic level by producing policy
briefs on key themes that will facilitate discussions on national and regional level issues like durable
solutions, youth and resilience.
THEMES OF 2013 REPORTS
8
GEOGRAPHICAL PUBLICATIONS
Geographically, as shown in Graph 2, while we published the same number of reports as in 2013,
they were more evenly distributed across the regions that we work in highlighting our success in
both Asia and in East Africa.
In 2015-2016, we hope to replicate this success in the Levant.
9
2014 ACHIEVEMENTS
NANSEN REFUGEE AWARDS
NOMINATION FOR MRS. NASSIM MAJIDI – DIRECTOR SAMUEL HALL
In recognition of a decade-long effort, Samuel Hall Co-Founder and Head of the Migration
Practice, Mrs. Nassim Majidi has been nominated for the 2015 UNHCR Nansen Refugee
Award for her work in support of the displaced. Candidates are nominated for demonstrating
outstanding activities, courage and a direct positive impact on the lives of the displaced. This
is a big achievement for Samuel Hall and is evidence of its commitment to serving vulnerable
populations and bridging the gap with policy and decision makers through evidence-based
research.
RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS
In South & Central Asia, our policy and outreach efforts bore its fruits through our on-going
partnership with OCHA providing analysis in their monthly humanitarian bulletins, our self-funded
research on urban displaced youth and our support to the donor community with a policy brief on
IDPs in Afghanistan. We continued our indirect support to girls’ education with multi-year projects
for NGOs on the international Girls’ Education Challenge with ACTED, the Youth Education Package
with NRC and GIZ’s Basic Education Package.
Our research also extended to Tajikistan on remittances, and our continuous focus on migration
produces evaluations for the International Organization for Migration, the International Labour
Organization, Welt Hunger Hilfe and the Danish Refugee Council.
In East Africa, this past year was marked by numerous premieres and successes, both on the
methodological and policy fronts. We led a landmark study on the New Deal in Somalia advocating
for displaced groups which was presented in Copenhagen at the side event to the High Level
Partner Forum (November 2014) and led to concrete steps being taken to mainstream durable
solutions in assistance to the displaced and a follow-up study for UNHCR to operationalize durable
solutions in the New Deal Framework and within Somalia’s development. Our team also led a
study on devolution in Kenya and the related potential for economic opportunities for displaced
communities. We brought on board two data analysts who worked on an assessment for the Somalia
Return Consortium; the successful launch of this report took place in Nairobi and was attended by
leading officials of UNHCR, UNWFP, FAO, DRC, NRC and the Somali government. After starting
to work in Somalia-including Somaliland-our team has now already completed five surveys in the
region. Our evaluation for DRC in the Great Lakes region was the first of its kind and now youth
issues are one of our main focuses in East Africa, part of our growing international expertise.
10
IMPROVING AND INFORMING POLICY
As active contributors to the environment we work in, our efforts are also aimed at changing
polices and ensuring that important issues are not forgotten. Our commitment to the rights of
displaced people have led us for example to write numerous policy briefs for governments, donors
and international agencies that have maintained migration questions at the forefront of national
agendas.
In Afghanistan – we have drafted an IDP Policy Brief that aims at providing a snapshot to help
donors and government entities deliver their provincial plans for internally displaced persons. This
policy brief is expected to enhance and inform implementation of programs towards IDPs.
In Kenya – we played a significant role in drafting the first Migration Profile of Kenya with the African
Migration and Development Policy Centre (AMADPOC) with funding from IOM. This Migration
Profile provides a comprehensive stocktaking of migration trends, factors and characteristics in
Kenya and legal regulations and laws that influence government policy towards it. Samuel Hall and
AMAPOC also undertook a capacity building workshop with government officials on using data to
inform policy and advocating for the set-up of a Migration Data Management Strategy.
In Somalia – through 2 reports for UNHCR and DRC, we have provided a push to mainstream and
operationalise durable solutions for the displaced in the New Deal Framework for Somalia. These
reports have sought to identify opportunities within the Somali Compact to address the concerns
of Somalia’s displaced population and facilitate durable solutions for them.
11
2014 ACHIEVEMENTS CONTINUED
WORKSHOPS AND CAPACITY BUILDING WORK
Research is our focus, but capacity building and dissemination have taken an equally important place
in our portfolio of work. To share our lessons learned in the field, build on experience and ensure
that development programs and practitioners benefit from rigorous data collection and analysis
practices. Our Directors and senior colleagues often lead workshops and participatory exercises
with clients and key stakeholders in order to provide a thorough follow-up to our work and ensure
that practitioners, policymakers and businesses are provided with the necessary understanding and
tools to better reach their targets.
These activities have involved:
Research and Data Collection Trainings: Training sessions for local NGO staff to review data
collection techniques, best practices and ethical considerations with Cordaid, the Womanity
Foundation and others;
Building Policy using data and research resources Workshops: Donor workshops with GIZ and
the AFD to cover available resources in programming and come up with realistic action plans;
Recommendations Workshops: Stakeholder presentations with a variety of actors such
as UNICEF, WFP and Ministries where both the outcomes of a project are discussed and
recommendations are put forward
As part of these trainings and exercises, we have developed training manuals and curricula that can
be used as toolkits for practitioners.
12
PARTNERSHIPS
This past year we have also added several new organisations to our portfolio of clients, both in
the public and private sector. These include for example UNMAS, WHH, Save the Children, and
FKH Media. Samuel Hall aspires to build enduring relationships with its partners, something that is
reflected in the growing number of clients who return for new projects and commissions. Evidence
of this lies in our recent MoU with iMMAP, detailed below.
MoU with iMMAP
Samuel Hall has recently signed a MoU with iMMAP. iMMAP is an NGO specialised in data
analysis and mapping services for a variety of development actors around the world. Its
services are usually free and range from assistance to emergency work, development of
scientific projects and tracking of specific demographics. iMMAP directly develops or
supports organisations to transform their data into usable and discernible tools and products
such as maps, remote sensing and imagery data, innovative mobile data collection tools, and
performance monitoring and security solutions to use in the context of humanitarian access
and risk management and beyond.
This partnership creates a necessary complementarity between fieldwork and data analysis
in the field of research for humanitarian and development purposes. Samuel Hall’s vast
experience in conducting field research, coupled with iMMAP’s longstanding commitment to
providing information management services and products to development actors, will create
a situation in which studies, evaluations, assessments and other reports produced by Samuel
Hall will have the added value of clear and original data visualisations incorporated.
13
MEDIA COVERAGE
Youth and Education in Afghanistan
The Guardian, March 2015
About 3,000 young Afghans filed out of Kabul University one morning after sitting their public
university entrance exam. They emerged in two separate rows: girls to the right, boys to the left.
After picking up her mobile phone from the battered minivan used to store items banned from
the examination room, Nooria, 19 – who, like many Afghans, goes by one name – explained why
young people in the country are gravitating toward higher education. Samuel Hall Co-Director
Hervé Nicolle shares his insights on the matter.
Durable Solutions in Somalia
Relief Web, June 2014
Samuel Hall completed its first assessment in Somalia for the Somalia Return Consortium composed
of DRC, FAO, INTERSOS, IOM, Islamic Relief, Mercy Corps, NRC, UNHCR and WFP. In a press
release on Relief Web, UNHCR launched the Executive Summary of the report, with a foreword
from the Country Representative of UNHCR Somalia – Alessandra Morelli. The report assesses the
achievements and challenges of the IDP Voluntary Return Programme currently being implemented
in Somalia. The full report will be released in July.
Migration Dynamics
IOM, June 2014
Samuel Hall has recently completed a study on displacement dynamics in Afghanistan, focusing on
the movement intentions, needs and vulnerabilities of internally displaced persons (IDPs). The study,
funded by the Federal Republic of Germany and commissioned by the International Organization
for Migration (IOM), covers the provinces of Herat and Helmand, which have some of the highest
levels of IDP vulnerability.
14
Displaced Afghan Women Face Additional Risks
Thomson Reuters Foundation, May 2014
According to the latest edition of Forced Migration Review, which looks at Afghanistan’s displaced
people and their prospects after foreign troops withdraw this year, displaced Afghan women are
especially vulnerable to exploitation and violence because of their often reduced circumstances,
according to a piece by Camille Hennion, project director at the Kabul-based Samuel Hall research
group.
Afghan Refugees Denied Vote
France24, April 2014
According to the latest edition of Forced Migration Review, which looks at Afghanistan’s displaced
people and their prospects after foreign troops withdraw this year, displaced Afghan women are
especially vulnerable to exploitation and violence because of their often reduced circumstances,
according to a piece by Camille Hennion, project director at the Kabul-based Samuel Hall research
group.
15
2014 REPORT HIGHLIGHTS
EAST AFRICA
SOMALIA. A NEW DEAL FOR THE DISPLACED IN SOMALIA
Commissioned by Danish Refugee Council
Samuel Hall drafted “A New Deal for Somalia’s Displaced”, under the research
framework of the Regional Durable Solutions Secretariat (ReDSS). The
findings detail the necessity to understand and operationalise displacement
as a development issue. The study highlights concrete steps to integrate
displacement issues into the implementation of the New Deal Compact.
The report was launched at the side-event to the High-Level Partnership
Forum organised by DRC and the Solutions Alliance in Copenhagen in
November 2014.
KENYA. DEVOLUTION IN KENYA AS A POTENTIAL KEY TO DURABLE
SOLUTIONS
Commissioned by Danish Refugee Council
Conducted in NE and NW Kenya with a view to inform policy and advocacy
towards unlocking the protracted refugee/ displacement situation in Kenya
this study assesses devolution as a potential key to Durable Solutions.
The study explores the potential flexibility of the region with reference to
economic integration of refugees in the search for durable solutions.
16
KENYA. MIGRATION PROFILE EXERCISE IN KENYA
Commissioned by IOM
Samuel Hall Director Nassim Majidi working closely with AMADPOC and
IOM drafted Kenya’s first Migration Profile to build local capacity and
highlight key trends on migration in and out of Kenya. Recommendations
are geared towards greater institutional cooperation with the Kenyan
diaspora, a greater focus on the Kenyan Government’s obligations towards
refugee rights and protection under international law, and the need to
consolidate comprehensive data management processes, a necessary step
to build a migration governance framework in Kenya.
KENYA & SOMALIA. DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES IN SPONTANEOUS
RETURNS FROM KENYA TO SOMALIA
Commissioned by UNHCR
This research documents the conditions of return for those Somali refugee
families who decide to return spontaneously from Kenya to Somalia.
Starting with decision-making processes up until the conditions of returnees
following their return, the difference in expectations before the journey and
the reality upon arrival; the study provides a cross-border, longitudinal view
of return as a process that begins in Kenya.
17
2014 REPORT HIGHLIGHTS CONTINUED
SOMALIA. AN ASSESSMENT OF THE IDP VOLUNTARY RETURN
PROGRAMME IN SOMALIA LED BY THE SOMALIA RETURN CONSORTIUM
Commissioned by UNHCR
The UNHCR-led Somalia Return Consortium (SRC) has been providing
return and basic reintegration support to IDP families willing to return to
their place of origin. To assess the impact of the Programme and to analyse
to what extent, if at all, durable solutions had been achieved, Samuel Hall
was commissioned to analyse M&E data collected by SRC members (DRC,
FAO, INTERSOS, IOM, Islamic Relief, Mercy Corps, NRC, UNHCR and WFP).
ETHIOPIA. RESEARCH ON PROTRACTED SITUATIONS OF DISPLACEMENT:
OPTIONS BEYOND CAMP ASSISTANCE
Commissioned by Norwegian Refugee Council
Samuel Hall was commissioned by NRC in Ethiopia to conduct a research
study exploring options beyond camp assistance in Ethiopia. The project
aims to provide guidance on programming ideas aiming towards supporting
durable solutions as well as looking at how activities could be implemented
if NRC worked with a 3-5 year planning and funding horizon.
18
SOMALIA. INVESTING IN SOMALI YOUTH? EXPLORING THE YOUTHEMPLOYMENT-MIGRATION NEXUS IN SOMALILAND AND PUNTLAND
Commissioned by IOM
This research maps the profiles, skills and employment opportunities for
youth in order to unlock solutions for growth and local economic recovery.
Recommendations from the research will contribute to concerted actions
aimed at addressing youth un-employment in Puntland and the rest of
Somalia both from the supply side (which skills to be reinforced) and the
demand side (which sectors and activities should be targeted).
SOMALIA. MARKET ASSESSMENT AND VALUE CHAIN ANALYSIS IN
BAIDOA AND BELETWEYNE
Commissioned by ILO
Samuel Hall worked on local economic recovery for the ILO by conducting
a value chain analysis with an analytical review of the existing and potential
value chains that could help women and youth generate income and access
the local urban and rural markets in Baidoa and Beletweyne.
19
2014 REPORT HIGHLIGHTS CONTINUED
SOMALIA. EDUCATION FOR SOMALI REFUGEES: EMPHASISING A
REGIONAL APPROACH
Commissioned by UNHCR
The present scoping study was commissioned by UNHCR to inform the
future regional education strategy for Somali refugees to be developed
in 2015. Its end objectives are to a) Identify the gaps and opportunities
in current data, coordination and strategic planning, which could be
addressed in a regional strategy; b) Develop the outline of a new Somali
refugee education strategy (rationale and recommendations).
SOMALIA. MAPPING CSOS IN SOMALIA
Commissioned by Danish Refugee Council
Samuel Hall mapped the presence and programming of CSOs in Somalia.
The study looks critically at the operational and programming context in
Somalia and the efficacy of CSOs within the fragile country. Finally, the
study explores links between displacement and development funding
mechanisms like the New Deal for DRC and for displacement programming
in general.
20
SOMALIA. EVALUATION OF THE SOMALIA NGO CONSORTIUM
Commissioned by the Somalia NGO Consortium
At a time of changing context of aid coordination within Somali, the purpose
of the evaluation was to assist the Consortium assess its performance and
improve its conduit as an agency for NGO representation and coordination.
Concrete recommendations for institutional capacity development of the
Consortium to deliver the ambition of the new strategy and priorities were
presented. The evaluation drew on lessons learnt from similar coordination
bodies, ACBAR (Afghanistan) and South Sudan NGO Forum respectively.
GREAT LAKES REGION. EVALUATION OF THE GREAT LAKES CIVIL
SOCIETY PROJECT
Commissioned by Danish Refugee Council
Samuel Hall evaluated the Great Lakes Civil Society project being
implemented in 6 countries of the Great Lakes Region - Central African
Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Uganda, Burundi
and Kenya. This was a mid-term evaluation of Phase II of the project which
aims to support national civil society organisations in documenting and
analysing specific displacement and conflict issues, and translating these
analyses into practical advocacy goals at the local, national and regional
levels.
21
2014 REPORT HIGHLIGHTS CONTINUED
SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA
IRAN/AFGHANISTAN. CROSS BORDER VALUE CHAIN ANALYSIS
Commissioned by ILO
The study was part of a broader research on competitiveness and jobs
where other important value chains and their job creation capacity were
to be analysed in the regional trade context. While initially conceived
for policymakers and programme managers of Afghanistan, the study
benefitted in gaining insights of impact of these developments on further
development of these value chains and the quantity and quality of jobs
associated to them.
AFGHANISTAN. EVALUATION OF THE FEMALE YOUTH EMPLOYMENT
INITIATIVE (FYEI)
Commissioned by the World Bank
To address the lack of paid employment opportunities for young women
in economic growth sectors such as healthcare, teaching and clerical work,
Samuel Hall was commissioned to determine whether the World Bank’s
FYEI pilot programme has been successful in economically empowering
selected applicants. The research examined participant perception of the
quality and impact of the training programme and established the extent
to which provision and reinforcement of skills and livelihood training to
young Afghan women has enabled them to engage in the labour market
productively and to earn a substantial income. The project was conducted
aimed to interview the quasi-totality of women involved in this pilot in
Balkh province.
22
AFGHANISTAN. STRENGTHENING AFGHANISTAN’S MINING EDUCATION
SYSTEM
Commissioned by GIZ
Samuel Hall was commissioned to analyse specific peace and conflict
potentials of this GIZ project with regards to the development of a
curriculum for mining sector students. All actors involved in the extractive
industry in Afghanistan were interviewed and the possibility of creating
partnerships between GIZ and several institutions was assessed. Finally, a
focus was put on academic sustainability given the lack of skilled individuals
in the mining sector.
AFGHANISTAN. TOWARDS A CHILD SENSITIVE SOCIAL PROTECTION
SYSTEM
Commissioned by UNICEF
Samuel Hall advised UNICEF on the design of a child-focused social protection
programme. Specifically, the research aimed at building knowledge on child
poverty and vulnerability, mapping existing social protection mechanisms,
assessing the state and vitality of zakat and awqaf institutions and the
extent to which these could be used as a basis for sustainable social
protection interventions and developing a set of recommendations on the
most appropriate modalities of interventions for UNICEF’s pilot programme.
23
2014 REPORT HIGHLIGHTS CONTINUED
AFGHANISTAN. NRC YOUTH EDUCATION PACK EVALUATION (YEP)
Commissioned by Norwegian Refugee Council
Samuel Hall finished an evaluation with NRC of its Youth Education Pack
(YEP) in Afghanistan. The YEP combines vocational training, literacy
training and life skills over a nine month time period to help displaced and
returnee youth. NRC has been implementing the YEP in Afghanistan since
2010 in Faryab, Nangarhar and Herat provinces. This research provided an
independent assessment of the YEP, evaluated project design, structure
and methodology and provided recommendations for effective future
planning. Fieldwork used electronic data collection to gather information
from beneficiaries, non-beneficiaries and community leaders through
quantitative surveys. Additional case studies and focus groups were used
to complete this information.
AFGHANISTAN. URBAN POVERTY REPORT 2014
Commissioned by the Danish Refugee Council and People in Need
This urban poverty study shows alarmingly high levels of poverty and food
insecurity and low levels of resilience in the main Afghan cities. The urban
poor are the first impacted by the slowdown of the Afghan economy and
the political turmoil linked to the presidential elections and are now in
distress. Samuel Hall led this study in key urban areas in Afghanistan for
PIN and DRC. The assignment culminated in a launch event held amongst
key stakeholders in Kabul.
24
AFGHANISTAN.
ACTIVITIES
EVALUATION
OF
RETURN
AND
REINTEGRATION
Commissioned by IOM
This evaluation presented key findings from an assessment of IOM’s return
and reintegration activities in the provinces of Kabul, Nangarhar, Nimroz
and Herat. These activities included post-arrival assistance, livelihood
assistance and shelter assistance for deported and voluntary returnees and
other vulnerable groups. The evaluation drew lessons on the relevance and
impact of return and reintegration activities – these lessons can be used
to strengthen future iterations of these projects in Afghanistan, and can
provide lessons learned for other country contexts.
AFGHANISTAN. EVALUATION OF THE BASIC EDUCATION PROGRAMME
FOR AFGHANISTAN (BEPA)
Commissioned by GIZ
This study’s first aim was to review the relevance and impact of the
strategic choice made by GIZ BEPA to use community mobilization as a
conduit for the promotion of girls’ secondary education. Its second aim
was to evaluate the quality of implementation and sustainability of the
programme; and finally, it will provide GIZ with practical recommendations
for the improvement and potential extension of the programme.
25
2014 REPORT HIGHLIGHTS CONTINUED
AFGHANISTAN. EVALUATION OF UNMAS AND MAPA IN AFGHANISTAN
Commissioned by UNMAS
UNMAS and the Mine Action Programme of Afghanistan (MAPA) are in a
paradoxical situation. Successful and increasingly efficient over the past six
years, the MAPA is now in a delicate position to negotiate the years to come,
as it struggles to secure the yearly funding it needs to allow Afghanistan
to fulfil its treaty obligations. Samuel Hall conducted an evaluation of their
country operations last year.
AFGHANISTAN. CHILD LABOUR IN CARPET PRODUCTION
Commissioned by Goodweave International
GoodWeave partnered with Samuel Hall for two phases of research on
child labour in carpet weaving in Afghanistan. During the first phase of
the research, the actors, processes and linkages in the carpet/rug value
chain at each stage were mapped, and the prevalence of child labour
was identified. This second study focused more closely on child labour in
home-based carpet production, to provide actionable recommendations
for GoodWeave’s programming. It evaluated the impact of carpet weaving
on the well being of the children involved through a test and control
methodology among weaving and non-weaving households.
Goodweave was founded by Mr. Kailash Satyarthi, 2015 Nobel Peace Prize
winner.
26
AFGHANISTAN. EVALUATION OF RURAL LIVELIHOODS PROGRAMMES
Commissioned by AFD
As part of its 4-year-long programme in the Central Highlands region of
Afghanistan focusing on rural development, a consortium composed of
three French NGOs (GERES, Solidarités and MADERA) has decided to
employ an external evaluator, in order to ensure a neutral and objective
assessment of the project. AFD, the donor, commissioned Samuel Hall
to fulfil this role. The research is made up of 3 parts: a baseline, which
is in its final stage, a midterm, and an end-line assessment. Samuel Hall
partnered with the Centre d’Etudes et de Recherche sur le Développement
International (CERDI), a leading research centre based in Clermont-Ferrand,
France.
AFGHANISTAN. STAKEHOLDER PERCEPTION SURVEY FOR HARAKAT
Commissioned by Harakat
Samuel
Hall
was
commissioned
to
conduct
a
stakeholder perception survey for Harakat, an initiative of DFiD that aims
at improving the business environment in Afghanistan by providing greater
access to finance, streamlining regulations, encouraging private sector
investment in infrastructure and tackling corruption. The objective was to
strengthen partner engagement. The study also provides Harakat with an
updated overview of business challenges and opportunities in Afghanistan.
27
2014 REPORT HIGHLIGHTS CONTINUED
AFGHANISTAN. SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONES MAPPING FOR HARAKAT
Commissioned by Harakat
While nationwide economic reforms are forthcoming, SEZs are being
explored as a tool to improve Afghanistan’s business climate, a testing
ground for economic reforms and most of all to invite private investment to
push on the government’s agenda of Inclusive Private Sector Development
of the country. Samuel Hall’s research found that for developing SEZs, the
key challenges that need to be overcome are regional trade barriers, power
supply, land acquisition, corruption and security as informed by sector
experts and observers of the Afghan economy.
AFGHANISTAN. FORTIFIED FOODS MEDIA CAMPAIGN FOR FKH MEDIA
Commissioned by WFP
WFP commissioned FKH Media and Samuel Hall to launch a media
campaign to promote fortified flour products in Afghanistan. The main
focus of such an approach was to develop communication strategies,
grounded in solid data, that encourage behaviour change. The second
objective of this research project was to further assess the impact of the
campaign on target populations through a KAP (Knowledge, Attitudes,
Practices) study. To do so, the research was carried out in two distinct
phases: a baseline survey to measure KAP towards fortified flour, media
consumption patterns and market segmentation and an endline survey to
measure the campaign’s impact on target groups through KAP study once
the campaign is concluded.
28
IRAN/AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTAN. AUP FORMULATION EXERCISE
Commissioned by the European Union
We were commissioned by the European Union to help draft ‘Aid to Uprooted People’ documentation
in order to ensure all relevant areas of focus are taken into account for this large programme funded
by the EU and aimed at supporting several NGOs working in Afghanistan and its neighbouring
countries to assist Afghan victims of internal and external displacement. Part of this formulation
exercise recommends a thorough and transparent M&E process involving numerous evaluations at
regular intervals.
.
AFGHANISTAN. URBAN DISPLACED YOUTH WORKSHOP
Samuel Hall funded
On October 28th 2014, Samuel Hall’s Director Nassim Majidi and Hervé Nicolle presented the findings
of a self-funded study on the needs and responses to urban youth in the areas of health, social
inclusion, skills development and livelihoods as part of an analysis of the drivers of urbanisation and the future stability (or instability) of Afghanistan’s capital city. The half-day event was chaired
by a panel constituted of UNHCR, UNFPA and ILO’s representatives in Afghanistan, and held at
Babur’s Gardens, with the participation of approximately 50 guests including representatives of
UN agencies, NGOs and the donor community. Recommendations made during the workshop
were incorporated in the final report. The event was a success, thanks in part to ACBAR’s support,
and the technical teams were able to enjoy a lively debate and share their recommendations for
inclusion in the final report.
AFGHANISTAN. REGIONAL WORKSHOP ON AFGHAN REFUGEES
On August 21st, 2014, ACBAR hosted the first regional workshop on Afghan refugees – inviting key
United Nations agencies, international and national NGOs from Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan to
speak of the challenges and opportunities facing Afghan refugees and returnees. This workshop
was a first step towards coordinated response to the world’s largest protracted refugee situation.
Samuel Hall drafted the final workshop report, circulated last fall.
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2015 AND BEYOND
The year 2015 has seen a promising beginning in supporting the private sector, enhancing
partnerships, informing and influencing policy.
PRIVATE SECTOR SUPPORT
The private sector has a greater relevance in today’s world as the major contributor to growth and
stability. The question is no longer whether development actors should engage with the private
sector, but how. In the post 2015 development agenda, stakeholders increasingly emphasise the
mobilisation of domestic resources, as well as the vital role of structural transformation led by the
partner countries themselves, to ensure sustainable and inclusive economic growth. The global
development agenda is moving beyond a strictly aid-based approach and is in need of a more
diversified approach to structural transformation. The private sector can play a key role in achieving
this. Samuel Hall in 2015 will explore this through its research and policy work as well as stakeholder
engagement.
Bringing financial solutions to vulnerable populations is another aim of Samuel Hall’s 2015 agenda.
We want to combine the two approaches in aid – financial solutions to address immediate needs
and investments to address systemic change that can provide more long-term sustainable solutions.
We want to divest of the linear view that sustainable solutions start only after immediate needs
have been addressed. In the contexts that we work in, this is more than ever apparent. It is key then
that aid and assistance benefits from financial solutions provided by the private and public sector
through a comprehensive approach of addressing emergency crises and need and longer term
solutions to development, progress and poverty reduction.
INFORMING AND INFLUENCING POLICY
We will continue to inform policy through innovative methods, partnerships with actors like iMMAP
and in-depth research. Additionally, through our findings, we will influence policy through trainings,
workshops and advocacy. Our aim is to impact individuals and organizations – advocating for a
more conducive environment to protect the rights of the vulnerable and the mandates of those
serving them
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ENHANCING PARTNERSHIPS FOR INNOVATION
Globalisation has meant that everyone has a stake in development of fragile countries: governments;
the UN system; and “major groups” such as business and industry, children and youth, NGOs,
indigenous peoples, and—not in the least—the poor of the world. This year, we aim to bring in the
private sector, actors that are already involved in a myriad of activities and processes and those
that are not, with some innovative coordination, to feed their respective expertise into each other
and to ultimately create a unified vision of the future of global development. The private sector has
a lot to contribute to international development and we will endeavour to bridge the gap between
the private and the public sector in the contexts that we work in. We will enhance through our
work, cohesion between public and private actors to create an enabling environment to ensure
knowledge transfer and foster economic growth.
Samuel Hall will support consortium models to maximize resources, effectiveness and efficiency in
challengeing contexts of operations to ensure that the needs of the vulnerable are ranked first. We
will bring together organisations that have specific expertise and combine specialists and generalists
to find more dynamic, pragmatic, and cost-effective solutions: through the MoU with IMMAP and
project-based agreements with Ushahidi, our research teams will benefit from unique data analysis
and mapping services; through continuous partnerships with international Universities, we will
make our statistical, econometric, and analytical tools more dynamic.
ACADEMIC ENGAGEMENT
Our team will continue its advocacy and dissemination work through presentations at key
conferences. In 2015, Samuel Hall Directors will participate in high-profile conferences including: the
Humanitarian Innovation Project at Oxford University on cash-based programming and mobile cash
transfers; on rights, democracy and migration challenges and opportunities at IMISCOE (the largest
European network of scholars on migration and integration) in Geneva, and the 9th annual PanEuropean Conference in International Relations of the European International Studies Association
(EISA) in Sicily, Italy. We will also support PhD dissertations and master’s students through the use
of our data and hiring interns from universities who would like to get field access and experience
for their work. This will be done in conjunction with building ties to academic experts and thinkers
who can strengthen our analysis and reporting.
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2015 AND BEYOND CONTINUED
INTRODUCING OUR BOARD OF ADVISORS
Samuel Hall is delighted to welcome its first Board of Advisors. Samuel Hall’s Directors have taken
this step recognizing that expert outsiders can augment the knowledge, strategic thinking, outreach,
visibility and overall impact of the organisation. Specifically, we aim to improve our Strategy,
Accountability and Networking through our Board’s collective insight and experience.
Naz Majidi is an advisor to Samuel Hall Consulting in technical fields relating to finance and
engineering. Her main areas of focus relate to financial inclusion, microfinance and peer-to-peer
lending. She is passionate about putting her financial expertise to work in promoting economic
development and social inclusion around the world.
Marie Lora-Mungai is a media entrepreneur and producer. She also founded and heads Buni Media,
a multimedia production company with offices in Nairobi and Los Angeles, and Buni.tv the leading
African video-on-demand platform for high quality content. Before becoming an entrepreneur,
Marie had a first career as an award-winning television journalist, working across 3 continents and
15 African countries for CNN, Reuters TV, AFP TV and the BBC World Service.
Sébastien Turbot is the Curator and Director of Content and Programs at WISE (World Innovation
Summit for Education), an initiative of Qatar Foundation. As executive director, he manages
the overall strategy, content (thought-leadership, digital content and research) and programs
(Prize, Awards, Accelerator, etc), speakers and VIPs, partnerships and sponsorships and events
management.
Raffi Vartanian brings a decade of experience in the private shipping and logistics sector. He is a
shareholder and director of East Africa Courier Services, headquartered in Djibouti, which operates
the franchise of global courier and logistics firm, Aramex, offering service across Djibouti, Somaliland
and Somalia. He is also a director of Freight Investor Solutions, a leading freight derivatives brokerage
house with focus on the dry bulk and iron ore markets.
Jacky Mathonnat has a Ph.D. in Development Economics and a Master in Public Law. He is professor
of Economics at the School of Economics and at the Centre for Studies and Research on International
Development (CERDI, which is part of the French National Centre for Scientific Research - CNRS),
at the University of Auvergne, France. His main fields of interest are public policy in developing
countries with a special focus on social and health policies and programme evaluation. He has
worked as consultant in more than twenty countries in Africa and Asia for various organizations
as UNDP, WHO, The World Bank, The European Union, the Agence Française de Développement
(AFD), the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Swedish International Development Cooperation
Agency, for private companies, including Samuel Hall, and for international NGOs.
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EXPANDING OUR GEOGRAPHIC REACH
Following our successful establishment and expansion in East Africa, one of our next goals is to
utilise our network of contacts, resources and transferable skillsets to create a permanent presence
in the Levant. Our aim is to have a base in Amman, Jordan covering Lebanon and Syria as well, in
order to develop truly international expertise, catering to both public and private sector entities.
Through our newsletters, we will update you on the progress of our continuing expansion and work.
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2015 AND BEYOND CONTINUED
FINALLY...
In Somalia we have completed an assessment to set minimum standards on local integration, and
to assess (mis)match between youth and employment prospects. This along with our work on
devolution in Turkana and Garissa counties in Kenya will contribute to a better understanding of
issues of refugee management and livelihoods in East Africa. We hope to produce a comprehensive
document on Durable Solutions for Somali Refugees, amalgamating what we have learnt through
various research work done over the past year – plugging into one big puzzle.
Key themes have emerged in our research – a momentum we will build on by expanding our research
programmes in 2015 and beyond: youth studies, urban studies, livelihoods and resilience. Starting
with resilience and the acknowledgement that we cannot avoid catastrophe but we can prevent
vulnerability. What is resilience and what does it translate to amongst vulnerable communities in
fragile contexts like Afghanistan and Somalia? This is the question, which will underlie our work
as improve understanding of humanitarian programming, risks and vulnerabilities. Through our
thematic and sectoral research we will look at the ways in which various groups of populations –
women, children, IDPs, refugees, youth cope with insecurity, displacement and vulnerabilities. We
will also explore.
A lot has been learnt over the past decade on humanitarian and development programming. The
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were set to address core issues like education and poverty
worldwide. Evidence through our research has shown that while the global picture may look like
it has improved, there are some serious issues waiting to be addressed at the ground level, and
mistakes continuing to be made, especially in light of new emergencies. We will bring these lessons
learnt into our portfolio this year by publishing report highlights and policy briefs on key priorities
identified by the post-2015 global development agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs) through country-specific and thematic case studies. We remain committed to improving
humanitarian and development assistance through field and evidence driver research.
SAMUEL HALL REPORT HIGHLIGHTS
With every report that is published, our researchers also produce a concise report highlight
that presents key findings and recommendations in a succinct manner. Some of these are a
summary of the report itself whilst others are Analysis Briefs that provide a succinct analysis
on key themes like education, displacement, and trafficking. Through these report highlights
and analysis briefs, we aim to ensure that those who do not have time are able to get access
to the most important pieces of information in our research. These report highlights and
analysis briefs can be downloaded from our website.
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KEY CONTACTS
Nassim Majidi, Co-Director and Head of the Migration Practice
[email protected]
Hervé Nicolle, Co-Director and Head of Research and M&E
[email protected]
Visit our website: www.samuelhall.org
Follow us on Twitter: @Samuel_Hall_
Contact us by e-mail: [email protected]