The MIDA FINNSOM Phase II – Health and Education project aims to improve the health and education outcomes in Somalia by facilitating the temporary return of diaspora experts in selected health and education institutions. The project promotes institutional capacity building through skills and knowledge transfer, while fostering local inclusion through the placement of local and young professionals (interns), to enhance their competencies. The project’s overall objective is to contribute to strengthening the Health and Education sectors in Somalia towards achieving the Somalia National Development Plan’s goals and the 2030 Development Agenda. Currently the project is implemented across the Federal Members States (FMS): Galmudug, Jubaland, South West State, Hirshabelle, Puntland federal states and Banadir Region. Researchcare Africa (RCA) was contracted by IOM to conduct an end-term evaluation of the second phase of the project.

The overall aim of the evaluation was to assess the project performance against the targets in the results frameworks, at output, outcome and objective level, based on the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Development Assistance Committee (DAC) evaluation criteria; Relevance, Coherence, Effectiveness, Efficiency, Impact and Sustainability. The evaluation employed a mixed methods approach (both quantitative and qualitative techniques) to design the end-term evaluation. The end-term qualitative technique adopted Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) for project participants and the stakeholders. A beneficiary survey questionnaire was also used to collect quantitative data from project participants. The evaluators interviewed different stakeholders, including IOM project team (implementing agency), the Embassy of Finland in Nairobi (donor), targeted host institutions (government counterparts, beneficiaries, participants and owners of the project), MIDA diaspora experts, local professionals and interns (project participants) as well as partner implementing organizations. Interviews were held both face-to-face and through virtual means.