DFAT Phnom Penh Post will support the review by providing all relevant documents, making arrangements for in-country consultations and providing timely feedback on draft documents, including attending an Aide Memoire presentation at the conclusion of the in-country field mission. Review process and timeline Dates Activity 13 July – 4 August Desk review (analysing existing background documents and including a briefing session with DFAT Canberra). Prepare a Review plan and any relevant documents as required 4 August Submit review plan 5 August Receive DFAT comments and revisions 7 August In-Australia consultations (by telephone with DFAT Canberra) 11-19 August Field Work – see Annex 1 for proposed consultations 20-21 August Preparation of aide memoire 21 August Presentation of aide memoire Including initial findings and proposed recommendations for discussion with DFAT 24 August – 2 September Draft Mid-Term Review Report 2 September Submit draft review Including detailed recommendations 9 September Receive DFAT comments and revisions 10 – 16 September Finalise report 16 September Submit final Mid-Term Review Report 1: Proposed in-country consultations Date Meeting/Activity Comment Aug 9/10 Travel to Phnom Penh Tues Aug 11 Team workshop with DFAT M&E officer / Embassy briefings Team discussion of desk review, approach to meetings/consultations, key questions etc. Meetings with Embassy sections – Pol, Eco , Edu Wed Aug 12 Coffey meetings with Team leader, Ops Manager and HRD and Targeting Specialists All day with Coffey key staff
Saram Martin, Executive Liaison Officer, CDC Srey Chan, Director of Persons with Disability Rights Unit, Disability Action Council Secretariat Other donors: Rapson, New Zealand Embassy Bangkok Ms Sirikarn Thammawijit, Development Programme Administrator, New Zealand Embassy Bangkok Jay R. Raman, Public Affairs Officer, Embassy of the United States of America, Phnom Penh Socheat Ou, Public Affair Specialist, Embassy of the United States of America, Phnom Penh Po Eng, Information Resource Specialist, Public Affairs Section, Embassy of the United States of America, Phnom Penh Australia Awards Scholarship Awardees: Intensive Pre-Departure Training participants Australia Awards Scholarships Alumnus ANNEX 5: Focus Group Discussion Plans Focus Group Discussion 1 Questions Audience: Pre-departure students in Intensive program (12 months). Students have almost completed the course and will undertake their IELTS test at the end of August. They are scheduled to depart for Australia in Jan 2016. Introduction Purpose of the and focus group. Their confidentiality will be respected, with no names recorded of focus group participants. Question area one (Eval Qu 1.2) Based on your understanding of what study and life will be like in Australia how well do you think the pre-departure training program has prepared you for this: To adjust to a new academic environment Social and cultural adjustment English language ability Probe with questions about what they think will be the hardest part of adjusting to study and life in Australia? Are they ready? Question area two (Eval Qu 2.1) Do you think the length and content of the training was appropriate? components of the PDT do you think could be increased/ decreased?
TO BE COMPLETED BY MINISTRY OFFICIAL SUPERVISORS: 3. POTENTIAL TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES [CANDIDATE & MINISTRY REPRESENTATIVE] Scholars please consult with your employers and discuss the previously agreed potential ongoing or new tasks3 or areas of responsibility4. GENERAL EXPECTATIONS 3 a: Supervisor: Please explain why you expect the completion of this award by the employee to give your organization greater opportunities to contribute to relevant development activities (Response between 200 words and 400 words): Scholar please record how you may be able to apply your new knowledge and skills. Employers please add support that may be provided. SCHOLAR Responsibilities, knowledge or skills New (Y/N) Timeframe (Mth/Yr) EMPLOYER REPRESENTATIVE Support to be provided or other comments
regarding the contract extension period. The review should also consider how relevant the program is to the current Australian aid program in Cambodia. The review will therefore make recommendations to DFAT regarding: Extending the contract with Coffey from the current years for a further two years (five years in total), including any recommended changes to program focus. Options for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of program implementation. Evaluation questions and approaches There are six agreed key evaluation questions. How relevant is the current program’s focus to the Australian aid program and Cambodian priorities? (Relevance) How effectively is the program being implemented to meet the long-term program objectives? (Effectiveness) How efficiently are key program activities and processes being implemented? (Efficiency) How effectively have equity strategies relating to gender and social inclusiveness (participation of applicants with disability and provincial applicants) been implemented? (Equity) How well is the monitoring and evaluation framework designed and is it effectively operationalised to assess the outputs and outcomes of the program? (M&E) Based on the above findings, where (in the scholarship cycle) could implementation activities and program focus be strengthened to better support program objectives? (Recommendations) The review is formative in nature and will primarily on the program’s implementation processes. Data has been collected using mixed methods. The review collected quantitative and qualitative data from primary and secondary sources. Primary data were obtained through interviewing program stakeholders. Secondary data was obtained through reviewing documentation. The review has validated the information by comparing stakeholder opinions and responses. Initial findings Overall the program is performing well. Implementation arrangements are sound and contributing to the delivery of program objectives. There are opportunities to strengthen approaches and improve implementation however these are minor in the delivery of the program as a whole. Recommendation 1: Revise and extend the contract with Coffey for the remaining two years Relevance The Australia Awards Scholarship program is highly relevant with the Australian Government’s priorities in Cambodia and in line with DFAT’s global approaches to Australia Awards. Key Issues: AAS aligns with the aid program priority areas by targeting applications from people within defined fields. This approach responds annually to changes in priorities, however can create confusion amongst potential applicants and inconsistencies in reporting contribution to development at individual, sector or organisational level.