This report presents the findings of a Thematic Evaluation on the current status of Plan?s
programs for improving the survival of children under 5 years of age. Plan is an
international development agency that has existed for 70 years and is currently working
in 49 developing countries across Africa, Asia and the Americas. Plan has 20 years of
experience in child survival programming, now enhanced by its adoption of Child
Centered Community Development and its support for the rights of children, as expressed
in the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Purpose: The purpose of the Thematic Evaluation was to identify what Plan is doing
well and where improvements are needed for sustained and significant impact, and to
recommend how Plan might increase the effectiveness and quality of its activities
internationally.
Specific objectives include: (1) assess Plan?s interventions in child survival; (2) identify
factors that determine the level of performance in child survival, specifically the role of
Child Centered Community Development (CCCD); (3) Document lessons learnt and
overall impressions drawn from Plan documents, interviews, and case studies; and (4)
make recommendations to further improve the performance of Plan?s child survival
interventions. The evaluation was conducted by Social Sector Development Strategies,
Inc. (SSDS) in cooperation with Plan International Headquarters. The work was carried
out between January and August 2007.