CURRENT PROJECTS
1. Sugar content in common soft drinks and juices – we are analyzing the sugar content of popular soft drinks and juices. We will then present these findings using graphics and in language that is easy for everyone to understand. This project also looks at effective and ideal management of sugar intake in the Eswatini context.2. Operationalizing the Tinkhundla governance system – we are playing a significant role in operationalizing the Tinkhundla governance system. Basically, this involves providing practical solutions to the question: “How can the Tinkhundla system work better and improve its effectiveness?”
3. Different cultural practices at all levels – we are answering the question: “What are the different cultural activities that create Swazi culture. This project aims at documenting the different cultural practices in Eswatini at all levels. It covers the what, how , why & where components of the cultural practices at all different levels of the Eswatini society.
4. Provision of Technical Advisory Services – TRECO is currently providing youth technical advisory services, Pro Bono, to Mafutseni Constituent Youth Committee. The main aim of the services is to help the youth committee facilitate the development of young people in the constituent.
4. Provision of Technical Advisory Services – TRECO is currently providing youth technical advisory services, Pro Bono, to Mafutseni Constituent Youth Committee. The main aim of the services is to help the youth committee facilitate the development of young people in the constituent.
PAST PROJECTS
1. Stepping Stones programme evaluation (2019) – We performed an evaluation of the Stepping Stones approach to HIV prevention among adolescents and young people in Eswatini that was in place between October 2015 – September 2018, looking at how successful the programme was. Key stakeholders involved were the national Coordinating Assembly for Non-Governmental Organization (CANGO), the National Emergency Response Council on HIV/AIDS (NERCHA) and the UNAIDS Eswatini country office.We were involved as national consultants working with the international consultant and our main roles were designing, implementing and managing the electronic data collection system; coordinating data collection; and assisting with report writing, as well as with presentations to stakeholders. This was a mid-sized project. Data was collected in all regions of the country from slightly over 400 programme beneficiaries.
2. Life Skills Education Programme Evaluation (2018) – We carried out an evaluation of this globally funded national Life Skills Education Programme, which was running in 109 secondary schools. Using the OECD/DAC evaluation framework, we made a few technical improvements to address the weaknesses of the framework. This project employed a mixed-method research approach.
The evaluation also required an analysis of menstrual hygiene management, which we had to integrate into our instruments alongside the Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices evaluation. The research used a quasi-experimental design, given that we compared schools with and without the programme. As a larger mid-sized project, we collected data from over 1500 students in 80 schools. Key informant interviews were also conducted with teachers, headteachers and regional education officers.
The evaluation also required an analysis of menstrual hygiene management, which we had to integrate into our instruments alongside the Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices evaluation. The research used a quasi-experimental design, given that we compared schools with and without the programme. As a larger mid-sized project, we collected data from over 1500 students in 80 schools. Key informant interviews were also conducted with teachers, headteachers and regional education officers.
3. Strategic Plan for the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs (MOSCYA) (2019) – TRECO developed a five-year strategic plan for the MOSCYA. This was the first-ever strategic plan for the ministry since its inception 12 years back. The project entailed first aligning the different technical areas of the ministry with a common goal, and then aligning these goals and some broader ministry practices with the overall government Road Map and National Development Plans. This was a large, longer-term project carried out over many months, since the youth, sports and culture sectors have numerous stakeholders that needed to be consulted. Altogether, a strategic and technical plan for the next five years was formulated.
4. WASH baseline survey (2019) – WaterAid Eswatini commissioned TRECO to carry out this mid-sized project. We were tasked with establishing the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) status in two separate communities of the resource- and water-stressed Lubombo region.
A major component of the consultancy was to construct a population pyramid of these communities’ demographics. We were able to achieve this. Notably, every household in both communities was visited. We also successfully collected comprehensive economic data, which was critical given that one of the main objectives of the project was to establish the viability of a public-private partnership scenario for the provision of WASH services. We adopted the mixed-method approach and utilized an electronic data collection system for the collection of quantitative data. Another research technique we employed was observation, in which we observed all reported WASH-related infrastructure in the households and the community. The survey targeted multiple levels of social organization, including households, institutions and individuals in the community.
5. Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of OVC caregivers in Eswatini (2019) – We carried out a baseline survey for a project implemented by Save the Children Eswatini, University of Eswatini and the European Union in Eswatini. We designed the methodology and collected data on the caregiver situation at care points in the country. This was a mid-sized project. Given the need for evaluation of the same caregivers, we designed a system in which the personal details of the caregivers were documented for ease of identification during the evaluation.
6. Eswatini Accelerated Action for the Health of Adolescents (AA – HA!) programme development (2019) – this project entailed tailoring the global WHO AA – HA! Framework for Eswatini. As such, TRECO carried out stakeholder consultations and secondary data analysis, and performed a full document review in order to make sure the framework was aligned with all relevant policies. The main stakeholders involved were the Ministry of Health in Eswatini; UNFPA Eswatini country office; WHO Eswatini country office; and Save the Children Eswatini, as well as other UN agencies in Eswatini.
7. Adolescent and Youth-Friendly Health Service (AYFHS) assessment in Eswatini (2018) – This was a large project that involved assessing every single health facility in the country on the recently adopted Adolescent and Youth-Friendly Health Services Standards. A mixed-method approach was used, which integrated both quantitative and qualitative data. Quantitative data was collected through an electronic data collection system with inbuilt data quality checks and the analysis was conducted using STATA 14. Data was collected from service providers, young service users, peer educators and young non-service users. Data was presented segmented by region and also by rural/urban location.
8. Safeguard Young People (SYP) programme evaluation (2019) – SYP is a Swiss-funded UNFPA programme being implemented in nine southern African countries. TRECO was the national consultant for the evaluation of the programme. The OECD/DAC evaluation framework was utilized along with qualitative data, which was systematically integrated with quantitative data for a comprehensive picture of the programme’s successes and shortcomings. Strategies employed for this evaluation included triangulation, outcome harvesting, and “most significant change” stories.
9. Review and development of the National Youth Policy – This project was led by the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs in collaboration with UNFPA and the Eswatini National Youth Council. It mainly entailed reviewing progress on the current National Youth Policy and developing a new national policy based on the current state of young people in the country. A series of stakeholder consultations and an extensive review of existing literature, in terms of national development as well as international youth development, were undertaken. These findings were then integrated into the revised policy.
Future Projects
1. Secondary analysis of data from LSE programme evaluation.2. Development of a lifetable for two communities.
Past Clients
1. Coordinating Assembly for Non-Governmental Organizations2. UNFPA Eswatini Country Office
3. Ministry of Health Eswatini
4. Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs Eswatini
5. Water Aid Eswatini Country office
6. Save the Children Eswatini
7. UNICEF Eswatini
8. Muthengo Development Solutions