HUM 009 People with increased Self-Reliance score

The Self-Reliance Score, as defined by the Self-Reliance Index (SRI) developed by the Refugee Self-Reliance Initiative, measures the ability of refugees and other displaced persons to meet their essential needs and achieve economic and social well-being independently. The score is calculated based on multiple indicators that capture different dimensions of self-reliance. This includes housing, employment, food security, health, education, safety, social capital, community involvement, and legal rights. 

• Gender 

• Age  

• Left behind/vulnerable population group  

The number of displaced persons and vulnerable host community members refers to individuals who have been forcibly displaced due to conflict, natural disasters, or other crises, as well as members of the host communities where they have settled. This also includes people living in areas of war (e.g., Ukraine). 

The SRI is designed primarily for use with urban and non-camp-based refugee populations in countries or regions of first asylum. 

Survey (quetsionnaire above) with a representative sample of people participating in activities. 

Continually  with the same respondents every 3 or 6 months

From the SRI User guide: "It is envisioned that the SRI will be administered with the same clients every 3 or 6 months for the duration of time they receive services or assistance. If they are “graduated” from assistance, it is recommended to continue monitoring the household for some period after assistance ends to ensure sustained self-reliance given the fragility of refugee situations." (page 5) 
 
"The SRI is not designed as a questionnaire to read verbatim and simply record clients’ responses. Rather, it is a tool to aid an assessor in making an educated evaluation of the household’s status across the domains. The assessor will use a combination of discussion with the clients, direct observation (e.g., during a home visit), knowledge of local conditions, and any prior knowledge of the household’s circumstances, to arrive at an evaluation."  (page 5) 

Challenge: Maintaining contact with beneficiaries over the project duration to monitor progress.

Approach: Establish a clear follow-up mechanism, such as regular check-ins via mobile surveys or community-based enumerators. Offering small incentives, such as mobile airtime or community recognition, can help encourage sustained participation in long-term monitoring efforts. Additionally, collaborate with local community leaders to help maintain engagement with beneficiaries. 

Challenge: Self-reliance may be influenced by factors outside the project’s control, such as economic conditions or policy changes. 

Approach: Incorporate context monitoring into project evaluation by tracking key external factors such as local economic trends, policy changes, and security conditions. This will allow for a better understanding of external influences on self-reliance scores. Adjust project objectives or timelines in response to significant contextual shifts, ensuring that outcomes are still realistic.