Evaluation Consultancy Terms of Reference

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Garey Wood
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2016. The project s overall objective is to enhance food security of vulnerable and drought-affected households in 4 provinces of Zimbabwe.

1 Evaluation Consultancy Terms of Reference Title: Zimbabwe Humanitarian Response 2015/16 1. Background CARE International in Zimbabwe is implementing an Emergency Cash-First Response to Drought- Affected Communities in the Southern Provinces of Zimbabwe, over eight months through to March The project s overall objective is to enhance food security of vulnerable and drought-affected households in 4 provinces of Zimbabwe. This project will support 336,000 people (approximately 67,200 households) affected by severe drought in the southern provinces of Zimbabwe. The action will address the immediate food needs of vulnerable men, women, boys and girls through the provision of mobile cash transfers that aim to cover 50% of the household food basket and nutritional needs. Beneficiaries will redeem cash to address basic household needs, primarily local food purchase. The project s specific outcome is to ensure target households (HH) are able to cope with food shocks and meet their basic food needs during the 2015/16 agricultural period. Early indications are that crop yield and pasture conditions in Southern areas of Zimbabwe have been severely affected this year by poor rainfall distribution patterns during the lean season. Official reports forecasted that harvests will be well below local and national needs, requiring a response by government and other stakeholders (UN, NGOs and private sector) to fill the expected significant and potentially life-threatening food gaps. These food gaps are expected to be filled through the market, with private traders already active in moving cereal from areas of surplus to areas of high demand. Further, the Government of Zimbabwe has granted import permits to private traders to bring in additional cereal from neighbouring countries to meet the national requirements and gaps. With the market functioning, a cash-transfer approach is an appropriate response to meet targeted food security needs in the lean season whilst supporting the development of longer term market capacities to respond to food shortages. The drought in most of the southern parts of the country has also significantly reduced the demand for agriculture related casual labour opportunities, such as harvesting and processing. These activities normally provide significant levels of household income during this period for the poorest families. Household incomes are therefore expected to be significantly reduced on top of production losses, further increasing food insecurity and resulting in diminished household access to food in the immediate term.

2 1. PURPOSE, OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE External evaluations (mid-term and final) need to be carried out to assess the outcomes of the cash transfer project anticipated at the outset of the project. The final evaluation is expected to provide a comprehensive analysis of the project s achievements, lessons learned, and recommendations for future actions in the different districts of Zimbabwe. The target audience for the evaluation includes such key stakeholders as government, international donors, UN and nongovernmental organizations responding to food insecurity in Zimbabwe, particularly through a cash-first response. The specific purposes of the evaluations are to: Mid-Term (process) Evaluation Assess the quality of the implementation of the project against agreed, planned and expected actions, with a view to improving programme design. Final (performance) Evaluation Assess the outcome and impact of the project in relation to its objectives, activities and outputs as set out in the log frame and recommend ways of improving the delivery model of similar humanitarian programmes in future. Assess how effectively the project has addressed the challenges encountered, including assessing the project s rationale, beneficiary accountability mechanisms, and phase out plan Assess the level to which identified gender issues were addressed. Account to local stakeholders and funders for the project s performance. Verify whether the funds were used effectively and efficiently to deliver results (assessing Value for Money). Consider how this work can be used to develop resilience strategies in Zimbabwe and in the context of climatic shocks. Key Evaluation Questions The following are key, though not exhaustive, research questions that the evaluation should seek to address: What proportion of the cash transfer amount went towards the purchase of food for the household? To what extent did the project affect the development, functionality and role of local markets? How, if at all, were gender dynamics affected at the household level, and how can the project strengthen positive change in this area? What are the current challenges in using mobile money as a modality for cash transfer programming in slow onset humanitarian contexts? Compare the modalities of cash vs. in-kind response and the appropriateness given the context 2. METHODOLOGY The project is committed to a rigorous monitoring and evaluation framework which will produce a baseline, as well as a number of ongoing reports related to market performance, household expenditure of the cash transfer, and documentation of coping strategies. Additional existing information can be collected from available secondary sources including the ZimVAC, 2nd Crop

3 and Livestock Assessment, and various evidence papers on humanitarian/social cash transfers. As such, a wide amount of data will be readily available for the evaluation. Tenderers should outline in detail the evaluation design and methodology they propose to use, the potential risks and challenges for the evaluation and how these will be managed. CARE does not endorse a particular methodology for this evaluation, and therefore tenderers are invited to proposed approaches and methods which they believe will most effectively and efficiently answer the different priority questions and meet the purpose of the study within the time available. The successful tenderer will then refine this proposal during inception, in consultation with CARE, the evaluation management group, and other stakeholders. The evaluation should adhere to international best practice standards in evaluation, including the OECD DAC International Quality Standards for Development Evaluation, and DFID s Ethics Principles for Research and Evaluation. The methods and assessment frameworks employed for this evaluation should facilitate the collection and analysis of data, be relevant to the questions outlined in section 1 above, and make optimal use of existing data. Sources that will be used in the evaluation would, at a minimum, include: Document review: Review of key documents. A table of key programme and project documents will be provided by CARE to the evaluator with further assistance available if required. Interviews with key partners and users: Interviews with key stakeholders including similar humanitarian projects/programmes (WFP/USAID/Harmonised Cash Transfer Programme (HCTP)), National and district level Coordination Committees (FNC/DDRC/DAs), Traders, Grain and Millers Associations, market actors, etc. Interviews with key staff members from CARE and DFID. These interviews may be done in person if feasible. Surveys or other data collection methods: to solicit input from additional stakeholders. If surveys are used, these should be rigorously designed with appropriate sampling methods and expectation of acceptably high response rates. Alternative or complementary approaches such as focus groups could be considered. The tenderers might also consider conducting a review of relevant other literature and findings on ensuring relevance and use of impact evaluation findings by governments and policy makers. For VfM assessment, data should primarily be drawn from administrative reporting systems and informed by the evaluator s own primary data. 3. SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS The Consultancy team will be composed of experts with the following essential and desirable profiles and qualifications: Essential: A solid and diversified track record of experience in cash transfer programming in droughtaffected contexts or slow-onset emergencies; Knowledge of humanitarian evaluation methods and techniques, including a thorough understanding of data collection, evaluation methodologies and design, and strong qualitative and quantitative research skills

4 Fully conversant with the principles and working methods of project cycle management. The expert, or at least one of the experts proposed, should have solid knowledge of and practical experience with gender issues and gender integration analysis. Desirable: Experience in rural Zimbabwe (years of experience may vary per expert irrespective of their position on the team); Full working knowledge of English and vernacular languages and excellent report writing The composition of the team of experts should be balanced to enable complete coverage of the different aspects of Consultancy as set out in these terms of reference, including cross-cutting issues. 4. LOGISTICS AND PROCEDURES The evaluator will formally report to the CARE Assistant Country Director - Programmes. Day to day support, facilitation and coordination will be provided by CARE International in Zimbabwe, which will provide support in terms of setting up interviews, getting travel permission and informing relevant stakeholders of the evaluation. In the event of any major disagreement over the content of the evaluation, CARE will endeavour to find a consensus, and if necessary, ensure that any strategically critical dissenting perspectives are acknowledged in the final report. DFID Core Programme Team and Evaluation Adviser may be engaged in different points of the evaluation for both technical aspects. 5. OUTPUTS Required outputs include: An evaluation plan and methodology for mid-term and final evaluations (to be developed and delivered during inception phase of studies) Baseline questions to guide CARE in ensuring that planned baseline data and report cover all areas of evaluation study Two power-point presentations to CARE at the end of (1) the mid-term and (2) final evaluation, detailing evaluation framework, process, findings and recommendations For each of the two studies (1) the mid-term and (2) final evaluation), a first draft of the final report submitted to the evaluation coordinator for consultation and a final evaluation report and summary report of publishable quality written in English. More specifically: o A full, jargon-free final evaluation report including recommendations and an executive summary. The report should include a full list of references and appendices including the evaluation framework, programme of work, list of interviewees and participants, and any background information and supporting data including sources; o An accessible summary report to be published and shared across project partners and stakeholders internationally. The final report should include a self-assessment of the progress made so far in line with DFID Project Completion Review (PCR) template The consultant will produce the following by the stated deadlines:

5 1. Evaluation framework, including methodology and a draft outline of the report October Preparation for Mid-term Evaluation October Field work for Mid-term Evaluation early November Draft report for Mid-term Evaluation mid November Final report for Mid-term Evaluation end November Preparation for Final Evaluation January Field work for Final Evaluation February Draft report for Final Evaluation early March Final report ( including a self-assessment report of Project Completion Review) for Final Evaluation end March 2016 Please note that all outputs must be in line with guidance as set out within Editorial requirements for consultants preparing evaluation reports for DFID. 6. REPORTING AND CONTRACTING ARRANGEMENTS The Consultant will: Develop a rigorous plan and methodology for the evaluation; Map and review project documentation and conduct other data collection methodologies to fulfil the evaluation as approved by CARE; Hold a 1 day workshop to share the findings, solicit inputs and identify potential future steps from a group of interested stakeholders including CARE Produce full and summary final evaluation reports. CARE will: Make available all appropriate documentation and resources for the evaluation. Support the coordination of key informant interviews and ensure that key project staff are available for interviews. Coordinate timely feedback to the draft evaluation reports and submit a management response to the final full report. Applicants for this consultancy should provide the following: 1. A proposal showing your understanding of the assignment and how you would approach the work, including proposed methodologies, any foreseen challenges, timeline and budget. (12 point font size, Roman Times Font type); 2. An up-to-date CV or organisational record with CVs for relevant staff. Please submit your tender to jobs@careinternational.org by 9 th October CARE Contact point Edward Watkiss Humanitarian Programme Coordinator 89 Albert Embankment London SE1 7TP Tel watkiss@careinternational.org

6 7. BUDGET Applicants proposals must include a detailed and competitive budget inclusive of all fees, costs and taxes. Consultant(s) are responsible for managing their own tax contributions. The range of budget availability ( 50, ,000) depends largely on the proposed methodologies and data collection put forward by tenderers to most effectively and efficiently address the key research questions.

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