Monitoring and Evaluation Consultant 47 views0 applications

Terms of Reference

BACKGROUND

Nonviolent Peaceforce (NP) is coming to the end of 36-month project focusing on civil society in South Sudan. The project commenced in March 2019 as a continuation of 2 previous phases of the project, which first began in 2015. The overall goal of the project is to foster and increase operational space for civil society organization and to address needs arising amongst civil society actors through capacity building and mentoring. The project team consists of three implementing partners and a fourth beneficiary organization. The project supports the media, formalized civil society organisations, and grassroots civil society organizations. Through relationship-building within civil society, between civil society and local communities, community leaders, and government authorities, the project aims to support an open civic space. The project strives to improve relations and communication platforms between the diplomatic community, government authorities, NGOs, INGOs, and UN agencies.

PURPOSE OF THE EVALUATION

The evaluation is intended to critically and objectively review and analyse the project progress, strengths and weaknesses in an effort to improve the effectiveness and relevance of interventions. Monitoring and evaluation is a fundamental part of NP’s project management cycle to ensure effective oversight of projects.

The evaluation will be a performance-based evaluation, with findings focusing on identifying opportunities and challenges and determining whether there is a need for project alterations to achieve maximum impact in future phases. Findings will also guide the future project implementation and may redefine approaches and the pace of work accordingly.

Specific Objectives include:

• Assess progress made towards the achievement of results at the output and outcome levels;
• Evaluate the level of contribution of the outputs towards the achievement of the expected project objectives, goal and impact;
• Evaluate the appropriateness of the strategies and approaches used for implementing the project;
• Assess whether project resources (budget, assets, and staff) were used efficiently in relation to the planned activities, outputs and outcome;
• Identify major external factors that influenced or impacted on the implementation of the project and evaluate their implication on future interventions;
• Identify lessons learned, recommend and address any areas of concern that strengthen the future project implementation;
• Propose in-depth and evidence based strategic directions for the upcoming phases of the project based on the current and past project documents and evaluations conducted

EVALUATION DESIGN AND METHODS

A cross sectional study will be conducted in project implementation areas (Juba, Wau, Bentiu, Yambio, Aweil, and Maridi). The external evaluator is expected to conduct a participatory evaluation providing for meaningful involvement by project partners, beneficiaries and other interested parties. Primary and secondary data is expected to be gathered using a mixed method to evaluate program implementation. Thus, evaluation will involve collecting the following data:

• Quantitative data: It will be used to measure indicators of the project expressed in terms of numbers/percentages (quantitative indicators). Information will be collected using questionnaire surveys which will be administered to a sample of project beneficiaries. The consultant is expected to determine the sampling technique and size which would be representative, and adequate to detect the changes observed and do basic descriptive statistics.
• Qualitative data: Qualitative information will be collected through Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) and In-depth Interviews (IDIs) with key stakeholders including beneficiaries, civil society organizations, donors, local implementing partners and others to complement the information collected through quantitative approaches.

Secondary documentation: review of related documents will also be important to establish key insights relevant to the effective implementation of the project.

Ethical Consideration: all the study participants will be informed about the purpose of the study and their right to opt out or to responding to questions. Informed verbal consent will be obtained prior to interviewing any study subjects. Standard survey instruments will be used so as not cause any harm to the study subjects, the community, the data collectors and supervisors that will be involved in the survey.

Dissemination: the evaluation findings will be documented and disseminated to all stakeholders of the program. Any potential corrective measures will be sought, planned and implemented, accordingly to improve program implementation.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITES OF THE CONSULTANT

The consultant will be expected to:

• Design the methodology for the collection of quantitative and qualitative data for the assessment;
• Develop necessary data collection tools and guides to answer the evaluation questions;
• Organize and facilitate training workshop for enumerators (NP will hire the enumerators) and other evaluation team members on evaluation implementation, including the evaluation protocol and tools to be used and pilot testing of the tool;
• Plan and coordinate the necessary logistics to collect the data in accordance with the selected methodology;
• Conduct the evaluation at the project location to measure key indicators as defined in the project logical framework;
• Develop the data entry template and ensures data entry clerks are trained adequately;
• Collect and analyze available secondary data to augment the evaluation findings;
• Based upon a reading of the program documents, propose any additional topics or issues for analysis in the evaluation;
• Analyze and interpret data to develop a comprehensive evaluation report;
• Share key findings and insights from the evaluation with relevant staff through consultations.

EXPECTED DELIVERABLES:

• Submit an inception proposal which responds to the scope of work by adding any further detail or clarification regarding the study approach, method, or implementation arrangements;
• Field work implementation plan (to be submitted before field work begins). This field work plan should be presented to NP for comment, and revised as necessary prior to commencing field work;
• Overall report that outlines the field work and the data cleaning;
• Cleaned data files (including Questionnaires) in excel format with data correctly organized, variables named and labelled;
• Cleaned qualitative data transcripts;
• Summary of values for the outcome and output level indicators from the log-frame;
• A comprehensive evaluation report that meets agreed formats;

TIMEFRAME

The timeframe for the end of project evaluation is estimated between 40 – 50 working days of which at least the lead evaluator should spend 25 – 30 days in South Sudan. The consultant is expected to work from February 14th 2022 to April 15th 2022 and complete all responsibilities and deliverables outlined in the Scope of Work. However, the date will be finalized between NP and the prospective evaluator. At least half of the consultants’ time needs to be spent for conducting interviews with project staff, partners, and project participants. The schedule outlined above is estimated and open to revision.

Evaluation Team composition

The evaluation team will consist of one (1) independent international expert who serves as the team lead and local guides or translators in each study location. The evaluation team leader will closely work with the NP for a better coordination of the evaluation in the field sites and Juba.

RESOURCES

NP will arrange visa requirements and transport to South Sudan. In addition, NP will provide accommodation while in country. All necessary logistical arrangements for the assessment will be coordinated through the NP logistics department. The chosen consultant will coordinate with the Program Coordinator, Research Monitoring and Evaluation Adviser, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer and other relevant staff in the planning and implementation of the evaluation.

SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

Education:

• Master’s degree in International and Political Affairs, Law, Development Studies, Social Sciences or related field.
• A Bachelor’s degree in a similar field with significant experience working with human rights defenders will also be considered.

Required Experience and Skills:

• At least 7 years’ experience in the design and implementation of evaluations, assessments or surveys including qualitative and quantitative data collection;
• Previous work experience in the area of human rights;
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of research methodologies and processes;
• Experience in the development of Monitoring and Evaluation frameworks and logical frameworks;
• Experience in gathering and systematizing large amounts of data;
• Experience of working with civil society actors or NGOs and understanding of the security situation dynamics is an advantage;
• Proven ability to manage highly confidential and sensitive information through a protection lens;
• Experience managing projects in complex and dangerous environments;
• Good knowledge and understanding of the security dynamics on the ground in South Sudan; and
• Experience with multi-partner projects.