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Terms of Reference (ToR)

Impact Evaluation of the Project: “Strengthening the Socio-economic Integration of Internally Displaced Persons from the Central African Republic in the Mbéré and Vina Divisions, Cameroon”

Evaluation Type: Final Impact Evaluation

1. Introduction and Background

This EOI outlines the Terms of Reference for the final impact evaluation of the project “Strengthening the Socio-economic Integration of Internally Displaced Persons from the Central African Republic in the Mbéré and Vina Divisions of Adamawa Region, Cameroon.” The project is implemented by JRS Cameroon with funding from Missio Aachen through the German Catholic Central Agency for Development Aid (KZE).

The project, which began in January 2023 and concludes on 30th of October 2025, aims to contribute to the social and professional integration of displaced persons from the Central African Republic. The intervention operates on two main levels:

• Strengthening Psychosocial Resilience: Targeting young, displaced women through psychosocial support, self-help groups, and childcare facilities.
• Improving Access to the Labour Market: Targeting both displaced and local Cameroonian youth through vocational training in trades (welding, tailoring, hairdressing, carpentry, shoemaking), business skills training, and support for forming cooperatives.

This evaluation is initiated as a compulsory final evaluation by the funding agreement. It is intended to assess the project’s performance, measure its effects and impacts, and generate learning to inform future programming for JRS, Missio Aachen, and other stakeholders.

The evaluation will cover the entire project period from [Project Start Date] to [Project End Date]. The primary subject of observation is the project as described, including its effects on both direct and indirect target groups.

2. Objectives of the Evaluation

MISEREOR and its partners adopt a learning-oriented approach to evaluations. The primary objectives of this evaluation are :

• Accountability: To provide a comprehensive and evidence-based assessment of the project’s relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, and sustainability for the implementing agency (JRS), the donor (Missio Aachen/KZE), and the target communities.
• Learning and Future Planning: To identify key lessons learned and provide actionable recommendations to:

a) Inform the design of potential follow-up phases or similar future projects.

b) Strengthen JRS’s strategies for supporting displaced populations in complex contexts.

c) Understand the differential impacts on various sub-groups (e.g., women vs. men, displaced persons vs. host community youth).

3. Questions to be Answered by the Evaluation

The evaluation should be guided by the DAC criteria and provide answers to the following key questions relevance:

• To what extent did the project’s objectives and design (e.g., selected trades, psychosocial support model) respond to the actual needs and priorities of the displaced populations and the host community in the Mbéré and Vina regions?
• How appropriate was the project’s strategy for improving the situation of particularly disadvantaged groups, specifically young, displaced women?

Effectiveness:

• To what extent were the specific project objectives and indicators achieved?
• What were the major factors (internal and external) that influenced the achievement or non-achievement of these objectives?
• How many people were reached compared to the planned targets, and what were the reasons for any discrepancies?

Efficiency:

• Was the project implemented in a timely and cost-effective manner? (e.g., cost per trained youth, cost per young woman receiving psychosocial support).
• How well did the management, coordination, and collaboration between JRS, government partners (MINEFOP), and training centres function?

Impact (Effects):

• What significant changes (positive and negative, intended and unintended) have occurred in the lives of the beneficiaries because of the project? This is the core focus of the evaluation and should be explored in depth regarding :

➢ Economic : Income levels, employment status, business start-ups, asset acquisition.

➢ Social : Social cohesion between displaced and host communities, selfconfidence, reduction of stigma, changes in gender dynamics.

➢ Psychosocial : Mental well-being, coping mechanisms, sense of hope and agency (particularly for Objective 1 beneficiaries).

• To what extent can these observed changes be plausibly attributed to the project interventions?
• What has been the project’s impact on the local economy and market systems (e.g., saturation of certain trades)?

Sustainability:

• To what extent are the project’s benefits (e.g., functioning cooperatives, improved livelihoods, enhanced psychosocial resilience) likely to continue after the funding ends?
• What are the key factors (institutional, economic, social, environmental) that will influence the sustainability of the project outcomes?
• What is the capacity of the formed cooperatives to operate independently?

Cross-Cutting Themes :

• Gender & Inclusion: How did the project address the different needs, constraints, and opportunities for men and women? Was the support provided adequate and equitable?
• Conflict Sensitivity: How did the project affect the relationship between displaced people and the host community? Did it create any tensions or contribute to peaceful coexistence?

4. Methodology

The consultant/team is required to propose a rigorous, mixed-methods methodology that is both participatory and gender-sensitive. The approach must ensure triangulation of data sources and methods to enhance credibility.

• Desk Review: Project proposal, reports, monitoring data, baseline studies (if any), and relevant context documents.
• Quantitative Methods: Surveys with a representative sample of project beneficiaries (trainees, psychosocial support recipients) and a comparison group of non-participants where feasible to assess impact.
• Qualitative Methods:

➢ Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with JRS staff, MINEFOP officials, training centre managers, and community leaders.

➢ Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) separately with male and female beneficiaries, graduates, cooperative members, and self-help group members.

➢ In-depth interviews with a purposively selected sample of beneficiaries to capture personal stories of change.

➢ Observation visits to training centres, cooperatives, and project sites.

• Participatory Tools : The use of participatory tools from the NGO-IDEAs ‘Impact Toolbox’ or similar is encouraged to empower beneficiaries in assessing the changes themselves.
• The consultant’s proposal must detail : the sampling strategy and size, data collection tools, methods for data analysis, and a clear plan for ensuring the ethical and safe collection of data, particularly concerning vulnerable groups and sensitive psychosocial topics.

5. Organisation of the Mission

• Evaluation Team : The team should possess expertise in impact evaluation, mixed-methods research, vocational training and livelihoods programmes, psychosocial support (MHPSS), and working in conflict-affected contexts in Central Africa. Fluency in French and local languages is essential.
• Support from JRS : JRS will appoint a focal point, provide all necessary project documents, facilitate introductions to stakeholders and beneficiaries, and support with logistics (transport, accommodation, translation/interpretation as needed).
• Schedule :

➢ Submission of Offers : 30th November 2025

➢ Contract Finalisation : Early December 2024.

➢ Submission Email : [email protected]

➢ Inception Report : To be submitted after desk review, detailing the finalised methodology and work plan.

➢ Field Mission : December 1st to 27th

➢ including:

▪ A kick-off meeting with JRS.

▪ Data collection in the project areas (Mbéré and Vina).

▪ A debriefing workshop at the end of the field mission to present preliminary findings to JRS and key stakeholders.

➢ Draft Report Submission : 02-01-2026

➢ Final Report Submission : 10-01-2026

6. Report

The evaluation report must adhere to the “Minimum requirements to be met by evaluation reports for projects funded by MISEREOR/German Catholic Central Agency for Development Aid (KZE)”. Key requirements include:

• Length : 25-40 pages (excluding annexes).
• Language : French or English.
• Structure : Must include a cover page, executive summary (2-3 pages), introduction, methodology, findings, analysis against DAC criteria, conclusions, and actionable recommendations.
• The report must clearly differentiate between findings, conclusions, and recommendations. Data should be disaggregated by sex, age, and displacement status (where relevant).
• The lead consultant will have overall responsibility for the report’s quality and timely submission.