Country: Somalia
Closing date: 10 Sep 2018
TERMS OF REFERENCE
Multi Sectoral Emergency Assistance and Early Recovery Support (MARS) Project final evaluation
PROJECT BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT
The Multi Sectoral Emergency Assistance and Early Recovery Support (MARS) project funded by the United States Agency for International Development’s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA) was initially designed to run for a 12-month period: 1 October 2016 to 30 September 2017. However, due to the severe drought of 2017 and the increased numbers of people in need of humanitarian assistance, the project was extended to 30 September 2018 after two modifications and a two-month No Cost Extension (NCE) period. The project has seven (7) sectors and ten (10) sub-sectors as shown below:
Sector
Sub-Sector
Agriculture and Food Security
Livestock
Economic Recovery and Market Systems
Temporary Employment
Logistics Support and Relief Commodities
Non-Food Items
Nutrition
Management of Moderate Acute Malnutrition
Management of Severe Acute Malnutrition
Infant and Young Child Feeding and Behavior Change
Protection
Prevention and Response to Gender-Based Violence
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
Water Supply Infrastructure
Hygiene Promotion
Humanitarian Coordination and Information Management
Coordination
The project was implemented in the regions/districts of Awdal (Borama and Zeylac districts), Sanaag (Erigavo, Celafweyn and Badhan districts) Bari (Bayla, Iskushuban, Qardo and Bosaso districts), Galgadud (Dhusamareb district) Banadir (Mogadishu-Zona K and Kaahda districts), Lower Juba (Afmadow and Kismayo districts), Sool (Caynabo and Lascaanod districts) and Togdheer(Odweyne and Buhoodle districts). The project’s goal was to assist vulnerable populations in Somalia remain resilient in the face of protracted humanitarian emergencies and the effects of drought.
EVALUATION OBJECTIVE
This evaluation will assess the extent of achievement of program indicator targets against objectives. The overall effectiveness, efficiency appropriateness/relevance, impact and sustainability in line DAC-OECD criteria of the program will also be measured. In addition, the external evaluation will identify best practices and key lessons in technical aspects as well as the program management approach to facilitate continued learning and improvement of humanitarian emergency response. Findings of this final evaluation will be shared with USAID/OFDA and with humanitarian organizations working in Somalia/Somaliland, through the Somalia NGO Consortium, the UN Cluster system, as well as local networks.
The overall objective of the evaluation is to assess and provide reliable end-line information on project performance against set parameters (i.e. objectives, indicators, short-term impact among others). This will be used to measure progress of achievements against benchmarks established during the baseline done in the first quarter of the project.
The specific objectives of the final evaluation are:
§ To undertake an independent and comprehensive evaluation with a view to provide evidence-based information on the Multi Sectoral Emergency Assistance and Early Recovery Support (MARS) including project performance against project goal and objectives using OEECD-DAC criteria: efficiency, effectiveness, appropriateness, impact (intended and unintended), connectedness and coordination whilst also ensuring a robust gender-analysis.
§ To document lessons learnt and provide recommendations on how to improve programming of similar interventions Somalia/Somaliland in the future
§ Recommend concrete actions that can improve program delivery in Somalia, particularly with a view to longer-term programming and strengthening of linkages between humanitarian and development interventions.
Key enquiry areas/questions
Within the overarching framework of the DAC criteria, the evaluation is expected to be guided by the following questions:
1.Appropriateness
− To what extent were the activities tailored to local needs (e.g. methodologies employed, sensitization, etc.)?
− To what extent did the project design meet the communities’ expectations during the different phases of the project implementation (e.g. targeting, selection, feedback, activities)?
− To what extent did the program reach the most vulnerable households? How successful was CARE in targeting people with special considerations (e.g. female-headed households, persons with disabilities, youth, and older people) and how did CARE address barriers to their participation?
− How did feedback from beneficiaries and communities inform and direct the response or not?
2.Effectiveness
− To which extent did interventions meet the project purpose and recipients’ needs (e.g. activities, methodologies, tools and technologies)?
− What needs were recipients most frequently not able to meet using the assistance provided under the different sectors and why?
− To what extent were the protection concerns of the population taken into concern at all points of project implementation?
− What other factors supported the delivery of or hindered the achievement of the MARS project objectives?
3.Efficiency
− Did CARE have a clear overview of the different sectors delivery mechanisms/ channels available, and what were the advantages and disadvantages of each?
− To what extent did the activities contribute to community asset creation, multiplier effects, alignment with community preferences, and intra-household concerns including capacity building of service providers, community members?
FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO:
How to apply:
1.HOW TO APPLY:
All applications MUST be accompanied by a technical and financial proposal including a brief outline of the proposed methodology, 3 references with contact details, a tentative work plan and the candidate’s availability. The proposal shouldn’t exceed 10 pages.
Interested consultants or firms are expected to familiarize with the project locations in terms of security and accessibility of project sites and afterwards submit their applications, updated CVs of individuals to conduct the study or profile of applying company to:somconsultant@care.org and please indicate FINAL PROJECT EVALUATION OF ‘MARS PROJECT 2017/2018 as the subject heading not later than . 10th September 2018