Ethiopia: Consultant for External Project Evaluation (Integrated Community Development in South Omo)

Terms of Reference - External Evaluation of the Project:

Integrated Community Based Development Program South Omo Zone, Hamer District, Ethiopia

Project Area: Hamer District in South Omo Zone of the Southern Nations, Nationalities and People´s Regional State of Ethiopia.

Date of Assignment: November/December 2015

Background

The intervention seeks to enhance the economic, social and human well-being of agro/pastoralist communities in 7 selected communities of Hamer District in South Omo Zone of the Southern Nations, Nationalities and People´s Regional State of Ethiopia. To achieve this objective, the Action employs a multi-dimensional approach which combines a wide range of contextualized training measures with an investment in simple, basic education and health infrastructure (for hand-over to the public administration).The implementation started on 1^st January 2013 ending on 31^st December 2015.

The main objective of the project is to contribute to poverty reduction in Ethiopia. The specific project objectiveis that the economic, social and human well-being of agro/pastoralist communities in Hamer district is enhanced.

On the individual level community members will benefit from trainingsand forums to empower them to improve their individual living conditions. In addition, people will benefit from access to basic education and improved health care. The activities planned envisage the empowerment of individuals.

On the institutional level the intervention design includes activities that aim at building sustainable community based schemes and structures. The intervention design also envisages building know-how on the PFS approach in the local partner institution and among their collaborators. The approach is still quite new to them and support is needed to make them effectively implement, monitor, evaluate and document the implementation of the intervention.

On the level of society the intervention lays the ground for changes in Hamer society at the one hand through the formation or capacitating of community structures and initiatives, and on the other hand through awareness raising, education and skills development. Thus all activities under Results 1 – 5 are meant to trigger socio-economic transformation processes.

Expected results

• Result 1: Sanitation & hygiene conditions in 7 target communities of Hamer district improved.
• Result 2: Community based, maternal & child health care improved in 7 target communities of Hamer district
• Result 3: Access to and quality of basic education for children and adults improved in 7 target communities of Hamer district
• Result 4: Household food security in 7 selected villages of Hamer district improved
• Result 5: Women in 7 target communities socially and economically empowered

Objective of the Evaluation

The general objective of the evaluation is to assess the completion and achievements of the project activities, the relevance (significance), effectiveness and sustainability of the project intervention. The evaluation will provide a well-founded, comprehensive and concretely argued document in order to decide on future development interventions in Hamer District in South Omo Zone of the Southern Nations, Nationalities and People´s Regional State of Ethiopia. The recipients of the evaluation are the donor institutions, HORIZONT3000 and the implementing partner organization.

The specific objectives of the evaluation are to provide information/answers on the following points:

• Did the implementing organization achieve the main goalas well as the project goal with the measures taken?
• Did the implementing organization reach14,054 persons in 2,969 households and to what extent did they benefit?
• What can and should be the future role ofthe implementing organization in the field of Integrated Community development?
• What are the lessons learnt and the specific recommendations for future interventions in integrated community development programmes in the specific project area?
• Is the development model used by the implementing organization a suitable one to be replicated and implemented by other development actors in other geographic areas?

Evaluation Report

• The report shall present findings on the evaluation objectives.
• It shall summarize the findings of the evaluation in the light of the criteria (document with detailed criteria available upon request)
• It shall be clear and concise, limiting itself to essential points (maximum 30 pages)
• Detailed materials shall be attached as appendix.
• The report – and executive summary, if defined to differ – shall be written in the English language.
• The report shall be drawn up using Microsoft Word software and submitted electronically.

The Evaluator

The Evaluator should be well qualified with demonstrated experience in evaluation of development projects and programmes. He should be fluent in English, whereas knowledge of Amharic is an asset. His/her qualifications will be reflected in the CV. The Evaluatorwill be responsible to come up with an appropriate methodology for the evaluation. The Evaluator will be in charge of the entire evaluation process and will provide HORIZONT3000 with a final evaluation report on time.

Timetable

The evaluation will start in November/December 2015.The whole assignment should be concluded by 15th December 2015. The assignments will comprise a total of about 14 working days.

The assignments will comprise a total of about 14 working days and could be divided as follows:

• Preparation (Document review, Develop evaluation tools) -3 days
• Field Visit (Interviews and meetings with project partner, stakeholders and target group) -7 days
• Report writing (including discussion of draft and final version) -4day

The Evaluator will develop, discuss and agree on the evaluation programme with the implementing organization before commencement of the assignment. The final evaluation programme will be shared with HORIZONT3000.

To be done by the implementing partner organization

• Provide all relevant project information as requested by the evaluator.
• Support in organising transport incl. arrival to / departure from the project area and accommodation for the evaluation team in the project area (on request by the evaluators).
• Prepare meetings between the evaluation team, the beneficiaries and other stakeholders.
• Make available all project staff including staff members who are not on the payroll of the project but fulfil important tasks on behalf of the project.
• General assistance and transport during the field trips.

The interested consultant is requested to submit a technical proposal including a description of envisaged methodology, timetable and cost breakdown, as well as a CV and an outline of previous similar assignments. Teams will be preferred (ideally consisting of both male and female members).

The fee should be indicated in Euro (lump sum) inclusive of all costs relating to the assignment like consultant fees, travel, insurance, accommodation, food and taxes. The only costs which will be paid outside the assignment are transport for field visits and logistics for meetings

The application should be sent via email to agnes.hauser@horizont3000.at by 25th of September