A: Background:
Oxfam has been working in Somalia[1] since the late 1970s. The last 5 years have seen a lot of work on social and political participation and campaigns as guided by the Joint Country Analysis Strategy, Country Operating Model and Campaigns Strategy. Oxfam’s work was also guided by the Horn of Africa Country Strategy 2011 – 2015 that considered commitments made to the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
With regards to context, Somalia/land has changed since the development of the 2011-2015 strategy. Failure of the Deyr rains in 2010 and the subsequent poor performance of the 2011 Gu rains season decimated the 2011 crop and livestock production prospects, causing food prices to increase dramatically, further exacerbating an already fragile food & livestock economy. Famine was declared in July 2011 and by early September 2011 it was estimated that the number of people in crisis nationwide had reached 4.0 million. In 2015, the outlook is better although still dire. So far, 731,000 people are reliant on food aid to survive, an additional 2.3 million people are in crisis; there are 1 million IDPs and 1 million refugees; and 202,600 children under 5 are acutely malnourished, including 38,200 severely malnourished.
The country’s governance has gone through various transitional governments from 2000 to 2012 when the H.E. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was elected. This election was preceded by the selection of 825 elders who passed the constitution and selected the Federal Parliament representatives who subsequently selected the President. The government ministries are set up and running although with capacity gaps that several international actors are supporting to fill. The New Deal process is underway with support from various foreign governments with an increasing call on the importance of involving local CSOs in order to ensure that the voice of the common woman and man is taken into consideration.
Together with partners in Somaliland, Puntland and South Central Somalia, a number of annual and multi annual projects have been implemented and campaigns held in order to achieve the planned goals and outcomes in the above mentioned strategies.
B: Objectives of the Assessment:
Following implementation of a number of projects in all zones of Somalia focusing on AIM 4 & 5 as well as Campaigns, Oxfam seeks to carry out an evaluation of its work in Somaliland, south central and Puntland for the last five years.
C: The Scope of the assessment:
The target areas for the assessment are:
· To critique the programme’s theory of change and how the programme evolved in light of the theory of change.
· Assess the contribution of Oxfam actions to the changes in the target areas
· To identify the intended and unintended outcomes
· Derive learning from – what worked and did not and why
· To evaluate relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability and impact of projects implemented
· To ascertain coverage of cross cutting issues including gender sensitivities and vulnerabilities during program interventions
· Chronicle the main differences and analyze partners’ approaches in design and implementation of projects.
· Assess the involvement of different stakeholders in the design and implementation of the projects
· To identify good practices and key lessons learnt and make recommendations.
· Over the past 5 years, were campaigns well coordinated and managed, with appropriate internal capacities and ways of working? How could it have been improved?
E: Methodology
The evaluation will be undertaken through a combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches. Data will be collected from a variety of stakeholders – partners, government, women leaders, other CSOs among others. The data and information gathered will be systematically analyzed and presented following the five evaluation criteria mentioned above. The evaluation is envisaged to take apply the following methods
· Document review: This will comprise review of the projects’ document (proposals, Log-frame and budgets, project technical and financial reports, evaluations, monitoring data), different strategies that guided Oxfam’s work in Somalia, government documents e.g. national plans among others.
· Focus Group Discussions
· Observations
· Data analysis: Data gathered using various methods and tools have to be collated, analyzed and interpreted systematically. The evaluator will be expected to come up with detailed data/information analysis methods. It would be possible to utilize social science data analysis software such as the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences
· Key Informant Interviews: This method is important to capture the views and professional opinions of people who know the implementation context and the project objectives and expected results in particular.
· Most significant change stories: It is suggested that the consultant documents most significant change stories that represent significant achievements whether in process or results of projects.
F: Deliverables:
The consultant is expected to deliver the following key deliverables on dates, time, and format as agreed during the contract signature.
· Inception report – this once contract is signed. It should provide in detail the evaluation design, methodology and data collection tools to be discussed and agreed with Oxfam and the two implementing partners before the evaluation starts.
· Complete draft report – this should be 5 pages and should be submitted after field work is complete. It should also be submitted to key Oxfam technical and program personnel for review and feedback.
· All materials used for data collection and management e.g. field instruments/ questionnaires, and audio recorded data.
· Present the findings and stakeholder specific and where appropriate zone specific recommendations for further interventions with stakeholders in Hargeisa and Nairobi based on the draft report.
· The final version of the evaluation report including annexes;
i. Title page
ii. Table of contents
iii. List of acronyms and abbreviations
iv. Acknowledgments
v. Executive Summary
vi. Background
vii. Purpose of the Assessment
viii. Scope
ix. Methodology
x. Results/findings
xi. Conclusion,
xii. Recommendations.
Annexes including assessment tools, evaluation TOR, pictures, map, places visited, life stories and other relevant documents, bibliography, a timeline of key activities over the past 5 years, media analysis of one peak activity each year to track some level of media coverage
The consultants should submit the final report in the following method: one original signed/certified hard-bound copy and Electronic copy saved on a CD that includes all products of the evaluation (photos, tools used and all annexes)
TIME FRAME: The consultancy will run for 30 effective days (15 days per zone).
G: Desired competencies
- Education (Knowledge): Advanced degree in developmental studies, social sciences, evaluation.
- Strong experience in carrying out evaluations
- Experience and knowledge on governance and campaigns
- Willingness and ability to access all parts of Somalia/land given security is a key consideration.
- Skills and abilities: proven ability to organize and supervise a field team in a cross-cultural setting.
- Excellent report writing and communication skills and facilitation skills.
- Knowledge in gender and fluency in Somali language is a plus
- Be culturally sensitive
G: Work plan
A detailed work plan will be agreed upon, once the consultant is on board. Developed in consultation with the key program personal and management team and will be shared in the revised version of the TOR.
H: Conditions and Remuneration:
To be discussed with the prospective consultant firms.
· The payments shall be done in three installments of 30% upon signing of the contract, 30% upon submission of the draft report and 40% upon submission and approval of the final report and completion of all deliverables as stated herewith.
· Transport facilitation will be organized and paid by Oxfam for travels to Somalia.
· Payment is subject to taxation as per the laws of Kenya (10% withholding tax)
HOW TO APPLY:
All applications should include the following;
· Cover letter (maximum 1 page)
· Technical proposal (max 5 pages) should include (i) Brief explanation about the Consultant with particular emphasis on previous experience in this kind of work; (ii) Profile of the Consultant to be involved in undertaking the evaluation (this should include a CV); (iii) Understanding of the TOR and the task to be accomplished; (iv) Draft frame work and plan.
· Financial Proposal: The financia l proposal should provide cost estimates for services rendered including daily consultancy fees excluding: accommodation and living costs; transport cost; stationeries, and supplies needed for data collection; costs related to persons that will take part from partners and CSOs government authorities during evaluation process. The budget should be broken down.
· Testimonials: Samples: At least two samples of previous work i.e. final evaluation of similar projects in similar programming context preferably in Somalia/Somaliland must be submitted.
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Applications should be submitted on or before 31st July 2015 and via email toinfo.nairobi@oxfamnovib.nl.
Note: This should not be taken as a full time engagement for the consultant(s) but rather time specific assignment as in the work plan above.
