End of Project Evaluation and Learning – NORAD Project (INT10407)

BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT

1.           About Oxfam

Oxfam is an international confederation of 21 organizations working in over 60 countries worldwide seeking to find lasting solutions to poverty and injustice around the world. Oxfam is determined to change that world by mobilizing the power of people against poverty. Around the world, Oxfam works to find practical, innovative ways for people to lift themselves out of poverty and thrive. We save lives and help rebuild livelihoods when crisis strikes. And we campaign so that the voices of the poor influence the local and global decisions that affect them. In all we do, Oxfam works with partners, public and private sector institutions alongside vulnerable women and men to end the injustices that cause poverty. Read more about Oxfam from https://kenya.oxfam.org/

2.           About the Project

Oxfam in Kenya in partnership with OXFAM Denmark is implementing a multi-country project that is aimed at combating food insecurity among the most vulnerable groups in 6 countries of Mali, Burkina Faso, Uganda, Kenya, South Sudan, and Syria.  The overall objective of the project is to improve the food security through increased access and availability of nutritious food for the most vulnerable individuals in the respective countries In Kenya the project is implemented through collaboration with PACIDA-a national non-governmental organization  in Marsabit County. .

Project Impact objective: Improve food security through increased access and availability of nutritious food for 115,000 of the most vulnerable individuals in Mali, Burkina Faso, Uganda, Kenya, South Sudan, and Syria.

Project Specific Objectives 

1. Increased local climate-resilient food production and income of small-scale food
2. Reduction in scale of the hunger crisis and malnutrition in target areas

 Project Outcomes

1. Skills and capacities of 65,000 individuals (50% women) on climate-resilient food production and other income opportunities strengthened.
2. Climate-resilient food production enhanced through provision of agricultural inputs and improvement of local infrastructure.
3. Income of women and youth increased through support to income-generating activities.
4. Increased access to basic food through cash-based programs.
5. Chronic malnutrition reduced through provision of nutritional inputs with focus on children and mothers.
6. Climate-resilient food and production systems strengthened.

3.           Audience and Objective of the Assignment

The primary audience for this research findings is Oxfam, implementing partners project participants, county governments as well as other partners involved in humanitarian interventions across the counties.

This endline study seeks to assess the relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, coherence, impact, and sustainability of the project.

4.           Scope of work and specific Deliverables

Though the project is a multi-country Project, the evaluation will be conducted in Kenya, Marsabit County. The evaluation scope will cover all project activities from July 2023 to June 2024 implemented in Marsabit County.  The specific objectives will include:

• To assess the changes at the end of the project based on a comparison of the initial status as per baseline survey versus the current situation of women, youth, and children of vulnerable HHs in Marsabit county.
• Identify the best practices and lessons learned experienced and achieved during the implementation of the project. The below learnings will be incorporated with case studies and videography led by Oxfam, PACIDA and ASAL Humanitarian Network communications team.
  1. Learning on coping strategies and intra-household inequalities
  2. Learning gender-transformative approaches and impact on gender equality related to food security at household and community level
• Recommend suggestions that will improve similar future projects based on what went well/did not go well.

 5.           Methodology

The consultant should propose the appropriate study design and data collection techniques for the evaluation. The identified approach should facilitate data validation, reduce likelihood of bias, and enrich the findings based on the evaluation questions and objectives. The tools may include household surveys, Key Informant Interviews (KII) and FGDs. In each case a detailed description of the tools should be provided and the relevance in the data collection process. Other areas of interest would include sampling design, data collection and analysis procedures, quality assurance and ethical considerations.

6.           Expected Deliverables

 

Deliverable	Timeline
Inception report: The inception report shall outline the key scope of the work and intended work plan. The inception report will provide Oxfam  the opportunity to verify that they share the same understanding about the Terms of Reference and should therefore detail the consultant’s understanding and interpretation of the TOR, methodology, implementation schedule, and data collection – encompassing: structuring of study; review of documents; quantitative/qualitative data collection; and data collection instruments design (sample size, field Work Planning and implementation, data collection plan, data entry and analysis plan), and budget forecast. The inception report will be discussed and agreed upon with Oxfam and project partners.	5 days 3 days for review by Oxfam
Data Collection and Analysis ·       Scripting of the questionnaire on the appropriate tool agreed. ·       Training of enumerators and note takers. ·       Pre-testing and adapting of tools. ·       Lead in Data collection and cleaning for synthesis and analysis	15 days
Draft Endline Report: The report shall consist of executive summary, background, methodology, findings by objective/evaluation criteria, conclusion, and recommendations. The annexes should be attached including updated M&E impact matrix, raw datasets, analyzed data sets, a copy of the TOR, list of stakeholders consulted. Learning Report: This will be incorporated in the Final Report, with two main objective learnings drawn from the project.	5 days
Validation Workshop: The draft report will be validated through a centralized workshop organized by Oxfam to corroborate the findings.	1 days
The final report: This will be presented 5 days after the validation workshop and receiving comments on the draft report. Final Report within 5 days of receiving feedback	Oxfam will provide feedback on the draft report within 7 days.

7.           Duration

The provision of the services is to commence on 15^th June – 15^th July 2024 unless agreed by both parties that this Agreement is terminated early or amended in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. The assignment is proposed to take 30 working days.

8.           Timeframe and Work schedule

OUTPUTS	DATE DUE
·       Development and sign off of the TOR	3rd May 2024
·       Advertisement of the signed off TOR	7th May 2024
·       Shortlisting of the Expressions of Interest (EOI)	22nd May 2024
·       Interviews with shortlisted consultancy firms /individuals and contracting	5th June 2024

9.           Tax and VAT arrangements

Oxfam in Kenya will deduct withholding tax from the consultancy fees which will be in conformity with the prevailing government rates and submit the same to the Government of Kenya. The consultant will be entitled to a copy of the tax submission certificate on request.

10.         Intellectual Property and Confidentiality of Information

All documents, data and information accessed will be treated as confidential and used solely to create visibility for the project and should follow the GDPR regulation on data control and storage.

All the required documents and deliverables in their draft and final versions shall be submitted to Oxfam in Kenya within agreed timelines and shall remain the explicit property of the organisation.

11.         Ethical considerations

The consultant will ensure that the materials developed do no harm to the audiences and foster the recognition of unpaid care and domestic work as a development, social good and foster normative change at community and national level on care work.

 12.         Supervision

The overall supervisors of this assignment will be Oxfam’s MEAL Advisor with support from the respective M.E.A.L officers.

13.         Qualifications of the consultant

Oxfam seeks to engage the services of qualified and experienced consultant with adequate experience in research and appraisal of development and humanitarian programmes especially food security, nutrition, climate resilient food production systems, wash and protection or any similar value chains to undertake the assignment. The Consultant(s) must have the following qualifications and experience: –

• Demonstrated experience in conducting evaluation studies and participatory rural appraisal methods.
• A minimum of five (5) years working experience in community development work is desired.
• An advanced degree (master’s and above) in Development Studies or Social Sciences, M&E, Sociology or Agriculture.
• Demonstrated practical and recent working experience on similar work will be an added advantage preferably in ASAL counties.
• Ability to prepare factual and well-articulated reports. Attach a sample report summary (with client consent)
• Excellent drafting and communication skills in English

14.         Bid Requirements

Interested and qualified consultants are invited to submit their expressions of interest, which should include the following:

• A suitability statement, including commitment to availability for the entire assignment.
• Information demonstrating specific experience of the consultant relevant to the assignment including the scope and scale of similar assignments. Please provide details of similar assignment undertaken.
• A detailed financial proposal showing a clear breakdown of the costs including all the chargeable taxes.
• Sample similar works done in the recent past.

15.         Adherence to Oxfam principles and policies

Once hired, the consultant shall operate under the principles governing Oxfam ways of working including adherence to policies and procedures of Oxfam with regards to such key issues as non-partisan, neutrality, gender sensitivity, impartiality, and accountability, mainstreaming of Gender and safeguarding as well as other policies governing Oxfam operations on transport usage, security guidelines and confidentiality of information collected.

How to apply:

Oxfam Kenya invites individuals who meet the criteria to submit Expression of Interest that clearly articulates the consultant(s) understanding of the terms of reference, methodology for executing the work including key deliverables and tentative budget should clearly indicate on the application“  Consultancy to Conduct an endline Evaluation and Learning  for the NORAD project in Marsabit County ”
Expression of Interests shall be sent to  kpconsultancyservices@oxfam.org.uk no later than close of business on 20^th May 2024. Only applicants who qualify will be contacted.