CALL FOR EXTERNAL EVALUATOR OR EVALUATORS’ TEAM TO CONDUCT FINAL PROJECT EVALUATION

United Funding and Development for Underage Mothers (UFDUM) is looking for an “EXTERNAL PROJECT EVALUATOR / EVALUATORS’ TEAM

1. CONSULTANCY OVERVIEW

Purpose: United Funding and Development for Underage Mothers (UFDUM) is seeking to contract an evaluator/team of evaluators to conduct an evaluation of the “Action to end Sexual and Gender Base Violence” Project in twenty communities both in Montserrado and Grand Cape Mount Counties respectively. The evaluation will identify key successes, lessons learned; assess the accomplishment of project actions and of monitoring and evaluation indicators.

Approximate consultancy time required 2 months

Estimated timeline of consultancy: 28 December 2022 – 28 February 2023

Location of Evaluation: Montserrado and Grand Cape Mount Counties

2. BACKGROUND/PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The country’s young population is approximately 60% of the national population with ages between 0-24 years. Violence against women, exclusion and unemployment are among the main obstacles to development in Liberia.

As mentioned in the government’s Medium Term Economic Growth and Development Strategy (2012- 2017) entitled ‘Agenda for Transformation: Steps Toward Liberia Rising 2030’ Gender-Based Violence (GBV), particularly domestic violence and rape, presents a significant threat to the security of women and girls across the country. In spite of the numerous significant investments to date, these problems remain a potential factor that affect the growth and development of Liberia.

According to statistical trend on GBV in Liberia from the Ministry of Gender and Social Protection, 803 GBV cases were reported during the first quarter (January-March) of 2019. The report indicates that 81% of cases, which is 657 reported, accounted for sexual violence particularly, rape. Unfortunately, most of the survivors are young women.

Rape is the most prevalent amongst the reported GBV incidences, especially against girls who are below the age of 18. Domestic violence especially child abuse, persistent non-support and abandonment of families as well as incest, child marriage is also common violence perpetrated against women. These forms of violence have been underscored as contributing factors to child prostitution and teenage pregnancy that is eating up the fabrics of the Liberian Society and gradually destroying the future of its young generation. These issues, if not addressed, will lead to widespread problems that will create no safe haven for youth especially young women and girls.

2.1 Description of the project

Liberia being a patriarchal society with high gender inequality, exclusion, unemployment and violence against girls and young women are among the main obstacles to development in the country. The inter-related problems of gender inequality and economic exclusion of girls and young women are

widespread. Girls and young women living in urban communities and particularly rural communities are vulnerable.

Violence against women and girls remains an entrenched socio-cultural problem in Liberia that has destroyed the lives of present and future generations and needs urgent and immediate action. Gender Based Violence (GBV) particularly child rape and sexual exploitation and abuse remain a major threat to the security and development of women and children throughout the country. Liberia has made meaningful gains towards ending all forms of violence against women and girls through the setup of comprehensive integrated response centers that caters to the medical, psychosocial and protect on needs of survivors. The strengthening of the justice system to ensure fair and speedy dispensation of justice across the country, strengthening the reporting and referral system in schools and communities, and establishing a critical mass of religious and traditional leaders who serve as agents of change. Despite these gains, the country faces serious challenges and it’s obvious that children are the most vulnerable to sexual violence hence very little has been achieved in ensuring that the human rights of its citizens especially women and girls are respected.

UFDUM is working with local opinion leaders, traditional and religious leaders, the media, local authorities and civil society that have key role to play and can significantly influence populations and communities to alter harmful behavior, done in close collaboration with the Gender Ministry and the GBV Taskforce both at National and County level. However, it is often the case that incidents of SGBV are compromised through the so-called “Family settlement.” For the successful implementation of this project, UFDUM maintained collaboration with the Ministry of Gender Children and Social Protection (MGCSP), and stakeholders at community and county levels, boys and young men, youth groups, likeminded CSOs and women’s rights organization (WROs). Beneficiaries of the project were women and girls in general, women survivors/victims of SGBV, and women with disability, all in an effort to prevent all forms of violence against women and girls.

The main purpose of this final project review and evaluation is to facilitate a process, which will document project outputs and impact. Eventually, the process should also mobilize the various stakeholders to take action based on this documentation.

2.2 Strategy and Theory of Change/Results chain

The Consultant is expected to lead and coordinate this evaluation in close collaboration with the Evaluation task manager from UFDUM. The Consultant is expected to adopt a holistic evaluation to the Evaluation. Also, the Consultant is expected to use a participatory evaluation technique to gather both qualitative and quantitative data and primary and secondary data and information that will adequately provide answers to the evaluation questions and issues the intervention is working toward.

3. Evaluation criteria

The Purpose of the Final Evaluation is to assess the extent to which the project’s goal and results were achieve. It will assess the project’s performance and achievements vis-à-vis the project’s overall objectives and to conduct impact assessment on the various sub-national level beneficiaries. Each of the detailed key questions and issues will be analyzed in a participatory, collaborative and systems

based approach using appropriate key review criteria.

It will also analyze the relevance, intermediate effects, and efficiency of the project and the processes at the current stage. This evaluation will assess the following criteria and will set out to answer the questions detailed under each criterion:

Relevance. The extent to which the project is suited to the priorities and policies of the target group, recipients and donors:

• Review the appropriateness of the Project’s Immediate Objectives, Outcomes, Outputs, Indicators and Activities including the preparatory activities and assessments undertaken at the start of the project;
• Review the overall design of the project and provide an overall progress on the relevance of its implementation toward the project objectives.

Efficiency and Cost Effectiveness. Efficiency measures the outputs – qualitative and quantitative – in relation to the inputs, costs and implementing time. It is an economic term, which signifies that the assistance provided used the least costly resources possible in order to achieve the desired results. Cost effective factors include:

• The project completed the planned activities and met or exceeded the expected outcomes in terms of achievement of the immediate objectives, in accordance with schedule and as cost-effective as initially planned. Review how the various activities transformed the available resources into expected project outcomes, considering quantity, quality and timeliness. The review should include quality of day-to-day management (including risk management), costs and value for money, quality of monitoring and other unplanned outputs arising from the project.
• The project was able to overcome unforeseen difficulties and deliver project outputs on time and within budget.

Effectiveness. A measure of the extent to which the project attains its objectives.

This includes an analysis of the attainment of outcomes and impacts, project objectives, and delivery and completion of project outputs and activities as shown by the project indicators:

• Review how the project’s outputs and results were used, and the project’s goal realized.; • Review the intended beneficiary groups and identify how far planned benefits have been delivered and received by all key stakeholders, and how unplanned results may have affected the intended project benefits;
• Review activities and outputs in relation to objectives defined in the project document, with emphasis on the defined indicators of targets and achievements;
• Review the quality of internal organizational and managerial structure of the project in relation to the fulfillment of project objectives, the human resources employed, and the overall management of the project’s resources.

Impact. The positive and negative changes produced by this intervention, directly or indirectly, intended or unintended. This involves the main impacts and effects resulting from the activity on the local social, economic and other development aspects:

Review the relationship between the project purpose and goal and the extent to which the benefits received by target beneficiaries had affected large number of people in the project communities.

Sustainability. Sustainability measures the benefits of an activity that are likely to continue after the project has been completed and no more donor funding is available. Relevant factors to improve sustainability of project outcomes include:

• Development and implementation of a sustainability strategy;
• Development of appropriate institutional capacity (systems, structures, staff expertise, etc. • Identification and involvement of champions (i.e., individuals in government and civil society who can promote sustainability of project outcomes);

Achieving social sustainability by mainstreaming project activities into the community activities;

COVID-19.

• How were the most vulnerable women and girls reached and knowledge, skills and capacities improved to maintain or adapt EVAW/G interventions while responding to the impact of the COVID 19 pandemic?
• Were you supplied with food & non-food items (to SGBV survivors and most vulnerable girls and women)? Are services delivered in a safe, accessible, accountable and participatory manner? • Was the information on the impacts, adaptation or response of COVID-19 accessible, timely and relevant to their needs?
• What were some of the forms of support services provide for women and girls to recover from the Socio-Economic Impacts of COVID-19?

1. Effectiveness: the extent to which the development intervention’s objectives were achieved.

The effectiveness criterion concerns how far the project’s results were used, or their potential benefits were realized (do they achieve the project purpose?). The Consultants should assess the program’s effectiveness and analyze the programmer implementation with particular emphasis on:

Perception of programmer results and achievements by beneficiaries, local authorities, and other stakeholders.

• Degree of participation of beneficiaries.
• Degree of ownership by beneficiaries.
• The commitment of the county authorities, traditional authorities, relevant Government Agencies etc., in the implementation of the project.

Key questions:

• To what extent have the main direct beneficiaries been reached?
• To what extent has the project achieved its expected results according to the Log frame Matrix?
• What is the perception of programmer results and achievements by beneficiaries, local authorities, and other stakeholders?
• What is the degree of participation in and ownership of the action by beneficiaries?
• What is the commitment of the Traditional authorities, County authorities, relevant Government Agencies etc., in the implementation of the project?
• To what extent have the crosscutting issues been addressed?
• What improvements are feasible to enhance the effectiveness of the intervention?

1. Efficiency: the measure of how resources/inputs (funds, expertise, time, etc.) are converted into results.

The efficiency criterion concerns how well the various activities transformed the available resources into the intended results in terms of quantity, quality, and timeliness. In assessing the programmer efficiency, the Consultants should analyze the programmer implementation with particular emphasis on:

• The achievement of the program’s outputs in terms of quantity, quality, and timeliness, as stipulated in the terms of reference.
• A comparison of the intended results as stated in the Objectively Verifiable Indicators of the Project Communities Logical Framework Matrix and the actual output realized. Relevant constraints and bottlenecks should be identified, solutions put in place should be evaluated, and appropriate adaptations defined.
• Whether the programmer produced value-for-money taking into account the specific context of the areas of implementation.
• The organization, management, and follow-up of the programmer: the Consultant should assess the efficiency in the program’s implementation, the roles of all the stakeholders and the day-to-day management of the programmer as regards:

∙ Management of the budget.

∙ Management of personnel and human resources.

∙ Relations with all stakeholders and other partners in development. Respect

for deadlines.

Key question under efficiency:

• What the level of achievement of the program’s outputs is as stipulated in the action’s contract, in terms of quantity, quality and timeliness?
• How do the actual outputs realized compare with the intended results as stated in the Objectively Verifiable Indicators of the project Logical Framework Matrix? Relevant constraints and bottlenecks should be identified, solutions put in place should be evaluated, and appropriate adaptations defined.
• Has the programmer produced value-for-money, taking into account the specific context of the areas of implementation? (Planned use of the items purchased, use of material and non-material resources to reach the project goal, cost-effectiveness etc.)
• What is the level of efficiency in the program’s implementation, the roles of all the stakeholders and the day-to-day management, including the following:

o Management of the budget.

o Management of personnel and human resources.

o Relations and synergies within the project with all stakeholders and other partners in development.

o Respect for deadlines.

1. Sustainability: The continuation of benefits from the action after the end of the financial support, the probability of long-term benefits and the resilience to risk of the net benefit flows over time.

The sustainability criterion relates to whether the positive outcomes of the project at the purpose level are likely to continue after external funding ends and whether its longer-term impact on the broader development process can be sustained at the level of the sector or country. The Consultants should assess the sustainability of the program’s impact and outcome with regard to:

• Socio-economic viability.
• Ownership by beneficiaries of programmer objectives and achievements.
• Cooperation with other donors, consistency of the approaches, etc.

Key question under sustainability:

• To what extent has local ownership already been developed?
• What measures have been conducted to ensure the sustainability of project results?
• To what extent have the crosscutting themes been considered so far? How successful were these considerations?
• What improvements are feasible to enhance the sustainability of the intervention?

1. Relevance: the extent to which the objectives of a development intervention are consistent with beneficiaries’ requirements, country needs, global priorities and partner and donors’ policies.

The relevance criterion concerns the appropriateness of the project design to the problems to be resolved at two points in time: when the project was designed, and at the time of the evaluation.

Key question under relevance:

• Is the project relevant to the achievements of the government’s strategy, policy and plan and other relevant regional and global priorities.
• Is the project relevant to the felt needs of the beneficiaries?
• How well do the project complement and fit with other ongoing programmers and projects in the country?
• Is the project design and its implementation approach valid and realistic?
• Were any lessons learned from previous pilot projects considered in the design and implementation of the project?

4. Evaluation design

The evaluation should be designed in different steps. The first step should be a detailed Desk Study outlining the methodology for evaluating and assigning resources. The outcome of the Desk Study should be documented in an Inception Report. The Field Study is the phase of actual data gathering (e.g., interviews, focus groups etc.), the findings of which will be analyzed and documented within a Draft Report and subjected as feedback from the main stakeholders. The Final Reportwill include all feedback, recommendations and lessons learnt. It should include separate attachment of annexes such as raw data set, FGDs, KII and structural questionnaires, Inception Report, work plan, participants listing, consent forms and photos.

Additionally, the data collected should consider the disaggregation of gender, age, location and respondents’ category using both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods to assess and analyze the findings. The exercise should target both direct and in direct beneficiary and relevant stakeholders at local and national levels

Evaluation Ethics:

The evaluator/s must put in place specific safeguards and protocols to protect the safety (both physical and psychological) of respondents and those collecting the data as well as to prevent harm. This must ensure the rights of the individual are protected and participation in the evaluation does not result in further violation of their rights. The evaluator/s must have a plan in place to:

€ Protect the rights of respondents, including privacy and confidentiality;

€ Elaborate on how informed consent will be obtained and to ensure that the names of individuals consulted during data collection will not be made public;

€ If the project involves children (under 18 years old) the evaluator/s must consider additional risks and need for parental consent;

€ The evaluator/s must be trained in collecting sensitive information and specifically data relating to violence against women and select any members of the evaluation team on these issues.

€ Data collection tools must be designed in a way that is culturally appropriate and does not create distress for respondents;

€ Data collection visits should be organized at the appropriate time and place to minimize risk to respondents;

€ The interviewer or data collector must be able to provide information on how individuals in situations of risk can seek support (referrals to organizations that can provided counseling support, for example)

The consultancy should take into consideration the rights of participants in line with the ethical codes and guidelines of research. The participant should be asked to provide their consent and made aware that their identities would not be revealed. Cultural rights will be respected.

The firm/consultants are required to respect the following ethical principles:

Comprehensive and systematic inquiry: The consultant should make the most of the existing information and full range of stakeholders available at the time of the review. Consultant should conduct systematic, data-based inquiries. He or she should communicate his or her methods and approaches accurately and in sufficient detail to allow others to understand, interpret and critique his or her work. He or she should make clear the limitations of the review and its results;

Competence: Consultant should possess the abilities and skills and experience appropriate to undertake the tasks proposed and should practice within the limits of his or her professional training and competence;

Honesty and integrity: Consultant should be transparent with the contractor/constituent about: any conflict of interest, any change made in the negotiated project plan, and the reasons why those changes were made, any risk that certain procedures or activities produce misleading review information; and

Respect for people: Consultant should respect the security, dignity, and self-worth of the respondents, program participants. The consultant has the responsibility to be sensitive to and respect differences amongst participants in culture, religion, gender, disability, age, and ethnicity.

Safeguarding: Remain alert and responsive to any child safeguarding risks, acquire relevant knowledge and skills which will enable promoting strong safeguarding practices, understanding the child safeguarding policy and procedures.

The assignment should take into account precautionary measures to avoid Covid-related complications during data collection. These measures should ensure social distancing and remote interactions where possible

5. Expected outputs and timelines

A maximum of eight weeks is expected for this assignment. The Timeline below gives an overview of the expected timeframe for the planned evaluation activities:

The Consultants will be responsible for delivering a number of services, most notably producing a final report and presenting the key results and findings to UFDUM and Partner in Liberia.

Besides that, the minimum outputs to be delivered by the Consultants are:

• Detailed design of the evaluation plan, including the identification and definition of appropriate methods in the frame of an Inception Report.
• Evaluation of the project considering the evaluation criteria above, as well as the evaluation of project processes.
• Analysis, interpretation, documentation, and presentation of the evaluation results in a Draft Report.
• Incorporation of feedback into the Draft Report and provision of recommendations. Application process

∙ A detailed technical proposal clearly outlining the proposed gender responsive methods for the evaluation and examples of gender sensitive tools to be used. The disability inclusion perspective should also be taken into account in the evaluation.

∙ Curriculum Vitae(s) of proposed staff outlining relevant education expertise and experience including gender.

∙ A financial proposal with a detailed breakdown of costs for planning and carrying out the evaluation study.

∙ A proposed timeframe detailing activities and a schedule/work plan (including a Gantt chart), in line with the timeframe provided in this TOR and with consideration for the time it will take for UFDUM/UN WOMEN to review documents (inception and evaluation report, etc.) before finalization.

∙ Names and contact information of three references who can be contacted regarding relevant experience and sample (report) of previous work completed.

The detailed technical proposal should:

∙ Demonstrate previous experience in conducting quantitative and qualitative study approaches ∙ Demonstrate inclusivity gender equality and non-discrimination in the conduct of the study ∙ The financial proposal should contain:

∙ Itemized consultancy fees/costs

∙ Itemized field data collection expenses, including lines for enumerator compensation and transportation

∙ Itemized administrative expenses

∙ Validity period of quotations

The Inception Report should contain no more than 10 pages, and the Final Report no more than 35 pages, excluding annexes.

Core Competencies:

• Ability to produce high-quality outputs in a timely manner while understanding and anticipating the evolving client needs
• Strong organizational skill
• Ability to work independently and produce high-quality outputs
• Sound judgement, strategic thinking, and the ability to manage competing priorities ● Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UFDUM
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability ● Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced University degree in M&E or relevant degree

Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in carrying out project evaluation work, assessments and similar work

Language:

• Excellent written and spoken English.

6. Eligibility criteria

The End of Project Evaluation Consultant must meet the following minimum criterion and qualification requirements for this assignment

∙ Evaluation experience at least 5 years in conducting external evaluations, with mixed-methods evaluation skills and having flexibility in using non-traditional and innovative evaluation methods1

∙ Expertise in gender and human-rights based approaches to evaluation and issues of violence against women and girls

∙ Experience with program design and theory of change, gender-responsive evaluation, participatory approaches and stakeholder engagement

∙ Specific evaluation experiences in the areas of ending violence against women and girls ∙ Experience in collecting and analysing quantitative and qualitative data as well as data visualization

∙ In-depth knowledge of gender equality and women’s empowerment

∙ A strong commitment to delivering timely and high-quality results, i.e. credible evaluation and its report that can be used

∙ Relevant experience in programs management

∙ Minimum of five years’ experience in conducting evaluations of youth development projects; ∙ Able to meet deadlines and work under pressure;

∙ Highly proficient in key computer software programs (Word, Excel, Power point, SPSS, Power BI, etc.).

∙ A strong team leadership and management track record, as well as interpersonal and communication skills to help ensure that the evaluation is understood and used. ∙ Good communication skills and ability to communicate with various stakeholders and to express concisely and clearly ideas and concepts

1 Number of years of experience can be flexible in cases where the pool of qualified national consultants is limited. Commissioning organizations may consider applications/proposals from recent graduates and young and emerging evaluators with core competencies in EVAW, research and evaluation.

∙ Regional/Country experience and knowledge: in-depth knowledge of country contexts required.

∙ Evidenced report writing (English language) and documentation skills.

∙ Evaluation firm or individual consultant should be a Liberian registered entity or Liberian with track record of research and evaluation work within development sectors.

7. Application instruction

Please send your CV, cover letter and technical proposal (with budget) to:

ufdum.liberia.applications@gmail.com

Deadline for submission of EOI: 26th December 2022. Applications will be considered on an ongoing basis. Candidates must have the legal right to work in Liberia.

UFDUM is an equal opportunities employer committed to diversity within the workplace. We encourage applications from females and marginalized groups.

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