Terms of reference

Garr-Bain Endline Survey

Liberia Country Office, February 9, 2026

1.0 BACKGROUND
Living Water International (LWI) is a non-profit, Christian, and charitable organization that exists to demonstrate the love of God by helping communities acquire desperately needed clean water and to experience the “living water” –the gospel of Jesus Christ, which alone satisfies the deepest thirst. Living Water International, established in 1990, has its headquarters in Houston, Texas, USA, and operates in 13 affiliate countries across Latin America, the Caribbean, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Asia. With its unique Mission statement and core values, the organization has achieved much through its growing experience in serving underprivileged rural communities and institutions. It implements a transformational WASH program, collaborating with churches to mobilize communities for WASH initiatives.
Living Water International began operations in Liberia in 2004 and has been working to provide sustainable water solutions by drilling new wells, rehabilitating hand-dug wells, and engaging in church mobilization and community empowerment activities. From an initial rapid humanitarian response in the WASH sector to more organized and planned programming in 2012, Living Water Liberia has directly reached over 650,000 Liberians with safe water and sanitation services. Living Water Liberia successfully launched its first WASH program in Margibi County, achieving significant successes. In 2019, Living Water International Liberia launched its second WASH program in the Garr-Bain District of Nimba County, a six-year initiative that benefited 106,935 people.

District Background
Geographically, the District covers 476 square kilometers. According to the 2008 population and housing census, the district had a population of 61,225 residents across 31 villages within three clans. From this data, women constitute 51.3% (31,412) and men 48.69% (29,813) of the total population of Garr-Bain District, which has the largest population per district within Nimba County. However, fifteen years later, the population has grown due to human resettlement within the district and the availability of economic opportunities in the Garr-Bain District.

WASH Program Area (WPA) Background
The Garr-Bain WASH Program Area (WPA) comprises both urban and rural communities. The majority of the district’s population lives in the metropolitan area of Ganta, which is one of the biggest commercial cities not only in the district but also in the country. Most of those residing in Ganta City are businesspeople and students, while rural dwellers are mostly subsistence farmers. Garr Bain WPA is approximately 260km from Monrovia, the Capital of Liberia, while the distance from the WPA to Sanniquellie, the provisional capital of Nimba County, is 22km. Between both Monrovia and Saniiquellie, to the WPA, paved roads are in place, making the WPA accessible to vehicles and other moving objects to facilitate smooth movement in and out of the WPA.

Challenges
The lack of access to adequate water and sanitation services for many Liberians, particularly those in rural areas, results in public health challenges, inhibits economic development, and leads to reduced quality of life and gender inequality. Liberia has a lot of surface water because of abundant rainfall and the many Rivers and Streams. However, most of Liberia’s population manually collects water from unimproved or partially protected sources, such as shallow wells, streams, ponds, springs, and creeks, and this was very common and easily noticeable in the WPA. Sanitation and hygiene remain inadequate due to a lack of latrines and management systems. Poor hygiene and sanitation practices, as well as cultural practices among citizens, further worsen the matter.

Current national statistics on WASH reinforce the need for more concentration on the sector. For example, according to Liberia’s Demographic and Health Survey (LDHS), access to water is estimated at 56% in rural areas, 65% in Monrovia, and 66% in other urban areas, and is mainly provided through water points. Similarly, as reported in Liberia’s WASH Sector Investment Plan (SIP 2012 – 2017), access to sanitation is estimated at 15% in rural areas, 57% in Monrovia, and 43% in other urban areas, provided mainly through on-site sanitation facilities. The same document also reports that an estimated 35% of existing clinics and schools lack adequate water and sanitation facilities; solid waste management services are available only in Monrovia, covering an estimated 55% of the capital’s solid waste.

These challenges are commonplace in Nimba County as well. For example, the 2016 national Water points Mapping survey conducted reports that there are only 1,120 functional water points in Nimba County, serving a total population of over 468,088 people, constituting about 59% of the total water points in the County. Meanwhile, 762 water points are broken down or considered non-functional, comprising 41% of the total water points in the County. Serious structural and maintenance issues affect almost half of the water points in Nimba, particularly during the dry season, when groundwater is significantly depleted. As observed, the non-functionality of water points, particularly during the dry season, can be attributed to poor construction. Most of the water points within the WPA are less than 60 meters.

LWI-L is one of the organizations that supported the government’s development agenda by using water and mobilizing the church to act in WASH to reach the poor, underprivileged, and disadvantaged with WASH services. This unique approach not only provided access to clean drinking water but also empowered communities and individuals to take self-determined actions to reinforce self-help capacities within their communities. Additionally, LWI-L worked with churches to spread and promote the Gospel through spiritual and physical ministries.

2.0 OVERALL OBJECTIVE
The consultancy aims to conduct an independent, external evaluation of Living Water’s contribution to development impact, using the indicators. Additionally, the review will provide an independent, overall assessment of the program’s past performance, with particular focus on the effects of its activities on its objectives. Lastly, the consultancy will identify key lessons and suggest practical recommendations for follow-up actions that can be applied to future wash program areas (WPAs).
2.1 Program Objectives
General Objective
To make an assessment, as systematic and objective as possible, of the project mentioned above, its design, implementation, and results.
The aim is to determine the relevance and fulfillment of objectives, as well as developmental efficiency, effectiveness, impact, and sustainability. The evaluation should provide credible, valuable information that enables LWI-L to incorporate lessons learned into its decision- making process.
Principles underpinning the approach to the evaluation are:
• Impartiality and independence of the evaluation process from the programming and implementation functions.
• Credibility of the evaluation, using appropriately skilled and independent experts, and the transparency of the evaluation process, including wide dissemination of results.
The usefulness of the evaluation findings and recommendations is ensured through the timely presentation of relevant, clear, and concise information.
Specific Objectives
– Result 1: The project activities are evaluated through the following criteria: relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability, and impact.
– Result 2: Recommendations for improving each of the criteria are shared （especially for future projects）
– Result 3: A suggested action plan corresponding to each recommendation is included in the evaluation report

The evaluation report should then provide conclusions and recommendations on the following questions:
• Effectiveness: To what degree did the activities meet the objectives and results set out in the project (as outlined in the logical framework)? Are the changes seen statistically significantly different from baseline and midline evaluation data?
• Matching needs: Did the project/activities meet the relevant needs of the beneficiaries?
• Relevance: Was the project designed in a way that is relevant to reaching itsgoals?
• Alignment: to what extent is the project in line (and using) with internationally relevant standards?
• Efficiency: Was the project run efficiently?
• Sustainability: Are the results achieved so far sustainable?
• Internal coherence: Were the result indicators and their means of verification adequate? What possible adjustments would the consultant recommend?
• Gender mainstreaming: To what extent did the project succeed in including a gender perspective?
• Impact: Were there any unforeseen positive/negative effects of the activities?
• Synergies: to what extent were synergies achieved with other activities implemented by different NGOs, as well as with local initiatives?
• Which unmet needs did the evaluator identify that would be relevant for LWI-L to investigate in the eventual continuation of the program?
• Identify lessons learned and provide recommendations.

Primary Outcomes
1. Increased access to safe, portable, and adequate water for 95% of people without access, that is, 85,000 people in Garr-Bain WPA.

2. Improved access to adequate and equitable sanitation practices by 92% of people in Garr-Bain WPA.
3. Improved hygiene practices for 94% of the people in the Garr-Bain WPA
4. Increased access to the gospel of Jesus Christ for 98% of the people, and local Churches are engaged in the Garr-Bain WPA.

3.0 SCOPE OF THE CONSULTANCY
• Design methodology will lead to an assessment of the impact of the Garr-Bain WPA in the six
(6) years.
• Determine the extent to which Living Water has advanced toward achieving the set objectives and impact related to the program goal. Specifically, assess the number of functional water systems in the WPA; the number of people with access to water from an improved source; the number of people with access to improved sanitation facilities; those practicing open defecation; and provide statistical and thematic analysis based on both quantitative and qualitative data on the relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability, and impact of the WPA. Additionally, evaluate the capacity of water user committees to manage water system operations and maintenance, and analyze and document lessons learned from the WPA.
• Draw up recommendations that would inform future evaluations.

4.0 METHODOLOGY AND SCOPE
Overall evaluation approach and data collection methods proposed:
The Consultant will employ a mix of methods/ tools to achieve the stated objectives, following Living Water International’s guidelines for evaluating wash program areas. These can include a variety of methodologies necessary for evaluation studies using standard methods and tools.
The methods should include:
– Desk review
This will involve reviewing existing data relevant to the survey, including documents from Living Water and other stakeholders.

– Key Informant Interviews
Key informants will be purposively selected from individuals knowledgeable about the WPA interventions and the district’s sector to provide crucial information on WASH services and other program facets. These will mainly comprise decision makers and implementers of the program, including local council leaders, WPA community leaders, water committees, school heads, and Healthcare facility heads. The interviews will assess experiences, roles, and management, as well as WASH practices and linkages among these actors, and how they influenced the WPA Program. Selection will depend on the different roles each plays in the program.
– Focus group Discussions (FGDs)
Field phase: Five FGDs will be conducted across six communities in the three clans, with two communities per clan, covering the three thematic areas. Local authorities, Ganta Christian

Community (GCC), beneficiaries, and other relevant people (County health team, MOH, WASH department, MOWP will be expected to attend the FGD. The discussions will focus on community participation/involvement, community management issues, service levels, functionality, technology issues, hygiene and sanitation support, and levels of satisfaction with the services, among other things.
– Analysis and debriefing phase: The results and preliminary conclusions will be presented to the LWI-L team in Liberia. A debriefing will be organized (if necessary) to discuss the results and the recommendations.
– Household surveys
Household surveys will collect data on key indicators from a representative, randomly selected, and statistically significant sample of households in the WPA, with a 95% confidence level and a 5% margin of error, reflecting the baseline sampling methodology. Household surveys will be conducted in the 31 communities plus Ganta City to assess WASH access, for example, access to an improved source, time taken for a round trip, access to basic improved sanitation facilities, and hygiene practices, as well as issues relating to church and community mobilization and gospel proclamation in the communities.
– Institutional surveys
All institutions in the WPA, such as schools, health care facilities, markets, and churches, are to be targeted.
– Water point surveys
Water points in each community will be assessed for functionality and water quality. These will be randomly selected in each Community and will be evaluated on functionality, water quality, and technology.

5.0 DELIVERABLES
All deliverables are to be submitted to the Living Water International – Liberia Country Director in English. Deliverables include:

• Draft a detailed work plan and an inception report to be agreed with Living Water International before the assignment.
• Present final report to Living Water International Liberia, indicating: (i) the progress towards meeting the WPA goal, (ii) the lessons learned from the WPA implementation, that is, impact, successes, and challenges, together with recommendations for the future WPAs.
• Raw data surveys in the Kobo toolbox.
• Cleaned and coded quantitative data.
• FDG and KII facilitator guides, transcripts, and coded/thematized data
• PowerPoint presentation on key highlights of the progress towards meeting the WPA goal.

6.0 QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
The evaluation team will be composed of experts with the following profiles and qualifications:

• The lead Consultant must have at least a master’s degree in public health, Statistics, International Development Studies, Social sciences, or any related qualification.
• Demonstrated experience in conducting evaluations on water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) programs.
• Broad experience with handling international organization WASH programs in Liberia, as well as other countries in Africa.
• Demonstrated practical field experience in data collection, and qualitative and quantitative data analysis, as well as report writing in Liberia/Africa on WASH programs.
• Demonstrated and recognized consultancy service delivery.
• Assess to and demonstrated experience with statistical software
• Experience with technical writing.
• Good time management.
• Good communication skills.
• Demonstrated understanding of WASH, community management, and church mobilization.
• Understanding of the area and people.
• Experience with data analysis.
• Ability to travel to hard-to-reach communities.

7.0 OBLIGATIONS
Consultant:
• Adheres to Living Water’s code of conduct
• Conduct the consultancy as per agreements in the TOR and contract, and if modifications are necessary, bring them to the attention of Living Water before making any changes.
• Utilize ethical data collection practices, including informed consent, and protect the raw data from the research and provide it to the Living Water International Liberia country office.
• Evaluate with quality, paying attention to the timeline.
• Familiarize with the relevant Living Water International program documents.
• Develop a close working relationship with Living Water and relevant stakeholders to ensure smooth running in the process of the assignment.
• Facilitate any necessary meetings with Living Water and relevant stakeholders for triangulation, data collection, and feedback sessions in the evaluation process.
• Submit the draft and final consultancy report, in soft copy.
• Will be responsible for arranging all logistics of the assignment
• Will recruit and train capable enumerators for the assignment
Living Water International:
• Provide access to all necessary databases, documents, and processes to facilitate the assignment (including prior evaluations and design documents).
• Access to communities.

• Introduction to necessary stakeholders.

8.0 HOW TO APPLY
• Develop a technical proposal and a financial proposal.
• Place proposals in separate envelopes and mail to anyaplue@water.cc or lwiliberiarecruitment@water.cc . Deadline for submission of the proposal is Friday, February 27, 2026
• The technical proposal should include:
• Profile of the consulting firm/contractor
• CV for key personnel
• Cover letter for the team
• Implementation plan
• Timeline
• Methodology
• Deliverables
• Data collection plan
• Data analysis plan
The financial proposal should include: cost of consulting services etc.• Provide examples of relevant past work.

9.0 ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS AND REPORTING
While the Consultant will be under the direct supervision of the Country Director, the program’s Manager and the monitoring and evaluation officer will assist the Consultant at the country level throughout the consultancy. The Consultant will be expected to undertake the assignment in close collaboration with all relevant stakeholders involved in the Program’s implementation.

10. TIMEFRAME

11.0 LANGUAGE
The language of the assignment and all deliverables shall be in English. In the WPA, which is predominantly a Mano-speaking area, tools will need to be translated into the local language to ensure the accuracy of field-collected data. Therefore, excellent English communication skills (oral, written, and presentation) are required, as well as Mano and Gio in the WPA.