Consultancy for Mid-term Evaluation for Creating Spaces to Take Action Against Violence Against Wome

Title: Consultancy for Mid-term Evaluation for Creating Spaces to Take Action Against Violence  Against Women and Girls 

Proposal Submission Deadline: 12 December  2018 

Send Proposal to: consultancy_nepal@oxfam.org.uk 

 Terms of Reference (ToR) 

Background 

Oxfam is an international confederation of 20 affiliates working in over 90 countries, as part of a global movement for change, to build a future free from the injustice of poverty. Oxfam has been working in Nepal since the early 1980s undertaking various development initiatives addressing the poverty and injustice faced by the population, especially women and other socially and economically excluded groups. Oxfam in Nepal aims to support the process of development by complementing the government's works. 

Currently Oxfam has four programmes:

1. DRR and Humanitarian
2. Food and Economic Justice
3. Gender and Social Justice
4. Wash and Water Governance

These four programmes implement various projects in their specific themes. The Gender and Social Justice has been implementing a five-year project “Creating Spaces To Reduce Violence Against Women since April 2015. Under this context, Oxfam in Nepal intends to conduct mid-term review of its Creating Spaces Project.

Project Background:

Violence against women and girls (VAWG) and Child, early and forced marriage (CEFM) in Nepal is high and the prevalence is taking a huge toll on families and on economies and productivity. The widespread prevalence of VAWG is particularly acute when it comes to child, early and forced marriages, domestic violence, trafficking in women and girls, etc. Despite considerable progress in establishing policies and programs, implementation has been slow. This gap is largely the result of deeply entrenched cultural values, attitudes and practices that are rooted in gender stereotypes and discrimination that continue to be used to justify the violence and exploitation of women and girls. 

In response, Oxfam has developed a long-term vision for addressing violence against women and girls (VAWG) including the prevalence of early and forced marriage, through coordinated prevention and response initiatives. The project builds on the compelling global evidence on combating violence against women and girls which demonstrates that the most effective strategies involve engaging a broad range of social actors as well as institutional and political leaders in efforts to reduce the social acceptance of gender-based violence and related practices. And more importantly, it embraces the core values of national policies and strategies developed to address VAWG and child marriage in its aim to reduce VAWG and Child, early and forced marriage. 

The overall project framework revolves around three pillars: 

Pillar 1: Engaging key community actors to support and promote positive gender norms;

Pillar 2: Supporting women and girls who have experienced violence; and 

Pillar 3: Building knowledge and capacity of institutions and alliances to influence change. 

Funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC), and implemented by Oxfam together with partner organisations, Creating Spaces project is planned for implementation over a period of 5 years. It is implemented in various countries in including Nepal. The aim of the project is to reduce violence against women and girls and child, early and forced marriage in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan and Philippines.

The major objectives expected by the project by its end are:

• Strengthened engagement of key religious, community, private sector and political actors and youth in advancing women's leadership. women's rights and in reducing violence against women
• Greater access to support services and economic opportunities for women and girls affected by violence and child, early and forced marriage
• Increased use of innovative knowledge, including best and emerging practice, and accountability systems to end violence against women and girls 

 Mid-Term Review: 

Since the project has crossed its mid-term period, the mid-term review process has been initiated in order to understand the progress of the project in relation to its objectives. The mid-term review is designed to be conducted through peer to peer evaluation process.

Under this evaluation process, each implementing partner will assess the progress and achievement of another partner. Different methods and tools will be applied in order to meet the objectives of the evaluation process. 

The major questions to which the assessment is seeking answer to are:

• To what extent is the project being able to increase the awareness level of community on the issues of GBV and child early and forced (CEFM) marriage?
• Has the project been able to change the perception, attitude and behaviours of the CDCs and CCs participants on violence against women and girls (VAWG), CEFM and positive social gender norms?

The specific objectives of the review are as follows:

• To understand the trend of gender based violence of past 2 years and the role of different agencies and institutions to reduce GBV and Child Marriage
• To know about the factors contributing the increase or decrease GBV and Child Marriage in working areas
• To understand the roles of supported groups in minimizing gender based violence in their communities
• To objectively assess whether community discussion groups are able to bring changes or awareness in community regarding child marriage and gender based violence
• To understand how the involvement in community groups have been able to change perceptions and views on GBV and child marriage personally and how they have contributed at personal level to reduce GBV and child marriage
• To report on the relevant indicators of the project performance framework
• To give suggestions for the project to meet its project objectives 

Methods for the Mid-Term Review:

• Focus Group Discussion
• Household Surveys
• Observations
• Interviews
• Collection of good practices and stories 

Objectives of the Assignment:

The overall scope of this consulting assignment is to facilitate Oxfam and its partners to conduct peer to peer review. The partners will mostly conduct the peer to review related activities such as interviews, group discussion, surveys and observation and the role of the consultant will be to guide the process, be involved in the process and make a final report on the results of the assessment. This means that in 4 of the 5 districts (Banke, Rautahat, Dailekh, Baitadi and Kathmandu), Oxfam supported partner organisations will undertake field work with the support of consultant whereas in 1 district (Baitadi), the consultant will undertake field data collection mainly FGD and KII.

The study will aid the Oxfam and GAC to deeply understand the strength and weaknesses of the project in accordance with the set objectives, what are the perceived and actual benefits to the targeted communities and what further steps are to be taken to improve the project implementation. As a result, it will provide the opportunity for Oxfam to replicate the learning, capitalise on its strengths and improve on the weaknesses.

Scope of services and tasks will include, but may not be limited to the following: 

Major activities to be undertaken (Scope of work)

• Gain an insight about the activities about the project, objectives, partners and working areas by going through project proposal, reports and performance framework
• Assess the appropriateness of the methods and tools for the review process
• Development of necessary tools for conducting mid-term review such as interview questions, group discussion questions, survey questionnaire, observation check list
• Train partner staff in required methods and tools of the assessment required for the mid-term review including preparing report (2 days)
• Facilitate partners to conduct quantitative surveys and qualitative studies in the peer areas
• Undertake field visit to support the partners to conduct peer to peer reviews
• Undertake assessment work in one working district which will include FGD and KII.
• Prepare reports from the studies conducted at community level. The report should be disaggregated at district level for understanding district relevant situations. The report should be compilation of qualitative and quantitative analysis
• To report on the relevant indicators of the project performance framework  

Logistics:

Oxfam can support the transportation for the assignment, if required. Project staff from Oxfam or partner organisation will also support and accompany where necessary. Details will be finalised during the agreement process. 

Team Composition:

The study should be led by an experienced consultant with good experience in conducting evaluation and assessment on gender-focused projects at community level. Experience of having worked in projects related to VAGW, child marriage and women empowerment will be an advantage. The consultant can bring in a support member to facilitate the assessment.  

Expected Deliverables:

• Development of required tools for the methods to be applied in the review process
• Training on assessment methods, tools and process to the participating partner staff
• Quantitative survey data records and qualitative notes of interviews, group discussion, observation
• A detailed, accurate and articulated report in relation to the objectives of the study. The report should be disaggregated at the district level.
• After the completion of the field study and before the final reporting, a presentation to Oxfam is expected on the findings and suggestions / recommendations.

Skills and competencies

• Excellent understanding of gender issues including VAWG, early marriage in different areas of Nepal including rural hills and terai region
• Adequate experience in conducting research and assessment of gender related project and issues of Nepal
• Sound understanding of research/evaluation method and process
• Knowledge and ability to conduct quantitative analysis of data
• Experience of qualitative methods in research
• Competency in report writing 

 Selection Criteria:

 Reporting Line Manager

This work is to be delivered to the Creating Spaces Project Coordinator and overseen by the Gender and Social Justice Programme Manager. 

Support and input to the scope and activities of the mid-term by other project focal person in order to ensure full delivery and timeliness. 

Duration: 

The estimated input of the consultant(s) is 37 days (including 6 days for report preparation) for 2-member team. The assignment is expected to start from 20 December 2018 till 5th March 2019.

Financial proposal format to be filled by consultant:

*7 participants from Rautahat, 7 from Banke, 7 from Dailekh and 5 from Kathmandu) The consultant will be required to reimburse travel and subsistence costs to the training participants. 

Terms of payment:

The consultant will be paid in three instalments - 1st instalment (20%) after signing agreement; 2nd instalment (30%) after developing necessary tools and training completion and final instalment (50%) after successful completion of the field study, presentation and final report to Oxfam as per the quality and standards. 

Documents for submission: 

• Technical proposal (during proposal submission)
• Financial proposal showing taxes (during proposal submission)
• Roles and responsibilities of each team member with time allocation (during proposal submission)
• VAT registration certificate (during proposal submission)
• Tax clearance certificate 2074/75 (during proposal submission)
• References of previous clients (during proposal submission)
• Detailed work plan – agreed by consultant and hiring manager (during agreement)
• Detailed budget sheet with breakdown – agreed by consultant and hiring manager (during agreement)
• Actual invoices to claim for expenses as per mentioned in the contract (during final submission)
• Agreed time sheet of all involved consultants upon completion of project – signed by consultants and hiring manager (during final submission) 

Response: 

The consultant VAT registered individual/firm should submit a proposal to Oxfam by 12 December 2018 via mail to consultancy_nepal@oxfam.org.uk, clearly mentioning the title of assignment in thier email subject line. 

Confidentiality / Non disclosure 

All material issued in connection with this ToR shall remain the property of Oxfam and shall be used only for the purpose of this procurement exercise. All information provided shall be either returned to Oxfam or securely destroyed by unsuccessful applicants at the conclusion of the procurement exercise.

During the performance of the assignment or at any time after expiry or termination of the Agreement, the Consultant shall not disclose to any person or otherwise make use of any confidential information which s/he has obtained or may in the course of this agreement relating to partner organization/Oxfam, the respondents or otherwise.

The consultant will be required to sign a non disclosure / confidentiality agreement as part of their undertaking of this work.  

Intellectual property, Copyright, and Ownership of all prepared information 

The Consultant shall retain all rights to pre-existing (background) intellectual property or materials used by the Consultant in the delivery of this study. All arising intellectual property, ideas, materials, processes or processes formed in contemplation, course of, or as result of this study shall be passed to Oxfam without restriction.

The Consult shall warrant that all arising Intellectual Property, materials and/or products produced in pursuit of this study shall be original, and shall not infringe on any third party’s claim. All technical or business information, in whatever medium or format, originated, collated or prepared by or for the Consultant in contemplation, course of, or as result of this assignment shall be transferred to Oxfam without restriction on completion and shall not be used by the Consultant for any other purpose without express written permission of Oxfam’s Head of Programme Funding.

Copyright of all arising documents, data, information or reports produced by the Consultant under this agreement shall belong to Oxfam and will be passed to Oxfam without restriction. Such documents, data, information and reports shall not be used by the Consultant for any other purpose other than in conjunction with this assignment, without the express written permission of Oxfam’s Head of Programme Funding.