Expression of Interest for Final Evaluation of the Project

Project Title: Promotion of child, adolescent and maternal health in Dolakha district

Country: Nepal 

Project Partner: Green Tara Nepal (GTN)

Project area: Tamakoshi Rural Municipality, Baiteshwor Rural Municipality and Jiri Municipality of Dolakha district 

Project Timeframe: 01.11.2022 to 31.12.2025

Funding Partners: Childaid Network (CAN), Germany and German Federal Ministry for Economic Co-operation and Development (BMZ)

1. Background and rationale of the project

Health problems among mothers and children remain a major issue in Nepal, with a high disparity in health indicators between urban and rural areas. Women in remote areas face challenges receiving proper care during pregnancy, delivery, and the postpartum period, due to transportation barriers and a lack of human and physical resources at health centers. Additionally, women have difficulties accessing their family planning services of choice, mainly because they are often disempowered and have limited decision-making power. As a result, their children may face health challenges related to insufficient nutrition at birth, poor newborn care. Children also faces problem like hygiene, dental care, inadequate nutrition, lack of WASH facilities at schools, and poor menstrual hygiene, etc. Therefore, it is crucial to provide not only quality health services but also to increase awareness of good health practices and improve the demand for and access to health services.

Hence, Childaid Network, Nepal aims to improve and strengthen the existing health system in three Palikas (Tamakoshi Rural Municipality, Baiteshwor Rural Municipality and Jiri Municipality) of Dolakha district through its health promotion project, "Promotion of Child, Adolescent and Maternal Health in Dolakha, Nepal." The project primarily operates on a four-pillar approach. First, it works to increase healthcare accessibility by effectively utilizing existing resources and structures, which involves upgrading community health facilities and building the capacity of existing health professionals. Second, to make the health services more effective, it focuses on strengthening collaboration between local government, schools, and health facilities to make health services more effective. Third, it aims to raise awareness within the community, especially among women, on reproductive health, nutrition, menstrual hygiene, and other essential health practices. Finally, the project promotes fundamental health initiatives in community schools, including conducting regular oral health screenings, improving WASH facilities, and conducting health awareness-raising activities.

This final evaluation will assess whether the programmatic approach and working modality employed is appropriately designed and relevant to the context of the area. The evaluation will focus on the project's relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, impact, and sustainability.

It aims to provide comprehensive insights into the results achieved, challenges encountered, and lessons learned. The findings and recommendations generated will guide Childaid Network, Green Tara Nepal and other stakeholders in developing similar programs in comparable settings, ensuring improved outcomes and adaptability.

2. Description of the project

During the 3 years, this project operates across three Palikas in Dolakha district, encompassing 30% of the district's geographical area and 28% of its population. The intervention leverages existing infrastructure, working through a network of 83 community schools, 30 health facilities, and 383 Health Mothers’ Groups (HMGs). Further the project also worked with support of FCHVs, school teachers, health staff, and municipal officials.

The primary objective is to enhance the public health system by increasing health awareness and promoting positive health practices. This is achieved by establishing safe, health-promoting school environments and ensuring a functional public health framework. Major initiatives involve creating health-enhancing learning environments in schools, capacitating over 6,700 HMG members on key health topics, and strengthening health facilities and institutional coordination.

3. Purpose of the evaluation

The project final evaluation intends to assess the project outcomes in terms of OECD/DAC criteria and on i) relevance, ii) effectiveness, iii) impact, iv) coherence, v) efficiency, and vi) sustainability (see Annex 1). It will demonstrate how the project output has contributed to the achievement of the overall project objectives as described in the relevant documents.

1. Scope of the evaluation

The project needs to be evaluated in the following areas:

• Success of the project regarding the set goals (according to the defined indicators);
  • Quality and success of the interventions in schools and their continuity;
  • Quality and success of the activities with the health mother groups; their ability to function independently; 
  • Quality and success of the project regarding strengthening the community health system and the degree of coordination between the stakeholders;
• Cooperation of implementing organization with government actors and other stakeholders; 
• Project management of implementing organization;
• Potential negative consequences or side effects stemming from the project;
• Convergence with government agencies and programs; 
• Sustainability approach of the project;
• Alignment of the intervention with national local, provincial and national priority;
• The evaluation will trace the causal chain: from project inputs → activities → outputs → outcomes, and where possible, to broader impacts;
• It will also examine project performance over the full implementation period and compare with baseline; In addition to assessing the “what” (achievement of outputs/outcomes), the evaluation will analyze why (drivers, enablers, constraints), and how (processes, quality, implementation fidelity).
• The evaluation will incorporate crosscutting issues such as gender equity, social inclusion, environmental sustainability (in agricultural interventions), and institutional strengthening;
• It will include both quantitative and qualitative methods to provide depth ( data review, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, case studies);
• It should assess the cost‑effectiveness or value for money of interventions in each output area (i.e. whether similar or better results could have been achieved with different design or resource allocation);
• The evaluation must identify lessons learned, best practices, challenges encountered, and make actionable recommendations for future programming, scaling or replication.

4. Process

The consultant has to follow the DAC Guidelines and Reference Series regarding Quality Standards for Development Evaluation (ANNEX ) during the whole process.

Phase 1: Desk Study and Inception

A kick-off meeting between the CAN, GTN and the contracted consultant(s) will clarify all open issues related to this assignment. The organization/consultant will be provided with all the relevant project data and project context related documents to get familiarized with the currently running project. The work plan developed at the end of this phase will finalize the methodology, data collection tools and site visit schedule.

Phase 2: Facilitating evaluation and documentation of findings

The evaluation will start with a combined meeting with the CAN and the GTN, and will be followed by a field study of the project area. The Field Coordinators (of the project) will be mobilized to support the external evaluation team to data collection in the field.  

Phase 3: Data Analysis and Reporting 

Following the field visit, the collected data is to be analysed, and triangulated with project endline report finding. and the first draft version of the report to be written and submitted to the CAN for review and feedback. This feedback is to be included, where appropriate. After including the feedback, the final report shall be shared with the CAN and the GTN. Major findings shall be shared through a PowerPoint Presentation.

5. Deliverables

• Inception report:  With understanding of ToR, detailing methodology, tools, and detailed work plan.
• Evaluation report: A comprehensive report containing the results of the evaluation, including an analysis of the project's achievements, challenges, impact and effectiveness. The report should be clear, concise, and evidence-based and present recommendations based on the evaluation findings.
• Executive summary: A summary of the evaluation report that highlights the key findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• PowerPoint presentation: A visual presentation of the evaluation report that provides an overview of the project, its goals and objectives, the evaluation framework, methodology, findings, and recommendations before submission of the final report.

6. Expert Profile of the organization/ Consultants / Evaluation Team

The applying consultancy (individual/firm) is to be independent and impartial with no liabilities to any other organization or government entity regarding this evaluation.

Minimum requirements of consultant/evaluation team:

• The team lead should have following minimum requirements but not limited to:
• Qualified with relevant educational degree (prefering team lead or composition of Public Health expert), and wider experience on public health project management,  research conduction and report writing;
• High calibre knowledge of and experience in public health and health promotion in Nepal;
• Previous experience of studies or project evaluations in the field of health, idealessional level knowledge of English and Nepali;
• Demonstrated ability to effectively contribute to outcome- and impact-based evaluations, encompassing both assessment and learning components;
• Experience in participatory evaluation using both qualitative and quantitative methods, including mixed-method design, triangulation, and synthesize;
• The general study can be performed by a single consultant or a consultant team. However, detailed knowledge of quality health project approaches is necessary to perform the study.
• For the evaluation study, we prefer a public health professional/expert or equivalent with an (academic) background in: Public Health, Medicine, Development Studies, Development Management, Sociology, Social Work and/or Relevant stream. 

Tentative Timetable: 

• Application to be submitted by 12th October;
• Kick off meeting by 17th October (only shortlisted team only);
• Submission of inception report: Understanding of ToR, workplan, methodology and detailed budget 24th October;
• Field visit and data collection 30th October;
• Draft report submission by 14th November;
• Finding presentation (PPT), and Finalize evaluation report to be submitted by 21 November. 

7. Management of the Evaluation Study

A contract will be concluded between the selected consultant (individual/firm) and the Childaid Network Foundation in Nepal. The latter will be responsible for payment according to the invoices. GTN will facilitate the study on the ground and provide the necessary background and documents to carry out the study. 

On the basis of the proposed time schedule outlined in chapter 6 of these Terms of Reference, the consultant will prepare an offer including:

• Applicant's experience conducting studies of a similar type of study/previous report and evidence (if available);
• Applicant's approach on conducting the study (methodology) against of ToR;
• Timetable;
• A breakdown budget including number of days, and total costs with VAT;
• CV with references;
• Registration Documents: Firm registration certificate, PAN/VAT registration, and Tax clearance certificate (FY 2081/82).

8. Evaluation Criteria:

9. Reporting & Coordination:

The consultant will report to the Project Lead, CAN and GTN. Team lead from GTN will support study arrangements and facilitate coordination with local stakeholders.

10. Payments The total consultancy fee will be paid for in three installments: 

1. 30% upon submission and approval of the Inception Report;
2. 40% upon submission of the Draft Evaluation Report; 
3. 30% upon submission and approval of the Final Evaluation Report.

Deadline for submission of Expression of Interest: Applications should be emailed to Childaid Network in Nepal (info.nepal@childaid.net) quoting the reference number of the call in the subject line on or before 12 October 2025.

ANNEX:

For OECD DAC criteria please download the following link below:

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1oZtjGJIg8GS16Brod46gdbZsy8UfOGaa