TERMS OF REFERENCE for Final Evaluation of “Building Community Enterprises of Smallholders in Ban

TERMS OF REFERENCE

for Final Evaluation of

“Building Community Enterprises of Smallholders in Bangladesh and Nepal”

BACKGROUND:

The project Building Community Enterprises of Small-holders in Bangladesh and Nepal (herein, BCES) is being implemented in Bangladesh and Nepal, in partnership with two local Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in each country. In Nepal, Welthungerhilfe (WHH) is partnering with Forum for Rural Welfare and Agriculture Reform for Development (FORWARD) for Chitwan district (2,300 household beneficiaries), and Centre for Environmental and Agricultural Policy Research, Extension and Development (CEAPRED) for Salyan district (2,700 beneficiary households); similary, with Anando for Chittagaon Hill Tracts (CHT) region (2,500 households), and Friends In Village Development Bangladesh (FIVDB) for Haor region (2,500 households) in Bangladesh. Hence, in total, the project directly benefits 10,000 households (50,391 individuals)–at least 5,000 households in each country- through value chain development and integrated farming related activities. Below is the graphical representation of project process role of the stakeholders involved. Total project budget is €1,003,336, and duration is 01.10.2015 – 30.09.2018.

PROJECT OBJECTIVE:

Impact: to combat poverty and food insecurity of the most vulnerable sections of the society in Chittagong Hill Tracts and Haor region of Bangladesh and in the foothill regions of Chitwan and Salyan of Nepal. It contributes to improvement of income and livelihood of the target groups.

Project purpose (outcome): 10,000 HH have increased income and improved food security

Result 1: Farm production is diversified and increased through improved supply of productions means and better cultivation.

Result 2: 10 community enterprises are established for supporting targeted HHs which provide the farmers with extension services, secure market access and improve the local value addition.

Result 3: At least 7 Community enterprises have successfully implemented business plan developed for self-sustainability, provide platform for advocating pro-small holder policies and integrate learning from the region.

DESCRIPTION ON FINAL EVALUATION STUDY

The objective of the final evaluation is to assess the accomplishment of project objective and assess project contribution towards achieving project goal. The evaluation will focus on the following areas:

Achievements: Assess the quantitative, qualitative achievements of the action against project goal, objective, results, outcomes and impacts. The study will also further assess; project management; project activities; integration of results, reflection of coordination, partnerships with the local government, integration and coordination among the implementing partners.

Relevance:

• How far the project objectives were consistent with national priorities, the needs of target groups, and donor policy?
• How relevant were the project interventions in the socio-economic context of the project areas?
• How relevant are the project strategies and activities as perceived by the target groups and other community stakeholders?
• Were the inputs and strategies identified, and were they realistic, appropriate and adequate to achieve the results?
• What, if any, are the project’s unique contributions to livelihood enhancement, improved nutritional status or market linkages of value chain products that others are not providing?
• How the programme complements and enhances, rather than duplicates and hinders, related activities carried out by other organisations, governments and donors?

Effectiveness:

• What are the major outputs and outcomes of this project? How is the progress in comparison to the relevant baseline data?
• To what extent were the objectives achieved/ are likely to be achieved?
• To what extent is the target groups reached?
• Whether the planned benefits have been delivered and received, as perceived by the key beneficiaries, donor, the responsible national government authorities, and other interested parties?
• To what extent the knowledge and skills of right to food, good governance, agriculture, nutrition, value chain are broadened among the target groups?
• To what extent the project contributed in empowering and transforming marginalised communities especially who are Dalits and economically poor?
• How effective were the strategies and tools (Sustainable Integrated Farming System, Participatory Organizational Capacity Assessment Program, Linking Agriculture with Natural Resource and Nutrition, Nutrition Education and Rehabilitation Program, Value Chain Development Fund, Community Score Card etc) used in the implementation of the project?
• What unexpected positive or negative results did the project lead to?

Efficiency:

• How efficient was the project in terms of effective utilization of the project resources, cost-efficiency, and reaching target groups?
• Were the project resources utilized as planned?
• Did project activities overlap and duplicate other similar interventions (funded nationally and /or by other donors? Are there more efficient ways and means of delivering more and better results (outputs and outcomes) with the available inputs?
• What were the major factors (including implementation approach) influencing the efficiency and non-efficiency of the project interventions?
• How did the project financial management processes and procedures affect project implementation? What are the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the project’s implementation process?

Direct and indirect, short, medium and long-term outcomes and impacts:

It should be based on design and planning and an assessment of the future impact as currently there might not be any impact observed.

• What changes will be brought by the project in the lives of target groups - directly or indirectly, intended or unintended and positive or negative changes?
• What will be the technical, economic, social, ecological effects/impacts in the long term?

Sustainability:

• What is the likelihood of continuation and sustainability of project outcomes and benefits after completion of the project?
• To what extent will project achievements, results and effects be expected to continue after donor funding ended?
• To what extent are the target groups/intermediary organizations capable and prepared to receive the positive effects of the project interventions without donor’s support in the long-term?
• How effective are the exit strategies, and approaches to phase out assistance provided by the project?
• What were the major factors (including implementation approach) influencing the achievements or non-achievements of sustainability of the project?
• Describe key factors that will require attention in order to improve prospects of sustainability of project outcomes and the potential for replication of the approach?

Lesson learned: Identify lessons learned from the success/failure of the project, innovative approaches used as well as major challenges that can be useful for extrapolation of project accomplishments and in designing projects in future.

Good Practices: Identify the actions that have demonstrated all of the above criteria (relevancy, efficiency, effectiveness, impact and sustainability) together with its capacity to be replicated in the future. This may also include good practices in project management and project processes.

METHODOLOGY FOR EVALUATION

WHH Nepal shall guide and oversee the overall direction of the consultancy. The evaluation will provide quantitative and qualitative data through the following methods:

• Desk study and review of all relevant project documentation including project documents, annual work-plans, annual project reports, mid-term evaluation reports etc.
• Develop evaluation methodology and tools

• • Identify sampling strategy including sample size
  • Develop main research questions and relevant tools, checklists, data collection formats
• Collection of data from different sources including field work in the project areas
  • Collect relevant quantitative as well as qualitative data from secondary information
  • Collect primary data from field using different tools and techniques as agreed during the planning process
  • Discussion with stakeholders and project staff of all project components
  • In depth interviews to gather primary data from key stakeholders using a structured methodology
  • Focus Group discussion with project target groups and other stakeholders.
  • Interviews with relevant key informants.Observations during field visits using checklist.
• Data analysis and draft report preparation.
  • Carry out data analysis in line with the evaluation objectives
  • Conduct a workshop for validating the findings with participation of project staff and management
  • Prepare draft report as per the agreed reporting structure
  • Share the draft report for comments
• Address the comments/suggestions from the project team and produce final report.

DELIVERABLES:

• An inception report (outlining the methodology, operationalisation of questions and planned procedure and approach to the evaluation)
• Documentation of the preliminary findings and recommendations along with the final discussion on-site (debriefing, in project language), additionally at headquarters (in case evaluation is commissioned there)
• Main evaluation report (Annex A)
• Filled in management response form (template will be provided by Welthungerhilfe- Annex C)

1.   EVALUATION SCHEDULE

The total evaluation period is 25 days and shall commence and in the month of August 2018 and will be completed by September 2018. A tentative schedule is given below, which can be refined after consultation with the consultant.

• Preparatory work and inception report: 6 days
• Field work for Final Evaluation: 10 days
• Draft report for Final Evaluation: 3 days
• Final report of Final Evaluation: 1 day

2.REQUIRED EXPERTISE AND QUALIFICATION

The Evaluator team will be composed of experts with the following expertise and qualifications:

• The composition of the team of experts should be balanced to enable complete coverage of the different aspects of Consultancy as set out in these terms of reference
• The evaluation team (international and national) must have experts with extensive knowledge and experience in the field of agriculture, value chains, enterprise development (individual, group and community based) nutrition, and governance.
• Knowledge of evaluation methods and techniques, including a thorough understanding of data collection, evaluation methodologies and design, and strong qualitative and quantitative research skills. degree;
• Prior experience of working in Nepal or in the South Asia with similar assignment will be of priority.

TOR: http://bit.ly/2w7G0l9

Application procedures:

Please apply with your updated CV, PAN/VAT registration, and tax clearance at recruitment.nepal@welthungerhilfe.de by 22 August 2018 (COB).

Telephone enquiry will not be entertained. Welthungerhilfe is equal opportunity employer.