Re-advertisement: Consultant for Mid term Review of Food Security Governance(FSG) project

(Date of first advertisement: July 22, 2014)

(Date of second advertisement: August 6, 2014)

 European Union funded Food Security Governance (FSG) project is a regional level programme implemented by Oxfam in 3 countries of South Asia viz. Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan to enhance the capacity of poor and vulnerable farmers and fisher folks for their participation in decision making processes that effect their food security situation. This project envisions active participation of farmers and fisher folks in decision making roles for their problems and need to be addressed. Through this process, the right holders would become able to claim their rights and the duty bearers would be accountable towards them.

 Oxfam Nepal has been implementing the project “Strengthening participation and influence of poor and vulnerable farmers and fisher folk in decision-making processes related to food security” (FSG) since January 2013. The project is being implemented by three partner NGOs viz. IDeS, SuDECC and WAM at 9 VDCs in 3 districts namely Dadeldhura, Dailekh and Surkhet respectively. As the project is half way through Oxfam is going to commission a mid-term review the progress of the project based on log frame indicators, to document the learning processes and recommend changes in approach for more  effective implementation of the project, hence this ToR.

 2. PROJECT DESCRIPTION

 Overall objective: To increase the participation and influence of poor and vulnerable farmers and fishermen in decision making processes related to food security in Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan.

Specific objective: To strengthen the capacities of poor and vulnerable women and men farmers and fishermen and their organisations, empowering them to network and hold Governments to account on their right to food security

Expected results

 Result 1: Increased awareness and understanding among farmers of existing legislative and institutional arrangements concerning food security, and their right to participate in food security governance.

 Result 2: Women and men farmers organised in community and district level groups and networks with strengthened advocacy and monitoring capacities and linkages to district and national level advocacy networks.

 Result 3: Increased participation of women and men farmers’ groups and networks in decision-making processes advocating for favourable policy provisions for protection of their right to food.

 Result 4: Linkages between farmers’ and fishermen’s groups and networks at South Asia regional level strengthened and joint advocacy to operationalize SAARC food and seed banks for food security in the region.

3. The specific purposes of the mid-term review

§  Provide an independent assessment of the progress and performance of the project to date against targets.

§  Measure and report on achievements and early signs of change and impact with adequate focus on Knowledge Attitude and Practice.

§  Indicate adjustments and changes that need to be made to ensure success.

§  Analyse the cost effectiveness of the different approaches taken.

§  Review the programme’s risk analysis

4. PROJECT LOCATION

Table 1: Targeted beneficiaries of working VDCs and Districts of the project

Source: CBS Nepal, Report of National Census 2068

The Consultant(s) will take overall responsibility of the midterm review and ensure that the project beneficiaries, project’s partner organizations, allies organizations and networks, government stakeholders are consulted and involved in the review process.This could include participation in the review planning; information gathering and analysing the data; analyzing review findings, drawing conclusions and recommendations and disseminating results.The Consultant(s) will conduct but not limit themselves to the following activities:

§  Assess the effectiveness, timeliness and relevancy of the activities completed by the project till date.

§  Document and analyze the intended and unintended achievements made by the project align with the project’s log frame.

§  Assess the effectiveness of capacity building activities to the project beneficiaries organised by the project.

·         Assess changes in Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) of the project beneficiaries (disaggregated by gender) on legislative and institutional issues, threats to food security compare to the baseline study.

·         Find out the number and level of women's representation and participation in village level decision making structures such as Ward Citizen Forums, Integrated Planning Committee of VDC council Community Forest Users Groups, agriculture cooperative, and Disaster Risk reduction committee and others as a result of project interventions.

• Document views and opinions of the project stakeholders, particularly government line agencies and the project beneficiaries towards the project and its achievements.
• Identify the gaps in project’s implementation and towards achieving the projects outputs and outcomes.

·         Recommendation on the processes to achieve the goal and/or modification on the log frame indicator (if any)

5. METHODOLOGY

The Consultant(s) may use a variety of methods, including collection and analysis of primary and secondary data, both quantitative and qualitative, to draw findings and conclusions. Data to be collected include gender disaggregated data of the project beneficiaries and KAP survey of the project beneficiaries on legislative and institutional arrangement concerning food security, threats to food security. The task also demands field visits and interactions with related stakeholders. Basically, the study will involve following approach to gather information and analysis (a guide and not limited to):

• Review of the project proposal, log frame, baseline study reports and documentary as well as annual progress reports
• Prepare and share the outline of the report and timeframe to conduct field visit
• Prepare the list of completed activities and beneficiaries of those activities.

·         Development of appropriate tools and checklist suitable to both community and national level respondents for collection of data during the survey, and triangulation and analysis of the data.

·         Organize orientation sessions for the survey team members, especially the enumerators, to enable them to properly use appropriate tools and checklists for collecting information. Field visit to all three project district and VDCs.

·         Prepare the sample by using standard sampling technique.

·         Personal interviews with sample project beneficiaries (at least 80% women)

·         Organize focus group discussion (FGDs) with the project beneficiaries, separately with male and female beneficiaries.

·         Organize key informant survey with officials of local government bodies and related line agencies in project districts and VDCs and members of Right to Food network and other networks in the districts.

• Compile and analyze the data and the findings from the survey
• Share draft report and obtain comments/inputs and incorporate the same into final report
• Sharing the final report to Oxfam and the project partners organisation in one day event
• Production of final mid-term review report

6. OUTPUT

The Consultant(s) will submit a report after incorporating comments and feedback from implementing partners and Oxfam in Nepal. The report will not be more than 40 pages excluding annexes. The format of the report should be proposed by the consultant, which will be finalized by the consultant together with Oxfam team.

§  A review plan.

§  A presentation of initial review findings/first draft for face to face discussion with the Oxfam team.

§  Full mid-term review report, approx 40 pages, of publishable quality

The report will include:

·         An executive summary, the method followed for evaluation, tools used to obtain different types of data, immediate achievements for each result (qualitative and quantitative), and the KAP specific findings on how much has been built in the baseline data (information)

·         Result wise achievements against the indicators set in the log frame (in table)

• Recommendations and/or adjustments in the project log-frame or in the process of achieving project objectives
• Case studies, testimonies and pictures/photos to support the analysis

7. TIME FRAME

The duration of the assignment will be of 165 person days

8. PROPOSAL FROM CONSULTANT(S)

The Consultant(s) will submit a brief technical and financial proposal to Oxfam. The technical proposal should include methodology, work and process plan and an updated CV of the proposed Consultant(s).

The technical proposal will be scrutinised based on the following criteria:

§  Adequate grasp of concepts and issues related to the project

§  Soundness of methodology

§  Past experience from similar assignment

9. PAYMENT PROCEDURE

·       Payment will be released after submitting outcomes as described in article 6 above. Government of Nepal's tax regulation will apply and tax will be deducted at source.

10.  TEAM COMPOSITION AND RESPONSIBILITIES

 The survey team will include one Team Leader, one statistician and maximum of three field supervisors—one each for three districts. Oxfam and partner organisations staffs will be mobilised for the coordination support as necessary.

 Responsibilities of the consultant:

• Share the overall study design including process, methods and questionnaires with project team in Oxfam, collect feedback and finalize the study design
• Ensure the adequate methodology so as to produce a valid document.

·         Finalize survey tools and methodology, questionnaire etc.

·         Coordinate/arrange to orient survey team on survey methods and survey tools

·         Mobilize team for supervising data collection, data tabulation and coding process

• Ensure the quality of information collected from fields, cross check with the validity of information collected and verify/revise where needed

·         Collect other necessary information, synthesize/analyze data

·         Prepare and present draft review report with district-disaggregated results

·         Finalize and submit the final report as per the requirements of Oxfam after incorporating the suggestion and feedback of the project team

Responsibilities of Oxfam:

Remaining within the policies and practices of Oxfam Country Office, its primary responsibility is to help consultant to achieve objective of this ToR. Specifically, Oxfam is responsible to

·         Prepare ToR and hire consultant in coordination with partner NGOs

·         Give inputs to finalise the study design and process

·         Monitor, provide feedback and ensure effectiveness of study

·         Give inputs to draft and final reports

·         Release the budget as per agreed budget disbursement schedule

Responsibilities of partner organization:

All partner NGOs will be involved from the beginning of the study. They will be responsible to support and coordinate for collecting field level data/information. Specifically partner NGOs will

• Mobilize project staffs in consultation with the consultant and Oxfam
• Facilitate to arrange meetings with district and VDC stakeholders
• Give inputs to draft and final reports

 11.  QUALIFICATION/SKILLS REQUIRED

• Proven experience of leading review studies, analytical skill and high quality report writing
• Proven experience ofconducting community level research and data gathering using participatory technique
• Good understanding and knowledge of agricultural, livelihood, food security and small holder farmer’s rights in Nepal. 
• Sound knowledge of existing legislative and institutional arrangements and service/subsidies/insurance regarding food security and agriculture services.
• Good knowledge of local/national level NGOs, social movements and the role of civil society in realisation of right to food
• Good verbal and written skills in English and Nepali
• Good understanding of gender and social inclusion
• Good facilitation skills at the community level
• Skills to interact with government and civil society stakeholders.
• PAN and VAT registration certificate

 12.  Confidentiality

During the performance of the assignment or at any time after expiry or termination of this 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.

13.  Copyright

Copyright of the documents produced by the Consultant under this agreement belongs to Oxfam.

Oxfam

Country Office

Jawalkhel,

Kathmandu

e-mail:

P.O.Box No 2500, Kathmandu
Tel +977-1-5530574, 5542881, 5544308
Fax No. + 977-1-5523197

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Please send your proposal to recruitment_nepal@oxfam.org.uk clearly mentioning the assignment title in the subject line or via G.P.O. Box 2500, Kathmandu by 25 August, 2014 

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