EXTERNAL
FINAL EVALUATION TERMS of REFERENCE
INGO Consortium
Emergency Cash Transfer Response Programme, JUNE 2016
1.
Background
Malawi has been
experiencing recurrent food crises over the past decade. This situation of
chronic food insecurity is the result of a number of interrelated economic,
environmental and governance-related factors. While there was a need to develop
long-term solutions to these complex challenges, there was also an immediate
and critical need to reach out to families who were vulnerable to food
insecurity in the lean season (October 2015 to March 2016). The Malawi
Vulnerability Assessment Committee (MVAC) 2015 assessment report projected that
2,833,212 people (17.4% of Malawi’s population) across 251 districts would be
food insecure during the lean season. This was due to late onset of rains which
delayed planting of major crops followed by heavy rains and flooding. The
country also experienced dry spells in most districts for 4-6 weeks between
February and March 2015 resulting in low yields of most crops, and limited
rainfall between the months of April to May 2015 which would have been used for
winter cropping. This resulted in reduced irrigated crop harvests in the months
of September to November 2015. The maize needed to meet the food deficit was
124,183 metric tonnes (MT) equivalent to a cash value of US$ 41,394,444 if
sourced locally.
In response to the
above needs and under the MVAC umbrella, an INGO consortium led by Save the
Children and with partners (Oxfam, GOAL Malawi, Concern Worldwide and Concern
Universal) put together a donor proposal focused on Emergency Cash Transfers to
ensure that the food entitlements of 81,034 vulnerable families were met. The
consortium provided monthly cash transfers to the most vulnerable families in
33 Traditional Authorities (TAs) over a period of 3 to 7 months, basing on the
2015/16 MVAC assessment reports. The cash transfers were made via e-payment,
and the transfer amount was calculated each month according to updated food
prices following market price collections to ensure that the value was
sufficient to meet the household planned food basket.
The consortium also
incorporated resilience building into the response by equipping families with
knowledge and skills that would enable them to improve their economic situation
and reduce vulnerability to future shocks. The consortium prioritized linking
beneficiaries to Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs), nutrition
messaging and linking pregnant and lactating mothers to care groups and, where
possible, integrating beneficiaries into long-term development initiatives run
by fellow NGOs, UN agencies, the Government of Malawi (GoM), or other actors.
The consortium’s
selection of implementation areas and approach (cash) was based on the July
2015 MVAC report and the subsequent market assessment which analyzed the
potential for cash-based interventions in the affected districts, and the
programme evaluation of the 2014/15 INGO Cash Transfer Programme response. 2
INGO CASH TRANSFER, FINAL EVALUATION TORs 2015-2016
Project expected
impact:
o Save lives,
alleviate suffering, and contribute towards resilience building of 81,034
(proposed 82,129 before Machinga beneficiaries were reduced) households
affected by food insecurity (445,678 individuals including 234,890 children) in
Nsanje, Machinga, Mulanje, Dedza, Lilongwe, Mchinji, Nkhotakota and Kasungu.
Project outcome:
To improve food and livelihood security and
resilience amongstØ
81,034 targeted households in Nsanje, Machinga, Mulanje, Dedza, Lilongwe,
Mchinji, Nkhotakota and Kasungu.
Project outputs:
445,678
targeted people from the affected areas effectively receive cash entitlement in
lieu of food.
Linkages
established with long term community programmes to enhance resilience and
improve food security for the targeted population
2.
Evaluation Purpose
Serving the dual
purpose of accountability and learning the evaluation will:
Assess and report on the connectedness,
relevance, effectiveness,·
performance and results of the INGO Emergency Cash Transfer Project
Determine the reasons for observed results and
draw lessons to·
inform the consortium management and key stakeholders with respect to Based on the findings, make·program strategy and approach
(Learning) honest recommendations for
future cash transfer programs in Malawi (Learning to Action)
3.
Evaluation Questions
The evaluation will
be based on a set of key questions. These questions are intended to give a more
precise and accessible form to the evaluation criteria and to articulate the
key issues, thus optimizing the focus and utility of the evaluation. The evaluation
questions will be refined and detailed in a matrix of evaluation questions to
be developed by the evaluator at inception, in coordination with the INGO
Evaluation Steering Committee. Attention will be given to dimensions of gender,
protection and accountability to affected people throughout the analysis.
The evaluation will
address, among others, the following questions:
- Operational
Performance & Results
a. To what extent
did the interventions achieve the INGO Consortium’s main results?
[effectiveness]
b. What were the
unintended positive or negative effects on households, individuals, children,
communities, markets and local economies at district level?
c. How effective and
efficient was the beneficiary targeting process? Were accountability mechanisms
designed by the project able to capture inclusion and exclusion errors in
beneficiary targeting?
d. Beneficiary
satisfaction, views and perspectives on the programme and ideas for
improvement.
- Programme
Strategy
a. How effective was
the delivery of additional unconditional cash (in the form of an additional
cash supplement per Household) at addressing the nutritional requirements of
Pregnant and Lactating Women (PLW) and the Under 2s?
b. How effectively
have cash transfer beneficiaries been linked with longer term resilience
building initiatives e.g. VSLAs?
- Consortium
architecture and institutional arrangements
What added value did the consortium approach
have on the· To what extent has the·implementation of the cash
transfer project? consortium approach
led to innovation, adaptation and learning for the INGO Consortium [and beyond]
to improve guidelines and/or systems for cash transfer programming?
4. Scope of
Assignment
The consultant will
carry out the following activities during the final evaluation process:
Review of key documents that include the log
frame, MEAL Plan, WorkÖ
plan project proposal, the baseline report and 2013/14 and 2014/15 evaluation
reports, PDM data, quarterly reports and other relevant documents
Design of the evaluation processÖ
o Develop an
Inception Report to include: the process and methodologies proposed and key
deadlines to achieve the evaluation purpose as stated in the sections above.
The inception report should clearly illustrate how each evaluation question
will be answered, what methodology will be used to answer each question and how
it will be reported. This will be presented to a Consortium Steering Committee
for review and further input before evaluation starts. The Inception Report
should be produced by the consultants within 3 days of being awarded the
contract (negotiable depending on availability).
Present a draft Evaluation Report to the
Consortium Evaluation Steering Committee.Ö
Incorporation of one round of input from the
Steering Committee onÖ
Presentation of preliminaryÖthe Inception Report and
Final Report. findings and
recommendations in a Learning and Action Workshop in country with key
stakeholders.
5.
Evaluation Design and Methodology
The evaluation
process should be inclusive and participatory using a balance of both
qualitative and quantitative methods. It should reference the original baseline
survey and logframe and generate new insights and learning. This should be
detailed in the Expression of Interest. The evaluation will also ensure that the
OECD DAC criteria and cross cutting issues are comprehensively addressed.
6. Programme
Quantitative Indicators to be included (open to other suggestions in the
Inception Report)
- Average
coping strategy index.
%
of households with acceptable dietary diversity score.
The
percentage of households eating two or more meals per day
Food
consumption score.
Percentage
of households reporting referral of under-five children to NRU.
Percentage
of households with at least 1 member participating in village savings and loans
groups
Inclusion
error (% of project beneficiaries that do not meet the agreed targeting
criteria)
Primary
school absenteeism
Percentage
of beneficiary households who are participating in other long term development
programmes initiatives
expenditure on food and non-food items
6. Key
Deliverables and Timelineshttp://malawi.savethechildren.net/jobs/manage/edit/135
7.
Consultant Profile
Proven track record in and solid knowledge of
humanitarian evaluation·
Experience and knowledge of humanitarian and
development issues at practitioner level·
Cash Transfer and Food Security or Social
Protection experience preferred·
Record of evaluation publications·
Relevant geographical experience ideally in
Southern Africa·
Solid participatory facilitation skills·
Fluency in English.·
Excellent verbal and written communication
skills in English.·
Experience, skills and knowledge of
quantitative and qualitative·
methodologies in the field working with frontline national staff on an
inter-agency basis
Sensitivity to gender, protection and cultural
issues·
Ability to lead and work with a team under
pressure to meet deadlines and produce agreed deliverables to standard.·
The evaluator must be independent, but
collaborative, willing to·
Availability·share thoughts, ideas, and
make constructive criticism. to meet the
agreed deadlines.
Expressions of
Interest clearly marked “Expression
of Interest to conduct: Final Evaluation for INGO Consortium Emergency Cash
Transfer Response Programme” should be submitted to the address
below by Sunday, 12th June, 2016.
The Expression of
Interest should include at a minimum:
Applicants
CV
Contacts
(email and phone) of 3 former clients
A
detailed list of similar assignments that the consultant has conducted in the
past
Two
evaluation reports that the consultant has authored
Daily
Rate (US Dollar equivalent)
Consultant’s
home base i.e Departure Point
Email: malawi.jobs@savethechildren.net
