A Critical Reflection of the Kenyan Civil Society Strengthening Program
Targets of Opportunity Fund (TOO)
Mid-Term Evaluation Terms of Reference
Pact is an International non-governmental organization, which enables systematic solutions that allows those who are poor and marginalized to earn a dignified living, be healthy and take part in the benefits that nature provides.
Pact accomplishes this by strengthening local capacity, forging effective governance systems and transforming markets into a force for development.
Our three core values are:
• Local Solutions – Our success comes from solutions created with the people we serve.
• Partnerships – Partnerships deepen our impact and promote empowerment.
• Results – Our work must transform lives and make them measurably better. How that change occurs is as important as the change itself.
Pact envisions a world where those who are poor and marginalized exercise their voice, build their own solutions, and take ownership over their future.
1. Introduction
The Kenyan Civil Society Strengthening Program (KCSSP) is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through a cooperative agreement to Pact Inc.
Implemented by Act (Formerly Pact Kenya), KCSSP strategically targets civil society actors with the greatest potential to build large constituencies for critical reforms needed in the democratic governance and NRM/Biodiversity sectors, while addressing the factors that drive conflict. It has two broad objectives:
a) To ensure that targeted CSOs more effectively advocate for reforms, monitor government activities and provide other critical services to their constituents.
b) To strengthen the capacity of CSOs, community based organizations (CBOs), local peace structures and the Government of Kenya (GoK) to reduce incidences of violent conflict in target areas and ultimately advance peace in Kenya.
KCSSP is focused on achieving the following broad results:
• Increase the capacity of CSOs to monitor government reform and ensure government is transparent and accountable;
• Increase the technical capacity of CSOs to effectively manage the policy change process from inception through implementation;
• Increase the conflict sensitivity capacity of CSOs to effectively manage the post-election crisis environment;
• Increase the long-term viability and effectiveness of CSOs;
• Strengthen the capacity to manage and monitor biodiversity and natural resources;
• Support the adoption of market-led approaches to improve conservation-focused businesses;
• Advance the policy and legislation environment for improved biodiversity and natural resources management;
• Reduce the threat or impact of violent conflict by strengthening the existing framework for peace and reconciliation and promote peaceful resolution of differences; and
• Strengthen the policy and legislative environment for improved conflict management and peace building.
In February 2011, after the 9th modification of the KCSSP grant agreement with USAID, the Targets of Opportunity Fund (TOO) was created. It is a flexible grant mechanism available to peace and development actors to enable them respond to unforeseen or emerging situations of conflict and windows of opportunity in the reform environment effectively and in the shortest time possible (Pact is expected to implement the activity within 48 hours of USAID’s approval). The funding ceiling on awarded grants is USD 20,000.
The fund supports interventions across the peace building and conflict management and democracy and governance components of KCSSP. The nature of support is short-term and in cases where potential grantees do not possess the requisite technical capacity to manage the grants, then Pact provides an in-kind grant. Requests are awarded according to the scale of the crisis and/or availability of resources.
Activities supported under TOO fall within the following six broad categories:
i. Ad hoc dialogues and/forums to prevent and manage conflict to be facilitated by pact or through a consultant or sub-grantee
ii. Procurement of services or commodities to facilitate stabilization and conflict prevention activities
iii. Support for media and outreach activities that will reduce escalation of tension and political instability
iv. Activities that will rapidly assess and monitor potentially de-stabilizing events
v. Any activities that will effectively address and help reduce a crisis related to social unrest and political instability
vi. Activities that contribute to the successful conduct or implementation of the constitution, the run up to the 2012 General Elections and the reform agenda in general
Twenty-three grants have been awarded in the following regions:
• Nyanza — 1 (NYAHURIDO)
• Nairobi—1 (GFT)
• Eastern — 1 (Isiolo/Tigania DPC)
• North Eastern — 3 (Wajir DPC, Lagdera DPC, NSC-Modogashe,)
• Coast — 3 (Tana Delta, KCSSP MRC Assessment, PLC)
• Rift Valley — 4 (ACK/KCSSP ICC Summons Scoping, NSC-Samburu, ACK-ICC, CJPC-Kitale,)
• National (Various) — 10 (Change Associates, NSC-EWER, KCSSP Bi-elections Scoping, NYSA, CILPRA, Katiba Institute, FIDA, InterNews Network, ACK-ICC Hearing Scoping, IMLU)
TOO activities are expected to contribute to KCSSP’s overall objectives and results, therefore the following indicators within the program’s performance monitoring plan are used to report on the TOO outputs depending on the focus ofthe initiatives supported:
• Number of USG-facilitated events geared toward strengthening understanding and mitigating conflict between groups
• Number of people attending USG-assisted events gea red toward strengthening understanding and mitigating conflict between groups
• Number of public sessions held regarding changes to the country’s legal framework
• Number of people attending public sessions regarding changes to the country’s legal framework
• Number of consensus building processes resulting in an agreement
• Number of USG-supported initiatives designed to reduce the potential for violent conflict over the control, exploitation, trade or protection of natural resources (F Process)
• Number of peace building structures established or strengthened with USG assistance that engage conflict affected citizens in peace and or reconciliation processes
• Number of people trained in conflict mitigation/resolution skills with USG assistance
2. Purpose of the Critical Reflection
2.1 Key Audiences and Uses
The report is for internal use to provide KCSSP with tangible insights into the performance of the grants supported under the TOO fund.
2.2 Purpose and Objectives
The aim of this reflection is to review the performance of TOO grants and provide an opportunity to learn from the successes and challenges from February to December 2011.
The specific objectives are:
a) Assess the performance and the extent to which the TOO grants respond rapidly to emerging conflict situations and
b) Provide information on how best to monitor the short-term nature of the TOO grants to ensure success stories, programme outputs and outcomes are brought to the fore
c) Provide credible information on how the TOO funds can be utilized to ensure KCSSP is best placed to support emerging issues during the upcoming 2012 elections
3. Illustrative Reflection Questions
To what extent have the TOO grants dispensed so far helped to achieve the objectives of the TOO fund as well as further KCSSP’s objective of strengthening the capacity of CSOs, community based organizations (CBOs), local peace structures and the Government of Kenya (GoK) to reduce incidences of violent conflict in target areas and ultimately advance peace in Kenya?
a) What key elements of the Targets of Opportunity fund management have enhanced or prohibited successful implementation of conflict mitigation and/or stabilization activities/initiatives?
• How efficient is the turnaround time on concepts?
• How efficient is the approval process?
• Are funds processed and disbursed on time?
• Does the capacity of implementing institutions affect design and implementation of TOO initiatives?
• Does the current structure of KCSSP support or hamper implementation of TOO?
b) What key aspects of the Targets of Opportunity fund management have contributed (positively or negatively) to achievement or failure to achieve the conflict mitigation and/or stabilization results?
• Understanding of issue, actors, context
• Effectiveness of activities implemented in meeting set objectives (within context)
• What aspects of the TOO fund should be replicated or deserve additional funding?
c) What are key results (outputs and outcomes) have been achieved that can be attributed in whole/part to implemented activities?
• How, if at all, has the TOO mechanism contributed prevention and management of conflict
• Given the short-term nature of the grants, what levels of results are expected?
• Are there adequate mechanisms in place to track short and medium term effects of the activities (keeping in mind several are one off)? What can KCSSP do to improve post-implementation tracking?
• How can and/or does KCSSP link these short-term initiatives to more long-term initiatives for sustainability (and should it)?Are there elements of sustainability factored in initiatives?
4. Illustrative Reflection Methodology / Design and Approach
Due to the limited period over which the TOO projects have been implemented and the rapid nature of the activities carried out, it is anticipated that the consultant will be creative enough to develop a critical reflection methodology that builds in rigor while at the same time take into consideration the length of project implementation.
Pact anticipates the reflection will be conducted in a participatory manner through constructive open dialogue that promotes a learning environment. The consultant is expected to develop the reflection design based on the program’s conceptual framework, the purpose and key reflection questions.
4.1 Sources of Data
Data for the program reflection will be gathered from various primary and secondary sources. Some of the secondary data sources will include project documents, proposals, program reports, indicator reports etc. The consultant is also expected to collect additional primary and secondary data through the reflection process.
4.2 Sampling Strategy
The sampling strategy will be determined by the critical reflection design and will be developed by the consultant.
4.3 Data Analysis Procedures
The consultant is anticipated to adopt suitable data analysis procedures and methods depending on the design of the reflection.
5. Reflection Facilitation Team
Desired Lead consultant:
• Advanced degree in International Development, Social Sciences, Political Science, Statistics or related field preferred;
• Technical expertise in democracy and governance, peace building, conflict mitigation and management and monitoring and evaluation.
• Experience applying sound methods for addressing gender, conflict, or other crosscutting concerns that need to be in peace building designs and implementation.
• Prior experience working with international development programs and experience with USAID funding
• Superior writing ability, including evidence of an ability to structure evaluation reports in a way that logically and transparently lays out empirical findings, conclusions and recommendations in relation to evaluation questions.
• Excellent analytical skills and report writing skills.
• English and Kiswahili fluency required
• Proven experience assessing peace-building programs.
• Extensive experience with USAID’s rules and regulations for grants and financial management
In addition, the facilitation team should comprise of individuals with the following expertise:
• Extensive development evaluation experience with substantial work experience in the African context.
Experience in Kenya is preferred
• Experience with USAID funding
• Experience in Monitoring and Evaluation of democracy and governance and peace building programs
• Ability to take initiative to deliver required outputs and planned results.
• Excellent analytical skills and report writing skills.
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills including ability to facilitate and work in a multi-disciplinary team.
• Experience using participatory approaches and methodologies
• Vast qualitative and quantitative research skills including statistical expertise
• Knowledge of Kiswahili is an added advantage due to communication with various partners
6. Schedule and Logistics
The following is a general schedule of when the various phases of the reflection process need to take place:
This task is expected to take place within a period of 14 working days.
7. Roles and Responsibilities
Pact will be responsible for the following:
• Contracting of the consultant as well as providing administrative and logistical support necessary for the critical reflection.
• Providing the consultant with relevant documentation related to the program
• Overseeing successful implementation of the critical reflection process
• Review of tools, schedules, reports and all other deliverables
• Provide guidance to the consultants in terms of identification and access to partners and other stakeholders
Key responsibilities of the Consultant:
The critical reflection process will be led by the consultant with his/her team.
The following are key responsibilities of the consultant:
• Developing the critical reflection design including tools, pretest and detailed critical reflection methodology
• Debriefing Pact and KCSSP staff on the critical reflection design and submit an critical reflection plan, stating the refined critical reflection objectives and questions and explaining the design and methodology to be adopted,
• Develop and submit a detailed work plan of the Critical reflection for review specifying schedule and activity plan, proposed itinerary for the critical reflection
• Liaise with KCSSP designated staff for all administrative and logistical issues
• Write and submit the interim and final report on or before agreed deadline as agreed in the protocol
• Carry out all responsibilities as stated or implied in this ToR with due diligence, objectivity and professionalism free of any influence within and outside Pact and the KCSSP Program.
• Disseminate critical reflection findings to Pact and key stakeholders
8. Reporting and Dissemination Requirements / Deliverables
(Critical reflection plan, draft report, final report, debriefing in-country and via Skype with regional and HQ staff, PowerPoint file of about 15 slides)
The Consultant will prepare:
a) Technical proposal outlining the methodology and appropriateness of the design selected. Within one week after receiving Pact’s comments on the draft design, the Consultant will produce a final critical reflection design with a complete work plan.
b) Financial proposal in US Dollars outline key budget items and associated costs.
c) An critical reflection work plan outlining key critical reflection steps and timelines.
d) Data collection tools: the consultant and the critical reflection team will jointly design tools to be used in data collection.
e) Concise and professionally written critical reflection report:
• Draft report: The Consultant will submit a draft critical reflection report for review by Pact within five working days after fieldwork.
• Final report: Within three (3) days of receiving comments on the draft report from Pact, the consultant shall be required to submit a final report both in hard and soft copy.
• The final critical reflection report shall meet the following specifications:
• The report shall be written in English
• Maximum of 30 pages excluding annexes
• Annexes, at minimum, should include:
— Terms of Reference
— Data collection tools, cases studies, key critical reflection questions or hypotheses, operationalization of key concepts, photos etc
— Data presentation and analysis
f) Prepare a PowerPoint presentation with the findings (maximum of 20 slides).
g) Raw data: Upon completion of work, the consultant will provide Pact with both hard and soft copies of the data.
9. Budget
(includes salaries; per diem and expenses; international travel; in-country travel; stipends to others; payment for translators, data collectors, data processors and secretarial services; equipment, etc.)
How to apply
Kindly submit your full proposal (narrative & budget) to the Pact Kenya country office Human Resources via the following email address: kenyahr@pactworld.org by the 10th of April 2012 mid-night.
Any proposals submitted after the stipulated deadline will not be considered.