Terms of Reference for the Final Evaluation of Food Security Recovery Project (FSRP) in Lakes State, South Sudan-Latest Jobs 2014
Terms of Reference for the Final Evaluation of Food Security Recovery Project (FSRP) in Lakes State, South Sudan
Background information and project summary
Veterinaires Sans Frontieres – Belgium (VSF B) is a recognized developmental NGO founded in 1995 working to empower disadvantaged livestock dependent communities to improve their well being through improved food security and livelihood sustainability.
VSF B supports these communities by focusing on four main strategic objectives:
- Improved and sustainable livestock productivity and consumption systems
- Improved value chain addition and access to market for livestock products and subproducts
- Diversified livelihoods and improved access to food
- Empowered communities and local civil organizations
In East Africa, VSFB programmes focus on community-based animal health services, capacity building of local institutions and governments to sustainably manage livelihoods, improved access to markets and market information, value chain addition, livelihood diversification, conflict sensitive programming and sustainable natural resource management.
The Food Security Recovery Project (FSRP) is a four year project funded by European Commission and implemented in Rumbek Center and Rumbek North Counties of Lakes state from 3rd September 2009 to 31st August 2013 (extended to 3rd January 2014).
The project targeted vulnerable agro – pastoralist communities in Lakes state (Rumbek North and Centre), specifically the livestock keepers, farmers, butchers and livestock traders, government officials in the state and counties and entrepreneurs with a special focus on gender through support to vulnerable women and women entrepreneurs.
The overall objective of the project, which is articulated in the following results, was to contribute to the improvement of food security among the vulnerable agro –pastoralist communities in Rumbek North and Rumbek Central counties of Lakes State by 2013 with a specific objective of enhancing livelihoods diversification and production capacity of 2,662 vulnerable households (15,972 individuals) in Rumbek North and Central by 2013 through: capacity building and empowerment alongside promotion of livestock health services and revitalization of private sector:
- Strengthened state and county agriculture and livestock institutional capacity
- Improved livestock and crop production capacity of 2,662 vulnerable households
- Improved producer, local organization and government capacity for provision of safe livestock products to consumers
- Enhanced livestock health through animal health service delivery at household level, skills development and equipment provision at the state and county level
- Strengthened private sector for improved trade, marketing of livestock and livestock products
- Improved access to and sustained management of natural resources amongst target communities in the state
VSF Belgium is seeking to engage reputable organization or individual expert (s) to carry out the final evaluation of the project.
The evaluation will assess in a participatory manner the relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, impact, sustainability and reliability of the project action in addressing the needs of the targeted beneficiaries
Objectives of the final evaluation
The evaluation needs to clearly address the level of impact by the project interventions on the lives of Rumbek North and Rumbek Central communities at the end of the project.
That is if goals and results were achieved and who benefited and to what extent.
Specifically the evaluation will establish the impact of the Program in reference to the following:
- Evaluation of the Strategy and the Methodology used
- Sustainability of the project
- Case studies and success stories
- Determination of the relevance of the intervention in terms of timing , targeting and design
- Determine whether resources (financial, human and materials) have been used economically and wisely for the well being of the community
- Documentation of the efficiency of the intervention based on the results achieved with available resources
- Identification of indicators of success, including communities’ view on the benefits and impact of the interventions.
- Describe the effectiveness of the project interventions.
- Perform statistical calculation to demonstrate whether verifiable indicators were achieved as indicated in the logical framework
- Document successes, challenges and lessons learnt and provide recommendation for future interventions.
Results of evaluation
Methodology of data Collection
The following methods of data collection may be used in combination to collect all the
required information.
- Desk review of VSF Belgium project reports, relevant reports on FSRP project activities
- Focus group discussion with stakeholders, pastoralists and key actors in states/counties
- Key informant interviews with relevant experts in Project interventions and heads of departments from the collaborating sectors listed above.
- Use of participatory skills and approaches and field data collection with pastoralists in target areas.
Proposed duration of the Evaluation
Location: The evaluation will take place in the project sites in Lakes state (Rumbek North and Centre).
Execution
- The consultant(s) should provide a detailed work plan and budget of the evaluation.
- The evaluation is expected to be completed by end of March 2014 over a period of 16 days.
Deliverables
The consultant (s) will be expected to submit a hard copy and soft copy of a detailed plan
within two (2) days of signing the consultancy contract.
A detailed final report will be presented to the VSF-Belgium Country Director / Project Manager and the Regional Procurement Manager detailing the findings of the consultancy and recommendations for future similar interventions in South Sudan.
The entire report will be presented in English and will remain the property of VSF-B. A hard copy and a soft copy (CD, DVD,) must be submitted.
A draft report will be expected seven (7) days after the end of the field mission and the final report is expected 5 days after VSF-B’s comments.
The contents of the report shall be as follows:
- Executive summary
- Background.
- Description of the objectives of the mission and execution methodology.
- Findings (based on the objectives of the evaluation)
- Problems encountered
- Recommendations
- Annexes covering Terms of Reference, abbreviations, field locations visited references, graphs, tables, etc.
Responsibilities: The VSF Belgium South Sudan Country Director and Project Manager will ensure
overall coordination of the consultancy.
Qualifications
The consultant(s) are expected to have the following qualifications:
- Livestock expertise with at least seven years experience in livestock development.
- Experience in carrying out similar consultancies and a proven track record of excellent results delivery.
- Excellent report writing skills.
- Working experience in South Sudan is desirable.
Contact information
Interested expert(s) and organizations (s) should prepare and submit to VSF Belgium a technical and financial proposal for the assignment by 5th March 2014.
The proposal should indicate qualifications and experience with a detailed execution plan and budget.
The proposals, CV and letter of motivation as well as three (3) referees should be sent electronically to recruitment@vsfb.or.ke.