Myanmar: Consultant for Final Evaluation for Danish Red Cross in Myanmar

The Danish Red Cross in partnership with the Myanmar Red Cross Society is looking for a qualified international consultant to conduct a final assessment of the Maternal Newborn Children Health programme in Chin State, Myanmar.

1.Background

The programme *‘Stronger capacity of Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS) to deliver social services to out of reach populations in Chin State in partnership with local authorities’ (DCI-NSAPVD/2012/308-637)*

The action “Stronger capacity of Myanmar Red Cross Society to deliver social services to out of reach populations in Chin State in partnership with local authorities" is an EU supported programme and forms part of the wider community based health in development with a focus on Maternal and Newborn Child Health programme.

The EU specific action, referred to as MNCH programme, initially was to cover a 36 month period from 01 March 2013 until 31 March 2016; however a no-cost extension was granted and extended the programme until 30 June 2016.

The overall objective of the MNCH programme was to strengthen the capacity of MRCS to contribute to poverty alleviation in Myanmar. With a specific objective to enhance the capacity of MRCS and to strengthen its partnership with local authorities to plan and implement development projects targeting out of reach communities in Falam Township, Chin State. The main activities of the programme are focused on maternal and newborn child health and increasing access to clean water with three main estimated results:

• Enhanced capacity and involvement of MRCS in development of community-based maternal, newborn and under-five child health services in target communities in partnership with local authorities.

• Increased capacity and involvement of MRCS in supporting target communities for improved access to clean water, hygiene and sanitation solutions in partnership with local authorities.

• Strengthened capacity of MRCS in management of development projects.

2.Objectives of the evaluation

2.1 The overall objectives of the evaluation are:

• To assess the relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, impact and sustainability of the programme in relation to the set objectives and results.
• To analyse and provide an accurate assessment of overall progress made related to this programme in accordance with the terms of the contract
• To evaluate the project’s progress and achievements more specifically towards the set targets and objectives.
• To evaluate the quality of activities and services provided to the communities of the targeted villages in Falam.
• To evaluate the management of the programme, personal, accounting, implementation and achievements of the project in relation to its objectives.
• To evaluate how the programme has mainstreamed cross-cutting issues such as promotion of rights base approaches and gender equality.

3.Output

The consultant is responsible for providing a final report of the monitored programme fulfilling all technical requested aspects of the programme and an electronic copy of the report.

The report will consist of three levels of information:

• Firstly, the executive summary to be written in a separate paper providing the bare essentials for decision-makers regarding the background, major conclusions in relation to the evaluation objectives & criteria, recommendations and lessons learned (total 3-5 pages).
• The second level is the main report (max. 25 pages plus annexes and a list of abbreviations) of which a substantial part will be the main conclusions and recommendations. These should be substantiated with more detailed information only to the extent necessary. Detailed findings should be referred to the annexes. Conclusions and recommendations in the main report should have references to the relevant findings in the annexes.
• The third level in the report should contain the annexes. Those should provide all information necessary to substantiate major conclusions and recommendations in the main report. The Terms of Reference, the team‘s itinerary, list of persons met, and list of documents used should also be annexed.

4.Scope of Work/ Evaluation Criteria

The final evaluation shall comprise, but not necessarily be limited to, the following evaluation criteria:

Relevance:

• Assess whether the programme objectives are in line with the needs, priorities and policies of

a) The MRCS (including its Strategic Plan),

b) DRC Strategies,

c) Country policies including the national strategic health plan

d) Other relevant strategies, policies and good practises

• To what extent is the programme complimentary to the efforts carried out at National level?
• How has the programme selected target beneficiaries?

Effectiveness:

• Assess to what extent programme objectives have been reached? Have activities been sufficient to realise agreed objectives? Is it likely that the programme will have the anticipated long term impact?
• Assess the technical quality of the programme activities and the effectiveness and appropriateness of methodologies and approaches applied.
• Identify good practises.

Efficiency:

• Assess the efficiency of the programme in converting its inputs (funds, expertise, time etc.) to outputs. Could the programme have been implemented more efficiently?
• Assess the efficiency of programme management including financial management practices, human resource management systems and tools, development of budgets and plans of action.
• Assess the extent to which attempts have been made to improve cost-efficiency.

Sustainability of the programme:

• Assess the extent to which viable exit strategies have been sufficiently elaborated.
• Assess whether the risks and assumptions still hold and if mitigation strategies have been applied to accommodate possible developments in the programme operating environment.
• What activities are likely to be continued following withdrawal of the programme from target areas?
• Assess the extent to which the programme has collaborated with national and local authorities and other partners outside the Red Cross Movement.

Impact:

• Assess the positive and negative effects of the programme in the short and longer perspective.
• To what extent has the programme reached its intended target groups?

• How has the programme contributed towards reducing vulnerability in the targeted communities?

• Assess the impact of the different programme components (e.g. Capacity Building, MNCH, water, sanitation and hygiene) with considerations to both qualitative and quantitative findings.

• Assess to what extent accountability towards beneficiaries has been implemented.

• To what extent where target populations given a chance to understand and influence key decisions?

Coherence:

• The extent to which activities undertaken allow the EU to achieve its development policy objectives without internal contradiction or without contradiction with other EU policies.
• Extent to which they complement partner country's policies and other donors' interventions.

• Considering other related activities undertaken by Government or other donors, at the same level or at a higher level:

• The likeliness that results and impacts will mutually reinforce one another

• The likeliness that results and impacts will duplicate or conflict with one another

• In connection to higher level policies; assess the extent to which the programme (its objectives, targeted beneficiaries, timing, etc .):

  • Is likely to contribute to/contradict other EU policies
  • Is in line with evolving strategies of the EU and its partners

Complementarity:

• The extent to which the programme (its objectives, targeted beneficiaries, timing, results, etc .) is complementary and coordinated to the intervention of EU Member States in the region/country/area
• The extent to which the programme (its objectives, targeted beneficiaries, timing, results, etc .) is creating actual synergy (or duplication) with the intervention of EU Member States and involves concerted efforts by EU Member States and the EC to optimise synergies and avoid duplication.

Management and Partnership:

• Assess the degree to which the MRCS at all relevant organisational levels has obtained ownership of the programme.
• Assess the development of the working relationship between DRC and the MRCS throughout the programme period and possible changes in programme management and partnership.
• Assess if the MRCS/ DRC procedures and mechanisms are followed and have led to effective implementation of the programme.

5.Method of work

The following methodology will be applied during the course of the final evaluation:

• The team will conducted a desk review to study relevant material before starting the assignment
• The team will apply participatory approaches including consultations, interviews, focus group discussions, direct observations etc. throughout the assignment
• The team will visit and evaluate programme locations in Falam Township

• The team will meet and interview:

• Relevant DRC staff

• Relevant MRCS management and programme staff at HQ, branch and field level

• Branch and community volunteers

• Other Movement Partners (Austrian Red Cross)

• Relevant departments at field level – example: Department of Health, Township medical officer.

• A variety of programme beneficiaries including village health committees, village WASH committees.

• Agencies having similar programmes operational in Falam Township.

• Other relevant methodologies that the Consultants may find as appropriate in addition to the above to be discussed during the kick off meeting.

Briefing and debriefing meetings will take place at DRC office Yangon, Myanmar.

The draft report will be distributed to MRCS Director of Health and DRC Health Delegate for comments and corrections. After receiving the comments, the Consultant will finalise the report and submit to management of DRC Health Delegate and MRCS Director of Health.

6.Time frame

The whole consultancy will take place from November. The total duration of the contract compounds the duration of staying of the consultant, the travel time and the work outside of the country. Based on the above, a total in out of 21 days/expert is considered. Please see below for more details.

As a rule of thumb the draft evaluation report will be delivered to the DRC Health Delegate and the MRCS Director of Health no later than 7 days after the end of the evaluation mission.

The final evaluation report will be delivered no later than 16^th December and submitted to DRC Health Delegate and MRCS Director of Health.

The detailed schedule will be as under:

Weeks prior: submit team names for travel permission

2 days: Preparatory work

1 day: Travel from consultant home country to Yangon

1 day: Kick off meeting in Yangon

2 days Meetings with various stakeholders in Yangon and Naypyitaw

2 days: Travel to Falam, Chin State

6 days: Field work in Falam

1 day: Travel to Yangon

1 day: Debriefing in Yangon

1 day: Travel back to consultant home country

3 days: Report writing

1 day: To incorporate feedback to final report

7.Deliverables

• Inception report with detailed evaluation plan
• First draft report
• Final evaluation report
• Submission of hard and electronic copies of materials, data collected/analysed and all other evaluation documents.
• PowerPoint debriefing presentation to key DRC and MRCS staff highlighting main findings and recommendations

8.Conditions of Work

The consultant is expected to work closely with the Danish Red Cross and Myanmar Red Cross Society who have technical experts with MNCH programme experience. DRC Country Office will provide work space in Yangon, international flight tickets, transportation in-country, accommodation in Falam, visas and travel authorisation to Falam.

9.Qualifications and experience required

• Minimum academic qualifications: Advanced university degree in public health, medicine, or a field related to maternal and child health.
• 8 -10 years professional experience in evaluating development and health programmes;
• Ability to write clearly and for a variety of audiences;
• Ability to work independently and in a multi-cultural environment;
• Fluent in English (written and spoken) and desirable fluency in Myanmar and Chin languages;

10.Documents available

• Programme documents and supporting documents
• Updated budget including expenditures to date
• Plan of action
• Baseline, M&E plan
• Quarterly and annual reports

• Other relevant documents including:

• DRC International Strategy 2011-14

• DRC International Strategy 2015-20

• DRC Myanmar Country Strategy 2011-16

• Relevant DRC strategic guidelines, including Guidelines on Bilateral Partnerships

• MRCS Strategic Plans 2011 – 2016

• Relevant MRCS policies, strategic guidelines etc.

11.Submission of proposal

Interested qualified consultants are expected to submit a detailed expression of interest (technical and financial proposal) with the following components;

• Their understanding of the TOR
• Proposed methodology and work schedule
• Proposed budget (including consultant fees)
• CV

12.Terms of payment

Danish Red Cross shall pay the consultant in full upon submission and acceptance of the final evaluation report.

Applications from qualified individuals should be submitted by the 11 November 2016

For questions please contact Dean Creer, DRC Health Delegate email address: decre@rodekors.dk.

Use "send application" via this link:https://drk.easycruit.com/intranet/international/vacancy/1732715/113833?iso=dk