Myanmar: Consultant

Draft Terms of Reference (ToR)

CONSULTANT FOR THE MID-PROJECT EVALUATION

‘ Improved economic and nutritional outcome of poor rural people in Myanmar’

1.PROJECT PROFILE

Project name:

Improved economic and nutritional outcome of poor rural people in Myanmar

Project Higher Level Outcome:

Improve economic and nutritional outcomes of poor rural people in Myanmar with increased income and stable access to and utilization of food for vulnerable households

Project outcomes:

Outcome 1*:*Rural households (incl. IDP returnees) have improved nutritional outcomes (stunting rates of children are reduced)

Outcome 2: Smallholder farmers (incl. IDP returnees) achieve increased farm production and economic returns by an improved position in the value chain

Outcome 3: Rural households (incl. IDP returnee households) are less vulnerable to shocks and stresses

Location:

Thandaunggyi Township in Kayin State: LeikTho sub township, Thandaunggyi sub township, Baw Ga Li sub township

Beneficiaries:

5,000 smallholder farmer households in 100 villages

Consortium Members:

§ Consortium of Dutch NGOs (CDN) – lead organization

§ World Concern Myanmar (WCM) – member

§ CORDAID – member

§ The Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV) – advisory partner

Implementing partners:

§ Karuna Myanmar Social Services (KMSS)

§ Paku Karen Baptist Association (PKBA)

§ Bwe Mo Bwar Karen Baptist Association (BMB)

§ KekhoKebah Karen Baptist Association (KKBA)

2.BACKGROUND

In May 2015 CDN, WCM, CORDAID and SNV submitted a project proposal in response to a call from the Livelihood and Food Security Trust fund (LIFT). The consortium was successfully rewarded a 3-year grant for a project called ‘Improved economic and nutritional outcome of poor rural people in Myanmar’.The project is focused on Thandaunggyi Township, the most northern township in Kayin State.

This project will target over 5,000 smallholder farmer households(HHs) with commercial potential in Thandaunggyi Township. This area emerged from conflict and consists of a mixture of internally displaced persons (IDPs), IDP returnees and host HHs. Through the years, CDN-ZOA has built relations with the local authorities and conflict parties in place to build bridges between the parties and implement its project in cooperation with both partners. This project will continue to work with the target groups in the west side of the township and extend to the east where most returnees returned to after years of displacement.

The project will help the rural poor in both areas to“step-up” and improve their position in the value chain (VC), to get market access andsustainable access to credit and other inputs. Besides improving their income and getting themout of the circle of debt, the project will focus on nutrition and WASH and use the “hang-in”strategy, as a lack of availability and access to adequate drinking water and nutritious food wasidentified.

CDN leads the project, as it has long standing experience in Thandaunggyi. CORDAID, member of the consortium, has taken on the role to advise the consortium on building resilience among communities in the target area. WCM focuses on the nutrition component of the project, and SNV is an advisory partner to the consortium and provides value chain support.

3.MID PROJECT EVALUATION - PURPOSE AND SCOPE

The third party evaluation will serve three main purposes:

a) To provide an objective documentation of the processes and procedures undertaken by the Project during its implementation.

b) To provide a detailed and independent assessment of the project outputs against the expected results and planned objectives. The evaluation shall focus on both quantitative and qualitative results and include, among others, an evaluation of the relevance, quality, effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability of the activities carried out and the coordination of activities between CDN and the Project’s key stakeholders.

c) To assess the beneficiaries in terms of their involvement and their perceptions and views of the end results of the project activities as well as the changes that have occurred in their lives resulting from project interventions. This should include the attainment of intended and unintended benefits derived from the Project.

d) To generate key lessons and practical recommendations for future project planning and implementation.

4.DURATION BASELINE

The evaluation field work will be conducted in February 2018, and the final report submitted before the 28^th February 2018.

5.QUESTIONS AND EVALUATION CRITERIA

The external evaluation will look at four domains of namely: Relevance, Efficiency, Effectiveness and Sustainability. The following research questions will be further specified before the contract is signed with the consultant:

Focus

Research Questions

Relevance

Evaluation focused on determining alignment of the project objectives and results to the context, beneficiaries’ requirements, country needs and priorities in Myanmar.

1. How do the project activities intend to address the identified problems and needs of the area? What value and for whom, did this project add to?

2. How relevant is the project to the priorities and needs of the intended beneficiaries? Does this project answer real needs in the intervention areas?

Efficiency

Evaluation reviewed results obtained vis-a-vis resources used, in terms of quantity, quality, budget, project timeline and deadlines

1. Were the planned processes followed accordingly? Were the planned outputs produced in the quantity, quality and timeframe planned?

2. To what extent were the resources allocated to project activities enabled attainment of project results?

3. Were resources (i.e. human, money, facilities) allocated to project activities used as planned? Were they sufficient?

Effectiveness

Evaluation assessed whether the level of accomplishment of the planned activities produced the expected results, identifying the factors that affect them, including evaluating the strength and weaknesses of the measures taken –including those implemented to solve unplanned problems‐ to reach the expected results

1. Were the planned results achieved in accordance with the indicators?

2. Are the links between activities and results strong enough to achieve a specific objective?

3. Were there improvements in capacity or competencies of implementers as a result of project interventions? Were the changes significant, evident and sustainable?

4. Were there any unplanned results which helped achieve the specific objective or deterred/delayed achievement of a specific objective?

Sustainability

Evaluation assessed the likelihood that the project’s positive outcomes will continue after the project ends. It also looked at whether ownership by stakeholders is ensured and lasting change is likely to continue.

1. What is the degree of ownership of objectives and achievements by project stakeholders?

2. To what extent will the activities be sustained by beneficiaries after the funding is reduced or ended?

3. Were there mechanisms installed to ensure that the activities continue beyond the project?

4. Did the project result in any policy reforms at national or local level? Were the policy reforms executed as planned?

5. Will the positive impact of the project likely last?

6.METHODOLOGY AND WORK PLAN

The methodology to be used is to be defined by the consultant evaluator/evaluation team. The evaluation should be designed to effectively respond to the questions raised above. Activities will include, but will not be limited to:

a) Desk phase review

b) Interviews and/or focus group discussions with project team and key stakeholders and beneficiaries

c) Review and discussion of initial findings with Project Team

d) Submission of draft report and comments from Project Team

e) Submission and Acceptance of Final report

f) Verbal Presentation of Final report

The Project Team shall make available the following supporting documentation:

a) Original Project narrative, logical framework, activities matrix, timeline and budget

b) Narrative and financial reports

c) Project documents such as Baseline Survey Report, Activity Completion Reports and other such project documents

7.Expected Outputs/Deliverables

a) Evaluation Design with proposed number of interviews and FGDs

b) Evaluation Work Plan

c) Complete Evaluation Report with appropriate lessons learned and insights

d) Recommendations for improving project implementation

e) Presentation of Findings and Recommendations

8.Qualification of Evaluator/Evaluation Team

The Consultant shall have the following collective qualifications:

a) Proven experience in conducting evaluations of multi-sector projects (WASH, Nutrition, FS/L and DRR);

b) Good track record in delivering quality results on agreed timelines;

c) Familiarity with the context of Kayin State and/or uplandscommunities;

d) Excellent verbal and written communication skills and able to communicate to various levels.

All applicants are requested to submit an expression of interest with the following requirements on or before7^th January 2018.

1. Daily consultancy fee rate
2. CV with list of evaluation experiences

Please submit the requirements to:

Nicole van Wasbeek
MEAL and Capacity Development Coordinator
nicole@cdnmyanmar.org
Mobile: +95 9 254 342 710
Address: 39,D-B, MyintZu Street, Mayangone Tsp, Yangon, Myanmar