Evaluation: Fiji Cash Assistance Program

Save the Children is inviting applications from consultants interested in undertaking the evaluation detailed in the attached terms of reference.

The Fiji Cash Assistance Program was set up in response to urgent needs and deepening vulnerability in Fiji caused by cyclones and the COVID-19 pandemic. A significant philanthropic donation enabled a large-scale cash assistance program whereby over 39,000 vulnerable households have received unconditional cash payments via mobile phone cash transfers, in two phases from late 2020-mid 2022.

This evaluation is an outstanding opportunity for Save the Children to work with a talented evaluator to:

1. assess the effectiveness and relevance of cash programming activities,
2. determine the effects on local markets,
3. assess the effectiveness and relevance of the modality, transfers and complementary interventions to achieve activity outcomes

4. identify best practices, lessons learned, strengths and challenges in the activity design and implementation in contributing toward project achievements.

5. detail lessons from the project to inform/contribute to:

6. the sustainable scale-up focused on organisational capacity in CVA for partners, Save the Children in Fiji, and the Pacific region more widely,

7. existing national and regional body of evidence on CVA programming; and

8. to contribute to SCI’s body of knowledge and CVA evidence focused on the Pacific regional context

Evaluation Scope

This independent Evaluation aligns with an organizational commitment to continuous learning, improvement, and accountability. It is planned to commence in May 2022, with completion by September 2022. The purpose is to measure program impact, document lessons learned and provide recommendations for future Cash and Voucher assistance (CVA) in Fiji and the wider Pacific region.
The primary audiences for the evaluation are.
▪ Save the Children Fiji and Save the Children Australia
▪ Project implementing partners
▪ The principal project donor, (through a Philanthropic Grant) as well as supporting donors
▪ Fiji Government Agencies
▪ Beneficiary Communities, including Household recipients of cash payments.
Secondary audiences include
▪ Local agencies, represented through the Pacific Islands Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (PIANGO)
▪ Members of the Fiji Cash Working Group (CWG), the Pacific Regional Cash Pacific WG (PRCWG). Food Security and Livelihoods, Education and Health and Nutrition Clusters.
▪ Donors and implementing agencies engaged in cash programming and related social support programs in Fiji and the Pacific region
▪ Save the Children regional and internal teams

The objectives of the evaluation are to:

• Assess the Effectiveness and Relevance of cash programming activities in relation to the Activity’s goal and intended outcomes.

• Determine the activity’s effects on local markets, and how it affected certain groups of interest.

• Assess the effectiveness and relevance of the modality, transfers and complementary interventions to achieve activity outcomes.

• Identify best practices, lessons learned, strengths and challenges in the activity design and implementation in contributing toward project achievements.

• Detail lessons from the project to inform/contribute to the following:

• Sustainable scale up focused on organisational capacity in CVA for partners and for Save the Children in Fiji and the Pacific region, including scope to further incorporate SCI tools and common approaches, into expanded cash program interventions.

• Existing national and regional body of evidence on CVA programming

• SCI body of knowledge and CVA evidence focused on the Pacific regional context Overall, the evaluation field consultations will reach an appropriate scale, aligned to the total program reach of 39,000 Households in Phase 21 incorporating respondents in locations across central, northern and western divisions. In addition to beneficiary households representatives, respondents will include community representatives, as well as Save the Children staff, local partners and relevant government and agency representatives.

The study will take a mixed methods approach, incorporating existing Post Distribution Monitoring (PDM) and vulnerability assessment data. Key evaluation questions will be refined in consultation with the successful applicant(s).