Project Evaluation Consultancy

Tearfund is recruiting a consultant for a Project Evaluation in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

As a response to the significant instability and population displacement in eastern DRC, Tearfund was awarded humanitarian funding by USAID in June 2020 to provide a 24 month emergency WASH and Food Security response to reach 459,000 individuals.

• During the first 12 months of the award, WASH activities were implemented in Mabalako Health Zone (North Kivu), Kimbi-Lulenge Health Zone (South Kivu) and Lita and Drodro Health Zones (Ituri). Food security activities were implemented in Mabalako and Oicha Health Zones (North Kivu) and Komanda Health Zone (Ituri).
• During the second 12 months of the award, WASH activities were implemented in Beni and Kalunguta Health Zones (North Kivu), Nundu and Fizi Health Zones (South Kivu) and Rwampara and Bunia Health Zones (Ituri). Food security activities were implemented in Mabalako Health Zone (North Kivu) and Mandima Health Zone (Ituri).

The primary purpose of this Project Evaluation is for learning: measuring its impact to inform and shape Tearfund’s future programming including introducing improvements. Secondary purposes are to provide accountability to BHA, government ministries and the beneficiary community through measuring the project’s effectiveness, relevance and beneficiary participation, satisfaction and sustainability.

The results of the evaluation will be used firstly by Tearfund’s management team in order to improve its practice in response to humanitarian emergencies. Actionable recommendations will form part of the evaluation and will be used to shape future programming, funded by USAID and other donors. Results will also be shared with USAID/BHA, government ministries and with beneficiary communities in order to demonstrate the impact of the project.

Tearfund has identified five key Evaluation questions outlined below. The OECD/DAC criteria for Evaluations has been taken into account and priority has been placed on the Effects, Effectiveness, Relevance and Beneficiary Participation and Satisfaction, and Sustainability in order to generate learning for a follow on award.

• Aspect 1 – Effects / Evaluation Question 1: What effects have the project had on direct and indirect beneficiaries?
• Aspect 2 – Effectiveness / Evaluation Question 2: Has the project been effective in achieving the intended project objectives and outputs?
• Aspect 3 – Relevance / Evaluation Question 3: How relevant is the project to the priorities and needs of the target group and Tearfund?
• Aspect 4 – Beneficiary participation and satisfaction / Evaluation Question 4: How has this project involved beneficiaries during the design and the implementation of the project and was the project satisfactory for the beneficiaries?
• Aspect 5 – Sustainability / Evaluation Question 5: Is there evidence that the project’s outputs can be sustained in the longer term? (Evaluation question to focus on locations from year 1 (June 2020- June 2021)).

The evaluation will take place in Tearfund DRC’s country office in Goma, as well as in the field sites and it will cover Year 1 and 2 (June 2020 – June 2022) of the above mentioned project.

This external evaluation will combine both qualitative and quantitative data collection to answer the questions above. The approach should take a participatory approach, prioritising the views of the community (both beneficiaries and non beneficiaries including local government ministries) and taking into account the voices of vulnerable groups. It is the responsibility of the evaluation team to design a detailed methodology in order to answer the questions posed above.

Person specification / team composition:

The proposed structure of the consultancy team is as follows:

• Lead Consultant – an external consultant with significant experience of undertaking field based research in the WASH and food security sector; the team leader will have prior experience of undertaking research/implementing WASH or food security projects in the DRC and will be fluent in English and French. The lead consultant may choose to include another consultant when bidding for the contract to undertake specific pieces of work within the scope of this SoW.
• Data collectors/research associates – to be contracted and managed by the Lead Consultant. They will have prior experience of undertaking FGD, household surveys and research projects, and ability to communicate in the various local languages.

However, Tearfund is also open to considering a consultancy firm with its own base and staff in DRC which can fulfil the full scope of the evaluation.

The external evaluator should have strong evaluation experience. The external evaluator would require understanding of French and English, as well as an understanding of DRC specifically or complex countries generally. They would also need experience of WASH and Food Security and experience of both qualitative and quantitative data collection.

For further information on this Consultancy Opportunity please read the Terms of Reference attached.