Solidarités International Somalia Project Final Evaluation

Solidarités International Somalia Project Final Evaluation
Terms of Reference
Country: Somalia (Project: Emergency WASH and FS Project for the population of Central Somalia)
Location: Adaado District (Central Somalia)
Starting date: 29th November 2010 (15 days consultancy)
Duration of the field mission: 10 days
Time dedicated to the desk review: 1 days
Time dedicated to report writing: 4 days
Under responsibility of: Deputy Country Director for Somalia
Funding Sources for the evaluation: ECHO

Presentation of Solidarités
Solidarités International is an international humanitarian organization which provides assistance to population affected by natural disaster or man-made crisis. For over 30 years, Solidarités International has concentrated its action on meeting three vital needs: Water, Food and Shelter.

In the Horn of Africa, Solidarités is currently implementing Food Security, Water and Sanitation projects in Somalia and Kenya.

Solidarités International has been coordinating various programs in South Somalia (Afmadow and Bardera) as well as Adaado and Abudwaq districts in Central Somalia. These programs include food security and water and sanitation interventions for people affected either by the long conflict of Somalia or by recurrent climatic hazards.

Presentation of the project/ program to be evaluated

Historic background
The Emergency WASH and Food Security program in Adaado district started in April 15th and is to run through to December 15th. The target districts were Adaado, Balambale and Abudwaq located in Galgaduud region in Central Somalia.

In Balambale, the project was implemented through the Solidarites International partner agency called SADO. The target group is mainly pastoralist communities living in different divisions in the three districts. At the peak of the last 2009 Jilaal season, the communities in the areas experienced one of the worst situations in their history.

The drought situation deteriorated to a stage where communities engaged worthless coping mechanisms e.g. slaughtering more animals to substitute for cereals and culling of young animals to save the mother. The situation was further compounded by the sky rocketing of food prices, reduced food commodities in the local market, insecurity and a ban on livestock export to the Gulf states.

Objectives and results
To strengthen livelihoods and well being of the communities living in Central Somalia through optimization of existing coping mechanisms and the promotion of drought resilient livelihoods.

The following three results are expected at the end of the project:
    * Result 1: Improved quantity and quality of water for both human and animal consumption are available for the communities served and their livestock. security is improved for 3300 direct
    * Result 2: Cholera preparedness and hygiene practices are improved for the communities living in the targeted area.
    * Result 3: Animal health of the herds is improved and pastoralist livelihood is supported for the communities served in the targeted area.

Activities
In order to achieve result 1, the following activities are being implemented:
    * Rehabilitation and /or upgrade of 10 boreholes
    * Protection of 10 boreholes
    * Standby Emergency borehole Gen-set, pump and spare parts for maintenance and repair of 10 boreholes    * Capacity building for borehole Water User Management is enhanced
    * 1 technician is trained / retrained to maintain equipment at each of the 10 viable boreholes in the targeted zone.
    * Selection of location for 7 Rain water collectors
    * Capacity building for Water User management
    * Selection of beneficiaries and digging (50 per rain water catchment)
    * Purchase and distribution of tool
    * Construction of silt traps:
    * Planting of trees around the Rain Water Collectors:
    * Water trucking response is put in place during emergency drought phase
    * A simple early warning drought monitoring system is put in place
    * Selection of beneficiaries
    * Provision of plastic Water tanks
    * Hiring of Trucks
    * Supervision and monitoring

Result 2, will be achieved through implementation of the following activities:
    * A cholera contingency plan is prepared with the communities and stock pre-positioned in link with local stakeholders agencies or organs
    * procurement of equipments and chlorine
    * identification of sites
    * Hygiene promotion for targeted communities
    * Training of hygiene promoters
    * Group session and household visits
    * Distribution of basic hygiene kits

Result 3 will be achieved through implementation of the following activities:
    * Training and distribution of veterinary kit to 15 new Community Animal Health Workers
    * 2 de-parasitizing and ad-hoc vaccination campaigns targeting 40 000 heads of livestock for 400 households

Purposes of the evaluation
The purpose of this evaluation is to meet donor requirement as well to draw lessons from the experience that the programme team has built so far.

This evaluation will cover phase I of the project, evaluating each and every activity as per the proposal. Recommendations from the future evaluation will help in defining future interventions in the area if necessary in regard to the evolution of the humanitarian context.

It is hoped also that ways of improving the strategy of implementing the activities (community mobilization, work organisation, implementing strategies) will be proposed.

Scope and focus
The evaluation will focus on the operation’s approach, the implementation process and the performance of the programme.

The evaluation must give answers to the following questions:
    * Did expected results fulfill the needs before the intervention? (relevance)
    * Do expected results still meet the major current needs? (relevance)
    * Does the program cover the initially targeted population? (coverage)
    * Should the program widen or narrow its targeted population? (relevance and coverage)
    * Is the time frame of the proposal respected? (effectiveness)
    * So far are expected results being met? (effectiveness)
    * Are the means used to lead activities well optimized? (efficiency)
    * Were some means wasted during the implementation so far? (efficiency)
    * Are results of activities sustainable and to what extend? (sustainability)
    * What negative or positive final or long term impact can one already foresee? (impact)
    * Is the program coherent with local authorities’? If no, is this a bad or a good thing? (coherence)

The evaluation should also assess the appreciation of the program by the beneficiaries as well as their participation at various levels of the project management cycle.

Finally, the evaluation should assess how the implementation of the program is respectful of the ethic of humanitarian practice vis-à-vis the SPHERE standards and the Code of conduct for the Red Cross Movement and for NGO during emergency intervention.

Evaluation process and methods
    * The evaluation methods should be clearly outlined in the report and their appropriateness, relative to the evaluation's primary purpose, focus and users, should be explained pointing out the strengths and weaknesses of the methods. A description of the overall flow of the evaluation process (i.e. sequence of the key stages) should be given in the evaluation report. The evaluation approach and the methods used to collect and analyze data should also be described. The nature (e.g., external or mixed) and make up of the team (e.g. sectoral expertise, local knowledge, gender balance) and its appropriateness for the evaluation should be outlined.
    * The evaluation report should outline the sources of biases that might affect the evaluation and how these have been addressed.
    * The evaluation report should also present the key constraints to carrying out the evaluation (e.g., lack of baseline data, lack of access to key information sources, use of translators), and the effect of these constraints.
    * Whenever secondary sources will be referred to, the evaluator should indicate the level of reliability of the given information.
    * After the field work, the evaluation team will present and discuss with the project team the preliminary findings and the proposed recommendations.
    * A first draft of the evaluation report should be shared with the coordination team of Solidarités International before a final version is sent to the donor.

Procedures and logistics
    * The evaluation team must comply with Solidarités International’ rules and procedures related to security and relations with the media.
    * The evaluation team must respect the ethic and the deontology related to evaluation practice
    * Logistics, movement and security would be provided and organised by Solidarités International team

Deliverables
The evaluation report should include at least:
    * One narrative report (max 40 pages) including an executive summary (2 pages maximum).
    * A separate table summarizing the main findings and the lessons learned.
    * A separate table showing the different recommendations and tips for their implementation (who will be in charge of implementing this recommendations, when? dead line? necessary means? who will be in charge of checking that the recommendations are being implemented and when? etc.).
    * Relevant maps and photographs of the assessed zone and programme.
    * A Power point presentation of the main findings and recommendations of the evaluation must be submitted to Solidarités International in order to facilitate dissemination of the results of the evaluation to stakeholders.

Documents of reference (on request only)
    * Proposal of the project
    * Last Interim report
    * Current organizational chart
    * Last Activity Progress Update of the programme
    * Relevant maps

Qualification of the Lead consultant
    * University degree in Project management, Water and Sanitation, Food Security or related field
    * Minimum 5 years of proven experience with NGOs
    * Proven experience in similar evaluation context (Somalia)
    * Strong methodology and writing capacities
    * Somali speaker would be an added advantage

How to apply
Please send your proposal, highlighting the following:
    * A brief introduction of bidding firm or person attaching relevant CVs
    * Your understanding of the Terms of Reference
    * Proposed methodology and approach
    * Proposed work plan and budget
    * Your availability

All relevant information (CV, cover letter, copies of testimonials, certificate of works and 3 contact references) should be sent to info@solidarites-kenya-som.org before COB 18th November 2010.

Please indicate the consultancy you are applying for in the title of your email.

Only short-listed applications will be contacted.