Full documentation is available at: www.rescue.org/procurement
Name: External Evaluation of IRC-UK’s Sida-funded Humanitarian Framework Agreement: “Saving Lives, Protecting Rights and Rebuilding Communities” 2011-2012
Reference No: 215415
Bid opening date: Friday 30th March, 2012 Bid closing date: Wednesday 18th April, 2012
Summary of requirements: IRC-UK is seeking an experienced and multidisciplinary evaluation team to conduct an external evaluation of its Sida Humanitarian Framework Agreement programme based on an assessment of the results of three of the projects funded through the programme:
1) Strengthening Capacity of Smallholders in Eastern Zimbabwe to Re-enter the
Agricultural Economy and Improve Household Food Security; 2) Building Community Resilience to Disaster Risk through Community Driven WASH and Livelihoods Projects in Myanmar; 3) Supporting the Health of Refugee Women and Girls in South Sudan (Rapid Response).
The evaluation team is expected to have significant demonstrable experience in the evaluation of humanitarian projects, including field-based data collection, analysis and reporting and experience of conducting Real Time Evaluations of emergency response projects. Extensive knowledge of relevant sectors in humanitarian contexts, including smallholder agriculture, livelihoods, WASH, Gender Based Violence and Reproductive Health is also essential. Knowledge and experience of working in each of the three project regions is also a requirement.
The contract is expected to be agreed by end of April 2012, with the South Sudan evaluation component taking place in May 2012, and Zimbabwe and Myanmar components in November/December 2012. The final report needs be submitted by February 2013.
Donor information: Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida)
Contract for questions: Consultant@Rescue.org, reference ##215415## in subject line.
Request for Proposal (RFP)
A. Purpose and Background The purpose of this RFP is to solicit competitive, sealed, proposals to establish a consultancy contract with an experienced evaluation team to oversee and implement an external evaluation of International Rescue Committee UK’s (IRC-UK) Sida-funded humanitarian programme “Saving Lives, Protecting Rights and Rebuilding Communities”.
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is an international NGO with international headquarters in New York and European headquarters in London, UK (IRC-UK). With operations in 25 fragile and conflict-affected countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East and the Caribbean, the IRC responds to some of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping vulnerable people to survive and be empowered to rebuild their lives. The IRC is committed to innovative programming, bringing creative solutions to complex problems in some of the world’s most difficult environments.
In 2010, IRC-UK applied for a two year Humanitarian Framework Agreement (HFA) with the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) for 2011-2012, with the following objectives: 1. To meet the humanitarian needs of people in some of the world’s worst and most forgotten crises through a range of innovative interventions, 2. To empower vulnerable communities to lead their own recovery, while building the capacity of local organisations and authorities to deliver essential services, 3. To expand IRC’s capacity to respond in the immediate onset of emergencies and 4. To build the evidence of humanitarian best practice through impact evaluations and disseminate lessons learned within the wider humanitarian community.
The HFA, effective from 01 February 2011, incorporates seven humanitarian projects in a variety of fragile settings as part of the overall Programme. The HFA also incorporates two funding mechanisms, a Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM) and a Camp Assistance Fund (CAF), which IRC can apply to within the course of the Framework for specific discrete projects that meet the relevant requirements.
B. Evaluation Objectives
IRC-UK is inviting applications from qualified companies or teams of evaluators to conduct an independent systematic assessment of IRC-UK’s HFA through the review, analysis and comparison of three projects selected from the overall Programme.
The specific objectives are: To assess and report on the obtained and expected results (and analysis of any deviation there from) in relation to the Results Assessment Frameworks (RAF’s ) for the three selected projects, based on the preselected OECD evaluation criteria of effectiveness, relevance and appropriateness, efficiency, impact, sustainability, coverage, connectedness and proportionality (see Section 4 for more details) To compare findings from across the three projects to identify overall lessons learned good practice and recommendations to contribute to future decision-making and investments.
The three projects the evaluation will focus on are: 1. Strengthening Capacity of Smallholders in Eastern Zimbabwe to Re-enter the Agricultural Economy and Improve Household Food Security 2. Building Community Resilience to Disaster Risk through Community Driven WASH and Livelihoods Projects in Myanmar 3. Supporting the Health of Refugee Women and Girls in South Sudan (funded via the Rapid Response Mechanism funding window)
The evaluation is to be conducted in Year Two of the HFA (2012). The evaluation reports will be used to inform future programme design and decision-making within the IRC, and will also serve as the basis for the Completion Report to Sida in 2013.
C. Evaluation Methodology
The evaluation is expected to employ a mixed methods methodology, combining qualitative and quantitative data collection tools designed to capture information relating to each of the project’s design, management and performance in order to address the evaluation questions. Multiple data sources should be utilised to promote analysis at different levels and of varying perspectives in order to triangulate results, offset biases and draw overall conclusions for each intervention.
The evaluation must focus on the below key criteria and related questions described in the full Terms of Reference (ToR) document for each of the three IRC interventions being assessed. Given the emergency response nature of the Rapid Response Mechanism project, two different criteria on ‘Connectedness’ and ‘Proportionality’ shouldreplace the ‘Impact’ and ‘Sustainability’ criteria.
- Effectiveness: the extent to which an intervention has achieved its objectives
- Relevance and appropriateness: the extent to which the intervention conforms to the needs and priorities of target groups and policies of the recipient country and donor, and tailoring of activities to local needs and ownership, accountability and cost-effectiveness
- Efficiency: the extent to which the costs of the development intervention can be justified by its results, taking alternatives into account
- Impact: the effects of the development intervention, positive and negative, intended and unintended
- Sustainability: the continuation or longevity of benefits of the development intervention after development assistance has been withdrawn
- Coverage: the need to reach major population groups facing life threatening suffering or humanitarian needs, wherever they are
RRM only: 7. Connectedness: the need to ensure that activities of a short-term emergency nature are carried out in a context that takes longer-term and interconnected problems into account 8. Proportionality: the extent to which a particular humanitarian response is in proportion to the needs of affected people, and to other similar emergency responses.
D. Evaluation Timings and Deliverables
The contract is expected to be agreed by end of April 2012, with the South Sudan evaluation component taking place in May 2012 (given the short term nature of project), and Zimbabwe and Myanmar components in November/December 2012. The final report is expected to be submitted to IRC-UK by February 2013.
The evaluation team is expected to deliver four key written outputs as agreed deliverables: 1. Inception Report produced within two weeks of contract being signed detailing the evaluation team’s intended methodologies, activity workplan and team responsibilities; 2. Project Evaluation Reports for each of the three country projects to include project background, detailed findings and recommendations specific to each project; 3. Final Evaluation Summary Report summarizing background to the HFA, overall findings from the three project evaluation reports and (as far as possible) making comparisons and overall conclusions and concrete and clear recommendations to inform future IRC programmes and other humanitarian interventions 4. PowerPoint presentation summarizing background and overall results and recommendations from the evaluation, presented in a clear and engaging format
E. Evaluation Team
IRC-UK is seeking a consultancy team with a multidisciplinary mix of evaluative and programmatic skills, qualifications and experience, as well as relevant knowledge and experience of the three countries concerned.
Applications from consultancy companies and evaluation teams linked with a reputable institution will be considered, but we regret that applications from individuals cannot be considered.
Given the diversity of the three projects across technical areas, regions and intervention type, the team is expected to include at least one overall evaluator coordinator to ensure effective coordination and consistency of approach, as well as in-country evaluators/ evaluation teams (ideally local nationals) with appropriate skills and experience matched to the characteristics of the three projects. Specific skills and experience sought: Significant demonstrable experience in the evaluation of humanitarian projects, including field-based data collection, analysis and reporting and experience of conducting Real Time Evaluations of emergency response projects
Extensive knowledge of relevant sectors in humanitarian contexts, including smallholder agriculture, livelihoods, WASH, Gender Based Violence and Reproductive Health Relevant academic qualifications and training in related fields Significant experience in coordination, design, implementation and monitoring and evaluation of humanitarian programmes Excellent communications and presentation skills Ability to write clear and useful reports (examples of previous work need to be submitted) Fluency in English essential and proficiency in relevant local languages preferred Understanding of donor requirements and policies Ability to manage the available time and resources and to work to tight deadlines Independence from IRC, project stakeholders or other parties involved
F. Application Process
Interested consultancy companies and evaluation teams should submit a response to this RFP that includes the following written documentation: • A capability statement demonstrating how the company/team and individuals meet all the required skills and experience for the project as outlined in section E • CV’s of all proposed project team members • At least three recent reports relating to comparable NGO evaluation projects produced by members of the evaluation team as written samples • A detailed proposal for conducting the evaluation with reference to the ToR, including: Intended methodological approach, including data collection and analysis processes and tools to be applied Reporting and presentation of results Detailed activity workplan and budget, including itemized costs and daily rates for team members
The deadline for applications is 18th April 2012.
A detailed Terms of Reference (ToR) document, which includes more specific background on the three HFA projects, methodological and reporting expectations, stakeholder involvement and key references is available for this evaluation . It is strongly recommended you refer to the ToR before preparing an application for this consultancy. If you are unable to download this document directly please email Consultant@Rescue.org to receive a copy.
Applications should be submitted via email to: Consultant@Rescue.org. with ##215415## in the subject line. The submitted application must include all the documentation specified above, presented in Word, Excel or PDF format.
G. Method of Selection
All applications will be assessed by a committee of no less than three IRC staff members within two weeks following the application deadline. Selection criteria will include: • The background, skills and experience of the consultancy team (at individual and organizational level) and previous record of providing similar services to NGO’s • Competitiveness of proposed financial compensation for services • Capacity to meet tight and specific consultancy timing requirements • Ability, capacity and skill to fully and satisfactorily deliver the services required as detailed in the RFP and ToR • Responsiveness and compliance with the RFP requirements
Shortlisted applications willbe asked to participate in a phone-based interview as part of the selection processduring the week of 23rd April. .
The IRC reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids and to accept the bid deemed to be in the best interest of the IRC and is not bound to accept the lowest price bid submitted. The IRC reserves the right to negotiate fees and/or benefits to the IRC with the selected Consultants. The programme donor, Sida, will need to approve IRC’s selection of Consultants.
All costs related to the preparation and submission of this RFP shall be borne by the Consultants. Under no circumstances shall the IRC be liable for any costs. The Consultants’ submitted application must be valid for acceptance by the IRC for a period of 90 days from the due date set for RFP receipt.
This RFP, together with the ToR and any other documents required herein, shall be included in the final contract.
Direct enquiries related to interpretation of the consultancy specifications or the proposal process should be made via email to Consultant@Rescue.org referencing ##215415## in the subject line.
Full documentation is available at: www.rescue.org/procurement
rescue.org/procurement
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