Terms of Reference
End Term Evaluation for ECHO funded Nutrition programme in Mandera Central, Wajir East and Wajir South Districts of NEP, Kenya 2011
PROJECT BACKGROUND Save the Children UK (SCUK) is a leading international child rights organization, fighting to improve the lives of children in the UK and 120 countries around the world. Together with children, we are helping to build a better world for present and future generations by making a reality of children’s rights.
To address the chronically high levels of malnutrition in the North Eastern province, Save the Children expanded its life saving operations to the Region in 2006 implementing Nutrition, Health and Livelihood programs. In 2010 Save the Children received further funding from ECHO and DFID to implement an Emergency integrated Health and Nutrition intervention in Wajir East, Wajir South and Mandera Central Districts. The ECHO funded element of the project focuses on the provision of supplementary and outreach therapeutic feeding programmes (SFP and OTP) as well as support to the Wajir District Hospital stabilisation centre for acute cases with medical complications. This latest phase of the nutrition programme was designed to integrate the management of acute malnutrition in these areas with the provision of basic medical services through health clinics and dispensaries (where they exist). This is in line with the National Guidelines on the Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM). Save the Children has continued to provide additional outreach nutrition services to other sites not covered by heath facilities.
In addition the project supported the improvement of water and sanitation provision the health facilities providing nutrition services through the project.
Save the Children would like to undertake an external review of the programme with the aim of assessing the nutrition project’s performance since August 2010 and more importantly, to identify the way forward for the programme, taking into account the chronic factors influencing malnutrition rates. The evaluation should go beyond assessment of project activities and be geared as much as possible to exit strategy for the current interventions and future nutrition interventions.
Purpose of the Evaluation The purpose of the end of project evaluation is to assess the extent to which the ECHO project’s principal and specific objectives and results have been achieved as set forth in the project proposal. The evaluation will also offer strategic and operational recommendations to improve the direction, sustainability and effectiveness of future similar programmes.
Specific objectives Specifically the evaluation should focus on the following four areas: 1. Determine to which extent the project’s specific objective has been met i.e. • The extent to which the nutrition status of mothers, and children in Mandera Central, Wajir East and Wajir South Districts has improved. 2. Verify the extent to which the results outlined in the project proposal have been achieved as a result of the activities funded by the project. Specifically i. Acutely malnourished children, pregnant women and lactating mothers are treated through SFP, OTP and SC services ii. The capacity of CHW’s to identify and refer malnourished and sick children and women is improved iii. Improved knowledge, on key maternal and child nutrition issues in the target community iv. Improved sanitation facilities and water supply in health facilities 3. Assess the project performance in terms of the following: • Relevance – did the interventions meet the conditions and situation of the target beneficiaries? Did the condition and situation change during the project period? Were project activities modified to maintain or improve their relevance? • Appropriateness – were the interventions provided in the most appropriate manner given the local social, environmental and cultural context? • Timeliness – were the results achieved in the timescale set out in the proposal? Was the timescale to achieve the stated results over or under ambitious? • Effectiveness – how effective was the project in achieved the stated project objectives and results? Which were the most effective activities in reducing malnutrition rates? – Are there more effective activities that could be undertaken in these areas with similar levels of funding? • Efficiency – how cost effective was the project? Does it represent good value for money compared with other similar programmes? 4. Document the lessons learned related to the programme and policy if any and provide practical recommendations for improving the execution and replication and up scaling of future similar interventions in North Eastern or in any other high malnutrition environments. Key issues are likely to include: • What other interventions were being undertaken in the project area at the same time (by SCUK or other actors) that improved or undermined the achievement of project results? • Are their any external factors that unduly affected the project’s impacts in any way? Could the project have been better designed to address these?
Evaluation Process and Methodology
Prospective consultants are encouraged to submit their proposed methodology to ensure the evaluation objectives are fully met, however at minimum it is expected the following will be undertaken: • Review of all supporting documents relating to the project (see document list below) • Meet with SCUK technical and programme staff (both in Nairobi and field level) to discuss programme implementation, issues to emerge and lessons learned. • Meet SCUK finance staff to assess budget expenditure as per the proposal. Make an assessment of cost efficiency drawing from comparable projects elsewhere • Develop a checklist questionnaire(s) to how far all planned project activities were completed – documenting the reasons for any under or over achievement • Review the Programme monitoring plans. tools and reports used before and during implementation and assess whether they were sufficiently robust to measure progress and impact. • Review all qualitative and quantitative data collected for and by the project staff and partners. SCUK will provide support in the further or re-analysis of this data for the consultant as required. • Undertake a field visit to the project locations and undertake focus groups with all beneficiary groups i.e. i. Pregnant and lactating women and other mothers ii. Children – where possible
iii. Members of Health Management Teams (facility and district level) iv. District Health staff – including nurses and community health workers • Preparation of a presentation on draft findings for presentation to key staff in SCUK at the field and Nairobi level • Submission of a draft report within one month of start date for comment and review by client • Final report incorporating lessons learned and actionable recommendations.
Accountabilities and Responsibilities
The consultant shall report directly to the Nutrition Advisor for the Save the Children UK Kenya Programme and work closely with the Area Managers
Save the Children’s Nutrition Advisor or her designate will represent the agency during the evaluation as evaluation manager;
The evaluation manager is responsible for; • Overall responsibility and accountability for the evaluation. • Guidance throughout all phases of execution. • Approval of all deliverables including final sign offs for the purpose of making payments. • Coordination of SCUK’s internal review process
The consultant will be responsible for; • Conducting the evaluation. • Regular progress reporting to Save the Children’s evaluation Manager. • Development of the evaluation results. • Production of deliverables in accordance with contractual requirements
Location and Duration of the Assignment
The assignment begins as soon as the contract is signed and should be completed within eight weeks.
The evaluation should take place in Nairobi and in the field, through one or two evaluation trips where ECHO project is implemented. This may involve travel to areas of moderate “risk”, i.e. areas where armed non-State actors operate and/ or are present.
Save The Children takes all feasible precautions to ensure safety of its staff, partners and other stakeholders, and this of course would extend to personnel on a field trip. The survey of the project documents and reports should take place at Nairobi office.
The interviews with the project implementers should be done at field offices in North Eastern.
Interviews will also take place in the field. Additional interviews of the key target groups should be done by telephone and/or email.
Parties interested in undertaking this assignment should send a short proposal of no more than 4 pages outlining how they would undertake the assignment. A CV of all staff proposed to be involved with the study, including a list of references able to comment on previous relevant work should also be included.
If you meet the above requirements, please send your detailed CV together with a cover letter and current contacts of three refereesincluding immediate supervisor addressed to:
Head of Human Resources, Save the Children UK, Kenya Programme email: jobskenya@scuk.or.ke not later than 6th June, 2011. Quote the job title on the subject line. Only short listed candidates will be contacted.
Save the Children (UK) recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to equal employment opportunities and the protection of children from abuse.
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