Mid-term Evaluation for Food Security Recovery Program in Rumbek North & Rumbek Central Counties of Lakes State Southern Sudan Consultancy

Food Security Recovery Program (FSRP) – Lakes State Southern Sudan.

Terms of Reference for a Consultancy to undertake Mid-term Evaluation for Food Security Recovery Program in Rumbek North & Rumbek Central Counties of Lakes State Southern Sudan.

Veterinaires Sans Frontieres Belgium (VSF-Belgium) is an international non – governmental organization whose vision is to improve the welfare of vulnerable populations in developing countries, through improving animal health and production.

We have been a key player in the livestock sector in Southern Sudan since 1995 playing a major role in the establishment of a community based animal health delivery system and animal health delivery system and the ongoing rinderpest eradication process.

VSF Belgium’s 14 years of animal heath service provision in Southern Sudan has impacted positively on the community and changed lives of many families whose lives are dependent on livestock directly or indirectly.

VSF-Belgium in the past two years has been implementing a 4 year Food Security Recovery Program Funded by European Union (FSRP-EC Lakes) in two counties (Rumbek North and Rumbek Central) of Lakes State with an overall objective of enhancing the livelihoods and stabilize food security among vulnerable agro pastoralist communities in Lakes state.

Lakes State is one of the four states of greater Bahr El Ghazal, it has an estimated area of 40,235 Km², with its capital and the seat of the government situated in Rumbek. Lakes state borders five other southern states; Central Equatoria to the south, Jonglei State on the Eastern Bank of White Nile, Unity State towards the north-eastern side, Warrap State on the north-western side, and Western Equatoria on the South and West.

There are eight (8) administrative counties, each with several payams and bomas. The main ethnic group in the state is Dinka with the Jur Bel forming a minority. The human population of Lakes State is estimated at 695 730 people (Fifth Sudan Population and housing census April 2008).

Evaluation Summary

Project: Food Security Recovery Programme – EC Lakes

Project Period: 3rd September 2009 – 31st August 2013

Evaluation Type: Mid-term Evaluation

Evaluation Purpose: The purpose of this evaluation is to assess the level of impact by the project interventions on the lives of Rumbek Central & Rumbek North communities at the end of the phase 1 of the Project implementation.

Primary Methodologies: Both quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection where household survey, focus group discussions (FGD), interviews and document review will be used respectively

Evaluation Start and End Dates: 15th September 2011 – 10th October 2011.

Anticipated Evaluation Report Release Date: 15th of October 2011.

Description of the Project being evaluated

Operational Period for Project: 4 Years

Project Budget total Budget: Euro 1,500 004

Project Target Population:

Direct target population - 2662 HH – 23,825 personsIndirect target population – – 196,960 (107,554 -Males & 89,406 Females (M =54.6 %, F =45.4 %)Evaluation Target Audiences

This evaluation process is intended to inform our donors – European Union on the impact their funds have created on the lives of children, families, livestock keepers, livestock traders and communities living in Rumbek North & Rumbek Central.

VSF Belgium will on the other hand use the same information to inform its planning processes for the final phase of the project.

The main concerns/expectations of partners in this evaluation include:

Extent of achievement of program objectives.Impact of the program interventions on both the direct beneficiaries and nonbeneficiariesStrengths, Challenges and weaknesses of the program.Level of participation by local NGOs/CBOs government ministries, communities.Reports from key stakeholders i.e. MARF, MAF, Public Health, County Administration, County Council and other NGOs.The key stakeholders who have been involved in the implementation of the program activities include;
Ministry of Animal Resources & Fisheries.Ministry of Agriculture & Forestry.Ministry of Physical infrastructure (department of Rural water)County Commissioners (Rumbek North & Rumbek Central)Rumbek Town Council & Maper County Council.South Sudan Relief & Rehabilitation Commission (SSRRC)Oxfam GBUN FAO (SPCRP)Evaluation Type

This is a mid-term evaluation. It has been scheduled by the programme to enable it find out progress made/gained towards meeting the designed goal and outcomes over the last two years of implementation.

Evaluation Purpose and Objectives

Purpose of the Evaluation

The purpose of this evaluation is to assess the level of impact by the program interventions to the lives of Rumbek North & Rumbek Central communities at the end of phase 1 of implementation.

The exercise will determine the extent to which the project objectives have been achieved including:

Impact on the lives of the community.Change in the quality of life of the community especially the well being of vulnerable groups, livestock keepers.Sustainability of the projects undertaken in phase one.Programme effectiveness and efficiency.How far the project achieved the set goals and objectives.Best practices (new knowledge and important topics for further inquiry, lobbying, and influence)Case studies and success stories.Besides these, evaluation process will also assist in the following areas:
Determine how well the programme was designed and monitored against the objectives, benchmarks, and processes established in the project design document.Determine strengths (including successful innovations and promising practices) and weaknesses (factors impeding progress) of the programme planning, design, implementation M&E, and ongoing community management in the programme.Determine whether the resources (financial, human and materials) have been used economically and wisely for the well-being of the community.Determine how the programme involved and benefited vulnerable groups (genders, ethnic minorities, children, and the disabled) throughout the planning, design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and ongoing management of the programme
Both quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection where household survey, focus group discussions (FGDs), interviews and document review will be used respectivelyA final report will be expected out of the evaluation exercise. The consultant will make a presentation of the final report to be written in English. The draft report should be ready within a week from the last day of evaluation. The final report should be ready within 10 days after feedback from the VSF Belgium team. Review and feedback should take place within 2 weeks after the draft report for a final report preparation and production. The consultant will hand over a hard copy draft report as well as soft copy. For the final report, 3 hard copies and a soft copy will be required (CD copy).The report should adopt the EU mid-term evaluation format that will be provided by VSF Belgium.
Documents

Some Secondary data will be collected from the following sources

FSRP grant contract 2009FSRP proposal 2009FSRP baseline report 2010Budget and financial reportsNarrative reports (interim, inception rider and quarterly)Government records from the State Ministry of Animal Resources & Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture & Forestry, Ministry of Physical infrastructure LimitationsSome of the factors that may limit the evaluation include:
Challenges in communication incase of rainy weather. Use of four wheel drive vehicles will be necessary.Language barrier considering that local people are predominantly dinka speaking.There will be need to use simple language as well as translate during interactions.

Location

The consultancy will be based in Lakes State – Rumbek North and Rumbek Central Counties.

Authority and Responsibility

Evaluation Team Members and Roles

Consultant - Principal evaluatorCountry Program Manager – Quality ControlProject Manager - Goal Owner (Team leader)Program staff/Project Officers - Logistical supportResearch Assistants/Data Collectors - Data collectionTranslators - Translate portions of draft as needed to get input from people who speak the local language.Qualifications

The Consultant is expected to have the following attributes:

Postgraduate qualification in Agriculture/ Animal health & Production/ Veterinary medicine/natural resource management or a graduate qualification with at least 7 years experience in programming and Monitoring & Evaluation assessments.Significant field experience in East Africa in livelihoods planning and programmingSignificant experience in coordination, design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of programs.Good communications skills and experience in working with teams, in facilitationAbility to write clear and useful reports (may be required to produce examples of previous work) and excellent analytical and writing skillsAbility to manage the available time and resources and to work to tight deadlines.Experience with analysis of development in a rural and post-conflict environment.Working experience in Southern Sudan is desirable.Available for the whole time of the baseline survey.Closing date: 5th September 2011.

Contact Information

Interested expert(s) should submit proposals indicating relevant qualifications and experience as well as detailed execution plan they would use for the mission.

They should also indicate daily consultancy rates and possible starting dates.

The proposals, CV and letter of motivation as well as three (3) referees should be sent electronically to recruitment@vsfb.or.ke

Ref: FSRP Consultancy 08/2011.

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