Consultant – Real Time Evaluation (RTE)

Work Arrangement: In-person

Job Description

The project started on the 22nd May 2023, In Nigeria, The proposed is implemented by a Consortium led by the IRC and implemented together with COOPI, ALIMA, and LHI. The IRC has been responding to critical lifesaving needs in Nigeria, largely focused on the NE, since 2012 and began emergency response activities in the NW in 2021. Since 2014 COOPI has been providing humanitarian assistance to vulnerable populations in Yobe and Sokoto through multiple sectors: Food Security and Livelihoods, Nutrition, Shelter, WASH, Protection and Education in Emergencies (EiE). ALIMA has been implementing health and maternal and child healthcare coupled with trainings for MoH activities targeting internally displaced persons in Nigeria’s Borno state since 2016. LHI, a growing national organization, started out in Sokoto in 2004 and has since grown into several other states in the NW (Sokoto, Kebbi & Zamfara), NE (Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, and YOBE), SE (Ebonyi), and Abuja. LHI has implemented several health and nutrition projects, working with different INGOs on interventions supported by several donor partners such USAID, GAC, UNICEF, World Bank, EU, BMZ, KFW, SIDA across these locations. LHI has been implementing a USAID technical health assistance project implemented by Palladium Group since 2020, LHI has been a recipient of grant under contract of the Integrated Health Project, (IHP), and presently, IHP is in the final stage of engaging LHI to deliver a capacity building (training and mentoring) on nutrition-based food approach focusing on RUTF for SAM, food approach for MAM and data management, ensuring comprehensive quality nutrition services. LHI has implemented several health and nutrition projects, working with different INGOs on interventions supported by several donor partners such USAID, GAC, UNICEF, World Bank, EU, BMZ, KFW, SIDA across these locations. LHI has been implementing a USAID technical health assistance project implemented by Palladium Group LHI is 2020, LHI has been a recipient of grant under contract of the Integrated Health Project, (IHP), and presently, IHP is in the final stage of engaging LHI is delivering a capacity building (training and mentoring) on nutrition-based food approach focusing on RUTF for SAM, food approach for MAM and data management, ensuring comprehensive quality nutrition services. IRC is working in the sectors of Health.

Scope of work

The temporal scope of the RTE will focus on the period February 2023- January 2024 as most of displacement responses were supported by humanitarian agencies. The RTE will also review the context, international humanitarian actors, national actors with the donor landscape and incidents in Sokoto, Zamfara and Katsina in the secondary data analysis and primary data collection stages. To ensure the evaluability of the RTE given the available time, resources, and capacities, field visits and interviews conducted with field staff, country office staff, and IRC regional teams. The RTE will include relevant actors including government agencies. The bandits induced displacement crisis in NW raises issues and priorities relevant to the SAP objectives stated in the IRC Plan and Budget ambitions for 2022-2024. This includes Strategy for expansion with coordinated response capabilities. Real-Time evaluation is a formative evaluation of intermediary results. This is dynamic and will provide real-time learning to enable rapid adjustments and course corrections The RTE supports IRC’s commitment to ensuring quality assurance, standards, and a culture of learning in its disaster response. RTEs aim to improve service delivery and accountability to beneficiaries, donors, and other stakeholders, and to capture lessons for the improvement of IRC’s disaster response system. The purpose of the RTE of the IRC NW Response in 2023-2024 is to assess and provide lessons to inform the IRC response to the ongoing bandit induced crisis affecting NW Nigeria. It will specifically focus on the challenges confronted by and opportunities available to IRC in their response to an emerging crisis with multiple stakeholders and political sensitivities. Particular attention will be given to the degree to which the displaced IDPS have been proactively supported by local actors. . . Lessons from the RTE will inform how the IRC can best support local actors to respond to the varying needs of vulnerable displaced in NW project locations. While recommendations from the RTE will be specific and realistic for the IRC they are also expected to inform IRC strategic decisions and planning to support a sustainable and effective IRC response to future displacement affected populations. 0 Evaluation Criteria and Key Questions. Evaluation questions In line with IRC Evaluation Guideline, and IRC global PEERS partnership principle of humility, equality, and complementarity RTE assesses the project achievement in terms of its Relevance, Effectiveness, Efficiency, Impact, coherence, and sustainability. The indicative objectives of the evaluation study based on the RCEESI+E framework is given below: RCEESI+E Proposed Sub-Objectives of the Evaluation Study REAL TIME EVALUATION QUESTIONS Relevance and Appropriateness. The extent to which BHA NW response has been well-suited to IDP needs and the context in which assistance is provided. Coverage. The extent to which the BHA NW response reaches IDPs in need. Effectiveness. The extent to which the BHA NW response has or is likely to assist IDPs in need. Coherence. The extent to which the BHA NW response takes adequate account of and consistently uphold humanitarian principles.

The extent to which the BHA NW response has led to positive or negative changes, (directly or indirectly and intended or unintended), on migrants in need. The real time evaluation assessment will provide the project with more in-depth information on the benchmark indicators information, value, and available services in Zamfara, Katsina, and Sokoto Nigeria. These Real time evaluation findings will then be used with Endline findings to measure the impact of the implementation based on some selected indicators. This research in the Northwest will improve the understanding of the project achievement versus gaps and provide the The BHA consortium project will conduct a real time evaluation, adopting the IRC Gender, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (GEDI) strategy and conflict-sensitive design to frame the real time evaluation design. The assessment design will leverage the program commitment, undertaking the real time evaluation assessment within the third quarters of the starting date of the project to determine the basis upon which future program impact could be measured. The real time evaluation (RTE) will be conducted by the consultant taking into consideration several factors, including but not limited to contextual differences in each of the locations of implementation (Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara) as well as extended focus on newly displaced/returnee populations in locations of implementation. More details on the baseline indicators are listed in the sections below.

Deliverables: The content and the structure of the final analytical report with findings, and recommendations covering the scope of the assessment should meet the requirements of the BHA including the following: Inception Report Inception workshop Preliminary desk review Develop data collection plan and tools. Write inception report. Comprehensive Desk Review Conduct an in-depth literature review. Data collection Refine tools based on the desk review. Disseminate online survey. Train enumerators Conduct KIIs and FGDs Reporting Data cleaning and analysis Organize and hold a remote workshop (presentation of preliminary findings and conduct sensitization on conflict and context analysis) Draft report writing Organize and hold remote workshops to present findings and recommendations and co-develop work plans. Final report writing

Payment Rate and Schedule: The payment rate opens agreed, the payment will be done open completion of the service.

Qualifications

The consultancy is open to individuals or teams of national and international expert consultants with specialist knowledge and research expertise in multisectoral humanitarian response assessment such as Multisectoral Need Assessment (MSNA), In-depth Evaluation, and research studies. The consultants should have the following qualifications, skills, and experience:

- master’s degree in Humanitarian/Development Studies, Statistics, Education, Economics, Social Sciences, or any other relevant studies. - Relevant bachelor’s degree with extensive expertise, knowledge, and experience working in humanitarian or development fields preferably in Northeast Nigeria. - Proven experience in conducting project-level evaluations in multi-sector as the sole evaluator or the head of the evaluation team. - Previous experience in Humanitarian Emergencies, project management, monitoring, and evaluation experience preferably in Northeast Nigeria is an added advantage. - Strong cross-cultural communication and facilitation skills. - Strong and proven research and analytical skills. - Experience with research/evaluation in emergencies, particularly in sensitive environments. - Provide 3 sample evaluation reports of previous projects. - Proven familiarity with the context of Northeast Nigeria, geographical region, and/or culture of the focus population. - A relevant 5 years of significant experience in conflict sensitivity analysis and ethical qualitative research and analysis on conflict issues, causes, or approaches to conflict transformation (essential). - Proven experience in conducting context and conflict analysis and development of tools for the integration of Conflict sensitivity-related dynamics into the strategic and operational framework. - Conflict sensitivity expertise in complex humanitarian contexts, preferably in sub-Saharan Africa - Fluent in English, written and oral as well as proficiency in local language from NE Nigeria is an advantage. - Excellent writing skills and ability to articulate the linkage between findings, analysis, and program recommendations. - Flexible attitude towards receiving feedback.

All applications should be submitted through the email: [email protected]

The closing date for applications is 17th Jan 2024

Note: Applications lacking any of the above requirements will not be considered.

Standard of Professional Conduct: IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons and several others.

Commitment to Gender, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful, and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. The IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of IRC Persons in any work setting.

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.

Employment Gaps: We welcome applicants with varied career paths and recognize that a gap in employment does not define a candidate's potential. We value transferrable skills and are committed to investing in the growth and development of our team members. We encourage applicants to highlight any relevant skills or experiences they have acquired, even if they were not gained in a traditional work setting.

Compensation and Benefits: IRC strives to provide externally competitive and internally equitable Compensation and Benefits programs that attracts, motivates, and retains employees that deliver strong performance while demonstrating the IRC Way Standards for Professional Conduct.

Equal Opportunity Employer: IRC is an equal opportunity employer and we value diversity and inclusion. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, nationality, ethnicity or tribe, gender, age, religion, caste, sexual orientation, differently abled, geographic origin, marital status, veteran status and cultural background (or any other characteristic protected by law). We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.