Endline Evaluation Consultancy (GAC, SRH and SGBV)

Job Description

Background:

The IRC responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. IRC was founded in 1933 through the advice of Albert Einstein to respond to the needs of people vulnerable to conflict around the world. Since then, it has expanded and evolved to become one of the world’s leading humanitarian organisations. In 2016, more than 26 million people benefited from IRC programs and those of its partner organizations.

The IRC received a multi country grant from Global Affairs Canada (GAC) to implement a one-year (29 March 2021 – 31 March 2022) project (with a no-cost extension to 31st March 2022)**: Women and girls’ health and safety needs in Chad, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, and DRC are addressed and met during COVID-19 in 2021/2022.** The project is designed to provide protection and health services to ensure women and girls are protected from and treated for the consequences of gender-based violence and achieve their sexual and reproductive health and rights during the COVID-19 pandemic in Pariang County located in Southern Unity State of South Sudan through sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) interventions to refugees in Pamir and host communities in Jamjang.

Objectives of the Project:

With funding from Global Affairs Canada (GAC), the IRC aimed to provide protection and health services to vulnerable people in response to the COVID-19 pandemic through an integrated programmatic initiative in South Sudan. As a result of this programme, targeted communities will have:

1. Increased access to sexual and reproductive health rights services during COVID-19; 2. Improved sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) protection, mitigation and response services during COVID-19; 3. Increased participation and agency of women and girls in sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) issues; and 4. Increased quality and comprehensive sexual reproductive health/gender-based violence services in a COVID risk mitigated environment.

Key Project Outcomes:

1. Women and girls are protected from and treated for the consequences of gender-based violence and achieve their sexual and reproductive health and rights during the COVID-19 pandemic. 2. Quality SRH/GBV services are accessible, safe and utilized by women and girls during COVID-19 3. Women and girls are socially supported and have the information, power and resources to decide if they wish to seek SRH/GBV services during COVID 19.

Purpose of Endline Evaluation:

In line with the grant agreement and project proposal document, a final project evaluation will be conducted in order to assess the completeness and effectiveness of the project deliverables, achievements realized, take stock of the positive and negative changes brought about as a result of this action. The main outcome of interest of the endline study will be to measure the extent to which women and girls’ health and safety needs in South Sudan were addressed and met during COVID-19. The outcome of this evaluation will provide very useful pieces of learning to inform any future scale up efforts or design of a next funding of the project.

Objectives of the Endline Evaluation:

This final evaluation exercise will seek to achieve the following objectives:

1. To determine to what extent the project responded to the needs and priorities of the clients as well as global, regional, country and IRC needs and priorities.

2. To determine how compatible has the project been with other interventions in the sector, in South Sudan and in IRC.

3. To determine to what extent the project achieved its objectives and outcomes as described in the project work plan and logframe.

4. To determine to what extent the project generated significant positive or negative, intended or unintended effects in the targeted populations.

5. To ascertain the extent to which the target population can sustain the benefits of the project.

6. To assess the level of IRC collaboration and coordination with county, state and national stakeholders in the planning and implementation of the project.

7. To document key lessons learnt and promising/best practices to inform future programming.

Endline Evaluation Scope:

The consultant will conduct the endline evaluation in Pariang County (Pamir Refugee Camp and Jamjang Host Community) for Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and Gender Based Violence (GBV) interventions. The Consultant will work closely with the MEAL Coordinator in the planning and execution of the evaluation. However, the quality of the evaluation assignment shall remain the sole responsibility of the Consultant.

Sample Size:

The Consultant will determine the appropriate sample sizes considering the geographical areas, targeted groups, and the homogeneity and heterogeneity of the target population.

Methodology:

The evaluation will use a mixed method approach where quantitative and qualitative approaches will be applied. The consultant is expected to collect quantitative and qualitative data from primary and secondary sources, conduct analysis using various relevant techniques and triangulate information from various sources when presenting and discussing findings. The consultant is expected to make conclusions and recommendations based on findings. The recommendations made should be actionable and practical in the context of South Sudan. The evaluation should be utilization-focused as IRC intends to use the findings to inform current and future programming. Given this overall guidance, the technical proposals should provide detailed methodology for this assignment. Key activities should include, but not limited to:

· Document review of project documents including Logical framework for the project design and reports.

· Instrument development in English and orient the supervisors and field workers for the study.

· Facilitate and supervise data collection within quantitative and qualitative frameworks for the study.

· Consultations with relevant stakeholders at sector, national, state, county and payam levels.

· Analyze data and report preparation.

· Ensure that lessons learned, problems and good practices are documented throughout the process inception report with the final research design.

· Drafting report with relevant endline indicator achievement figures with factsheet and ensure that they are of good quality.

· A presentation kit of main results highlighting important analysis and trends and updating the results framework.

· Incorporating feedback/comments and finalization of report

Key Deliverables:

1. Consultant will produce and submit inception report detailing evaluation design and methodology, tools, and instruments to be used in this evaluation withing 5 days after the sign of the contract/agreement. The inception report will be submitted to IRC for review and presented virtually for feedback. The final inception report will be approved by IRC after submission before allowing any survey activities to continue. 2. Consultant will produce and submit first draft endline report for review and virtually presented to IRC for comments and validation. The outline for this delivery could be as agreed in the inception report, but it should meet the survey/evaluation objectives as indicated in this TOR. 3. Consultant will develop a final report, incorporating feedback from IRC. The Consultant is accountable to maintain the requirements for the content, format, and length of the final report, overall quality and agreed timelines. Final endline report should incorporate all comments from IRC. The finalized report will be presented virtually highlighting key findings and recommendations.

IRC Responsibility:

1. Work closely with the Consultant in planning, coordination and execution of the assignment.

2. IRC will support the Consultant in travel booking to the field using UNHAS flights.

3. Induction on the IRC safeguarding policy for the Consultant and enumerators before directly engaging with the clients.

4. Responsible for organizing meetings with the different stakeholders during the survey (if required).

5. Introducing the Consultant to local authorities for easy execution of the survey in the communities.

6. Provide relevant project documents for review

Consultant Responsibility:

1. Participate in the induction to the safeguarding policy and sign the safeguarding statement.

2. Ensure the actual survey is conducted as per the TOR and contract.

3. Ensure the highest research ethical standards and transparency are upheld during the evaluation.

4. Ensure that the time scheduled is adhered to.

5. Responsible for his or her stationaries and other items needed for the evaluation.

6. International flights/travel will be at the Consultant's responsibility.

7. Consultancy fee is expected to cover the Consultant's subsistence needs (food, accommodation, security/allowances, enumerator fees, training). All costs related to the evaluation should be included in the consultancy fee.

8. Consultant will be responsible to train the enumerators which is agreed as per inception report, and test the tools agreed. Refinement will be checked by IRC after field testing.

9. The Consultant should develop data collection tools and present to IRC for approval.

10. Survey execution - according to the agreed sample size and area, beneficiary/ community, and stakeholder coverage. If possible, the data collection should be conducted with the support of Kobo Collect or CommCare and GPS to map the respondents for future reference (if possible).

Data Disclosure:

1. The Consultant should handover/deliver to IRC, at minimum, all files obtained during the survey including: quantitative data sets (raw and refined products), transcripts of qualitative data and others in an easy to read format, and maintain naming conventions and labelling for the use of the project/ program/ initiative and key stakeholders.

2. Data must be disaggregated by gender, age and other relevant diversity, etc.

3. Datasets must be anonymized with all identifying information (personal identifiable information) removed. Each individual or household should be assigned a unique identifier. Datasets which have been anonymized will be accompanied by a password protected identifier key document to ensure that we are able to return to households or individuals for follow up.

4. Stakeholders with access to this document will be limited and defined in collaboration with IRC during evaluation inception. The Consultant is not allowed to use other than for this evaluation purpose or share data, findings, reports etc of this survey, except with the written approval from IRC.

Duration of Assignment:

The estimated duration of the study is 35 working days within the month of April and May 2022 which includes field work and report compilation. The consultant is required to submit a workplan of activities in the technical proposal based on the proposed timeline.

Qualifications

Qualifications:

- Advanced University degree (Master or PhD Level) in Sociology, Social Sciences, Evaluation & Socio-Economic Studies, Public Health, or another related field. - Minimum of 5 years of relevant practical evaluation experience within three or more of the following areas: participatory methods; qualitative methods; social network analyses; social accountability; conflict prevention and peacebuilding; community participation and/or empowerment. - Demonstrated publication record of evaluations on SRHR and SGBV or related topics. - Demonstrated excellent analytical, writing and reporting skills, with a focus on accessible, actionable, practitioner-focused reporting. - Prior work experience in South Sudan is a strong asset. - Familiarity with humanitarian and conflict-affected settings - Fluency in written and spoken English required. - Ability and willingness to travel to implementation sites in South Sudan (pending approval from IRC safety and security, based on security situation)

How to apply

Applicants should send:

- Cover letter outlining relevant experience and skills against qualifications listed. - Brief Technical Proposal (Not more than 5-pages) detailing the methodology on how to carry out the evaluation and a work plan including the COVID-19 adaptation plan. - CVs of proposed consultant and a company profile in case of a consultancy firm. Note: Key personnel whose CVs are submitted in the proposal will undertake the assignment and work directly with IRC. Any attempt at replacement or substitution of consultancy personnel will be treated as breach of agreement. - Detailed budget to complete assignment including: 1) use of the estimated total number of days required; 2) daily rates for consultant(s); Data collection requirements for enumerators if any and 3) travel and accommodation costs during assignment. The Financial Proposal should include all costs that the consultant envisions and is charging for this assignment, including flights to and from Juba, flights and ground transport in the field and renumeration for enumerators and evaluation staff and procurement of any software, hardware and other materials for the assignment. - Provide a sample report(s) of similar work conducted previously – the name of the client may be redacted. IRC will only use the sample reports for purposes of identification of a consultant for this assignment.

Evaluation and Award of Consultancy

IRC will evaluate the proposals and award the assignment based on technical and financial soundness and feasibility. IRC reserves the right to accept or reject any proposal received without giving reasons and is not bound to accept the lowest, the highest or any bidder.