South Sudan: VSF ‘Emergency Livelihood Asset Protection and Food Security Initiative in Maban, Upper Nile, South Sudan’

About VSF Canada

Veterinarians without Borders/Vétérinaires sans Frontières – Canada (VSF Canada) is a charitable organization whose mission is to work for, and with, communities in need to foster the health of animals, people, and the environments that sustain us. Established in 2005, VWB/VSF works consistently with local partners to address the needs of vulnerable communities in developing countries, as well as in remote areas of Canada.

VSF Canada is partnering with VSF-Germanyfor this specific project in South Sudan to supportvulnerable women, children and their families among the refugees as well as host communities increase their access to nutritious food through protection of their livestock assets, reduction of conflicts and build on their resilience towards disasters

VSF Germanyis an International NGO supporting humanitarian emergency and development interventions, with extensive experience in East Africa, having had experience since 2001 in the region’s food security and livelihoods projects – mostly with a focus on livestock related livelihood interventions.With its regional office in Nairobi, Kenya, all field staff for this project is field based in Maban County, Upper Nile State.

Purpose and Scope of the Consultancy

The purpose of this consultancy service is to provide a framework for planning and conducting thefinal project evaluation as required by the grant agreement signed with DFATD and within VSF Canada internal project management strategies.

Introduction and Background

VSF Canada is implementing through VSF Germany a one-year humanitarian relief program, funded 90% by the IHA Directorate of the former Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), now ‘Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada (DFATD)’. The project is meant to support the most vulnerable, livestock-dependent men and women among the refugees and host communities in Maban County, Upper Nile State, South Sudan. As per original proposal, the project targets directly 110,000 registered refugees within the established camps and 45,000 among the host communities in Maban County. The Project officially started on the 16^th April 2013 andit is scheduled to be completed by the end of August 2014.

Project thematic areas, aims and objectives

The overall objective (Ultimate Outcome) of the project is ensuring that the basic food security needs are met for vulnerable women and men in refugee and host communities in Maban Country, Upper Nile State, South Sudan and their resilience to withstand future shocks is increased.

The specific purposes (Intermediate Outcomes) of the Project are to ensure that vulnerable women and men in refugee and host communities have improved immediate access to food and non-food items through targeted support as well as having increased resilience to future shocks through rebuilding, protecting and strengthening their livelihoods and improved natural resource management

Major focus of the Evaluation should be on the specific Outcomes and their related and consequential activities:

· Outcome 1:Increased protection of livestock assets of refugee and host communities in Maban County through targeted animal health interventions

· Outcome 2: Increased capacity of community animal health workers (CAHWs) to provide animal health services to refugee and host communities in their respective communities

· Outcome 5: Increased household income to purchase food and non-food items from sale of small livestock to local market (e.g. destocking program)

· Outcome 6: Increased capacity of women to engage in productive activities to improve household income and nutrition (e.g. poultry restocking activity)

· Outcome 7:Reduction of resource-based tensions and conflicts between host and refugee communities.

· Outcome 8: Improved natural resource management practices in host and refugee communities (e.g. decreased over grazing)

Overall Purpose and Objectives of the Final Evaluation

Overall purpose of the evaluation is to assess the degree to which the Project met the objectives as outlined in the project proposal/log frame, with particular emphasis on appropriateness, timeliness, efficiency and effectiveness of the interventions carried out. In addition, the evaluation aims to extract the lessons learned and best practices from the project and provide recommendations to enhance the quality of on-going and future programming by VSF Canadaand its Partners.

Specific Objectives of the Assignment

The specific objectives of the proposed evaluation include:

· To assess the relevance and appropriateness of the project to the context, in terms of timing, targeting and design;

· To measure the outcomes of the project against the original results using the indicators outlined in the log frame;

· To document the efficiency of the intervention based on the results achieved with available resources;

· To analyze the efficiency of the response as compared to similar interventions in comparable operatingareas including timeliness and cost-effectiveness;

· To evaluate the effectiveness of the project’s beneficiary accountability mechanisms, in line with principles of transparency, participation, feedback mechanisms and monitoring and learningmechanisms at all stages, and in particular targeting of the beneficiaries;

· To assess the degree to which the project specifically targeted and reached vulnerable groups likewomen, the disabled and any other marginalized groups;

· To identify positive or any unintended negative impact of the project on the lives of beneficiaries andother stakeholders, including an analysis specifically of women; and

· Provide a summary of key findings (document successes, challenges and lesson learned)and recommendations for future interventions.

Sources and Methods

The consultant shall select the most suitable methodology to conduct, analyze and present, initially as a draft, the proposed evaluation to VSF. VSFField Staff may be utilized for direct data gathering in coordination and accordance with their project work plans.

Proposed Methodology/Data collection

The evaluation process should include:

· Desk review of the project reports, formats, action plans, including key documents listed in these terms of reference;

· Field work in Maban to conduct discussions and other forms of gathering data/information from the target beneficiaries, other households, Camp Managers, Sheiks, Local Authorities and other appropriate sources of data/information;

· Focused Group Discussion with stakeholders - interviews with project staff, local NGO Partners and stakeholders including government departments to collect information on achievements, impact and difficulties faced;

· Field visits to target areas and collection of primary data;

· Submission of the draft evaluation report to VSF for feedback;

· Incorporation of VSF’s feedback in the draft report; and

· Debriefing and submission of the final report.

Location of the Evaluation

The survey will take place in the project's area: Maban County, Upper Nile State, South Sudan.

Execution: Period and Duration of the Evaluation.

The entire Final Evaluation will be tentatively conducted starting from the 13^thAugust 2014 and is expected to be completed by the 27^thAugust 2014, with the finalization and submission of Final Report. Out of 15 Days, 6 days (4^th– 9^th day)will be spent in the field location (Maban).

Tentative Schedule and Work Plan*

ScheduleActivity Remarks Day 1 - 2 Nairobi - Briefing with M&EL Officer/PM, preparation of workplan, data collection tools,ToR and Schedule in VSF-GRegional Office 2 Days Day 3 Early flight NBO-Juba - Briefing with Operation Manager and Liaison Officer in VSF-G Juba Office and continuation of desk research/questionnaire/workplan finalization - Overnight in Juba 1 Day Day 4 Early morning flight from Juba -Maban. Meeting and briefing with PM and his team. Discussion on evaluation teamwork, translators, staffing requirements, agenda of activities and movements 1 Day Day 5 - 9 Field Work, Interviews and data collection process. 5 Days Day 10 Flight out of Maban to Juba – Draft report preparation and consolidation of data - Overnight in Juba 1 Day Day 11 Draft report preparation and consolidation of data - Flight from Juba to Nairobi 1 Day Day 12 Final Analysis of Data/Informationgathered - Submission of Preliminary Draft Report by the end of day 12. 1 Day Day 13 Review and comments on Draft Report with/by VSF 1 Day Day 14 - 15 Review, Finalization and Submission of Final Report 2 Days Total Number of Billing Days(3 travel days and 12 full working days) 15

* According to security conditions and safe access to the field locations

Outputs of the Evaluation/Deliverables:

The consultant will be expected to submit a soft copy of a detailed plan within two (2) days of signing the consultancy contract (in Nairobi Office).

A preliminary/draft report will be expectedwithinthree (3)working days after the end of the field mission and the final report is expected within two (2)working days afterVSF’s comments.

The evaluator will produce/submit to the VSF Canada Project Officer a detailed final report in hard and soft form (of no more than 30 pages plus annexes, in Microsoft Word using Arial font 12). The entire report will be presented in English and will remain property of VSF-C.

The consolidated final report should include the following parts:

· Basic Information (max 1 page)

· Executive Summary (2-3 pages)

· Introduction/Background of the project (max 1 page)

· Description of the objectives of the mission and execution/evaluation methodologies

· Key Findings (based on the objectives of the evaluation)

· Problems encountered

· Conclusions

· Summary of Recommendations/Lessons

· Annexes covering Evaluation ToR, Evaluation schedule, List of person interviews and sites visited, Document consulted, Data collection tools and raw data, Project Log-Frame, Abbreviations, graphs, tables

Consultant Qualifications

· Independent consultant/consultancy firm with experience in Monitoring and Evaluation

· Post-graduate degree in veterinary medicine, agriculture, rural development or other related field or equivalent field experience in food security/livelihood interventions.

· A solid and diversified experience within the livestock development/health sector, including experience in evaluation of food aid/security and livelihoods related projects

· Minimum of 5 years professional experience in emergency and in the development sector (preferably in South Sudan)

· Demonstrated conceptual and analytical skills.

· Written and verbal communication skills. Fluency in English is a must, Arabic an asset.

· Excellent time management skills, with an ability to deliver high-quality outputs on time.

· Experience in the use of participatory and gender sensitive evaluation methodologies

· Working experience in South Sudan and/or insecure environments is desirable.

Assistance to the Consultant by the Contracting Authority (VSF Canada)

The Contracting Authority, with support from the implementing agency VSF-G, will make available the following information and facilities to the Consultant:

· Relevant reports, documents, maps, data at contracting authorities disposal, namely:

• The approved project proposal document ( plus LoAs and previous survey reports)
• The original project log-frames (and revised versions)
• Project Reports, including financial information
• Baseline Survey Report

· Office space, furniture, access to printing facilities in the field;

· The use of partner project vehicles and drivers during field work in South Sudan;

· Arranging for various meetings in the field (Consultant to make advance request);

· Counterpart staff for necessary support in the field;

Application Guidelines and Deadlines:

Interested and qualified professionals (individuals, Agencies or Institutions) should submit their applications/bids in sealed envelopes and should include a proposal entailing the following:

1. Work plan &Methodology proposed
2. Proposed Budget
3. Profiles of consultants/CV
4. References upon request

Deadline for Applications:

18^thJuly2014

Notes:

• Please DO NOT send original documents and/or heavy attachments beside the CVs
• Additional information will be required only in case of pr e-selection and short-listing.
• Only those short-listed will be contacted for an Interview

How to apply:

CVs & Cover Letters only to be sent to mauro@vetswithoutborders.ca