Solidarites Marsabit Impact Evaluation Job in Kenya

Terms of Reference

Evaluation of the impact of specific activities on increasing resilience to drought for communities in Northern Marsabit 

Country: Kenya

Location: North Horr (Marsabit)

Title of evaluation: Assessing impact of specific activities on increasing resilience to drought for communities in Northern Marsabit


Starting date: 15th May 2011 (tentative)

Duration of the field mission:Subject to proposed methodology (estimated at about 8 working day for desk review and developing the methodologies, approximately 14 working days field work and 5-8 working days on analysis and report writing)

Under responsibility of: Deputy Country Director for Kenya

Funding Sources for the evaluation: DFID

Presentation of Solidarités 

Solidarités International (SI) is an international humanitarian organization which provides assistance to populations affected by natural disaster or man-made crisis.

For over 30 years, SI has concentrated its actions on meeting three vital needs: Water, Food and Shelter. In the Horn of Africa, SI is currently implementing Food Security, Water and Sanitation projects in Somalia and Kenya.

SI has 2 areas of intervention in Kenya (Northern Marsabit and Nairobi informal settlements) and 3 areas of intervention in Somalia (Gedo, Lover Juba and Adaado). This consultancy focuses exclusively on North Horr program.

Purposes of the evaluation

SI has implemented three drought response and drought resilience interventions in Northern Marsabit since 2007, with the third one currently being implemented. SI intends to document and assess the impact of the implemented activities and approaches in terms of increasing households and community resilience to drought, quantifying this impact as much as possible.

The purpose of this assignment is
  1. to define and develop a clear methodologies for assessing, evaluating and quantifying (where possible) the impact of specific activities that were designed to improving household and community resilience to drought
  2. to use these methodologies to assess the impact of specific activities
  3. to use these results for advocating and engaging on up scaling of relevant activities/approaches.
Scope and focus

Assignment title: Assessing impact that specific activities and approaches has had on increasing resilience to drought for communities in Northern Marsabit

Objective: To develop and use suitable tools to assess the impact of specific DRR activities and approaches on the resilience of local communities, quantifying this impact and producing a cost-benefit analysis that addresses both direct and indirect impacts of the activities.

More specifically: 

1- Qualitatively and detail the impact that these activities and approaches have had on people resilience to droughts;

2- Quantify and put monetary value(s) of this impact (where possible)

3- Produce a costs-benefits analysis for each activity and approach, comparing the costs of the activity to the direct and immediate impacts, and also to the indirect impacts that it may have had (e.g., emergency fodder has triple impacts:

(i) boost local production in Hurri Hills and quantify this impact;

(ii) save animal as they are not dying while trekking back to grazing areas and quantify;

(iii) people stop giving their food ration to save their animal. Quantify these impacts at community, groups or households levels as relevant)

4- Compare the costs-benefits analysis (third point) to the known costs of other emergency interventions (e.g. translate benefits of improved water in reduction of diarrhoeal diseases onto malnutrition impact. Compare the cost of this water intervention to the known costs of treating malnutrition)

Outputs from this assignment: 

A. On developing methodologies: 

1- Developed practical methodology on how to measure impact of activities on drought disaster resilience of ASAL communities;

2- Developed practical methodology on how to quantify the impacts (direct and indirect) of activities and approaches on households and communities

3- Developed practical methodology on costs-benefits analysis for activities and approaches intended to improve drought disaster resilience

B. Assessment and evaluation of the impact of the following activities (using the methodologies developed)

12 specifics activities have been identified for which these impact assessment tools should be used to assess impact increase resilience.

These 12 activities are:

1- Rehabilitation/protection of traditional shallow wells (phases 1, 2 and 3)

2- Construction of hill catchments feeding underground storage tanks (phase 2 and 3)

3- Development of rainwater harvesting systems at schools (phases 2 and 3)

4- Rehabilitation of town water distribution systems (phase 2)

5- Household latrines construction (phases 1, 2 and 3)

6- Hygiene promotion (phases 1, 2 and 3)

7- Camel distribution at schools (phase 1)

8- Fodder production (different methodologies in phase 1, 2 and 3), including emergency fodder (phase 3);

9- Training of CAHWs and de-worming campaigns (phases 2 and 3);

10- Sweet potatoes production in Kalacha (phase 2),

11- Dryland agriculture (phase 3)

12- Promotion of improved milking practices (phase 3)

C. Two-page report sheet on the impact (qualitatively and quantitatively as much as it is possible) that each activity has had on increasing resilience of a specific community or group or household for each activity (a total of 12 report sheets). 

Evaluation process and methods

The consultant must develop the three methodologies and tools for data collection and analysis, which will need to be presented and validated by SI technical team before proceeding to the field work. The evaluation methods should be clearly outlined in the report and their appropriateness, relative to the evaluation's primary purpose, focus and users, should be explained, pointing out the strengths and weaknesses of the methods. A description of the overall flow of the evaluation process (i.e. sequence of the key stages) should be given in the evaluation report. The evaluation approach and the methods used to collect and analyze data should also be described. The nature (e.g. external or mixed) and make up of the team (e.g. sector expertise, local knowledge, gender balance) and its appropriateness for the evaluation should be outlined.

The report should outline the sources of biases that might affect the evaluation and how these have been addressed.

The report should also present the key constraints to carrying out the evaluation (e.g., lack of baseline data, lack of access to key information sources, use of translators), and the effect of these constraints.

Whenever secondary sources will be referred to, the evaluator should indicate the level of reliability of the given information.

After the field work, the evaluation team will present and discuss with the project team the preliminary findings and the proposed recommendations.

A first draft of the evaluation report should be provided to the SI coordination team for review and comments. A final version, integrating responses to these comments, shall then be submitted for final validation by SI.

Procedures and logistics
  • The evaluation team must comply, at all time, with SI rules and procedures related to security and relations with the media.
  • The evaluation team must respect the ethics and the deontology related to evaluation practice.
  • While working in Nairobi and in North Horr town, the evaluation team may access office space in the offices of SI.
  • Accommodation, office space and transport while in the field will be provided and organised by SI team.
Deliverables

Three methodology documents covering:

1) Developed practical methodology on how to measure impact of activities and approaches on drought disaster resilience of ASAL communities;

2) Developed practical methodology on how to quantify the impacts (direct and indirect) of activities and approaches on households and communities

3) Developed practical methodology on costs-benefits analysis for activities and approaches intended to improve drought disaster resilience

Provide twelve (12) two-page report sheets on the impact (qualitatively and quantitatively as much as it is possible) that each activity had on increasing the resilience of households and communities for each activity. The layout of the report sheets shall be validated by SI and the final version shall be of publishable quality.

Relevant maps and photographs of the assessed zone and programme.

Note that the quality of the data collection methodology, analysis and reporting is paramount and substandard reporting will not be accepted.
Documents of reference (on request only)
  • Project proposals for each of the three phases of SI program in Northern Marsabit;
  • All available project reports;
  • All external project evaluation reports;
  • A brief from the field team on the levels of impact measured via project M&E and a summary of their own views regarding impact per activity;
  • For reference only, some examples of costs-benefits analysis documents completed in other contexts.
Qualification of the Lead consultant
  • Expertise on emergency response, DRR and development approaches in the ASAL context, in the sectors of WASH, Livelihoods and Food Security.
  • Expertise on developing methodologies to measure and evaluate project impacts.
  • Expertise in cost benefit analysis would be a distinct advantage.
  • Proven record of similar assignments.
  • Proven experience in similar evaluation context (ASAL).
  • Strong methodological and writing capacities.
How to apply

Please send your proposal, highlighting the following:
  • A brief introduction of bidding firm or person attaching relevant CVs
  • Your understanding of the Terms of Reference
  • Proposed methodology and approach
  • Proposed work plan and budget
  • Your availability
All relevant information (CV, cover letter, copies of testimonials, certificate of works and 3 contact references) should be sent to info@solidarites-kenya-som.org before COB 24th April 2011.

Please indicate the consultancy you are applying for in the title of your email.
Only short-listed applications will be contacted.

You can also visit www.kenyanvacancies.com for more jobs