Final Evaluation Consultant

Organisation Hoffnungszeichen | Sign of Hope e.V.

www.hoffnungszeichen.de, www.sign-of-hope.org

Position Final Evaluation Consultant

Type of Contract Short-term consultancy

Location Home-based with field mission travel to Amudat District, Southern Karamoja, Uganda.

Relevant Languages English

Application Deadline12th July 2024

Starting Date 2nd September 2024

Project Title Rural Maternal-Child Healthcare Services and Systems Enhancement in Amudat District, Southern Karamoja, Uganda.

Total Project Budget EUR 774,560

Hoffnungszeichen | Sign of Hope e.V. (SoH) is announcing an open tender procedure for consultancy services for a final evaluation in Southern Karamoja, UGANDA.

Background and Rationale

Hoffnungszeichen | Sign of Hope e.V. (SoH) is a Christian motivated organisation for Human Rights, Humanitarian Assistance and Development Cooperation. From its base in Constance, Germany, SoH is committed to helping those in distress and exploited people worldwide.

This final evaluation is commissioned under the “Rural Maternal-Child Healthcare Services and Systems Enhancement in Amudat District, Southern Karamoja, Uganda” project funded by Else Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung with co-funding from Sign of Hope e.V. and FIDA International.

The project is jointly implemented by Sign of Hope Uganda, the Catholic Diocese of Moroto Health Office and FIDA Uganda.

The goal of the project is to improve access to quality, community-based healthcare, with an emphasis on Maternal-Child Healthcare in Karamoja, Uganda. It seeks to do so by; improving access to quality Emergency Obstetric and New-born Care; increasing utilization of quality integrated, preventative and curative maternal-child healthcare & nutrition services; strengthening collaboration and capacity among health actors whilst promoting the sustainability of quality, equitable service delivery and systems. The main direct beneficiaries for this project include the general population, children under five, PLW, VHTs, TBAs and healthcare staff. Direct Beneficiaries; approximately 7,500 individuals are expected to receive consultation, treatment, prevention, antenatal and nutrition services through mobile clinic outreaches over 36 months from January 2022 - December 2024 (3,000 males (40%) and 4,500 females (60%)). This includes approximately 2,250 children under five (30%) and 1,125 PLW (15%). 80 VHTs, 50 TBAs and 70 healthcare staff will be trained and supported to provided quality community and facility based healthcare services to the community. Indirect Beneficiaries; Approximately 32,610 individuals (20,600 Amudat and Karinga 12,010 - based on 2014 census data factoring in growth rate). This includes the catchment area for the program and the immediate catchment area for 2 LLHUs managed directly by the Diocese of Moroto Health Office in collaboration with Sign of Hope.

Purpose, Objectives and Use

The purpose of the evaluation is to provide SoH, Diocese of Moroto and FIDA Uganda with a comprehensive assessment of the project, conducted systematically and impartially, as well as analyze the implementation and results of the project, propose actions to ensure sustainability of the results, identify lessons learned and information for potential future projects. The study will provide concrete, credible and practical recommendations that will assist with the timely incorporation of the findings into the decision-making process and contribute to the organisational learning of both implementing organisations.

The study will support the project quality assurance measures implemented by SoH and meet the donor requirements towards the development projects implemented by German private organisations.

The evaluation will address evaluation questions based on the standard OECD/DAC evaluation criteria of relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability, and impact (please see https://www.oecd.org/dac/evaluation/revised-evaluation-criteria-dec-2019.pdf). The objectives of the evaluations are to:

1. Assess the extent to which the project has sustainably achieved its objectives and results (see annexe 1), including the extent to which the lives of the project beneficiaries have been improved,
2. Identify the strengths and weaknesses in terms of planning, management, implementation and monitoring of the project,
3. Evaluate sustainability measures,
4. Identify cross-cutting issues addressed through the project, including gender equality, human rights, marginalised groups, inclusion, and other issues,
5. Determine the effects of Covid-19 on the project, its activities and implementing organisation,
6. Document lessons learned that could contribute to the improvement of the design of future projects.
7. Identify challenges and recommend best ways to improve SoH, Diocese of Moroto and FIDA partnership in future project implementation.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Evaluation Consultant will work in close cooperation with the responsible SoH Officer and the local implementing partner.

The duties and responsibilities of the Evaluation Consultant will include:

• Develop a work plan outlining the proposed research methodology, geographical coverage and schedule to conduct the study,
• Conduct a desk review of relevant documents,
• Carry out a project site visit to a project location to conduct research, collect data and establish contact with the local implementing partner, project beneficiaries and relevant project stakeholders,
• Review and evaluate available data and existing sources of information, including the project proposal, annual reports, conducted studies and other documents,
• Examine institutional, technical, staffing and financial capacities of the implementing partner as well as its relationship with the target group and other relevant stakeholders.

Expected Deliverables

The study will produce the following deliverables:

• an inception report, including the proposed research methodology and data collection tools, a table of content and timeline of research activities prior to the site visit to the project location,
• a comprehensive report of a maximum of 30 pages with practical recommendations and relevant annexes (including raw data and documented records).

A template will be provided to serve as a guide and may be used to structure the final report.

Study Quality and Ethical Standards

The study team will take all reasonable steps to ensure that the study is designed and conducted to respect and protect the rights and welfare of the people and communities involved. Furthermore, the study should be aligned to the following standards and applicable practices:

• Utility: the study must be useful and used.
• Feasibility: the study must be realistic, diplomatic and managed in a sensible, cost-effective manner.
• Ethics and Legality: the study must be conducted in an ethical and legal manner, with particular regard for the welfare of those involved in and affected by the Study.
• Impartiality and Independence: the study should be impartial, providing a comprehensive and unbiased assessment that takes into account the views of all stakeholders.
• Transparency: the study activities should reflect an attitude of openness and transparency.
• Accuracy: the study should be technically accurate and credible, providing sufficient information about the data collection, analysis, and interpretation methods so that its worth or merit can be determined.
• Participation: the Stakeholders should be consulted and meaningfully involved in the study process when feasible and appropriate.
• Collaboration: Collaboration between key operating partners in the study process improves the legitimacy and utility of the study.

The study must be in line with the SoH guiding principles and Code of Conduct.

Process/Timeframe

The total duration of the assignment is up to 25 working days within the period from 2nd September 2024 to 4th October 2024.

Planning meeting with SoH, handover of relevant documents 1 day

Initial document review and inception report preparation 4 days

Sharing inception report with SoH 1 day

Finalisation of inception report 1 day

Data collection site visit to a project location 5-10 days

Data analysis, draft report with annexes 5-10 days

Incorporating received feedback and report finalisation 3-5 days

Qualifications and Experience

Essential:

• Minimum of 5 years of project evaluation and/or implementation experience in the result-based management framework
• Proven experience of conducting feasibility studies, evaluations and other research projects
• Technical and methodological knowledge to conduct research projects and formulate conclusions based on a solid methodology, assessing projects for relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, impact and sustainability of projects
• Experience working with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and partnered projects
• Fluency in written and spoken English

Desirable:

• Experience in the relevant field/sector
• Professional familiarity with the project country/region
• Practical experience of working for and/or evaluating EKFS-funded projects
• Fluency in written and spoken Pokot language

Academic Background

An advanced level university degree (Masters’ degree or equivalent) in social sciences, public administration, international development studies, law and/or human health related qualifications . A first-level university degree in combination with additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted.

The Evaluation Consultant is to be independent and impartial with no liabilities to any other organisation or government entity regarding this evaluation.

How to apply

Please submit the following documents as PDF files with the subject line “Evaluation in Amudat District, Southern Karamoja, Uganda.” to recruitment@sign-of-hope.org no later than 28th June 2024:

• A resumé indicating all relevant experience (max. 2 pages),
• contacts of at least two professional referees,
• a cover letter, including a brief description of the proposed research methodology (technical proposal max. 1 page) and a comprehensive breakdown of costs (financial proposal), including professional fees and all other relevant costs, including travel expenses,
• a writing sample of the document of similar research value (e.g. a feasibility study, an evaluation report).

Companies as well as independent consultants are invited for this tender. Female and differently abled candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Please note that due to a large number of applications we may limit establishing contact to shortlisted applicants.

Bids received after deadline will not be considered. If offers are incomplete, bidders may be able to hand in missing documents within a deadline upon request by SoH.

Interviews with shortlisted candidates will be held online in the week of 15th July 2024.

The consultancy agreement will be set up by SoH. Consultancy agreements set up by auditors won’t be accepted.

Criteria and weighting for the evaluation of the submitted proposals:

1. Essential and desirable competencies, proposed methodology: 30 %
2. Financial proposal (fee): 30 %
3. Performance during interview: 20 %
4. Writing samples: 10 %
5. Minimum amount of years of relevant experience: 5 %
6. Language skills: 5 %