Consultant for External Project Evaluation (Integrated Community Development in Arssi Zone)

Terms of Reference – External Evaluation of the Project:

Integrated Community Development Program with focus on Skills Development in Arssi Zone, Ethiopia

Country: Ethiopia; Project Area: Munessa Woreda, Arssi Zone, Oromia Regional National State

Date of Assignment: November/December 2015

Background

The project “Integrated Community Development Program with focus on Skills Development” in Ethiopia for which the evaluation is planned, aims to enhance the productivity and life quality of the communities. It is implemented in 6 selected communities in Munessa Woreda of the Arssi Zone in the Oromia Regional National State. The implementation started on 1st January 2013 ending on 31st December 2015.

The main objective of the project is to contribute to poverty reduction in Ethiopia. The specific project objective is to enhance the productivity and life quality of the communities in the selected project area. To achieve this, the Action pursues a holistic approach to integrated rural development with a strong focus on skills development as a means. Access to informal/basic education, improved education quality, improved participation of women in development, improved agricultural production and productivity through skills training are key for the economic and social life of the people in the country at large and the communities in Arssi zone.

On the individual level community members will benefit from trainings and forums that promote a wide range of skills needed for improved productivity and quality of life. It is envisaged that communities actively participate in Non-Formal Education and Functional Adult Literacy by establishing village literacy centres, providing educational materials, functional adult literacy with focus on adult women and non-formal education for children out of school. Furthermore, the position of women in the social and economic life of the society will be enhanced by strengthening household bookkeeping, promoting vegetable production and developing skills in diversified food preparation. Agricultural technologies shall be improved by introducing, testing and demonstrating improved dairy cows management. Soil fertility maintenance will be strengthened and improved crops varieties will be tested and demonstrated. The project will introduce new machineries, provide training on basic metal work and agricultural implements and support micro basic seed production and distribution. Training on basic carpentry, house improvement, rural power options, rainwater harvesting and sanitation facilities will improve the living standard of the beneficiaries.

On the institutional level the project provides staff training and helps community structures to grow and improve their management capacities by participating in Non-Formal Education and Functional Adult Literacy. Moreover, the position of women in the social and economic life of the society will be enhanced by strengthening or establishing women associations and credit/saving schemes as well as saving and internal lending communities groups. Formal education will be improved by establishing mini-libraries and sanitation facilities in four school, teachers get trained, trees will be planted in primary schools and one specific school called Anno-Taji community school is supported.

At the level of society the intervention lays the ground for changes in Oromo society at the one hand through the formation or capacitating of community structures and initiatives, and on the other hand through education and skills development – the most powerful agent for socio-economic transformation.

Objective of the Evaluation

The general objective of the evaluation is to assess the completion and achievements of the project activities, the relevance (significance), effectiveness and sustainability of the project intervention. The evaluation will provide a well-founded, comprehensive and concretely argued document in order to decide on future development interventions in Munessa Woreda of the Arssi Zone in the Oromia Regional National State. The recipients of the evaluation are the donor institutions, HORIZONT3000 and the implmenting partner organization. The specific objectives of the evaluation are to provide information/answers on the following points:

• Did the implementing organization achieve the main goal as well as the project goal with the measures taken?


• Did the implementing organization reach 17,500 beneficiaries and to what extent did they benefit?


• What can and should be the future role of the implementing organization in the field of Integrated Community development?


• What are the lessons learnt and the specific recommendations for future interventions of the implementing organization in the specific project area?


• Is the development model used by the implementing organization a suitable one to be replicated and implemented by other development actors in other geographic areas?

The report shall present findings on the evaluation objectives.

• It shall summarize the findings of the evaluation in the light of the criteria (document with detailed criteria available upon request)


• It shall be clear and concise, limiting itself to essential points (maximum 30 pages)


• Detailed materials shall be attached as appendix.


• The report – and executive summary, if defined to differ – shall be written in the English language.


• The report shall be drawn up using Microsoft Word software and submitted electronically.

The Evaluator

The Evaluator should be well qualified with demonstrated experience in evaluation of development projects and programmes. He should be fluent in English, whereas knowledge of Oromo is an asset. His/her qualifications will be reflected in the CV. The Evaluator will be responsible to come up with an appropriate methodology for the evaluation. The Evaluator will be in charge of the entire evaluation process and will provide HORIZONT3000 with a final evaluation report on time.

Timetable

The evaluation will start in November/December 2015.The whole assignment should be concluded by 15th December 2015. The assignments will comprise a total of about 14 working days.

The assignments will comprise a total of about 14 working days and could be divided as follows:

• Preparation (Document review, Develop evaluation tools) -3 days


• Field Visit (Interviews and meetings with project partner, stakeholders and target group) -7 days


• Report writing (including discussion of draft and final version) -4day

The Evaluator will develop, discuss and agree on the evaluation programme with the implementing organization before commencement of the assignment. The final evaluation programme will be shared with HORIZONT3000.

To be done by the implementing partner organization

• Provide all relevant project information as requested by the evaluator.


• Support in organising transport incl. arrival to / departure from the project area and accommodation for the evaluation team in the project area (on request by the evaluators).


• Prepare meetings between the evaluation team, the beneficiaries and other stakeholders.


• Make available all project staff including staff members who are not on the payroll of the project but fulfil important tasks on behalf of the project.


• General assistance and transport during the field trips.