Consultant For Programme Evaluation

TERMS OF REFERENCEShort term consultancy INTRODUCTIONSolidar Suisse, hereafter called Solidar has been actively responding to the Syrian Crisis since 2012,assisting displaced Syrian and vulnerable Lebanese families with humanitarian assistance. Initial projectswere implemented through its network partner Norwegian People’s Aid and since 2013 Solidar Suisseimplements projects through its own team based in Nabatieh, South Lebanon.The Solidar Strategic Framework 2014-2015 was the backbone for the implementation of 2 strategicobjectives: 1. Meeting the basic needs of Syrian refugees in Southern Lebanon,2. Enhancing social stability in the hosting communities in Southern Lebanon. Under the first objective, Solidar delivered emergency aid to Syrian refugees in the sectors of BasicAssistance, Shelter, and household level WASH. Basic Assistance, included initially only thedistribution of seasonal NFIs to Syrian refugees and Lebanese vulnerable households but Solidargradually shifted within this sector mainly to the broader Unconditional Cash Assistance (UCA). Inthe sectors of Shelter/WASH, Solidar increases access to adequate and improved shelter spacethrough the rehabilitation of unfinished parts of buildings or housing units in exchange for rent-freeaccommodation for a set period of time.To mitigate negative impacts on host communities and tensions between host communities andSyrian refugees, Solidar includes and involves also vulnerable Lebanese households in theirproject activities. The Community Support Projects (CSP) that improve or expand essentialcommunity services and infrastructure aim at strengthening relations between host and refugeecommunities. The response with an annual budget amounting to approx. USD 1.5mio was fundedmainly through two main donors, Swiss Solidarity and UNHCRCurrently, a process of strategic review is ongoing with the aim to develop the new StrategicFramework for 2016-2018 for Solidar’s response in Lebanon. PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVESThe overall purpose of this review is learning. Specifically, the strategic and operational shouldserve to improve subsequent project phases. In addition, the evaluation findings andrecommendations are meant to feed into the strategic review process and serve to adapt theoverall strategic direction of the country programme. Guiding evaluation questions are:1. To which extent did the projects achieve its objectives and delivered on intendedresults/?2. How can projects be adapted to make them more relevant, effective and efficient infuture?3. How can the overall program / individual projects be adapted in order to take intoaccount the protracted nature of the crisis and thus provide more sustainablesolutions on the longer-term? The consultant will apply the OECD/DAC criteria – with a particular focus onappropriateness/relevance, impact, effectiveness, coverage, and connectedness. Annex 1contains a non-exhaustive list of evaluation questions of particular interest. The questionnaire willbe further developed by the consultant in discussions and cooperation with both HQ and theCountry office in Lebanon.The primary target audience of the evaluation is the Management of Solidar Suisse Country Teamin Lebanon and Solidar Suisse Headquarters. The evaluation report will be shared with the donorSwiss Solidarity. SCOPEThe proposed evaluation will focus on finalized and on-going projects of Solidar in the South ofLebanon in the sectors of 1) Basic Assistance including Winterisation, WASH and UnconditionalCash Assistance and 2) Community Support Projects. The geographical focus will be the South ofLebanon, more specifically Nabatieh, Jezzine, Bint Jbeil and Tyr. The target group will be Syrianrefugees and vulnerable Lebanese households as well as other stakeholders involved in theprojects mentioned below. The following projects are part of the evaluation:   No. Solidar No. SwS Place Duration Intervention areas Budget (excl. PAA) Donor Status 4221 262.008 South Lebanon 01.03.2015 - 15.10.2015 Extension till 15.12.2015 • Unconditional Cash Phase I • Community support projects 616'275 CHF Swiss Solidarity finished 4222 263.002 South Lebanon 01.04.2015 - 31.01.2016 • Shelter refurbishment Phase I • Community support projects 368'195 CHF Swiss Solidarity finished 4223 266.014 South Lebanon 01.10.2015 - 30.06.2016 • Unconditional Cash Phase II • Winterisation Assistance 752'025 CHF Swiss Solidarity ongoing Note that only components in bold are within the scope of the evaluation. Shelter refurbishmentwithin project 4222 will be evaluated at a later stage. The scope of the evaluation encompasses the following components:1. Action 1: Unconditional Cash Assistance Programme: Monthly cash installments ofUSD 175 to most vulnerable Syrian beneficiaries 2. Action 2: Winterization Assistance: Monetized winterization assistance for vulnerableSyrian and Lebanese beneficiaries3. Action 3: Community Support Projects: Small grant projects, up to USD 10’000, toimprove community infrastructure and public services in municipalities affected by therefugee crisis. METHODOLOGY AND TIME-FRAMEThe consultant in cooperation with the HQ and the Country Office in Lebanon will develop the finalmethodology for the evaluation which will be included in the inception report. The methodology willhave to combine both quantitative and qualitative tools and be used where possible in aparticipatory way. Suggested tools are:• Literature review• Review and analysis of project monitoring data• Review of project documentation and procedures• Observations• Key informant interviews• Focus Group Discussions with beneficiaries and other stakeholders• Discussions and interviews with the project teams• SWOT The work will be concluded in a period of 17 days, indicatively broken down as follow: 3 Preparation (preparation methodology, work plan, inception report) 2 Briefings / Debriefings 2 Travel 5 field work 5 Report writing & data analysis 17 total   The start of the evaluation is latest Mid-June 2016. The final report has to be submitted inJuly 2016. RESPONSIBILITY AND REPORTING LINESThe Head of Humanitarian Aid at HQ of Solidar in Zurich will be the main focal point for theassignment and direction of the evaluation and will receive directly the evaluation report.The Country Representative in Lebanon will be the focal point for guiding and facilitating theconsultant in Lebanon.DELIVERABLES/OUTPUTSI. The Inception report will contain the following elements:• Evaluation matrix lining out the subsidiary evaluation questions• Methodology• Sampling plan• Draft data collection tools (survey forms, topic guides for focus groups etc.) • Draft work planII. The consultant will organize a debriefing workshop to validate and discuss the provisionalfindings with Solidar’s team in Lebanon.III. The evaluation report will be submitted in English. It shall contain no more than 25 pages(excluding annexes). The report shall contain a general summary and sections coveringmethodology, analysis and findings. Recommendations have to be concrete and applicablewithin Solidar’s resources, capacity and mandate and have clear responsibilities attached. Thereport must answer the final evaluation questions that are stated in, but not limited to, Annex 1.IV. The draft report must be submitted within 14 days after departure from Lebanon. The finalreport must be submitted within 7 days after receipt of management comments on thedraft report.V. Table of content of the evaluation report:a. Cover pageb. Acknowledgement pagec. Content, map of area and list of acronymsd. Executive summary with the main findingse. Methodologyf. General report, including analysis and findingsg. Recommendationsh. List of resources/bibliographyi. Time-table of consultant with references to stakeholders spoken to.PROFILE OF THE CONSULTANT• Demonstrated experience in evaluating humanitarian projects, preferably in displacementor refugee contexts• Proven knowledge of the context of the Syrian refugee crisis, and, preferably in Lebanon• Knowledge of the Humanitarian System and respective coordination structures• Sound knowledge of Cash Transfer Programming• Up-to-date knowledge of current (participatory) evaluation tools and methods and provenexperience in the use of these tools• Fluency in English language required, Arabic is a strong asset• Strong analytical skills• Ability to work effectively in intercultural settings• Excellent writing skills in English and the ability to write concise, yet comprehensive reports• Ability to meet deadlinesAPPLICATION PROCESSBids must include the following:• Technical proposal including outline of evaluation framework and methods, comments onthe TOR, proposed time frame and expected work plan• Financial proposal including daily consultancy fee, a breakdown of costs of internationaltravel, accommodation, per Diems and visas (if applicable). • CV(s) with qualifications, experience, contact details and evidence of past evaluations forthe evaluator• 2 References of previous clients for evaluations, including the contact details and relationship tothe consultant Submit complete bids to: evaluationlebanon@gmail.comApplication deadline: 06.06.2016.Note that due to the urgency of the exercise applications will be evaluated on a rolling basis   ANNEX 1: SPECIFIC EVALUATION QUESTIONSThe evaluation should address but is not limited to the following list of questions:Appropriateness (relevance)• Is the applied approach/modality of the project appropriate and relevant to the currenthumanitarian situation in the South of Lebanon and the needs of the target groupspecifically?• Are the activities chosen appropriate, practical and consistent with the objectives and thereceived results?Coverage• To what extent is the applied selection process successful in reaching the intended targetgroup? How is the selection process perceived by communities? What are eventual sideeffects?Connectedness• How can future projects be adapted in order to take into account the protracted nature ofthe crisis and thus provide more sustainable solutions on the longer-term?