Consultant For Project Evaluation

The project (funded by DFID) that is being planned to be evaluated is entitled “Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Implementation in South Lebanon”. Project Duration:October 1st, 2013 – December 31st,   2014 INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND WVL aims to reach 6,500 individuals of the estimated number of registered and unregistered refugees through direct water, sanitation and hygiene interventions. WVL proposes to reach 1,300 Households (HHs). An estimated additional 120,000 refugees and host community members will be reached through the mass hygiene campaign and community water purification systems. The project seeks to address the three WASH aspects in the following manner: 1)      Water: WVL aims to ensure that target populations have access to safe water.  This is achieved through the provision of water storage facilities and water purification equipment on a household and community level. Families residing in collective shelters in Tyre, Saida and Bent Jbeil receive ceramic water filters (1 per family) and 1,000 litre water storage tanks (2 per 5 families). To improve the quality of piped water, WVL works with the SLWE to repair 25 water treatment facilities at a municipality level to provide in-line water filtration at a community level. Repairing these facilities will benefit up to 80% of the population in the municipalities who access piped water.  The repaired filtration structures provide a safer quality of water reaching both refugees and host communities at the HH level. 2)      Sanitation: WVL identifies, constructs and rehabilitates sanitation facilities in collective shelters and unfinished buildings (toilets, sinks and showers) to meet the emergency WASH facility rehabilitation standards. The aim is to provide 1 toilet per 15 people which falls in line with the minimum Sphere standards. Sewage dislodging is arranged on a needs basis as the majority of the collective shelters are connected to the municipal sewage system. In settlements not connected to the sewage network, WVL works with Landlords to install septic tanks. Secondly, WVL identifies and installs bins in order to promote solid waste management in collective shelters. WVL provides a 240 litre rubbish bin for every 2 families to meet their needs. Bins are purchased in conjunction with municipalities in order to ensure alignment with their standards and procedures. A weekly rubbish collection is also arranged in coordination with local municipality solid waste removal procedures. 3)      Hygiene: WVL aims to ensure that the target population practices appropriate hygiene behaviours and have the means to maintain hygienic conditions. WVL hygiene related interventions are: Carrying out targeted hygiene promotion sessions in collective shelters via WASH Officers Conducting child-focused WASH club events Establishing and training WASH Committees on basic operation and maintenance of water and sanitation facilities, health and hygiene, and environmental management (including solid waste management) Carrying out a mass hygiene promotion marketing campaign  EVALUATION PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES  The project (funded by DFID) that is being planned to be evaluated is entitled “Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Implementation in South Lebanon”. FOCUS of the evaluation: The focus of this evaluation is two-fold: An assessment of the project strategy and implementation; A measurement of the achievements of the program outcomes and recommendations to guide future programming. OBJECTIVES of the evaluation: The end-of project evaluation will:   Assess the project alignment with overall WVL response strategy and operations strategy including the project design; Evaluate and validate project achievement of implementation targets and milestones reached; Examine the effectiveness of the programme in terms of its purpose and intended outcomes; Evaluate the relevance and appropriateness of actions and strategy; Examine the management aspects of the project including staffing, resource allocation and use, policies, coordination arrangements, administration, monitoring, reporting and documentation among others; Ascertain the impact the programme had on targeted communities (positive, negative, intended, unintended impact...); Investigate the connectedness/sustainability of actions promoted by the programme; Suggest strategic and operational recommendations that can be used by WVL in the ongoing and future programs.  METHODOLOGY The consultant will be required to come up with a proposal on how he/she intends to conduct the evaluation. The proposal should further describe a timeline for the evaluation and should also incorporate a budget that outlines all relevant costs that will be associated with this evaluation.  WVL proposes the use of both qualitative (key informant interviews, in depth interviews, focus group discussions, observations…) and quantitative (e.g. surveys…) research tools approaches in gathering information from a wide array of sources. The consultant would also have to review project budget and financial figures and review program policy documents including Human Resources and others and establish how they were applied.  EXPECTED OUTPUTS/RESULTS Copy of training package and materials used for the evaluation team; Copies of tools used for the evaluation; Copies of all qualitative and quantitative data; Final Evaluation Report in English (as per the WV Assessment Report Guidelines to be provided); A power point presentation in English including methodology, main findings, recommendations, best practices and lessons learnt.  MANAGEMENT  The consultant will supervise the implementation of the field work and quality data management as well as report writing and dissemination. If the consultant/consultancy firm have their own team of enumerators, their costs should be specified within the financial bid. Logistics, administration, finance and HR support could be provided by WVL from the field offices if necessary.  BUDGET  Financial bids should be submitted by the Consultant, and specific details will be worked out based on discussions and plans between the Consultant and the Senior DME Coordinator. The DME staff could be able to support in recruiting enumerators if needed. If the selected candidate for the consultancy is located outside of Lebanon, he/she would be expected to be in country to coordinate and conduct the end of project evaluation for not less than 14 days.   QUALIFICATIONS The consultant should have the following competencies and experience: At least 5 years of progressive proven experience in similar studies and in using both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies and data analysis; Previous evaluation experience of water, sanitation and hygiene related projects (to be provided within the CV); Extensive professional experience in the design and implementation of outcome and impact evaluations; Advanced degree in relevant field (e.g. Social Sciences, Public Health, Epidemiology or any related technical field); Good understanding of the Syrian Crisis and Humanitarian Standards; Ability to work on tight schedules with minimal supervision; Good English and Arabic speaking (preferable) and writing skills.  DURATION OF CONSULTANCY  WVL has set aside 6 weeks (December 1, 2014 till January 16, 2015) for this assignment (taking into consideration that WVL takes 1 week for Christmas vacation). Bids should include a detailed proposed work-schedule with specific tasks. Candidates are expected to state how much time they will need to start the assignment and how much time they need to conduct every task. Selected candidates are also expected to abide by the deadlines and the conditions for deadlines specified within the contract/agreement.   TASKS   TIMELINE   Review of   TOR Week   1   Review of all relevant documentation Week   1 to 4 Design of the evaluation methodology Week   1 Develop all necessary data collection tools (These   tools will be reviewed by the Design, Monitoring and Evaluation Team, as well   as Technical Specialist for approval) Week   1 and 2 Use the appropriate method to calculate the sample   size and carry out sampling Week   1 and 2 Recruit and train enumerators, supervisors and   facilitators and oversee pilot testing Week   2 and 3 Supervise the implementation of the fieldwork Week   2 and 3   Design the   database for data entry Week   2 and 3 Supervise data entry and quality data management Week   3 and 4 Review relevant secondary data Week   1 to 4 Carry out data analysis as well as report writing Week   4 and 5 Present   main findings and a debriefing of the evaluation to the Design, Monitoring   and Evaluation team as well as key stakeholders (before leaving the country   if applicable) Week   5 Present the draft report in a review meeting and   incorporate the feedback and compile a final report (before leaving the country if   applicable) Week   5 and 6