Impact Assessment Of Programs And Interventions At Taawon (Welfare Association) - Lebanon

Background Taawon (Welfare Association) is an independent non-profit organisation established in 1983. Taawon strives to make a distinguished contribution toward furthering the progress of the Palestinians, preserving their heritage and identity, supporting their living culture and building civil society in the different working areas it serves: the West Bank (including Jerusalem), the Gaza Strip, the 1948 Areas, and the Palestinian communities in Lebanon. Taawon works closely with local, grassroots organisation’s to address the specific needs of the Palestinian refugees living in difficult circumstances throughout the country. We support the implementation of a range of initiatives under five specific programs: Education, Youth Empowerment, Community Development (including relief), as well as Arts and Culture. We work in close partnership with more than 25 local partners. This support is primarily delivered by providing direct and indirect funding and through the monitoring and evaluation of projects to ensure effective impact on the beneficiaries. Assessment Objective The objective of the impact assessment is to evaluate the results and impact achieved from the different programs and interventions Taawon has supported over the past two strategic cycles (Six years 2011-2016). The assessment should depict lessons learnt to improve the sustainability of benefits, quality of work and impact as well as guide for the overall advancement of Taawon work for future follow up or for other similar interventions. The interventions in question are the following – each under their relevant program: Program Sub-program Number of projects Budget (2011-2016) Number of Partners* Education Early Childhood Education 1 $1,088,114 7 University Education 3 $3,722,303 2 Community Development Kidney Dialysis Unit 1 $2,125,495 1 Hospitalization Assistance 1 $1,019,200 1 Shelter Rehabilitation 4 $742,852 1 Youth Empowerment Youth Employment Services 1 $ 421,732 1 Culture Libraries 3 $1,793,211 6 Music Program 3 $166,060 3 *Some partners might be involved in more than one project or program. 1. Education Early Childhood Development Program Taawon has been implementing its Early Childhood Education and Development programme since establishment. This programme with its comprehensive approach, aims to provide an active, child-centred preschool education for young refugee children from the Palestinian camps, leading to improved learning outcomes. The objectives of the ECED programme include the training of teachers and administrative staff, making educational resources available to kindergartens, improving infrastructure and learning spaces, supporting parental engagement and strengthening networks among the different ECED organizations. Support to University Education Taawon has a long track record of providing scholarships and loans for talented Palestinian refugee students, enabling them to attend top-tier universities in Lebanon. The program also include a component of SAT preparation to enable students compete in their SAT examinations. 2. Community Development 3. Kidney Dialysis Taawon successfully established the first Kidney Dialysis Unit (KDU) in South Lebanon in 1996 and has been supporting kidney dialysis since then providing the much needed kidney dialysis services for Palestinian refugees. Life-saving hospitalization assistance Taawon has been supporting tertiary care for Palestinians suffering from major conditions, including surgical operations, cancer treatment, thalassemia and others. This involves providing partial coverage of the hospitalization bill. Shelter Rehabilitation Rehabilitation of shelters of marginalised population groups in different camps is a relief intervention targeting mainly refugees from Syria. The rehabilitation follows a selection standard that involves both shelter condition and socio-economic status of household. 4. Culture Libraries Program Since 2001, Taawon has been supporting a network of seven public libraries in different Palestinian camps throughout Lebanon. Each library is equipped with resources – including books for children - computers and full internet access. The libraries serve a social and community center where different population groups benefit from the variety of services and activities each library hosts. Music Program The music program provides free music lessons for more than 80 children between the ages of 6-18 every year, with the aim of supporting talent, encouraging self-expression and bolstering self-confidence. The children learn to play a variety of musical instruments. The program includes as well a psycho-social component using music in psychological therapy. 5. Youth empowerment Youth Employment Services To assist Palestinian youths access the labour market and land a job, Taawon launched this program in 2013 which includes training of youths on a set of employability skills (CV writing, interviewing, building self-esteem, work ethics), and placement for internship at local enterprises for a period of 3-6 months. The objectives of the impact assessment exercise is to closely look into the different Taawon programs and interventions and identify the impact achieved to learn from and build on. It should: - Analyse the strengths and weaknesses in the design and implementation of the programs - Analyse the results achieved and the direct and indirect impact on the short and medium terms - Evaluate the level of achievements made in relation to the set objectives and performance indicators - Evaluate the impact of achievements on the empowerment and capacity building of partner organization - Highlight the successes, failures, lessons learnt, recommendations for the future particularly in program and intervention development and implementation, as well as any success stories. - Pick 1-2 case studies for each program for a live understanding of the impact on beneficiaries More specifically, the assessment should answer the following: What impact has the different Taawon interventions made in the lives of the beneficiaries, their families and the community at large? How relevant, effective, efficient, sustainable and participatory were the design and implementation of the different programs and interventions? - Relevance: To what extent are the programs and interventions focussed on the target groups and to what extent it responds to their needs and priorities? - Effectiveness: To what extent are the objectives of the programs and interventions being attained (or likely to be attained?)? To what extent were the interventions effective in bringing change – including trainings, awareness sessions, technical support, rehabilitation, etc.? To what extent did those interventions build on existing knowledge and was sensitive and adaptive to the local context? - Efficiency: Is the relation between input of resources and results achieved appropriate and justifiable (cost-benefit ratio)? How efficient were the programs’ organisational, management and supervision structures? Were the interventions implemented proficiently and in line with the set work plans and time frame? Were resources used efficiently? Were there any factors – external or internal – that affected the implementation and impact? - Sustainability: To what extent can activities, results and effects be expected to continue after Taawon involvement has ended? What are the prospects of the concerned stakeholders and partner NGOs for sustaining impacts after termination of Taawon intervention? Has the capacity of the implementing partners / beneficiaries been developed? - Participation: To what extent are stakeholders (beneficiaries, partners, etc.) involved in the design, planning and implementation of the project components? How was the relationship – at the operational and managerial level - between the project staff and the implementing partners, targeted communities and other concerned stakeholders? Was Taawon involvement inclusive and did it ensure appropriate gender balance and gender mainstreaming in the implementation of activities? Did it take into consideration the rights of the disabled or any other special groups? What lessons can be drawn from the past six years of implementation and results that can be taken to improve and develop similar future initiatives or interventions? Scope of Work The consultant is expected to lead the assessment exercise in coordination with Taawon; tasks to include: Plan the assessment design, methodology and work plan (including timeframe) Conduct a desk review; going through the different relevant documentations (including, regular progress reports, previous assessments or project evaluations, studies, awareness material and audio visuals produced, etc.) and any other relevant information. Plan, design, and coordinate the data collection process Identification of the major stakeholders who are associated with the different programs to be interviewed, such as the direct participants of the project, donors, implementing partners, suppliers, beneficiaries and other concerned constituents. Agreeing on the type of information to be collected from each of the different stakeholders according to each of the different programs Preparation of checklists (interview questionnaire, FG guides) and other tools for data collection in coordination with Taawon. Collect data and provide in depth analysis of findings. Data collection covers 8 camps and involves a multitude of partners, donors, beneficiaries and many other stakeholders. Analysis also to include at the synergy and linkages between the different programs and interventions. Prepare first draft of assessment report segmented as per the different programs and share with Taawon for review and feedback. Participate in a workshop (or closed meeting) and present findings, conclusions, recommendations, success stories and lessons learnt. Deliver a final edited evaluation report (both hard and soft copy) based on workshop results and final feedback of Taawon. Expected Deliverables Assessment methodology and plan after one week of signing the contract, to be approved by Taawon Data collection tools including interview and focus group meeting guides 2 weeks after approving the work plan, to be approved by Taawon Final narrative report in English language presenting the assessment’s findings and recommendations (report to include research objectives and methodology, findings, case studies, lessons learnt and recommendations for the future) in addition to 2-4 pages of executive summary in Arabic and any relevant appendixes (interview questions, list of interviewees, etc.) A power point presentation in English and Arabic summarizing the report’s content All deliverables to be provided in hard copy and on CD. Timeframe The expected time frame for conducting the assessment is 12-14 weeks after signature of contract. Required competencies and qualifications The selected consultant (or consultancy firm) should fulfill the following: Holder(s) of an advanced degree in social sciences or relevant fields Experienced in conducting similar assessments and research with demonstrated capacity to analyze qualitative findings Possess extensive knowledge of development principles and evaluation methods Has In-depth understanding of the situation of the Palestinian context in Lebanon Enjoys excellent communication skills and proficient in both Arabic and English languages Independent and neutral and has not been involved in any of the Taawon’s programs Submission of Proposals Interested candidates or institutions are invited to share their proposalsbefore 18 April 2017 noon time. Proposals should be submitted in one sealed envelope containing two sealed envelopes one for the Technical Proposal and one for the Financial proposal. Envelopes should have the title “Impact Assessment” Pages of both proposals should be numbered and stamped by the submitting organization CD containing the technical proposal and all relevant annexes Proposals to be submitted to Taawon (Welfare Association) offices – Ramlet el Bayda, Al Akhtal el Sagheer Street, Green Project Bldg. - Telephone: 01850219 / 01850218