Project Evaluator

War Child Holland (War Child) is an independent and impartial, international nongovernmental organisation, investing in a peaceful future for children affected by armed conflict. War Child works towards the full realisation of all rights for children, especially those affected by war. War Child creates a lasting impact. War Child empowers children to shape their own future, as we unleash their inner strength by using our creative and engaging approach. We offer protection, psychosocial support and education to children. Together with partners, care givers and communities in areas affected by conflict, we improve both resilience as well as well-being of these children. As of 2014, War Child is operating in the following countries: Burundi, Colombia, The Democratic Republic of Congo, and the occupied Palestinian territories, Lebanon, Sri Lanka, South Sudan, Syria and Uganda. War Child’s headquarter is located in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. War Child maintains strong connections in the areas of operation by working through field offices that engage directly with children, adults, teachers and community members. To realize our mandate, we implement, either directly or together with our local partners, programmes that protect and empower children. Meaningful participation of children and young people is central to our work by involving them throughout the project cycle and the development of the programme. Creative methods promote the self-expression of children and enhance the impact of child-led initiatives. Moreover, the participation of children is gender balanced and special attention is paid to the inclusion of vulnerable groups, such as children with disabilities. Creative community based interventions have become our expertise over the years. War Child has been well established in Lebanon since 2008, and with the start of the Syrian emergency response in Lebanon, collaborates closely with local communities, ministries, local and international NGO’s and UN agencies. The organization is in fact one of the leading actors in providing psychosocial support within the emergency response, since it started its intervention in the North in March 2012. Since August 2015, War Child has also been providing technical support to Home of Hope, to increase the quality of services delivered to children residing in the institution. Support will continue to be provided, as explained and described within the project’s plan attached (Annex I). War Child is an active member of the cluster system in Lebanon, by participating and contributing to the sexual gender based violence (SGBV) and child protection in emergency (CPIE) working group both at national and field levels and leading agency for the National PSS committee under the CPiE. As leading agency, together with UNICEF, War Child facilitates development of unified PSS tools; follows up on a field testing; coordinates among participating actors on PSS interventions; ensures representation of PSS related interventions within the CPiE. War Child also participates in the case management task force (CMTF) and is part of the core group for the contextualization of Child Protection Minimum Standards in humanitarian action (CPMS). War Child’s interventions are in line with the SPHERE, CPMS and INEE minimum standards as well as the IASC MHPSS guidelines. War Child’s work is in line with the Lebanon Crisis Response Plan (LCRP) for 2016, and is committed to the agreement between UNICEF and MOSA.   The project is implemented in : North Lebanon Villages Center Based Activities: El Mina, El Nejmeh, Beddawi, Minyeh, Bebnine, Halba, Assoun, Mashha, Chekka, and Zahrieh. Locations mobile activities: Koura (Utopia), Beddawi, Qobbeh, Fawar, Minieh, Miryata, Naher El Bared, Mohamara, Borkayel, Jar Al Kamar, Abde, Wadi Al Jamous, Qobet bshamra, Borj al arab, bebnine, Hay tanak, Ayrounieh, Mankoubin, Hay lebnani. Beirut/Mount Lebanon: Chiah (UNHCR registration point and SDC), SDC Tarik Jdideh, SDC Burj Barajneh, SDC Ghobayreh, Btekhnay Municipality, SOS , Tahaddi  The project Overall Objective is to strengthen protection and resilience of communities hosting vulnerable children residing in North, Beirut and Mount Lebanon.   1.       Overall Purpose of the Evaluation  The end of project evaluation shall document:  The extent to which the project outputs and outcomes have contributed to actively engage communities to enhance protection and build resilience of children and caregivers of both refugee and host communities. The relevance and effectiveness of the approaches and assumptions  Lessons learnt and proposed feasible recommendations to inform future programme design that will support children affected by armed conflict settings within War Child, other NGOs, donors and the government.    The evidence generated through this evaluation exercise is expected to: Better inform future programme design/programming on actively engage communities to enhance protection and build resilience of children and caregivers of both refugee and host communities. Report against the outcome indicators as set out in the project log-frame.     2.       Scope and Focus of the Evaluation The aim of the consultancy is to conduct a robust evaluation of the extent to which the project has achieved its expected and unexpected outcomes, and identify evidence that these outcomes have contributed to actively engage communities to enhance protection and build resilience of children and caregivers of both refugee and host communities. The Consultant(s) is expected to evaluate the project following the criteria2: (i) relevance; (ii) effectiveness (added value, learning and partnership approach), (iii) sustainability (iv) efficiency and value for money (v) impact.  More specifically, the consultant is expected to develop and implement a methodology that will answer the following questions (to be finalized and agreed between War Child, and the consultant(s) after contract award):   Did the project reach the most vulnerable boys and girls through its interventions?  Who has benefitted (women, men, girls and boys) from the programmatic interventions and in what ways? Specifically, is there evidence that the approaches used in the project contributed to improvement in the systemic protection of children and a change in the perceived level of safety and wellbeing amongst children? Were CS and CP code of conduct observed during all phases of projects Has the project increased to actively engage communities (Halba, Mashha, Mina, Minieh, Beddawi, Chyah, Borj Barajneh,Ghobayreh, Tarik Jdideh) to enhance protection and build resilience of children and caregivers of both refugee and host communities?  What worked well and what are the lessons learnt? Has the project contributed to improving the capacity of War Child’s local partners (Nabaa, al Ribat) to deliver quality interventions and meaningfully impacted the lives of children in the target communities?  The consultant is responsible to: Provide actionable, specific and practical strategic recommendations on how War Child and its partners can use the learning to strengthen future work.                                               4. Process and Methodology  This evaluation will take a course of two to three weeks in December 2016. The assignment is for approximately 15 days during which the consultant(s) must spend at least 7 working days in the field-sites of Lebanon (days need to be confirmed with consultant when inception report is finalized). War Child would be able to provide logistical support in arranging meetings and transportation.  To fulfil the objectives of this exercise both quantitative and qualitative assessment methods should be employed. We require a participatory methodology whereby the work engages all key stakeholders including beneficiaries, community members and War Child staff to collect data on all the outcome indicators and respond to all the evaluation questions stated above. The proposed methodology must be included in the consultancy application that is sent.  The consultant will:  Develop inception report, tools for the evaluation (including tools for all the outcome indicators), methodology and a schedule of field activities. It will be approved by War Child and act as an agreement between parties for how the evaluation is to be conducted. The Inception Report should include:  a) Overview of the Programme/Project  b) Methodology for the project evaluation  c) Evaluation Matrix with questions  d) Information Collection, Analysis and Reporting  e) Work plan Use participatory/consultative methods (including but not limited to – picture/video diaries, case studies) and should provide details of the approach/methods to be used The key participants of the exercise will include the children and youth who are direct beneficiaries; implementing partners   5.       Deliverables  Expected  Outputs:  1. Inception Report in English. This should include a detailed work plan for evaluation, toolkit and guidelines for the evaluation. The inception report should be agreed upon with War Child.  2. Evaluation Report: The report should be in English and not more than 25 pages and free of jargon, excluding annexes.  Evaluation Report should be consisting of: Title Page   Table of Contents / Figures and Tables   Abbreviations / acronyms page Executive summary (2 pages maximum)  Background and a short introduction to the project  The evaluation methodology (including evaluation/research questions and tools) Findings  Innovation and lessons learned Case studies/stories should be used to highlight/illustrate the findings Recommendations Conclusion   6.       Timeframe The Evaluation is expected to be initiated ideally in December 2016. The final report is due by 15th of January 2017.   7. Document review The consultant is expected to read and reference all possible sources of existing information which include: Project proposal, log frame and the budget Sources of existing information e.g. government records, government policies, strategy papers, studies etc.  Monthly, quarterly and interim reports of the project. Project M&E tools and guidelines Child Protection Minimum Standards, CP policy, as a reference point for the minimum standards and key activities expected to be met and delivered for a project of this nature.  Monitoring reports of all activities under the project   8. Conditions of the Consultancy The consultant(s) will use her/his/their own office/resources/materials and technology in the execution of this assignment. War Child will provide local travel/transport to the field sites and office space. Supervision and Reporting The consultant shall be responsible to keep War Child regularly informed of progress made. The consultant will be supervised by the Country Director and the Programme Implementation Manager.    Funding and Payment: The consultant will be paid by War Child as follows - 30% after successful submission and our approval of the inception report and tools to War Child   - 70% on successful submission and our approval of the final evaluation report   Qualifications of Consultant(s) Masters’ Degree in Development Studies, Social Work, Psychology, Sociology or related discipline coupled with advanced skills and knowledge in Research Methodologies  At least 5 years’ experience in evaluation of development/humanitarian work specifically in Child Protection and PSS Knowledge of and experience in working with children in conflict, including a fair understanding of the political environment of Lebanon.   Excellent research and monitoring and evaluation skills including participatory methodologies, QCA and evaluating psychosocial support and life skills programmes. Excellent verbal and written skills in English is essential   9. Recruitment and appointment  Interested applicants are requested to submit the following CV of the consultant(s) A short application outlining the evaluation methodology and including calendar, key deliverables and tools, research questions Detailed budget with breakdown of daily rate plus number of days and other costs.  The budget will be evaluated alongside the technical proposal and we reserve the right to make alternative suggestions on costing.