Consultant-Evaluation (Wash) Initiative In The Bekaa

PROJECT SUMMARY   Project Name WASH initiative in the Bekaa Project Outcome Population affected by the Syrian crisis are protected from disease through improved water, hygiene and sanitation Project Location Bekaa (Central and West) - Lebanon Project Duration 1st of June 2014 – 31st of May 2015   INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND   An estimated four million people have been affected by the Syrian crisis since 2011. Due to the escalating violence in Syria, the number of refugees coming to Lebanon and in particular the Bekaa area is rapidly increasing. According to UNHCR’s estimates1, 1,180,755 refugees are currently residing in Lebanon of which 1,169,842 are registered, and 414,732 or 35% of the total refugees in Lebanon reside in Bekaa. Settlement areas and host communities in the Bekaa have become increasingly unable to continue to meet the need leading to growing tensions between impoverished host communities in Lebanon and Syrian refugees. As a result of Syrian crisis, Lebanese hosting communities suffer pressures on solid waste collection, water and treatment services, public and private schools that might not have enough space to adapt to incoming Syrian students and primary health care services. Moreover, the circumstances are rapidly deteriorating, and more and more refugees are now living in Informal Tented Settlements (ITSs) as the prices for rented homes are exploding. The often crowded living situations in the settlements are characterized notably by a lack of access to adequate water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure and services, with an increase in diseases noted.   Given that a high number of refugees living in ITSs in Bekaa still lack the access to basic WASH services and given the capacity of WVL within WASH in the Bekaa, the project planned to support the most vulnerable refugees living within ITSs. WVL provided continued emergency WASH interventions - access to hygiene, water and sanitations facilities - within the minimum SPHERE and sector standards. Moreover, WVL provided support to 4,400 HHs (beneficiaries supported under the previous UNICEF grant through continued access to water and sanitation (latrines), in addition to beneficiaries supported from a full emergency WASH intervention).   According to WVL's WASH Needs Assessment undertaken during August-September 2013 in Central and West Bekaa and regular monitoring reports, no significant shifts in access of refugees to adequate WASH services was shown compared to the situation a year before. However, slight improvements have been observed as more people wereaccessing these services, but quality and improper usage remained a gap. Participants (sample size of 280 individuals) in the WASH assessment reported accessing water through unprotected wells - 60.7% for drinking and 58.8% for domestic usage. 76% considered the water source drinkable, with 73% of participants reporting that the accessible quantity was not sufficient because "they have a big family”. In addition, sanitation and hygiene also remained a challenge. 62% of the total sample size did not have latrines for their HHs. And when no latrines were available, 80.8% of refugees relied on use of dug holes in the ground for human waste disposal. For hygiene, more than half of the participants (56%) had access to hygiene items but field observations showed that beneficiaries did not know how to use these items. The UNICEF project sought to address the three WASH aspects in the following manner: WATER: Water was to be provided to a total of 3,100 HHs during the project lifetime. Beneficiaries were to benefit through the distribution of water vouchers for the provision of safe water from vendors, water storage (1000 liters per HH) and filtration hardware. In addition, HHs reached through the previous UNICEF intervention were to have ongoing water support provided through water trucking for the duration of the project lifetime. Where suitable and appropriate, communal water points (using 5000 liters tanks) were to be installed to improve access to safe water. Hygiene promotion activities were to include sensitization on aspects of good practices related to storage and usage to ensure safe water quality. Moreover, all water sources were to be tested to ensure quality remained safe before any installation and service delivery. SANITATION: Waste Water Management WVL was to support the installation of latrines for 1,600 newly identified HHs to ensure that refugees in the ITSs have access to dignified and suitable sanitation. Households were to be offered a latrine without an integrated shower. The project was to propose an installation of 1 latrine for 2 HHs where appropriate/ feasible. In cases of uniquely large families (e.g. over 10 members), a single latrine was to be provided. To contribute to water preservation and recycling, water that has been used in showering was to be collected in a 100 liter waste water tank provided and installed by the project and was to be used to flush the latrine. Like water provision, de-sludging of the sewage tanks was to be carried out through a voucher system. WVL was to use two scenarios for the design of septic tanks. Scenario 1 was to include a 1,000 liter enclosed septic tank, which was to be used for toilets within a 30 meter radius of a well. Scenario 2 was to include a 200 liter septic tank inclusive of drainage holes, which is was to be used for toilets that are not near a well. Solid Waste Management The intervention was to be done at 3 levels: a) EDUCATION: Through hygiene promotion, refugees (both children and parents) were to be trained on how good solid waste management can be achieved and can benefit their health and environment. b) CONSULTATION: Established WASH committees were to be consulted regarding the improvement of solid waste management in the ITSs. Emphasis was to be put on reducing the amount of solid waste that is generated by a community through sorting solid waste, recycling, and composting organics, as well as mitigating the immediate environmental sanitation risks through establishing rubbish pits and educating the community on controlled incineration. c) EXISTING SYSTEMS: Municipalities were to be consulted and supported when needed in the solid waste management. WVL was to commit to improving the living environment of refugees, while considering the existing longer term funds to municipalities, in order to avoid duplication of efforts. Municipalities were to be offered incentives (if no other ways are possible) to collect the solid waste from the ITSs. HYGIENE: WVL was to aim to ensure that the target population practices appropriate hygiene behaviours and have the means to maintain hygienic conditions through improving hygiene facilities and hygiene behaviours and practices. WVL was to target the refugee population as well as the hosting communities with this aspect through: a) HYGIENE KIT DISTRIBUTION: WVL was to distribute hygiene kits in line with the WASH Working Group recommendations to 1,600 newly identified HHs. b)HYGIENE PROMOTION SESSIONS: Hygiene promotion was to be undertaken for a total of 3,100 HHs both directly after the distribution of the kits as well as at the level of the ITSs.   c)  WASH COMMITTEES: WVL was to establish WASH committee in all targeted ITSs aimed to encourage residents to take responsibility for their own health, the environment in which they live in, and for the equipment provided to them by WVL.   EVALUATION PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES   GOAL 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 project in terms of its purpose and intended outcomes Evaluate the relevance and appropriateness of actions and strategyto the refugees’ needs Ascertain the impact the programme had on targeted communities (positive, negative, intended, unintended impact...) Investigate the connectedness/sustainability of actions promoted by the project Suggest strategic and operational recommendations that can be used by WVL in the future programs     INDICATORS AND TARGETS under this project: The consultant is required to measure the outcome-level indicators; the purpose of inserting the logframe is to give an overview of the M&E framework for the project.   Level Objective Indicator Target Outcome   Population affected by the Syrian crisis is protected from disease through improved water, hygiene and sanitation 1) % of refugee and vulnerable HH reached with emergency WASH support 2) % incidence rate of diarrhea among children under 5 years 3) % of refugee and vulnerable HH who report improved water, hygiene, and sanitation practices       90% of 4,400 HHs Output 1  Affected populations' hygiene practices improved (i.e: hand washing at key moments, using and maintaining latrines correctly, drinking only safe water, disposing of solid waste correctly)     # of refugee  demonstrating positive hygiene practices (disaggregated by sex & age)     4,400 HHs (26,400 individuals)   Activity 1.1 Distribute hygiene kits (including hygiene kits, menstrual hygiene kits & baby kits) for the most vulnerable refugee and host community populations # of individuals with access to hygiene items     2,080 hygiene kits (12,480 individuals) Activity 1.2 Conduct hygiene-promotion (HP) sessions and events that are gender and age targeted messages 1) # of individuals who have attended an HP session/event 2) # of HP sessions/events with gender and age-targeted messages   4,400 HHs in around 84 ITSs  (26,400 individuals) Output 2   Affected population are ensured with safe, equitable and sustainable access to a sufficient quantity of water for drinking, cooking and personal and domestic hygiene 1) # of individuals with improved water supply at an adequate level of service   2) # of individuals accessing minimum standard of water quantity/day   3) % of water sources with negative results on bacteriological and chemical testing   1) 4,400 HHs(26,400 individuals) 2) 4,400 HHs(26,400 individuals)   3) 80% Activity 2.1 Provide water storage capacity at Household level (i.e: water tanks, buckets, jerry cans, bowls) and ensure water supply (i.e vouchers, connection to existing network) 1) # of individuals with necessary/standard storage containers 2) # of individuals accessing minimum standard of water quantity/day 1) 4,400 HHs(26,400 individuals) 2) 4,400 HHs(26,400 individuals) Activity 2.2 Provide water storage capacity at communal level (i.e: 5000L water storage tanks) and ensure connection to a water supply 1) # of water storage provided at the communal level 2) # of individuals with improved water supply at an adequate level of service 1) 55   2) 4,400 HHs(26,400 individuals) Activity 2.3 Conduct water testing at source/collection point and household level (bacteriological and chemical testing) and provide HH treatment through the distribution of water filters   1) # of water source/collection points that underwent bacteriological and chemical testing 2) # of water filters distributed   1) 150 water tests   2) 2080 water filters Output 3 Affected population are protected from the spread of disease, and promoted with a safe, sanitary and hygienic living environment     # of individuals with access to improved sanitation facilities     12,480 individuals (2,080 HHs) Activity 3.1 Construct and rehabilitate latrines in targeted ITS 1) # of constructed latrines for HH 2) # of rehabilitated latrines 3) # of child friendly latrines 4) # creating School/ CFS health clubs 1) 1,040 constructed latrines 2) 100 rehabilitated latrines 3) 1,160 child friendly latrines 4)  20 school/CFS health clubs Activity 3.2 Conduct flood risk minimization measures in low lying flood prone ITS through: water-proofing and elevation of latrine holding tanks, elevation of latrines & water storage, labor intensive (machine assisted) drainage improvements         # of individuals with reduced risk of flooding         9,750 individuals Activity 3.3 Provide temporary services for collection and storage and disposal of wastewater at HH level; connection to sewage systems and septic systems 1) # of individuals with (improved) access to communal wastewater facilities 2) # of individuals with (improved) access to household wastewater facilities 1) 361 individuals     2) 12,480 individuals Activity 3.4 Provide solid waste facilities (i.e: garbage bins) in close coordination with municipalities for solid waste disposal services # of individuals accessing communal solid waste disposal   4,400 HHs(26,400 individuals)     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 quantitative component should take into consideration a 95% confidence level and a 5% margin of error. These sources would include targeted beneficiaries, project coordinators, project managers, technical specialist, monitoring & evaluation staff, programme staff, outreach & accountability staff... The consultant would also have to review relevant project documents provided by WVL in order to establish how they were applied.   EXPECTED OUTPUTS/RESULTS   Copies of training package and materials used for the evaluation team Copies of quantitative and qualitative tools used for the evaluation Copies of all qualitative and quantitative data Final Evaluation Report in English: Title page Table of contents Executive summary List of acronyms and abbreviations Description of the project including any major changes occurring since the design Description of the evaluation methodology Main findings based on the objectives highlighted in the proposal Best practices and lessons learnt Recommendations for project improvement Appendices: a)  To include copies of all tools, list of enumerators, survey timeline including all KII and FGD participants and discussion transcripts (as many pages as necessary- please reference the annexes in the report, but include them in a zip file as separate documents) A 2-page evaluation fact sheet. This is to include relevant findings from the evaluation, key points and recommendations. An indicator summary sheet, giving status of all indicators measured in the HH questionnaire A power point presentation in English to key WVL stakeholders, including methodology, main findings, recommendations, best practices and lessons learnt   MANAGEMENT   The implementation of the evaluation will be coordinated by the Design, Monitoring & Evaluation (DME) team and project staff. 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 WVL. WVL would support in recruiting enumerators if needed. If the selected candidate for the consultancy is located outside of Lebanon, it is essential that the lead consultant is in country for the entire duration of the evaluation, and all necessary arrangements are made to coordinate and conduct the evaluation.   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 ü  Previous evaluation experience of WASH-related projects (to be provided within the CV) ü  Extensive professional experience in the design and implementation of outcome and impact evaluations Good analytical and critical thinking skills Proven knowledge and experience in applying participatory research methods and tools Advanced degree in relevant field (e.g. Social Sciences, Public Health, Epidemiology or any related technical field) Good understanding of the Syrian Crisis (specifically the Syrian Crisis in Lebanon) and Humanitarian Standards Familiarity with civil society and NGO engagement Ability to work on tight schedules with minimal supervision Excellent spoken and written English and Arabic     DURATION OF CONSULTANCY   WVL has set aside 6 weeks (May 4, 2015 till June 12, 2015) for this assignment. Bids should include a detailed proposed work-schedule (or work plan/timeline) with specific tasks, as well as an indication of the overall sample size planned to be carried out. 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. The consultant is expected to submit a draft evaluation report to WVL key stakeholders by 5 June 2015, after which the consultant is expected to carry out a presentation of the main evaluation findings to WVL key stakeholders. WVL will provide feedback on the draft evaluation report and presentation after one week (i.e. 12 June 2015). Afterwards, the consultant is expected to incorporate the feedback and submit a final evaluation report by 19 June 2015.   In the preparation of the final report, the consultant is requested to provide the reader with, as much as possible, accurate sources of its information and conclusions.  In fact, all findings and statements must be backed by existing data and/or data based on approved methodology for sampling, data collection, and analysis.