Food Security and Livelihoods Project Evaluation Consultant - Somalia (SC)

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Food Security and Livelihoods Project Evaluation Consultant
Save the Children
Save the Children is worldest independant children's charity fighting for children's rights
Closing date: 20 Aug 2010
Location: Somalia - Nairobi

INTRODUCTION

Save the Children has been present in South/Central Somalia since 1992 implementing both long and short-term Emergency and Development programmes focusing on education, water and sanitation and emergency food security and livelihood support for vulnerable populations.
The ‘Emergency Food Security and Livelihood support to vulnerable households in Hiran’ project aims to contribute to the larger goal of strengthening household level food and livelihood security and preventing the total loss of livelihood assets for drought and conflict affected households in Hiran region so that they may cover the essential needs of their children and be more resilient to future shocks.

This cash transfer project targets 2,500 highly vulnerable households in all five districts of Hiran region. The five districts are: Belet Weyne, Mahaas, Mataban, Bulo Burte and Jalalaqsi. Families that have children admitted into the therapeutic feeding programme from the five districts and who have depleted their household assets (as determined by SC and based upon FSNAU minimum expenditure and asset criteria), have been selected for cash transfers. The majority of recipients for the cash transfers are women which compliments our gender equality promotion activities. Women have been targeted as they are in the majority of cases the people bringing the acutely malnourished children for treatment. Community leaders have been actively involved in the selection and approval of the final target beneficiaries.

SC in Somalia will measure the impact of cash transfers though the nutritional status of children under 5 among families receiving cash transfers, percentage of families able to meet minimum essential household needs expenditures, numbers of families reporting negative coping strategies, and other appropriate indictors that determine impact of cash transfers to prevent the complete loss of assets and to improve nutritional status of children.

In order to ensure monitoring of the programme the following processes are being implemented :
• Baseline information
• Monthly market price survey
• Post-distribution monitoring
• End-line information
• Focused Group Discussions

Purposes of the evaluation
Ascertain the extent that the purpose of, the DFID funded project has been met in terms of results, quantity and quality of inputs, process and impact

Specifically the programme intends to:
a. Improve Food and livelihood security of 2,500 vulnerable households
b. Prevent loss of household assets for 2,500 vulnerable households
c. Cover the essential needs of children within the targeted 2,500 households
d. Build resilience to future shocks for the target 2,500 households

Specific activities:
1. Evaluate the impacts and outcomes: including any unintended outcome of the project – both positive and negative
2. Evaluate how far the project has achieved its intentions
3. Evaluate the process of delivery and design, and how effective it was i.e. the cash transfer process, accessibility of transfer mechanism; gender dimensions of the process; the targeting criteria and process
4. Document lessons learned for future programming
5. Develop success stories for publicising the programme, including support to field staff for writing case studies, taking photos and possible video clips.

Methodology
The evaluator is expected to design specific methodology and time-lined process for the evaluation including roles and responsibilities of staff in the field, beneficiaries and key informants.

Due to the prevailing security situation in South Central Somalia, Hiran region, Non-Somali Nationals will not be able to travel to the project area and therefore the assessment and evaluation will have to use methodology that is mainly desk based with frequent communication by email, Skype, telephone to Hiran region. The use of Innovative methodology is encouraged and on-going support to SC staffs based in Hiran, who are collecting the information, is essential.

• It is expected the evaluator will be based in Save the Children Nairobi office (where international South & Central Somalia staff are currently based) with possible travel to Somaliland/Puntland if required to meet Hiran field staff.
• The evaluator will work closely with both the Food Security & Livelihoods Coordinator and South Central Somalia Regional Manager in Nairobi
• The evaluator will have to work closely with the Data Analyst for information from the assessments that will have been entered, cleaned and analysed using SPSS system.
• The evaluator will liaise closely with FS/L staff in the field to ensure appropriate methodology is used for data collection.

It is expected that the following information will be used to complete the evaluation:
1. Baseline and end-line assessments
2. Post distribution monitoring information
3. Results of Focused Group Discussions to be completed at the end of the project
4. Monthly market price information
5. Case studies
6. Other information collected as advised by the evaluator

Deliverables
1. Final evaluation report no longer than 20-pages (excluding annexes) using Times New Roman 12pt, or Arial 11pt font
2. 3 case studies (1-page each)
3. Success stories to be used for publicising the programme
4. video clips if possible
5. Still photos

Timelines
22 working days from start of contract – potentially between 01 September – 31 October 2010
First draft to be submitted to all relevant parties by 22nd October 2010
Final approved reports to be received by SC Emergency Food Security and Livelihoods Coordinator by 31 October 2010.

Activity Days required Person responsible
Background reading and preparation 2 days Evaluator – briefing and documents to be provided by FS/L coordinator
Preparation and support to Hiran staff 5 Days Evaluator – in coordination with FS/L project officer in the field
Data analysis 5 days Evaluator
Report and case study writing 10 days Evaluator – with inputs from FS/L project officer in the field

Qualification skills and experience of consultant
Essential
• Extensive monitoring and evaluation experience especially working in Emergency and development contexts
• Proven track record of report/evaluation writing (previous samples of similar work will be required)
• Understanding/experience of food security programming
• Ability to analyse and use information from SPSS systems
• Ability to write clear and concise reports in English
• Ability to work with diverse teams of people
• Ability to facilitate and support staff from a distance
• Experience of Managing evaluations from a distance

Desirable
• Experience of working in Somalia
• Ability to speak Somali language
• Experience of evaluations/reports for large donors such as DfID
• Experience of managing evaluations in conflict situations

Application procedure:
If you feel that you fit to the criteria please send an application letter stating how you fulfil the skills and experience Plus prepare a one page application describing the methodology of the evaluation taking into account that this assignment will be managed from a distance

Applications should be forwarded to: [h.jobs@scuk.or.ke], please mark the subject box: ‘DFID evaluation’

Latest date for receiving applications is on 20th Aug 2010, 15:00 pm only short listed individuals will be notified.

Save the Children is an equal opportunities employer and highly encourages women to apply.
How to apply
For further information and applications should be forwarded to: [h.jobs@scuk.or.ke], please mark the subject box: ‘DFID evaluation’

Reference Code: RW_87RH5A-91