End of Project Evaluation . Terms of Reference for Evaluation: Inclusive Communities Project in Zimbabwe
Consultancy, Research Jobs
- Christian Blind Mission
- Expires 26 Sep 2023
- Harare
- Full Time
Job Description
Program/Project : Inclusive Communities Project in Zimbabwe.
Project Number: P00102
Partner Organisation: Regional Psychosocial Support Initiative (REPSSI)
Project start and end dates: 2 Years (2021-2023)
Evaluation Purpose
To determine the relevance and level of achievement of project objectives, development effectiveness, efficiency, coherence, impact, and sustainability.
Evaluation Type: Endline evaluation
Evaluation Team, members (if known) : Pending
Primary Methodology: A mixed, participatory, disability-inclusive approach shall be adopted for the process of the evaluation, combining qualitative and quantitative methods.
Proposed Evaluation: Start and End Dates
01/10/23- 30/10/23
Anticipated: Evaluation Report Release Date
Background
Zimbabwe is a lower-middle income country in which poverty is endemic: an estimated 70% of the population is living below the poverty line. Zimbabwe signed and ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) On September 23, 2013. However, the country has taken a long time to domesticate the CRPD. Zimbabwe is yet to submit the first State Report as stipulated by the CRPD. Nevertheless, the country is in the advanced stages of replacing the Disabled Persons Act of 1992 with the Persons with Disabilities Act, which is currently a bill. On June 9, 2021, the President of Zimbabwe launched the National Disability Policy, which is expected to have a positive impact on disability service provision in the country. The country has been experiencing perennial drought for decades. In addition, floods, cyclones, Cholera, Malaria, malnutrition, and poverty, amongst others, have plagued families and communities. Furthermore, COVID-19 has added on to the already existing challenges, leading to increased stress and impact of pre-existing conditions. These challenges and the resultant stressful conditions have also adversely affected Persons with Disabilities.
Sadly, the challenges have, in most instances, led to the emergence of emergency settings, which give rise to child marriages, early/unwanted pregnancies, malnutrition, lack of employment, child headed households, failure to continue with basic education, gender-based violence (GBV), and violence against children (VAC) – all these challenges and the resultant stress often lead to mental health illnesses among community members. More also, Zimbabwe’s health Care system is challenged with human resource constraints which contributes to complexities in the treatment of people with mental illness. Additionally, with respect to people with disabilities, anecdotal evidence has also shown that community awareness on mental health and disability inclusion is riddled with myths and there continues to be a need for mental health and disability inclusion awareness as well as livelihood activities to support people with disabilities and their families.
Duties and Responsibilities
The project has been working closely with government (Ministry of Health and local health authorities as well as the Ministry of Social Development), Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (QUAPAZ, Tariro Foundation, Zimbabwe Youth for Impaired Persons Trust, Manicaland Albino Association, National Council for Disabled Persons Zimbabwe, Epilepsy Foundation Zimbabwe, Federation for Disabled Persons Zimbabwe), civil society organisations working in mental health, and people with disabilities andcare givers who are the primary beneficiaries of the project. More also, the project utilised the Community Based Inclusive Development (CBID) approach, which enables disability inclusive development on the ground, as CBID begins at the grassroots level in the everyday lives of people, purposed at achieving sustainable change. The human rights approach was adopted to address mental health challenges and issues.
1.0 Project Overall objective
People with disabilities, their families and their representative organisations in all their diversity are resilient, accessing their rights and actively and equally participating in national, community and family life in Zimbabwe.
2.0 Project-Specific Objective
Increasing access to rights and participation of people with disabilities on personal, community and societal levels in Zimbabwe. With particular focus on women, girls and people with mental health and psychosocial disabilities – those who can be the most vulnerable.
To strengthen organisations of people with disabilities (OPDs) to raise awareness, reduce disability stigma and advocate for systemic change.
To improve access to education, peer support, health services and livelihood opportunities through community-based inclusive development (CBID), improving resilience to emergencies
4.0 Purpose of the Evaluation
This will be an Outcome Evaluation, and it will focus on understanding the effectiveness of the project in relation to the purpose, goal, and the key objectives as outlined above, including the extent to which the objectives are consistent with the needs and priorities of the target group (i.e. relevance of the project), as well as the project’s potential for scale-up and sustainability.
The purpose of the evaluations will serve the dual and mutually reinforcing objectives of accountability, Impact, and learning:
•Accountability – The evaluation will assess and report on the performance and higher-level project results of Inclusive Communities project implemented in Chimanimani and Chipinge districts.
•Learning – The evaluation will draw lessons, derive good practices, and formulate recommendations. It will provide evidence-based findings to inform operational and strategic decision-making. Findings will be actively disseminated, and lessons will be incorporated into future programming.
In this regard, the successful consultant/s will be required to assess the project results, review the methodological approaches, and capture the lessons learned. Additionally, the evaluation should explore the strengths and weaknesses of the project and highlight the factors influencing the effective and efficient (as well as ineffective and inefficient) implementation of project activities and their contribution towards the realization of the project objectives and overall goal. Also, the evaluation should determine what other results (positive and negative, intentional, and unintentional) can be identified in the project. Based on the assessment, the evaluation should draw conclusions regarding the outcomes and overall goal of the project, as well as identify good practices, and formulate recommendations for similar future projects.
5.0 Evaluation Scope
This will include the implementation modalities, roles and responsibilities, coordination, partnership arrangements, institutional strengthening, beneficiary participation, replication, and sustainability of the programme. The evaluation will include the following;
➢ A review of the project design and assumptions made at the beginning of the project development process.
➢ Project management including the implementation strategies
➢ Project activities
➢ Assess the extent to which the project results have been achieved,
➢ Partnerships established,
➢ Capacities built
➢ Cross-cutting issues of mainstreaming gender, human rights, and inclusivity. Provide progress towards project’s relevance, effectiveness and efficiency, impact and sustainability of the project;
➢ Collect performance indicators data;
➢ Assess whether the project results and targets are met;
➢ How the project is working with others in partnerships
➢ To identify learnings and recommendations
Qualifications and Experience
15 Required Qualifications and Expertise for Lead Evaluator/Entity
The Evaluator shall have the following expertise and qualification:
• A minimum of a post-graduate University degree in Development Studies, Social Sciences, M & E, Disability Inclusion, Health Sciences, or equivalent.
• Good facilitation and presentation skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Knowledge of disability programming and funding trends will be an added advantage.
• At least five years of work experience in International Development.
• A minimum of three years of consulting experience as a team leader.
• At least three review assignments/evaluations completed.
• At least two years’ experience at the managerial level.
• Experience in participatory methods of research, gathering and synthesizing the perspectives of stakeholders.
• Good knowledge of gender mainstreaming and inclusion issues.
16. Confidentiality
The consultant will not disclose any information obtained during the assignment to the third party without permission. Any behaviour, public comments, or publication by the contractor considered damaging the reputation of REPSSI and CBMG or other involved partners will lead to the immediate termination of the contract.
17. Safeguarding
CBMG is an adult and child safeguarding organization committed to preventing all forms of harm and protecting children from all forms of abuse. As such, CBMG expects its workers, partners, consultants and all other individuals or persons associated with its work to be committed to ensuring a safe environment for children. Any violation of this policy may result in the termination of the whole consultancy contract.
18 Copyright
Any data collected related to this assignment, including the draft report, will be full property and copyright of REPSSI and CBMG, and may not be published or distributed to a third party without explicit permission.
