Terms of Reference: End of Program Evaluation for PREVENT (Preventing HIV for Sustained Epidemic Control) Program in Zimbabwe
Ngo & Social Services Jobs
- Population Solutions for Heal…
- Expires 25 Oct 2026
- Harare
- Contractor
Job Description
Background
The PREVENT Program
Preventing HIV for Sustained Epidemic Control in Zimbabwe (PREVENT) is a PEPFAR-funded program through the Department of State (DoS) in Zimbabwe and implemented by Population Solutions for Health (PSH) and a consortium of partners. The program was implemented between October 2023 to September 2026. PREVENT delivered high-impact solutions to increase the availability and uptake of quality life-saving HIV treatment and care services and also biomedical HIV prevention focusing on improving the sustainability of the national HIV response. PREVENT was implemented under the coordination of the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) and the National AIDS Council (NAC).
The program had two broad objectives:
(1) to increase availability and uptake of quality HIV prevention, care and treatment services for key and priority populations, and
(2) to improve sustainability of the HIV response.
The Program, which was initially supposed to end on September 30, 2028, experienced three unplanned major changes that varied from the initial program scope:
1. Suspended operations from January 2025 until March 2025 due to the Stop Work Order effected by United States Government (USG) to allow comprehensive review of the USG foreign assistance.
2. Descoping/stoppage of Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC), Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored, and Safe women (DREAMS) and Private Sector Engagement program components since March 2025.
3. Accelerated Transition Phase from June 2026 to September 2026 and eventual administrative close-out from October – December 2026 ahead of the initial program end date of September 2028. This followed the non-signing of the Health Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Zimbabwe and the United States Government
Duties and Responsibilities
2. Purpose and Objectives of the Evaluation
2.1 Purpose
The evaluation will be guided by the OECD-DAC evaluation criteria of relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, impact and sustainability. These criteria will provide the overarching framework for assessing PREVENT's performance, results and contribution to the national HIV response, considering the program's original design, subsequent suspension and descoping, and accelerated transition and early termination. The evaluation will also document unintended consequences, lessons learned and practical recommendations for future HIV programming.
2.2 Specific objectives
1. Assess the extent to which PREVENT achieved its targets and intended outcomes across HIV testing, PrEP, care and treatment and integrated services with the following lense:
a. Performance against original targets before the January 2025 suspension
b. Results following the march descoping
c. Results and transition outcomes during June – September 2026
d. The consequences of the early termination compared with original planned Program period.
2. Establish the relevance of the program design to the needs of populations at high of HIV acquisition and its alignment with national health priorities
3. Evaluate effectiveness of various Program implementation models/strategies and/or approaches and key innovations employed
4. Evaluate the effects of discontinuing VMMC, DREAMS, and private sector engagements
5. Document lessons learned, good practices and constraints, and provide practical, prioritized recommendations that can be considered for similar current and future Programs/programs
6. Document transition phase successes, constraints/challenges, lessons learned, impact to recipients of care and stakeholders, and proffer recommendations that can enhance continuity of transitioned services
2.3 Evaluation Scope
The evaluation covers all PREVENT program areas although primary data will only be collected from districts (Bulawayo, Gweru, Harare, Chitungwiza, Chipinge, Masvingo, and Mutare) where PREVENT was active as at September 30, 2026.
3. Methodology
3.1 Overall Approach
The evaluation will be independent, participatory and utilization-focused. It will use a mixed-methods design that triangulates quantitative program and surveillance data with qualitative evidence from implementers, government and communities. Evaluators will propose and justify the final design, sampling and analytical approach in the inception report, for approval by PSH.
3.2 Data Collection and Analysis Methods
1. Desk review: Program documents such as the investment document, annual work plans and narratives, MEL plan, quarterly and annual reports, and relevant national policies and guidelines.
2. Secondary analysis of routine data: Advanced analysis using Bahmni EMR data. Results will be analyzed against targets, trends over time and across districts, cohorts, and age groups
3. Quantitative survey: Quantitative interviews with recipients of care who benefited from the PREVENT program. The consultant should propose the sample size, sampling frame, assumptions, stratification, non-response adjustment and analysis plan.
4. Cost analysis: Define the financial period, cost-allocation methodology, treatment of shared costs and criteria for comparing delivery models. The evaluator should report limitations where financial and service-output data cannot be linked reliably.
5. Key informant interviews: DoS, PSH leadership and technical leads, consortium partners, MoHCC, NAC and other development partners at national, provincial and district levels
6. Focus group discussions and in-depth interviews: This will be done with recipients of care, community health workers, and program staff at New Start Centers. Group composition will be designed with community partners to protect safety and confidentiality.
7. Case studies: in-depth studies of selected innovations or models,
8. Transition evaluation: Assess whether recipients of care were successfully transferred, whether they continued accessing services, whether records and treatment histories were transferred appropriately, and what barriers remained. Distinguish administrative transfer from verified continuity of care.
9. Analysis and synthesis: descriptive and, where data allow, comparative statistical analysis; thematic analysis of qualitative data; triangulation across sources; and a validation workshop with stakeholders to test emerging findings.
The analysis shall explicitly examine programme performance across the key implementation periods: (i) the original implementation period before the January 2025 Stop Work Order; (ii) the suspension and resumption of activities in January–March 2025; (iii) implementation following the March 2025 descoping; and (iv) the accelerated transition and early termination period from June to September 2026. The evaluation shall assess the implications of these changes for service delivery, programme outcomes, expenditure, implementation efficiency and continuity of care. Findings should distinguish between results achieved, observed effects of external changes and outcomes that cannot be reliably attributed to the programme or to any single disruption.
3.3 Deliverables and Timelines
• Inception report (20 pages max) (7 days)
• Data collection (both secondary and primary data) (15 days)
• Draft evaluation report (15 days)
• Presentation of findings and Draft report review (3 days)
• Final evaluation reporting including submission of datasets (2 days)
The final report should be submitted to PSH by the 10th of December 2026.
3.4 Management and reporting
The evaluation will be commissioned by PSH in consultation with Department of State. The evaluation team will report to PSH focal point- Strategic Information and Evaluation Director. PSH will provide documents, data access, introductions to partners and logistical support, but will not influence the findings.
3.5 Ethical Considerations and Data Protection
The evaluation team shall ensure that all evaluation activities comply with applicable ethical standards, national research requirements and data protection legislation. Informed consent shall be obtained from all participants. Particular care shall be taken to protect the dignity, privacy, safety and confidentiality of recipients of HIV services and other potentially vulnerable populations, including through appropriate safeguarding and gender-based violence-sensitive approaches. Access to electronic medical records and other sensitive information shall be authorised and limited to what is necessary for the evaluation. All data shall be securely collected, transferred, stored and analysed, with personal identifiers removed wherever possible. The evaluation team shall clearly specify arrangements for data ownership, access, retention, secure disposal and submission of anonymised datasets to PSH. Any actual or potential risk to participants, breach of confidentiality or other ethical concern arising during the evaluation shall be reported promptly to PSH..
Qualifications and Experience
4. Qualifications and Experience
The evaluation will be conducted by an independent team. Individual consultants or firms may apply. The team should have the following profile.
4.1 Team Leader (Lead Evaluator)
• Master's degree or higher in public health, epidemiology, social sciences, development studies, statistics or a related field. A PhD is a distinct advantage.
• At least 15 years of experience in designing and leading evaluations of HIV programs, with demonstrated experience in PEPFAR-funded programs.
• Atleast 10 years experience in managing HIV prevention, care and treatment including laboratory services programs
• Demonstrated experience in mixed-methods evaluation, report writing, stakeholder facilitation and advanced quantitative and qualitative analytic skills.
• Good understanding of the Zimbabwean health system and HIV response.
4.2 Technical and subject matter experts
• HIV prevention and high risk populations specialist: at least 7 years of experience working with high risk populations.
• Quantitative and data specialist: advanced degree in biostatistics, epidemiology or data science, with experience in analyzing DHIS2 and EMR data and in cost analysis.
• Qualitative research and community engagement specialist: experience in conducting FGDs and in-depth interviews with sensitive populations, including adolescents, and in safeguarding and GBV-sensitive research.
• Health systems, sustainability and private sector specialist: Experience in public-private partnerships and capacity strengthening of local organizations.
How to Apply
Submission requirements
Applicants should submit:
1. A technical proposal covering understanding of the assignment, proposed methodology, work plan and team composition. (20 pages max)
2. CVs of all proposed team members and evidence of similar assignments, including two sample reports.
3. A financial proposal with a detailed budget.
4. Three references.
Applications Must be submitted to tenders@psh.org.zw not later than 25 October 2026
