Consultant for evaluation of Somalia food crisis response - cash grants and livelihood asset protection

Background

Save the Children Somalia / Somaliland (SCISOM) in a non-governmental organization (NGO) whose mission is to fight for children’s rights and deliver immediate and lasting improvement to children’s lives worldwide. SCISOM has been operational in the Greater Somalia for over 40 years. Currently SCISOM operates programmes that straddle relief to development with a wide range of programming in Health, Nutrition, Child Protection, Child Rights Governance, Vocational and Skills Training, Education and Food Security & Livelihoods working in Somaliland, Puntland and Central South Somalia. SCISOM works to ensure quality programming on the ground which forms the basis to advocate for greater changes in policy and practice at regional, national and global levels. With funding through Save the Children Canada, SCISOM has been implementing “Somalia Food Crisis Response - Cash grants and livelihood asset protection in Iskushuban, Bari region, Puntland”. The project is for 12 months from August 2011 to July 2012. The objective of the project is to provide immediate relief to pastoralist households that lack sufficient access to income sources to meet their basic food and health needs, and also to build their resilience and disaster risk reduction capacity. The project has two key components – cash grants and protection of livelihood assets (through animal health interventions). The animal health interventions were implemented by Veterinarians Without Borders (VSF G). he project targets a total of 4000 pastoralist HHs or 32,000 people through treatment of their productive animals whilst the cash relief component targets the poorest 333 HHs or 2,000 people. Only a small percentage have received both services (61HH).

Purpose & specific objectives

The purpose of the evaluation is to understand the immediate effects of the so far undertaken activities and with what immediate successes achieved or not achieved. The two outcomes of the intervention are

• 333 households in Ishkhufban district in Bari region of Puntland access their basic food and non-food needs and build their resiliency.
• 4000 household’s livestock assets are secured
• The findings will be used for internal SCISOM, SC at regional / global level and the greater humanitarian community as appropriate.
• The objective is to evaluate the project entitled “Somalia Food Crisis Response - Cash grants and livelihood asset protection in Iskushuban, Bari region, Puntland”.

The specific objectives of the consultancy are

• To examine extent to which the objectives of the project have been achieved
• To document the “most significant change” of the project for respective beneficiary groups
• To document case studies from the intervention
• To draw keys lessons learned and make recommendations for further improvement in order to realize the desired project outcomes.

Scope of work

The evaluation will include

• Desk review: on past and current documents on associated programs (e.g. Cash-based and asset protection programmes in similar Somalia context)
• Field work: Discussions with key SCISOM, VSF G, GoPL and other key informants, discussions with beneficiaries
• Report writing: from findings

Expected outputs

• A brief inception report and appropriate instruments submitted within xx days of the start of the consultancy.
• A draft report will be submitted for comment by xx.
• Presentation on findings
• A final report will be submitted by xx. 6. Methodology
• A Baseline and end-of-project analysis will be applied to evaluate the process of implementation, outcomes and impact if any. The evaluation process will be participatory.
• Review of secondary data from project reports and other project documents
• Focus group discussions: conduct focus group discussion with families receiving support cash grants, those benefiting from animal health interventions and those benefiting from both interventions. Male only, female only and mixed discussions should be held to establish the most significant change for each group out of the group discussions. Child Friendly materials will be used and themes of child protection will be explored.
• Key informant interviews with community leaders
• Case studies focusing on individual household and communities
• Observation 7. Roles & responsibilities

Consultant

• Background research on livelihoods programming in Somalia and similar contexts
• Develop modeling tool for analysis
• Field research
• Data analysis and report writing
• SCISOM will provide details of the project
• Translation, as needed
• Transport to and from relevant meetings in Puntland 8. Timeframe & Budget
• The work should be completed within 25 days of signing the agreement
• The final report must be received no later than 30 days of the commencement of the consultancy in order to receive full payment
• All costs related to the consultancy will be charged to the Bari Livelihood Project budget
• Internal SCISOM guidelines for recruitment of local consultant will be used to establish payment 9. Management structure
• The commissioning manager is Abdirashid Isse Ismail, Livelihood Program Coordinator with significant contact with Holly Welcome Radice, Food Security & Livelihoods Technical Manager
• The consultant will interact and consult with other key staff members of throughout the time period
• Level of access to children
• This consultancy may have regular contact with children and is Level 3

Required qualification and experience

• Experience in emergency livelihoods project implementation
• Experience designing and implementing participatory evaluations with both adults & children
• Prove capacity to write clear concise reports
• Relevant university degrees
• At least 5 years professional experience
• Experience working in the Somali context Fluency in Somali language a requirement.