Job Description

1.   Background Information

Save the Children (SC), in collaboration with local partner Somali Peace Line (SPL), is actively supporting the most vulnerable families affected by drought and conflict in eight Internally Displaced People (IDP) camps and host communities in Abudwak district. Our primary focus is on newly arrived IDPs. Through our program, these families received inclusive and gender-responsive Multipurpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) to address their immediate food and non-food needs. Additionally, we provided protection services specifically tailored for the most vulnerable children, including unaccompanied and separated children (UASC) and survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).

In total, 960 households (HHs) have received unconditional cash transfers (UCT) of 110 USD over a length of four months. We utilize the Resourcing Families for Better Nutrition Common Approach (RF4BN CA), which combines cash transfers with complementary Socio-behavioral Change Communications (cash plus) to ensure that the cash assistance has the maximum impact on children's well-being.

Moreover, the project aims to enhance the economic resilience of the target families. We achieve this by supporting mothers and female caregivers in establishing Voluntary Saving and Loan Associations (VSLAs). Through this mechanism, we facilitate improved access to finance, provide training in basic business skills, and offer support for the development of their own businesses.

Save the children also prioritizes the provision of specialized child protection case management to vulnerable girls and boys. Additionally, offers psychosocial and positive parenting support to both children and parents/caregivers of MPCA beneficiaries and other individuals in project target communities.

Collaboration with Daryeel Disability Organization, Save the children its partner SPL, Persons with Disabilities (OPD) has been crucial in improving their capacity and relevance in identifying and documenting children and persons with disabilities in the community. Furthermore, we advocate for the participation of children and persons with disabilities in community committees, ensuring that the voices of children with disabilities are heard.

Overall, the project has reached 5,780 beneficiaries directly with cash assistance, including 1,920 girls, 1,920 boys, 970 women, and 970 men. Additionally, it also has directly engaged 5,956 beneficiaries through community-based child protection activities, comprising 2,150 girls, 2,170 boys, 916 women, and 720 men. It is also allocate 10% of the supported people to be children and adults with disabilities.

Project objective: Provide newly displaced drought and conflict affected vulnerable families with access to timely and inclusive cash assistance and community-based child protection services

The project has two Result areas:

Result 1: Vulnerable drought and conflict affected families are able to meet their immediate food and non-food needs and reduce vulnerabilities through provision of timely Multipurpose Cash Assistance and cash plus services

Result 2: Girls and boys including children with disabilities at risk of violence, neglect, exploitation and family separation, and their caregivers, have improved access to gender, disability and age-appropriate prevention and response CP services

2. GENERAL OBJECTIVE OF THE EVALUATION

The primary objective of this evaluation is to systematically review and analyze the performance of the project, with a specific focus on its achievements in relation to the predetermined objectives. The evaluation will also document intended and unintended outcomes as well as any challenges encountered during the project implementation and identify best practices that can be applied to future programming initiatives. The evaluation will be conducted in accordance with the OECD DAC criteria, which comprehensively evaluates the project's relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability, impact, coordination, as well as its consideration for gender sensitivity and disability inclusiveness.

2.1 SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

• Conduct thoroughly review on project reports and data including cash plus case management baseline and PDM data. And conducting qualitative data collection (desk review, FGD and KII) to document lesson learnt on MPCA plus case management by looking relevance and effectiveness (qualitative).
• To evaluate the relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, sustainability, and gender sensitivity and disability inclusiveness of the project.
• Collect qualitative data on the impact of this program including benefits of a cash plus approach with activities such as Cash Transfer, VSLA, IYCF messaging, and integration sectors including case management support (family tracing

and reunification (FTR), psychosocial support (PSS), referrals), Parenting without Violence (PwV), and Child Friendly Spaces activities, and collect case studies that demonstrate change in the lives of children.

• Recommend improvements for the longer-term resilience intervention strategy for the same or similar intervention areas and/or communities.

3. KEY QUESTIONS

The following key questions will be explored at a minimum during the evaluation:

1. A)RELEVANCE
2. To what extent did the intervention objectives consistent with the needs and priorities of the beneficiaries, including particularly vulnerable children?
3. Was the design of the project the most appropriate and relevant to the program approach and strategy?
4. B)EFFECTIVENESS
5. To what extent did the project attain its objectives and results described in the project proposal?
6. What good practices, success stories, lessons learnt, and replicable experiences or strategies have been identified in the project implementation which have proven to be effective for replication/scale-up?
7. Were the activities and results of the project consistent with the overall objective? And to what extent?
8. C)  EFFICIENCY
9. Did the project use the financial and human resources as per the project document to deliver the intended results?
10. Were the interventions timely/were there any delays in the implementation of the project activities?
11. Were the resources (funds, technical support from SCI/SCF, use of Save the Children common approaches, partnerships and divided roles & responsibilities between SCI and partners) used well?
12. D)  IMPACT
13. To what extent did the project have an impact on the targeted beneficiaries?
14. What are the key short-term and long-term changes produced by the project, positive or negative and what are the key factors behind these changes?
15. Document the impact of the project in the form of stories/case studies.
16. E)  SUSTAINABILITY
17. To what extent target population, including children and persons and children with disabilities, were included in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the project?
18. To what extent will the project be replicated or scaled up at local or national levels?
19. Were exit strategy plans developed and implemented? If not, why? And if yes how successfully?
20. F)GENDER EQUALITY AND DISABILITY INCLUSIVENESS
21. To what extent has the project been gender-sensitive or transformative in design and implementation as per SCI Gender Equality Guidance?
22. What concrete measures were taken in the project to increase gender equality and reduce gender inequalities?
23. What concrete measure were taken in the project to increase disability inclusiveness and reduce.
24. G)  INTEGRATION OF CASH TRANSFER AND CHILD PROTECTION PROGRAMMING
25. What have been the key benefits and drawbacks of combining cash support with cash-plus activities and combining cash transfers and child protection programming?
26. What has worked and what has not worked in key components of integrated cash transfer and child protection programming, such as in beneficiary targeting? Why have these approaches worked or not worked and how could they be improved to achieve better child protection outcomes for beneficiaries?
27. METHODOLOGY

The final evaluation will utilize qualitative data method approach. To begin, the consultant will conduct a thorough review of project documents including baseline report, Post Distribution Monitoring (PDMs), proactive calling records, quarterly and program interim reports, project final report, activity reports, cash plus case management monitoring reports, project routine data such as Indicator Performance Tracking Table (IPTT).

The consultant will carry out qualitative data collection through focus group discussions and KII. A participatory approach will be utilized to ensure a positive learning process.

Throughout the evaluation process, the consultant will work closely with the Save the Children technical team, seeking their advice and following their directions. As Save the Children is a child-sensitive organization, it is required will ensure the

consultation with girls and boys, utilizing child-friendly and gender-sensitive methodologies. Special attention will be given to ensuring the participation of individuals with disabilities, both adults and children. All participation will be voluntary, meaningful, safe, and inclusive.

5. CONSULTANT ROLE AND EXPECTING DELIVERABLES

The consultant is expected to perform through 3 phases –inception, data collection process, reporting and dissemination, training data collectors, document review, data collection, analysis/interpretation, report writing, and presentation to key stakeholders.

The evaluation will have the following key phases:

Phase I - Desk study: Review of documentation and elaboration of field Study

The lead consultant/evaluation team will review relevant documents (Reference material). Based on this review, they will produce an inception report which will include an elaborate plan of the evaluation that will include but not limited to study, methodology including (KII & FGD guides), and sampling strategy of the data collection plans etc. The evaluation will only proceed to the next stage upon approval of the inception report. An appropriate inception report format will be provided to the selected consultant.

REFERENCE MATERIALS

• Project narrative proposal and the logical framework
• Baseline Report
• Project monitoring and evaluation plan
• Monthly and Quarterly Reports
• Minutes from monthly meetings between SCF and project team and the project mid-term review meeting minutes
• PDMs
• Project MEAL reports
• Case management reports
• Training reports
• Project narrative reports

Phase II: Field Data Collection

This phase of the evaluation will seek to collect primary data on the key evaluation questions explained under the evaluation criteria. The consultant will use the agreed plan, methodology, tools, and sampling strategies from phase 1 to conduct the fieldwork.

Phase III – Data analysis and production of evaluation report

As a minimum, the evaluation process will include the following key steps:

• Review of relevant literature related to the project (list of reference materials provided below) and draft an inception report before the evaluation exercise in the field.
• Application of appropriate data collection tools for interviews and focus group discussions;
• Data analysis and Evaluation Report writing, and
• Presentation of key evaluation findings.
• to share transcripts, photos, GPS, and case studies.

6. REPORTING

The consultant will maintain daily contact with the SCI team assigned to manage the evaluation activities. The collected data will be analyzed on daily basis by the consultant and given feedback to the collection teams.

A final report with main text of maximum of maximum 40 pages excluding the cover page, table of contents, abbreviations, and annexes. The draft report should be delivered in a soft copy in English. References should be fully cited after all important facts and figures. The report should be structured as follows:

✓     Front page with the title of the report, project and SC CO name, date, and authors of the report

✓       Table of contents

✓       List of abbreviations used.

✓     
Executive summary (3-4 pages) that presents the key points of the different sections.

✓       Brief background and description of project

✓       Objectives and the intended use of the evaluation

✓       Methodology and limitations of the evaluation

✓     Findings, including a table presenting the progress of the project objectives and results and their respective indicators against the baseline data.

✓       Conclusions & Recommendations

✓       Challenges, lessons learnt and suggested actions for the way forward with timelines and responsible.

✓       Annexes

✓       Tools used.

Experiences and Qualifications

Skills Required

Attachment

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