Country: Madagascar
Closing date: 04 Nov 2016
fTerms of Reference
- Evaluator – ECHO Project - Final Evaluation and Project Design Madagascar
“Limitons ensemble l’expansion de l’épidémie de Peste à Madagascar”
Danish Red Cross (DRC)/Malagasy Red Cross (MRCS)
TITLE: Evaluator LOCATION: Madagascar DURATION OF THE MISSION: 22 days DATE OF THE MISSION: November/December 2016, ideally from 16/11/2016 to 28/11/2016 on the field and at latest the 19/12/2016 to submit the final version of the final evaluation document.
- Background
In Partnership with Madagascar Red Cross Society (MRCS), Danish Red Cross (DRC) has successfully obtained funding from ECHO to contribute to limit the expansion of Plague in Madagascar.
Madagascar is the country most affected by Plague in the world. This disease which is both endemic and epidemic in the island affects hundreds of people every year. For the past three years, an alarming increase of the epidemic reach has been observed. Underlying issues such as political instability, poverty, limited access to basic sanitation, precarious hygiene conditions, a failing health system, and the recurrent exposure to natural catastrophes, significantly increase the population’s vulnerability towards Plague and exceeds the country’s capacity to provide an adequate response.
This intervention seeks to reduce morbidity and mortality rates linked to Plague in the implementation areas. The increase of knowledge related to the disease will allow the target population to better identify suspected symptoms and timely seek for help. Acquisition of good hygiene, sanitation and vector control practices will allow affected communities to have a direct impact in their close environment and reduce the risks linked to vectors proliferation. A community-based epidemiologic surveillance and early warning systems will also contribute to improve the response to the epidemic through the prompt detection and referral of suspect cases and by facilitating the link between the community and the health services.
This project focuses its activities in four of the most affected regions by Plague in Madagascar: Analamanga, Bongolava, Itasy and Alaotra Mangoro. It is expected that the project reaches 6693 beneficiaries.
The effectiveness and sustainability of this action relies on the close collaboration of the different stakeholders implicated in fighting against Plague at local and national levels and on the beneficiaries’ active participation throughout the implementation of this project.
- The consultancy
2.1 Overall Objectives This consultancy will consist in two interdependent objectives:
-Objective 1: to carry out the ECHO Plague project Final Assessment and more specifically to assess the impact of the following objective: how has this project contributed to reduce Plague Outbreak in Madagascar? -Objective 2: to identify learnings and formulate recommendations that could be integrated in the project in order to improve its implementation and efficacy - if a second phase of the current project was to take place in 2017-.
2.2 Purpose of the Evaluation -A: to assess the suitability of the operation with regards to the needs identified at the programme inception; -B: to assess the degree to which the objective has been achieved; -C: to analyse the impact of the operation and specific activities undertaken in the event of the current Plague Outbreak, on the beneficiaries and on the national society; -D: to assess the coordination of the project with the national authorities, local and international organisations and all relevant actors; -E: to assess the relevance of the Community Based Surveillance system established focusing in the following topics: • Is the planning for the implementation of CBS adequate? • Involvement and information of the community – is the current approach appropriate? • Is the CBS volunteer training sufficient – are the volunteers well prepared for conducting
CBS? • How is the cooperation with the Ministry of Health at regional level? • How is the literacy level, age and geographical distance affecting the understanding of CBS? • Is CBS needed in urban areas in Madagascar?
2.3 Specific Evaluation Objectives
-Brief description of the operation to be evaluated and its context: political, socio-economic situation, Plague outbreak preparedness needs, local capacities (both of the local population and of the local authorities) available to respond to local needs in case of Plague outbreak; -Analysis of the relevance of the objectives, of the suitability of the aid provided in the context of local practices, of the choice of beneficiaries, and of the strategy, in relation to local needs; -Examination of the coordination and coherence of the actions carried out with local authorities, local and international organisations; -Analysis of the effectiveness of the operation in quantitative and qualitative terms; -Analysis of the efficiency of the operation. The analysis should cover:
- planning of activities
- implication of beneficiaries in the implementation, relevance of the community based and participatory approach ;
- elements such as : logistics, selection of recipients, maintenance of accounts;
- quality and quantity of merchandise and services
-Analysis of the impact of the project. Indicative list below:
- Contribution to the reduction of vulnerability;
- Effect on the environment of the local population;
- Effect on local capacity-building;
- Evaluate the inhabitant’s knowledges of Plague risk faced by the communities.
-Analysis of the visibility of the donor -Analysis of the integration within the project implementation of gender issues/markers, resilience markers and communities’ cultural beliefs and perceptions surrounding Plague. -Analysis of how beneficiaries had been reached with a special focus on two targeted groups as Children and Female -Analysis of the viability of the operation -Drawing-up of operational recommendations/“lessons learned” on the project implementation/define new phase programme components for second phase.
2.4. Timeframe. The evaluation will last 22 days, ending no later than 19/12/2016.
2.5. Work plan and methodology.
The evaluation will be carried out in 3 phases. A/ Briefing: The briefing will last 1 day (16/11/2016) and will be organised as follows:
-A briefing will be held at Malagasy Red Cross HQ in Madagascar (1 day).
Remark: the information and documents necessary for the mission will be provided before the briefing. Thus, the consultant should schedule 2 days to analyse the documents relative to the program (narrative and financial proposal, logical framework, work plan, intermediary reports, as well as other documents relative to the implementation of the program) before starting the mission. The evaluation tools should be also prepared before the beginning of the field mission as well as the draft of the action plan for the field visit.
Briefing in Madagascar: -Discussions with the DRC Country Coordinator in Madagascar, with the Plague project DRC delegate and with the project team; -Discussions with the Secretary General of the MRCS and its colleagues and especially the Head of the health department; -Update of evaluation tools and the action plan of the field visit.
B/ Mission in the field: The mission will last 10 days (from 17/11/2016 to 28/11/2016).
-Collection of all required information: Primary data collection:
- Interviews with the key actors of the project (technical and administrative team) and other institutional actors.
- Interviews with direct project beneficiaries and use of participatory tools (maps, diagrams, matrices, etc.).
- Group interviews with the technical team of the project and use of participatory appraisal techniques.
- Direct observation, visit of different sites and different communities and participation to activities of the project.
- Analysis of CBS system/data gathered.
Secondary data:
- Review of documents of the DRC/MRCS Red Cross
- Review of documents of other institutions working in the same field
-Preliminary analysis of the data collected
-A debriefing at the Malagasy Red Cross HQ in Madagascar for 1 day (28/11/2016): preliminary presentation of the results of the evaluation to the team of the project and to the key partners.
C/ Report submission and discussion - 9 days form (05/11/2016 to 19/12/2016). -The report will be drafted either in English. -The draft report will be submitted to the DRC’s Country Coordinator and Headquarters at the latest 1 week after the end of the field evaluation (05/12/2016).
- A skype debriefing will be organised with Headquarters in Copenhagen upon reception of this first version (06/11/2016). Subsequently written comments will be sent by the DRC to the consultant to clarify misunderstandings and inaccuracies (12/11/2016). -Once the necessary amendments to the draft report have been incorporated, the revised text will be resubmitted to the DRC. -The consultant will have 7 days maximum to submit a final report with annexes in a word format (19/12/2016).
2.6. Evaluation report The report should have the following format: -Cover page: Report title Country, organization, sector of intervention, global funding amount, name of the donor(s) *Dates of the evaluation
- Name of the consultant(s) *Indication that the report has been produced at the request of the Danish Red Cross, financed by the DRC.
-Table of contents -Executive summary Two to three pages maximum, summarizing the key points of the evaluation: Purpose and methodology (5 lines) Main conclusions (+/- 20 lines) Recommendations (+/- 20 lines) Lessons learned (+/- 10 lines) -Main report (about 15-20 pages): the main body of the report should start with the method used and should be structured in accordance with the specific objectives formulated under point mentioned above. -Annexes: Terms of reference Lists of people met and sites visited (with map) List of abbreviations Pictures *Information collection and analysis tools
2.7. New phase programme report. In two to three pages maximum, new points of intervention should be summarized and justified.
2.8. Consultant profile This evaluation should be carried out by a consultant with: -Academic background in medical or public health -Experience in the field of health project management -Experience in project evaluation and writing -Experience in community health and Community Based Surveillance -Experience in ECHO funding -Experience in epidemic control and outbreak management -Good knowledge of Madagascar context will be an asset. -Knowledge of English and French is a prerequisite
The consultant will be responsible of the coherence of the report, both in terms of content and presentation.
2.9. Resources -Human resources: the consultant will be welcomed and accompanied by the DRC/MRCS project team who will also facilitate logistic and setting up of interviews etc. -Material resources: the DRC delegation will make available means of transportation, of communication and of work required for the proper conduct of the evaluation.
2.10. Expression of interest If you are interested in carrying out this evaluation, please send a Curriculum Vitae and a tender including the following elements: • Evaluation Proposal (4 pages maximum) including the methodology proposed to comply with the requirements of the evaluation • Field of expertise: Community Health • Full budget presenting the costs for the evaluation: consultant allowance, transport and communications costs • Date of availability of the consultant and a time frame of the evaluation.
The tender should be sent to gubou@rodekors.dk by email on 04/11/2016 midnight Madagascar time, at the latest. If you need more information about the project to evaluate, in order to carry out your tender please contact the email address provided.
How to apply:
The tender should be sent to gubou@rodekors.dk by email on 04/11/2016 midnight Madagascar time, at the latest.