Tender of a consultancy for a end-line evaluation for the Rural Integrated Development for Socio-Economic Empowerment (RIDE) project in Rakhi

Tender of a consultancy for a end-line evaluation for the Rural Integrated Development for Socio-Economic Empowerment (RIDE) project in Rakhine State Myanmar, March 2022

Islamic Relief Worldwide

Islamic Relief is an international aid and development charity, which aims to alleviate the suffering of the world's poorest people. It is an independent Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) founded in the UK in 1984.

As well as responding to disasters and emergencies, Islamic Relief promotes sustainable economic and social development by working with local communities - regardless of race, religion or gender.

Our vision:

Inspired by our Islamic faith and guided by our values, we envisage a caring world where communities are empowered, social obligations are fulfilled and people respond as one to the suffering of others.

Our mission:

Exemplifying our Islamic values, we will mobilise resources, build partnerships, and develop local capacity, as we work to:

Enable communities to mitigate the effect of disasters, prepare for their occurrence and respond by providing relief, protection and recovery.

Promote integrated development and environmental custodianship with a focus on sustainable livelihoods.

Support the marginalised and vulnerable to voice their needs and address root causes of poverty.

We allocate these resources regardless of race, political affiliation, gender or belief, and without expecting anything in return.

Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW) has consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council, and is a signatory to the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Code of Conduct. IRW is committed to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through raising awareness of the issues that affect poor communities and through its work on the ground. Islamic Relief are one of only 14 charities that have fulfilled the criteria and have become members of the Disasters Emergency Committee (www.dec.org.uk)

IRW endeavours to work closely with local communities, focussing on capacity-building and empowerment to help them achieve development without dependency.

Please see our website for more information http://www.islamic-relief.org/

Project background

Addressing food security, livelihood and WASH needs of IDPs and families living in extreme poverty are important humanitarian and development priorities in Myanmar. Thousands of IDPs within the Rakhine State, either living in IDP camps or villages, remain stranded. Movement restrictions significantly affects the life and livelihood options and opportunities of thousands of people. Many people have been displaced from their homes and villages and as a result lost traditional income generation activities. In targeted areas, people living in extreme poverty don't have access to own land and have low or no income generating and employment opportunities and lack ownership of productive assets. This has resulted in high incidence of malnutrition, health hazards, food insecurity, and limited access to WASH facilities. Women face the severe challenges in of obtaining work opportunities, significantly affecting the female-headed household's wellbeing and food security.

Funded by Islamic Relief USA, Islamic Relief Worldwide, through partners in Myanmar, launched the rural integrated development for socio-economic empowerment (RIDE) project in Rakhine State to improve the socio-economic condition, empowerment and coping strategies of IDPs and host communities. A total 4,500 households benefited from the project.

This project started in December 2018 and shall finish at the end of May 2022.

Project Planned Impact:

4,500 households from extreme poor IDPs and targeted host communities have improved socio-economic conditions, empowerment status, and improved coping strategies.

Project outcomes:

1. Increased food security, income, and productive assets of the targeted households

2. Improved WASH behaviours and practices within communities

3. Enhanced sustainable access to Self Help Group (SHG) led financial services, disaster risk reduction, and empowerment

Project outputs:

1.1. Enhanced households’ knowledge, skills and attitude on Income Generation Activities (IGAs)

1.2. Households have improved access to livelihood means and diversified IGAs

2.1. Communities have improved access to safe water and safe sanitation facilities

2.2. Enhanced communities’ knowledge and skills on WASH behaviour and practice/preventive health care issues

3.1. Households have sustainable access to Self Help Group (SHG) led interest free micro finance services

3.2. Enhanced households knowledge, skills and attitude on DRR, rights and protection issues

Major Activities:

· Select most vulnerable beneficiaries, households Income Generating Activities (IGA) needs assessment and skill analysis

· Provide skill training on interested IGA and provide means of IGAs

· Provide irrigation equipment, vegetable seeds, and fruits sapling and arrange livestock and poultry vaccination camp

· Establish linkage with govt. livestock and agriculture services

· Identify communities of inaccessible WASH facilities; consulting with wider communities including women, girls, disabilities, and elderly

· Site selection and installation of water point ensuring accessibility of women, girls, disability and elderly

· Distribute sanitation point materials, provide the solar set for lighting

· Build capacity of WASH point management and follow up and community-led monitoring of WASH situation

· Develop IEC and BCC materials on WASH issues and arrange community-based awareness sessions on WASH and preventive health issues, facilitate community-led WASH situation follow up/monitoring and community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS)

· Form community-based self-help group, facilitate group led savings and revolving fund mobilization process

· Provide training on group development, leadership, and financial management

· Facilitate awareness on DRR planning and preparedness, rights and protection issues, including GBV (Gender-Based Violence), child protection, and disability.**

Objectives of the evaluation

This evaluation has been commissioned by Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW) in line with agreed internal policies (IR MEAL framework) to promote learning and accountability to communities and donors. The purpose of this evaluation is to assess overall performance of the project with reference to the outcomes and outputs as well as draw lessons for future programme. This evaluation should take into consideration the OECD/DAC Evaluation Criteria to assess the performance of the project, as well as use the Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS) to evaluate the quality of the interventions and the aspects of accountability.

The following objectives can be considered for the final evaluation for the RIDE project. The specific objectives of this assignment are to:

· Evaluate the project’s theory of change (ToC); its relevance to the overall country strategy; the appropriateness of its planned objectives in terms of funding and duration of the intervention; and its appropriateness in providing resilient livelihood support. The OECD/DAC criteria should be used for this purpose, alongside other frameworks deemed appropriate by the consultant.

· Evaluate the appropriateness of the project interventions, approaches, and methodology.

· Assess the effectiveness and relevance of IGAs, livelihood choice/option, and asset transfer for the multi-categories beneficiaries

· Evaluate the efficiency, effectiveness & impact of the project in light of the overall project goal, specific objective, and results.

· Assess the value for money considerations in relation to each component of the project, considering economy, efficient, effectiveness and equity.

· Assess the socio-economic changes/effects in the lives of targeted households as a result of project interventions and change and implementation of government policies.

· Evaluate the sustainability of project results, impact, and approach at different levels (household level, community level, and organization level).

· Examine the effectiveness and impact of mainstreaming issues, including gender, disability, older persons, child rights, DRR, WASH, etc.

· Other areas to consider:

§ Inclusion of newly widowed women into the mother group/Self Help Groups, and the effectiveness of this within the context of the overall intervention.

§ The appropriate and effective modality of cash transfers vs. in-kind productive asset transfers in the Myanmar context; the challenges in using cash in the circumstance of limited access to markets and restricted movement.

§ Gender and protection issues within the families related to the decision on how to use cash

§ To what degree older persons, persons with disability and women headed households benefited from the project.

§ Linkages created with the local government, and public and private service providers

§ Effectiveness of planned safe environments for the children at family and community level.

§ Ability of beneficiaries to advocate for their own development, including any improvements in their access to services as a result.

§ Effectiveness of Child Protection and feedback and complaint mechanisms n all project areas.

§ Changes in leadership capacities of group members/leaders

§ Effectiveness of project MEAL systems and procedures

· Identifying lessons learned, any innovations and good practices of the project to inform both IRW and IR Myanmar's and partners future response and where relevant, the wider sector.

The scope of the evaluation

IR Myanmar, through the local partner, is implementing this project in 36 communities of 13 village tracks in Sittwe Township in the Rakhine state of Myanmar. The evaluator or evaluation team should utilise a context-sensitive, mixed-methods approach, including partially remote and hybrid methodologies to respond to the evaluation criteria and questions below.

Evaluation criteria and questions

The evaluation should respond to the following evaluation questions and any others deemed appropriate by the evaluation team, supported by evidence, triangulated data and views of key project participants and relevant wider stakeholders.

Relevance:

· Was the design of the intervention relevant to the wider context?

· Is the intervention in line with the needs and highest priorities of the most vulnerable groups (men and women, boys, girls and person with disabilities)?

· Is the intervention design and objectives aligned with the overall food security, livelihood and WASH sector and cluster strategy?

· Did the design and implementation of the intervention consider and build on available local capacities?

· Was the design and implementation of interventions age, gender and disability-sensitive?

Coherence:

· To what extent were context factors (political stability/instability, population movements, etc.) considered in the design and delivery of the intervention?

· To what extent was IRW’s intervention coherent with policies and programmes of other stakeholders and service providers operating within the same context?

· To what extent was the intervention design and delivery in line with humanitarian principles?

· What have been the synergies between the intervention and other IRW interventions?

Efficiency:

· What were the alternative options and was the intervention and key components of the project cost-efficient considering alternative options?

· Did the targeting of the intervention result in an equitable allocation of resources?

· Was the intervention implemented in a timely way?

Effectiveness:

· Were relevant technical and quality standards for food security, livelihood and WASH interventions in a humanitarian context followed and met?

· Were (are) the outputs and outcomes achieved?

· What major factors influenced the achievement or non-achievement of the outcomes?

· Were there any unintended (positive or negative) outcomes arising from the intervention for participants and non-participants?

· Is the achievement of outcomes leading to/likely to lead to achievement of the project’s overall objective?

· What major factors influenced, supported or hindered this?

· Were results delivered equitably for men, and women, boys and girls, person with disability and from different age groups?

Impact:

· What were the long lasting or transformational effects of the intervention on participants’ lives (intended and unintended)?

· Did a specific part of the intervention achieve greater impact than another?

· Were there any age, disability or gender-specific impacts?

· Did the intervention influence the gender context?

· Are there any positive or negative long-lasting impacts at the institutional or wider food security and livelihood systems level?

· Have or should any components of the project be replicated or scaled-up by others?

· Did the intervention contribute to long-term intended results?

Sustainability:

· To what extent did the intervention implementation consider sustainability, such as capacity building of local institutions, communities and other partners?

· To what extent were interventions sustainable, providing on going benefit to individuals and communities?

· How long will these benefits realistically continue for without additional support?

In addition, IRW is a certified CHS agency and therefore uses the CHS standards as the foundational approach to undertake evaluations, which ensures that we focus on communities. We believe this can be integrated with the DAC criteria in the following way:

Relevance:

· CHS Commitment 1: Humanitarian response is appropriate and relevant.

· CHS Commitment 4: Humanitarian response is based upon communication, participation, and feedback

Effectiveness:

· CHS Commitment 2: Humanitarian response is effective and timely.

· CHS Commitment 8: Staff is supported to do their job effectively, and are treated fairly and equitably.

Impact:

· CHS Commitment 3: Humanitarian response strengthens local capacities and avoids negative effects.

· CHS Commitment 7: Humanitarian actors continuously learn and improve.

Efficiency:

· CHS Commitment 6: Humanitarian responses are coordinated and complementary.

· CHS Commitment 9: Resources are managed and used responsibly for their intended purpose.

Coherence:

· CHS Commitment 5: Complaints are welcomed and addressed

The evaluation should provide an overall assessment of how the intervention performed against each of the nine CHS commitments as above.

Methodology and approach

We would like the evaluators to outline their proposed methodology and requirements for this particular consultancy. The consultant should consider appropriate quantitative and qualitative methods, in the design of their evaluation methodology. The overall evaluation should also assess the extent of rightsholder (beneficiary) involvement and participation throughout the project cycle.

In design of the methodology, the evaluator/evaluation team should take into consideration the context, local languages (and translation requirements), access and travel within Rakhine and Sittwe and any other limitations, and consider partially remote methods (e.g. use of community volunteers for household data collection activities) as appropriate.

We are looking for an evaluation team/consultant to meet the above objectives and scope through a mixed method (quantitative and qualitative) approach, including but not limited to:

· Desk review of secondary data and IRW project documentation

· Surveys of statistically representative sample (with a minimum 95% confidence level and 5% margin of error) of project participants/patients – to be undertaken with support of community volunteers and not externally hired enumerators.

· FGD with communities and rights holders – with proportionate sampling

· Key informant interviews with IR staff, peer agencies, public and private service providers and technical agencies, community leaders, local UN and government officials as appropriate and relevant

· Facilitating a remote or in-person lessons learned workshop with IR Myanmar and partner staff

The number of FGDs, KII and household surveys to be undertaken should be stated with clear rationale, and any limitations and assumptions, against a sampling frame.

In terms of data collection, the evaluator is expected to:

1. Conduct distance interview (FGD, KII, Interview, etc.) with project stakeholders (SHGs, SHG leaders, faith leaders, village leaders, village tract leaders, agriculture officer, livestock officer, project staff, partner staff, etc.) using phone/skype in Rakhine state. Unless hired by the evaluator, Islamic Relief can facilitate hiring a translator who can speak English, Myanmar local language, and local Rakhine language.

2. Provide orientation of local survey team/volunteers for the data collection process and questionnaire and data collection protocol. IR Myanmar team will facilitate hiring number of local volunteers (male and female) for the data collection, organise orientation for the volunteers/data collectors, ensure logistic support, and manage the volunteers.

3. Develop quantitative data collection tools (questionnaire) in KOBO, data quality checking, support the data collection team, data quality management, and data editing and analysis

Required competencies

The successful team will have the following competencies:

· Demonstrate evidence of experience in evaluating humanitarian action/development projects, including within the Myanmar context and preferably within the Rakhine context.

· Possess sectoral experience and knowledge in evaluating food security and livelihood programme with additional experience of DRR and climate change, WASH, protection etc.

· Possess knowledge and practical experience of using quality standards such as Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS) and Sphere

· Possess strong statistical/quantitative and qualitative research skills

· Have excellent written skills in English

· Have the legal right to travel to and/or within Myanmar and be able to conduct evaluations, including via remote methods, in respective communities.

· Be able to fluently communicate in English and, if necessary though translators, the local languages (local Myanmar and Rakhine language). Unless hired by the evaluator, Islamic Relief can facilitate hiring a translator who can speak English, Myanmar local language, and local Rakhine language.

· The chosen evaluation team will be supported by IRW Programme Quality (PQ) team, the IRW Regional team and IR Myanmar Senior Management team.

Project outputs

The consultant is expected to produce:

1. A detailed work plan and inception report developed with and approved by IRW and set out the detailed schedule and workplan, methodology, sampling framework, draft data collection tools (survey questionnaire, KII and FGD questions), data collection protocols/guidelines, and checklist and deliverables prior to commencing the desk review.

2. A Covid-19 and other risk assessment with proposed mitigation measures related to conducting this evaluation, setting out different contingencies in case of challenges to the evaluation due to Covid-19 or other issues.

3. Collation and analysis of evaluation data and submission of the first draft report to IR Myanmar/IRW for comments

4. Make an initial presentation of findings to IRW and IR Myanmar.

5. Final report submitted to IRW. A full report with following section

a) Title of Report: The Rural Integrated Development for Socio-Economic Empowerment (RIDE) project in Rakhine state, Myanmar, 2022)

b) Consultancy organisation and any partner names

c) Name of person who compiled the report including summary of role/contribution of others in the team

d) Period during which the review was undertaken

e) Acknowledgements

f) Abbreviations

g) Table of contents

h) Executive summary

i) Main report – max 40 pages – (Standard reporting structure will be shared at inception stage, but consultant is invited to propose most suitable report structure layout)

j) Annexes

· Terms of reference for the review

· Profile of the review team members

· Review schedule

· Documents consulted during the desk review

· Persons participating in the review (designation and organisation only) – will be excluded from external publication

· Field data used during the review

· Additional key overview tables, graphs or charts etc. created and used to support analysis inform findings

· Bibliography

k) The consultant will be required to communicate IRW international office and IR Myanmar team and provide feedback on and answer questions about the findings from the desk review. This meeting can be attended remotely by the consultant via video conference (Microsoft Teams or Zoom) etc.

1. Consultant will remotely present key findings and recommendations and remotely facilitate a learning and sharing workshop with IR (programme quality, MEAL team, head of region, desk coordinators and officers, technical advisors), staff of respective IR country office. The output of the workshop will be an action plan responding to the key recommendations. At least 2.5 hours should be planned for this.

2. Make a presentation on key findings, recommendations and Q&A - up to 90 minutes to IRUSA (project donor)

The work plan, inception report, draft report, final report, presentations, etc., and communication language must be in English.

Timetable and reporting information

The evaluation is expected to run for a maximum of 30 working days, starting by the 3rd May 2022 and ending before the 30^th June 2022

Date Description Responsibility

6^th April 2022 Tender live date IRW

20^th April 2022 Final date for submission of bid proposal Consultant

25^th – 26^th April 2022 Proposals considered, short-listing and follow up enquiries completed IRW

27^th – 30^th April 2022 Consultant interview and final selection (+ signing contracts) IRW

3^rd May 2022 Meeting with the consultant and agree on an evaluation methodology, plan of action, working schedule IRW

10^th May 2022 Submission of Inception Report Consultant

16^th May – 27^th May 2022 Evaluation/Data collection Consultant

31^st May - 10^th June 2022 Collation and analysis of evaluation data, and submission of the first draft to IR Myanmar/IRW for comments Consultant

13^th June 2022 Initial presentation of findings Consultant

16^th June 2022 IRW/IR field office responses to draft report IR field office/IRW/IRUSA

22^nd June 2022 Final report submitted to IRW Consultant

23^rd to 30^th June 2022 Final Presentation and lessons learned workshop with IR key stakeholders (2 presentations including to IRUSA) Consultant

Reporting information;

Contract duration: Duration to be specified by the consultant

Direct report: Programme Impact & Learning Manager

Job Title: Consultant; The Evaluation of Rural Integrated Development for Socio-Economic Empowerment (RIDE) project in Rakhine state, Myanmar

The consultant will communicate in the first instance with and will forward deliverables to the IRW Programme Quality team.

Accountability

The consultant will be responsible for conducting the activities and delivering the outputs set out in this tender document and will coordinate all activities with and through the Programme Impact & Learning Manager. The Programme Impact & Learning Manager is responsible for facilitating access to all relevant and available documents (proposals, donor reports and evaluation reports) and wider staff necessary for the consultant to conduct these activities and deliver the outputs.

Proposal to tender and costing:

Consultants (single or teams) interested in carrying out this work must:

a) Submit a proposal/bid, including the following;

i. Detailed cover letter/proposal outlining a methodology and approach briefing note

ii. CV or outline of relevant skills and experience possessed by the consultant who will be carrying out the tasks and any other personnel who will work on the project

iii. Example (s) of relevant work done

iv. The financial proposal including the consultancy daily rate, please refer to appendix 2

v. Expenses policy of the tendering consultant. Incurred expenses will not be included but will be agreed in advance of any contract signed

vi. Be able to complete the project within the timeframe stated above

Vii. be able to demonstrate experience of humanitarian review for similar work

Payment terms and conditions

Payment will be made in accordance with the deliverables and deadlines as follows:

· 40% of the total amount – submission of the inception report

· 30% of the total amount – submission of the first draft of the evaluation report

· 30% of the total amount – submission of the final report including all outputs and attachments mentioned above**

We can be flexible with payment terms, invoices are normally paid on net payment terms of 28 days from the time of the invoice date.

Additional information and conditions of contract

During the consultancy period,

IRW will only cover:

· The costs and expenses associated with in-country, work-related transportation for the consultant and the assessment team

· International and local travel for the consultant and the local team

· Accommodation while in the field

· Training venues

· Consultancy fees

IRW will not cover:

· Tax obligations as required by the country in which he/she will file income tax

· Any pre/post assignment medical costs. These should be covered by the consultant

· Medical and travel insurance arrangements and costs. These should be covered by the consultant

To access or download the full tender documents please click on the link below;

https://www.islamic-relief.org/tenders/category/open-tenders/

How to apply:

Consultancy contract

This will be for an initial period that is to be specified by the consultant commencing from 30th April 2022 (or earlier). The selected candidate is expected to work from their home/office and be reporting to the Programme Impact & Learning Manager or team member designated for this study.

The terms upon which the consultant will be engaged are as per the consultancy agreement. The invoice is to be submitted at the end of the month and will be paid on net payment terms 28 days though we can be flexible.

All potential applicants must fill in the table beneath in Appendix 2 to help collate key data pertaining to this tender. The applicant must be clear about other expenses being claimed in relation to this consultancy and these must be specified clearly.

For this consultancy all applicants are required to submit a covering letter with a company profile(s) and CV’s of all consultants including the lead consultant(s).

A proposal including, planned activities, methodology, deliverables, timeline, references and cost proposal (including expenses) are expected.

Other relevant supporting documents should be included as the consultants sees fit.

Tender dates and contact details

All proposals are required to be submitted by Wednesday 20^th April 2022 at 1.00pm UK time pursuant to the attached guidelines for submitting a quotation and these be returned to tendering@irworldwide.org

For any issues relating to the tender or its contents please email directly to tendering@irworldwide.org

Following submission, IRW may engage in further discussion with applicants concerning tenders in order to ensure mutual understanding and an optimal agreement.

Quotations must include the following information for assessment purposes.

1. Financial proposal including payment terms (as mentioned above), please refer to appendix 1

2. Best value for money including a full break down of costs including taxes, expenses and any VAT and the ability to complete the project on time

3. References (two are preferred)

4. Technical competency for this role

5. Demonstrable experience of developing a similar project

Note: The criteria are subject to change.

Framework agreements

Islamic Relief Worldwide may enter into framework agreements with suppliers/consultants who can support us in similar evaluations in the future. We therefore request those interested companies/consultants to fill in the table below and return this with the schedule 1 beneath with their proposal before the above deadline.

Company name

Day rate for 1 year

Day rate for 2 year

Preferred duration (1 or 2 years)

Earliest start date

Can sign an agreement (yes or no)

Islamic Relief Worldwide is not under any obligations to enter into framework agreements with prospective and potential suppliers/consultants and it is at the discretion of the evaluation committee to proceed with this option.

Appendix 1

Please fill in the table below. It is essential all sections be completed and where relevant additional expenses be specified in detail. In case of questions about how to complete the table below, please contact; tendering@irworldwide.org

Cost of a consultancy for a end-line evaluation for the Rural Integrated Development for Socio-Economic Empowerment (RIDE) project in Rakhine State Myanmar, March 2022

Full name of all consultants working on this project

Full company trading name

No of proposed hours per week

No. of proposed days

Preferred days

Non preferred days**

Earliest available start date

Expected project finish date

Day rate (required for invoicing purposes) £

Total cost for consultancy in GBP (less taxes and expenses) £

Expenses (flights) £

Expenses (accommodation) £

Expenses (transfers) £

Expenses (in country travel) £

Expenses (visa) £

Expenses (security) £

Expenses (food) £

Expenses (print/stationary) £**

Expenses other (please specify) £

Payment terms

40% payment upfront, 30% upon submission of first draft, 30% upon submission of final draft**

Total expenses £

Total VAT or taxes £

Total cost for consultancy in GBP (inclusive of taxes and expenses) £

Note

The applicant is expected to take responsibility for paying full taxes and social charges in his/her country of residence.

To access or download the full tender documents please click on the link below;

https://www.islamic-relief.org/tenders/category/open-tenders/