Terms of Reference (ToR) for hiring “Consultancy Firm” for Mid-term Evaluation of ‘The Salt Solution’

ICCO Cooperation, an International Development Organization, with its roots in the Netherlands, leads development efforts across 36 countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Throughout our 52 years of history, ICCO has had remarkable experiences in working together with local partners for community welfare and development. Our solutions center around our twin core principle of sustainable livelihoods and dignity and justice and our programs and aim at eradicating extreme poverty from the remote grassroots through 4 themes which are economic empowerment, food security and sustainable consumption, responsible business and humanitarian aid. Climate change mitigation, gender and the rights of marginalized groups are cross cutting issues.

The Salt Solution project is funded by Nationale Postcode Loterij (NPL), Netherlands. ICCO Cooperation Bangladesh is awarded with this project as a lead partner with Salt Farm Texel (SFT) based in Netherlands as technical partner and Community Development Centre (CODEC) based in coastal belt of Bangladesh as implementing partner. The 3 years’ project starting from March 2017 to till Feb. 2020. The direct targeted beneficiaries are 5000 smallholder farmers (Direct farmers) and 25,000 indirect smallholder farmers who will be benefited throughout the project duration of this 3 years. Among 5000 direct farmers, 2000 Farmers and 3000 farmers are enrolled and organized in 80 farmers group and 120 Farmers Group respectively in year 1 and year 2. Each farmers group consists of 25 farmers, is led by one Local Lead Farmer by establishing a demo plot visualizing technologies, crops, varieties to manage soil salinity in crop production. Thus 200 demos are established as 80 demos in Year 1 & 120 demos in 2 for 5000 farmers.

 The project is working in 8 Upazilas/sub-districts under 4 districts which are Khulna, Bagerhat, Barguna and Patuakhali with a duration of 3 years. The aim of this project is therefore to increase the food production of vulnerable farming families in Bangladesh by introducing salt tolerant crops, to enhance their food security and income of saline affected smallholding farmers in coastal belt of Bangladesh. The project has four outputs that are 1) increased saline tolerant crop production/agricultural productivity, 2) increased nutritious food consumption 3) increased participation and decision making women in crop production and water management and 4) Involved Govt. personnel with the project intervention to sensitize them towards project intended production technologies of salt tolerant crop varieties. Through these interventions but not limited to, the project expect at least 5 salt tolerant crops adapted in local context, increased harvest (%) and household income at certain level increased (%), created employment generation and overall nutrition status improvement of household and gender equity. By achieving these results, project might have impact on following areas:

  • Unusable or fallow land becomes productive again.
  • More labour is needed as increased productivity and more people have jobs.
  • Women have more say and a stronger position within the family and the community and selling of saline vegetables.
  • The health and living conditions of farming families have improved by better nutrition and income.
  • Relation/Active Linkage/ Collaboration with Government relevant departments are in to carry out support for the project and beyond.
  • Project engages a number of market actors to access inputs and outputs for the farmers.

 So, at present the project just passed the mid-stage. ICCO Cooperation Bangladesh is aiming to hire a consultancy firm for Mid-term evaluation of The Salt Solution project. We invite proposal from interested consultancy firm to undertake this study.
 
The purpose of Mid-term evaluation is to review project performance and provide greater insight into the operations and enable efficient and cost effective project delivery and management. Examine and provide feedback on the implementation processes in coastal context and determine the extent of results achieved.

The specific objectives of the Mid-term Evaluation are:

  • To measure current status of the project progress in relation with IPTT or Log frame indicators;
  • Figure out current value of the indicators to compare to Baseline memory or value;
  • Measure /explore evidence of salt tolerant crop adoption, best practices /technologies, harvest increased (%), use of fallow land increased (%), income increased (5), employment increased (%) and improved nutritional status of farm families.
  • Measure current food security value using appropriate methods with special emphasis;
  • Measure crop production cost (irrigation, inputs, labour etc.), production or harvest volume, sales volume and total selling price and consumption volume and cost;
  • Measure women participation in agriculture especially in salt tolerant crop production;
  • Region wise and farmer’s category wise comparative analysis of the indicators;
  • Find out the gaps or deviation in the intervention with definite recommendation to overcome those deviations;
  • Gather and analyze relevant information for the purpose of in-depth learning and to assist the project in modifying appropriate interventions and refining its approach and M&E plan
  • Identify unintended benefits that project gained and obstacles to performance, provide justification for extension of 2nd phase

Download ToR for view details.

Interested and qualified consultancy firms should submit their proposal to the following email address to be received no later than December 22, 2018 to: ICCO Cooperation, Bangladesh Country Office. Send your EOI in these email address: hr.bd@icco.nl