Background
Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW) based in the UK, started its journey in 1984 with the aim to alleviate the sufferings of the world's poorest people. It seeks to promote sustainable development of poor and ultra-poor communities through relief and development programmes aiming to contribute significantly to the Sustainable Development Goals. IR is a signatory to the Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and NGOs in Disaster Relief. It has a consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. IRW started its endeavour in Bangladesh in 1991 in order to help the distressed survivors of devastating cyclone in Chittagong. Islamic Relief Bangladesh is given focus on emergency relief & disaster preparedness activates. Later on, it expanded its programme in different sectors. Now it works in a integration manner combining emergency humanitarian assistance, short term work opportunity, shelter support, awareness & training on different DRR, climate change, development, health & hygiene and social issues, Islamic microfinance, cash grant, IGA means, health & nutrition, safe water & sanitation, education, advocacy and linkage with different service providers. Livelihood and Community Development (L&CD) Programme is one of the core programme of IRB started its operation in 1995. Our integrated approach focuses on creating employment, increasing income and building the assets of poor people so that they can earn a decent, sustainable living. We work at household and community levels to identify the needs of vulnerable families. Numbers of total 56,667 vulnerable Poor & Ultra poor families have been supported under L&CD programme up to date with ensuring decent and sustainable livelihoods options that significantly increased their income and socio-economic status.
The “Integrated Sustainable Development Program for Climate Vulnerable Ultra Poor Communities of Southern Bangladesh” (ISD Climb UP) is an integrated development project under L&CD Programme that aims at empowering the climate-vulnerable households &communities, and ensuring enhanced income, food, livelihood security, basic services, resilience and reduction in extreme poverty for them. The project is being implemented to reduce extreme poverty and food insecurity of 3,000 climate-vulnerable ultra-poor households (HHs) through improving their livelihood opportunities, safe water &sanitation facilities, child-schooling, resilience and food security. The project is working to harness the targeted HHs & communities, self-help groups (SHGs), apex body and relevant government departments &institutions. Developing household assets, removing structural causes of extreme poverty &food insecurity, building resilience to shocks &vulnerabilities and influencing policies & practices for pro-poor governance are the fundamentals of these interventions. Targeted long-term and medium-term outcomes and impacts will be achieved through socio-economic and spiritual development of HHs &communities, skill development, capacity building, empowerment, increased access to sustainable livelihood resources, climate adaptation, ensured rights &entitlements and established linkages with service providers. The project is working to promote dietary diversity, better preventive &curative healthcare issues, improve access to safe drinking water & sanitation, increase enrolment & retention of children in schools and ensure environmental sustainability.
PROJECT BASIC INFORMATION
The specific objective or impact of the project is “Climate vulnerable ultra-poor communities of Tazumuddin sub-district in southern Bangladesh are lifted out of poverty by the end of the project period”.
Project Title |
Integrated Sustainable Development for Climate Vulnerable Ultra Poor Communities of Southern Bangladesh (ISD Climb UP) |
Project Location |
Tazumuddin sub-district of Bhola district in southern Bangladesh |
Project Start Date |
01 October 2014 |
Project End Date |
30 September 2018 |
Duration |
48 Months |
Direct Project Beneficiaries |
3000 Ultra poor households |
Implemented by |
Islamic Relief Bangladesh |
Funded by |
Islamic Relief Germany |
Outcomes/Results of this Project
- At least 80% of the targeted 3,000 ultra-poor households of Tazumuddin sub-district have increased their income above £1 a day at the end of project period.
- The targeted households of Tazumuddin sub-district have lower rate of water-borne diseases at the end of the project.
- Children’s and women’s rights are upheld by the targeted communities of Tazumuddin sub-district at the end of the project.
Outputs under outcome-1
- 1.1. 3,000 households have diversified skills to be engaged in sustainable livelihood activities.
- 1.2. 3,000 households have improved access to livelihood means including group-led Islamic microfinance.
- 1.3. 3,000 households have acceptable level of food consumption in terms of quality and quantity.
- 1.4. The targeted communities have increased resilience to climatic variability and natural disaster.
Outputs under outcome-2
- 2.1. The targeted households and communities have increased access to safe water and basic sanitation facilities.
- 2.2. The targeted households and communities have improved knowledge and awareness on WASH issues.
Outputs under outcome-3
- 3.1. Children of the targeted households have improved access to education.
- 3.2. The targeted communities have improved knowledge and awareness on child and women rights issues.
Key Interventions of the Project:
The mentioned three results would be achieved through different type of interventions/initiatives such as –
- Beneficiary selection-3000 climate vulnerable ultra poor households
- Households’ IGA need assessment, visioning exercise, skill analysis and risk assessment
- Formation of 100 Self-help Groups (SHG) and 1 Apex body and mobilize them for self help financing,
- Business Plan and risk management plan preparation
- Provide skill diversification trainings to the selected beneficiaries on different IGA based on business plan,
- Provide cash grants as livelihood means support for productive assets,
- Explore and promote improved crop varieties for increased productivity in climatic variability context,
- Develop community based local service providers
- Organize animal health camp
- Arrange communication meeting with service providers (livestock, agriculture, LGI, Cooperative dept. etc.
- Provide cash/seed support for kitchen gardening/vegetables production
- Reactivate Disaster management Committees (DMCs),
- Conduct Community Risk Assessment exercises & develop Risk reduction action plan Assessment exercises & develop Risk reduction action plan,
- Promote small scale mitigation activities through cash for work during lean season,
- Install 50 Deep Tube Well (DTW) in targeted communities,
- Distribute 3000 sets of latrines to 3000 beneficiaries’ families,
- Organize awareness raising sessions on WASH and preventive health issues in targeted communities,
- Organize health camps for targeted households,
- Organize trainings for school teachers & management committee members roles and responsibility on child schooling,
- Provide furniture and teaching aids to local/inland schools,
- Organize Community based awareness sessions on rights and protection issues,
- Organize regional and national workshops on advocacy and lessons learned etc.
Description of the Assignment:
The overall objective of the end-line evaluation is to critically assess the progress & impact made towards the objectives and results by the project according to the ‘Result Framework’ as well as to assess the relevancy, efficiency & effectiveness, sustainability and lesson learned in relation to the approach, strategies and interventions of the project. In addition, some recommendations for scaling up/replication of ISD Climb UP project through justifying the effectiveness and appropriateness of the project approach to improve food security, livelihood, and social empowerment of the rural ultra poor households, and possible strategic directions for overall sustainable livelihood program of IRB need to be identified.
The specific objectives are as follows:
- To evaluate the appropriateness of the project interventions, approaches and methodologies;
- To assess the effectiveness and relevance of IGAs, livelihood choices/options and asset transfer for the multi-category beneficiaries;
- To assess the efficiency, effectiveness & impact of the project in light with the project overall goal, specific objective and results;
- To assess the socio-economic changes/effects in the lives of the targeted households as a result of the project interventions, and changes and implementation of government policies;
- To assess the sustainability of the project results, impact and approach at different levels (household level, community level, organization level);
- To examine the effectiveness and impact of mainstreaming issues including women & children rights, , environmental/DRR issue, WASH and health issues , etc.
- To identify and document the lessons learnt, best practices, and risks & challenges of the project;
- To provide recommendations for future strategic directions for scaling up or replication of the current project strategy & approach based on the findings and lessons learnt analysis
Key Questions for the Evaluation
Relevancy:
- To what extent is the project design, as evidenced by its original ‘Result Framework’ components (Impact, outcomes, outputs, analysis of assumptions/risks, and identification of problems and needs of the target population), strategy and approach appropriate to address the problems and to the physical and policy environment of the project areas?
- Development of clear and useful result framework matrix, to remedy earlier deficiencies in design and methodology, and to provide a clear and useful document for further monitoring and evaluation of the project;
- Adequacy of criteria used for selection of beneficiaries. Is it appropriate and relevant to the project results and objectives?
- Are all activities relevant to the outcomes, output of the project? Any major activities have not been considered which could have better impact of the project.
- To what extent is the project’s timescale/range of activities realistic with regard to beneficiaries’ capacities and deliver the planned results in a sustainable way?
- Finding out the appropriateness and relevancy of project activities which were not mentioned in the project proposal but have been implemented by the project.
Efficiency:
- Evaluate the financial and technical inputs made available to implement the activities;
- Measure the efficiency of management of resources in a transparent and accountable manner;
- Assess the efficiency of the project monitoring system/framework with regard to aims, staff resources and outputs. Are the important progresses, process and benefit monitoring data being captured and fit for purpose? To what extent is the project baseline survey (BS) qualitative and adequate in terms of information? In carrying out the BS what lessons have been learned which can be used to improve the execution of the next update?
- How efficient have the project’s human development and different been training been? (Module including the quality and adequacy of the training materials, acceptance by the beneficiaries, outcomes i.e., changes in behaviour, attitude and knowledge etc. and cost-efficient)
- Whether payments (skill, cash support etc.) to beneficiaries were made according to plan, timely and free of any leakage; appropriateness of project operating costs;
Effectiveness:
- How effective has the needs assessment process been in terms of beneficiary participation and satisfaction?
- Whether planned benefits have been delivered and received;
- Management response/flexibility to unforeseen the external factors affecting the project purposes;
- Any shortcomings due to a failure to take account of cross-cutting issues such as gender, environment, WASH and health etc.;
- What are the major lessons learned from this project and what are the implications for the project strategy?
Impact:
- How far has the project made impact against the objectives and results so far, and what is the likely impact against such by the end of the project and beyond?
- What is the non-tangible benefits created of the project? How the project have addressed the cross cutting issues etc. and what are the impact?
Sustainability:
- Evaluate the financial and economic sustainability of the households, SHG, Apex body etc.
- Evaluate the relationship, networking and linkages among the project staffs, community, service providers and beneficiaries. Is it appropriate and sufficient to ensure the financial and economic sustainability of the beneficiaries after the project?
- Is the current project budget and duration adequate to achieve its purpose in a sustainable manner?
- Are the group-led activities, savings mobilization and Quard-al-Hasana (Islamic Microfinance) approaches effective?
- How the project is sustainably contributing to poverty reduction and how these activities are appropriate for economic sustainability?
Major Tasks
- Collecting and reviewing all project documents as well as relevant other documents
- Conducting preparatory discussions/meetings with the relevant Dhaka-based stakeholders, including IRB and field level project team
- Designing qualitative and quantitative data collection tools, sampling methods, field survey schedules and division of tasks
- Arranging/appointing data collectors and orientation of the data collectors/ enumerators
- Collecting data and information from different levels and stakeholders including the project beneficiaries and groups, community people, project and IRB staff, relevant government officials, government line departments, Upazila and Union Parishad representatives, etc.
- Designing/developing data entry template using MS Access software as well as data cross checking/validation of methodology
- Processing field data collection and analyzing the data applying SPSS and MS Excel program
- Writing draft report and arranging a presentation session on the draft report with IRB representatives and collecting feedback on this report
- Finalizing evaluation report after incorporation of feedback and submitting to Coordinator-MEAL Department of IRB
- Disseminating key evaluation findings and learning with IRB and other stakeholders at national level if required
Expected Outputs
The main outputs of the assignment will be:
1) Primary data and information will be collected from the field interviews / surveys.
2) The final evaluation report will be submitted both in hard and electronic copies. All documents (final report, dissemination presentation, data set and related & relevant other documents) will be submitted in CD (5 copies);
3) Disseminating present key evaluation findings and learning with national/regional level;
The following is indicative of the content and structure of the final evaluation report:
- Cover page
- Table of contents
- Acronyms
- Executive summary and key recommendations (Maximum 3 pages )
- Introduction
- Background
- Objectives of the evaluation
- Methodology of the evaluation
- Main analysis and findings (Structured by Relevance, Efficiency, Effectiveness, Impact and Sustainability)
- Analysis of cross cutting issues including gender equality, WASH, health and environmental issues.
- Comparative assessment of indicators with baseline and final evaluation
- Key lessons learned and best practices throughout the period of the project to guide future intervention
- Risks & challenges
- Recommendations for future implementing organizations, program donors, and government and wider stakeholders.
- Annexes ( Including but not limited to: ToR, methodology, assignment schedule, persons met/interviewed, field data, at least 10 case studies, at least 10 photographs, checklists, questionnaires, etc.)
Methodology
The consultant will be responsible to design and prepare the overall evaluation process using both qualitative and quantitative methods. S/he will provide strategic and technical support to his/her appointed evaluation team members, develop various quantitative and qualitative tools and determine the methodologies that are holistic in nature so that they can provide lessons to the implementers. The consultant will analyse the information and write the evaluation report in collaboration with the evaluation team.
In the evaluation process, IRB country office, MEAL department and the project office can be included as extended team members to provide assistance for preparing field visit plan and organizing the events as required by the evaluation team. The consultant will improve enumerators’ skills and knowledge regarding data collection and review process through an orientation. Analysis would be made using the current familiar analysis software like SPSS and MS Excel.
Accountability & Support
The consultant will share the action plan and communicate to the Coordinator of MEAL of IRB who is overall responsible to coordinate this process. In addition, final evaluation support and coordination will be done by the Head of Livelihood and Community Development Programme from the country office and in field level the Project Manager along with the support of other sector and field office staff. ISD project management team will assist to arrange required sessions/events with concerned people and groups.
Duration & Location
The End-line evaluation will take place in from July 20 to September 20, 2018 and field data collection from household’s level should be before or within 12th August, 2018. The draft report will be shared before 20th of September 2018. The whole process including feedback collection, incorporation and final report submission should be completed by 30 September 2018. The final number of working days will be agreed by negotiation before signing of the contract. The working locations will be Tazumuddin Upazila under Bhola district and other stakeholders of local and national level.
Reporting
The consultant will provide regular updates to the Coordinator of MEAL department with a copy to the Programme Manager- Livelihood and Community Development programme of IRB. Soft copy for both draft and final report of the evaluation should be produced in English as per given outlines and submitted to the Coordinator of MEAL. Draft report must be shared with the relevant people and will be finalised after incorporating their comments.
Profile of the Consultant
The consultant (review/evaluation team leader) should have:
- Proven experience in running evaluation team in the area of integrated food security and sustainable livelihood programmes;
- Proven experience in qualitative and quantitative research methodology;
- Excellent knowledge and skills in food security, livelihood framework and asset transfer approaches and modalities for the poor or marginal groups;
- Good knowledge and experience of working with the poor/ultra poor, NGO, multi-disciplinary stakeholders;
- Highly respectful towards the dignity and honour of the extreme poor people;
- Ability to work in adverse situation, remoteness and with diverse people and groups;
- Excellent writing and presentation skills in English;
- Masters of Social Science or relevant higher degree;
- Evaluation team members will have excellent knowledge and skills in food security and asset transfer approaches, good knowledge and experience of working with the poor, NGO, multi-disciplinary stake holders and respectful towards the dignity and honour of the extreme poor.
Interested individual consultant/organization must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:
- Technical proposal
- Financial proposal.
- CV of the team leader as well as team members
- Cover letter/Motivation letter explaining why they are the most suitable for the work
Technical Proposal: The proposal should not contain any publicity documents/brochures of the bidder. It is mandatory that the proposal should maintain the following format:
- Introduction & background
- Objectives of the evaluation
- Major tasks of the evaluation
- Outcomes of the evaluation
- Methodologies to be applied
- Understanding of the assignment
- Timeframe/action plan of the evaluation
- Team composition of the study with names and designation
- Major achievement & experience of the Evaluation Team Leader
- Key experiences of the other team members
The detailed CV of the all team members should be included in the annexure of the technical proposal. It is desirable that the proposal should contain the above mentioned sections only.
Financial Proposal: The financial proposal shall be structured around the specific tasks and key deliverables described in the Terms of Reference. Interested individual consultant/organization must specify a total lump sum amount for each task and deliverable, which are to be completed by the deadlines specified in the ToR. In order to assist IRB in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (including travel, per diems, and number of anticipated working days, as required). Tax & VAT should be included in the budget section as per current rules of Bangladesh Government.
The budget of the task should be broken down in details as like the following format:
Key Tasks |
Time Allocation |
Proposed Dates |
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Confidentiality
All the outputs e.g. reports, documents, information etc product by this assessment will be treated as IRB’s property and consequently confidential. So the above mentioned outputs or any part of it can’t be sold, used or reproduced in any manner by the assigned organization / individual without prior permission from IRB.
This evaluation has been produced with the financial assistance of IR Germany. The findings of this evaluation are the sole responsibility of Islamic Relief and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position.
Application process
Please submit technical proposal to technicalproposal@islamicrelief-bd.org and Financial Proposals to financialproposal@islamicrelief-bd.org separately on or before July 18, 2018. It is strictly advised not to send any other document unless specified above. Violation of the clause will result into disqualification from the bid participation. |