CALL FOR CONSULTANCY

PROJECT EVALUATION OF THE OVC EDUCATION AND LIVELIHOOD SUPPORT PROJECT PHASE II

Evaluation Purpose
To assess the Project’s Effectiveness, Impact, Relevance, Sustainability and provide recommendations for future implementation.

Evaluation Type: Summative Evaluation

Primary Methodologies:

• Document reviews, visits to project sites, Semi-structured interviews or focus groups with relevant individuals and groups and feedback session with staff at the completion of field work to review and discuss information and impressions.
• Secondary analysis of routinely collected project Data-Quantitative & Qualitative

Background Information

Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ) with support from TearFund Switzerland, is implementing the OVC Education and Livelihood Support Phase II project. This is an education and livelihood support project targeting Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVCs) and the parents and/or guardians of OVCs. The OVC Education and Livelihood support project is a three-years project, beginning 1st January 2022, and ending on 31st December 2024.

The project is being implemented in three provinces in targeted districts namely; Lusaka province- Lusaka and Kafue, Copperbelt province – Mufurila and Kalulushi and Central province – Kabwe.
In line with provision of the project agreement between EFZ and TearFund Switzerland, an evaluation is to be undertaken at the end of project implementation. The evaluation will be carried out during the month of August 2024.

The project goal is to improve access to quality education for OVCs through education support and economic strengthening for households taking care of OVCs. The project’s focus is on education support, psychosocial support, child protection and livelihood support for families/households that care for OVC.
Church and community based volunteers were identified and trained in various fields e.g. OVC care and management, psychosocial counselling monitoring and record keeping for effective implementation of the project at household level.

The main purpose of the project is to enable identified OVCs in secondary and tertiary education levels access formal quality education. The programme is also supporting households taking care of OVCs to help them meet every day needs of OVCs and ultimately improve the nutrition and health of the benefiting OVCs. Child protection through community sensitisation and training of OVC guardians is also provided under this project

For a detailed overview of the project objectives, activities, and outcomes, please refer to the Logical Framework available upon request at esther_shawa@yahoo.com

Specific Tasks

The consultant/s will be expected to lead on all the tasks below in consultation with EFZ

1. Review of the project documents and all other relevant documents in order to understand the contextual framework.
2. Design tools and methodology for data collection of both quantitative and qualitative
3. Field data collection, data input, cleaning and analysis

4. Report writing

• Preparation of initial report
• Discuss initial report with EFZ staff
• Revision of report with feedback from EFZ and TearFund incorporated
• Final report preparation and submission of three (3) hard copies and one (1) electronic copy to EFZ.

It is anticipated that this assignment will commence in August, 2024 and conclude in September, 2024

Approach and methodology

The approach will include both qualitative and quantitative methodology. The consultant should also specify some key persons/positions or groups that they will seek to engage in the evaluation.

Reporting

The consultant/s will be answerable to the EFZ Executive Director

Deliverables

1. A realistic plan of work for the evaluation.
2. A debriefing on findings to EFZ management and project staff at the end of the field work to discuss the initial findings, conclusions and recommendations.
3. A draft of the final evaluation report, after returning from the field visit. The draft will be shared with EFZ and Tearfund Switzerland for comments.
4. A final evaluation report (both soft and hard copy) in English. The report should be as concise and straightforward as possible and not exceed the length of 35 pages and should include:

i. Executive Summary.
ii. Narrative report and quantitative data.
iii. Conclusions and recommendations.
iv. Case studies and stories from project participants where appropriate.
v. Appendices explaining the methodology, any surveys used and any other relevant materials that add further understanding to the evaluation process and results.
vi. The report should also contain a short paragraph outlining that informed consent was obtained and how (written/verbal)

A. Technical Proposal

A narrative proposal including the following sections:

• Evaluation Methodology: Describe your overall approach and Evaluation methodology
• Specific Expertise: Describe your level of knowledge and expertise conducting baselines or evaluations with similar thematic areas
• Key Personnel and Staffing: Describe the key personnel and clear division of tasks. Include CVs of key personnel who would be part of the proposed plan.
• Timeline: Include a detailed timeline of key activities and number of days per activity

B. Financial proposal

The financial proposal should include detailed line-item budget, with unit and total costs, and including transport and accommodation.

Required Qualification and Experience
Seeking qualified individual or teams to submit proposal for conducting this evaluation. To be considered, candidates must demonstrate the following minimum qualifications and experience:

• Proven experience in conducting evaluations of similar nature
• Key personnel need to have master’s or doctoral degree in the Social Sciences, Education or a related field.
• More than 4 years in the field of program planning, evaluation and management.
• Strong analytical and report-writing skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Strong and proven capacity in both quantitative and qualitative methods
• Computer proficiency – Microsoft office suite applications
• Availability from 1st August 2024 to 15th September 2024.

APPLICATION PROCEEDURE

Qualifying consultants/firms should submit their (i) Technical Proposal (page limit: 7 pages including appendixes and (ii) Budget page limit: 5 pages including appendixes) with (iii) cover letter by 28th July 2024 COB (5pm Zambian time) to the following email efzsecretariat@gmail.com

DISCLAIMER

SHOULD YOU NOT RECEIVE A RESPONSE TO YOUR APPLICATION FROM EVANGELICAL FELLOWSHIP OF ZAMBIA WITHIN ONE MONTH OF THIS ADVERT BEING PLACED, KINDLY CONSIDER YOUR APPLICATION AS BEING UNSUCCESSFUL.

Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.