Project ID and Program/Project Name:  Inclusion of children with neurodevelopmental disabilities in Zambia

Name of Partner Organization/s:  Cheshire Homes Society of Zambia

Project start and end dates:  01.10.2021 to 31.12.2024

Evaluation Purpose:   

To determine the degree to which planned activities are on target, and areas that may require improvement to increase sustainability and linkages to other community services.

a)            What has worked well, what did not work well and why?

b)            What lessons can be drawn and how they will shape the current and future similar interventions.

Whether it’s necessary to change the project approaches to address emerging issues.

Evaluation Type:  Mid-term evaluation

Contracting organization/contact person:

Christian Blind Mission Zambia (CBM) Slinganiso.homela@cbm.org (Programme Manager) and Malilwe.malilwe@cbm.org (Programme Officer CBID).

Proposed Evaluation Start and End Dates:       15.01.2024 to 15.02.2024

Anticipated Evaluation Report Release Date: 20.02.2024

Recipient of Final Evaluation Report:

• Christian Blind Mission, Slinganiso Homela (Slinganiso.homela@cbm.org)
• Cheshire Homes Society of Zambia, Kamima Nguni, National coordinator, cheshire.cbid@gmail.com and

1. Project Description:

Neurodevelopmental disorders are the most common cause of disability in children worldwide. The estimated incidence of the disorders is 2 to 10 per 100,000 live births in southern Africa. In Zambia, the incidence should be in the upper range because perinatal complications such as oxygen deprivation and infections of new-borns with early brain injury are rather common or inadequately treated in comparison[1]. However, it is not possible to determine the exact data in Zambia because the national census does not collect separate data on neurodevelopmental disorders. The Disability Survey of Zambia therefore puts the prevalence of disabilities at 4.4% among children aged 2-17 years, of which approximately 90% are neurodevelopmental disorders.

The direct target group of the project are 1,000 children with neuro developmental disorders aged 1 to 14 years and their families in the project region. By the end of the project the direct beneficiaries will be divided into 100 self-help groups. The project also targets 60 graduates from 5 vocational schools, 18 masters’ trainers in the ubuntu package and 16 decision makers in ministries and institutions as multipliers.

2.      Evaluation Objective and Intended Use

The Mid-Term Evaluation will aim at providing guidance to the project managers for the remaining period of the project to maximize the impact and sustainability of the measures The evaluation is intended to provide evidence of progress of the project (programme) at mid-term with a specific focus on what worked and what didn’t in order to allow for maximisation of impact.

3. Scope of the evaluation

The mid-term evaluation will review and analyse the overall project implementation according to the project plan from the project start in October 2021 up to the moment the mid-term evaluation will take place. It shall cover all 3 project locations: Lusaka, Chongwe and Kafue.

4. Limitations

The evaluation will need to take place within the stipulated timeframe. There are no political situations that can prevent the evaluator from going into the project locations. This process will happen during the rain/Farming season so this should be put into consideration when planning.

5.       Evaluation Questions

The questions shall be based on the OECD DAC evaluation criteria of relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, impact and sustainability. NOTE: Coherence is a recent addition by OECD DAC and needs to be included.

6.      Methodology

The detailed methodology shall be developed by the evaluation team in close consultation with the Cheshire homes society of Zambia and CBM. The evaluation shall be results based (outcome and impact) rather than activities based. It shall be a participatory process conducted by involving the implementing partner, stakeholders, and representatives from the target group. Particular attention shall be given to people with disabilities in terms of their involvement in the program and accessibility of the intervention. Therefore, sampling should deliberately include persons with disabilities from the target group. The evaluation shall involve both, males and females.

It is suggested to use mixed methods incl. qualitative and quantitative methods, including document review and stakeholder discussions/interviews. The evaluation shall be conducted using rights-based principles, i.e., participatory, inclusive and following a do-no-harm approach. Data security and privacy issues must be adhered to during data collection, management as well as reporting.

7.   Applications

The following skills, background and conditions will be needed on the team. Ideally teams need to be made up inclusive of men and women and persons with a disability;

• Master’s degree or higher academic degree related to Social Sciences, International Development, economic and social development related studies, Organisational Development or similar (at least the Team Manager).
• Proven working experience with NGOs or INGO and the Government sector in the field of livelihood, economic development.
• Proven consultancy experience of at least 5 years with a record of providing high quality, creative expert advice
• Proven experience in the evaluation of projects/programmes by specific donors (BMZ, EU, DFAD, DFID, etc.).
• Experience in evaluation of similar programmes and sound knowledge of Project Cycle Management and evaluation criteria.
• Experience in participatory approach is a must as well as facilitation skills.
• Good analytical skills, Proven working experience in the field of disability and inclusive development. A bbackground on child safeguarding/community support systems is an added value
• Knowledge about local culture, policies and laws to understand the reality for persons with disabilities in Zambia.
• Technical expertise in the disability programming is an added advantage.
• Working knowledge in the Zambian Country context is necessary.
• Excellent writing skills, ability to write in a structured and concise manner
• Proactivity and persistence will be required
• Proficiency in written and spoken English and corresponding country language(s) essential.
• Ideally teams should consist of men and women and should include persons with disabilities.

The consultant is expected to submit both the technical and financial proposal based on these terms of reference (ToRs) including his/her CV and a detailed work plan for the entire assignment to CBM. The consultant should also submit necessary documents pertaining to licenses. The financial proposal should include the Withholding Tax (which is normally paid directly to the Zambia Revenue Authority by CBM).

The proposal should be sent via email to: procurement.zambia@cbm.org by 29th December 2024.

Only complete applications will be considered. CBM may ask for references and/or examples of previous work and reports during the recruitment process. CBM reserves the right to terminate the contract in case the suggested and agreed upon team members are unavailable at the start of the evaluation and no adequate replacement can be provided.

Each team member, incl. interpreters, enumerators etc. need to fully comply with and sign CBM’s or the partner organisation’s Code of Conduct and Child Safeguarding Policy as well as commitment to data security and privacy.