TERMS OF REFERENCE Final Project Evaluation

Project title:“For a violence free life of children in Moldova”

Country: Republic of Moldova

Project duration:01.01.2015 – 31.12.2018

Total Budget:520,143 USD

Background
Terre des hommes (Tdh) is active in Moldova since 2004 and works to reduce vulnerability and strengthen the protection of children affected by migration; to strengthen children’s access to their rights in the juvenile justice system by promoting a restorative approach; and to build the protection and prevention capacity of child protection institutions and professionals, as well as individuals with rights, such as children, families and communities. We work to ensure that all children in Moldova benefit from a system that can guarantee their survival, protection, development and participation, with a specific focus on the most vulnerable children.
Since 2015, Terre des hommes Moldova with support from the Oak Foundation implemented “For a violence free life of children in Moldova”project.The project focused on preventing violence by addressing root causes of violence - stereotypes about gender roles, gender inequality, and gender based violence. Project activities included designing and carrying out training and development activities that promoted gender equality, diminishing gender stereotypes, engaging men and boys in preventing violence, and increasing participation of men in education of children at home and in school. In working with children, the project utilized a methodology that is based on psychosocial approaches and is organized into structured activities around ten topics for children of different age groups and offered over a span of one academic year. Topics included - gender awareness; understanding gender and development; expressing emotions; labeling; power & relationship; understanding the cycle of violence; and healthy relationships. The methodology included messages and tools that were adapted to different age groups – trainings, peer-to-peer activities, and games. A total of 31 schools in 28 local communities participated in the project, with a fully equipped Ludoteca (toy library) created in each of the participating schools and involving a total of over 3000 children. Tdh trained 57 local teachers (animators) in managing the Ludotecas and in conducting activities with children. In addition to training teachers and working with children in the Ludotecas, the project trained 60 teenagers who learned peer leadership skills and facilitated discussions with their peers about gender equality, gender roles, and preventing violence. The project has also developed and piloted a training program for parents and managed a small grants program for selected communities to encourage engagement of men in education of children at home and in school. The scale and number of activities for parents and for communities, through the grants program, was smaller compared to those conducted with children, but have provided useful lessons learned for continuation and for expanding these activities in the future.
Purposeand objectives of the evaluation
The purpose of the final project evaluation is to assess the project’soverall impact, effectiveness, relevance, efficiency and sustainability. The final evaluation will also identify/document lessons learned and make recommendations to inform future projects of Terre des hommes Moldova.
Evaluation questions:
Evaluation report will answer the following questions:
Relevance
  • To what extent are the objectives of the project still relevant to the development context?
  • Is the project consistent with the specific development challenges in the country? How does it align with national strategies and priorities?
  • Do stakeholders care about the project and believe that it makes sense?
Efficiency of implementation
  • Has the project been implemented within the estimated deadlines and costs?
Effectiveness
  • How did the project implementation contribute towards the stated project goal and objectives?
  • What is the level of change (intended and unintended)?
  • To what extend did the project beneficiaries benefit from the project?
Impact
  • To what extent is the project contributing to a long-term positive effect on vulnerable children and communities?
  • What (if any) unintended impacts have there been?
  • Were they positive or negative?
Sustainability
  • How sustainable are the outcomes achieved?
  • What are the potential threats to sustainability?
Lessons-learned and recommendations
  • What new learning as a result of this project has been identified, and what are the recommendations for any potential continuation of project activities?
  • How could this work be expanded or replicated in other areas of the country?

Evaluation approach and methods
The evaluation will begin with an inception phase of reviewing documents provided by the Terre des hommes Moldova (desk study). This is followed by a period of field study and the preparation of a draft report. The final report will consider remarks to the draft report.
The evaluation should be participatory and seek to engage all main stakeholders in the process. Documentation produced during the implementation, including progress and expenditure reports, mid-term evaluation reports and other relevant documents should be utilized. Key activities will include:
  • Desk research & documentation review.
  • Key informant interviews with main stakeholders;
  • Focus group discussions with beneficiaries (including children);
  • Others as proposed by the consultant.

Duties and Responsibilities

The evaluator will have the following duties and responsibilities:

  • Lead and manage the evaluation process and maintain collaboration with Terre des hommes Moldova;
  • Design the detailed evaluation methodology (including the methods for data collection and analysis) ensuring that stakeholders are meaningfully involved in both the research and the analysis;
  • Conduct an assessment of the project (as per the scope of the evaluation described above);
  • Draft the evaluation report and submit to Terre des hommes. The report will be written in English language;
  • Finalize the evaluation report taking into account comments and feedback from stakeholders, projects staff;
  • Follow the provisions of the Tdh Child Safeguarding Policy.
  • Comply with the requirements of the technical assignment stated in these Terms of Reference on time and to a high standard.

Timetable
The indicative number of working days foreseen is 18:
1 day project briefing
3 days document review
2 days mission preparation
4 days field mission (2 field trips)
5 days report drafting
3 days report finalization
Evaluation Timeline:The evaluation will start in February and will take around 4 weeks. The deadline for the 1st draft of the evaluation report isFebruary28, 2018 with the final report due byMarch 31, 2018, the latest.
Reports
The evaluator(s) will produce two reports (draft report and final report based on the draft report and feedback). The reports shall be in English, between 20 and 30 pages in length (excluding annexes).
The report should include the following sections:
  • Basic information page.
  • Contents page.
  • Abbreviations and acronyms page.
  • Executive summary.
  • A short introduction to the project and context.
  • Evaluation methodology and limitations.
  • Findings & Analysis (the exact headings for this part are likely to include the key areas mentioned in the purpose of the evaluation).
  • Summary of lessons learned.
  • Summary of Recommendations (including details as to how they might be implemented).
  • Annexes (including ToR for the final evaluation, names and contact details of the evaluators along with a signed declaration of their independence from the project team, evaluation schedule, people met, documents consulted, end of project surveys etc.).
The report should support the analysis of the project’s achievements with relevant data and state how this has been sourced.
Assessment criteria for the final report
  • Were the terms of reference fulfilled and is this reflected in the report?
  • Does the report contain a comprehensive and clear summary?
  • Are cross-cutting issues (e.g. child participation) indicated in the report separately?
  • Are the conclusions and recommendations based on findings clearly stated in the report, and are they derivable from the latter?
  • Does the report clearly differentiate between conclusions, recommendations and lessons learnt?
  • Are the recommendations and lessons learnt realistic and is it clearly expressed to whom the recommendations are addressed to?
  • Is it comprehensible how the evaluators have achieved their findings?
  • Are the methods and processes of the evaluation sufficiently documented in the evaluation report?
  • Were the key stakeholders consulted?
  • Were the most important documents taken into consideration, and is the content of the latter reflected in the report?
  • Is the report well formatted and free from spelling mistakes and unclear linguistic formulations?

Coordination/Responsibility
The evaluator should work in close cooperation with Terre des hommes Moldova during the preparatory and implementation phase. Logistical support will be offered to the evaluators by the Terre des hommes Moldova, including assistance in arranging interviews and project visits. The costs for the local travel in Moldova will be borne by Terre des hommes Moldova.

Competencies required:

  • Advanced university degree in social sciences, statistics or closely related field.
  • Experience in conducting similar evaluation studies.
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, sensitivity and integrity.
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and Romanian.

Evaluation criteria:

Experience in conducting similar evaluations. / 10 points
Quality of the methodological concept for conducting the evaluation / 10 points
Financial offer / 10 points
Advanced education and training in monitoring and evaluation. / 5 points
Total / 35 points

Candidate who accumulates most points and confirms availability to conduct the assignment by March 31, 2018, will be selected for a contract.

Documents to be included when submitting the proposals:

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

  1. Up-to-date CV, including two references who can attest to the quality of previously conducted evaluations.
  2. Short methodological concept for conducting the evaluation.
  3. Financial offer, expressed as a fee/day (costs for field trips, overnight stays, etc. if required will be remunerated separately).
  4. Documents/links confirming experience in conducting evaluations.

How to apply: The applications will be submitted to:.

Applications for this position must be received no later than February 4, 2018.

Please refer to the position you are applying to in the subject section of the application e-mail. Only those candidates selected for interview will be contacted.

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