Sign of Hope Mid-term Evaluation Consultant (Subsistence Fishing) Jobs in Malawi
Background and Rationale
Hoffnungszeichen | Sign of Hope e.V. (SoH) is a Christian-motivated organization for Human Rights, Humanitarian Assistance, and Development Cooperation. From its base in Constance, Germany, SoH is committed to helping those in distress and exploited people worldwide.
This mid-term evaluation is commissioned under the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) budget for development projects run by private organizations.
SoH is the private German executing agency and the contracting party, while the Catholic Development Commission in Malawi of the Archdiocese of Lilongwe (CADECOM) will be the local implementing partner.
The project objective is to contribute to the sustainable income and food security of 2,000 households in Central Malawi. The measures to achieve the project goals are capacity building for sustainable and climate-adapted farming and fisheries, introducing sustainable forest and fishery management, promoting efficient stoves and solar energy, and improving access to markets and value chains.
Purpose, Objectives, and Use
The purpose of the evaluation is to provide SoH and CADECOM with a comprehensive assessment of the project, conducted systematically and impartially, as well as analyze the progress towards the achievement of the project’s results and identify risks to sustainability. The study will provide concrete, credible, and practical recommendations that will assist with the timely incorporation of the findings into the decision-making process and contribute to the organizational learning of both implementing organizations.
The study will support the project quality assurance measures implemented by SoH and meet the donor requirements for the development projects implemented by German private organizations.
Assess the extent to which the project has sustainably achieved its objectives and results (results matrix), including the extent to which the lives of the project beneficiaries have been improved,
Identify the strengths and weaknesses in terms of planning, management, implementation, and monitoring of the project,
Evaluate sustainability measures,
Identify cross-cutting issues addressed through the project, including gender equality, human rights, marginalized groups, inclusion, and other issues,
Determine the effects of Covid-19 on the project, its activities, and implementing organization,
Measure the different values of the Food Consumption Score (FCS) and the MAHFP indicator between the lean and harvesting seasons in Malawi,
Evaluate the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on the food security situation in Malawi and its effects on the project (e.g. fertilizer availability, fuel prices, access to seeds and crop imports).
Duties and Responsibilities
The Evaluation Consultant will work in close cooperation with the responsible SoH Officer and the local implementing partner.
The duties and responsibilities of the Evaluation Consultant will include:
Develop a work plan outlining the proposed research methodology, geographical coverage, and schedule to conduct the study,
Conduct a desk review of relevant documents,
Carry out a project site visit to a project location to conduct research, collect data, and establish contact with the local implementing partner, project beneficiaries, and relevant project stakeholders,
Review and evaluate available data and existing sources of information, including the project proposal, annual reports, conducted studies, and other documents,
Examine the institutional, technical, staffing, and financial capacities of the implementing partner as well as its relationship with the target group and other relevant stakeholders.
Expected Deliverables
The study will produce the following deliverables:
An inception report, including the proposed research methodology and data collection tools, a table of contents, and a timeline of research activities prior to the site visit to the project location,
A comprehensive report of a maximum of 30 pages with practical recommendations and relevant annexes (including raw data and documented records).
A template will be provided to serve as a guide and may be used to structure the final report.
Study Quality and Ethical Standards
The study team
will take all reasonable steps to ensure that the study is designed and conducted to respect and protect the rights and welfare of the people and communities involved.
Furthermore, the study should be aligned with the following standards and applicable practices:
Utility: the study must be useful and used.
Feasibility: the study must be realistic, diplomatic and managed in a sensible, cost-effective manner.
Ethics and Legality: the study must be conducted in an ethical and legal manner, with particular regard for the welfare of those involved in and affected by the Study.
Impartiality and Independence: the study should be impartial, providing a comprehensive and unbiased assessment that takes into account the views of all stakeholders.
Transparency: the study activities should reflect an attitude of openness and transparency.
Accuracy: the study should be technically accurate and credible, providing sufficient information about the data collection, analysis, and interpretation methods so that its worth or merit can be determined.
Participation: The stakeholders should be consulted and meaningfully involved in the study process when feasible and appropriate.
Collaboration: Collaboration between key operating partners in the study process improves the legitimacy and utility of the study.
The study must be in line with the SoH guiding principles and Code of Conduct.
Process/Timeframe
The total duration of the assignment is up to 26 working days within the period from 05.01.2024 to 31.01.2024.
Planning meeting with SoH (remotely), handover of relevant documents 1 day
Initial document review and inception report preparation 4 days
Sharing inception report with SoH and CADECOM 1 day
Finalization of inception report 1 day
Data collection site visit to a project location 5-10 days
Data analysis, draft report with annexes 5-10 days
Incorporating received feedback and report finalization 3-5 days
Qualifications and Experience
Essential:
Minimum of 5 years of project evaluation and/or implementation experience in the result-based management framework
Proven experience in conducting feasibility studies, evaluations, and other research projects
Technical and methodological knowledge to conduct research projects and formulate conclusions based on a solid methodology, assessing projects for relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, impact and sustainability of projects
Experience working with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and partnered projects
Fluency in written and spoken English
Desirable:
Experience in the relevant field/sector
Professional familiarity with the project country/region
Practical experience of working for and/or evaluating BMZ-funded projects
Fluency in written and spoken Chichewa
Academic Background
An advanced-level university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in social sciences, public administration, international development studies, law, economics, agriculture, or data science. A first-level university degree in combination with additional years of qualifying experience may be
accepted.
The Evaluation Consultant is to be independent and impartial with no liabilities to any other organization or government entity regarding this evaluation.
How to Apply
Please submit the following documents as PDF files with the subject line “Mid-Term Evaluation, DC-MAL22.02” to [email protected] no later than 10.11.2023 23:59 CET:
CV indicating all relevant experiences,
contacts of at least two professional referees,
a cover letter, including a brief description of the proposed research methodology
(technical proposal max. 1 page) and a comprehensive breakdown of costs (financial
proposal), including professional fees and all other relevant costs, including travel
expenses,
a writing sample of the document of similar research value (for example, a feasibility study,
or an evaluation report).
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