Christian Aid Nigeria Vacancy for Short Term Consultancy

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Christian Aid Nigeria (CA) is implementing a DFID-funded governance programme ‘Voice to the People’ (V2P) which will deliver strong results in the area of community-driven accountability in
Anambra State. The project is being delivered by four local partners based in Anambra State, two national level partners and CA, who together have significant expertise in governance approaches, gender programming, civic engagement in elections and power analysis. The lead partner at the state level, JDPC Onitsha, is a faith-based organisation, with a proven track record in engagement with government and elections work in Anambra State. V2P is an expansion of Power to the People (DFID-funded Governance and Transparency Fund GTF) programme implemented through JDPC Onitsha between 2007- 2012, which established community based monitors (CBM), Community Empowerment Network (COMEN) and civil society networks in Anambra State to promote just and accountable governance. During the GTF project implementation, Community-Based Monitors in target areas/communities worked with their authorities to bring improvements to service delivery in 10 communities in Anambra. V2P is being implemented in 48 communities, supported by coordinated national and state level advocacy.

The programme rationale is to address the urgent need to meet the high levels of vulnerability and poverty which persist in Nigeria due to poor governance and ineffective service delivery, through addressing the low capacity of poor and marginalised citizens, especially rural adolescent girls and women. It will do this by empowering civil society and marginalised citizens as actors to know and claim their rights, to better engage in local and state level decision-making processes and to hold leaders accountable.

We are recruiting to fill the position of:

Job Title: Short Term Consultancy

Location: Anambra
Contract type: Short-term consultancy
Programme/Team: V2P Project, Governance team
Period: 25 days

Job Description
Project Goal

• The overall goal of V2P is: ‘Improved social, economic and political well-being and better quality services’ across Anambra State by the end of 2015.
• The specific outcome of this programme, which directly targets 48 communities across 12 LGAs in Anambra State, is: ‘Communities are effectively holding duty bearers to account, leading to improved responsiveness and service delivery, supported by evidence-based learning and advocacy’.

Purpose of the Evaluation

• The Project has been implemented for two and a half years (July 2013- January 2016).The overall objective of the end of project evaluation is to generate knowledge from the project intervention and project experience, access processes and achievement made in order to draw lesson through collaboration with project principals and partners. This evaluation is being conducted as an end of the project evaluation and will focus at the entire implementation period.
• The evaluation is intended to capture effectively, lessons learnt and provide information on the nature, extent and where possible, the effect of the Voice to the people project in the lives of the targeted groups, communities and community members. The emphasis on lessons learnt speaks to the issue of understanding what has and what has not worked as a guide for future planning.

Specific Objectives

• To assess the progress made towards achieving the project outcomes and outputs based on the current log frame, proposal, monitoring data and other project documents as well as any unexpected outcomes as a result of the project interventions.
• To ascertain the increase in women’s representation and leadership, with clear degrees of attribution that may be possible to the programme interventions such as GEADOR, elections training and mentoring
• To determine as far as possible the degree to which power relations have shifted in target areas as a result of the interventions and in particular the role of programmatic use of power analysis in strategic planning, choices and review.
• To review the relevance, efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of project approaches and strategies used in project implementation at the local, state and national context.
• To ascertain any changes in community voice and government response and how these may be linked to improved good governance and quality service delivery systems that may be attributed and/or linked to project interventions; and how these improvements have benefited poor, marginalized and vulnerable/special groups (women/men and/persons living with disabilities.
• To identify key learning from innovation and sharing learning elements of the programme, how this has enhanced civil society and opportunity for new ideas to be developed.
• To report on any unintended outcomes and learnings (positive or negative) that have been realised and make appropriate recommendations.

Scope of Evaluation
The evaluation will look at the following areas: Project management; project activities; reflection of Christian Aid engagement and partnerships with the V2P partners and partnerships with other development partners such as SAVI and SPARC. It will address the results achieved, the partnerships established, as well as issues of capacity and approach.

a) The Evaluation Questions: The following key questions will guide the end of project evaluation;
i). Relevance – Assess the design and focus of the project

• To what extent did the Project achieve its overall objectives?
• What and how much progress has been made towards achieving the overall outputs and outcomes of the project (including contributing factors and constraints)?
• To what extent were the results (impacts, outcomes and outputs) achieved?
• Were the inputs and strategies identified, and were they realistic, appropriate and adequate to achieve the results?
• Was the project relevant to the identified needs?

ii). Effectiveness- Describe the management processes/approaches and their appropriateness in supporting delivery

• Was the project effective in delivering desired/planned results?
• To what extent did the Project’s M&E mechanism contribute in meeting project results?
• How effective were the strategies and tools used in the implementation of the project?
• How effective has the project been in responding to the needs of the beneficiaries, and what results were achieved?
• What value has the project management structure provided that contributed to realization of results?
• Based on findings proffer/suggest future intervention strategies?
• How has project activity implementation used existing community/government structures to deliver results?
• Of what benefit has networking and collaboration approaches been used to achieve results in project implementation?

iii). Efficiency – Of Project Implementation

• Was the process of achieving results efficient? Specifically did the actual or expected results (outputs and outcomes) justify the costs incurred? Were the resources effectively utilized?
• How efficient were the management and accountability structures of the project?
• How did the project financial management processes and procedures affect project implementation?
• What are the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the project’s implementation process?
• Did project activities overlap and duplicate other similar interventions (funded nationally and/or by other donors? Are there more efficient ways and means of delivering more and better results (outputs and outcomes) with the available inputs?
• Could a different approach have produced better results?

iv). Equity-

• How has the project been able to ensure increase in both the representation and participation of marginalised groups (PWDs/Women/Youths) in decision-making processes and government responsiveness to their demands, claims and priorities?

v). Sustainability-

• To what extent are the benefits of the projects likely to be sustained over time, after the completion of this project?
• What is the likelihood of continuation and sustainability of project outcomes and benefits after completion of the project?
• How were capacities strengthened at the individual and organizational level (including contributing factors and constraints)?
• Describe the main lessons that have emerged?
• What are the recommendations for similar support in future?
• How effective were the exit strategies, and approaches to phase out assistance provided by the project including contributing factors and constraints?
• Describe key factors that will require attention in order to improve prospects of sustainability of Project outcomes and the potential for replication of the approach?

(Note: The recommendations should provide comprehensive proposals for future interventions based on the current evaluation findings).

Methodology for Evaluation

• Christian Aid Monitoring and Evaluation Officer shall guide and oversee the overall direction of the consultancy. The evaluation will provide quantitative and qualitative data through the following methods:
• In depth interviews to gather primary data from key stakeholders using a structured methodology.
• Focus Group discussions with project beneficiaries and other stakeholders.
• Key Informant Interviews with relevant stakeholders.
• Community meetings
• Observations (field visits)
• Desk study and review of all relevant project documentation including project documents (proposal document), project progress reports- annual/quarterly project reports, reports of the project steering committee, monitoring assessment reports, trip reports etc, current data collection tools to obtain quantitative and qualitative information taking into account the gender dynamics, Country Programme and V2P Project Theory of Change, project log frame and V2P Case studies/stories of change.

Specific Responsibilities of the consultant

• Take the lead in defining and ensuring an agreeable methodology for this process with adequate consideration of the context.
• Review project documents and/or develop data collection tools for the evaluation process and present them for review by Christian Aid/partners.
• Present the findings to CA, implementing partners and other stakeholders.
• Organize feedback settings with institutions supported by the project including COMEN, GEADOR and I-WIG/Idiakacho
• Visit to partners offices to share in progress and lessons learnt
• Compile final reports in line with the guidelines set out below and submit data collection materials, a soft copy of the report and analysis outputs in a CD.
• Identify potential methods, approaches and techniques for data gathering and analysis.
•  Participate in the identification and training of the data collection team including enumerators, supervisors and FGD facilitators.
• Participate in and supervise data collection and ensure accuracy and quality assurance in the evaluation process
• Conduct data entry, data cleaning, and data analysis of key indicators disaggregated by gender with accompanying graphs/charts

Duration of the Evaluation

• The evaluation is expected to start on 11th January 2016 to 12th February 2016 for an estimated duration of 25 working days.
• This will include desk reviews, field work – interviews and report writing.

Expected Deliverables
The following deliverables are expected:

• An inception report, outlining the key scope of the work and intended work plan of the analysis, shall be submitted with the expression of interest before commencing the consultancy. The inception report should detail the evaluators’ understanding of what is being evaluated and why, showing how each evaluation question will be answered by way of: proposed methods; proposed sources of data; and data collection procedures. The inception report should include a proposed schedule of tasks, activities and deliverables. The inception report will be discussed and agreed upon by Christian Aid governance team.
• A draft comprehensive evaluation report that will inform all the key stakeholders. The report will be produced in English Language. The report should provide options for strategy and as well as recommendations.
• Christian Aid will provide comments after review within five days of the receipt of the Draft Report.
• The Final Report: This will be submitted within five days after receiving feedback from Christian Aid. The content and structure of the final analytical report shall include the executive summary, specific findings (with graphics), recommendations and lessons learnt covering the scope of the evaluation. The report should be clear and simply written, free of jargon. The main body of the report should not exceed 40 pages. Other technical details like list of informants and research tools should be confined to appendices.
• Background information should only be included when it is directly relevant to the report’s analysis and conclusions.

Quality Assurance

• The consultant is responsible to ensure data validity, consistency and accuracy and to submit reports written in good Standard English. If these standards are not met, the consultant will, at his/her own expense, make the necessary amendments to bring the reports to the required standards.

Skills and Competencies
Christian Aid is looking for consultants with a strong record in conducting evaluations. The consultant will need excellent knowledge of monitoring and evaluation in theory and practice, and a good understanding of governance work. The consultant should have the following skills and competencies;

• Demonstrable experience of producing high-quality, credible evaluations (examples required).
• Demonstrable experience of working with/evaluating NGO work.
• Ability to write concise, readable and analytical reports and understanding of public communications.
• Excellent writing and verbal communication skills in English.
• Good working knowledge of Igbo language would be an asset.
• Demonstrable knowledge of citizen’s rights-duty bearers’ issues.
• Demonstrable experience with participatory methodologies and understanding of power analysis.

Management Arrangement/Line of Reporting
The consultant will report to Christian Aid M&E Officer who will provide the needed technical guidance.

Timeline for deliverables

• Draft report: by 29th January, 2016. The draft report should include initial findings, conclusions and recommendations.
• Final report 12th February, 2016.

Budget and terms of engagement

• Christian Aid will cover for the necessary accommodation and transportation costs incurred by the consultant according to our in-country rates where necessary. All other costs incurred will be covered from the consultancy fee. Daily fee rate of N60, 000 shall be paid per day based on an approved itinerary.
• 5% withholding tax will be deducted at source from the total cost of the consultancy fee. 60% of the consultancy fee will be paid when the contract is signed, and the balance paid on receipt of the submission of an acceptable Endline final report.
• Tenders/bids

Christian Aid invites proposals from organisations, or individuals, with the experience and skills described above. Tenders should include the following:

• A cover letter introducing the evaluator/organisation and how the skills and competencies described above are met, with concrete examples.
• Overview of consultant’s academic qualifications/CVs and relevant experience to be included.
• An example of a previous evaluation report and 2 references from organizations where evaluations were conducted.
• A 2-page outline of the proposed evaluation process and methodology.

How To Apply
Interested consultants or firm should submit applications to Christian Aid Nigeria Country office by via email to: [email protected] and copy [email protected]

Note: Only consultants/firms resident in Nigeria are eligible to apply and only shortlisted consultant/firm would be contacted.

Application Deadline  14th December, 2015 

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