Independent Evaluation - Terms of Reference
A consultant is required to undertake a final evaluation of the election preparedness programme implemented by URCS in 2010/11.
Background
Uganda has faced an increase in both the intensity and frequency of disasters in the last 20 years ranging from flooding to landslides and others such as fire outbreaks, epidemics, food shortages and conflicts. Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS) has over the last 20 years been the largest indigenous humanitarian organisation in Uganda responding to emergencies and the longer-term needs of people affected by manmade and natural disasters.
Against this background, URCS with the support of British Red Cross (BRC), developed a programme to strengthen the existing preparedness plans to respond to the possibility of violence related to 2011 elections in Uganda and the risk of population movement related to the Sudan referendum. The programme was supported by DFID (via BRC), ICRC and the Danish Red Cross.
Based on past experience and information from branches, 25 ‘hot spot’ branches were identified and preparedness planning focused on these areas. As the situation was considered dynamic, plan were to be regularly reviewed and updated as needed to ensure they remained responsive to the changing reality.
The Evaluation
The purpose of the evaluation is two-fold, namely:
1. To obtain information that can be used to strengthen future preparedness planning.
2. To provide an independent assessment of performance that will inform donor accountability.
Specifically, the evaluation will focus on the following questions:
a) What was the impact of the action?
- Will consider what difference the programme made communities affected or potentially affected by election related tension/violence
- Will determine the extent to which URCS was prepared and able to respond to the potential for election related violence
- Will consider the ‘sustainability’ of the approach adopted e.g. the extent to which staff/volunteer preparedness capacity was strengthened
- Will identify the intended and unintended consequences of the programme both positive and negative
b) Red Cross Principles
- Will determine the extent to which the action took account the RC principles of humanity, impartiality, independence and neutrality?
c) Was the action relevant?
- Will assess whether the action correctly identified problems
- Will assess whether the planned responses were appropriate to the potential needs
d) Effectiveness
- Will determine the extent to which the activities met their intended purpose
- Will consider whether the responses were timely
- Will determine if/how structures (e.g. branch and HQ capacity, relationships with other agencies) have been strengthened as a result of this programme
- Will consider if the cost of the actions represented reasonable value for money
e) Coordination
- Will determine the extent/effectiveness of URCS’s coordination with other local and national actors involved in election preparedness planning
- Will assess the extent to which the role of URCS, as an auxiliary to government, was clearly defined and the extent to which it was able to plan and respond effectively in relation to the actions of others
Methodology
The evaluation will involve a field visit to at least one of the identified hotspot communities and include discussions with stakeholders at different levels in Uganda. It is anticipated that it will include, but not be limited to:
1. A review of programme documentation
2. Interviews and group discussions with target communities and beneficiaries
3. Structured meetings and interviews with key internal and external stakeholders including:
- URCS HQ Department Heads and Programme Officers
- URCS Regional staff and volunteers
- Government officers, including representatives of the Prime Minister
- Representatives of other agencies – within and beyond the Red Cross Movement
Output Required
The consultant will be expected to:
1. Present and agree an inception report
2. Produce a draft report for comment
3. Produce a final report which takes due account of comments provided on the draft
The report should be:
- Clear and concise.
- Clearly evidence based.
- Designed to enable sharing of recommendations/lessons learned internally and, where relevant, externally.
- No more than 15 pages, including the executive summary. Annexes can be appended if they add value to the report.
Timing
It is expected that the evaluation will take 13 day, ideally with all work finalised by the end of May 2011. Specifically, it is expected that the evaluation will take involve:
Action Days
Reviews of documentation 2.5
Field work (including travel time) – branch/regional engagement plus field based stakeholders 4
Kampala based interviews (inc. URCS staff, ICRC, OPM, DFID, BRC, Danish RC) 2
Debrief with URCS and others as agreed 0.5
Report writing (including any revisions) 4
Total 13
Consultant specification
It is expected that the consultant will have the following skills and experience:
- Credible understanding of the social/political context of Uganda
- Proven experience of undertaking valid evaluations
- Ability to interact effectively with a diverse range of people
- Proven analytical skills
- Ability to produce concise high quality, evidence based report
- Systematic and thorough approach
- Ability to deliver high quality work within tight deadlines
- An understanding of the RC, its remit and ways of working
Application procedures
Interested parties should submit:
- A CV of no more than 3 pages
- A one page analysis with a brief outline of the approach that would be adopted and what challenges that may be faced in determining the impact and effectiveness of the programme
- Details of availability and fees
Applications should be sent to Nancy Kariuki at NKariuki@redcross.org.uk by 4pm (Nairobi time) the 21st April 2011. Applications will be reviewed and shortlisted candidates contacted on the 26th or 27th April.
Updated 14th April 2011
evaluation of the election preparedness programme implemented by URCS in 2010/11
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