TERMS OF REFERENCE
Consultancy services to carry out final evaluation on the project titled “Sustainable community development and improved self-help capacities in conflict-affected areas of Northern Shan and Karen States.” in Myanmar
1. Background and Rational
The project titled “Sustainable Community Development and Improved Self-Help Capacities in Conflict-Affected Areas of Northern Shan and Karen States” was initially designed to support communities in South-Eastern Kayin (Karen) State and Northern Shan State. Following the March 2025 earthquake, the scope was expanded to include Southern Shan State, with a particular focus on the affected areas. These areas are heavily impacted by protracted armed conflict, population displacement, and limited access to essential public services such as education, health care, and livelihoods. The local populations, predominantly ethnic minority groups, are among the most vulnerable in Myanmar, with women and children disproportionately affected. The target areas were deliberately chosen because the needs are immense and the target group receives little support from other actors.
In Karen State, the target communities are located near the Thai border, including villages rebuilt by returnees after past conflicts. Agriculture is the primary livelihood, supplemented by forest products, seasonal labor migration, and small-scale trading.
Only one-third of the villagers own agricultural land, while the remainder earn their income mainly as day laborers. Farmers often rely on Thai businessmen for agricultural inputs such as seeds, fertilizer, and machinery rental, with repayment rates twice the loan value due immediately after harvest. Rice is primarily produced for home consumption, and the population receives seasonal cash income from crop sales.
In Shan State, the project focuses on remote, mountainous communities with limited land access and livelihood options, where traditional farming systems and migration are key coping mechanisms. In Northern Shan, multiple ethnic armed groups remain active, resulting in sporadic clashes with the Myanmar Army and inter-ethnic tensions, which have triggered population movements and increased livelihood insecurity. The local population, mainly Shan and Palaung (Ta’ang) ethnic groups, are traditional rice and upland farmers who previously practiced poppy cultivation for cash income. However, slash-and-burn farming systems no longer fully meet their needs, and access to suitable land for both agricultural and non-agricultural income sources remain limited. The situation is further exacerbated by the presence of armed groups and local militias, which collect tribute and recruit soldiers and porters from the local population.
In Southern Shan, the Johanniter and Meikswe Myanmar will carry out targeted measures in the township of Nyaung Shwe, particularly in the eastern coastal areas of Inle Lake, to support the communities affected by the March 2025 earthquake. These efforts aim to enable a smooth transition from reconstruction to self-sufficiency, thus ensuring the long-term resilience and sustainable development of the affected population.
The project was initially designed as a three-year initiative, beginning in October 2020 and scheduled to end in September 2023. During implementation, the project underwent four amendments and extensions. Among these, the end date was extended first to April 2024 and later to April 2026, bringing the total duration to five years and six months. It is implemented in 71 villages across Shan State and Kayin (Karen) State:
– Kayin State: 25 target communities (originally 20) in Myawaddy and Hlaingbwe townships.
– Northern Shan State: 40 target communities (originally 20) in Tangyan and Mongyai townships.
– Southern Shan State: 6 target communities in Nyaungshwe Township.
Project objectives and results:
The overall objective of the project is to protect, restore, and improve the livelihoods of people in the conflict-affected areas of Northern Shan and Karen State, as well as to strengthen their resilience and self-help capacity. This will be achieved through a combination of strengthening local capacities and organizational structures, diversified livelihood opportunities, improved childcare and nutrition, and improved hygiene and sanitation conditions.
The project aimed to achieve the following four results:
Result 1 – Strengthened local capacities through strong community organizations and
consideration of gender perspectives
Result 2 – Diversified livelihood opportunities are accessible to the target groups and are made use of
Result 3 – Enhanced support of the social, physical and mental development of children aged 0-8 years through early child care
Result 4 – Improved hygiene and sanitation condition
About implementing partners: Meikswe Myanmar
Meikswe Myanmar was founded in 2004 in Lashio, northern Shan State, to address health issues for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA), women, and children. Since then, the organization has specialized in implementing programs in education (primarily parenting education and ECCD), health and livelihood support, emergency relief for those affected by disasters and conflicts, and support for internally displaced people and their host communities. A key component of its approach is capacity building among village volunteers and community-based organizations and their networks.
In addition to its main office in Lashio, Meikswe Myanmar maintains branches in Yangon, Sittwe and Bogalay and plans to expand its program to other states and regions of Myanmar.
The technical teams cover the areas of health, education, livelihoods, and humanitarian aid. In addition to its community development programs, Meikswe Myanmar also runs homes for adults and for orphans living with HIV/AIDS and promotes networking between community organizations. MM is also implementing a number of individual projects supported by various partner organizations and private donors. The partners are IRC, Plan International, Partner Asia, World Concern, World Vision, Open Society Foundation, Capacity Building Initiative, and Johanniter International Assistance.
About Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe:
Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe (JUH) is a German non-governmental organization, the Federal Headquarters is based in Berlin, Germany and together with people all around the world, JUH strives for life in good health, with secure livelihoods and dignity in times of crisis and for a better future and develops its international programs together with local communities in a culturally and gender-sensitive way, based on the community’s needs supporting the most neglected and vulnerable..
Johanniter has been implementing various projects in SEA with more focus in Myanmar, Cambodia, Philippines and Thailand border. In Myanmar, Johanniter has been operational since 2008, following Cyclone Nargis, and has previously implemented projects in Rakhine, Chin State, and Eastern Bago. Currently, Johanniter in Myanmar is implementing its programs through local partners in Karen State, Shan State, Rakhine State, Chin State, Magway Region, and Mandalay Region.
Project reach so far:
The following are the summary of project achievements: Detail log frame, progress update and other reference documents will be shared to the selected candidate.
– A total of 65 Village Development Committees (VDCs) has been formed, comprising 925 members, of whom 42% are women.
– Each VDC has successfully conducted quarterly consultation meetings to identify local needs and priorities, and has developed a comprehensive village development plan to guide and implement community development activities.
VDCs developed 22 grant proposals based on their village development plans.
– A total of 22 small grants were provided to VDCs for community development projects such as school and road renovations, pond and pipeline improvements, community hall construction, water facilities, and solar streetlights. 19 projects are completed and 3 are nearing completion.
– All the VDCs are trained management skills, financial management, community facilitation and gender awareness.
– 9 VDC networks have been formed for the development and sustainability of the community development measure.
– Multi-purpose cash assistance distribution to 535 conflict affected household in Northern Shan and / or Karen State.
– Mine Risk Education event are conducted in 65 villages with 107 village peoples.
– Provided the agricultural and non-agricultural vocational training to 1250 villages peoples.
– Completed the construction and equipping of community learning center (Teaching center).
– Provision of revolving funds to 65 villages in Northern Shan and Kayin State.
– Trained 255 women with VDC training on VRF concept, administration and management.
– A total of 1,654 community members, identified through the VDCs, have shown interest in obtaining loans for income-generating activities.
– 150 Parental Education (PE) Facilitators were selected through a participatory process.
– 134 PE facilitators received the TOT and refresher training.
– 826 participants are trained on the parents training.
– 200 lactating women received food assistance, and a nutrition campaign was conducted for 60 pregnant and lactating women.
– 136 playgroup facilitators were selected to support children aged 2–8 in participating in playgroups that promote their physical and mental development.
– Trained playgroup facilitator with training and refresher training.
– 12 volunteers have received the MHPSS training.
– 143 village hygiene promotors (VHP) are selected and provided the hygiene education (4 clean) TOT.
– Village hygiene promoters replicate about 4 cleans and waste management topics in the villages with 1614 participants and also conducted the hygiene education events with 3269 participants.
– Eleven community wells have been renovated, and nine new wells have been constructed.
– A total of 1,456 households expressed interest in building their own latrines and were provided with latrine construction materials.
2. Evaluation Purpose, Objectives and Use
Key purpose of the evaluation:
This final evaluation seeks to assess the efficiency, effectiveness, relevance, and sustainability of the project’s implementation. It aims to systematically document the achievements in relation to the project’s objectives and expected outcomes, while capturing best practices and lessons learned to guide the design and implementation of future interventions.
Objectives of the evaluation:
The objectives of the evaluation are summarized below:
1) To evaluate the project in terms of its effectiveness, relevance, efficiency, impact and sustainability with focus on the project expected result/outcome indicators.
2) To review and analyses the progress of the project in regards to the defined indicators. 3) To identify key lessons learnt and best practices for future replication or scale up. 4) To assess the challenges and barriers which may have hindered the project implementation 5) To develop specific recommendations anchored on the conclusions of the different groups from the targeted communities through their own recommendations and insights.
Evaluation Questions: Note, these are the reference questions. Consultants are flexible to revise the questions aligned with BMZ TDA evaluation guidelines, OECD criteria and the project objectives.
Evaluation Criteria and
Evaluation Questions
Effectiveness
1. To what extent were the expected outcomes and result indicators achieved across all components?
2. How effectively did capacity-building activities (management, financial, gender awareness) strengthen the functioning of VDCs and networks?
3. Did the project successfully reach its intended beneficiaries, including women, youth, and vulnerable groups?
4. How well did community engagement strategies foster local ownership and participation?
5. Were there factors that enhanced or limited the achievement of planned outputs and outcomes?
6. How have early childhood care and nutrition activities improved the physical, cognitive, and social development of children aged 0–8 years?
Relevance
1. How well did the project’s objectives align with the priority needs of conflict-affected communities in Northern Shan and Kayin States?
2. Were stakeholders (community members, local authorities, partners) adequately consulted during project planning and adjustments?
3. Did the project remain relevant as conditions or community needs evolved over the implementation period?
4. Was the project relevant to the identified needs of the target beneficiaries and the context?
5. How effectively did the project address gender considerations and the specific needs of vulnerable groups?
Efficiency
1. Were financial, human, and material resources used in a cost-effective manner to deliver planned activities and outputs?
2. How efficient were project management and coordination mechanisms in ensuring timely implementation?
3. Were procurement and grant-disbursement processes transparent and well managed?
4. Did the project activities overlap and duplicate similar interventions funded by other donors? Are there more efficient ways and means of delivering more and better results with the available inputs?
Sustainability
1. How likely is it that VDCs, VDC networks, and revolving funds will continue operating after project closure?
2. Which external factors could affect the long-term continuation of project benefits?
3. How effective were the exit strategies and approaches to phase out assistance provided by the project?
4. What are the recommendations for similar Support in the future to ensure sustainability?
Impact
1. What are the unintended consequences as a result of the project activities?
2. How has the project strengthened community capacity to plan, manage, and sustain development initiatives?
3. How did the project influence gender relations or empower women within the target communities?
4. Are there any significant changes in the context as a result of the project intervention?
Learning and Recommendations
1. What key lessons and innovative practices emerged that could inform similar future projects?
2. What concrete recommendations do community members and other stakeholders propose for improving future programming?
3. Scope of the evaluation, approach and methods
Approach and Methodology:
The evaluation will follow gender-sensitive, inclusive of all the stakeholders, culturally –sensitive and participatory approach. Once the consultant is on-board, methodology and approach will be finalized in consultation with the Johanniter and implementing partners. However, to ease the selection process, consultants are requested to propose their own methodology and should contain the following methodological topics as a minimum:
- The evaluator’s understanding of the evaluation questions
- Description of the phases related to the evaluation approach proposed.
- Sources of information for primary data collection (include a field visit plan where possible or remote data collection)
- Sampling strategies, including area and population group represented in the sample, sampling procedures and sample size.
- Instruments to be used for data collection.
- Different types of data analysis that will be carried out.
- Reference indicators and benchmarks for each evaluation question (if relevant).4. Process and timeline: The final evaluation process will commence on 1st December 2025 and will conclude by 15th February 2026 with the full and final report submitted to and approved by the Country Manager of the Johanniter – Myanmar.
Consultancy Phases
Days required ## days suggested
Phase I: On-boarding and Document Review
Preparation and work plan development (with detailed deadlines)
Review of key program documents and reports; introduction with program partners and stakeholders; and refining the evaluation framework and methodology.
# working days
Phase II : Field Work
Meeting with project partners; review theory of change; present findings of document review and confirm data collection tools
Finalize data collection tools
# working days
Secondary data collection
# working days
Field work; community, partner and stakeholder consultation (Primary data collection)
# working days (including travel time, as required)
Present preliminary findings to the JIA Team and partners for comments and suggestions to proceed to comprehensive analysis and report writing
# working days
Phase III : Analysis and Report
Analysis and draft report; validating findings with partners (and beneficiaries) – details to be discussed with the selected candidate
# working days
Review of comments and finalization of draft report
# working days
5. Products to be delivered by the consultant
The consultant shall deliver, within the time schedule presented in chapter 4, the following products: Intermediate products:
Product #1: A detailed work plan, including timeline, key milestones, and responsibilities.
Product #2: Methodological proposal for the collection, processing and analysis of information including sampling strategy, data collection tools (questionnaires, interview guides), and quality assurance measures.
Product #3: Inception report summarizing methodology, work plan updates, and preliminary findings. Product #4: A first draft of the final evaluation report, including annexes, preliminary analysis, and key findings.
Final product:
Product #5:
A final evaluation report, in English validated by Johanniter, including annexes. The report should cover:
– Assessment based on OECD DAC criteria (effectiveness, relevance, efficiency, sustainability, impact, learning)
– Indicators analysis and verification Lessons learned and best practices
– Recommendations for future programming
– Executive summary
– Annexes (tools, raw data summaries, Excel datasets, stakeholder lists, photographs, maps, etc.)
Electronic quality and size:
The final version of the final evaluation report (Product #5) shall:
• Be delivered in electronic version, (in PDF format),
• Have a maximum of 40 pages
• Have a maximum size of 2.0 MB.
• PDF document must be printable without additional settings or adjustments.
6. Responsibility
Roles and responsibilities of the consultant or consulting firm:
• Preparation and delivery of intermediate and final products in the quality and time specified in chapters 4 and 5 of the present ToR.
• Information gathering according to methodology defined in chapter 3.
• Submission to the Johanniter any documentation and information may be required within the framework of the consultancy.
• Make sure the final report in English is reviewed by a professional English editor.
• Facilitate an online validation workshop to present the evaluation report and recommendations to stakeholders
Roles and responsibilities of Johanniter and partner’s staff:
• Provide consultant any documentation and information necessary to carry out this consultancy.
• Facilitate in a timely manner and provide to the consultancy team the initial contacts and communication with implementing partners and other key stakeholders as required in the framework of this consultancy.
• Guidance, support and supervision of the consultant in all stages of the consultancy.
• Review and validation of intermediate and final products.
• Implementation of the procurement process to select the consultant/consulting firm.
• Preparation and signature of the consultancy contract for this consultancy.
• Payment of consultancy fees to the consultant.
7. Time schedule
The completion of this work is expected to take approximately 30 days following the signing of the contract. The consultancy must be finalized by 15th February 2026. However, the consultant should suggest the total time frame in the above table mentioned in Chapter 4 “Process and Timeline” as part of the application process.
8. Management
The consultant will be commissioned by Johanniter Myanmar Country Office represented by the country manager and lead Program Manager and PMEAL officer who will be responsible for day-to-day coordination and will also be the primary focal point of contact from JUH, and technically supported by the Regional PMEAL Coordinator. Implementing partner will facilitate the mission of the consultant’s team during the evaluation process.
9. Intellectual property and data protection
All intellectual property generated by the consultancy will be owned by Johanniter and implementing partners, who will retain the rights to disseminate and publish the final report. The consultant/consultancy firm will follow the data protection policy of Johanniter while collecting, processing, and storing the program related data.
10. Essential experience of the consultant
– Experienced in conducting similar studies in the past- experience with research, analysis, statistics, etc. – Relevant academic background- statistics, community development, or related field. Consultants should have the required technical, methodological and practical expert knowledge and are well familiar with the methodology.
– Experience with local NGOs and community level programming
– High quality communication skills, notably in report writing. Strong qualitative and quantitative analytical skills.
– Knowledge on the local and political context of Myanmar
-Experienced writing high quality reports, and incorporating written feedback and addressing comments from multiple stakeholders Excellent written and oral English.
– Strong relationship management skills
– Ability to manage the available time and resources and to work with tight deadlines.
How to apply
11. Application and selection process:
The independent consultant/consultancy firm/team of experts must demonstrate the following skills and experience:
– Capacity development of local NGOs
– Organizational development
– Participatory approaches
– Food security and livelihoods, including nutrition interventions
– Child protection, early childhood care, and development programs
– Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH)
– Project cycle management and the Triple Nexus In addition to sectoral expertise, a strong understanding of the local context and experience working with vulnerable populations is required. Interested applicants should submit the application along with:
• Cover letter- with the name, position, phone number, email and address of the company.
• Full Technical proposal. This includes detailed budget, activities, time frame, human resources, and methodologies.
• CV of all suggested team members
• Sample reports- Please include two similar reports as sample work, completed by the consultant (dated after 2023)
• Tender Declaration Form – with signature
12. Budget
The indicative budget for this consultancy is 13,000 EUR including VAT and Withholding Tax (WHT). This budget includes the consultant’s fee and taxes, any travel and expenses that might be required for data collection (depending on proposed methodology), and any costs related to telephone or skype use, transcriptions, software licenses and office materials.
13. Payment for the service
Payment will be made as follows:
– Milestone 1: Signing of contract – 50% fees
– Milestone 2: Completion of the deliverables- 50% (Please note that Johanniter must agree for the final sign off on the report.
In the situation that the consultant does not meet the agreed deadlines (without advance agreement from Johanniter), the second payment will be reduced by 5% for each calendar day the submission is late. If interested please email applications to Chitsuu.latt@thejohanniter.org
Queries regarding the consultancy can also be directed to this email address. Interested applicants are requested to apply by 5 PM, 1st Nov 2025 and must be flexible to be immediately available by 1st December 2025 onwards, as the deadline for the consultancy completion is 15th February 2026. Due to time constraints, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Finally, please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Thank you!