TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR)
Final evaluation of the JURIYA project: “Action for strengthening the capacities and resilience of women in Niger”
Period: December 2025 to March 2026
Expected duration : 30 days
Client: Niger Red Cross (NRC)
Technical and financial partners: Danish Red Cross (DRC) and Finnish Red Cross (FRC)
Area of intervention: 17 villages in the Maimoudja health zone, Dan-Barto commune, Matameye health district, Kantché department, Zinder region, Niger
Where to send applications: Complete applications should be sent by email to the following address: asslogpreco@outlook.com with the subject line “Application for final external evaluation – JURIYA project”.
1. GENERAL OVERVIEW
The Niger Red Cross is seeking a consultant to conduct the final evaluation of the JURIYA project in Niger. The consultancy mission will take place between December 2025 and March 2026 in the Zinder region (Matameye department).
The Niger Red Cross (NRC) was founded on July 13, 1963. It has been recognized by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) since 1965 and was admitted as a member of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) the same year. The NRC benefits from the technical, financial, material, and human support of these two organizations for its various projects and programs. The NRC has eight branches in Niger (one in each region) and works with 4,810 volunteers, according to a recent study conducted as part of the development of the NRC’s 2030 volunteer strategy. The NRC’s strong territorial presence gives it broad geographical coverage, allowing it to understand local contexts and stakeholders and to be visible throughout Niger.
The Danish Red Cross (DRC) has been supporting the Niger Red Cross (NRC) in project implementation and capacity building since 2017. At that time, a project was launched to provide humanitarian assistance to vulnerable migrants and local communities in Niamey, offering basic healthcare services, psychosocial support, non-food items (NFIs), and protection services such as family reunification (FR). Since then, the DRC and the NRC have cooperated on implementing humanitarian aid projects for displaced persons and host communities through distributions, psychosocial support, and livelihood support activities. The DRC’s areas of operation in Niger are Diffa, Maradi, Niamey, Tillabéri, and Zinder.
The Finnish Red Cross (FRC) has supported the CRN since 2018 through other national partner societies and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). Long-term development cooperation enables the Finnish Red Cross to build communities
healthy and safe environments and to strengthen the institutional capacities of national societies. The FRC’s objective is to be an adaptable and impact-oriented partner, whose programs are guided by inclusion and localization, with the aim of reaching the most vulnerable.
The JURIYA project is part of the CRN’s strategy to ensure that people living in fragile environments are resilient, have access to basic health services and live in safe and inclusive communities.
1.1. Context
Niger is a country in the Sahel region with a population of 17.8 million and ranks 189th out of 191 countries in the UNDP’s 2021/2022 Human Development Index.1 The country has one of the highest fertility rates in the world, with 7.2 children per woman.2
The literacy rate is one of the lowest in the sub-region, reaching 30.11% nationally, with 22.10% for women and 38.64% for men. By place of residence, the rate is 58.51% in urban areas and 23.68% in rural areas (National Institute of Statistics, 2021).
Complex and multidimensional poverty in Niger disproportionately affects women. For example, only 36% of employed women are women compared to 80.1% men (government figures), and the majority of those working in the informal sector are women, reflecting their significant economic vulnerability. The fertility rate was 6.6 children per woman in 2021, the highest in the world, and the intervention area (Kantché Department) has one of the highest annual population growth rates in the country (4.3% in Kantché compared to 3.9% nationally). 49.5% of Niger’s population is under 15 years old, making it particularly young.
In terms of health, adult mortality rates are almost identical for women and men aged 15 to 49 (3.8 and 3.7 deaths per 1,000, respectively). Between the ages of 15 and 50, men and women have a one in seven and one in eight risk of dying, respectively. Maternal deaths account for approximately 39% of all deaths among women aged 15 to 49. Women have a one in 23 risk of dying from maternal causes during their reproductive years. Regarding sexual and reproductive health, the adolescent birth rate was 154 per 1,000 women aged 15 to 19 in 2021. In 2021, only 49% of women aged 15 to 49 had their family planning needs met by modern contraceptive methods. The maternal mortality rate (deaths per 100,000 live births) was 509 in 2017, compared to a global average of 211. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that more than half of maternal deaths occur among adolescent girls or young adults (under 24 years of age) within 48 hours of childbirth, primarily due to anemia. Women and girls are therefore particularly vulnerable in Niger, especially with regard to sexual and reproductive health.
To combat maternal mortality, particular emphasis must be placed on the sexual and reproductive health of adolescents and young people (SRH). With nearly 70% of the population under the age of 25, young people represent a strategic challenge in improving sexual and reproductive health.
- Unmet needs for family planning (2021): 16.9%
- Number of unwanted pregnancies in Niger (2020): 268,000
- Contraceptive prevalence rate for all women (aged 15 to 49): 17.3%
- Access to information on family planning: 16%
- Adolescent birth rate (2017): 206/1,000
- HIV/AIDS prevalence among 15-24 year olds: 1% (compared to 0.7% in the general population)
1.2. Project Summary
The main objective of the project is to contribute to the empowerment of women and girls from vulnerable communities in the Matameye health district in terms of sexual and reproductive health and economic capacity building. The project aims to:
- Improve access for communities, particularly women and girls, to quality reproductive health services by strengthening the skills of health workers in sexual and reproductive health and improving the functioning of the mobile clinic and the integrated health center.
- To improve community knowledge (women, men, girls and boys) regarding sexual and reproductive health and to create an environment conducive to improving their livelihoods through sexual and reproductive health training and awareness-raising activities and the establishment of income-generating activities for mothers’ clubs.
- Strengthen the capacities of the Niger Red Cross at local, regional and national levels by training Niger Red Cross staff and participating in relevant coordination mechanisms.
Start date: January 1, 2022
End date: December 31, 2025
Impact: To improve the living conditions and health of vulnerable populations in Niger in a participatory and inclusive manner.
Result: Women and girls of reproductive age in the Matameye health district are able to make informed decisions regarding their sexual and reproductive health and economic situation, in collaboration with men.
Actors involved in the project and beneficiaries
– Structures offering sexual and reproductive health services: dispensaries, integrated health centers.
– Communities: community leaders; mothers’ clubs; disabled people and marginalized groups; men, young boys and husbands; community relays.
– Young girls and boys aged 15 to 24 years.
– Healthcare professionals: midwives, nurses and public health workers.
Implementation Partners
– Matameye Health District
– Departmental Directorate of Planning and Community Development
– Departmental Directorate for the Promotion of Women and Child Protection
– Departmental Directorate for Literacy and Informal Education
– Vocational training and education center
– Mairie de Dan Barto
– The town hall of Matameye
2. OBJECTIVE AND ISSUES OF THE EVALUATION
Since January 2022, the Niger Red Cross (NRC), in partnership with the Danish Red Cross and the Finnish Red Cross, has been implementing the JURIYA project – Action for Strengthening the Capacity and Resilience of Women in Niger. This project aims to contribute to the empowerment of women and girls in vulnerable communities in the Matameye health district in terms of sexual and reproductive health and economic empowerment.
At the end of the JURIYA project, scheduled for December 2025, a final evaluation is planned to measure the overall performance of the project and the changes it has brought about.
Furthermore, this external evaluation fulfills the contractual commitment made to the project’s funders, in particular the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Denmark and Finland.
2.1. General objective of the evaluation
The final evaluation will provide a comprehensive assessment from the project’s inception to gain a precise and detailed understanding of the project, its development, and its context. The objective will be to evaluate the effectiveness, efficiency, performance, and impact of the activities undertaken.
2.2. Specific Objectives
- Evaluate the extent to which the project interventions contributed to the pathways described in the theory of change. (How consistent was the theory of change with the project design and the evolving context? What lessons and adjustments from the theory of change can be drawn to inform the design of future projects? Were there any missing pathways or factors that were not originally considered?)
- Assess the extent to which income-generating activities have supported the economic stability and self-reliance of beneficiaries. (Are the selected income-generating activities economically viable and market-appropriate? How have household incomes, savings, or financial resilience changed as a result of project support? What barriers still prevent women and young people from engaging in sustainable economic activities?)
- Evaluate the integration of the concepts of Gender Protection and Inclusion (GPI) and Community Engagement and Accountability (CEA) throughout the implementation of the project (What mechanisms have ensured accountability to the populations concerned? Are they working?).
- Evaluate the relevance and consistency of the intervention strategies adopted.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of community and inclusive approaches (mothers’ clubs, schools for husbands, community relays, CRN volunteers).
- Evaluate the effectiveness with which the project reached adolescents and young people. (What specific changes in knowledge and behaviors regarding sexual and reproductive health and rights can be observed among young people? Did young people feel involved, safe, and respected in the project activities? What barriers still prevent young people from accessing information and services related to sexual and reproductive health and rights?)
- Evaluate the effectiveness of the coordination between the National Society, the Ministry of Health, local authorities, and community structures. (What added value did the Danish Red Cross and the Finnish Red Cross bring to the project? Were the roles, responsibilities, and decision-making processes clear and effective? To what extent were community leaders and local governance actors involved in the project?)
- Evaluate the effectiveness and contribution of improvements made to mobile and integrated health centers in improving access to sexual and reproductive health services, in terms of people reached and methods of intervention.
- Assess the extent to which the project has improved the quality of care in supported health facilities. (Have health workers demonstrated improved skills in sexual and reproductive health and maternal and neonatal care? How effectively have mobile clinics or outreach services been implemented? What gaps remain in the availability, quality, and continuity of sexual and reproductive health services?)
- Analyze the relevance, implementation and sustainability of the exit strategy (community ownership, gradual transfer, involvement of local authorities, health facilities).
- Evaluate the integration and use of the Safe Delivery application in maternal and neonatal healthcare, including its perceived usefulness, its contribution to the capacities of healthcare workers and its sustainability within the healthcare system.
- Identify lessons learned, challenges and best practices related to the implementation of the project.
- Formulate strategic recommendations for the consolidation and replication of successful interventions.
3. EXPECTED RESULTS
- A PowerPoint presentation to be given during a validation workshop.
- A comprehensive evaluation report (30 pages), including an analysis of the results, recommendations to ensure the success of the exit strategy, and sustainability mechanisms. This report includes a detailed analysis of the capacity of community structures and local authorities to continue the actions undertaken in accordance with the exit strategy.
- Practical recommendations aimed at strengthening the sustainability and capitalization of project results.
4. SCOPE AND EVALUATION CRITERIA
The evaluation will cover the entire 2022-2025 period and all project intervention areas, with a particular focus on income-generating activities and their impact on women’s health. It will be based on the OECD/DAC criteria:
- Coherence: the extent to which the objectives of the intervention meet the needs and priorities of the communities.
- Relevance: To what extent does the project fit within the framework of other actions carried out in the region and regional policies/standards?
- Effectiveness: level of achievement of expected results and impacts.
- Efficiency: rational use of available resources.
- Sustainability/change: continuity and ownership of results after the end of the project, in accordance with the exit strategy.
- Impact: lasting changes observed in access to quality sexual and reproductive health services, change in social behaviors, improvement in the livelihoods of beneficiaries.
5. OVERALL EVALUATION METHODOLOGY
The evaluation will adopt a participatory, inclusive and mixed (quantitative and qualitative) approach including:
• Review of documents: activity reports, MEAL plan, logical framework, financial reports, exit strategy, project document, baseline survey, annual activity reports, activity reports, annual activity plans, mid-term evaluation report, application for safe childbirth (if applicable), etc.
• Quantitative surveys with a representative sample of beneficiaries (women, young people, men, community leaders);
• Semi-structured interviews with local authorities, management committees, staff of mobile and integrated health centers, CRN volunteers and technical partners.
• Group discussions with mothers’ clubs, schools for husbands and AGR beneficiaries;
• Direct observation of infrastructure, AGR and community facilities (ambulance tricycles, solidarity fund, etc.).
Furthermore, a cross-sectional analysis will be conducted to assess the extent to which diversity factors such as disability, gender, and age are taken into account. Particular attention will be paid to the active participation of women, girls, and boys, as well as people with disabilities.
6. EXIT STRATEGY ANALYSIS
The consultant will need to assess:
• The relevance of the transition plan and the clarity of the responsibilities transferred;
• The level of community ownership of the actions (mothers’ clubs, relays, management committees);
• The functioning of post-project mechanisms (solidarity fund, Income Generating Activities, ambulance tricycles, sanitary equipment);
• The effective involvement of local authorities and decentralized services;
• The communication and information strategy surrounding the withdrawal of the project;
• The risks and opportunities related to the sustainability of achievements.
7. ORGANIZATION OF THE EVALUATION
7.1. General Information
Project evaluation period: January 2022 to December 2025
7.2. Budget
Total budget available: The detailed budget will be proposed by the consultant in their technical and financial offer.
7.3. Indicative timetable (for the years 2025-2026)
The consultant should be selected during the first half of January 2026.
The evaluation mission itself is to be carried out between mid-January 2026 and mid-February 2026.
The presentation of the evaluation results to the Niger Red Cross and its partners could be scheduled for the end of February 2026.
The final deliverables (report + summary) should be ready by March 20, 2026.
7.4. Methodology
The consultant will propose a methodology suitable for the Danish Red Cross (including sampling and qualitative data collection methods), taking into account the available time and budget. To this end, the consultant will utilize all available information sources and include a statistical analysis plan in their proposal.
This evaluation will be carried out in the project’s intervention areas in Zinder (Matameye) over a period of thirty (30) days.
However, in order to be consistent with the project’s intervention strategy and the CRN’s approach, it is desirable that the evaluation be conducted in a participatory manner with all partners and stakeholders, with the aim of promoting self-evaluation and taking advantage of the lessons learned from the project.
Furthermore, as a guideline, the assessment could be based on:
a. Meetings or interviews
b. Preparatory work: review of literature and documents, consolidation and finalization of the list of assessment questions
A number of documents detailed above in Chapter 7, Overall Evaluation Methodology, will be made available to the evaluator to assist them in their work, in addition to a review of external literature relating to the project themes:
c. A field mission to Niger
• On-site meetings/interviews, focus groups and meetings with various stakeholders and beneficiaries, using participatory methods of data collection and analysis;
• Interviews with identified stakeholders;
• Remote exchanges with certain stakeholders;
• An oral presentation in the field with partners and the project team.
7.5. Consultant’s working environment/Relationship with the JURIYA project team
The consultant will share office space with the Niger Red Cross (NRC) teams in Niger. Regular communication will take place between the consultant and the project team to prepare the survey in terms of structure, content, and methodology. This communication will be conducted via email, meetings (with minutes kept), and telephone. The consultant will work closely with the NRC team, project partners, and the representative from the Danish Red Cross headquarters to define, plan, implement, monitor, analyze, and report on the results. The study results will remain the property of the Niger Red Cross. The consultant’s obligations to the NRC will end with the validation and submission of the final evaluation report. This report will be submitted in hard copy (one copy) and electronically. The study databases are among the deliverables.
7.6. Expected Deliverables
The desired deliverables are part of the evaluation process:
- Initially, following the scoping meeting, the evaluator will be asked to submit a finalized and validated terms of reference and a kick-off report of no more than 7 pages. The kick-off report must include a detailed methodology, including the evaluation matrix, the data collection method, and the analysis.
- Before the field mission, the evaluator will be asked to provide a terms of reference outlining the mission’s procedures and planned activities. These terms of reference will be validated jointly with the field team.
- Interim evaluation report including a summary (in French with a translated version in English).
- At the end of the evaluation, the evaluator will be asked to provide
- A final evaluation report (in Word and PDF format) not exceeding 30 pages (a summary of the report must be provided in advance for approval). An appendix is expected, including a database of interviews and respondents, as well as an analysis file for the qualitative survey.
- A summary of 5 pages maximum (in French and English);
- A PowerPoint presentation, prior to the full and final report.The evaluation results and recommendations form the core of the summary. They must be presented clearly, in language accessible to all.
How to apply
8. APPLICATION PROCEDURES
An external consultant will be recruited to conduct this final evaluation. They will work under the supervision of the CRN’s Director of Operations and Programs, in collaboration with the PMEAL department and technical partners (Danish Red Cross and Finnish Red Cross). Consultants must be based in the country or have a team ready to be deployed there. We do not want remote data collection.
8.1. Expertise and required profiles
This evaluation will be conducted by a consultant or group of consultants meeting the following criteria:
Required profile:
• University degree (minimum 5 years of higher education) in development economics, public health or social sciences;
• Proven experience (≥ 7 years) in conducting evaluations of humanitarian or development projects;
• Proficiency in participatory approaches and sustainability analysis;
• Perfect mastery of the project management cycle and project evaluation methodology, in particular through the use of participatory methods;
• Experience in the health sector with a good knowledge of sexual and reproductive health;
• Knowledge of the community sector and its challenges, experience in community health and empowerment, experience in projects involving public and community actors;
• Knowledge and experience of NGOs and/or the Red Cross movement is an asset;
Excellent command of French and proven writing skills. Knowledge of local languages (Hausa and Djerma) may be an asset.
• Good knowledge of the Nigerien context and the dynamics of local communities;
• Excellent writing and summarizing skills in French.
• Have up-to-date administrative documents (NIF, RCCM, ARF).
Consultant’s responsibilities:
• Develop the methodology, including the evaluation matrix and data collection tools;
• Supervise the collection, processing and analysis of data;
• Facilitate the workshop to present the data and results;
• Produce interim and final reports within the given deadlines.
8.2. Indicative timetable
Total duration:
30 working days, distributed as follows:
• Document review and planning: 5 days;
• Data collection in the field: 10 days;
• Analysis and drafting of the provisional report: 10 days;
• Feedback workshop: 3 days;
• Finalization and validation of the final report: 2 days.
8.3. Budget and payment terms
The consultant will be remunerated solely on the basis of the amount defined and agreed upon in their contract with the Niger Red Cross (NRC). No other expenses will be covered for the consultant beyond those agreed upon in their financial proposal, which will have been negotiated and approved. The consultant will not be entitled to the benefits available to Niger Red Cross employees (transportation, meal allowance, access to a computer, access badge or card, equipment, etc.). The consultant will be remunerated as follows:
- 30% upon validation of the methodological note;
- 30% upon submission of the interim report;
- 40% upon approval of the final report.
Finally, each payment will be made upon presentation of a certified invoice and an up-to-date ARF.
8.4. Documents to be provided by the consultant
The consultant’s offer must include:
A brief technical proposal (maximum 10 pages, excluding CV), including:
- A thorough understanding of the specifications and the proposed methodology;
- A proposed schedule for the mission
- One or more examples of similar evaluation reports previously completed to demonstrate expertise.
- A detailed and signed CV is attached.
A detailed financial proposal specifying the amounts in CFA francs and euros and distinguishing the VAT according to the proposed schedule
- Daily fees
- Mission expenses (international transport, accommodation, travel, meals in Niger, etc.)
- Other incidental costs if necessary (equipment, organization of a workshop or meetings, etc.)
8.5. Deadline
Interested candidates must send their application in French and electronically NO LATER THAN December 29, 2025 at (midnight) 00 hours GMT.
Where to send applications: Complete applications should be sent by email to the following address: asslogpreco@outlook.com with the subject line “Application for final external evaluation – JURIYA project”.
9. SELECTION AND ALLOCATION
9.1. Criteria
The proposals received will be evaluated by the internal selection committee based on the following criteria:
Experience and skills
The consultant must meet the required criteria (profile).
- Experience in the field of sexual and reproductive health in West Africa (experience in Niger would be particularly appreciated)
- Experience in community health and link to livelihoods;
- Experience in the field of adolescent sexual and reproductive health;
- Experience with the Red Cross movement would be an asset.
• Quality and accuracy of the technical proposal, in particular:
- Understanding of the specifications (proposal of adjustments if necessary)
- Quality and relevance of the methodological proposal
- Work plan, coordination and adherence to the project schedule
- Presentation of the consultant(s)’ expertise in the technical or methodological areas of this consultation, as specified above.
• Quality and accuracy of the amounts in the financial proposal
9.2. Procedure
The selection committee will meet on January 5 and 6, 2026.
References will be checked and additional information will be requested on January 8 and 9, 2026.
A final interview will take place from January 18 to 20, 2026. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.
The notification of selection or non-selection will be made on January 21, 2026.