International Consultant Final Project Evaluator: Conflict Prevention and Resilience Building in Return Areas of the Communes of At International Organization for Migration

Context of the assessment

Since 2015, several regions of Niger have been subjected to violence committed by violent extremist organizations (VEOs). In the Diffa region, several factions of Boko Haram have inflicted violence on local populations while continuing their attacks on security forces. It is estimated that more than 20,000 civilians have lost their lives in Niger as a result of VEOs since 2015, according to government statements. Due to its geographical location, the region is particularly affected by the insecurity and humanitarian situation resulting from this crisis, thus impacting public and private infrastructure. On the humanitarian front, the Diffa region hosts more than 200,000 Nigerian refugees, as well as 150,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs), consisting overall of 51% men and 49% women, the majority of whom are young, with 65% under the age of 18. The capital of the Diffa region has seen an increase in its population due to the arrival of IDPs/refugees who are spread across the city’s districts.

Violence committed by OVC, combined with government measures and counterterrorism operations, has also led to a significant slowdown in the economic activity of communities living mainly from rain-fed agriculture, livestock farming, and fishing. In the region, a large number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees (90%) from neighboring countries are facing critical situations, particularly in areas difficult to access for humanitarian actors. Most of the displaced are living with host households where they regroup spontaneously, thus increasing the pressure on host communities and available resources.

Following his election in March 2021, in a bid to contribute to resolving the security crisis in the Lake Chad Basin, President Mohamed Bazoum committed to ensuring the return of IDPs and refugees to their communities and countries of origin to strengthen the stabilization of the region. This political will was realized in June 2021 with the return of 40,138 IDPs (7,376 households) to 23 villages in the communes of Bosso, Gueskerou and Kablewa [1] . As of September 13, 2021, data from the region’s authorities listed a total of 35,445 people, including 13,469 young people under the age of 35 (including 7,004 young women) who had returned to the communes of Bosso, Gueskerou and Kablewa. Despite the government’s efforts, certain prerequisites for the recovery and sustainable voluntary return of IDPs to their communities of origin have not been met, including strengthening security, conflict prevention and social cohesion, the availability of livelihoods, and basic social services, which are non-existent in some areas and limited in others.

According to the IOM’s March 2021 Stability Index, which focuses its data collection at the lowest possible administrative level in the Diffa region, access to health services, markets, agricultural land, and fishing areas is poor. The results suggest that the perception of stability in Niger’s Diffa region is highly dependent on indicators from the safety and security scale, followed by the livelihoods and basic services scale, and to a lesser extent on indicators from the social cohesion scale.

In view of the above, three factors of fragility/tension have been identified:

1. The absence of state institutions, factors weakening a sustainable return of communities

The weak presence of administrative authorities and state technical services in the areas concerned, and the absence of inclusive and participatory dialogue at all levels of society constitute an obstacle to good local governance.

According to discussions with mayors and various decentralized technical services, the various targeted municipalities no longer functionally house representations at the departmental and municipal levels. For some, the buildings have been destroyed or are unusable. According to these stakeholders, everything needs to be redone, as explained by the mayors of the three municipalities, which no longer have workspaces or facilities to support the communities. The latter, in general, including returned IDPs, have limited access to basic social services (85% of infrastructure has been destroyed due to attacks in the affected areas), such as health, psychosocial well-being, education, and vocational training centers. The government has established regional mechanisms in the Diffa region, which therefore benefit from a certain amount of support stemming from the implementation of the Regional Development Plan (RDP) and which should be translated at the municipal level. However, at the level of the Economic and Social Development Plan 2017-2021, there are weaknesses such as the low mobilization of own resources (more than 60% of municipalities do not control the tax potential) and the inefficiency of public spending in relation to development challenges; the poor governance of local authorities (less than 20% of municipalities have respected the deadlines for submitting their management account, weak budget monitoring); the ineffectiveness of the transfer of skills and resources; the weak technical supervision of Local Authorities with human resources in sufficient quantity and quality.

These weaknesses in local governance directly and indirectly impact the daily lives of host communities, returnees and refugees in the municipalities of Bosso, Gueskerou and Kablewa. According to the report of the diagnosis of border areas for the development of the national border policy, these areas are neglected and this facilitates the presence of bandits and suspected members of non-state armed groups. This only increases the gap between the communities and the State, resulting in mistrust of the State. According to the mayor of Bosso, millions of CFA francs are lost every day from taxes on agricultural activities in the municipality due to the weak presence of the authorities to ensure their sovereign role, which is mainly the implementation of the Communal Development Plan (PDC). These said plans are now obsolete in the face of the changing context of these municipalities, and will need to be updated.

Furthermore, due to population displacement, community structures for social cohesion, such as the Communal Peace Committees (CCP) established by the HACP, as well as local associations and cooperatives, are almost non-existent. According to a consultation with the Governor of the region, for conflict prevention and management actions, the emphasis must be placed on restoring state authority and community cohesion structures. According to the Multi-Sectoral Needs Assessment (MSNA), in Diffa, 90% of returned households have been displaced for at least a year. While 85% of them left their locality of origin as a result of armed conflict, 10% reported that their displacement was initially linked to community conflicts (compared to less than 5% of IDP and refugee households). Returnee households appear to be less targeted by humanitarian assistance than internally displaced and refugee households overall: only 36% of them reported receiving humanitarian assistance in the 30 days preceding data collection, compared to 42% of IDP households and 54% of refugee households. According to the MSNA survey, returnee households appear to have significant gaps in their living conditions, particularly in terms of access to basic resources and infrastructure. 15% of households reported taking more than 30 minutes to travel to and from their main water source. 44% of returnee households also reported experiencing movement restrictions (in the vast majority of cases, linked to government measures due to insecurity in the area), which can impact households’ ability to access resources, services, and livelihoods. (UNHCR 2021 Report).

2. Access to economic opportunities constitutes the cornerstone of external and internal conflict dynamics, weakening social cohesion and living together

Particularly vulnerable returnee populations who had to abandon some or all of their material resources upon their departure find their property and resources destroyed, stolen, or exploited by others upon their return (1% of the current population displaced before 2014; 38% in 2014; 46% in 2015; 14% in 2016 and 1% in 2017). Households are then often forced to switch to less remunerative activities in their new location. These factors contribute to weakening the livelihoods of displaced households, already limited by external factors such as climate change and insecurity. They can also lead to conflicts or tensions with populations who have remained in their territories despite the difficulties.

The most common income-generating activities among the target populations, who are predominantly young (65%, including 49% women), are subsistence farming (45%) and small businesses (27%). Other common activities include crafts (12%), day labor (11%), wood collection and sale (10%), and livestock (6%). The evolution of economic activities during displacement highlights the likely loss of means of production by some displaced households, which would explain the increase in livelihoods requiring few or no production tools (day labor, wood collection and sale, crafts, etc.). The significant increase in independent/small-scale commerce can be explained by restrictions on fishing and agriculture (due to restrictions on irrigation due to insecurity around the lake), which were major economic activities for people before their displacement. The significant increase in subsistence farming is likely due to the need to find alternative sources of food due to the decline in purchasing power and the inability to practice usual employment, as well as positive coexistence with host communities (without whom the land would not be available). Finally, the increase in the collection and sale of wood as an income-generating activity is a concern that could lead to adverse environmental consequences in areas already affected by desertification.

Climate change is considered to have dire environmental consequences and greatly affect the economic sectors on which production activities are based due to being an agricultural community. Overall, the three most frequent climatic events are: rising temperatures (75.5%), drought (63.9%), and strong winds (34.6%). According to the IOM study on the link between Migration, Environment and Climate Change (MECC) on all regions of Niger including Diffa, the main impact on socio-economic activity is the decline in agricultural production. This is followed by more difficult living conditions and a decrease in livestock. This helps to understand the role of climate change in the hardening of living conditions, which tends to place populations in a spiral of indebtedness and decapitalization that confines them to multifaceted precariousness. The lack of support for the optimal use of available natural resources, coupled with the lack of financial resources as a support measure, has made small businesses (cross-border and local trade) the primary source of income over time, despite their low profitability. The unemployment rate of over 95% in these areas is pushing returned IDPs to seek resettlement in centers for displaced persons or in other communities. In the long term, this will constitute an additional source of inter- and intra-community conflicts, due to competition for access to already limited resources in the Diffa region. In Diffa, for example, 59% of non-displaced populations do not have access to health infrastructure, compared to 3% for IDPs, 10% for refugees and 8% for returnees.

The diagnosis of the border areas, particularly that of Diffa, with a view to developing the national border policy, shows a chronic state of under-equipment which is characterized by: – A high concentration of populations along the borders of the south of the country creating an imbalance in terms of access to basic social services with land pressure and insufficient means of production; – An under-equipment of border villages in basic social infrastructure (schools, health centers, water points) and the state of disrepair of the few existing infrastructures; – A lack of adequate transport infrastructure and the advanced state of degradation of existing road infrastructure that could facilitate access to border areas and their connection to the main centers and markets. This has contributed to making the economy of these areas highly dependent on neighboring countries. As an illustration, the populations of Nguigmi (Diffa) use Chadian and Nigerian currencies more than the local currency. The same observation is observed in all the border villages with Nigeria where the Naira is much more used than the FCFA; – Poor development of commercial facilities, especially border markets which are nevertheless dynamic in cross-border trade; – Insufficient energy sources and communication infrastructure (radio, television, telephone network) in border areas.

3. Gender and the issue of social protection

Social perceptions related to the roles that women or men should play in communities reinforce and maintain violence in communities. Thus, this project aims to support the efforts of representatives of marginalized women and youth communities to initiate long-term social change. Climate change and the constantly deteriorating security situation have contrasting impacts on populations in general and more specifically women and youth in Niger, especially in rural areas where women face an overlapping of vulnerabilities against a backdrop of economic and social inequalities reinforced by cultural norms and certain interpretations of religious prescriptions. Climate change and the degradation of biophysical environments resulting from climatic factors have led to several detrimental effects, including the impoverishment of cropland and pastureland, the silting up of basins, the drying up or even disappearance of water points and the loss of biological diversity which results in the disappearance of certain plant species. These phenomena lead to a deterioration in the living conditions of populations whose livelihoods are largely derived from the exploitation of natural resources. Practices linked to gender inequality, such as the low level of education of girls and child marriage, also affect women’s decision-making, economic, and inclusion capacities later in life. This perpetuates the cycle of poverty, which is fertile ground for the occurrence of conflicts in a context of scarce natural resources.

Indeed, according to a gender analysis focusing on gender-based violence conducted by CARE in Niger (2022) [2] in several municipalities in the Diffa region, the most common form of GBV is economic violence (54%), for example, preventing access to resources and spending resources without agreement. Forms of violence such as domestic violence (40%), forced marriage (28%) and early marriage (69%) are also common. Survivors of GBV are mostly women and girls (81%). Also, the analysis reports that GBV remains a major taboo and incidents are not always reported due to fear of stigmatization or reprisals. The analysis also shows the perception of security risk for women and girls, particularly related to the lack of safe places within the community, human trafficking, the risk of assault when moving either within or outside the community, the inability to access services and resources, the lack of privacy at home and insecurity at home.

According to a 2017 assessment conducted by the GBV sub-working group in Diffa, participants stated that most women and girls who suffer from any form of violence do not often disclose it, even to their loved ones. Women and girls are said to fear reprisals from perpetrators and their families, or stigmatization in the community. In some cases, the young girl, a victim of rape, is treated directly at home and only in rare cases is the girl then transported to the clinic 41. This may explain the low proportion of households (10%) that consider access to care services for gender-based violence a priority; the emphasis being more on access to child protection services (38%), among households that reported protection assistance in their three priority needs (MSNA 2020). The lack of adequate care can, in the long run, have an impact on the physical and mental health of victims. (UNHCR Report 2021). In the most recent protection analysis report (UNHCR, July 2022) for southern Niger, including Diffa, it is noted that incursions by non-state armed groups (NSAGs) are often accompanied by new population movements and human rights violations. For the period from January to June 2022, a total of 173 protection incidents were recorded, with 1,866 victims. In the Diffa region, kidnappings in particular constitute a significant risk, followed by theft and extortion of property as well as any form of equally serious physical assault. Kidnappings have a traumatic impact on the population which can result in the stigmatization of survivors. Population movements and other security practices are initiated to escape kidnappings and some parents are forced to separate from their children, particularly their daughters, to take them to safety outside their localities in order to prevent potential kidnappings and sexual violence by NSAG elements. Furthermore, the analysis shows a significant increase (almost 25%) in protection incidents in the first half of 2022 compared to the last half of 2021. According to UNFPA resources, among the protection incidents, there were 712 victims of GBV including 29 cases of rape, 101 of sexual assault, 173 of physical assault, 34 of child marriage, 278 of denial of resources and opportunities and 90 cases of psychological and emotional violence.

On the other hand, Niger, like other countries, aware of gender inequalities, has ratified
several conventions and resolutions of international conferences aimed at improving the
living conditions and well-being of women. The State has developed and adopted a law establishing the quota system in elected positions in government and state administration. It aims for at least 30% of women elected to legislative or local elections, and 25% of government portfolios for women. Although these are transitional measures, as specified in the same law, we can only deplore the extremely low percentages because they are not likely to truly reduce the disparity that exists between the sexes in this area. There are currently seven women ministers, one of whom holds the “fateful” portfolio of population and promotion of women, in a government of 23 people. Moreover, they are rare in the leadership structures of political parties, where they still occupy the secretariats for the promotion of women. And the important mobilization and propaganda work they carry out at the grassroots level is taken over by leading politicians because they are rarely present at strategic decision-making meetings. In fact, quotas are more used to achieve percentages, which in no way guarantees women’s true access to decision-making. On the contrary, they can allow women without solid references to access positions of great responsibility that they occupy with difficulty. In 2022, it should be noted that the Diffa region has had one female mayor out of 12 mayors among its territorial authorities for several years.

In view of the above and in an effort to provide some response to the structural causes and the main factors of tensions and conflicts existing in the targeted municipalities, the United Nations Peace Building Fund (PBF) financed the project “Conflict prevention and resilience building in return areas of the municipalities of Bosso, Gueskerou and Kablewa in Diffa” to the tune of USD 4 million over a period of 36 months, which is implemented by IOM and UNFPA through the 4 implementing partners including RICO, ID VERT, GARKUA and APBE.

The overall objective of this project is to contribute to peacebuilding through conflict prevention and resilience building in the returnee communities of Bosso, Geskerou and Kablewa in the Diffa region. Three results contribute to the achievement of this objective, namely:

Three results are expected at the end of the implementation of this project, namely:

Result 1 : Local governance in the municipalities of Bosso, Gueskerou and Kablewa is strengthened by inclusive dialogue and social cohesion mechanisms .

Outcome 2 : Communities, especially women and youth, in return areas have greater economic resilience .

Outcome 3 : Returnee communities, particularly youth and women, have increased access to basic social services with a view to sustainable return and stabilization ***.***

In order to successfully carry out the delegated activities, the project opted for a participatory approach aimed at the direct implementation of activities using Civil Society Organizations (Garkua, ID VERT, RICO, APBE and FAD) in close collaboration with the governorate of the region, the regional and municipal technical services as well as the town halls currently under the responsibility of the Delegated Administrators.

After 36 months of project execution, it appears useful and appropriate to conduct a final evaluation in order to provide a systematic and objective assessment of the project design, its implementation, the achievement of the objective and the level of achievement of the expected results.

These ToRs are developed to guide the conduct of this final evaluation.

Objectives of the final assessment

This final evaluation aims to provide an overall assessment of the project’s implementation through a qualitative and quantitative assessment of the results obtained and the level of achievement of the objectives in order to determine its added value to peacebuilding in the Diffa region. It specifically aims to:

Review all activities implemented with a focus on their relevance and adequacy in terms of addressing key drivers of conflict and peacebuilding issues.
Evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the project including its implementation strategy as well as its management and operational systems.
Analyze the level of alignment of the project with the PBF strategic framework and its contribution to peacebuilding in the Diffa region in general and in return areas in particular.
To examine whether the PBF’s contribution to the “Women, Peace and Security” and “Youth, Peace and Security” agendas has enabled a focus on the specific participation of women and young people in peacebuilding and social cohesion processes and whether it was responsible for gender equality.
Identify all issues related to planning, implementation, monitoring and the various operational management tools implemented;
Qualitatively and quantitatively assess the effects of the project on the primary beneficiaries as well as the secondary beneficiaries.
Identify promising good practices for learning and highlight key lessons learned to improve the design and implementation of future projects.
Propose efficient and relevant strategic adjustments allowing not only the reformulation of a new phase (if possible) but also the sustainability of the action.

Scope of the assessment

This evaluation will examine the project implementation process and the peacebuilding results achieved, drawing on the results framework and other monitoring data collected on the project’s results and impacts.

The evaluation questions will be based on the OECD/DAC evaluation criteria as well as the PBF specific criteria which have been adapted to the context.

The evaluator(s) will have to ensure that the evaluation of peacebuilding results is the main line of research. Thus, this evaluation will take into account all observable results over the entire duration of the project implementation (from October 2022 to October 2025) mainly at the level of the project intervention areas, namely Bosso, Gueskerou and Kablewa. In addition, it should focus on the following themes:

Mechanisms for inclusive dialogue and social cohesion between authorities and their constituents
Capacity building for local authorities, local elected officials, beneficiaries and other stakeholders
Environmental protection by young people and for young people
The establishment of AGRs as well as their management and their impact on the socio-economic life of households,
The involvement of local authorities and civil society actors in the dynamics of peacebuilding.
Local governance bodies for monitoring activities and ensuring the sustainability of project achievements
Social protection and the fight against GBV
Rehabilitation of basic social infrastructure
Access to basic social services for sustainable return and stabilization

The theory of change (see the Theory of Change Guidance Note ) as well as cross-cutting themes (gender promotion, human rights and conflict sensitivity) will also be covered by the evaluation.

This evaluation will use the six main OECD-DAC criteria, which are relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, impact and sustainability, as well as cross-cutting issues of gender and conflict sensitivity. These criteria are:

Relevance : this criterion seeks to assess the extent to which the project meets the priorities and real needs of the beneficiaries as well as the degree of integration into the institutional context;
Consistency : this criterion was chosen in order to assess the extent to which the project is compatible with other interventions carried out in Diffa and within the IOM;
Effectiveness : This criterion seeks to know to what extent the objectives of the intervention have been achieved or are in the process of being achieved, taking into account their importance;
Efficiency : It will help us to carry out a “cost-activity” analysis in order to confirm or deny whether the project activities were carried out with acceptable costs.
Impact : this criterion seeks to identify, beyond the expected positive effects highlighted within the framework of the effectiveness criterion, the possibly unexpected long-term effects linked to the project, whether positive or negative;
Sustainability : the sustainability criterion was chosen in order to assess the extent to which the results of the intervention present elements conducive to sustainability.
Cross-cutting themes (Gender, human rights and conflict-sensitive programming) : Particular attention will be paid to the effective integration of gender and conflict-sensitivity dimensions within the framework of this evaluation.
Catalytic effect: It aims to document the project’s ability to attract more funding for the project or the programmatic approach to the project by other organizations.

Assessment Questions

The main evaluation questions are listed below by evaluation criteria previously selected:

Relevance
To what extent were the project strategy and the activities carried out relevant in responding to the real needs of young women and men in the departments of Diffa, N’guigmi and Bosso?
To what extent was the project relevant and responsive in supporting peacebuilding priorities and peacebuilding gaps in the Diffa region? Did relevance continue throughout implementation?
Was the project relevant in addressing the drivers of conflict and factors of peace identified in a conflict analysis?
Was the project aligned with national strategies and major peacebuilding challenges in the Diffa region?
To what extent did the project align with the priorities of the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (PBF)?
To what extent were the project objectives and design adapted to the needs of the beneficiaries?
Consistency
Internal coherence: to what extent has the project created synergies and links between other interventions implemented by United Nations agencies in the field of peacebuilding and the SDGs in Diffa?
External coherence: To what extent do project interventions align with government peacebuilding priorities?
Were the project activities carried out in a coherent manner and in accordance with the different stages of the project life cycle?
Efficiency
To what extent have the project objective, intended outcomes and products been achieved and how?
What were the main factors that influenced whether or not the objectives were achieved?
To what extent did this project reach the targeted beneficiaries in terms of the project objective and outcomes? How many beneficiaries were reached?
What internal and external factors contributed to the achievement/failure of the project’s objective, results and outputs? How?
Was the project implemented as originally planned? If not, why not, and what steps were taken to address it?
To what extent have there been unintended positive effects compared to the results expected in the project document?
To what extent was the project targeting strategy appropriate and clear in terms of geographic targeting and beneficiary targeting?
Did the project monitoring system adequately collect data on peacebuilding results at an appropriate outcome and output level? How was the updated data used to manage the project?
If unforeseen negative effects on target groups have occurred or are likely to occur, to what extent has the project team taken appropriate measures?
To what extent has the project contributed to peacebuilding in Diffa?
Efficiency
How efficiently and timely was this project implemented and managed in accordance with the project document? If not, what was the reason for the delays?
Is there a conformity between costs allocated to the project and activities carried out?
To what extent was coordination and collaboration with implementing partners (NGOs and associations) efficient?
Are M&E resources (human and financial) sufficient and appropriate?
Was the project implemented in the most efficient way compared to other means of implementation?
How efficient were the project planning, coordination and human resources (including between implementing agencies and with stakeholders)? Were project funds and activities delivered in a timely manner?
What judgment can you make in the “cost-activity” analysis within the framework of this project?
Impact
Is there evidence of changes (positive or negative) in the project targets? If so, what are the factors behind these changes? If not, why not?
Have the beneficiaries’ lives and their environment undergone any changes (positive or negative)? What changes have they occurred? Are these changes directly or indirectly linked to the project, or are they caused by external factors?
What specific changes have been observed that are conducive to peacebuilding?
Were timely measures taken within the project to mitigate any unforeseen negative effects?
Did the intervention cause higher-level effects (such as changes in norms or systems, or behavior change)?
Did all target groups, including the most disadvantaged and vulnerable, benefit equally from the intervention?
Sustainability and appropriation
To what extent do the activities and benefits of the intervention persist after the end of the project and in the absence of any external assistance?
Is there local ownership (authorities and civil society organizations)?
To what extent have the beneficiaries and stakeholders (state structures, partner NGOs, associations and local authorities) taken ownership of the project in order to perpetuate its results in the absence of external funding?
What steps have been taken or are being considered to create sustainable processes, structures, norms and institutions in support of peace?
What additional support would be needed to consolidate the achievements of the Project?
How do you plan to implement the exit plan put in place by this project in a sustainable manner?
To what extent have national and local stakeholders (including government, civil society, women’s organizations, youth and adolescents) been effectively involved in the design, implementation and monitoring of PBF projects?
Did the project include accountability mechanisms to national or community stakeholders?
Did the intervention design include an appropriate sustainability strategy and exit plan to support positive changes in peacebuilding after the project ended?
Gender and Conflict Sensitivity
Did the project have an explicit conflict-sensitive approach? If so, explain how it was implemented during project implementation.
Were the internal capacities of implementing agencies adequate to ensure a conflict-sensitive approach? If so, how?
To what extent was a gender and conflict-sensitive approach used in the design and implementation of the project?
How were gender dimensions integrated into the design, planning, implementation and monitoring of the intervention and the results achieved?
How successful was the project in involving men and young women?
Did the implementation of the project interventions take into account the analysis of the context so as not to create tensions between the groups of actors?
To what extent has the project contributed to easing these tensions or strengthening the cohabitation of the actors?
To what extent does taking gender into account contribute to achieving the project’s peacebuilding objectives?
Has PBF funding been used to scale up other peacebuilding work and/or helped create broader platforms for peacebuilding? If so, how? If not, why?

Catalytic Effects: See the full guidance note here: PBF Catalytic Effect Guidelines (un.org)

Was the project a catalyst financially and/or programmatically?
Has PBF project funding been used to expand other peacebuilding activities and/or helped create broader platforms for peacebuilding?

VI: Evaluation methodology

The project evaluation will be conducted using a participatory and results-based approach. It must involve all stakeholders and will be conducted independently. An international consultant selected on the basis of well-defined criteria will carry out this evaluation under the coordination and supervision of the IOM-UNFPA Consortium. In order to successfully complete this study, an international consultant who ensures respect for gender balance and who has a good understanding of the Diffa Region and its socio-political context is highly desirable.

The collection method will be a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods. To this end, the consultant, after reviewing project documents and analyzing implementation data, will conduct interviews with key informants, including the project implementation team, partners directly or indirectly involved in achieving the project objectives, authorities, and beneficiaries of project support.

The detailed methodology, taking into account two approaches (qualitative and quantitative), will be developed by the consultant after receiving the project documents. Data collection tools will be chosen according to specific needs and based on available resources.

Data analysis will cover all activities supported by the project.

The international consultant will be required to submit to the IOM – UNFPA consortium an initial report (inception report) including the detailed methodology, a literature review, key stakeholders and partners to be consulted, the various tools and methods that will be used, and a timeline for conducting the evaluation. This methodology must be validated in advance by the IOM – UNFPA consortium in close collaboration with the PBF secretariat before any field action. The consultant will be free to discuss any issues he deems necessary and that could help him fulfill the mandate entrusted to him. He will be in direct contact with the consortium and the PBF secretariat to discuss relevant issues. It should be noted that the evaluator does not represent the IOM UNFPA consortium in any way.

VII: Ethics, norms and standards

The selected consultant is expected to be familiar with and comply with the United Nations Evaluation Group (UNEG) norms and standards for conducting evaluations, which are available via this link: http://www.unevaluation.org/document/detail/1914

Also, this study must be conducted in accordance with the IOM and UNFPA principles on data protection.

Therefore, the consultant must make the most of the information and all stakeholders available at the time of data collection. He will conduct his study systematically and communicate his methods and approaches precisely, to enable any external person to understand, interpret and provide feedback on his work.

In addition, he will ensure that the limitations of the study and its results are clearly defined in the body of the report.

VIII: Deliverables expected from the evaluation

The expected deliverables of the evaluation are:

The inception report including the detailed methodology;
The interim and final evaluation reports;
A summary of the final report in PowerPoint;
Raw and cleaned data.
Presentation of evaluation results to the PBF and project stakeholders

The submission of these deliverables is expected according to the periods defined below:

Before / during the field mission

An inception report, prior to the field mission, will be prepared by the evaluator and shared with the IOM-UNFPA consortium. This report should include a document review, the detailed methodology of the evaluation, the key stakeholders and partners to be consulted, the necessary data collection tools and an analysis of secondary data, as well as the timeline to be submitted for validation by the consortium before the field visit.

After the field mission

A provisional report will be submitted to the consortium for review and finalized by the design office/firm before sharing the first draft with the secretariat and PBF headquarters for further development.

The evaluator will have to take into account all the comments from the consortium, the secretariat and the PBF headquarters in order to prepare and present his power point and a final version of the report.

Furthermore, raw and cleaned data as well as all documentation produced during the process must be transmitted to the consortium.

Finally, where possible, the consultant will present the results of the final evaluation for validation to the PBF project steering committee that the secretariat will organize.

All deliverables must be written in French and meet good language standards.

All intellectual property rights to the results of the services mentioned in the contract will belong exclusively to the consortium, including the right to transfer material to a third party. The consortium reserves the right to publish the final result in order to promote transparency and public use of the evaluation results.

IX: Language of evaluation

The evaluation report will be written in French with an executive summary in English.

X: evaluation budget

The evaluation budget takes into account all costs related to this activity, including official travel for necessary field visits. This amount will be covered by the total budget allocated to it.

The consortium will cover all costs related to the completion of this final evaluation. It will therefore be up to the consultant to present his financial proposal, which must take into account the context and realities of the areas concerned by this study.

Provisional duration of the assessment

The assessment will take place within 45 days from the date of signing the contract.

The evaluator will propose a detailed timetable for his proposal according to the number of days mentioned above.

XI: Roles and Responsibilities

A Management Committee made up of the project management and monitoring and evaluation teams within the IOM and UNFPA at the Niamey and Diffa offices will be set up with the following main responsibilities:
- Coordinate exchanges/communications with the consultant;
- Prepare and facilitate the study scoping meeting which will be organized at the start of the mission in order to ensure a common understanding of the mandate, the questions and the study methodology as well as the different roles and responsibilities of each party,
- Coordinate meetings with key stakeholders, including project implementing partners and other project partners;
- Coordinate and consolidate comments/inputs received from IOM, UNFPA and other stakeholders on the deliverables submitted by the consultant.
- Provide consolidated feedback and timely comments to the consultant;
- Ensure quality review and final approval of mission deliverables;
- Initiate the fee payment process after validation of all deliverables by the Management Committee.
The PBF secretariat (representing the Lessor): will be involved in the review/validation process of the various deliverables.
The Consultant will have, among other tasks:
Submit to the Study Management Committee, within the timeframe and in the quality of the deliverables as defined in the preceding paragraphs.
Ensure that study activities are carried out in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contract.
Establish and coordinate the evaluation team members to carry out and complete the study with reference to the required quality standards.
Coordinate field data collection, day-to-day management of assessment activities, data entry and analysis, and report writing while respecting confidentiality and the sensitivity of the study topic.
Communicate closely with the assessment management team at every stage of the process
Provide information about the evaluation team members, including their resumes and explain how they meet the requirements of the specifications.

XII: Calendar of activities

Activities

Deliverables

Duration

(day)

Deadlines

Mission framing

Preparation (finalization of the methodology, production of data collection tools, sampling, planning of activities) and submission of the methodological report based on the ToRs

Interim inception report including a timetable of key milestones

Discussion and finalization of the inception report

Final Start-up Report

Recruitment, training of interviewers, testing of the questionnaire and collection of data (qualitative and quantitative)

Investigator Selection and Training Report

Data processing and analysis

Data synthesis and analysis matrix

Preparation and sharing of the preliminary evaluation report

First draft of the evaluation report

Exploitation and analysis of the interim report

Draft of the interim evaluation report incorporating comments from the consortium and the PBF

Preparation of the finalized preliminary evaluation report

Final preliminary report taking into account comments from the consortium and PBF.

Presentation of the final report to the PBF Steering Committee

PPT presentation support of the final results of the evaluation

Submission of the final report

Final report in French including a full 3-4 page summary

Cleaned file from full database.

TOTAL

XIII: Qualifications required for assessors

The conduct of this final evaluation requires a qualified international or national consultant with proven experience in conducting project and program evaluations. The lead consultant must have at least the minimum staff with the following professional qualifications:

A Principal Expert, head of mission who must:
Hold a university degree at BAC+5 level (at least) in the following fields: Sociology, development studies, political science, statistics, project management, international development or any other related disciplines;
Have proven experience of at least seven (07) years in the field of design and evaluation of development or peacebuilding projects and/or programs with a minimum of 05 evaluations as a lead that he can present to the evaluation team.
Have good experience in conducting mixed methods evaluation and gender-sensitive approaches;
Have proven experience in the field of research, including the development and use of survey and analysis tools for social issues of sustainable development (economic and environmental) and in the analysis and processing of qualitative and quantitative data sensitive to gender and human rights (studies, surveys, data processing, etc.);
Have proven experience in collecting, processing and analyzing qualitative and quantitative data;
Have experience in conducting studies related to peacebuilding in areas of precarious security,
Have a good knowledge of the socio-economic and programmatic context of Niger in general and the Diffa region in particular.
Have excellent writing and communication skills in French and English (desired)
**An Associate Expert Demographer or Statistician (National)**who must:
Hold a university degree at BAC+4 level in Demography or Statistics;
Have proven experience in surveying, data processing and analysis;
Have already worked in at least three similar assessments;
Have a good knowledge of project and program evaluation methods;
Very good mastery of programming electronic data collection tools such as ODK, KoboCollect, Cspro mobile, Survey Solution, Survey CTO, etc.
Have excellent writing and communication skills in French.
An associate socio anthropologist (National) Expert who must:
Hold a university degree at BAC+4 level at least in sociology, anthropology or any other equivalent field;
Have already worked in at least three similar assessments;
Have a good knowledge of peacebuilding projects;
Very good command of the analysis and interpretation of qualitative data;
Have excellent writing and communication skills in French

XIV: Conditions of participation

Interested international consultants should submit their proposal in two separate and distinct parts: a technical proposal and a financial proposal. No financial information should be included in the technical proposal. The financial proposal should be submitted in a separate envelope, clearly labeled “Financial Proposal.”

Submissions will be sent either by email:

The first is entitled: “ Final evaluation of the project “conflict prevention and strengthening of resilience to diffa ” Technical Proposal”;
- The second: “ Final evaluation of the project “conflict prevention and strengthening of resilience to diffa ” Financial Proposal”

Proposals must include the following documents and information:

A Technical Proposal in accordance with the ToR, ensuring that the purpose, objectives, scope, criteria, and deliverables of the evaluation are taken into account. The proposal should include, understanding the ToR, a detailed breakdown of the inception phase and data collection methodology, the suggested approach, and the proposed sampling to be used in the evaluation. A brief explanation of the data collection, analysis, and report writing phases should also be included, along with a detailed timeline for the evaluation.
CVs of the experts indicating all similar past project evaluation experience, as well as contact details (email and telephone number) of the experts and the firm and at least three professional references from the firm.
Attach copies of similar studies already carried out (mandatory)

As a reminder, no financial information should appear in the technical proposal.

A financial proposal with a breakdown of costs: consultant fees, travel expenses, daily subsistence allowance (DSA) and other required expenses.

No extension (with or without cost) will be granted to the consultant.

XV: Criteria for evaluation and weighting of the proposal

Proposals will be weighted based on technical (80%) and financial (20%) considerations. Submitted proposals will be evaluated using the cumulative analysis method. Technical proposals must achieve a minimum of 60 points to qualify and be considered. The financial proposal will only be open to applications that achieve 60 points or more. Here are the criteria and points for technical and financial proposals.

Technical proposal

Overall response (15 points)
General compliance with the specifications and requirements of the call for tenders
Understanding the scope, objectives, and completeness and consistency of the response
The design office/firm is properly registered, has the required certifications, membership, etc.
Proposed methodology and approach (35 points)
Proposed approach / methodology / tools and management control system
Proposed implementation plan, e.g. how the bidder will undertake each task and maintain project schedules;
Deliverables are processed in accordance with the mandate; proposed deadlines are met
Technical capacity of the evaluation team (30 points)
Range and depth of experience with similar rating
Meet academic requirements
Minimum years of experience
Strong analytical skills and applications of qualitative and/or quantitative statistical data processing
Excellent writing and language skills.

Technical score: 75% of 80 points = 60 points

A selection committee will review all applications. All proposals must meet the minimum requirements described above and those found non-compliant will not be considered.

Financial proposal

The financial proposal will be evaluated based on completeness, clarity, and relevance. Maximum points are awarded to the lowest financial proposal that is open/evaluated, deemed realistic, and compared among technically qualified candidates who achieved a minimum of 60 points in the technical evaluation. Other financial proposals will receive points in inverse proportion to the lowest price.

Total financial: 20

Only technically qualified financial proposals will be opened (score of at least 60).

How to apply

View the internal job posting

View the external job posting

External candidates: https://guidedlearning-emea.oracle.com/player/latest/api/scenario/simulation/see_it/dLRUJjitTuqPbxftvov4Hw/02bodsi1/lang/–/?draft=false&user_id=033B45F0695F47FAE063CCC9490AD2AB