Call for Interest – Project Evaluation for Climate Resilience for All Project At World Vision

TERMS OF REFERENCE

1. World Vision background

   World Vision is a global relief, development, and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, families, and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. Inspired by our Christian values, we work with the world’s most vulnerable people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender. World Vision Timor-Leste began its first project in Aileu municipality in 1995 and opened its national office in Dili in 1999. Today, we are implementing projects across six municipalities: Aileu, Baucau, Bobonaro, Covalima, Ermera, and Oecusse. Our mission is ‘Healthy children for strong communities. We recognize that children’s health is holistic and includes their physical, mental, intellectual, and social well-being. We aim to empower Timorese children to transform their lives, in partnership with their families and communities.

2. Project Background

   World Vision’s (WV) ‘Climate Resilience for All (Resiliensia Klimatika ba Ema Hotu)’ in Timor-Leste project (CR4All), supported by the Australian Government through the Australian Non-Governmental-Organisation Cooperation Program (ANCP), aims to ensure households and communities have increased resilience to the impacts of climate change, reaching 15,444 beneficiaries over the life of the project. With 70% of its population reliant on rain-fed subsistence agriculture, Timor-Leste is vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, including longer dry seasons, increasing drought severity, and wet seasons characterized by erratic and intense rainfall events, causing floods, landslides, and soil erosion. Without alternative strategies to adapt, farming families are experiencing crop losses, livestock deaths, water scarcity, environmental degradation, food insecurity, reduced income, and hunger. Women and people with disabilities experience higher vulnerability to these conditions. Project target areas in Aileu, Baucau, and Manatuto are highly prone to drought, extended dry seasons, food insecurity, and landslides.

3. Objective.

The final evaluation aims to assess the impact, effectiveness, and sustainability of the project interventions in target communities in the Aileu, Baucau, and Manatuto districts. The evaluation will also aim to provide specific and actionable recommendations for the scaling up and/ or application of the successful initiatives that the project has achieved over the last 4-5 years in those and/ or other areas in Timor Leste for the future.

The objective of the evaluation includes:

1. To explore how key project interventions have influenced child well-being, food security, enhanced incomes, and resilience preparedness among the target households in Aileu, Baucau, and Manatuto districts.
2. To examine the extent to which the target households have improved their livelihoods by adopting sustainable agricultural practices (FMNR & SALT) and diversifying options of their living means
3. To identify the lessons (e.g., on GEDSI, Environmental Sustainability, and Climate Action) and how project interventions have influenced inter-relations across women, men, youth (at household and community levels), and/ or government (at community and district, municipality and national levels)
4. Collect data around gender relations and measure the differential impacts both intended and unintended on women, men, people with a disability, and other vulnerable groups.

   Identify elements that worked well in addressing gender equality, disability, and social inclusion issues.

4. Scope and Methodology

The end-line evaluation will aim to use an explanatory sequential design to answer the evaluation questions. This involves quantitative data collection and analysis followed up with qualitative data collection and analysts to determine what quantitative results need further explanation. This will be particularly important for gaps in GEDSI analyses, for instance, the contributing factors of gender-equal decision-making in contribution to reducing food insecurity at the HH level. If budget constraints exist, WVTL are willing to work with the consultancy team to determine the best research design sequencing.

Through a mixed quantitative and qualitative method, the end-line aims to harmonize with the baseline which sampled a total of 585 households in surveys across 40 aldeias; 15 FGDs; and 27 KIIs in the municipalities of Aileu, Baucau and Manatuto.

5. Deliverables

Inception report (research design and plan) using the embedded template including finalized key evaluation questions, methodology, analytical framework, tools, field visit plans, resources, and timeline.

Presentation of preliminary findings after data collection.

First draft report using embedded template with:

• Raw data: Transcript of interviews, note of FGDs, etc.
• Excel sheet or others used for data analysis (using syntax)

Second draft report

• Comments and feedback are to be documented through tracked change.
• First draft feedback to be addressed.

Final report

• Reflects comments and feedback provided by WVTL, and WVA through the rounds of review.
• Includes an executive summary as a stand-alone or self-contained report.
• Includes a findings factsheet as a succinct summary, using visual graphics to illustrate quantitative findings.
• Includes relevant annexes.

Presentation

1. Slide deck of key findings, and recommendations.
2. Presentation delivered to internal and external stakeholders

6. Timeline

• Application Deadline: November 27, 2024
• Submit the Technical Proposal and Financial Proposal: December 2, 2024
• Interview: December 6, 2024
• Internal Review: December 10, 2024
• Final Approval: December 16, 2024

7. Preferred Consultant profile

• Extensive experience conducting baseline, mid-term, and end-of-project evaluations for climate-related projects.
• Proven capacity to communicate and work effectively with marginalized community members, including people with disabilities
• Experience in applying disability-inclusive and/or gender-inclusive approaches in project reviews
• Strong experience in quantitative data collection and statistical analysis
• Strong experience in qualitative data collection and analysis
• Strong experience in training enumerators and quality control
• Strong experience in presentation of findings and facilitation of workshops
• Excellent writing skills in English, with the ability to write concise and accessible analytical reports in English. Language skills in Tetun, Portuguese, and/or Bahasa Indonesia are desirable.
• Perfect mastering of the design of surveys using data collection software.
• Experience with DRR, CCA, and agroforestry and/or a strong understanding of the technical areas of practice of the Project
• Ability and experience working remotely and conducting evaluations through virtual means
• Experience working for DFAT / ANCP-funded projects (desired)