Consultancy to support interim project progress review AT APT Action on Poverty

APT Action on Poverty is a UK development agency. We are seeking a local consultant to support the interim progress review of a project strengthening locally led development and integrated governance in Pujehun district, Sierra Leone. The project is implemented by APT’s longstanding partner, MAPCO, based in Sierra Leone. APT will take overall responsibility for the review, but a local consultant facilitator will be required to support the process.

The overall project objective is to enhance the capacity of community structures (community-based organisations – CBOs, Village Development Committees- VDCs, Ward Development Committees – WDCs and others) across nine rural chiefdoms of Pujehun District to improve integrated governance and deliver services on poverty reduction to 5,700 vulnerable families (30,000 people).

Outputs are as follows:

1. Sustainable CBOs/CSOs providing livelihood services to marginalised and vulnerable people, particularly women, young people, PWDs, to increase incomes and improve access to basic needs.
2. Empowerment of women and other marginalised groups: increased awareness of inequality, gender and other rights; improved participation of women in decision-making at household and/or community levels (including duty bearers); women assisted to challenge rights abuse (including SGBV, disinheritance).
3. Engagement of CBOs, VDCs, WDCs and district council in policy and advocacy processes at different levels to influence duty bearers for good governance and hold them to account.
4. Strengthened linkages and networking between CBOs, VDCs, WDCs, District council and other MDAs to address development issues.

The overall objectives of this interim review are to:

· Evaluate the impact of the project to date on individual beneficiaries, their households, their communities and local governance structures

· Assess whether the project is on track to meet the outcomes, expected results and indicators

· Identify key contributing factors which enhance and/or hinder these prospects

· Make recommendations on any amendments and/or additions to current project strategies and/or methodologies that may be necessary to achieve the project targets and/or make the project more effective.

The consultant facilitator is not expected to take responsibility for the full report. The following specific activities are expected to be undertaken by the consultant facilitator as part of the progress review:

· Facilitate an all in-country staff team discussion on project progress, challenges, key issues etc.

· Facilitate Focus Group Discussions and oversee individual interviews with different groups. Discussion points and interview questions will be based on project indicators and any key focus areas.

· Write up key points from staff discussion, FGD and interviews for sharing with MAPCO and APT, as far as possible during the review and prior to the discussion below

· Facilitate a discussion with MAPCO and APT to discuss progress and ways forward, during which APT will summarise quantitative progress against indicators and the consultant facilitator will give an overview of FGDs and qualitative discussions.

· Possible training for MAPCO in KoBo Toolbox may be included as a separate activity

The consultant must have at least 5 years experience of conducting evaluations in the civil society/livelihoods sector, and have a strong understanding of gender rights, disability, and community development.

Strong communication and presentation skills are essential, both written and verbal.

Taking into account the international travel restrictions due to COVID-19, only consultants based in Sierra Leone are expected to apply.

The consultancy is approximately 6-10 days.

Dates: August/September 2021

This is an EU funded project.