End-of-project evaluation of a cross-border Girls Without Dowry programme

1. Project Background

ERIKS Development Partner has worked with a number of partners in East Africa over the years. Partnership and cooperation has always been important for ERIKS and this is recognized as one of our main goals in the global objectives. ERIKS believes that a vibrant and diverse civil society is a key factor for sustainable development and promotion of child rights in our program countries.

Girls without Dowry project is about giving girls in the Karamoja cluster, opportunities to go to school and develop into independent and strong women. The negative spiral begins in harmful traditional practices that limit the possibility of education and, in the long run, independence. Changing negative attitudes to education and giving opportunities for schooling for girls is an important step towards a more equal society. The project contributes to SDG 5 through activities aimed at girls’ right to education and the elimination of harmful practices and traditions.

It is a cross-border initiative implemented by three projects and two partners (MADA Uganda in Kaabong 021601; MADA South Sudan in Kapoeta 120501; and ICL Kenya in Turkana West 011903). GWD is funded by PostCode through ERIKS Development Partner, reported as one project 029910.

In the interest of collecting results from the project contributing to ERIKS Country Programme objectives, ERIKS would like to carry out an end-of-project evaluation to assess whether the intended objectives for the Girls Without Dowry Project in Kenya, Uganda, and South Sudan were achieved.

Project NameProject Number**Project Implementer**Country**Jielimishe Girls without Dowry011903I Choose LifeKenyaGirls Without Dowry120501Manna Development AgencySouth SudanGirls Without Dowry021601Manna Development AgencyUganda

The project contributes to SDG 5 through activities aimed at girls’ right to education and the elimination of harmful practices and traditions.

The specific project’s objectives to be evaluated are:

1. Support education for 1,350 girls who had dropped out of school to gain basic literacy and numeracy skills and re-enroll in school.
2. Improve livelihoods and life chances for 350 girls and young women without a possibility to undergo primary education.
3. To create a safe and protective environment for girls through advancing rights of girls in Karamoja region
4. Increase public understanding and awareness about the situation in the Karamoja cluster.

Expected outcomes of the project:

• 1,350 girls are given the opportunity to gain literacy and numeracy skills.
• 30 girls’ groups have been initiated
• 140 teachers get increased capacity and knowledge to meet girls’ needs and offer qualitative teaching.
• 350 girls receive vocational training and are able to earn employable skills or start business ventures
• 1 500 key players gain knowledge/understanding of girls/children’s rights
• Strengthened child protection structures in the project target communities.
• 3 regional action campaigns will be implemented to secure resources for education in the area
• Increased understanding and awareness about the situation in Karamoja cluster through the implementation of 6 photo exhibitions (3 in Sweden, 3 in the region)

2. Methodology

The evaluation will use a mixed-method approach consisting of both qualitative and quantitative data collections. The consultant will make extensive use of the available monitoring and evaluation data collected by project staff and implementing partner organizations. This will include, where available, project surveys and assessments, baseline information, project quarterly reports (i.e. post-distribution monitoring reports, monitoring reports, distribution reports, etc.), and findings from beneficiary feedback mechanisms. The consultant is expected to review the above background documentation as part of the desk review phase of the study. A strong part of the information will come from the field data collection. The evaluation will be conducted using quantitative and participatory methods to collect qualitative data, triangulated for validation. Aligning with the content of the scope of work shared for this study, the consultant will develop the methodology and the data collection tools, and propose the team set up for data collection, analysis, feedback, presentation, and report writing, to be validated by the East Africa Regional Office Programme Team.

The end of programme evaluation will have three objectives:

Objective 1: Evaluate to what extent the GWD project has fulfilled its goals based on the objectives in the project log frame.

1. Efficiency in delivery of project outcomes
2. Effectiveness in activity implementation
3. Relevance
4. Cost-Effectiveness
5. Quality of intervention
6. Timeliness as set out in log frame

Objective 2: Assess whether the GWD project added value to the interventions with a positive effect on beneficiaries and other stakeholders. What has contributed to this added value and what has not?

Learning

1. Which of the GWD approaches, and modalities/strategies were the most effective.
2. Is there any substantial evidence on how project learning, were generated and applied to improve the delivery or effectiveness or efficiency?
3. Who benefited from shared learning experiences (e.g. quarterly, joint field visits, workshops provision on best approaches and methodology), mainly the NGOs or also the local sector, community members and beneficiaries?
4. How did the different actors learn from these experiences?
5. What measures have been taken, to create visibility of the project’s added value, towards line ministries and other stakeholders?
6. Assess how the partner has taken account of recommendations made in financial assessments, reviews, audits etc.
7. Examine that the project agreements are being followed, compliance to the terms and conditions of the project agreements signed.
8. Examine that the internal controls for the project implemented are satisfactory.

Objective 3: Identify and assess key lessons learned, challenges and draw recommendation for future programming.

The end line evaluation should at least include one lesson learned and recommendation per evaluation category, i.e. effectiveness, efficiency, relevance etc.

1. What are the key lessons learned?
2. To what extent has the delivery of response activities contributed to effective, efficient, relevant and timely delivery of aid and enhanced impact for the beneficiaries?

Sustainability

1. Will the changes caused by this program continue beyond the life of the project?
2. What, mechanisms have ERIKS, GWD, and key stakeholders, put in place to sustain the key program Outputs and Outcomes?
3. How has the program worked with local partners to increase their capacity in a sustainable way?
4. What motivations /mechanisms exist for partners to continue playing these roles?
5. What are the risks facing the sustainability of program Outputs and Outcomes?

3. Roles & Responsibilities. The consultant/s will be responsible for:

• Drafting inception report
• Leading the Desk Review
• Methodology and tools development/ finalization
• Field evaluation process
• Writing and validation of the report.**

4. Key Deliverables

• Inception report
• The methodology used to conduct the research
• Data collection tools including FGD guide ahead of fieldwork
• Data analysis and presentation of preliminary findings
• Powerpoint presentation of the main findings
• Final Report (minimum of 10 pages and a maximum of 30 pages, excluding executive summary table of contents and annexes.

5. Purpose of the end line evaluation

The purpose of this evaluation is to assess the performance of the project and capture project achievements, challenges, and best practices to inform future similar programming. It will also review the recommendations of the ERIKS feedback reports, and assess the extent to which these were implemented. The evaluation will also ensure accountability towards ERIKS as a donor and the beneficiaries of the program. On the other hand, it offers a learning aspect for all stakeholders. The evaluation will also identify key lessons learned, challenges, and the flexibility of the program to adapt and respond to the changes and sustainability of the GWD project in the region.

6. DISSEMINATION

The consultant or consultants will be required to disseminate the report during a dissemination meeting of different stakeholders.

QUALIFICATIONS

1. Experience in undertaking end line assessments
2. Experience in development programming with a bias to child and human rights
3. Good knowledge of the Human Rights-Based Approach to programming
4. Master’s degree in development, social sciences, development finance, education, or related field. Bachelors’ degrees with outstanding experience may be considered.

Preference will be given to development practitioners with experience in emergency programming and conflict management.