Mid-Term Evaluation of the Sustainable Management of Tsavo and Amboseli Landscapes Project At International Fund for Animal Welfare

SUMMARY OF TOR

International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) is seeking a consultant(s) to conduct the Mid-Term Evaluation for a 5-year USAID funded project ‘Sustainable management of Tsavo and Amboseli landscapes.

BACKGROUND

IFAW is a global non-profit helping animals and people thrive together with presence in 40 countries around the world.

IFAW works to address the needs of animals and people across a multitude of critical habitats through protecting wildlife from poachers, landscape conservation and rehabilitation of rescued animals. IFAW partners with local communities, governments, non-governmental organizations, and businesses to achieve its mission.

The IFAW Eastern Africa office, based in Nairobi, oversees projects in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and the horn of Africa. As a thought leader in conservation in Africa, IFAW believes communities and the wildlife around them are inextricably linked through the habitats, shared resources and the interactions they have. It has since adopted the landscape approach to conservation through which it is committed to respectful and inclusive engagement that empowers communities to identify opportunities to address important wildlife conservation issues while incorporating animal welfare considerations.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

IFAW is implementing a USAID funded project ‘’Sustainable Management of Tsavo and Amboseli landscapes’ in Southern Kenya**.** Currently in its third year, the project is being implemented in Tsavo Conservation Area (TCA) and Greater Amboseli Ecosystem (GAE) in partnership with Big Life Foundation and Tsavo Trust Foundation and in collaboration with Amboseli Ecosystem Trust (AET) and Taita Taveta Wildlife Conservancies Association (TTWCA).

The aim of the project is to strengthen the ability of local institutions to develop a coordinated management approach with their members to enhance local stewardship, improved outcome sharing and the sustainable management of wildlife and biodiversity within the TCA and GAE. This will be achieved through the following outcomes:

• Improved governance of Tsavo and Amboseli landscapes.
• Reduced threats and improved biodiversity conservation.
• Increased partnerships for landscape level economic growth and sustainability.
• Increased community and ecosystem resilience.

KEY ACTIVITIES BEING IMPLEMENTED

Several key activities have been implemented in the past two years in line with outcomes stipulated above.

1. Under improved governance, support has been provided to strengthen governance (grant is also supporting strengthening of governance in Eselengei as a pilot project under Big Life), technical capacities, infrastructure and equipment for AET and TTWCA to facilitate integrated, inclusive and coordinated approach to biodiversity and wildlife management and open opportunities to derive increased benefits from landscape resources.
2. On reduced threats and improved biodiversity conservation, the project has undertaken measures to enhance ecosystem-based planning, coordinated community-led law enforcement (anti-poaching, by-laws and community dialogues) and human wildlife conflict mitigation to improve management of wildlife and human well-being.
3. To increase partnerships for landscape level economic growth and sustainability, the project has engaged private sector players for resource mobilization to conservancies, undertaken livelihood interventions (beadworks, financial literacy, tree nursery management, apiaries, livestock and climate smart agriculture); Grant is supporting analysis of the demand for nature based enterprises and explore prospects for increasing revenue and financing of conservation initiatives as well as development of business plans for Eselengei and Kimana conservancies
4. To increase community and ecosystem resilience, the project has undertaken interventions to improve water management and access, agricultural resilience to climate shocks, adoption and use of green energy solutions and planning for early warning systems for disaster preparedness.

OBJECTIVES OF THE MID-TERM EVALUATION

The Mid-term review/Evaluation will assess progress towards the achievement of the project objectives and outcomes as specified in the Project Document and assess early signs of project success or failure with the goal of identifying the necessary changes to be made to set the project on track to achieve its intended results. The MTR will also review the project’s strategy and its risks to sustainability.

The review is being undertaken at the midpoint of project implementation and will pave the way for improved project delivery for the remaining project duration and propose amendments required in project design, and implementation arrangements to effectively and sustainably achieve the envisaged impact. Where possible identify obstacles to performance and how to overcome them. Suggest initiatives to enhance adaptation performance improvement and learning and establish benchmarks for onward measurement of intended and outcomes and impacts of the project.

We envisage the evaluation from two components: Project strategy (design, logframe) and implementation-progress towards results.

Project design:

1. Review the problem addressed by the project and the underlying assumptions.
2. Review the effect of any incorrect assumptions or changes to the context to achieving the project results as outlined in the Project Document.
3. Review the relevance of the project strategy and assess whether it provides the most effective route towards expected/intended results.
4. Review how the project addresses landscape priorities. Review umbrella organization/landscape ownership. Was the project concept in line with the landscape/county priorities and plans?
5. Review decision-making processes: were perspectives of those who would be affected by project decisions, those who could affect the outcomes, and those who could contribute information or other resources to the process, considered during project design processes?
6. Review the extent to which relevant gender issues were raised in the project design and eventual implementation. Were relevant gender issues (e.g. the impact of the project on gender equality in the project, involvement of women’s groups, engaging women in project activities) raised in the Project Document?
7. If there are major areas of concern, recommend areas for improvement.

Results Framework/Logframe:

1. Undertake a critical analysis of the project’s logframe indicators and targets, assess how “SMART” the midterm and end-of-project targets are (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-bound), and suggest specific amendments/revisions to the targets and indicators as necessary.
2. Are the project’s objectives and outcomes or components clear, practical, and feasible within its time frame?
3. Examine if progress so far has led to or could in the future catalyze beneficial development effects (i.e. income generation, gender equality and women’s empowerment, improved governance etc…) that should be included in the project results framework and monitored on an annual basis.
4. Ensure broader development and gender aspects of the project are being monitored effectively.
5. Develop and recommend SMART ‘development’ indicators, including sex-disaggregated indicators and indicators that capture development benefits.

ii. Progress Towards Results

Objective 1: Evaluate to what extent the SMAT 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 of the project and interventions.
4. Cost Effectiveness.
5. Quality of intervention.
6. Timeliness as set out in log frame.

Objective 2: Assess whether the SMAT Project is adding value to the wildlife and biodiversity conservation with a positive effect on the beneficiaries and other stakeholders. What has contributed to this added value and what has not?

Learning

1. Which of the project approaches, and modalities/strategies are the most effective.
2. Is there any substantial evidence on how project learning is being generated and applied to improve the delivery or effectiveness or efficiency?
3. Who is benefitting from shared learning experiences (e.g. quarterly, joint field visits, workshops provision on best approaches and methodology), mainly the partners or also the local sector, community members and beneficiaries (TTWCA &AET)?
4. What measures have been taken, to create visibility of the project’s added value, towards stakeholders, beneficiaries, and sub-awardees?

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

1. The mid-term evaluation should at least include one lesson learned and recommendation per evaluation category, i.e. effectiveness, efficiency, relevance etc.
2. What are the key lessons learned?
3. 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 project continue beyond the life of the project?
2. What mechanisms have the project and key stakeholders put in place to sustain the key project outputs and outcomes?
3. How has the project worked with local partners to increase their capacity in a sustainable way?

Methodology

The mid-term survey will be conducted by an independent consultant supported by SMAT project staff at IFAW, and sub-awardees and project beneficiaries- AET, TTWCA. The survey will use both qualitative and quantitative approaches in data collection and analysis.

Document Review

This will entail reviewing of project documents and other secondary materials as provided by the project, and/or from other relevant sources.

Reviewing the Tools and Drawing End line sample

The consultant will lead the SMAT team in reviewing the already drafted tools against the listed indicators to ensure that all variables are measured appropriately.

Field Data Collection

Data collection will be done in the landscape using participatory methodologies identified in each tool. The consultant and the research assistants will be subject to IFAW’s values and policies while undertaking the field work, interacting with IFAW -SMAT staff, primary actors (beneficiaries) and throughout the engagement period. The consultant and research assistants will have to make a commitment to safeguarding and child protection policy at the point of engagement.

Target Groups/Respondents

The project primary actors/beneficiaries and stakeholders to be engaged in this survey comprise of umbrella organizations (AET, TTWCA), conservancies, sub-awardees (Tsavo Trust, BigLife) select county officials- Kajiado, Makueni, Kilifi and Taita Taveta Counties.

Data Integrity:

The consultant is required to ensure high level of integrity through-out data collection and analysis process. It is important for IFAW to get the real benchmarks per indicator to inform further programming and programme investment.

The Consultant(s) will propose a suitable and detailed methodology that exhaustively addresses the evaluation’s objectives at the inception; however, the Consultant(s) will be selected based on proposed methodologies submitted in response to this ToR. Robust mixed methods with a participatory approach are preferred. In addition, provide a detailed evaluation analysis framework, proposed tools and proposed outline for the report.

Deliverables

1. A detailed inception report containing methodology, tools, key sources of data, and work plan for field work.
2. Presentation of the mid-term survey findings to SMAT staff and relevant stakeholders for validation.
3. A comprehensive narrative mid-term survey report minimum 10 pages and maximum 30 pages excluding the annexes, and preliminary pages.
4. A dashboard of all the indicator benchmarks measured through this survey.

Roles and Responsibilities

Role of the Consultant

1. In-depth review of SMAT project documents and related reports.
2. Submission of a comprehensive inception report detailing the mid-term work plan; methodologies and tools.
3. Lead in the data collection process.
4. Entry and analysis of primary; data.
5. Drafting the mid-term survey report.
6. Facilitation of final validation meeting.
7. Preparation and submission of final mid-term survey report and a dashboard complete with all indicator benchmarks.

Role of IFAW -SMAT project implementors

1. Provide relevant project documents.
2. Participate in the review of the drafted tools.
3. Provide feedback and input to the process of adjusting the mid-term study methods and timeframe.
4. Mobilization of all sampled mid-term survey respondents.
5. Provide supportive supervision to the consultant and the research team throughout the engagement period.

Duration of the Assignment

The contract will be effective from the date of signing the agreement by both parties and it will continue until the completion of all the tasks and timely submissions. The evaluation is expected to take no more than sixty (60) days. The Consultant(s) is expected to be available for the work to start on the December 01, 2024, and the final report should be submitted not later than February 15, 2025.

Evaluation management

The Consultant(s) will work closely with Chief of Party and Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning team at IFAW. The Consultant(s) will be provided with a project information package which will include the baseline report and implementation reports. Both parties will be available for questions and discussions throughout the consultancy.

Qualifications and experience of consultant (s)

1. Advanced degree in project management, natural resources management, community development, social studies, or any other relevant field.
2. A minimum of 8 years in community/social development research and programme evaluations.
3. Verifiable experience in conducting evaluation studies.
4. Proficiency in analytics and report writing.
5. Excellent oral and written English and Swahili.
6. Proven experience in conducting participatory qualitative and quantitative evaluation studies.
7. Evidence theoretical knowledge and practical application of cross-cutting issues in development such as gender, innovation.
8. A comprehensive understanding of the tool’s development and research methodologies, including quantitative and qualitative research methods.

Essential

1. Expertise in Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning.
2. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and ability to engage with a range of external stakeholders including local project beneficiaries, government officials, law enforcement agencies, local governance organizations and NGOs.
3. Sound and proven experience in conducting evaluations/studies in communities with a strong cultural attachment.
4. Experience of a range of participatory evaluation techniques.

key deliverables

Upon successful completion of the assignment, the consultant will have provided the following:

1. An Inception Report.
2. Final tools/instruments of the evaluation
3. Evaluation Management Plan
4. Electronic files with all raw data
5. Draft Report
6. Presentation of the key findings to the stakeholders for validation
7. The final evaluation report.