Terms of Reference for Consultancy Service for Midline Survey for the Gunvor CRP “Alumni Agents of Change” Project implemented in Arusha Region at Hand in Hand Eastern Africa

  1. Summary of the Consultancy Services

This Term of Reference is associated with a call for a VAT registered firm based in Tanzania to provide consultancy services to Hand in Hand Eastern Africa (TZ) by conducting a midline evaluation of the Gunvor CRP “Alumni Agents of Change” Project implemented in Arusha District, Arusha Region.

Consultancy Title

Consultancy Service for Midline Survey for the Gunvor CRP “Alumni Agents of Change” Project implemented in Arusha Region

Geographical location – Arusha District, Arusha region

Appointment type and duration – Fixed Term Contract

Expected commencement date – March, 2022

Application deadline – February 12, 2022
2. Introduction

Hand in Hand Eastern Africa Tanzania is a registered Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) in Tanzania with headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. HiH EA (TZ) is part of the Hand in Hand International which works with the marginalized, vulnerable poor rural and peri-urban smallholder farmers (80% women) to help them uplift out of poverty through the power of enterprises and job creation. The organization started operations in Kenya in October 2010, and started its operations in Tanzania in 2018, and works in Arusha and Kilimanjaro regions with its headquarters in Tanzania being based in Arusha region. It has mobilized over 28,386 members into different projects implemented in Tanzania; 18,411 enterprises have created/enhanced so far and 25,486 jobs have been created

Hand in Hand International, based in London, provides support to Hand in Hand Eastern Africa (TZ). The Hand in Hand model is based on setting up or mobilizing self-help groups that act as savings groups, delivering enterprise skills through training, promoting financial access and providing linkage to broader markets.

3. Background

3.1 The project and how it evolved **

The project aims to support community members in Arusha district with entrepreneurial skills to launch and/or strengthen their own small businesses and thereby increase their income and financial resilience. The project aims to support 3,240 people (2,592 Female; 648 Male) for 3 years. Training programs are built on the HIH Eastern African four-step approach: self-help group formation, capacity building, access to credit / savings, and market linkages, delivered through seven core training modules. Therefore, at the end of the project in 2023, Hand in Hand Eastern Africa (TZ) expects that, the project will contribute to create opportunities and skills to generate income by building their financial management and entrepreneurial skills for 3, 240 people (2,592 Female; 648 Male) which will further enhance their ability to generate income, increasing their financial resilience and quality of life as well as contributing to their ability to exit the poverty cycle by creating 2,268 enterprises and 2,948 jobs. However, so far, the project has 158 Self-Help Groups with 3,274 members (1,702 Women, 271 Men, 1,081 youth women and 220 youth male)

4. Scope of the Evaluation

4.1 Purpose and key questions **

4.1.1 The objectives **

  1. The overall objective of this consultancy is to conduct a midline evaluation for the Gunvor CRP “Alumni Agents of Change” Project against the OECD DAC evaluation criteria: relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, Impact, sustainability and General. This will encompass: Collection of qualitative and quantitative midline data from project participants against logframe indicators
  2. Comparative analysis of midline data against baseline data on output and outcome indicators to assess whether the project is on track
  3. Critical assessment of the project design and delivery, identifying key challenges and successes
  4. Do-no-harm checks for any unintended / negative consequences of the intervention
  5. Learnings and recommendations for improvements to implementation strategies, essential exit plans for sustainability of results and for future projects that can be drawn from this project.

4.1.2 Criteria and questions **

The report should be structured around and clearly answer the following evaluation questions:

Relevance

● To what extent did the project target the appropriate beneficiaries and reach intended target groups?

● To what extent did the intervention objectives and design respond to beneficiary needs?

● Gender: how can the project improve/build on good practices when targeting women specifically?

● Youth: how can the project improve/build on good practices when targeting youth (young women and men)? How is the project actively involving young women and men in enhancing their capacity on enterprise development?

● To what extent did the intervention objectives and design align with local government policies and priorities?

● Did the project demonstrate a good CRP approach?

Coherence

● To what extent does the project harmonize and coordinate with relevant actors in the implementation area?

● To what extent does the intervention add value while avoiding duplication of effort?

Effectiveness

● To what extent did the project achieve its intended outputs and outcomes, as defined by its performance indicators?

● To what extent did project outcomes differ for men and women?

Efficiency

● To what extent are the outputs being produced in a cost-effective manner?

● To what extent are the outputs and objectives achieved on time?

Impact

● To what degree has the project made progress toward the results in the project MEL Plan?

● Have there been any unintended outcomes, either positive or negative?

● What internal and external factors affect the project’s achievement of intended results?

Sustainability

● How likely is it that the positive effects or impacts of the intervention will continue beyond the project lifespan?

● In order to ensure sustainability, are there other partners, approaches etc. that we should consider?

General

● What are lessons learned from the project up to this point?

● Are there any recommendations for mid-course corrections to improve the project’s relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, impact, and/or sustainability?

4.2 Scope **

The consultancy firm will conduct the following tasks for the assignment:

● Review the project documents (e.g., the proposal, logic model, MEL Plan, indicator tracking table, baseline and midline datasets and reports, case stories, and budget).

● Prepare an inception report, including the detailed methodology, approaches, data collection tools closely aligned to the baseline tools, and field data collection plan.

● Hiring and training enumerators, pilot study, and report.

● Data collection and data quality assurance

● Document lesson learnt, achievements and challenges

● Field data collection on the effectiveness of project interventions (against output and outcome indicators) and strategies through individual interview, consultation like KIIs and FGDs with key stakeholders, community groups and/or target beneficiaries

● Present the key findings and recommendations of the midline evaluation in a meeting or workshop with the project team

5. Evaluation Methodology

5.1 Research designs

The midline evaluation will use both qualitative and quantitative methods. Data will be collected from the project location in Arusha district. The selected consultancy firm will prepare the study methodology, adapt the midline data collection tools and prepare further tools where necessary, and prepare the sampling frame to meet the objectives of this study. The methodology and relevant tools will be adjusted in consultation with Hand in Hand Eastern Tanzania, pilot tested, and finalized before the study.

5.2 Data

All primary data collected during the course of the evaluation must facilitate disaggregation by gender, gender of the head of household, age, and business sector. Data triangulation is expected for this evaluation; the secondary data available is expected to provide additional insight towards the triangulation of the collected data. A range of project documentation will be made available to the selected firm that provides information about the project design, implementation and progress, including the baseline datasets for comparative analysis. The evaluation firm is required to adhere to the Hand in Hand Eastern Africa data protection and privacy policy throughout all project valuation activities, minimizing the collection of any non-essential personally identifiable information and ensuring secure storage and transfer of data. In addition, the consultancy firm is expected to explore any personal and professional influence or potential bias among those collecting and/or analyzing data and mitigating them ethically.

5.3 Ethical Considerations

It is expected that the evaluation will be conducted under the guidance of ethical considerations, which includes an adherence to the principles of openness of information given; sensitivity about gender, inclusion and cultural contextual contexts; reliability and independence of findings and conclusions as well as confidentiality.

6. Expected Deliverables

The evaluation deliverables and due dates (subject to the commencement date of the evaluation) are outlined below:

Deliverables and due dates

Deliverables

Due dates

The consultancy firm is contracted and commences work February, 2022

February 2022

Inception report. It will include:

  • Evaluation objectives and evaluation questions (as specified in the ToR)
  • Description of the methodology, data sources, and sampling considerations
  • Risk and issue management plan
  • Work plan
  • Report structure
  • Draft data collection tools
  • List of enumerators plus their qualifications and experiences

February 2022

Finalized data collection tools

  • Survey instrument (review and digitalize for Kobo Collect)
  • FGD guides
  • KII guides
  • Case story guides

February 2022

Training enumerators and Pilot study

March 2022

Data collection

March 2022

Data and analyses, including raw data, MIS database and analysis outputs

March 2022

A draft evaluation report aligned to the template provided, including the following elements:

  • Executive summary (max. 2 pages)
  • Background description of the project and context relevant to the evaluation
  • Scope and focus of the evaluation
  • Evaluation methodology and limitations
  • Findings aligned to each of the key evaluation questions
  • Conclusions outlining implications of the findings
  • Recommendations
  • Annexes (Project workbook, evaluation TOR, inception report, study schedule, list of people involved)

March 2022

Final midline evaluation report incorporating feedback from consultation on the Draft Evaluation Report

March 2022

7. Expertise and Experience

● A degree in Statistics, M&E or Rural Development, or closely related degree

● Excellent written and spoken English and Kiswahili languages

● Excellent skills in data quality checks, data cleaning and analysis

● Strong skills in research designs, sampling strategy, data collection methods and work plan (study schedule), and data quality control

● Experience in conducting quantitative and qualitative studies in Northern Tanzania

● Experience in Results-Based Management approach

● Ability to use digital data collection tools

● Experience of conducting evaluation of similar nature

● Should be a VRN registered firm and able to issue EFD receipts.

How to apply

Interested and qualified consultancy firms/ institutions or organizations should submit a technical and financial proposal that presents a detailed understanding of the TOR via email: infotz@handinhandea.org by 12 February, 2022.

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