Project Evaluator at Education Effect Africa

Reports To: Program Officer – Mbita

Salary Range: Commensurate to work experience and academic qualifications

About the School for All Project

Partners Poland Foundation and Education Effect Africa implemented the project entitled “SCHOOL FOR ALL – IMPROVING EDUCATIONAL AND LIFE OPPORTUNITIES OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES IN THE RURAL AND SEMI-ARID AREAS OF MBITA CONSTITUENCY IN KENYA” With the main aim of improving educational and life opportunities of children with disabilities attending schools with special units in the rural and semi-arid areas of Gembe, Rusinga and Mfangano Island in Mbita Constituency in Kenya and was implemented between April, 2017 and December, 2018.

Evaluation Objectives

The main objectives of the evaluation exercise are to:

• Evaluate the outputs/outcomes and impact of the SFA project against its objectives.
• Assess the core project structures, methodologies and implementation strategies and how they contribute to successful project implementation
• Appraise the project partnership approach (including management structures, communications and relationships) to community involvement, research and advocacy in relation to the project’s achievements.
• Assess the project’s financial management and value for money.
• Draw lessons for future programming.

Evaluation purpose, scope and key questions

This evaluation assesses the impact of the project on four major fronts namely:

Effectiveness and efficiency

• To what extent has the program been efficiently implemented and managed?
• How efficient was the communication between the parties involved in the implementation of the project?
• What aspect has changed that is directly linked to the implementation of the project?
• Are the outputs produced within the project accessible to the target groups beyond the duration of the project?
• Does the program logic allow to achieve the project’s objectives?
• Were the targets set realistically?
• Do the project’s objectives reflect the needs of the target groups?
• Did the planning and implementation of interventions take the local context into account, which means

1. were based upon an adequate needs-assessment and
2. show understanding of and support for the livelihoods and capacities of the affected population?

• Were the project’s activities and objectives designed and implemented in a way avoiding future harm while supporting these?
• Whether the project team as well as partners have the institutional capacity in terms of staffing, local knowledge and experience to implement the project’s targets?
• To which extent did the community and stakeholders participate in planning and implementation of projects interventions?
• To what extent are the objectives of the project still valid?
• Are the activities and outputs of the project consistent with the overall goal and the attainment of its objectives?
• Are the activities and outputs of the project consistent with the intended impacts and effects?

Economy

• To what extent have the resources been well used in achieving the objectives of the project?
• Are the project expenditures in line with existing guidelines?
• Are there any unintended expenditures that have weighed down the planned expenditures?

Relevance and Accuracy

• To what extent have the expected results been achieved/have not been achieved?
• What proportion of the target groups was reached by the project?
• To what extent has the project succeeded in promoting the advanced idea of inclusion?
• Are there any unintended or unexpected impacts, positive or negative?
• What are the key strengths and weaknesses of the program?
• Analyze the contribution of the project to any observed impact (intended, unintended, positive, and negative) and analyze what other actors and factors contributed to the impact.
• What real difference has the intervention made to the beneficiaries?
• How likely is it that any positive changes may be sustained in the short- and medium-term?

Sustainability

• Did the project plan and implement an adequate transition and exit strategy that ensures longer-term positive effects and reduces risk of dependency?
• How likely will critical services and effects be sustained beyond the duration of the project?
• How well are the project’s outputs linked to more long-term focused objectives?
• Assess capacity of key actors to contribute to sustaining the positive changes realized as a result of the project
• What were/are the major factors which influenced the achievement or non-achievement of sustainability of the project?
• How will the target groups likely to continue the activities and effects of the school for all project?
• Assess the likelihood of government support to help ensure sustainability of the project outputs.

Qualifications

• A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Social Science, Mathematics/Statistics, Population and Gender Studies, Education, Project Management, Monitoring and Evaluation or other related fields. A Master’s degree will be an added advantage
• At least 5 years’ work experience with development project preferably in the area of research in educational programs in non-profit organization
• At least 2 years proven experience in Monitoring and Evaluation
• Availability to work between late December and January
• Ability to submit the final evaluation report by 15^th January 2019
• Strong background knowledge of the Kenyan education system
• Excellent analytical, oral and written communication skills in English and Swahili. Ability to communicate in Dholuo will be an asset
• Excellent skills in report writing and developing field research materials
• Residents of Homa Bay County and its environs are encouraged to apply
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word-processing, e-mail, Excel) and data analysis software such as SPSS