Baseline Evaluation for Bungoma Climate Resilience Inclusive Project at Kenya Red Cross Society

Purpose

• The overall aim of this evaluation is to assess the status of adaptive capacity, livelihoods and health of active groups of people with disabilities, and other at-risk groups, especially women and the youth in project target sites. The evaluation will document the current mechanisms and community strategies that are in place amidst the dynamic climate change persepctives.

The specific objectives of the Baseline Survey will be:

• Establish baseline information against the projects log frame indicators at community level which will be used as a threshold for this project to assess outcomes and impact.
• Examine the response towards the trend of Climate change, livelihood and Resilience, by the authorities, county and national systems and the targeted beneficiary’s vis-a-vee the ideal.
• Identify the policy and advocacy gaps in Climate Change, Food Security and Livelihood and Resilience programming and develop a policy brief.
• To document community perception of their participation and KRCS accountability in the project.
  • Project Indicators
• To assess the current state of climate change impacts on livelihood for communities including persons with disabilities in the project area.
• To identify and evaluate existing climate-resilient livelihood Knowledge, practices and technologies.
• To develop innovative inclusive strategies and solutions to enhance livelihood resilience to climate change.
• To document existing inclusive climate change knowledge on EWs and response systems utilized in the community.
• To identify and assess advocacy approaches used to improve coordination of delivery of services to lower disaster risk impacts to the communities/persons with disabilities.

Key questions

• The evaluator to help develop key questions that will answer the objectives of the baseline evaluation

Measuring against indicators and targets

• What is the current coverage of the log frame indicators?
• Does the coverage differ across the current targeted affected population?
• Does the coverage differ across gender/population groups?
• Are there additional indicators to assess that will add value to project processes?
• Is there need to review the targets based on the findings?

Survey Methodology

• The consulting firm/individual will propose the most suitable study design, sampling methods and approach, sample size, data collection and analysis approaches that is suitable for this project during the Baseline. (Note that the survey will be undertaken in 3 Sub counties in Bungoma County, therefore clearly propose your sampling to factor this. However, key indicators that do not need survey will be analysed for all the 3 Sub counties in Bungoma County). This should be clearly outlined in the bidding document/proposal and if qualified to oral stage to have further discussion with the evaluation management team. The consulting team need also to propose targeted respondents to interview or data sources that can answer the log frame indicators and provide baseline statistics.

The evaluation will use the following literature and any other for reference to inform the evaluation process further:

• Project proposal and log frame
• Documents, policies and frameworks by partners, county, and national government that are related to the evaluation.

INDICATOR

Overall objective: Reduce risks to communities and infrastructure resulting from climate related disasters such as floods and drought.

• Percentage of marginalized at risk people who are able to recover quickly from climate-related disasters in Bungoma County.

Specific Objective 1/Outcome: The resilience of marginalised people in Bungoma county is enhanced to better cope with impacts of climate change

• Percentage of marginalised people in Bungoma who report confidence in their ability to cope to the effects of climate change.
• Percentage of marginalised people who utilize early warning information and systems in Bungoma County.

Result 1 / Output 1: The resilience of communities including people with disabilities and other at-risk populations is enhanced to cope with the impact of climate change.

Result Indicator 01

• Percentage of target communities having reduced copying strategies due to provision of livelihood alternatives.

Result Indicator 02

• Number of people accessing assistive devices and social protection systems.

Result Indicator 03

• Percentage of target households reporting improved economic resilience

Result 2 / Output 2: A commmunity friendly, inclusive early warning and response system is operationalised (focus on risk knowledge and risk communication and dissemination)

Result Indicator 01

• Number of people from marginalized groups (e.g., women, people with disabilities, the elderly) involved in the development and operationalization of the early warning and response system.

Result Indicator 02

• Percentage of target community applying the knowledge acquired on awareness by the project to strengthen their livelihood.

Result Indicator 03

• Number of people reached with and have access to early warning messages

Result 3 / Output 3: Advocacy strategy to improve coordination and delivery of inclusive disaster risk management is implemented.

Result Indicator 01

• Number of meetings and events held to raise awareness on the need for improved coordination and delivery of inclusive disaster risk management.

Result Indicator 02

• Number of contingency plans that have been revised or developed to improve delivery of inclusive disaster risk management

Result 4 / Output 4: Kenya Red Cross are equipped and able to deliver quality, inclusive interventions.

Result Indicator 01

• #of KRCS field tools reviewed and updated for inclusivity(KRCS field tool are reviewed and updated for inclusivity)

Quality & Ethical Standards

The consultant shall take all reasonable steps to ensure that the evaluation is designed and conducted to respect and protect the rights and welfare of the people and communities involved and to ensure that the assessment is technically accurate and reliable, is conducted in a transparent and impartial manner, and contributes to organizational learning and accountability. Therefore, the evaluation team shall be required to adhere to the assessment standards and applicable practices as recommended by International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

• Utility: Assessments must be useful and used.
• Feasibility: Assessments must be realistic, diplomatic, and managed in a sensible, cost-effective manner.
• Ethics & Legality: Assessments must be conducted in an ethical and legal manner, with regard for the welfare of those involved in and affected by the assessment.
• Impartiality & Independence; Assessments should be impartial, providing a comprehensive and unbiased assessment that considers the views of all stakeholders.
• Transparency: assessment activities should reflect an attitude of openness and transparency.
• Accuracy: Assessments should be technically accurate, providing sufficient information about the data collection, analysis, and interpretation methods so that its worth or merit can be determined.
• Participation: Stakeholders should be consulted and meaningfully involved in the assessment process when feasible and appropriate.
• Collaboration: Collaboration between key operating partners in the assessment process improves the legitimacy and utility of the assessment.
• Inclusion: The assessment must include clear steps to ensure meaningful engagement and participation of all sections of community, including persons with disability.

It is also expected that the assessment will respect the seven Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross and Red Crescent: 1) humanity, 2) impartiality, 3) neutrality, 4) independence, 5) voluntary service, 6) unity, and 7) universality.

Qualifications and Experience for Consultants

The lead consultant must possess the following qualifications:

• A minimum of a master’s degree in Climate Change/Disaster Risk Reduction/Social science/community development or related field.
• A minimum of 5 years’ extensive experience in carrying out comprehensive evaluations or similar assignments.
• Good understanding of Climate Change, Disaster Risk Resilience, Food security and Livelihood interventions, disability and gender inclusion, and age among vulnerable populations in Kenya.
• Proven experience in participatory and results-based M&E knowledge and practical experience in quantitative and qualitative research methods.
• Must have led in at least five participatory assessments. Experience of conducting Baseline, End line, Midterm evaluations monitoring and assessment work in the target or similar communities (preferred)
• High level of professionalism and an ability to work independently and in high-pressure situations under tight deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal, facilitation and communication skills
• The team must have a statistician able to analyse quantitative and qualitative data as well as key technical team members to handle specific components of the project evaluation.
• Team must have experience in participatory data collection methods and using mobile phone technology for data collection, monitoring and reporting.
• The lead consultant must have strong analytical skills and ability to clearly synthesize and present findings, draw practical conclusions, make recommendations and to prepare well-written reports in a timely manner.
• Availability for the period indicated and ready to carry out the assignment and deliver results within the specified period/time.
• Availability of experts in each of the subject areas, with experience and relevant qualifications for the assignment will be highly preferred.

Management of the Evaluation

Duration

18th November to 18th December 2023

Deliverables

• Inception report detailing the evaluation design, sampling methodology & sample frame, evaluation tools, agreed budget and work plan.
• Copies of original and cleaned data sets with codebook. The raw data, the database which has been cleaned (both qualitative and quantitative, including original field notes for in-depth interviews and focus group discussions, as well as recorded audio material), should be submitted together with the report. A simple inventory of material handed over will be part of the record. KRCS will have sole ownership of all final data and any findings shall only be shared or reproduced with the permission of KRCS.
• Draft Baseline evaluation report that will culminate in the final report with the following elements:
• Table of contents
• Clear executive summary with among others major findings and summary of conclusions and recommendations.
• The objectives of the Baseline Survey, methodology and any challenges encountered in the field.
• A presentation of the results and discussion of the same (including analysis) according to evaluation questions.
• Conclusions
• Recommendations.
• Report annexes.
• A power point presentation highlighting key results and discussion from the Baseline evaluation will be presented at a feedback meeting with stakeholders to be held after completing the draft report.
• Final Evaluation report - submit 10 well designed, colour printed and perfect binding hard copy and one electronic copy of the report by the agreed timeline.
• A power point presentation highlighting key results, findings, and recommendations to be disseminated to the key stakeholders as nominated by KRCS after approval of the Baseline report.
• An easy-read version of the baseline report alongside the full baseline report.
• Support the development of a research protocol that will be submitted to recognised ethical review board with a possibility of publishing manuscript in a high impact journal.

Evaluation Management Team

• The evaluation management team shall consist of KRCS MEA&L Unit representatives, KRCS program Manager and CBM Global Representative. They shall ensure that the deliverables agreed upon and approved in the inception report are achieved on time. KRCS MEA&L representative will be the chair of the team.

Role of KRCS (project and M&E team)

• Lead the recruitment and evaluation process.
• Coordinate the evaluation implementation process.
• Review of assessment products including the inception report tools, and reports.
• KRCS will organize logistics for the assessment team.
• Avail data collectors within agreed criteria.
• Avail all necessary documents for desk review.
• KRCS will be the link between the community, stakeholders and the consultant and will organise all the data collection activities (identifying respondents and setting up appointments)
• Will be the custodian of all data generated from the assessment.
• Organize dissemination forums as necessary.

Role of CBM Global

• Participate in the TOR development.
• Review the inception report and data collection tools.
• Review and give feedback on all evaluation products.
• Fund the activity budget.
• Final approval of the report.

Application Requirements

Application materials shall include:

• A written response to this TOR in terms of a proposal detailing the technical understanding of the task, proposed methodologies of the evaluation, expected activities and deliverables, proposed work plans with schedule, and financial bids. See Annex 1
• Detailed CVs of all professionals (s) who will work on the evaluation. If there is more than one contractor on the proposed evaluation team, please attach a table describing the level of effort (in number of days) of each team member in each of the evaluation activities. See Annex 3
• Professional references: please provide at least three reference letters from your previous clients and full contact details of the referees (working and active email & phone number).
• Attach 2 sample reports of relevant previously completed assignments.