Mid-Term Evaluation Consultant , Muugano Gender Forum at International Solidarity Foundation (ISF)

Purpose and scope of the evaluation
The overall purpose of the evaluation is to assess the implementation strategies applied in the project during the first half (2022-23) of the ongoing project, in order to inform the planning for remaining project period (2024- 25).

• Aligned with the OECD DAC criteria1, the more specific purpose of the evaluation is to assess:
• Relevance: Is the intervention doing the right things?
• Coherence: How well does the intervention fit?
• Effectiveness: Is the intervention achieving its objectives?
• Efficiency: How well are resources being used?
• Impact: What difference does the intervention make?
• Sustainability: Will the benefits last?

The following key questions will guide the project evaluation:

Relevance

• To what extent do the achieved results (project goal, outcomes and outputs) continue to be relevant to the needs of the beneficiaries?

Coherence

• Synergies and interlinkages between the intervention and other interventions carried out by the same institution/government, as well as the consistency of the intervention with the relevant international norms and standards to which that institution/government adheres (internal coherence)
• The consistency of the intervention with other actors’ interventions in the same context, including complementarity, harmonisation and coordination with others, and the extent to which the intervention is adding value while avoiding duplication of effort (external coherence).

Effectiveness

• How well have the applied approaches (grassroot forum sessions and advocacy with the counties) and their practical means of implementation contributed to the achievement of the expected results (outcomes)?
• What other approaches could (strategies and tools) produce better results?

Efficiency

• Is the use of human and economic resources efficient in relation to the project’s achievements?
• Are the communication methods efficient? What kind of communication methods and channels could be used to make the project more efficient?
• Is collaboration with key stakeholders efficient and mutually satisfying?
• Are there actors and/or institutions whose engagement could improve the efficiency of the project?
• To what extent is the steering committee represented from Kisii and Nyamira and the relevant to the project.

Impact

• Are the applied strategies and activities reaching (all) relevant actors?
• Have the project interventions led to some unintended (positive or negative) outcomes?
• What kind of strategies and activities should be undertaken to strengthen the project impact?

Sustainability

• What kind of strategies should be undertaken to strengthen the sustainability?

Methodology of the evaluation

• The evaluation should collect and analyze quantitative and qualitative data through the following methods:
• Desk study and review of all relevant project documentation including project documents, annual work-plans, quarterly and annual project reports, reports of the project steering committee
• Key informant in-depth interviews (KII) to gather primary data from key stakeholders
• Focus group discussions (FGD) with project beneficiaries and other stakeholders.
• Observations during grassroot forum sessions

The stakeholders that should be consulted within this consultancy shall include but not be restricted to:

• Project beneficiaries (men, women, youth)
• County Stakeholders – Health Gender, Gender Department and Agriculture
• Local administration
• CSOs in Kisii and Nyamira (including ISF implementing partners)
• Religious and community leaders

Qualifications of the consultant
The profile of the individual consultants needs to meet the qualification requirements below:

• University degree in development/humanitarian action or social science
• Extensive (more than 7 years) working experience in relevant fields, preferably with gender issues
• More than 5 years of experience in research and/or project development/management and review
• Experience of working with international organizations
• Evidence of quality outputs from previous assignments
• Fluent English
• Good qualitative and quantitative analytical skills
• Good reporting and presenting skills
• Punctuality and availability to complete the work on time