Summary
Date Posted: Wednesday, October 18 2023, Base Salary: Not Disclosed

JOB DETAILS:
Project Title
Building resilience of communities in Eastern Uganda through provision of access to sustainable WASH services and developing capacity of relevant local actors to deliver them

Total Project Budget: EURO 1,630,000

Background and Rationale
Hoffnungszeichen | Sign of Hope e.V. (SoH) is a Christian motivated organisation for Human Rights, Humanitarian Assistance and Development Cooperation. From its base in Constance, Germany, SoH is committed to helping those in distress and exploited people worldwide.

This mid-term evaluation is commissioned under the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) budget for development projects run by private organisations.
SoH is the private German executing agency and the contracting party, while SOCADIDOwill be the local implementing partner.

The goal of the project is to improve the resilience of neglected rural communities in the Teso region. The project is further guided by one outcome, that is, “through sustainable access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene, the resilience of target households in the Teso region is improved”. This outcome will be achieved through three interlinked result areas (outputs) that include; 1) access to safe water sources for people in Amuria, Kapelebyong and Kumi is improved; 2) access to and use of hygiene and sanitation facilities and services has improved for people in Amuria, Kapelebyong and Kumi; and 3) WASH governance and coordination among stakeholders in target districts is improved. Some of the project activities that are being implemented by this project include; WASH sensitization of target communities; mobilize target communities to meet the minimum requirements; Verification of compliance with minimum requirements; Signing of Memoranda of Understanding by the target communities; Construct and rehabilitate water sources in the target area; Training of pump mechanics; Water source maintenance; Training of water user committees; Raise community awareness of the need to preserve clean drinking water; Handover of rehabilitated water sources; Feedback meetings with target group; Training of latrine builders; Train staff and health care assistants on CLTS and PHAST methods; Training on implementation of WASH activities from household level; Improvement of the water infrastructure; CHAST Training for Sanitary Clubs; Raising awareness at the household level using the CLTS approach

Radio program; Sanitation campaign at the household level; Formation and training of sanitation and hygiene committees at the community level; Provide materials for sanitation and hygiene committees; Support the districts of Kapelebyong, Amuria and Kumi in developing and operationalizing District Water Investment Plans; Conduct stakeholder dialogue meetings between government and communities; Coordination meetings with WASH stakeholders at district level; Participation in national and international WASH events; participate in World Water Day (March 22); and World Sanitation Week. A total of 64,902 (32,830 females and 32,072 males) direct beneficiaries, representing an estimated 10,817 households in the three target districts are targeted. Indirect beneficiaries are estimated at 107,994 (55,767 females and 52,257 males), equivalent to about 17,994 households. Direct beneficiaries also include nine educational institutions (particularly elementary school) with an estimated target population of 6,300 students (3,213 females and 3,087 males), 36 teachers (18 males and 18 females), 18 pump mechanics (12 males and four females), 225 masons (135 males and 90 females), 132 district and county officials (108 males and 24 females), and 75 people from WASH backgrounds (60 males and 15 females).

Purpose, Objectives and Use
The purpose of the evaluation is to provide SoH and SOCADIDO with a comprehensive assessment of the project, conducted systematically and impartially, as well as analyse the progress towards the achievement of the project’s results and identify risks to sustainability, propose actions to ensure sustainability of the results and identify key lessons learned. The study will provide concrete, credible and practical recommendations that will assist with the timely incorporation of the findings into the decision-making process and contribute to the organisational learning of both implementing organisations.

The study will support the project quality assurance measures implemented by SoH and meet the donor requirements towards the development projects implemented by German private organisations.

The evaluation will address evaluation questions based on the standard OECD/DAC evaluation criteria of relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability, and impact (please see   https://www.oecd.org/dac/evaluation/revised-evaluation-criteria-dec-2019.pdf ). The objectives of the evaluations are to:
1. Assess the extent to which the project has sustainably achieved its objectives and results (results matrix), including the extent to which the lives of the project beneficiaries have been improved,
2. Identify the strengths and weaknesses in terms of planning, management, implementation and monitoring of the project,
3. Evaluate sustainability measures,
4. Identify cross-cutting issues addressed through the project, including gender equality, human rights, marginalised groups, inclusion, and other issues,
5. Determine the effects of Covid-19 on the project, its activities and implementing organisation,
6. Identify risks and weaknesses and make recommendations for the successful completion of the project.
7. Document lessons learned that could contribute to the improvement of the design of the project.

Duties and Responsibilities
The Evaluation Consultant will work in close cooperation with the responsible SoH Officer and the local implementing partner.
The duties and responsibilities of the Evaluation Consultant will include:
• Develop a work plan outlining the proposed research methodology, geographical coverage and schedule to conduct the study,
• Conduct a desk review of relevant documents,
• Carry out a project site visit to a project location to conduct research, collect data and establish contact with the local implementing partner, project beneficiaries and relevant project stakeholders,
• Review and evaluate available data and existing sources of information, including the project proposal, annual reports, conducted studies and other documents,
• Examine institutional, technical, staffing and financial capacities of the implementing partner as well as its relationship with the target group and other relevant stakeholders.

Expected Deliverables
The study will produce the following deliverables:
• an inception report, including the proposed research methodology and data collection tools, a table of content and timeline of research activities prior to the site visit to the project location,
• a comprehensive report of a maximum of 30 pages with practical recommendations and relevant annexes (including raw data and documented records).
A template will be provided to serve as a guide and may be used to structure the final report.

Study Quality and Ethical Standards
The study team will take all reasonable steps to ensure that the study is designed and conducted to respect and protect the rights and welfare of the people and communities involved. Furthermore, the study should be aligned to the following standards and applicable practices:
• Utility: the study must be useful and used.
• Feasibility: the study must be realistic, diplomatic and managed in a sensible, cost-effective manner.
• Ethics and Legality: the study must be conducted in an ethical and legal manner, with particular regard for the welfare of those involved in and affected by the Study.
• Impartiality and Independence: the study should be impartial, providing a comprehensive and unbiased assessment that takes into account the views of all stakeholders.
• Transparency: the study activities should reflect an attitude of openness and transparency.
• Accuracy: the study should be technically accurate and credible, providing sufficient information about the data collection, analysis, and interpretation methods so that its worth or merit can be determined.
• Participation: the Stakeholders should be consulted and meaningfully involved in the study process when feasible and appropriate.
• Collaboration: Collaboration between key operating partners in the study process improves the legitimacy and utility of the study.

The study must be in line with the SoH guiding principles and Code of Conduct.

Process/Timeframe
The total duration of the assignment is up to 25 working days within the period from 13th November 2023 to 15th December 2023.
Planning meeting with SoH (remotely), handover of relevant documents 1 day
Initial document review and inception report preparation 4 days
Sharing inception report with SoH and SOCADIDO 1 day
Finalisation of inception report 1 day
Data collection site visit to a project location 5-10 days
Data analysis, draft report with annexes 5-10 days
Incorporating received feedback and report finalisation 3-5 days

Qualifications and Experience
Essential:
• Minimum of 5 years of project evaluation and/or implementation experience in the result-based management framework
• Proven experience of conducting feasibility studies, evaluations and other research projects
• Technical and methodological knowledge to conduct research projects and formulate conclusions based on a solid methodology, assessing projects for relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, impact and sustainability of projects
• Experience working with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and partnered projects
• Fluency in written and spoken English

Desirable:
• Experience in the relevant field/sector
• Professional familiarity with the project country/region

Practical experience of working for and/or evaluating BMZ-funded projects

Academic Background
An advanced level university degree (Masters’ degree or equivalent) in public health; Nursing; Medicine; social sciences, public administration and international development studies. A first-level university degree in combination with additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted.

The Evaluation Consultant is to be independent and impartial with no liabilities to any other organisation or government entity regarding this evaluation.


Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 60

Level of Education: Postgraduate Degree

Job application procedure
Please submit the following documents as PDF files with the subject line “WASH Evaluation in Teso Sub Region, Uganda DC-UGA21.02” to recruitment@sign-of-hope.org no later than 6th November 2023:
• CV indicating all relevant experiences,
• contacts of at least two professional referees,
• a cover letter, including a brief description of the proposed research methodology (technical proposal max. 1 page) and a comprehensive breakdown of costs (financial proposal), including professional fees and all other relevant costs, including travel expenses,
• a writing sample of the document of similar research value (for example, a feasibility study, an evaluation report).

Please note that due to a large number of applications we may limit establishing contact to shortlisted applicants.

Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.




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