DRC: DRC Project Evaluation Consultancy (Livelihoods and Peacebuilding)

Sep 3, 2018 | Peace Direct
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Job Description

Job Title: Consultant External Evaluator, Peacebuilding and Livelihoods in Eastern Dr Congo

Job Purpose: To conduct an external evaluation of a Big Lottery funded project implemented by Peace Direct and its local partner, CRC in Beni, Irumu, Mambasa, Lubero.

Responsible to: Peace Direct Monitoring Evaluation and Learning Adviser

Responsible for: None

Background

Peace Direct is an international NGO that supports local peacebuilding in conflict zones worldwide. We have affiliates in the UK and USA, 15 partner organisations in 11 countries in Asia and Africa and have twice won top place in the Keystone Accountability survey that measures partner satisfaction with their Northern INGOs. We raise funds to enable our partners to achieve their own peacebuilding plans, not to carry out a donor’s project. Our funds come from a number of different sources, including individual supporters, foundations and large institutional funders.

This project is a four-year BLF-funded project, aimed at increasing social cohesion, aiding security and reintegration of ex-combatants and changing attitudes and behaviours among communities through livelihoods provision and improved agricultural techniques among other things.

Aims and objectives of the project

This four-year project aimed at reducing poverty as a key driver of conflict, building resilience through radio shows and self-help initiatives as well as reintegrating ex-combatants and vulnerable men women and youth.

The project’s outcomes and indicators changed in 2016 and the most recent ones are below.

Outcome 1: The creation of 40 agricultural cooperatives with 1,200 vulnerable civilians and ex-combatants which will diversify member income streams and ensure sustainable income growth to over $2/day.

Outcome 2: Provision of specialised training to 300 highly vulnerable young men coupled with the improvement of trade infrastructure to ensure their successful social inclusion within the communities and income growth through livelihood training and support.

Outcome 3: Provision of access to business training and microfinance credit for 500 women who are affected by armed conflict, in order to increase and stabilise their existing livelihoods.

Outcome 4: Provision of community mobilisation and livelihood training complemented by interactive radio broadcasts to empower at least 840 CMG members to create self-help initiatives in their communities to improve community livelihoods and quality of life.

The overall aim of the consultancy

The objective of the consultancy is to conduct an external evaluation producing one report of no more than 25 pages not including Annexes. The consultant will produce a first draft of the report and be available to conduct edited drafts in alignment with the TOR if necessary. Peace Direct expects a quality piece of work to be submitted and so to this end we ask that you be available to make the required edits.

The evaluation will be two-fold, attending to both the IMPACT of the project and the LEARNING embedded throughout the evaluation process itself.

Using a participatory approach, so that the evaluation process is a part of, and guides, self-evaluation and learning, develop an evaluation report that is an appropriate result of that process. It is crucial for us that you develop the methodology alongside the partner in country, and Peace Direct, in a participatory way. The report should reveal the planned and unplanned outcomes, the real impact and inform learning and project strengthening according to the direction of the work.

Methodology

Peace Direct expects the evaluator to identify the appropriate tools and methodologies for the evaluation in coordination with the partner and Peace Direct, however there are some expectations with regards to methodology and conduct:

  1. A participatory approach will be taken not just in collecting primary data and developing the methodology but with regards to the actual outcomes of the evaluation process which should be as much of a learning process as possible given the timeframe and available resources. Please include outcomes of the process in the report. The intention with this evaluation is not to fulfil a donor requirement, but to embed any learning and recommendations directly into our work.
  1. It is expected that consultants will focus on impact achieved and to some extent planned and unplanned outcomes, backed up by quantitative and qualitative data. The evaluation should not focus on outputs.
  1. Although success against the initial goal and objectives is important, it is expected that the consultant will look at the wider impact the project has had, particularly with regards to peacebuilding indicators (reduction in violence, reduction in the pull of militia recruitment, increased social cohesion etc.)
  1. It is expected that findings and conclusions made are thoroughly and clearly backed up by evidence in the form of quantitative and qualitative evidence including stories, first person testimonies, anecdotes and/or quotes throughout and that any assumptions are made explicit.
  1. The consultant must have an organised system for storing all raw data from field research and be prepared to share this.
  1. The consultant must use a combination of desk research of existing monitoring and evaluation information, as well as their own work.

Available October/November 2018

EXPECTED TIMELINE

  • The timeline of the full process including data collection and analysis is to be discussed by all stakeholders.
  • Review of drafts is not time specific

Essential Requirements

  • Knowledge and experience of participatory impact evaluation, measuring changes in attitude, radio programs, community cohesion, reintegration of ex-combatants, livelihoods programming including agriculture, business, and markets.
  • Knowledge and experience of local grassroots peacebuilding
  • Experience evaluating peacebuilding projects in DRC
  • Relevant degree / equivalent experience related to the evaluation to be undertaken;
  • Experience in field data collection and analysis
  • Experience of the Eastern DRC intervention context
  • Good communications skills, culturally sensitive and experience interviewing, conducting surveys, data management and analysis, finance, focus groups.
  • Ability to write clear and concise reports in English or French;
  • Understanding of donor requirements
  • Ability to manage the available time and resources and to work to tight deadlines;
  • Independence from the parties involved.
  • A willingness and ability to travel to Beni and Lubero