SAVE THE CHILDREN
LIBERIA
Terms of Reference
To Conduct final evaluation of the Project “Improving the Capacity of Non- State ActorsPartnership support (EUNSA)”, Save the Children International – Liberia
Job title:
Responsible To:
Working with:
Location:
Provisional Time Frame:
Starting Date:
Evaluation Consultant
Area Manager
EU Project Manager
Monsterrado (Jacob, New Kru Town & ELWA), Margibi (Weala/Cotton,
Kakata) Bong ( Gbarnga), Nimba ( Yekepeh, sanquellie & Ganta ), Rivergee and Grand Geddeh in Liberia.
April 15- May 15, 2015 for one month consultant days
April 15, 2015
How to Apply:
Letter of applications along with a copy of your resume, a contact telephone number and the names
of 3 referees who you have previously worked for, quoting their email addresses properly and send
to this email address [email protected] to the HR/Support Services Department.
Clearly label/quote the job title above on your envelope and hand deliver to the Security Guard at
Save the Children’s nearest offices in (Monrovia, Margibi, Bong and Zwedru).
Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted. Due to the urgency of this position, applications will
be shortlisted on a regular basis and we may offer this post before the closing date.
Commitment to Child Protection:
Save the Children is committed to keeping children safe from abuse and harm. Candidates applying for
these positions will be subject to the Child Safeguarding recruitment procedures and checks.
Accountability Commitment:
Save the Children is committed to be transparent to children, their careers and communities with whom
it works by promoting and abiding by existing organizational accountability system which includes sharing relevant information on its work with children, their careers and communities with whom Save
the Children works; reporting concerns raised by children, their careers and communities about the
intervention and involving children at all stages of the intervention.
I.
Background Context
The overall objective of the action is to empower Liberian youth so as to prevent conflict and
consolidate peace through mediation, dialogue and economic empowerment and participation. Theory of
change underlying the action is that if Liberia youth are empowered to engage more in local decision
making and peace building activities and supported to find gainful employment, then they will promote
non-violence in their own behaviour and that of peers. In addition, if youth- in particular young women
are accepted as partners in peace building and local decision- making by government and other actors,
then their level of participation will actually increase and peace building efforts will be more
appropriate and ultimately successful.
Liberia has made substantial political, economic and social progress, since the end of the civil war in
2003, however the current circumstances of youth in Liberia presents a serious threat to peace and
stability. Because of the high level of unemployment, the majority of young people in Liberia feel
powerless and have low self-esteem. They are thus at risk of engaging in violent or risky behaviour which
may causes instability. The empowerment of youth to enhance sustainable peace and development has
become a vital ingredient for promotion of sustainable peace and reforms.
Scope & Purpose of the Evaluation
SAVE THE CHILDREN
LIBERIA
The final evaluation for Save the Children’s ‘EU Peace building Project’ will assess the progress made by
the project towards fulfilling outcomes and objectives, as stipulated in the project log frame and in the
description of actions. The assessment will also include the degree to which the risks and assumptions
held true, and if there were any factors that facilitated or impeded the achievement of objectives. In
addition, the evaluation will endeavour to re-assess the strategic objectives and implementation
mechanisms proposed during the design of the project, and the extent to which these have been
effective in delivering results.
The final evaluation is also expected to provide recommendations for any future scale-up or expansion
of the project (including objectives, management arrangements, financing, etc).
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Key specific areas for evaluation:
1. The consultant shall at least carry out the following activities concerning the relevance and
quality of the project:
a) Study all the documentation and reports from the project
b) Evaluate the relevance of the project in terms of the socio-economic and environmental context in
the project area.
c) Evaluate the project’s relevance regarding the objectives of the MYS, FLY, LINSU and MoDG.
d) Evaluate the project’s identification and initial formulation.
e) Evaluate whether the project indicators are suitable for measuring performance.
2. Examine the completion of results of the project (project efficiency): Review the completion
(status) of project activities towards results (see objectives and activities above). During the evaluation
of the efficiency of the project, the Evaluation Consultant shall analyse the implementation of the
program emphasising on:
a) Input delivery, cost control and activity management
b) The project’s achievement of its results in terms of quantity, quality and convenience, according to
what had been previously indicated in the Grant Contract.
c) Balance between the results obtained and those expected. The main constraints and difficulties
must be pointed out.
d) Delays for each activity, as indicated in the original work plan.
3. Assess management arrangements.
a) To assess the performance of Save the Children in Liberia in terms of quality of supervision,
efficiency in financial administration, ability to anticipate problems and extend implementation
support, adequacy of reporting, recommendations and effectiveness of follow-up on
recommendations.
b) To assess the performance of Save the Children in Liberia in terms of project implementation
(Including human resources, financial management, internal and external risk factors etc).
4. Assess the quality of cooperation with institutions and effectiveness of coordination mechanisms:
This will include the quality of information management and reporting, and the extent to which key
stakeholders are kept adequately informed of project activities (including beneficiaries/target groups)
5. Assess the project implementation effectiveness: Assess project performance with respect to
effectiveness (delivery of outputs and progress towards achieving the purpose). Assess the extent to
which the project remained consistent with, and supportive of, the policy and programme framework
within which the project is placed. There must be an emphasis on:
a) To what extent have the results been used and are they having the desired effect. The evaluation
should address technological issues as we well as other socio-economic/ behavioural/ political
issues.
b) Perception of the results and achievements of the project by the beneficiaries, the local authorities
and other stakeholders.
c) Degree of appropriation and participation of the beneficiaries.
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SAVE THE CHILDREN
LIBERIA
6. Impact: The evaluation should assess whether there are any initial indications of the impact being
made by the project against the overall objectives as set in the project Log Frame and description of the
action.
a) In those cases where results/ outcome have been delivered/ achieved, is there any indication that
the anticipated impact is being achieved (in the project’s case).Why
7. Sustainability: Evaluate the extent to which the main actors possess the capacity to retain the results
and advantages of the project at the end of the action. Identify the main factors for project success and
the conditions required to lead to this success.
The Evaluation Consultant shall evaluate the sustainability of the program results concerning:
b) The economic feasibility and financial sustainability.
c) The capacity building of those who will continue the project benefits in terms of training,
implementation and monitoring.
d) Evaluation for the possibility of replication of the positive results in other similar projects.
e) The extent to which the strategy for maintaining capacity is adequate to address the risk that staff
turnover may be high. Suggest strategies for improving this where appropriate.
8. Assess constraints encountered during the project implementation.
a) To analyse the various factors and constraints which have exerted an influence on the project
implementation; such as the operational mechanisms, managerial, institutional, socio-economic policy
issues and other external factors unforeseen during design.
b) Review of the risks and assumptions included in the Log Frame. Evaluate the extent to which the risks
and assumptions have held true during the project implementation to date.
9. Produce a clear set of lessons learned and recommendations that can benefit a future replication,
scale-up and/or expansion of the project.
II.
Methodology
The consultant is required to provide an outline of the methodology to be adopted for the purpose of
carrying out this evaluation, including the analytical framework and sampling methodology.
The below list – agreed between Save the Children and the Evaluator – will form the basis of the tools,
techniques and approaches that this evaluation will use. Unless otherwise stated or because of
mitigating circumstances (security, Ebola), the evaluation will be conducted with participation of all
relevant stakeholders enabling the evaluation’s purpose to be communicated in an accessible way,
assuring the communication of the reporting and follow-up protocol.
The methodology will include but will not be limited to:
 Literature Review: The project evaluation should review all major programme documents such as
project proposal, project plans, interim reports, supervision tools, and policies and procedures.
 Observation and Field Visits: The project evaluation should pay visits to the youth organization to
observe practices Checklists or Questionnaires: Checklists or questionnaires are to be developed to
ensure there is consistency in the collection of information from various groups.
 Focus Group Discussions: The project evaluation should include focus group discussion with youth
network, vocational students, interns, MYS, MoDG and Youth Organizations
 Individual Interviews using Checklist or Questionnaire: The project evaluation should include
individual check lists or questionnaires to interview with different stakeholders including interns,
vocational students and training participants
 Data collection where possible against the baseline and indicators defined in the log frame.
Person Specification
Essential Qualifications, Experience, and Competences
Qualifications and skills
 An academic degree in a discipline relevant to the scope of the evaluation;
 Experience in implementing grant-funded projects.
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SAVE THE CHILDREN
LIBERIA
General professional experience
5 years of experience, with at least three years of experience in project evaluation
Specific professional experience
- The expert will have extensive experience in management of Peace building projects in the
context of development;
- Proven knowledge of technical and/or financial programme management as well as of Project
Cycle Management and Logical Framework approaches;
- Substantial experience in project evaluation;
- Excellent English language and communication skills;
- Proven ability to rapidly produce quality reports;
- Experience with projects targeting is an advantage;
- Ability and willingness to travel to remote areas; Culturally sensitive;
-Experience of establishing strong working relationships with colleagues from different functions and
cultures
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