31 July, 2008

OneWorld.nl: Consultant for Final Evaluation of the Diaspora Partnership Programme

OneWorld.nl: Consultant for Final Evaluation of the Diaspora Partnership Programme



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TERMS OF REFERENCE

Consultant for Final Evaluation of the Diaspora Partnership Programme



CARE & Nedsom



1. Background

Since the late president Said Barre of Somalia was ousted from power in 1991, Somalia has been immersed in endless conflict forcing thousands if not millions of its people to leave the country. A substantial fraction of the Diaspora population organized themselves in a bid to help their relatives. Some of the Somali groups in the Diaspora have been organizing themselves to establish humanitarian organizations in their current countries of residence to support positive initiatives back home in various areas ranging from supporting health services to establishing schools and income generating activities for their communities. In the Netherlands there are numerous Somali Diaspora organizations that have been very helpful to their communities in Somalia.



The number of organized Somali Diaspora organizations in the Netherlands, combined with the presence of well educated Somali Diaspora individuals means that the support they can provide is not limited to financial and material resources, but that they can also contribute in terms of human resources. Since Somalia has suffered a brain drain as a result of endless conflicts in certain areas, the need for such individuals with various educational backgrounds and experiences is pivotal for the reconstruction of Somalia at large.



The Diaspora Partnership Program was developed by CARE and Nedsom - a Dutch Somali Diaspora Organization based in the Netherlands - to tap into the human resources available among the Dutch Somali Diaspora for the reconstruction of their country. The program is intended to involve Dutch Somalis in development projects in Somalia (Puntland) and Somaliland, in order to strengthen the capacities of local organizations.



Donor

The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through the Department of Movement of Persons, Migration and Alien Affairs, has funded and participated the Diaspora Partnership Programme for the period 1 February 2006 until 1 August 2008.



Programme objectives

The overall objective of the Diaspora Partnership Programme is to contribute to the establishment of a peaceful and secure society in Somalia through the involvement of returnees, the Diaspora and Diaspora organisations.

The specific objective is strengthened capacity of 10 local partners (government, private sector, NGOs or Community Based Organisations -CBO) to contribute to the rehabilitation of Somaliland and Puntland by means of an increased involvement of the Dutch Somali Diaspora.



Programme key results

Result 1: 10 local partners have an increased implementing capacity (human resources, organisational and institutional) in areas specified during the needs assessment in the first phase.

Result 2: Increased (long-term) interest and involvement of the Somali Diaspora and Diaspora organisations in development activities in Somaliland and Puntland.

Result 3: Increased capacity of 10 trainees and 12 professionals from Somali origin to contribute to rehabilitation and development in Puntland and Somaliland.

Result 4: Increased cooperation between the Somali Diaspora and Diaspora organisations and CARE.

Result 5: Increased capacity of Nedsom to support local partners in implementing development activities.



Actors involved in the programme

The activities bring together the interests of a number of different actors, each of whom have a stake in the rehabilitation of Somali society and in the involvement of the Diaspora therein.



CARE - CARE has an extensive programme in Somalia in emergency and humanitarian aid, food security, health, education, economic development and civil society development. In this, CARE works closely together with Somali civil society, and is increasingly aware of the important role the Somali Diaspora plays and could play, not just in terms of remittances, but also in ongoing local development projects, in engaging with local civil society and in terms of their political influence in Somalia. In addition, the Diaspora possess valuable insight into local contexts, and as such could be a valuable asset in ongoing CARE programming and with its local partners.

Nedsom - Nedsom is the key partner, and joint implementer of the programme. As the Somali/diaspora counterpart in the programme, they have been important for recruiting of Somali experts and formed the link with the Somali community in the Netherlands. Nedsom is one of the few diaspora organisations that works across clan/regional lines, and has widespread projects across Somalia, in fishery in Somaliland, agricultural activities in Somaliland (Arabsio), in poultry sector in Gardho, the establishment of a shipyard and ICT activities in Puntland. Nedsom has been expanding its activities over the past few years.

Diaspora - For the Diaspora the involvement in development of their home country is something they have a personal stake in, often with relatives left behind inside Somalia and still having close ties with the home regions. In the past, the involvement of Diaspora organisations in humanitarian aid and development in Somalia (and elsewhere) has been limited; the aim is to involve Diaspora organisations much more closely in the future, given their stake in and knowledge of development in their home regions. Nedsom and CARE have therefore developed this programme in close collaboration and are official partners in this programme.

Diaspora trainees and professionals - Somalis in Europe - amongst others in the Netherlands, Great Britain and Finland - still have strong links with their home country and play an important role in its economy. Besides financial and material support, they are given the opportunity to give support to civil society capacity building.

Local partners - CARE and Nedsom work with a range of local partners in Somalia, which include government, private sector, NGOs and Community Based Organisations. Its programmes aim at building the capacity of these organisations in terms of technical skills, organisational management and their embedding in the institutional context.

BuZa - For the Dutch government, the project is relevant as it helps individuals gain experience back in Somalia, contributes to Somali development, but also promotes active involvement of migrant communities in development cooperation.



Project area

In total 13 trainees and 15 professionals have been placed within 24 organisations in Somalia: 18 in, Somaliland, and 10 in Puntland.



2. Reason for the evaluation

According to the agreed proposal and budget for the Diaspora Partnership Programme will be concluded with an evaluation, annexed to the contract signed between CARE Nederland and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs a final evaluation of the project will be conducted by an external expert hired by CARE and advised by Nedsom.



3. Objectives of this assignment

The purpose of the assignment is to undertake a final evaluation of the success and impact of the Diaspora Partnership Programme, and to draw lessons learned for a potential follow up of this programme.



The objectives are twofold:

1. Investigating the achievement of the results and project objectives, measured by their relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, impact and sustainability.

2. Learning and providing recommendations for potential follow up of the programme.



4. Subject of the evaluation

Bearing the above objectives in mind, this evaluation will seek to investigate the following:



1. Process - the degree to which the project was designed, managed, and implemented in ways that enhanced its impact

a) To assess the approach of the project in terms of implementation arrangements (management structure, operational strategies, monitoring system, administrative systems and procedures). Identify any constraints, internal or external, to achieving progress.

b) To assess the project design - its methodologies and intervention strategies for effectiveness in addressing the problems identified.

c) Assess to what degree the project has achieved its objectives and targets. Include any unintended and/or negative impacts.

d) Financial management, transparency and accountability.

e) The quality and nature of the relationship with partners.

f) The role that Nedsom has played from the project proposal up to the implementation of it.



2. Impact - to what degree did the programme contribute to (intended or unintended) improvements for the targeted organisations, the Diaspora trainees and professionals and Dutch Diaspora organisations

a) Consider the scale, depth, coverage, multiplier effect (secondary or tertiary benefits), sustainability, and cost-effectiveness of impacts. Identify for whom specifically benefits accrued.

b) To measure impact of project activities on the target group and against the base line survey data. Impacts which are identified by beneficiaries but are not necessarily planned (against indicators) should also be noted.

c) Consider how impacts for this type of activities can be maximized (what needs to be improved) in scaling up this project activity, in terms of recommendations for Nedsom's or CARE's work, or joint activities.



3. Recommendations for future programming and replicability- identify lessons learned (failures) and successes and the factors for success

a) Identify the elements, strategies, and interventions which should be taken up in case of replication

b) Consider how impacts for this type of project can be maximized (what needs to be improved) in scaling up this project activity



5. Tasks

On the basis of the project logical framework, and current monitoring and evaluation practice, in collaboration with the project staff and focusing on the objectives mentioned under section 3, the consultant will carry out the following tasks:



· Development of a workplan for the evaluation, to be discussed with CARE Nederland and Nedsom

· Development of an appropriate evaluation methodology

· Development of interviews and/or participatory assessment tools to ensure inclusion of qualitative and quantitative data;

· Development of other (technical) evaluation tools if required;

· Undertaking of actual data collection, in the Netherlands and Somalia;

· Development and undertaking of analysis of efficiency of use of time and resources;

· Analysis of the sustainability of the action;

· Organization of a session in the CARE Nederland office or Nedsom office in the Hague;

· Writing of an evaluation report, describing methodology and outcomes of the evaluation, including recommendations.



Designed methodology should be discussed with and accepted by CARE Nederland and Nedsom, before any actual assessments can take place.



6. Methodology

The evaluation will be designed to draw on suitable qualitative methodologies, which allow for sufficient participation and involvement of the key players.



Likely methods for data collection will be:



· Review of project progress reports, and other relevant collected information (reports of diaspora and Somali organisations, human interest stories, monitoring tools, reports to donor)

· Interviews/Participatory research with different involved actors:

Project staff of CARE Nederland
Project staff of CARE International
Project staff of Nedsom
Targeted diaspora professionals/trainees, in the Netherlands and Great Britain.
Host-organisations

· Key informant interviews amongst:

Active diaspora in Europe, who have participated in the programme
Diaspora in Europe , little or not familiar with the (contacted through conferences held, or others approached through a snowballing approach from the conference participants onwards)
Other NGO's in the Netherlands working with Somalia and/or Somali diaspora

· Field visit: Interviews and/or evaluation exercise with involved Somali organisations (with the emphasis on their role, gain, and to create insight in their own lessons learned and learning/development process within the programme)

· Verification meeting/workshop with Somali organisations

· Feedback meeting at the CARE Nederland office of Nedsom office in the Hague

· Interviews/Participatory research with Dutch Diaspora organisations

· Other methods if required



7. Deliverables

The evaluation will result in the drawing up of 1 report of maximum 25 pages, written in English and in a straightforward manner.

All documents should be submitted to CARE Nederland in both hard and soft copy. The evaluation report should contain:

Ø Cover page

Ø Table of contents

Ø Executive Summary

Ø Main body of the report: The main body of the report shall include the key purpose or issues of the evaluation, outline the main points of the analysis, and clearly indicate the main conclusions, lessons learned and specific recommendations.

Ø Conclusions and Recommendations: for each key conclusion there should be a corresponding recommendation.

Ø Relevant annexes, such as workshop report, outline of methods, calculation sheets, etc.



8. Timeframe

The final Evaluation/assessment should take place in 20 working days (tentative), in the month August 2008.



Activities

# Days



1. Document review and development of instruments

2

2. Data collection in the Netherlands

5

3. Field trip and data collection in Somaliland and Puntland

7

4. Data analysis and report writing

3

5. Presentation and review of comments

1

6. Finalization of report.

2



- All field travel, activities and consultations must be completed within this duration. At the end of the consultancy, the consultant will be expected to produce the output outlined above.

- Based on the evaluation design, the evaluator and CARE/Nedsom should agree on the actual itinerary/schedule of activities.



9. Resources

Available resources for the Evaluation are:

· Project documents CARE Nederland/Nedsom

· Contact details and reports of Diaspora Trainees and professionals

· Contact details and reports of organisations in Puntland and Somaliland

· Contact details and reports of Nedsom and other Dutch Somali organisations



10. Follow up

For learning, information and marketing purposes, the evaluator will present his/her findings to CARE Nederland and Nedsom, after approval of the evaluation.



11. Other

· The security situation in Puntland is not favourable for non-locals to travel there. Hence the interviews with organisations in Puntland will have to be done in an alternative way. Two possible options are foreseen (in order of preferrence): hire a local consultant for Puntland to work alongside the international consultant (who cannot go to Puntland) or conduct interviews over phone with the partners. The first one is the preferred option.

· This evaluation has to be prepared and conducted in close collaboration with CARE Nederland, the CARE Somalia project staff member and Nedsom. The evaluation and field activities will be conducted from the CARE Nederland office and the field office in Somaliland

· Field visit will entail flying into the project area. Travel within Somaliland will be with CARE car and driver.

· During the field visit, the consultant will comply with the CARE Somalia Safety and Security Policy at all times.

12. Qualifications Evaluator

The consultant should be an experienced professional with the following expertise:

· Minimum of 10 years professional experience in research within developing countries, including previous experience working in Somalia;

· Masters degree in relevant subject

· Demonstrated experience in working with Diaspora communities

· Have a good understanding of civil society mechanisms in unstable African countries.

· Have a good understanding of Somalia and its history, and the resulting impact this has on the working environment.

· Have a good understanding of Somali migrant and diaspora communities in Europe and their involvement with Somalia.

· Preferably Dutch language skills.

· Have an understanding of operating conditions in an insecure environment

· Have practical experience in qualitative research methodologies

· Have excellent facilitation skills

· Be able to carry out research in an objective manner

· Have excellent analytical and writing skills

· Be willing to travel to the project area.

· Fluent in English (speaking, reading and writing).

· Understanding of the Somali language is an advantage

Vacaturetype :

Betaald werk

Contactpersoon :

Désirée Boterenbrood

Telefoonnummer :

+31 70 310 50 50

Email :

schaap@carenederland.org

Website :

http://www.carenederland.org

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