Terms of Reference (ToR) for GD/BMZ WASH Project Midterm Evaluation

Job Description

REHABILITATION AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY SIERRA LEONE

224 BO/TAIAMA HIGHWAY

Terms of Reference (ToR) for GD/BMZ WASH Project Midterm Evaluation

1. Background and Context:

Rehabilitation and Development Agency RADA SL has been implementing the WASH project titled Improving the lives of 105,555 people through rights-based, community-based, and gender-sensitive strengthening of local WASH structures in 60 operational communities in Bo Pujehun and Kailahun Districts since March 2023. 

The project aims to improve access to clean water and sanitation facilities and promote hygiene practices among community members, ensuring that WASH-related issues are prioritized among community members (including boys and girls in schools) and policy makers: Thus Community members are increasingly exhibiting health-promoting behaviours related to WASH and policy makers are taking concrete steps to improve WASH at the household level. The project is funded by German Doctors and is scheduled for completion by March 2026

2. Purpose of the Evaluation:

The primary purpose of this evaluation is to assess the effectiveness, efficiency, relevance, and sustainability of the WASH project. Specifically, the evaluation seeks to:

1. Measure the extent to which project objectives have been achieved.
2. Identify strengths and weaknesses in project design and implementation.
3. Assess the impact of the project on the target community.

1. Assess the project’s operational models and determine their efficiencies and effectiveness towards attaining the overall project objectives.
2. Provide recommendations for future WASH interventions.

3. Scope of the Evaluation:

The evaluation will cover the following aspects:

1. Review of project documents (proposals, reports, etc.).
2. Stakeholder consultations (beneficiaries, local authorities, District Councils/MDAs, project staff).
3. Site visits to project locations.
4. Measure the status of target indicators
5. Review the organizational operational systems and the project implementation strategies and determine how well they responds to addressing the needs of project beneficiaries

4. Evaluation Criteria and Questions:

The evaluation will be guided by the following criteria and key questions:

1. Effectiveness: To what extent have project objectives been achieved?
2. Efficiency: Were resources utilized efficiently in achieving project outcomes?
3. Relevance: How relevant were the project interventions to the needs of the community?
4. Impact: What changes have occurred in the target community due to the project?
5. Sustainability: How likely will the project outcomes be sustained after project completion?

5. Methodology:

The evaluation will employ a mixed-methods approach, including:

1. The Consultant is expected to describe his/her methodology in the technical proposal 
2. The suitability of his/her methodology and survey tools are to be reviewed by the awarding committee and, they form the basis of selection.

6. Roles and Responsibilities:

1. The Consultant is expected to submit an expression of interest coating the amount needed for the assignment,  upon which the selection and interview will be based
2. If selected, the Consultant will submit a technical and financial proposal for the assignment which is as well subjected to scrutiny
3. The Consultant will as well submit an inception report  that outlines the scope, strategies, methodology, tools etc of the assignment which; will as well be subjected to scrutiny before going going in to the field
4. Both quantitative and qualitative data are to be collected using the most suitable sample frames and sizes
5. The collected datum are to be cleaned, analysed and reported using the most suitable MEAL reporting standards.

7. Deliverables and Time-line:
8. Inception Report: Submit within 1 week of contract signing.
9. Field work/data collection completed within 2 weeks

1. Draft evaluation report submitted 2 weeks of completing data collection.
2. Final evaluation report submitted within 1 week of receiving feedback on the draft report.

•  Qualification and Experience of the Consultant

The consultant should possess the following qualifications:  

1. Masters or higher degree in Statistics, Economics or any other social science field with experience in data analysis, project management and evaluation.
2. Extensive experience in the field of project Monitoring and Evaluation, preferably in a relevant sector
3. Must have undertaken evaluation assignment within the WaSH context 
4. Strong analytical report writing skills 

Appendix:

1. Terms of Reference acceptance form.
2. Project documents (proposal, reports, etc.).

iii. Detailed schedule of site visits.

1. List of key stakeholders for interviews.