Terms of Reference for Consultant to undertake Final Evaluation of the “Climate Change” project in D, Fondation Camerounaise de la Terre Vivante

1. Introduction:

Living Earth Foundation, UK and Fondation Camerounaise de la Terre Vivante (FCTV) are inviting bids from an external evaluator to carry out a final evaluation of the Comic Relief funded small project “Climate Change”. 

This small project has been implemented in Douala Cameroon between October 2012 and January 2015.

Living Earth has worked through a local NGO, Fondation Camerounaise de la Terre Vivante.  Activities in Cameroon started in October 2010 and they are now in their close-out phase.

We are looking for an evaluator to carry out an external evaluation of activities carried out and to provide an assessment of achievements and impacts of implemented activities.

2. Project overview:

Overall aim: The overall aim is to encourage and engage participation in a low carbon energy market in Douala, in order to seize socio-economic opportunities through the reduction of the level of greenhouse gas emission.

Specific aim: The project will create a virtuous circle whereby social enterprises develop into effective businesses providing client-led services, creating employment and contributing to the fight against global warming.

Expected Outcomes:

1. 3,000 slum dwellings mainly women-headed households and 6 public institutions (schools, dispensaries, local government offices) across 3 slum locations in Douala in Cameroon will have adopted at least one new low carbon product to provide sustainable energy by 2015, thereby contributing to a measurable reduction in carbon emissions and the establishment of a local green energy market.
2. By 2015 civil society and development policy makers in Douala municipality are more aware of low emissions energy options and their decisions are based on informed choices about opportunities to mitigate climate change.

3. Scope and Focus of this evaluation:

The specific purposes of the end of project evaluation are to:

• Provide an independent assessment of the progress and performance of the project against targets including agreed activities; expected results and project objectives;
• Identify key areas of learning and scope for replication;
• Provide recommendations for the project partners and donors to inform future programme development.

The evaluation should adhere to the Comic Relief guidelines for evaluations which will be provided by the project partners.

Progress against planned activities and expected impacts:

Using the project Log frame and M&E framework as a guide, and also review of these documents sent to Comic relief along the project implementation phase. The evaluation should provide an assessment of progress against activities, results, objectives and specified indicators.

The evaluation should consider the following areas of learning:

What difference has the project made to people’s lives (what, who, where, when)?

• To what degree have project outcomes been achieved? Have there been any unexpected outcomes?
• Who has benefitted (women, men, youth, vulnerable groups) and in what ways?
• Are those changes (outcomes) relevant to people’s needs?
• Are they likely to be sustainable in the long term?
• Have there been any changes to policies, practices and attitudes of decision and policy makers to benefit the project’s target groups?
• To what extent has the project contributed to the achievement of broader national policies in Cameroon?
• To what extent has the achievement of the changes/outcomes been influenced by external context and other factors?

How has this project made this difference?

Approaches used by the project and implementing organisations:

• What was the overall theory of change for this project? Has it been effective in bringing about last change? Were there any gaps?
• What have been the most effective methodologies and approaches the organisation used to bring about changes to people’s lives? What has worked and what has not?
• What lessons have been learned? Who have they been shared with?
• How have the funded organizations (Living Earth, FCTV), helped or hindered the delivery of lasting change?
• How have relationships between partners throughout the relationship chain (looking at the UK organisation-local partner - target groups) helped or hindered the delivery of change/outcomes?
• How effective have the project’s management, monitoring, learning and financial systems been?  How have they helped or hindered the delivery of lasting change?
• Has the project been cost effective?

Approaches used by Comic Relief:

• How have Comic Relief’s grant making policies and processes (e.g. How we define our programme strategies and outcomes, how we assess applications) helped or hindered the delivery of lasting change?
• How has Comic Relief’s approach to grant management (e.g. Individual work with grant holders, and learning activities with other funded organisation) helped or hindered the delivery of lasting change?
• Are there any other ways in which Comic Relief has helped or hindered the delivery of change?

4. Methodology:

We require a participatory methodology, whereby the work engages all key stakeholders, including Comic Relief grants staff who should be provided with an opportunity to provide input and comment to the evaluator.

5. Deliverables:

• Evaluation plan
• Draft Report and review
• Final Evaluation Report

The report should be clear and simply written, free of jargon.  The main body of the report should not exceed 15 pages and should include an executive summary and recommendations.  Technical details should be confined to appendices, which should also include a list of informants and the evaluator’s work schedule.  Background information should only be included when it is directly relevant to the report’s analysis and conclusions.

The report’s author should support their analysis of a project’s achievements with relevant data and state how this has been sourced.  Recommendations should also include details as to how they might be implemented.

We expect the report to include guidance on the process by which findings will be shared and discussed with all stakeholders including those who are benefitting from the project and how any resulting changes in the report will be included.

6. Evaluation Process and Timeline:

The Final Evaluation is expected to take place in May/June 2015.  The following timetable indicates approximate timings for the selection process and evaluation.

Terms of Reference out to tender

• Completion date: 11 May 2015
• Who: FCTV

Further information – Q&A

• Completion date: 14 May 2015
• Who: FCTV et LEF

Tender bids received by

• Completion date: 19 May 2015
• Who: FCTV et LEF

Review applications/short list/appoint

• Completion date: 21 May
• Who: FCTV et LEF

Interview consultants

• Completion date: 22 May
• Who: FCTV/Consultant(s)

Refine methodology, agree final evaluation plan, agree contractual details

• Completion date: 26 May
• Who: FCTV/LEF/Consultant(s)

Desk research for Evaluation

• Completion date: 02 June
• Who: Consultant

Field work undertaken

• Completion date: 05 June
• Who: Consultant

Presentation and discussion of initial findings/first report draft

• Completion date: 10 June
• Who: FCTV/LEF/Consultant

Final report submitted

• Completion date: 12 June
• Who: Consultant

Evaluation published online + disseminated

• Completion date: 15 June
• Who: FCTV/LEF

7. Skills and Competencies:

Living Earth and FCTV are looking for consultant with a strong record in conducting evaluations, particularly in the urban context in Cameroon.  The consultant will need respect and credibility within the field, excellent knowledge of monitoring and evaluation in theory and practice, and a good understanding of policy work.  The consultant should have the following skills and competencies:

• Demonstrable experience of producing high-quality, credible evaluations (examples required).
• Demonstrable experience of working with/evaluating NGO work.
• Demonstrable knowledge of urban slums climate related threat and opportunities; specific understanding of the Douala context is desirable.
• Demonstrable experience with participatory methodologies.
• Ability to write concise, readable and analytical reports and understanding of public communications.
• Excellent writing and verbal communication skills in English.
• Fluency in French is essential.

8. Tenders/bids:

We invite bids from individual, with the experience and skills described above.  Tenders should include:

1. A cover letter introducing the evaluator and how the skills and competencies described above are met, with concrete examples.
2. A 2-page outline of the proposed evaluation process and methodology
3. An indication of the amount the consultant expects to be paid as fees.
4. A 2-page CV.
5. One recent example of a previous evaluation
6. A scanned version of the evaluator Tax payer’s documents

Tenders should be emailed to info@livingearth.org.uk and terrevivantecameroun@yahoo.fr by close of business on 19 May 2015.

9. Finance

To cover the evaluation all cost include is 1 000 000 FCFA.