1. Organisation Background
Save the Children has been operational in Kenya since the 1950s, providing support to children through developmental and humanitarian relief programmes delivered both directly and through local partners.
Current programming focuses on child protection, child rights governance, education, health, HIV/AIDS, livelihoods, nutrition and WASH.
In 2012, as part of a global reorganization process, Save the Children combined the programmes of SC UK, SC Canada and SC Finland to create a single operation in Kenya.
In Feb 2014, we completed a second transition, which saw us join forces with the British INGO, Merlin, and merge their health and nutrition programmes with our own.
Save the Children now has an operational presence in Bungoma, Dadaab Refugee Camp, Garissa, Mandera, Nairobi, Turkana and Wajir and we work through partners in many other parts of the country.
2. Context
Turkana County with a population of 1,011,235 in 2014 is one of Kenya’s Arid and Semi-Arid Land (ASAL) counties situated in the northwest part of Kenya.
The county’s livelihood zones are pastoralism (62%), agro-pastoralism (14%), fishing (8%), urban/peri-urban (16%) {County livestock development plan for Turkana, West Pokot, Samburu and Baringo 2013-2017}.
Agro-pastoralists are found mostly along rivers Turkwel and Kerio, while formal employments/casual waged are found in towns mainly Lokichoggio, Kakuma and Lodwar.
Turkana is a drought prone area that experiences frequent, successive and prolonged spells of drought and malnutrition rates in the county are among the highest in the country.
Essential health services are inadequate not only because many pastoralist families in Turkana County are scattered across vast distances, but also because the County suffers from chronic under-investment and lack of proper infrastructure.
3. Background
Since March 2013, Save the Children has been implementing a EC funded MNCH, nutrition and family planning project in partnership with national NGOs targeting pastoral women of child bearing age, children under five years and neonates as final beneficiaries.
The overall objective of the project is to contribute to improved maternal and child health status through strengthening the capacity of civil society organisations and Ministry of Health to provide integrated health services to marginalized communities of Turkana County whilst facilitating interaction and collaboration with local health authorities with the aim of attaining MDG4 and MDG 5 targets.
The specific objective of the project is to support civil society organisations (CSOs) and local health authorities in increasing access to and enhancing coverage of quality maternal, neonatal and child health (MNCH), nutrition and family planning services in four sub-counties of Turkana County of Kenya. Project partners are the Turkana County Ministry of Health, African Inland Church (AIC), Pentecostal Assembly of God (PAG), Reformed Church of East Africa (RCEA) and Turkana Pastoralist Development Organization (TUPADO).
The Diocese of Lodwar (DOL) is also implementing the project as an associate.
The expected results from the project are:
Improved access to maternal, neonatal and child health care services
Enhanced nutritional status of mothers, newborns and under five children
Improved uptake of modern family planning methods
Improved capacity of Turkana district health-care delivery system
4. Purpose of the evaluation
The primary purpose of this evaluation is to analyze the results obtained by the project compared to the goal and purpose that were defined for it and assess the relevance, impact, sustainability, effectiveness and efficiency of the project that will be important for informing future similar interventions in Turkana County.
The results of the evaluation will facilitate decision making regarding improvements to be made in future actions and to establish lessons learnt to be shared with partners and health authorities.
6. Scope of work
Verbal briefing with Save the Children Country office Technical Staff to discuss background and key issues for the evaluation.
Background desk review of all relevant project documents including, and not limited to, the project proposal, baseline survey report, monitoring and evaluation plans, project log frames, work plans, budget, progress monitoring reports and financial reports.
Develop a detailed evaluation inception report that should present the approach, methodology, detailed planning and logistics support requirements and data collection tools to be used. The inception report should be developed within 3 days after the meeting with the Country Office Technical staff.
Hold a briefing meeting with the field office technical and implementation staff.
Undertake field work exercise at the project sites in Turkana County.
Prepare and share draft report based on the field work findings.
Present 3 copies of the final report and a soft copy within 5 days of receipt of comments.
Consultant will further be expected to prepare a PowerPoint presentation of the final report highlighting the findings and using a template that will be provided by Save the Children.
The final report should not exceed 30 pages, excluding annexes, and should conform to the following format; Executive Summary (including main findings and recommendations), Introduction, Methodology, Results/Findings presented per each project result area and evaluation objectives set out in a results matrix against each indicator, conclusions and recommendations, annexes (including data collection tools, list of evaluation team, target group interviewed and consulted and reference to the documents reviewed
Submit all data sets including transcribed qualitative data/information
4. Deliverables for the call for proposals for the consultancy
A technical proposal outlining the methodology with mention of the data collection tools and approaches to be used for the evaluation. The technical proposal should also include a detailed implementing plan outlining key timelines within a 16 day period.
Financial proposal (which should only include the fees payable (in Kenya Shillings) to the consultant(s) as all other fees (travel and accommodation) related to the evaluation will be taken care of by Save the Children within its policy guidelines.
Save the Children shall provide resources required including identification and remuneration of the research assistants for the data collection and data entry.
5. Core Evaluation Content
The evaluation will assess the following aspects:
A. Output to Purpose review (OPR)
A review of the reported and observed outputs of the project against the planned and stated purpose to assess the efficiency and effectiveness with which Save the Children has implemented project activities
B. Assessment against OECD-DAC criteria
An analysis of the project against the following OECD-DAC evaluation criteria will be necessary:
Relevance / Appropriateness
Connectedness of interventions
Coherence of the project and its components
Coverage both in beneficiary numbers, technical aspects and geographically
Efficiency of programme operations
Effectiveness of interventions
Impact (intended and unintended)
Refer to the ALNAP’s guide for humanitarian agencies ‘Evaluating humanitarian action using the OECD-DAC criteria’
C. Assessment against agreed standards and policies (internal and external)
IMCI/safe motherhood strategies and guidelines
MOH/WHO/UNICEF protocols/guidelines
Save the Children Kenya Country Strategic framework
D. Assessment of cross-cutting themes
Participation of primary stakeholders/beneficiaries
Beneficiary accountability and feedback
Gender equality
Protection and child rights
People in Aid standards
6. Qualification and Experience
The consultant(s) will be expected to be specialized in evaluating or implementing Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) programmes, through the community health strategy.
The consultant(s) will have the primary responsibility for conducting the evaluation and writing of the evaluation report.
Specifically, the consultant will possess:
Advanced university degree in public health/ health systems management or related health field.
At least 10 years’ experience in the area of maternal, newborn and child health and public health.
Sound knowledge and experience working in the counties of Northern Kenya, and familiarity with their health systems.
Be well informed in gender and rights based programming in the development sector.
Demonstrated knowledge of project evaluations and possess strong research skills.
Experience in the formulation, monitoring and evaluation of MNCH projects.
A demonstrated high level of professionalism and ability to work within tight deadlines.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills
Excellent spoken and written English.
Good computing skills.
Prior experience with Save the Children health programming in the counties of northern Kenya will be an advantage.
7. Intellectual property rights
All products developed under this consultancy belong to the project exclusively, guided by the rules of the grant contract between EU and Save the Children.
Under no circumstances will the consultant use the information of this evaluation for publication or dissemination without official prior permission (in writing) from Save the Children.
8. Submission of Proposals
All interested Individuals/firms are requested to express interest following the attached EOI format ONLY (CLICK HERE to download) by email to: Kenya.jobapplications@savethechildren.org with a copy to abraham.afeworki@savethechildren.org by 16th February 2015.
Please indicate ‘EC RH Project End Evaluation’ on the subject line.
9. Evaluation and award of consultancy
Save the Children will evaluate the proposals and award the assignment based on technical and financial feasibility criteria guided by this ToRs.
Save the Children reserves the right to accept or reject any proposal received without giving reasons and is not bound to accept the lowest, the highest or any bidder.
The consultancy is subject to Save the Children policies.