Terms of Reference (TOR)
Final Evaluation of the Project
Project Title: “Protecting the basic human rights of vulnerable minority communities in Pakistan”
1. Context and Programme Background
NCA had been working in Pakistan with different social groups for promotion of tolerance and dialogue since 2004. Through its thematic programme “Peacebuilding”, NCA strengthened community structures for conflict transformation and support advocacy initiatives to promote a dialogue process between key actors of different faiths for a joint social action to address issues of intolerance, discrimination and violence. Under its peacebuilding programme, during 2014-2015, NCA implemented project “Protecting the basic human rights of vulnerable minorities in six districts of Punjab and Sindh, Pakistan’” in partnership with five local NGOs in four districts (Gujranwala, Lahore, Faisalabad, and Multan) of Punjab and two districts (Jacobabad and Umerkot) of Sindh provinces. Duration of this project was two years, i.e., January 2014 - December 2015.
- Brief description of the project, including goal hierarchy and target groups
Project Goal:
Minority communities claim their rights to human dignity and access to improved protection in selected districts of Punjab and Sindh provinces through improved relationships with the majority community. The specific outputs of this project are:
Project Outputs:
Output 1: Local structures are in place to prevent and address human rights violations committed against vulnerable men and women from minority communities.
Output 2: 280,000 people reached through awareness raising and advocacy campaigns about the rights of minorities.
Output 3: An enabling environment is created for the promotion of equal rights and opportunities for religious minorities in formal and informal structures.
Output 4: FBOs and NGOs have jointly contributed to increased cooperation and understanding between minority and majority communities.
Output 5: Faith actors have agreed to accompany local communities and minority groups to protect their right to peace and security
- Purpose of the Evaluation
The evaluation shall assess the overall impact and level of achievements made during project period (January 2014-December 2015) focussing on:
- · the extent to which the project has achieved its planned outcomes;
- · To the extent possible, assessing whether the project has had any positive or negative impressions on policy level in public and private sectors and in communities;
- · Assessing the constraints faced and opportunities available for future initiatives.
- · Assess the prospects of sustainability of the project.
- · Asses to what extent the project was up to accountability standards.
The evaluation report will be shared with Norad and other donors for presenting outcomes of the project, lessons learned and fundraising.
4. Methodology
The evaluation methodology will be proposed by the evaluator. The evaluator will prepare an inception report prior to the commencement of the evaluation field work. The inception report will present the proposed evaluation methodology, an evaluation matrix and instruments that will be used for the purpose of data collection in the field and evaluation timetable.
The evaluation (data collection process) shall also focus engaging female and male members of the following groups:
Faith actors, relevant institutions and structures, and other relevant resource persons (men, women and youth) of all religions and sects, teachers, peace/human rights activists, lawyers, politicians and government actors.
The evaluation will also cover the aspects of gender mainstreaming and conflict sensitivity in project planning and implementation.
5. Evaluation Scope
While all OECD/DAC five criteria for evaluation are pertinent, the evaluation would focus on effectiveness, efficiency, impact and sustainability. Addressing the evaluation purpose will require that the consultant to provide answers to the following specific questions – which could be refined in the inception report:
- · Relevancy: To what extent the programme has been aligned to national priorities as well as the priorities of target groups? How relevant was it in the context where it was implemented?
- · Effectiveness: What has been the effectiveness of the project efforts?
- · Efficiency: Is the relationship between the project costs and results reasonable? Have the most efficient approaches been used during the implementation of the activities?
- · Impact: What is the impact of the project on the participants? Is there evidence that the project is having a wider impact (Positive/negative, intended or unintended)?
- · Sustainability: Is there evidence that the results of the project can be sustained? To what extent has the project established processes and systems that are likely to support the continued implementation of the project?
Additional issues to be addressed by the evaluation
- · Gender aspects: To what extent were gender aspects considered throughout the programme?
- · Conflict sensitivity: To what extent was conflict sensitivity integrated into programming?
- · Accountability: To what extent does the project lived up to accountability principles, in particular in relation to sharing of information, participation, and handling complaints, provided a complaint system is in place? To what extent have the involved partners followed up key accountability standards mentioned above with rights holders?
- · NCA's added value: What was the added value of NCA under this project?
5. Deliverables and Budget
The detailed budget, terms and conditions for the consultant will be separately spelt out in the respective contract.
NCA shall provide necessary documentation to the consultant, work out a program and coordinate the field work.
The consultant shall be responsible for:
- Preparation of inception report after desk review;
- Conduct meetings with the NCA staff, partners, concerned stakeholders and beneficiaries
- Debriefing NCA upon completion of consultancy work;
- Submit draft report to NCA for comments on factual issues and for clarifications; and;
- Consolidate the comments received from NCA and submit final report to NCA within the timeframe agreed. The final approved report shall be submitted in hard copy as well as in electronic format.
Evaluation Report Format:
- Executive Summary
- Overall evaluation methods, their appropriateness and evaluation constraints faced, if any.
- Clearly identified findings
- Clearly identified conclusions
- Lessons learnt
- Recommendations
- Appropriate Annexes –i.e. any literature consulted, data collection instruments, the ToR, list of interviewees and any additional information required.
Evaluation report should meet the following requirements:
Three pages: Executive Summary
Twenty five pages: Presentation of the findings and conclusion:and
One page: Recommendations;
Timetable for preparation, fieldwork and finalisation of the report:
The assignment, including the field trip shall be undertaken within 30 days, after commencement of the assignment (within 2016). NCA evaluation policy will guide the time-line.
- Qualification or specialized knowledge / experience required
- · At least 5-7 years of relevant professional experience in development projects reviews and evaluations.
- · Extensive knowledge in development, peace building, conflict sensitivity and gender mainstreaming
- · Good understanding of vulnerable/marginalized communities of society (minority groups); and
- · Good communication skills
Other criteria for selection will be:
• Reflection in the evaluation proposal with regards to how to carry through an evaluation process that will secure learning in the involved organizations
• Documented ability to deliver well formulated evaluations that are written in a form that facilitate learning with clear recommendations
- · Evaluator affiliated with reputable research institutions or consultancy firm
- · Evaluator has experience of carrying out evaluations, reviews or assessments in Pakistan