End-of-project evaluation: Consolidating Buliisa Hope for Lake Dependent Children Consultancy

Project Background

Lake Albert Children Women Advocacy and Development Organization (LACWADO) is an institution that seeks to undertake programmes that promote, protect, and enhance the realization of rights of children and other vulnerable groups in Buliisa and Masindi Districts.

Supported by ERIKS Development Partner, Consolidating Buliisa Hope for Lake Dependent children, is a two-year project (2020-2021) that continued to implement an earlier project: Child Ambassadors Model, that aimed to strengthen community child protection mechanisms, increase participation of children in their affairs, and improve the quality of education and health of children: Specifically, the ones living along the major fishing villages of Lake Albert and cultivation areas in Buliisa District. The thematic areas of the project are; (i) Child Participation, (ii) School enrolment and retention of girls and male children, (iii) ending child marriages, (iv) Child protection, (v) general access to quality education, and (vi) Child Health. The project coverage remains in the two sub counties of Biiso and Butiaba. The two sub-counties of Butiaba and Biiso are bedeviled by serious cases of child abuse which have not only perpetuated poverty but also inequalities.

The Overall Goal of this project is “to contribute to the change of community attitudes towards child marriage, child participation, girl child education and enhanced education for all children living along fishing and Cultivation areas by engaging in advocacy and making use of community networks.

Specific Project Objectives and Indicators Were:

Objective 1: To increase child Participation Initiatives by 60% by December 2021 in the Sub Counties of Biiso and Butiaba.

Result Indicators:

• Number of activities/initiatives by Child Ambassadors in their respective clubs/Parliaments
• 2 child parliaments conducted
• Number of children participating in the advocacy campaigns and radio talk shows
• Number of children participating in the rights clubs
• Number of barazas and nature of issues raised during child parliaments/Barazas
• Nature and numbers of compound talking objects/messages developed by children

Objective 2: To Increase community awareness on children rights issues by 70% in the sub counties of Biiso and Butiaba by December 2021 )

Result indicators:

• 2 community parliaments conducted
• Number & nature of issues raised by community members on child protection
• 8 school-based awareness sessions on child protection
• Number & nature and number of issues raised by children
• 60% of community members taking positive actions on child abuse cases.
• 70% of all child rights violations reported are followed up by the relevant authorities and project structures
• Number & nature of issues discussed during parent-child talks
• Number of children reached by parent groups

Objective 3: To reduce incidences of child marriages by 30% in the sub counties of Biiso and Butiaba by December 2021

Result indicators.

• 70% of child marriage cases are reported through the established protection mechanism
• 70% of all child marriage cases that are reported through the protection mechanism are dealt with satisfactorily documented and shared among partners
• Number of children saved by community volunteers from getting married
• 70% of identified victims of child marriage provided with psychosocial support (these are identified through community structures and links)
• Number of Community initiatives/actions aimed at ending child marriages and increasing school enrolment
• Number of cases being prosecuted by the State against culprits

Objective 4: To improve access to and quality of education for children in fishing communities by 60% by December 2021:

Result indicators.

• 60% of dropped out children enrolled back in school
• 600 school going age children enrolled in primary and secondary schools
• 20 OVC supported with scholastic materials to remain in school.
• Two schools awarded as the best in terms of meeting all set indicators of quality standards

2. Methodology

The evaluation will be of mixed-method approach consisting of both qualitative and quantitative data collections. The consultant will make extensive use of the available monitoring and evaluation data collected by project staff and implementing partner organizations. This will include, where available, project surveys and assessments, baseline information, project quarterly, bi-annual, and annual reports, and findings from beneficiary feedback mechanisms. The consultant is expected to review the background documentation as part of the desk review phase of the study. A strong part of the information will come from the field data collection. The consultant shall triangulate and validate the data collected from all sources and methods of collection used. Aligning with the content of the scope of work shared for this study, the consultant will develop the methodology and the data collection tools, and propose the team set up for data collection, analysis, feedback, presentation, and report writing, to be validated by the ERIKS East Africa Programme Team.

The end of program evaluation will have three objectives:

Objective 1: Evaluate to what extent the Buliisa Hope for Lake Dependent Children project has fulfilled its goals based on the objectives in the project proposal/log frame.

1. Efficiency in delivery of project outcomes
2. Effectiveness in activity implementation
3. Relevance
4. Cost-Effectiveness
5. Quality of intervention
6. Timeliness as set out in the proposal and log frame

Objective 2: Assess whether the Lake Dependent Children project added value to the interventions with a positive effect on beneficiaries and other stakeholders. What has contributed to this added value and what has not?

Learning

1. Which of the Lake Dependent Children project approaches, and modalities/strategies were the most effective.
2. Is there any substantial evidence on how project learning, were generated and applied to improve the delivery or effectiveness or efficiency?
3. Who benefited from shared learning experiences (e.g. quarterly, joint field visits, workshops provision on best approaches and methodology), mainly the NGOs or also the local sector, community members and beneficiaries?
4. How did the different actors learn from these experiences?
5. What measures have been taken, to create visibility of the project’s added value, towards line ministries and other stakeholders?
6. Assess how the partner has taken account of recommendations made in financial assessments, reviews, audits etc.
7. Examine that the project agreements are being followed, compliance to the terms and conditions of the project agreements signed.
8. Examine that the internal controls for the project implemented are satisfactory.

Objective 3: Identify and assess key lessons learned, challenges and draw recommendations for future programming.

The end line evaluation should at least include one lesson learned and recommendation per evaluation category, i.e. effectiveness, efficiency, relevance etc.

1. What are the key lessons learned?
2. To what extent has the delivery of response activities contributed to effective, efficient, relevant and timely delivery of aid and enhanced impact for the beneficiaries?

Sustainability

1. Will the changes caused by this program continue beyond the life of the project?
2. What, mechanisms have ERIKS, LACWADO, and key stakeholders, put in place to sustain the key programme Outputs and Outcomes?
3. How has the program worked with local partners to increase their capacity in a sustainable way?
4. What motivations /mechanisms exist for partners to continue playing these roles?
5. What are the risks facing the sustainability of the program Outputs and Outcomes?

3. Roles & Responsibilities of the consultant will be to:

• Draft inception report
• Lead the Desk Review
• Develop the Methodology and tools
• Outline the Field evaluation process
• Write and validate the report.

Key Deliverables

• Inception report
• The methodology used to conduct the research
• Data collection tools including FGD guide ahead of fieldwork
• Data analysis and presentation of preliminary findings
• Powerpoint presentation of the main findings
• Final Report (minimum of 10 pages and a maximum 30 pages, excluding executive summary table of contents and annexes.

Purpose of the end line evaluation

The purpose of this evaluation is to assess the performance of the project and capture project achievements, challenges, and best practices to inform future similar programming. It will also review the recommendations of the ERIKS feedback reports and assess the extent to which these were implemented. The evaluation will also ensure accountability towards ERIKS as a donor and the beneficiaries of the program. On the other hand, it offers a learning aspect for all stakeholders. The evaluation will also identify key lessons learned, challenges and the flexibility of the programme to adapt and respond to the changes and sustainability of the project.

DISSEMINATION

The consultant or consultants will be required to disseminate the report during a dissemination meeting of different stakeholders.

QUALIFICATIONS

1. Experience in undertaking end line assessments
2. Experience in development programming with a bias to child and human rights
3. Good knowledge of the Human Rights Based Approach to programming
4. Master’s degree in development, social sciences, development finance, education, or related field. Bachelors’ degrees with outstanding experience may be considered.

Preference will be given to development practitioners with experience in emergency programming and conflict management.