Job Field: Sector in Consultancy

Donor: Government of Canada (Global Affairs Canada)
Overview
The Volunteers for Healthy Animals and Healthy Communities project (V4H2) will directly improve the livelihoods of some of the most food insecure people in the developing world by using skilled Canadian volunteers to support the efforts of small-scale farmers to produce more and better food from livestock and to reduce health threats to people from animals. Veterinarians without Borders / Vétérinaires sans frontières (VWB/VSF) will recruit and send 102 Canadian volunteers over the next five years to work with developing country partners in Ghana, Kenya, Lao PDR, Tanzania, Uganda, and Vietnam to help create integrated animal health systems that benefit small-scale farmers. Volunteers will use various techniques and activities to ensure that their work builds local capacity:
Context and Project Rationale
In the global south, more than 90 per cent of food animals are raised by subsistence farmers; yet small-scale livestock producers, the majority of whom are women, have very limited access to the animal health services. Aside from the risks associated with the loss of valuable livestock, zoonotic diseases that can be passed from animals to humans offer a very real threat to human health.
Small-scale livestock producers in the south have little or no expert support in the care of their animals, particularly when it comes to animal health. Producers in the developing world remain poor because they are so vulnerable – they lack the necessary support to prevent, or cure diseases in their livestock, or to maximize the benefits that their livestock offer. The V4H2 project addresses that vulnerability by improving the livelihoods, health, and nutrition of some of the world’s poorest communities through the care and management of animals. In working toward the goal of increasing food security and improving the economic outlook for marginalized people, VWB/VSF is guided by the aspirations of the communities with which it works and is committed to participatory and inclusive approaches to development.
Sustainable agricultural development, a key focus of all VWB/VSF volunteers, is a key objective for VWB/VSF’s work. The improvement of livestock production also builds sustainable economic growth for communities and individual farmers. Small livestock are relatively easy for poor people to access. Livestock grow and reproduce, offering risk mitigation through income diversification. However, farmers also need community-owned enterprises to support them in their economic endeavors. VWB/VSF will also recruit small business advisors to assist farmers in improving their own business practices as well as those of community-owned businesses, such as dairy cooperatives, and livestock production and marketing groups.
The Volunteers for Healthy Animals and Healthy Communities project (V4H2) will contribute to the Ultimate Outcome of improving the economic and social well-being of poor and marginalized rural people through livestock production by supporting the development of sustainable animal health and production systems from the village to the national level. As indicated by the Intermediate Outcomes, the primary resources involved are the expertise and time of Canadian volunteers who will provide technical assistance to local partners and target communities to strengthen food security programming and organizational systems, processes and policies. Upon return from their placements, Canadian volunteers will build and sustain Canadian capacity to help internationally through the education they gain through their own participation, and by encouraging other Canadians to support international development efforts.
To achieve the Immediate Outcomes, project staff and Canadian volunteers will build partnerships with local organizations and undertake capacity and needs assessment activities to identify priorities for capacity development. Canadian volunteers will undertake a range of technical assistance activities, including delivering formal training workshops, providing informal mentoring, on-the-job accompaniment and skills modeling designed to reduce the prevalence of disease among livestock, and improve the capacity of partners to deal successfully with animal disease and production issues. Knowledge-sharing activities will be supported by the project to allow partners to undertake research and come together to exchange good practice and support the development of innovative policy solutions to address food security challenges. Canadian volunteers will also help strengthen the organizational systems, practices and policies needed to sustain strong programming in animal health. Lastly, Canadian volunteers and local gender advisors will support partners and communities to identify the gender equality barriers facing small-scale farmers and design locally-relevant action plans to overcome these gender barriers. During and after their missions, volunteers will communicate with other Canadians – primarily people with an interest in livestock and animal health – illustrating the value of the work through social media, public speaking, articles for various publications, and media interviews.
Summary of the Logic Model
ULTIMATE OUTCOME
Improved economic and social well-being of poor and marginalized communities in developing countries
INTERMEDIATE OUTCOMES
Increased capacity of developing country partners to deliver sustainable development results, in response to local needs, by making use of the skills and expertise of qualified Canadian volunteers.
Enhanced Canadians’ participation in Canada’s sustainable development efforts
IMMEDIATE OUTCOMES
Improved knowledge and skills of partners to deliver effective and environmentally-sustainable food security programs, including animal health, livestock production horticulture, human nutrition and income-generation.
Improved organizational policies, practices and systems of partners to support the delivery of effective and environmentally-sustainable food security programs, for example financial management, monitoring and evaluation and communications / fundraising.
Increased knowledge, commitment and action of developing country partners and target communities to identify and reduce barriers to gender equality in food security programs.
Increased participation of Canadian women and men in sustainable international development activities.
Increased engagement in and understanding of international development issues by the Canadian public – particularly people involved with animal health and agriculture.
3. Location of the Evaluation
The midterm evaluation/review or assessment will be carried out in projects’ targeted areas at the same time in the below specified counties:

Tukuyu, Tanzania
Meru & Murkurwe-ini, Kenya
Accra & Salaga, Ghana
Mbarara, Uganda
Hanoi, Vietnam
Vientiane, Laos

4. Period and Duration of the Consultancy
The assignment is expected to commence 18th November 2019 and would be completed within 60 days with the completion and submission of the final and revised report (including Annexes) no later than the 16th February 2020. Because of this urgency, VWB/VSF may revise these dates to the earliest convenience and once a suitable consultant is found even before the end of this advertisement period.
5. Objectives
The Final Evaluation will assess the progress of the project against stated outputs and intermediate outcomes as of October 2019, as well as identify issues and recommend corrective measures for improved project delivery for any future project extensions. It will also highlight issues and challenges affecting effective and efficient implementation of outputs and their contribution to project outcomes and impact and recommend whether results obtained thus far warrant an extension of the project.
6. Scope of the Assignment
The Final Evaluation will assess the GAC funded project for ‘Volunteers for Healthy Animals and Healthy Communities’ according to standard evaluation criteria, as elaborated below.
Relevance

Assess the contribution of the project towards the achievement of project objectives, outcomes and outputs.
Analyze whether the project’s community based approach addresses the needs and demands of the beneficiaries and partner organizations in a disaggregated manner (for men, women and youth), and the community response.
Assess the relevance of the tools / instruments / inputs applied by the project for creating assets for the poor, and increasing agricultural production.
Assess the relevance and effect of technical assistance for the community members and partner organizations.

Effectiveness

Review whether the project has accomplished its outputs. In particular, the mission should review:

Targeting strategy for the identification of project beneficiaries including men, women, boys and girls

Any emerging effect of the project on beneficiaries (men, women, boys and girls) including on household income generation / assets formation from project interventions/food security/changes in gender norms;

Any emerging effect of the project on project partners (men, women, boys and girls) as well as organizational systems

Assess the performance of the project so far with particular reference to qualitative and quantitative achievements of outputs and targets as defined in the project documents, work-plans, performance monitoring matrix and with reference to the project baseline;

Based on the progress so far and on-the-ground situation, suggest / recommend any changes to the project strategies and its implementation approaches.

Efficiency

Assess whether the project has utilized project funding as per the agreed work plan to achieve the projected targets.
Analyze the role of the project governance structures including the Project Management team whether the structures are optimally being used for decision making (and their subsequent influence on implementation/success of the project).
Assess the timeline and quality of the reporting followed by the project.
Analyze the performance of the Monitoring and Evaluation mechanism of the project and the use of various M&E tools.
Assess the efficiency of the mechanism for the transfer of project inputs and resources to selected beneficiaries and communities.
Assess the qualitative and quantitative aspects of management and other inputs in the project vis-à-vis achievement of outputs and targets.
Identify the factors and constraints which have affected project implementation including technical, managerial, organizational, institutional and socio-economic policy issues in addition to other external factors unforeseen during the project design.

Sustainability and Impact

Assess preliminary indications of the degree to which the project results are likely to be sustainable beyond the project’s lifetime, and provide recommendations for strengthening sustainability.
Assess the sustainability of the project interventions in terms of their effect on the environment.
Analyze the emerging impact on the beneficiaries, parnters and communities in terms of food security, income and asset enhancement.
Based on the findings (relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, sustainability and impact) as well as taking into account new initiatives as well as emerging trends, recommend whether an extension of this project is warranted.

Network /linkages

Evaluate the level and degree of involvement and engagement of beneficiaries and stakeholders, (government and donor partners etc.) in the implementation of the project.
Examine the synergies and potential overlap between VWB/VSF’s project with other GAC funded partners as well as other similar initiatives by NGOs in the project areas and propose strategy to enhance complementarities.
Assess the project’s knowledge management strategy,
Assess the project’s outreach and communication strategy

Lessons learnt/ Conclusions

Analyze areas for improved programme planning, especially with respect to setting targets, relevance and capacity of institutions for project decision making and delivery.
Identify significant lessons or conclusions which can be drawn from the project in terms of effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability (impact) and networking. Special attention may be given to the overall context under which the project is implemented.

7. Methodology
The consultant will be expected to propose the most appropriate consultative and participatory approaches for this assignment.
8. Output of the Assignment
The consultant is expected to provide a draft/preliminary and a final report with annexes. The final report will be a maximum of 25 pages (including all annexes); the format of the report will be shared and discussed directly with the Country Partners, VCP Program Manager and Area Coordinator. The final report will address the objectives and topics described in the paragraphs above, giving special attention to the overall data analysis and recommendations for current and future similar food security interventions. The report shall be presented in both Hard and soft copy. The consultant will also complement electronic reports with visual images from the results of field assessment tools, include photographs or other materials that visually illustrate gender equality issues.
Qualifications/Necessary skills and Experience of the Consultants

A post-graduate degree in monitoring and evaluation or another relevant field.
Alternatively, a training in the field of agriculture or related field.
At least 5-10 years’ experience in conducting similar studies.
Proven track record and ability to liaise with many different groups at different levels; including policy makers, grass-root civil society organizations, field workers, technical experts, etc.
A broad knowledge on food security programs and their relationship to socio-political factors.
Conceptual and analytical skills.
Knowledge of participatory approaches and tools.
Fluency in English is a must, Arabic an asset.
Excellent time management skills, with an ability to deliver high-quality outputs on time.