Democratic Republic of the Congo: Evaluation of a project in North & South Kivu, DR Congo

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS – Evaluation of a project in North & South Kivu, DR Congo

Female consultancy team to develop and conduct an evaluation of a project in North Kivu & South Kivu in the DR Congo

medica mondiale is a non-governmental organisation based in Cologne, Germany. As a feminist women’s rights and aid organisation medica mondiale supports women and girls in war and crisis zones throughout the world. Through own programmes and in cooperation with local women’s organisations we offer holistic support to women and girl survivors of sexualised and gender-based violence. On the political level, we pro-actively promote women’s rights, call for a rigorous punishment of crimes as well as effective protection, justice and political participation for survivors of violence. Currently medica mondiale is working in Northern Iraq/Kurdistan, in Afghanistan, in Liberia, in Kosovo, in Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as the African Great Lakes Region.

The implementing organisation

The implementing partner “Promotion et Appui aux Initiatives Féminines (PAIF)” is a Congolese non-governmental, non-profit organisation founded in 1993 by women’s rights activists during Mobutu’s dictatorship. For over 20 years, PAIF has played an active role in strengthening of women’s and girls’ rights in Congo and ending gender-based violence. PAIF’s vision is a world where women’s rights and their dignity are being respected and fulfilled. PAIF’s mission is to support and protect women’s rights in DR Congo and to support women’s initiatives with realising their social, political and economic rights, with the main target group being survivors of sexualised violence. PAIF documents cases of violence against women and girls in the Kivu provinces, supports survivors and advocates in society and politics for their rights and for the punishment of perpetrators.

Consultancy

For the evaluation of the project “Prévention améliorée et protection accrue contre la violence sexuelle et basée sur le genre (VSBG) pour les filles et les jeunes femmes vulnérables dans la République démocratique du Congo (RDC)” in North Kivu & South Kivu, DR Congo

we are looking for a female

SHORT-TERM CONSULTANCY TEAM

to develop and conduct an evaluation of the project.

Professional qualifications

To ensure that the evaluation draws a balanced picture we would like to contract an evaluation team consisting of an international female expert and a national or regional female expert with the following expertise:

• A strong understanding and experience in evaluation methodology and practice with experience in team work
• Experience in qualitative (storytelling, MSC, etc.) but also in quantitative sociological research methods and practice
• Experience in and sound knowledge of psychosocial work in the field of violence against women mainly in conflict regions and especially in DR Congo
• Strong background and working experience in sexualised gender-based violence and community based approaches as evaluator
• Strong background and working experience in the topics of capacity development and empowerment
• Excellent and proven report writing and verbal communication skills in English and French, German would be an asset.
• National/Regional evaluator with excellent communication skills in French/local languages.
• Experience with evaluating projects funded by the BMZ

One consultant will be the main responsible person to medica mondiale and will take the lead responsibility for methodology, process and reporting. This consultant will also ensure that the evaluation team as well as interpreters will act in a trauma-sensitive way. Team applications are most welcome.

Personal skills

• Flexible, creative and innovative
• Excellent analytical skills
• A clear commitment to work with a women centred and empowering approach
• High cultural sensitivity; high degree of cross-cultural competence and diversity perspective
• Feminist background

Background and Project Description

The provinces North Kivu and South Kivu have been showplace of an armed conflict for almost 20 years with the civil society frequently suffering from systematic cases of violence. Women and girls are particularly affected by the conflict situation as sexualised and gender-based violence (SGBV) threaten them every day, not only in the context of war but in all areas of life. The extent and the pattern of sexualised violence in the DR Congo are a grave expression of gender inequality that has become normality. Survivors of SGBV not only have to cope with the consequences of war but also with the traumatising consequences of the violence they experienced, including psychological and physical symptoms, stigmatisation and exclusion from society. This dynamic has an enduring effect itself on the social cohesion of communities.

Even though national structures in the fight against SGBV are in place, different studies show that most measures in the fight against SGBV in East Congo focus on medical care of survivors and too little on strategies for violence prevention.

The project covers two key areas of work: the direct support of the core target group and measures for violence prevention and the protection of girls and young women from structural gender-based violence. 2500 girls and young women use trauma-sensitive psychosocial counselling services that are complemented by medical, legal and economic services. Through the access to educational offers, seed capital and solidarity groups they also enhance their socio-economic self-help competencies. In order to ensure social integration of the target group PAIF raises awareness within the society. Furthermore, community structures, especially youth clubs, are supported and encouraged to independently undertake long-term efforts for the prevention of sexualised violence and the protection of women and girls. Strategic advocacy and increasing cooperation with relevant civil and governmental actors and SGBV coordination committees on local and province level are intended to improve support and protection for the target group.

The core target group consists of 2500 young women and girls affected or threatened by SGBV who do not receive sufficient protection. Many girls have survived rape several times and other types of sexualised violence. They are traumatised, stressed and suffer from multiple psychological, physical, social and economic consequences of violence. Other target groups that play an important role in violence prevention are families, community leaders, traditional authorities, representatives of churches and schools and other community structures, such as youth clubs. The strategic inclusion of boys and men in community-based protection measures is also integrated part of the project. One central target group or mediators are national institutions and departments on local and province level that responsible for adequate support of survivors, persecution, protection and violence prevention.

Purpose and Objectives of Evaluation

At a higher level, this evaluation serves as important participatory learning process for all stakeholders involved in the project.

The purpose of the evaluation is to provide decision makers at the BMZ, medica mondiale and PAIF with sufficient information to make an informed judgment about the performance of the project, document lessons learnt and provide practical recommendations for required changes to the project and similar future projects. The evaluation shall include an assessment of the project’s impact, effectiveness, relevance, efficiency and sustainability (DAC criteria).

The progress and the success of the project shall be assessed as well as its likelihood of achieving its stated objectives and indicators according to the project’s results model/impact matrix. The evaluation should generate practical hands-on recommendations that can be implemented by the project actors within their sphere of control and influence over the remaining project period and beyond. The evaluation will be used to inform future management and programming of medica mondiale and PAIF. medica mondiale e.V. will share the evaluation results with the BMZ and PAIF.

A key point is to generate recommendations for follow-up projects with PAIF and future establishment of the organisation in general. Lessons learned from the project implementation shall be derived to inform and improve the development of future programming and organisational structure and strategy. Regarding any major issues and problems affecting progress, recommendations about any required changes to the project shall be made and action points identified. Lessons learned shall be documented.

Key questions

DAC criteria

1. Relevance: Are the project approach/strategy and the services provided by the organisation suitable for the situation and the needs of the different target groups? What can be stated about the relevance of the intervention strategy/methodology/activities implemented to contribute to stabilise the South Kivu/North Kivu society? To what extent are the objectives of the project still valid?

2. Effectiveness: What can be stated about the effectiveness of the projects and the vision/approach of PAIF? Which measures were particularly effective, which were not? To what extent were the planned objectives and its indicators as described in the matrix/application achieved? What were the major factors in influencing the achievement or non-achievement of the objectives? What further measures or changes in programming or organisation structure can be recommended to better achieve the goals? What internal and external factors inhibit or promote the achievement of specific goals? Forecast: will the planned project activities be achieved by the end of the project period (December 2018)?

3. Efficiency: What can be stated about the efficiency of the projects and the vision/approach of PAIF? What can be stated about the cost effectiveness of the projects? Can the services provided by PAIF be used by the target group in an adequate way? To what extent have individual activities been realised? Are resources economically used to achieve the objectives? Is there a sufficient number of staff?

4. Impact: What can be stated about the impacts of the projects? To what extent do the projects contribute to the empowerment and acceptance of South Kivu/North Kivu women as survivors of violence? What are short and long-term impacts of the services provided by PAIF at the individual, societal and political levels?

5. Sustainability: What can be stated about the sustainability of the projects and of PAIF as an organisation? How is sustainability realised at these different levels?

General evaluation questions/tasks

• What can be stated about the approach of PAIF concerning effects and changes on the societal, community, family and individual level? What are successes, challenges, hindering and supporting factors?
• What are lessons learned from this project and its approach which are of special interest and relevance for projects working in similar contexts and dealing with the consequences of sexual violence?

Advocacy

• What are the effects of the advocacy component on community, state institutional and individual level? What are successes and challenges, recommendations for improvement? Does the project change state-players attitude and behaviour towards GBV?
• Which networks play an import role in the region? Which networks is PAIF involved in? (mapping of actors)

Community entry/well being

• What can be stated about the effects of PAIF’s community-based approach? What are the key factors to successful/lasting changes within local communities in South/North Kivu?
• What are the obstacles?
• What can be stated about the acceptance of the project in society?
• Does community work (male involvement, youth clubs, radio) contribute to beneficiaries’ psychosocial well-being and feeling of acceptance in community?
• What can be stated about PAIF’s behaviour change strategy? What are the successes and challenges?

Trauma-sensitive, holistic approach/psychosocial empowerment

• What can be stated about the integration of the psycho-social dimension into social, medical and economic activities? What signs of empowerment can be discerned?
• How do social, medical and economic activities contribute to beneficiaries’ psychosocial well-being?
• Does the referral pathway within PAIF work for individual women? Do PAIF’s beneficiaries receive holistic support?
• Which activities are the most supportive for the beneficiaries?
• Are PAIF staff members aware of psychosocial and trauma-sensitive standards and are activities performed according to these? Is the required framework available?
• Are all project-related activities in fact trauma-sensitive?

Economic empowerment

• What can be stated about the groups using the activities contributing to economic empowerment?
• What are the key factors for success? What can be stated about challenges?
• What can be stated regarding the implementation of the economic empowerment component up until now?

Organisational approach

• What can be stated about the organisational structure, roles of actors and set up of the project?
• Analysis of status of monitoring instruments, including its strengths, weaknesses, as well as recommendations to improve M&E system: Which tools exist? Are they used? Are they applicable?
• What are suggestions for improvement of organisational structure?
• In which areas is qualification/support for PAIF staff still needed?
• How did supervision for psychosocial counsellors contribute to their well-being and quality of work?
• Is the project management support by medica mondiale conducive for achieving the planned goals?

Methodology

The final methodology will be defined and agreed upon in close cooperation with medica mondiale and PAIF during the preparation and before the field phase of the evaluation. This ensures transparency. Furthermore, the dialogue is important to achieve “ownership” of the evaluation and with this acceptance of the evaluation results and forms the basis for collaboration with the evaluation team. In general, a trauma-sensitive way of working is important to medica mondiale in this context and standards in working with survivors of sexualised violence should be applied. The evaluation team should use a multi-mixed design, using quantitative and qualitative data. The design should be based on a participatory approach and at the same time strongly incorporate “learning”.

Process 1. Preparation

• Desk review of available project documentation (proposals, reports, etc.)

• The international and the regional consultant will familiarise themselves with the details of the project. All necessary documentation will be provided by medica mondiale. A briefing meeting is foreseen with the evaluation manager and the project officer Great Lakes Region of medica mondiale. In addition, Skype interviews with other relevant stakeholders shall take place. 2. Field evaluation

• The consultants will conduct site visits in North Kivu & South Kivu.

• The consultants will conduct interviews and/or focus group discussions with key personnel of the partner organisation and other stakeholders

• Focus group discussions/workshops are also foreseen with women of the partner organisation’s target groups, medica mondiale suggests to include story telling methods or other participative methods

• A mapping of existing self-help groups related to PAIF and their approximated number of beneficiaries is highly appreciated.

• In a one-day “initial findings sharing workshop” with relevant stakeholders in DR Congo, organised in cooperation with PAIF, preliminary conclusions and recommendations will be presented, discussed and further refined. Participation of the partner organisation and stakeholders involved is foreseen. 3. Reporting phase

• The consultants will write a draft evaluation report in French and English and share it with medica mondiale and PAIF to obtain feedback. The consultants will present their findings and recommendations to medica mondiale and PAIF. The feedback from medica mondiale and PAIF will be integrated into the final report. The finalised report will then be shared by medica mondiale with PAIF and the co-funder.

Outputs and Deliverables

• Inception report, which will detail the evaluation work plan and methodology for qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis, including data collection processes and tools, etc.
• A presentation of preliminary findings and recommendations in French (with presentation and handouts for participants – atelier de restitution) to PAIF and other relevant stakeholders at the end of the field visits.
• A draft report in French and English 14 days after return from the evaluation mission, which will be shared with medica mondiale for feedback.
• A presentation of the findings and recommendations to medica mondiale in our offices in Cologne or via Skype, as well as to PAIF.
• The evaluation team is expected to compile the final report in French and English (60 pages max. each, excluding appendix) after feedback for draft reports (twice) through medica mondiale and PAIF.
• A summary of the evaluation in German for submission to the BMZ and in English to be used for publication on the homepage.

The evaluation report shall be complete and written in readily understandable language. The report shall clearly describe the background and goal of the project as well as the evaluation methodology, process and results in order to offer comprehensive and understandable content. A transparent line of arguments shall be kept throughout analysis, assessment and recommendations so that every recommendation can be comprehensibly attributed to the results that are based on data analysis. As per the principle of usefulness, the recommendations shall be guided by the terms of reference and the information needs and be clearly directed at particular recipients. A document detailing quality criteria for evaluation reports will be provided by medica mondiale e. V.

Tentative Period of Work

• Tendering of the evaluation mission in February 2018
• Selection of candidates: April/May 2018
• Preparation phase: May/June 2018
• Inception Report until 22^th June 2018
• Field phase: August 2018
• First draft report (main findings, first recommendations) 14 days after return from the evaluation mission to be shared with medica mondiale
• Presentation in Cologne or on Skype: September/October 2018
• Second draft: ~ 21^th October 2018,
• Final report: ~ 15^th November 2018

Suggested Quantity Structure

The final quantity structure will be defined depending on the proposed methodology and during the preparation.

Please email your application (CV in English and French, cover letter and references not exceeding 2MB) including your package proposal (technical, methodological and financial offer in English and if possible in French) and information concerning your availability with the subject “Evaluation PAIF” by 22.04.2018 to: pschaaf@medicamondiale.org and evaluation@medicamondiale.org.

We highly appreciate team applications. The budget for the evaluation including travel costs, accommodation, translation etc. should not exceed 22.500 € in total.

Please note that we will not send any acknowledgement of receipt of the documents you have submitted. Only short-listed/successful candidates will be contacted. Please note also that the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) has to agree on the selection of evaluators and the final TOR.

Further information on medica mondiale and our projects can be found on our website: www.medicamondiale.org