Terms of Reference

Local Consultant for Ready for Life (R4L) Project End-of-Project Evaluation

Organisational context

ChildFund in Laos is the representative office of ChildFund Australia – an independent international development organisation that works to reduce poverty for children in developing communities.

ChildFund Australia is a member of the ChildFund Alliance – a global network of 11 child-focused development and humanitarian organisations reaching nearly 32 million children and their family members in 70 countries. ChildFund Australia is a registered charity, a member of the Australian Council for International Development, and fully accredited by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade which manages the Australian Government’s overseas aid program.

ChildFund began working in Laos in 2010 and works in partnership to create community and systems change which enables vulnerable children and young people, in all their diversity, to assert and realise their rights. Projects are implemented in Houaphanh, Xieng Khouang, Phongsaly, Sayabouly, Luang Prabang, Khammouane, Savannakhet, Sekong Provinces and Vientiane capital.

With a focus on upholding child rights and improving access to quality education, ChildFund in Laos also prioritises projects which focus on child nutrition, sexual reproductive health and rights, media literacy, and job readiness.

Background

While the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) is committed to promoting children’s rights within the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) such as the right to participate, progress towards implementing relevant policies is slow. In particular, societal understanding about the importance of child participation is limited and mechanisms at the local, national and regional levels are not widely known or fully utilised by children and duty bearers, including the government. In response, ChildFund in Laos in partnership with the National Commission for the Advancement of Women, Mothers and Children (NCAWMC) implemented the three-year (2018-2021) ‘Ready for Life’ project (R4L) in Vientiane Capital and Xiengkhouang and Houaphan Provinces. Young people were equipped to become leaders meaningfully participating in their schools and communities, trained to educate their peers on the R4L life skills curriculum and develop core social and emotional learning (SEL) competencies. Alongside this the project provided child protection training to duty bearers and youth leaders at local level and built the capacity of child protection networks and youth focal points to respond to child protection issues in schools and communities.

The three-year Ready for Life project Phase II commenced in 2021, with the goal that:

Children and youth are protected and empowered to meaningfully participate, lead and act on issues they have identified from local to national level.

The current project builds on key achievements of the R4L phase I project and leverages the strong relationships forged with government stakeholders. Alongside this, the move to partnering with three local CSOs as implementing partners (APREN, Dakdae, Sengsavang) extends the reach of R4L into four new provinces (Sayabouly, Luang Prabang, Khammouane, Savannakhet Provinces). From local to national to regional level the intervention addresses a range of areas including child rights, child protection, child and youth participation, youth empowerment, gender equality, youth peer-education on life skills, SRH and online safety. Underpinning these areas is ChildFund’s SEL Approach (See Annex) which seeks to build the social and emotional skills of girls, boys, young women and men to be resilient agents for positive change.

The project has three outcomes:

Project outcome indicators

Ref. no.

Outcome One

% of Children’s Forum and UNCRC child and youth participants (female, male, with/without disability) who report that they believe their contribution is valued by duty bearers

% of established school-level Child Protection Committees that are functioning according to government standards

% of Child Protection Provincial and District level officials trained, equipped and accountable for their CP duties

Outcome Two

% of CP cases responded to by CPN with local government

80 % of children who reported improved treatment and safe environment at home and community

% of Children who can identify process for getting help for protection concerns

% of CSO and local government partner participants with increased knowledge and skills to train youth on: Life skills, Job-Readiness

Outcome Three

% of Youth Volunteers (female, male, with/without disability) with increased SEL skills

% of Youth Trainers (female, male, with/without disability) with increased SEL skills

% of students (female, male, with/without disability) who attend peer education sessions with increased SEL skills

% of Youth Volunteers (female, male, with/without disability) who participate in community-based activities such as advocacy, mentoring and peer networks

% of Youth Trainers (female, male, with/without disability) who report increased level of meaningful participation in community actions

% of Youth Trainers (female, male, with/without disability) with increased job readiness skills

% of and qualitative examples of Village Development Committee duty bearers who perceive the value of child and youth participation in community actions

3. Purpose

This project has undertaken a baseline study and towards the end of the project, this project requires an external, independent end-of-project evaluation. The evaluation questions should be driven by the OECD evaluation criterion of relevance, coherence, efficiency, effectiveness, impact, and sustainability, as well as cross-cutting issues including children’s right, youth participation, gender inclusion, disability inclusion, community participation and inclusion of marginalised groups. In the findings, the consultant will also help to highlight the potential lessons learnt, challenges, solutions, and recommendation.

Target audience and key stakeholders of this endline evaluations will be youth volunteers, youth trainers and child protection committee, teachers and government counterparts from district to provincial level and ChildFund staff.

The purpose of this evaluation is to undertake an outcome evaluation which to assess the:

1) OECD-DAC criteria

Relevance: The extent to which the project design and project outcomes responded to the needs of individual, group and organisational participants. Addressing the questions relating to hindering and facilitating factors; relevance of interventions to the target groups; utilising the most appropriate interventions.

Did this project reach the most vulnerable youth groups?
Did the project address the highest priority needs of vulnerable youth?
Was the intervention appropriate and its implementation relevant to the operational context?

Coherence:

To what extent did the interventions carried out under this project complements the work of broader NPA and government actors with similar programmatic aims? (external coherence)

Efficiency: The extent to which all project activities and outputs outlined in the project design were achieved on time, within budget and with quality. This includes an analysis of the cost-efficiency and value for money of the project interventions versus the benefits from the project and the number of people reached.

Was adequate human, financial and logistical resources applied to delivering project outcomes? (operational efficiency)
To what extent did the project adapt the intervention, approaches and methodologies in response to the changing context over the course of the project (response towards project learnings)?

Effectiveness: The extent to which the project objectives and associated key performance indicators (outlined above) were achieved, citing quantitative and qualitative evidences (e.g., change stories), contributing and hindering factors in all project components at all levels of implementation and project management.

To what extent the project has achieved its intended outcomes, in relation to the key performance indicators of the project?

Sustainability: The extent to which the capacity of the project stakeholders and partners was built to enable the benefits of the project to continue with/without support from CFL and other external actors. This will also examine what sustainability measures were put in place and what measures should be included should there be a next phase.

What are evidences showing that project achievements will continue/sustain upon project completion?
Which components of the project are owned and driven by the communities, partners and relevant government authorities?

What are the most significant changes the project has contributed towards

improved child projection mechanism, improved treatment and safe environment at home and community for youth to ensure their meaningful participation?
increased SEL skills of youth volunteers and youth trainers?

Cross-cutting issues

Gender inclusion - The extent to which barriers to participation were identified and addressed, such as promoting gender equity, empowering female youth, LGBTQ, gender roles and power relations.

How specific activities impacts the welfare of the youth? whether any activities provided opportunity for empowering female and other gender youth?

Disability inclusion - The extent to which barriers were identified and addressed, such as access to training, participation in activities and decision-making.

How are the interventions contributing towards tackling inequality faced by people and children with disability?

Inclusion of vulnerable groups - The extent to which barriers were identified and addressed of identified vulnerable groups, such as access to training, participation in project design, project briefings, activities, decision-making and project feedback.

How inclusive the intervention has been for different vulnerable groups?

Organisational Learning

Drawing from the above two areas, an assessment of project implementation challenges and evidence of promising practices and lessons learnt, ultimately resulting in a set of recommendations to inform both future project design and ChildFund’s Child Rights Governance programming and advocacy to relevant stakeholders.

3. Key Taks and Responsibilities

It is expected that the consultant(s) to conduct the following tasks:

To conduct a desk-review in order to gather and review relevant project documents and reports including the Baseline Report, project reports and related manuals from ChildFund in Laos and related government and implementing partners.
Prepare a detailed inception report for submission to ChildFund for review and approval. This shall clearly describe evaluation methods in detail, data collection tools, work plan to undertake the assignment etc.
Focusing on outcomes and their performance indicators (as mentioned above); review and update existing tools and develop new tools if necessary, including the Focus Group Discussions and Key Informant Interview approaches in order to measure the progress towards these outcomes and indicators, as well as output indicators.
Train enumerators on both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods.
Conduct field level data collection based on agreed assessment tools, maintain quality and accepted norms and standards, lead the data entry and analysis.
Develop a comprehensive draft report on findings/results of the study with input from ChildFund/project team.
Prepare presentation slides in both English and Lao as well as present findings of the endline evaluations to ChildFund and relevant stakeholders through a workshop.
Incorporate comments and suggestions forwarded and produce final report as per the agreed timetable.
Methodology

The consultant, in consultation with ChildFund in Laos and ChildFund Australia Education and MEL advisors, is expected to develop the appropriate methodology to collect data.

The methodology and tools have to:

Be both quantitative and qualitative and strongly support the active participatory approach and engagement from the project stakeholders including youth volunteers, youth trainers and child protection committee, teachers, government counterparts and ChildFund in Laos staff.
The methods, data collection and analysis should also consider and include the perspectives of different genders and people living with disabilities (PLWD). The tools used during baseline study should be utilised or modified to suit the capacity of participants (such as the ones with disability and/or from ethnic minority groups) and need for end of project evaluation, wherever relevant.
The right to participation must be balanced with the right to protection, recognising that placing excessive or inappropriate expectations on children denies them the right to take part in decisions they are capable of making.
Data collection methods should be guided by the project SMART indicators and other useful information to give a clear picture of the project. The consultant is expected to develop a clear guideline to assist the process.
Should there be a baseline tool established, the endline consultant is expected to use the same methodology to collect the data to measure some performance indicator to ensure comparability.
Both qualitative and quantitative data should be collected and reported, and data sources clearly cited.
Tools and methods must coherently respond to the project objectives and performance indicators.

Report:

The report must be written in English, provide in an electronic format (Microsoft Word and PDF). Raw and analysed data to be submitted by Excel or Word file.
The actual evaluation report is limited to 35 pages excluding annexes. A maximum 3-page executive summary should be included as part of the report.
Report format:
- Table of contents
- List of Abbreviations
- List of tables
- List of figures
- Executive summary (main findings including the results of the outcome indicators of the project – max 3 pages)
Background
Results and key achievements
Recommendations
- Introduction providing background information about the project and objectives of the project
- Purpose of the evaluation
Key questions
Approach/Methodology
Limitations
- Evaluation Findings (include findings for each Outcome and it’s performance indicators, including 2 case study - One for youth volunteer and one for youth trainer)
Relevance
Coherence
Efficiency
Effectiveness
Sustainability
Impact
- Discussions and Recommendations
- Annexes (include all tools used)

Deliverable and Indicative Timetable

Note: this is subject for negotiation with the Consultant

Indicative dates

Outputs and Activities

Number of Days

Week 2 of Jan 24

Draft ToR

Week 3 of Jan 24

Review and finalise the ToR

Feb 24

§ Consultant Recruitment

§ Interview

§ Negotiation and signing the contract

Week 1-2 of Mar 24 is 3 days

§ Consultant prepares and presents the Inception Report to CFL and CFA Technical Advisors

§ Work in collaboration with the Senior MEL coordinator, Sydney-based Education and MEL Technical Advisors to develop methodology and review/update tools

15/03/24

§ Submit the final inception report

Week 3 of Mar 24

§ Revise the inception report and resubmit it for the final review and approval

Week 4 of Mar 24

29/03/24 is 7 days

Data Collection

§ Enumerator training (1 day)

§ Piloting tools (1 day)

§ Data collection (8 days)

Complete data collection

Week 1-2 of Apr 24

Data tabulation and data analysis (7 days)

§ Debriefing/presenting results (1 day)

§ Report writing (first draft) (7 days)

§ Submit the 1st Draft Report (English)

Week 1 of May 24 is 3 days

§ Incorporate feedback and finalise the second draft report (2 days)

§ Submit the second draft report (English)

§ If any further comments, respond to and incorporate CF’s further comments and feedback and submit third draft/Final Report (1 day)

Total is 30 days

7. Management and Reporting Arrangements

The Consultant will report directly to Project Coordinator and keep Senior MEL Coordinator, the Country Director and Technical Advisors copied to the communication chain. All reports must be written in English providing in an electronic format (Microsoft Word).

8. Confidentiality

All discussions and documents relating to this ToR will be treated as confidential by the parties.

9. Child Safeguarding

The successful applicant will be required to comply with ChildFund Australia’s Child Safeguarding Policy and Procedures and to sign a Code of Conduct. The consultant will also have in place an Australian Federal Policy Criminal Background Check and Working with Children Check.

10. Counter-Terrorism

ChildFund Australia acknowledges its obligation under the Australian laws relating to counter-terrorism. In order to meet its obligation, the consultant’s name will be reviewed against Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and National Security Australia lists at the onset of any financial relationship.

11. Conflict of Interest

The Consultant must declare any financial, personal, family (or close intimate relationship) interest in matters of official business which may impact on the work of ChildFund

12. Fraud and Corruption prevention and awareness

ChildFund Australia has a zero approach to fraud and corruption act. The successful consultant will be required to comply with ChildFund Australia’s fraud and corruption prevention and awareness Policy and act against any form of fraud or corruption and not offer, promise, give or accept any bribes.

13. Insurance

The successful applicant will be required to have in place insurance arrangements appropriate to provision of the requirement in this TOR including (without limitation) travel insurance.

14. Acknowledgment and Disclaimer

ChildFund, its Board and staff make no express or implied representation or warranty as to the currency, reliability or completeness of the information contained in this ToR. Nothing in this ToR should be construed to give rise to any contractual obligations or rights, expressed or implied, by the issue of this ToR or the submission of Expression of Interest in response to it. No contract would be created until a formal written contract is executed between ChildFund and a selected consultant.

Selection Criteria for Consultant

Core Competencies

Commitment to ChildFund Australia’s values, vision and mission;
Teamwork;
Communication;
Accountability and integrity; and
Adaptability and flexibility.

Essential Qualification and Experience:

At least Master Degree in Education, Youth Development, Child Protection, International Development, Monitoring and Evaluation, or related disciplines with minimum five (5) years’ experience in conducting similar evaluation and/or research works in developing countries particularly in South East Asia.
Relevant experience in development sector around INGOs’ work or relevant agency
Experience in monitoring and evaluation, and conducting end-of-project evaluation, impact studies, utilizing quantitative and qualitative research methods including data collection techniques and analysis
Strong experience in youth empowerment and participation.
Familiarity with child‐focused programming;
Flexible and able to adapt to a multi-cultural environment and complex situations, with demonstrable high-level interpersonal and cross-cultural skills especially with ethnic minorities
Familiarity with the development context of Lao PDR including relevant language skills;
Good experience in collaboration and interaction with communities and government bodies from local to national level, especially the National Commission for the Advancement of Women, Mothers and Children (NCAWMC)
Strong facilitation skills, particularly with children, youth and ethnic women;
Self-driven, strong organizational and planning skills, with the ability to work independently or in a group, as well as under pressure
Fluent in both Lao and English, and showing ability to communicate ethnic languages; Hmong and Khmu would be an asset.

Submission Procedure:

Applications can be made by email to Bamboo HR (linked will be identified when the announcement is launched); all other applications will be rejected. Interested applicants should submit

CV of the lead consultant and their team (if any) and a cover letter
Technical proposal
Financial proposal

NOTE: The financial proposal should specify a total lump sum amount and a breakdown of a daily professional fee and communication costs etc. Applications without a financial proposal will be regarded as incomplete and will not be considered for further assessment.

ChildFund in Laos does not require interested candidates to submit copies of certificates, ID cards or any other information.

ChildFund in Laos is an equal opportunity employer and has a strict child protection policy and background checks will be undertaken prior to any offer of employment. All candidates should submit two professional referees including their current or most recent employer.

Please submit your application via https://teamchildfund.bamboohr.com/careers/469 before 4:30 pm of 11 February 2024.

ChildFund is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and strongly encourage people from all backgrounds, abilities, and identities to apply for any vacancies.