Terms of Reference for the Final Evaluation of “Humanitarian WASH and Protection Response  for Conflict-Affected Communities in Iraq, 2020-21”

BACKGROUND

Oxfam is a global movement of people working together to end the injustice of poverty. Together we save, protect and rebuild lives. And we won’t stop until every person on the planet can defeat poverty or any type of inequality or discrimination. We are an international confederation of 20 organisations (affiliates) working together with partners and local communities in the areas of humanitarian, development and campaigning, in more than 90 countries. All our work is led by three core values: Empowerment, Accountability, Inclusiveness.

Humanitarian Situation: Iraq’s post-conflict context is characterized by fragility, sectarian divisions and climatic shocks. The 2019 Iraqi Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) estimates that 6.7 million people remain in need of humanitarian assistance, including 2.1 million in Ninewa and 1.3 million in Salahaddin Governorates respectively. While over 4.3 million people have returned to their communities, approximately 1.6 million remain displaced, with Ninewa hosting the most IDPs and returnees. Involuntary returns of IDPs from camps, insecurity and power vacuums combined with recurrent natural disasters continue to cause displacement and pockets of urgent humanitarian needs. Integrated long-term humanitarian response, with due attention to gender disparities, is essential for sustainable community recovery and resilience against future shocks. Oxfam’s Multi-Sector Needs Assessment (MSNA) identified significant gaps and needs for basic services in Ninewa’s rural communities highlighted by:

WASH: Insufficient access to safe piped water and health services, with female-headed households (FHHs) left particularly vulnerable. Drinking water and other WASH needs account for 20% of HH monthly income; this rises to 44.3% when examining data for single FHHs (29% of MSNA respondents).

Protection: Protection risks and needs are widespread and complex given decades of war and sanctions, resulting in a limited number of functioning public services to support vulnerable groups in accessing specialized and free protection programs. The MNSA found that 52% of respondents reported an increase in psychosocial distress for women, adolescents and children, and also that FHHs face the most difficultly in accessing psychosocial and legal support services.

PROJECT INTERVENTION AND TARGET GROUPS:

The project has the following goal, outcomes, outputs and key activities

Ultimate outcome:

Ultimate outcome 1000: ‘Improved health and socioeconomic well-being of conflict-affected women, men, girls and boys in Ninewa and Salahaddin Governorates in Iraq’

Indicator: % of targeted population reporting improved health and socioeconomic wellbeing in Ninewa (disaggregated by sex)

Intermediate Outcomes:

Intermediate Outcome 1100: Increased use of safe, dignified and gender-sensitive basic WASH services at household, community, and health facility level in targeted communities of Salahaddin and Ninewa Governorates, with special consideration to marginalized groups.

OBJECTIVES OF THE FINAL EVALUATION

This GAC funded project will end in September 30, 2021 and an external final evaluation is planned to take place on September 2021.

The overall objective of the GAC final evaluation is to  systematically review the overall progress of the project towards the project’s outcomes,  assess the learnings from project design and project implementation from our work with partners and communities, and provide recommendations on overall design of the project, modifications, and specific actions that might be taken into consideration in the future during the design of future projects of a similar nature. The scope for examination is determined using OECD-DAC criteria for evaluating humanitarian action. Relevant criteria are associated with a number of key questions (under section 5) that are to be addressed and explored.

Specific Objectives of the Evaluation:

• To assess the design, planning, delivery and management of the project by Oxfam and its partners in accordance with Oxfam Programme Standards and donor requirements.
• To identify and assess key internal and external factors that have contributed, affected, or impeded the achievements of the project, and how Oxfam and the partners have managed these factors.
• Review the project outcome indicators and update the final/endline values in the log frame
• To assess the beneficiary targeting, verification and selection processes/approaches of the project
• To draw key lessons and learning from the project and make recommendations that will help inform Oxfam’s formulation and design of future projects that will benefit the Iraqi displaced, host and returnee communities affected by the armed conflict.
• To assess the relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact and sustainability of the project on IDPs, returnees and remainees on Oxfam and its partners.
• Describe and assess efforts of stakeholders in support of the implementation of the project
• Assess the likelihood of continuation and sustainability of project outcomes and benefits after completion of the project
• Examine the extent to which the impact of the project has reached the intended beneficiaries

This final evaluation should be led by a person (or persons) or firm have following:

Mandatory qualification:

• A minimum of 10 years of experience in humanitarian and development interventions in conducting evaluations for international humanitarian organisations and donor agencies
• Demonstrated experience in the monitoring and evaluation of WASH and Livelihoods, with preferably some experience in gender and protection in emergencies programming or programmatic knowledge of these two sectors
• Experience in the use of quantitative and participatory qualitative methods of data collection
• Strong facilitation and English writing skills are also required
• Knowledge of ICT tools for mobile data collection (Mainly Mobenzi, Survey CTO)
• Commitment to safeguarding policy.
• Commitment to feminist principles in Evaluation.
• Knowledge of the context in Iraq or in middle east and familiarity or direct experience working in Iraq or in the Middle East broadly

Following are not mandatory but desirable: 

• Familiarity or fluency in Arabic is an advantage

Experience of working modalities of Oxfam, is preferred

Please submit the EOI and other documents by 12:00 am Iraq time by 04 September 2021 to  irqconsultancy@oxfam.org.uk   with “Final Evaluation of Humanitarian WASH and Protection Response for Conflict-Affected Communities in Iraq, 2020-21, funded by GAC’’ in the subject line. No EOIs will be accepted after deadline.

All questions or clarifications of a technical nature are to be sent to: irqconsultancy@oxfam.org.uk   Interested applicants can collect the Terms of Reference/ToR/ from OXFAM in IRAQ Country Office, starting from August 23, 2021. Or Oxfam Logistics/HR team can send the ToR for interested applicants via email.  Applicants are required to carefully read through the ToR, make a note of the planned timetable, and submit their responses by 01 September 2021 (5:00 Pm).  No questions or clarification will be entertained after 01 September 2021 COB.

This invitation to tender has been issued for the sole purpose of obtaining offers for the provision of the services requested against the TOR. OXFAM reserves the right not to enter into or award a contract as result of this invitation to tender. OXFAM also reserves the right to terminate any contract issued as a result of this invitation to tender as set out in the contract terms and conditions.

TOR Link: 

Female Candidates are strongly encouraged  to Apply.