Impact Monitoring Visit and Assessment

Background and Rationale

Hoffnungszeichen tendersglobal.net Sign of Hope e.V. (SoH) is a Christian motivated organisation for Human Rights, Humanitarian Assistance and Development Cooperation. From its base in Constance, Germany, SoH is committed to helping those in distress and exploited people worldwide.

SoH seeks to contract a consultant to conduct an impact monitoring visit in the context of a multi-country humanitarian project. The aim of the HELP project is to ensure that critical lifesaving and protection needs of the most vulnerable drought and flood affected, severely food insecure communities in South Sudan, Ethiopia and Northern Kenya are met through improved access to MPCA, WASH, protection services, and capacity building. The project is funded by the German Federal Foreign Office (GFFO) and implemented jointly by SoH and its local partners.

Purpose, Objectives and Use

The purpose of the impact monitoring visit to South Sudan is to provide SoH with a comprehensive understanding of the impact of the project in the target region, conducted systematically and impartially, analysing the progress achieved towards the project’s results, identifying potential risks and lessons learned. In addition, the consultant shall gather relevant information to advise SoH on potential future projects. The consultant shall prepare a summary of key findings as well as a list of practical recommendations that will assist with the timely incorporation of the findings into the decision-making process and contribute to the organisational learning of SoH.

The consultant’s assessment will support the project quality assurance measures implemented by SoH and the partner.

The objectives of the impact monitoring visit are to:

1.Assess Project Progress

• Evaluate the progress made by the project in achieving its stated goals and objectives.
• Identify any bottlenecks or challenges hindering progress.
• Consider changes in the context and assess the project’s continued relevance.
• Identify risks and weaknesses and make recommendations for the successful completion of the project.

2. Impact Assessment

• Determine the impact of the project on beneficiaries and affected communities.
• Recommend ways to enhance and sustain positive outcomes.
• Specifically, explore how the project contributes to improved food security and resilience against negative effects of climate change.

3. Targeting and Inclusivity

• Assess whether the project effectively targets and meets the needs of the most vulnerable populations.
• Identify cross-cutting issues addressed through the project, including gender equality, human rights, marginalised groups, inclusion, and other issues.

4. Assess capacities of the implementing partner

• Identify the strengths and weaknesses in terms of planning, management, implementation and monitoring of the partner.
• Assess existing accountability mechanism of the partner.
• Assess quality of the partner’s methodological and technical skills relevant to the project.

5. Financial Efficiency

• Verify the effective and efficient use of project funds.
• Recommend improvements for achieving overall project goals.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Consultant will work in close cooperation with the responsible SoH Officer and the local implementing partner.

The duties and responsibilities of the Consultant will include:

• Present a brief a work plan outlining the proposed methodology and schedule for the visit,
• Conduct a desk review of relevant documents (e.g. project proposal, interim reports, existing sources of information),
• Carry out a project site visit to exchange with the local implementing partner, project beneficiaries and relevant project stakeholders,
• Examine institutional, technical, staffing and financial capacities of the implementing partner as well as its relationship with the target group and other relevant stakeholders.

Expected Deliverables

• A comprehensive briefing with concerned SoH staff, informing them about key findings and recommendations.
• A brief summary report.

Assessment Quality and Ethical Standards

The consultant will take all reasonable steps to ensure that the assessment is designed and conducted to respect and protect the rights and welfare of the people and communities involved. Furthermore, the assessment should be aligned to the following standards and applicable practices:

• Utility: the assessment must be useful and used.
• Feasibility: the assessment must be realistic, diplomatic and managed in a sensible, cost-effective manner.
• Ethics and Legality: the assessment must be conducted in an ethical and legal manner, with particular regard for the welfare of those involved in and affected by the Assessment.
• Impartiality and Independence: the assessment should be impartial, providing a comprehensive and unbiased assessment that takes into account the views of all stakeholders.
• Transparency: the assessment activities should reflect an attitude of openness and transparency.
• Accuracy: the assessment should be technically accurate and credible, providing sufficient information about the data collection, analysis, and interpretation methods so that its worth or merit can be determined.
• Participation: the Stakeholders should be consulted and meaningfully involved in the assessment process when feasible and appropriate.
• Collaboration: Collaboration between key operating partners in the assessment process improves the legitimacy and utility of the assessment.

The assessment must be in line with the SoH guiding principles and Code of Conduct.