terms of reference (tor) for mid-term review of

1 Strengthening the Economic and Social Resilience of Vulnerable Youth (SERVY) Project, May 2021 A

Loving home for every Child

SOS Children’s Villages The Gambia

P.O.Box 3269

Serrekunda

The Gambia

T +220 446 6714/+220 446 6715

F +220 446 6716

[email protected]

www.sos-childrensvillages.org

Terms of Reference (ToR) for Mid-Term Review of Strengthening the Economic and Social Resilience of Vulnerable Youth (SERVY) Project

1. Background SOS Children’s Villages The Gambia is a Non-Governmental Social Development Organization that has been active in the field of children’s rights and committed to children’s needs and concerns since 1982. SOS Children’s Villages focuses its work on children without parental care and children who are the risk of losing parental care. The organization has a wide range of programmes ranging from Children’s Villages, Youth Facilities, Vocational Training Centres, Kindergartens, Schools, Family Strengthening Programmes, Mother & Child Clinic, Child’s Rights Instrument and Agents for Sustainable Change Projects, Sustainable Nutrition Improvement, Sustainable Waste Management to Reduce Child Rights Violations, Youth Empowerment and Employability Projects. In 2019, SOS Children’s Villages, The Gambia in partnership with SOS Children’s Villages Finland secured funding from the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs to implement a four-year (2019 to 2022) Youth Empowerment Project in both schools & communities of Lower River and Central River Regions (LRR & CRR). The project aims at empowering 600 vulnerable youth between the ages of 15-35 in LRR & CRR and has three (3) expected outcomes: Outcome 1: To increase Market Relevant/Market driven Technical Skills Outcome 2: To increase employability of youth. Outcome 3: To increase social and life skills including Sexual & Reproductive Health

Awareness and community participation. Generally, the Project aims to strengthen the economic and social resilience of vulnerable youth in The Gambia. The project is intervening in Central River Region (CRR) and Lower River Region (LRR) of the country.

2. Purpose of the Mid-term Review The purpose of the mid-term review of the project Strengthening the Economic and Social Resilience of Vulnerable youth in The Gambia (SERVY) is to provide decision makers at the SOS National Office, SOS Finland, Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA, Finland), Partners , Project participants, civil society and other interested stakeholders with sufficient information to make informed decisions about the mid-term project performances (its relevance, efficiency, effectiveness and impact), to document lessons learnt and to recommend possible adjustments or re-orientation for the remaining period of the project implementation. 3. Overall Objectives The objective of the mid-term review mission is to assess the relevance and status of implementation of programme activities in terms of:

The results anticipated in the original programme concept and as indicated in the logical framework annexed to the Financing Agreement; and

the internal management system and processes.




P.O.Box 3269

Serrekunda

The Gambia

T +220 446 6714/+220 446 6715

F +220 446 6716

[email protected]


4. Specific Objectives The main focus of the mid-term review will be:

To make an independent assessment of the performance of the programme, paying special attention to relevance, efficiency and effectiveness and the potential impact of the programme against its objectives;

To assess the delivery of the project against its logframe, its accountability and potential achievements of the project and impact;

Document the current figures of the Objectively Verifiable Indicators as found in the logframe;

To identify key lessons learned and propose practical recommendations for the remaining years of the project and possible re-orientations and adjustments.

5. Expected Results

The expected results of the Mid-Term Review are: The relevance, efficiency, effectivness, sustainability and potential impact of the project are assessed and discussed: The Performance Idicators Tracking Table (PITT) are updated ; Analysis of the design of the project; Assessment of the quality of day-to-day management; Establishment of how far the costs of the project were justified by the results; Analysis on whether planned results have been delivered as perceived by all stakeholders; Analysis on whether assumptions at the result level turned out to be inadequate or

whether unforeseen external factors intervened; Assess if management was able to adapt to achieve purpose; and how well it was

supported in this by key stakeholders. Assessment of stakeholder participation in the preparation, management and

implementation of the programme and the level of ownership at institutional level and civil society level;

Relevant recommendations are identified in order to ajust the implementation of the project in the remaining period.

6. Evaluation Scope/Criteria

The Consultant shall verify, analyse and assess in detail the issues referring to the five evaluation criteria of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) evaluation process (relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability and impact). The Consultant is also requested to verify, analyse and assess, where relevant, the integration and impact of cross cutting issues in the project, notably gender, Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET), access to microfinance (MFI) products and Youth Start-up Funds, migration, sexual and reproductive health, environment,




P.O.Box 3269

Serrekunda

The Gambia

T +220 446 6714/+220 446 6715

F +220 446 6716

[email protected]


child protection and safeguarding. etc. The evaluation will follow the structure as per the SOS Children’s Villages and the Finnish Minisitry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) guidelines for evaluations:

The proposed mission shall be conducted by a team led by a Consultant with planned outcomes as follows:

Relevance of the Project Relevance refers to the design of the project and appropriateness of the actions and capacity building (including the input of the technical assistance) for the beneficiaries.

Efficiency Efficiency refers to whether the same goal could have been achieved through other means at the same cost or at a lower cost • Were the different activities proposed under the project the best to achieve the stated objectives? • How did coordination, consultation and participation arrangements work within the project and between the latter and stakeholders such as the Ministries, civil society, other institutions and development partners.

Effectiveness This is the analysis of whether the set objectives have been achieved as intended by the stakeholders. • Were the intervention points correctly selected to meet the set objectives? • Were the set objectives realistic and implementable? • Were these objectives adapted, where necessary, during the course of the programme implementation? • What was the extent to which beneficiaries actually benefited from the project?

Impact This criterion examines the extent to which the benefits received by the intended beneficiaries brought about change in their performance. • What is the contribution of the project to the overall objective? • What impact has the implementation of the project brought about in terms of strengthening of institutional and human resources capacity of the beneficiaries? • What is the level of achievement of results within the set time frame? • Were there unanticipated results (positive/negative) yielded by the project and what were the consequences on the achievement of the purpose? • Are there data available to measure this impact? • Did indicators to measure impact exist; and if so, were they appropriate?




P.O.Box 3269

Serrekunda

The Gambia

T +220 446 6714/+220 446 6715

F +220 446 6716

[email protected]


Overall quality & sustainability

This criterion refers to the ability and capacity of beneficiaries to implement the outcome of an activity once the core support is stopped and verifies whether the design and orientation of project activities are based on the principle of building sustained capacities in beneficiaries. The analysis should focus on: • Ownership of the objectives and achievements. • To what extent has the project improved the institutional capacity of the local authorities (financial and administrative).

Coherence/ Complementarity

This criterion may have several dimensions: 1) Coherence within the Country's development programme 2) Coherence/complementarity with the country's policies and with other donors' interventions 3) Coherence/complementarity with the other Community policies.

Community Value Added The extent to which the project adds benefits to what would have resulted from project's interventions in the same context.

7. Methodology

Both primary and secondary data will be gathered on various indicators of mid-term review using both quantitative and qualitative tools. Focused Group Discussions, Key informant interviews and or semi structured interviews, survey questionnaire will be used to assess status of project objectives, indicators, outcomes, processes and cross-cutting issues and to come up with key recommendations for potential adjustment and future programming.

The secondary data will also be used to complement the information obtained through key informant interviews, focus group discussions and survey questionnaire.

8. Expected Deliverables

In carrying out the assignment, the Consultant will work closely with the project management team of Strengthening the Economic and Social resilience of Vulnerable Youth in The Gambia (SESRVY). The work plan should be proposed and submitted as part of the Inception Report. The Inception Report and work plan should also include a brief on the approach to be taken in the implementation of each component of the consultancy. Likewise, it will also cover all project related structures, facilities, access to resources, challenges, issues and gaps of SESRVY Project’s operational areas and target group of LRR & CRR regions of The Gambia.

9. Conclusion & Recommendations

Drawing on the findings above and the lessons to be learned, this aspect of the review would examine whether or not the Project should be re-oriented and in particular whether all activities should continue. Should the findings of the review support a reorientation then the




P.O.Box 3269

Serrekunda

The Gambia

T +220 446 6714/+220 446 6715

F +220 446 6716

[email protected]


consultant should draw up recommendations for the future direction of the Project, with specific emphasis on the activities to be carried out during the final years of the project. The proposals drawn up should be summarised in a revised Logical Framework. The recommendations made should address (but not necessarily be limited to) the following aspects: Recommendations for institutional strengthening and capacity building (including the enhancement of the regulatory framework and enforcement capacities).

10. Time Frame

This will be conducted within 1 and a half month (6 Weeks) and this will be exclusive of the advertisement period which will run in the local Newspapers for a period of 2 weeks.

11. Qualifications and Skills of Consultant

Consultant with degree in Development Studies, Project Management, Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) and / or Research Studies relevant to the assignment;

Strong skills and experience in evaluation. Demonstrate knowledge of Youth Employment, Community Development, Project

Management and Social & Life Skills enhancement including Sexual Reproductive Health. General professional experience of at least 12 years’ experience in an area relevant to

the assignment, of which 5 years should be in Monitoring and Evaluation and Research Studies in Development Projects.

Proven experience and evidences with the evaluation of projects.

No. Activity Responsible Timeframe

1 Notification of Consultant. Human Resources Manager

21st June 2021

2 Contract signature National Director & Consultant

22nd June 2021

3 Review of SOS & project’s specific documents / Literature Review

Consultant 22nd – 28th June 2021

4 Submission and validation of consultant’s inception report.

Consultant 28th June 2021

5 Conduct Mid-Term Review Consultant 29th June – 19th July 2021

6 Share the first draft of the report Consultant 22nd July 2021

7. Debriefing and Validation of Findings

Consultant 27th July 2021

8 Submission of Final Report Consultant 30th July 2021




P.O.Box 3269

Serrekunda

The Gambia

T +220 446 6714/+220 446 6715

F +220 446 6716

[email protected]


Fully conversant with the principles of project cycle management and implementation, and aid delivery methods.

Demonstrated experience in undertaking project evaluations and in preparing development programmes and projects.

Excellent communication and writing skills in English. 12. Language of Contract

The working language of the assignment is English, knowledge of local languages will be an advantage.

terms of reference (tor) for mid-term review of

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