TERM OF REFERENCE ON FINAL EVALUATION FOR ON NUTRITION INTEGRATED WITH PARENTING, LIVELIHOOD AND EARLY EDUCATION

Description of Programme Location and Context

SOSCVE Mekelle program location was established in the year 1974 G.C and is mainly working on an alternative care program supporting children to grow up in alternative families in established villages by providing comprehensive care and essential services for their holistic development. Furthermore, SOSCVE Mekelle Program manages and implements various facilities and programs, including Alternative Care (AC), the Family and Community Strengthening Program (FCSP), a kindergarten, and the HGS (Hermann Gmeiner School (which includes both primary and secondary schools). The AC and FCSP programs are the organization’s core interventions, providing comprehensive care and support to children who are without adequate parental care. Likewise, the Family and Community Strengthening Program is one of the core programs that focuses and has been implemented projects in Mekelle and Adwa. Currently, it has been actively operating in Mekelle. However, SOSCVE Mekelle program expands it intervention areas to Axum, Samre, Kolatembien due to the emergency projects that focus on life saving support and trauma healing activities to reduce the consequences of the war on the life of program participants.

Rational for terminal evaluation:

Reaching children with integrated, multisectoral Early Child Development (ECD interventions is crucial to ensuring their ultimate success in school and the world of work. ECD is a smart investment for cities and countries to make. Improving early childhood development acts as a social and economic engine for communities and societies. Cognitively healthier children are more productive citizens, and quality early childhood development provides a competitive advantage for national populations.

Together with public primary schools, health, education, women and child affairs, agriculture and rural development offices, and other important implementing partners, this initiative aims to see that each child grows up with the bonds they need to become their strongest selves. The project will produce quantifiable outcomes, including creating access to quality early learning opportunities for 288 children, improving the capacity for 80 caregivers to enjoy good health, provide and care for their children, and improving the capacity for three public primary schools and other key implementing partners (selected government sector offices, CBOs and SACCOs) in addressing the needs of most vulnerable children and their families. Moreover, the project will indirectly benefit 636 children and their families in the project implementation area. This project pilot tested in Mekelle town, Tigray in the period from January 2024 to June 2025, and has been investing a sum of € 191,487. From the total budget required (which is the bare minimum) for this operation, about 9% (EUR 16,826) of the direct project cost will be covered by SOS CVE and the contribution from the community. The final focus of the project was strengthening community-based partners to sustainably respond to the situations of children and families through different capacity-building interventions. In general, the NIPLEE project was implemented in Mekelle in three Semen Sub city in three kebelles (Lekatit, Industry and Meles).

The terminal evaluation will focus on assessing the overall outcomes, impact, achievements, and lessons learned from the project. It will examine whether the project has met its intended objectives and will evaluate its overall effectiveness, sustainability, relevance, and potential for replication or scaling up. The findings and recommendations from the final project evaluation are expected to inform you about the design of higher-quality projects in the future. This project specifically targeted under-five children with early learning, family and stakeholders in Mekelle in three project sites (Industry, Lekatit and Melese) that benefit participants, including their children, caregivers, Community Care & Coalition (CCCs), Savings and Credit Cooperatives (SACCOs), and project schools that are part of project sites in Mekelle.

Objectives of the terminal evaluation:

The general objective of the terminal evaluation:

The general objective of terminal evaluation is to assess the results of the SOS Children’s Village Mekelle program, specifically in the NIPLEE projects systems for the protection and empowerment of children, families, and communities. This evaluation will measure the achievement of the project’s outcomes, outputs, relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact and sustainability. It also measures results against established targets, planned outputs, and activities. Additionally, it will draw lessons learned that can enhance the project’s sustainability and provide insights for improving initiatives related to NIPLEE project. The evaluation will also identify good practices and forward recommendations with effective strategies for other similar project implementation in the future.

Specific objectives:

The specific objectives of the terminal evaluation are:

• To assess the relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, impact, and sustainability of SOS Children’s Village NIPLEE project interventions.
• To determine the extent to which the project interventions addressed the gaps /challenges identified during the baseline thus meeting the target participants’ and stakeholder’s expectations.
• Study the organizational, functional, and financial capacity of SOS-supported CCCs, SACCOs and Schools.

Project outcomes and outputs:

Project Goal: is to Improve equitable access to quality early learning opportunities to children by 98%, 80% children and their caregivers enjoy good health and improved families and communities become a sustainable source of support for children by 35%.

Project Outcomes & Outputs:

Outcome 1: Children have equitable access to quality early learning opportunities.

Output # 11. Children have access to essential services

Output# 1.2. Teachers and admin staff receive professional development support to provide quality and inclusive education

Output# 1.3. Schools have improved and safe learning environments.

Outcome# 2: Children and their caregivers enjoy good health.

Output #2.1. Children and PLW (Pregnant and lactating women having a child under the age of 12 months) have access to nutritious food

Output #2.2. Children and their caregivers have increased health awareness and are able to access health services.

Outcome # 3: Families and communities become a sustainable source of support for children.

Output #3.1. Families have increased income.

Output #3.2. Families have increased awareness on positive parenting and are able to care for their children.

Output #3.3. Communities and their support structures are strengthened and responsive to the care and protection of children

3.4 Major evaluation /research questions:

The commissioned consultant should list relevant and possible evaluation questions by referring to the project document and the project result framework and show the terminal evaluation questions during the inception report presentation.

Scope and project targets:

This Project entitled – NIPLEE “NUTRITION INTEGRATED WITH PARENTING, LIVELIHOOD AND EARLY EDUCATION” is designed to strengthen systems for the protection and empowerment of children, families, and communities in Mekelle city of Tigray region in the period 2024 to 2025 in line with the Nurturing Care for Early Childhood Development Framework and to improve health, food safety and security, responsive care, and support as well as pre-primary education for children.The project is indirectly benefiting 636 children and their families in the project implementation area. This project has been implemented in Mekelle town, Tigray since January 2024 and will be finalized in August 2025.

Geographically, the terminal evaluation is limited to the project participants families, the communities and key implementation partners (CBOs) in Mekelle town in one sub city (Semen Sucity) and in three tabia namely Industry, Lekatit and Meles. Generally, SOS Mekelle program location also has been implementing the NIPLEE project Semen sub city in collaboration with Community Care Coalition (CCCs), Savings and Credit Cooperatives (SACCOs), project schools, and government structures. These structures mainly include the Women, Children’s and Social Affairs Office (WCSA), Finance Office, Education Office, and other relevant organizations. The terminal evaluation will study the project which was implemented in Mekelle city from May 01/ 202024 to October 31, 2025.

NIPLEE project has the following direct project participants

	NIPLEE Project Terminal Evaluation Direct Participants
Project Sites		Participants	Year	Male	Female	Total
Industry		Children	2024 to 2025	17	24	41
		Caregivers		0	21	21
		Sub total		17	45	62
Lekatit		Children Targets	2024 to 2025	58	48	106
		Caregivers		2	56	58
		Sub total		60	104	164
Meles		Children	2024 to 2025	75	52	127
		Caregivers		2	54	56
		Sub total		77	106	183
Public school		Target schools				3
Total				154	255	409
Indirect Beneficiaries
Children and their families			2024 to 2025			636

Terminal evaluation methodology:

The consultant(s) must develop a strong data collection methodology for this terminal evaluation, ensuring the data’s reliability and validity. A mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative and qualitative research methods, is recommended to produce the highest quality and most credible evidence. This study will collect data, disaggregated by sex, age, and disability, for the indicators listed in the result framework (the RF will be annexed for the winner consultant). The chosen methodology must be sensitive to the local context and ensure that all respondents, regardless of their background, have an equal opportunity to participate in the baseline study.

The terminal evaluation environment should be designed to provide safe and inclusive spaces that encourage all participants to respond freely, irrespective of gender, age, disability, origin, or religious beliefs. As far as possible, the consultant should disaggregate data by sex, age, and disability while collecting and analyzing data. Furthermore, the consultant should also clearly explain which questions will be answered using which methods. The Consultant should also ensure that the survey and qualitative methods (such as focus group discussion (FGD), key informant interview (KII) and group discussion) with participants are representative of the project’s target groups and key stakeholders (Community members, women, girls, boys and children), CCCs, CBOs.)

Sampling

The consultant is required to propose statistically sound sampling strategies to ensure representativeness. He/she is required to clearly state the sample size and the acceptable margin of error. The consultant will develop a detailed data analysis plan, outlining the statistical methods to be used for the quantitative data and the thematic analysis approach for the qualitative data. All data collection activities should be conducted following the highest ethical standards, ensuring informed consent, confidentiality, and the safety of all participants.

 

Work plan and expected deliveries

Work plan/timetable

The terminal evaluation task is expected to be finalized within 40 days after the contractual agreement is signed. The consultant is expected to develop her/his detailed work plan based on the following table.

 

Activities	Dates	Time frame	Location

Deliverables:

The commissioned external consultant must deliver the terminal evaluation findings within 45 days of the contract signed. Based on the work plan, SOS Children’s Villages of project intervention programme locations (Makelle) and the national office MEAL and FS teams expect the following deliverables:

• An inception report of 8 pages on the evaluation design, methodology, sampling frame, sampling technique, sample size, assessment tools and work plan
• Draft evaluation report.
• The consultant is expected to analyze the data and present findings (for both draft and final findings) by intervention areas separately (for Kebelle industry, Lekatit and Melese.)
• Final report – The findings of the evaluation report including an executive summary and data collection tools in both electronic and hardcopy formats should be submitted.
• Raw data, which has been cleaned (both qualitative and quantitative, including original field notes for in-depth interviews and focus group discussions, and recorded audio material), should be submitted with the report. SOS CVE will have sole ownership of all final data, and any findings shall only be shared or reproduced with the permission of SOS Children’s Village Ethiopia.

Report criteria:

The reporting criteria for TOFI project terminal evaluation shall be in line with the SOS Children’s Villages Ethiopia result based management (RBM) toolkit and should be shared with the winner consultant along with the data review process and/or for the preparation of the inception report.

Child safeguarding and ethical issues.

SOS Children’s Villages is committed to ensuring that all research, evaluation and data collection processes (i.e. evidence-generating activities) undertaken by SOS Children’s Villages and its partners are ethical and respect child safeguarding policy and procedure.

The consultant must respect the rights, dignity and protection of children and other vulnerable population groups and should ensure special protection for children and other vulnerable groups during any data-generating activities to minimize any potential risks. Any research, evaluation and data collection SOS Children’s Villages is directly carried out or is involved in as a partner.

Ethical practices need to be ensured in the following circumstances:

• Any research, baseline, midterm or final evaluations and data collection SOS Children’s Villages has commissioned for ethical oversight of these processes.
• Any research, evaluation and data collection carried out by researchers/consultants on SOS Children’s Villages programmes and participants.

Hence, the relevant Coordinator in SOS Children’s Village FCSP programme NIPLEE Project will ensure that any researchers, evaluators and data collectors should receive awareness training on, sign and adhere to SOS Children’s Villages core policies:

Obtaining consent from research participants is central to the research relationship and signals respect for the research participant’s dignity, their capability to express their views and their right to have these heard in matters that affect them. Informed consent is an explicit agreement which requires participants to be informed about and understand the research/assessment. This must be given voluntarily and be renegotiable, so that participants may withdraw at any stage of the research process.

Logistical arrangements:

The awarded consultant shall show feasible logistical arrangements for the assignment as part of the technical proposal. National or location-level staff (SOS CVE) will be available to help organize the interviews including contacting SOS CVE, announcing and local preparation of evaluation, and linking to community duty bearers and national authorities if required.

Duration of the contract and terms of payment

Payment will be made only upon SOS Children’s Villages’ acceptance of the work performed in accordance with the above-described deliverables. Payment will be affected by bank transfer in the currency of birr.

Funding and Payment: The consultancy firm will be paid by SOS Children’s Villages as follows:

• 30% on the submission and approval of the inception report/Technical Proposal.
• 30% on completion of the draft report.
• 40% on completion of the final report.

Duration of contract: the contract is effective from the moment it was signed until the acceptance of work by the SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia management team.

Notice of delay

Shall the successful bidder encounter a delay in the performance of the contract which may be excusable under unavoidable circumstances; the contractor shall notify SOS Children’s Villages in writing about the causes of any such delays within one (1) week from the beginning of the delay.

After receipt of the Contractor’s notice of delay, SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia shall analyze the facts and extent of the delay and extend the time for performance when in its judgment the facts justify such an extension.

Copyright and other proprietary rights:

SOS Children’s Villages shall be entitled to all intellectual property and other proprietary rights including, but not limited to, copyrights, and trademarks, with regard to products, processes, inventions, ideas, know-how, or documents and other materials which the Contractor has developed for SOS Children’s Villages under the Contract and which bear a direct relation to or are produced or prepared or collected in consequence of, or during the course of, the performance of the Contract. The Contractor acknowledges and agrees that such products, documents, and other materials constitute works made for hire for SOS Children’s Villages.

All materials: interviews, reports, recommendations, and all other data compiled by or received by the Contractor under the Contract shall be the property of SOS Children’s Villages and shall be treated as confidential and shall be delivered only to SOS Children’s Villages authorized officials on completion of work under the Contract. The external consultant is obliged to hand over all raw data collected during the assessment to SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia.

Termination:

The termination of the service agreement for the assignment will be in accordance with the contractual agreement to be included at the formal agreement’s actual signing.

Annex:

The winning consultancy firm will be shared with the following documents.

• NIPLEE projects result frameworks (RF).
• Projects document.
• SOS Children’s Village Ethiopia RBM reporting template

Qualification of the Researcher/Research Team

• The applicant consultancy firm shall have at least a master’s degree in a relevant field of study such Psychology, Sociology, Social Work, development studies, Economics, Project Management, Monitoring & Evaluation and other related fields per the required assignment
• At least 5 years’ work experience & proven competency in assessments, monitoring, research, terminal evaluations, baseline assessments or organizational/program evaluation (baseline, midterm, and final evaluations). The applicant consultancy firm shall attach at least one sample final evaluation report produced on a similar topic.
• A good understanding of family strengthening, community empowerment, livelihoods and development programme work.
• A good understanding of child/youth rights/safeguarding & other issues affecting vulnerable children in the Ethiopian context.
• proven experience in working with conceptual frameworks and data collection methods (including age-appropriate data collection methods)
• Proven experience in participatory processes and data collection methods
• Strong skills in coordination, good facilitation, organizational, and interpersonal skills
• Proven experience in participatory processes
• Strong skills in coordinating teamwork
• analytical and conceptual skills on market and livelihood assessment
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills in English.
• Ability to transfer complex concepts and ideas into practical and simple language.
• Experience in organizing research processes with SOS Children’s Villages or similar child focused organizations.
• Experience in managing baselines, final evaluations and livelihood assignments in respect of the participating communities’ culture, social norms, values, and behavior; and maintain appropriate relationships with participants of this evaluation.
• Legally registered firms with renewed license, VAT registration and TIN number