Consultancy at International Alert

Terms of Reference Final Evaluation Project final evaluation Strengthening youth’s resilience to violent extremism in Borno State.

1. Background

Period being evaluated: 1st October 2019 – 31st September 2021 (24 months).

Project: Hadin Kai Do Min Zaman Lafiya” (Uniting for Peace)

Project Areas of Intervention: The project targets 5 communities in Borno State that are affected by

high level of recruitment to Boko Haram (in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, Jere and Bama LGAs)

Donor: U.S. Embassy Abuja, Public Affairs Section

Context

Historical political disenfranchisement, socio-cultural marginalization of certain demographic groups and economic impoverishment over several decades created fertile ground for the Boko Haram insurgency group to find its place in Northeast Nigeria. Formally called Jama’atul ahl al-sunnah li da’awati wal jihad (JAS, or ‘People Committed to the Propagation of the Prophet’s Teachings and Jihad’), Boko Haram gained momentum in the early 2000s through worshippers at the al-Haji Muhammadu Ndimi Mosque in Maiduguri in Borno State who adopted a strict, initially peaceful doctrine, aiming for the purification of Islam in northern Nigeria. Led by its founder Mohammed Yusuf, the group grew in influence, attracting supporters from beyond Maiduguri and Borno State and adopting an increasingly political tone aiming at dismantling the Nigerian government and establishing an Islamic state in its place. The core grievances of

the group were: poor political representation of northeast communities at the federal level and limited control over politico-economic development of their impoverished region; perceived marginalization of northern Muslims in key decision making posts in government, eradicating a history of powerful northern Muslim empires; corruption by local northern leaders and propagation of “impure” forms of Islam and Westernization; and the absence of economic opportunities, basic services and infrastructure development, leading to a perception of deliberately impoverishing the north in favor of the more prosperous, largely Christian south.

After nearly a decade of violence, Boko Haram continues to be successful in its recruitment strategy. Recruiting modalities into this group are mixed between coercion and choice. Hundreds of civilians (including women of children) have been abducted and forced to participate in the group’s violent

activities. However, thousands of men and women have joined of their own accord. Alert’s above[1]referenced research under NSRP1 indicates that young men between ages 18-25 were the most likely to join.

Alert is a peacebuilding international non-governmental organization with over 30 years’ experience working with people directly affected by conflict in over 20 countries across 5 continents.

Alert’s vision is that people and their societies can resolve their conflicts without resorting into violence, working together to build sustainable and inclusive peace.

Our mission is to break cycles of violence and to build sustainable peace by:

1https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/701037/Nigeria-Stability-and-Reconciliation-Programme-Volume-1.pdf

• Working with people directly affected by violent conflict to find lasting solutions.
• Shaping policies and practices to reduce and prevent violence, and to support sustainable peace.
• Collaborating with all those striving for peace to strengthen our collective voice and impact

Project Goals and Objectives:

The overall goal of the “Hadin kai do min zaman lafiya” (Uniting for Peace) project is to reduce the risk of recruitment of community members by Boko Haram by engaging communities in prevention activities.

The specific objectives of the project are:

• To strengthen incentives for individuals at risk of recruitment to contribute constructively to their communities.
• To reduce the appeal of joining violent extremist groups through promoting peaceful methods for addressing grievances

Activities

Specific Objective 1: To strengthen incentives for individuals at risk of recruitment due to socio[1]economic factors to contribute constructively to their communities.

Through these activities the project addresses drivers of recruitment related to absence of economic opportunity for young people; improving a sense of control over the lives and capacity to contribute to community life; and understanding of methods to deal peacefully with grievances, which counter Boko Haram’s ideology of violence.

Specific Objective 2: To reduce the appeal of joining violent extremist groups through the promotion

of peaceful methods for addressing grievances.

2. Overview of the survey

This final evaluation will be used to understand the impact of Alert’s Trans Sahara Counter Terrorism programme in Borno State Northeast Nigeria. The purpose will be to provide information on the effectiveness and sustainability of the programme, for internal accountability and learning which will be used for designing, planning and implementation of future programme and for accountability to donors.

Specific objectives are:

• Update the project indicators in achieving the overall goal of the project.
• Determine the extent to which Alert’s project in Borno is having an impact as framed in the programme theory of change.
• Assess the conflict and gender sensitivity of the Trans Sahara Counter Terrorism project in Borno State.
• Determine the effectiveness and efficiency of the skills acquisition project to at risk youths.
• Provide and share actionable lessons learned and recommendations for the design and implementation of future projects.
• Evaluate impact, effectiveness, and sustainability of the project

The Evaluation Questions

The following key questions will guide the end of project evaluation:

• Relevance – Assess design and focus of the project.
• Was the project relevant to the identified needs and target groups?
• Were the inputs and strategies identified realistic, appropriate, and adequate to achieve the results?
• EffectivenessDescribe the management processes and their appropriateness in supporting delivery.
• Was the project effective in delivering desired/planned results?
• How effective were the strategies and tools used in the implementation of the project?
• How effective has the project been in responding to the needs of the beneficiaries, and what results were achieved.
• To what extent did the project achieve its overall objectives?
• What and how much progress has been made towards achieving the overall outputs and outcomes
• To what extent were the results (impacts, outcomes, and outputs) achieved?

Efficiency – Of Project Implementation

• Was the process of achieving results efficient? Specifically did the actual or expected results (outputs and outcomes) justify the costs incurred? Were the resources effectively utilized?
• Did project activities overlap and duplicate other similar interventions (funded nationally and /or by other donors? Are there more efficient ways and means of delivering more and better results (outputs and outcomes) with the available inputs?
• How did the project financial management processes and procedures affect project implementation?
• Sustainability-
• To what extent are the benefits of the projects likely to be sustained after the completion of this project?
• What is the likelihood of continuation and sustainability of project outcomes and benefits after completion of the project?
• How effective were the exit strategies, and approaches to phase out assistance provided by the project including contributing factors and constraints?
• Describe key factors that will require attention in order to improve prospects of sustainability of Project outcomes and the potential for replication of the approach.
• How were capacities strengthened at the individual and organizational levels (including contributing factors and constraints)?
• How was the project’s collaboration with the relevant Government stakeholders, national institutions, development partners, and other key actors?

Lesson Learned-

• Describe the main lessons that have emerged?
• What are the recommendations for similar support in future?
• What are the future intervention strategies and issues?

(Nb. The recommendations should provide comprehensive proposals for future interventions based on the current evaluation findings).

Overall responsibilities of the consultant include:

(I) develop the sample frame for the endline survey (ii) design/adapt/refine (as appropriate) the endline survey questionnaires (iii) arrange for the questionnaires to be translated into relevant languages (iv) pre[1]test the questionnaires (v) incorporate changes into the questionnaires after pre-testing the questionnaires

(vi) hire and train the field supervisors and enumerators (vii) plan the field work logistics (viii) conduct a pilot survey and revise the questionnaire based on the findings of the pilot survey (ix) prepare survey implementation and questionnaire documentation. (x) supervise survey implementation and ensure quality control (xi) analyze and report the findings of the survey and provide datasets and final documentation.

3. Evaluation Timing and Duration

The evaluation would commence within August 2021, with a desk review. Field data collection would commence ideally at the end of the desk review and inception report produced.

4. Evaluation Methodology

• The evaluation will be led by an independent evaluator who will adopt a quantitative and qualitative result[1]based approach and utilized several data collection tools including a project document review, direct observations, interview with key informants and focused group discussions. The evaluator could also use participatory approach to design data collection or analysis that would be inclusive of women and men specific perspective.
• Inception phase: The evaluator will review project documentation and have initial conversations with project staff to ensure that he/she has enough information to refine the evaluation methodology.
• Development of the methodology: Following this the evaluator will draft a detailed methodology, work plan and evaluation tools, which will be reviewed and finalized together with International Alert. The methodology will be included in the submission of an inception report, together with the evaluation final terms of reference and tools for data collection.
• Fieldwork: Fieldwork will be used to collect data, carry out interviews and focus group discussions on specific aspects of the project. The fieldwork will mainly be carried out in the project target areas in Borno state.
• International Alert will provide lists of different stakeholders for the consultant to select from and will ensure that staff assist and accompany the consultant throughout the evaluation.
• The survey, interviews and/ or focus group discussions will be carried out with: Alert staff in country,
• Alert Headquarters staff, Alert Conflict Adviser, beneficiaries, and stakeholders as identified in the agreed methodology.
• Analysis of results: All collected data, should form part of a comprehensive analysis. The analysis should seek to answer the evaluation questions and be geared to respond to the objectives of the evaluation.
• Reports: A draft report will be submitted to Alert Project Manager, Northeast MEL Officer and Northeast Programme Manager. It will respond fully to the final evaluation terms of reference. The final report will consider the observations and comments of Alert on the first draft report.

5. Deliverables and tentative schedule

• The evaluator will produce an inception report detailing methodology and tools for data collection and analysis, evaluation report and a summarized version of the main report
• Tentatively, the work will be delivered with 40 days from inception.
• All deliverables will have to be approved by Alert’s Country Director and the Senior Programme Assessment and Design Officer who will also secure other internal approvals, as necessary.
• All deliverables and data of the evaluation will be owned by Alert and may be used for both internal and external reporting and communications. The deadlines will be agreed with the consultant.
• The main body of the evaluation report, in Word format, should be 20 pages max (excluding the appendices/annexes) and is to include the following elements:

Content Table

• Executive Summary
• Introduction
• List of acronyms
• Background (description of the project)
• Evaluation objectives and criteria

Methodology and limitations

Main results and analysis, clearly responding to the evaluation criteria and key questions in the ToR and referring to the projects’ results and indicators.

Conclusions and recommendations

Annexes: Three case studies of what has worked well (written, photographic), evaluation Terms of

Reference, meeting calendar, tools used in evaluation (survey questionnaire, question guides, interview questionnaires, observation grids, etc.), list of documents consulted.

Evaluation findings and learning use and dissemination

External: The full report will be shared with the donors funding the project as well as other stakeholders.

Internal: MEL Officer Northeast, will facilitate a Management Response process that will provide an opportunity to discuss findings, and lead to an action plan with clear deadlines and responsibilities for uptake of recommendations.

Support and resources to be provided by Alert

Based on the final ToRs and contract, International Alert will provide resources such as office space, International Alert’s M&E Officer and Project Manager will be the focal point person for communicating and providing documentation to the Consultant.

Ethics and data protection

Relevant International Alert policies on procurement and HR, and the organizational code of conduct will be provided to successful candidates.

Required skills and experience

We are seeking an experienced external consultant to conduct the evaluation.

The consultant will be:

• Experienced in the design, implementation, and evaluation of peacebuilding work.
• Experienced in carrying out impact evaluations, ideally in the peacebuilding sector
• Fluent in English
• An excellent communicator
• Ideally s/he will also be experienced and knowledgeable on Nigeria and the context in the Northeast of the country