Terms of Reference - External Evaluation for Action Against Hunger’s Intervention at Action Against Hunger

Reference of the Assessment: PD-ABU-01312-001

Project Name Improving food and nutrition security of conflict affected communities in northeast Nigeria

Sector: Nutrition, Food Security and Livelihood

Implementing Partners (if applicable): Search For Common Ground

1. Project Background
1.1. Rationale for the Project
The protracted humanitarian situation in Northeast Nigeria has negatively impacted the well-being, dignity, and security of civilians. There are 2.1 million IDPs in Nigeria of whom 1,566,011 are in Borno
State and 142,425 are in Yobe State, and 78% of the displaced population are women and children (IOM DTM, Round 33 August 2020). Some, 76% of surveyed IDPs cite food as their main unmet need.
Moreover, 1.7 million returnees are at various stages and lack inputs, assets and income to rebuild their livelihoods. Repeated mass displacement 91 percent of IDPs have been displaced more than once has impacted affected population’s self-sufficiency and ability to meet their food and basic needs. Mass displacements and rising food insecurity adds strain on already scarce resources. Projections from the October 2020 Cadre Harmonisé (CH) update indicates that during the 2021 lean season about 2,673,293 people are projected to be in phase 3-5 an increase in the number of people in need from 3.7 to 4.3 million as a result of COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, 10.6 million people require critical lifesaving humanitarian assistance in the Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe States (BAY region), including 2.1 million (19 %) women, 2.3 million children (21 %), and 0.9 million (8 %) persons with disabilities (PWDs) (Nigeria, Humanitarian Response Plan 2020, UNOCHA). Populations in need of humanitarian assistance have more than tripled from 0.7 million in 2019. Protection issues linked with sexual exploitation are faced by IDPs, children, women, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.

1.2 Project Goal
In an effort to continue critical lifesaving assistance support to the most food-insecure populations Action Against Hunger proposed the provision of ten (10) months food assistance project in six of the
most conflict-affected LGAs of MMC, Jere, Monguno, Nganzai, and Magumeri in Borno, and Gujba LGA in Yobe States. AAH continued to provide support to the existing registered beneficiaries, which
include:

• 6,622 households in MMC/Jere LGA in Borno State
• 14,654 households in Monguno LGA in Borno State
• 6,255 households in Nganzai LGA in Borno State
• 4,885 households Magumeri LGA in Borno State
• 4,502 HHs in Gujba LGA in Yobe State
• Additionally, 1,500 Pregnant & Lactating Mothers (PLWs) in MMC/Jere in Borno state continued to receive assistance for 8 months and 500 new arrivals households have been supported through
• Cash/food Vouchers for 5 rounds as a contingency plan.

1.3 Geographical scope covered by the analysis
The geographical scope of the evaluation will cover six of the most conflict-affected LGAs of MMC,
Jere, Monguno, Nganzai, and Magumeri in Borno, and Gujba LGA in Yobe States.
 

2. PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
2.1. Objectives of the Evaluation
The overarching purpose of the evaluation is to assess the overall performance of the project and to determine if it has achieved its intended outputs and outcomes. Likewise, the evaluation should clearly explain why (or why not) these outputs and outcomes were achieved through an integrated analysis of the entire result chain (inputs, activities, outputs outcomes and Likelihood of Impact) and other contextual factors. The evaluation will use OECD DAC criteria (effectiveness, efficiency, relevance, sustainability and impact) in addition the consultant will look at design, coverage and coherence. The consultant will extract the best practices, lesson learned, what worked and what did not and provide recommendations to enhance the quality of AAH future programming for emergency food security activities.

3. Profile of the Evaluator
The evaluation will be carried out by an international evaluation consultant with the following profile:

• Knowledge in Food Security and Livelihood sector with particular experience on cash-based- interventions, Market System Developments agriculture, nutrition security and nutrition;
• Background in social sciences/psycho-social area, and experience in care practices and complementary feeding;
• Significant field experience in the evaluation of humanitarian / development projects;
• Relevant degree / equivalent experience related to the evaluation to be undertaken;
• Significant experience in coordination, design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of programs preferably Cash Based Interventions and nutrition;
• Good communications skills and experience of workshop facilitation;
• Ability to write clear and useful reports (may be required to produce examples of previous work);
• Fluent in English;
• Understanding of donor requirements (USAID/BHA) including donor evaluation guidelines;
• Ability to manage the available time and resources and to work to tight deadlines; Independence from the parties involved;
• Familiarity with the context of the humanitarian situation in Northeast Nigeria will be an added as advantage.