Request for Proposals (RFP) for Conducting Acute Crisis Endline Survey in Siavonga and Gwembe Districts

Job description

1.    INTRODUCTION

The Zambia Red Cross Society (ZRCS), with support from the Netherlands Red Cross, is implementing the Acute Crisis Project to complement government efforts in responding to drought in Gwembe and Siavonga districts of Southern Province. The project covers three key thematic sectors: Food Security and Nutrition; Resilient Livelihoods and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), with cross-cutting components of Protection, Gender and Inclusion (PGI), Community Engagement and Accountability (CEA), and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS).

Key interventions include unconditional cash voucher assistance, hygiene promotion, agricultural input support, climate-smart agriculture training, water point rehabilitation, and community-based health initiatives.

2.    PURPOSE OF ENDLINE

The purpose of this endline evaluation will be to provide substantiated evidence of the modifications made by the Acute Crisis project in order to inform ZRCS future programing. It will serve as a key accountability tool for ZRCS and its partners for the purpose of identifying the extent to which the project objectives were achieved.

3.    OBJECTIVE OF THE ENDLINE STUDY.

To assess the overall performance and impact of the project by measuring progress against the planned and to generate evidence-based insights that will inform the final project report, lessons learned, and future programming.

To evaluate the extent to which the project has achieved its intended outcomes and outputs.
To examine how well the project interventions responded to the priority needs of the target population, the degree to which intended results were achieved, and the likelihood that the benefits will continue beyond the project’s lifespan.
To generate evidence-based lessons and best practices that will inform the final report, accountability to stakeholders, and design of future interventions

4.    SCOPE OF EVALUATION

The scope of the evaluation will be based on the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) principles

OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC),

These principles provide a standardized framework to evaluate development and humanitarian projects. They focus on learning and accountability.

The six core DAC criteria (updated 2019):

Relevance

Does the intervention address the real needs and priorities of the target group, including changing circumstances?
Is it aligned with local context, priorities, and policies?

Coherence

How well does the intervention complement, harmonize with, or avoid duplication of other efforts (by other actors or sectors)?
Is there internal and external consistency in the approach?

Effectiveness

To what extent were the objectives achieved?
Did the intervention deliver the intended results?

Efficiency

How well were resources used (time, money, effort) to achieve outputs and outcomes?
Was the intervention cost-effective?

Impact

What difference did the intervention make in the long term?
What are the positive and negative, intended and unintended, direct and indirect effects?

Sustainability

Will the benefits of the intervention last after the project ends?
Are the capacities and systems in place to maintain outcomes over time?

5.    SCOPE OF EVALUATION

The consultant should take note of the following:

Timeframe: This evaluation will cover the entire project duration.
Geographical coverage: This evaluation will focus on the 2 project districts: Gwembe and Siavonga.
Target groups to be covered: The endline evaluation will cover the primary and secondary beneficiaries as well as key personals among the stakeholders involved in the project implementation.

6. METHODOLOGY

The consultant(s) is expected to propose his/her methodology for the consultancy, which should include but not limited to:

Work-plan: This must be a detailed step‐ by‐ step plan of work that specifies the methods the evaluation will use to collect the information needed to address evaluation criteria and answer the evaluation questions, analyze data, interpret the findings, and report the results.
Evaluation Matrix: An evaluation matrix which includes at least analysis dimension, evaluation question, indicators, means of verification, source, methodology, and space for comments.
Budget: The evaluator will provide a detailed budget showing how much each stage of the evaluation will be costed.

7. KEY DELIVERABLES

Evaluation inception report: A consultant will prepare an inception report before going into the technical mission and full data collection stage. It must detail the consultant’s understanding of what is being evaluated and why, showing how each process will be developed and how each evaluation question will be answered by way of: proposed methods, proposed sources of data and data collection/analysis procedures. The inception report must include a proposed schedule of tasks, activities, and deliverables, designating the person with the lead responsibility for each task.
The consultant will submit the raw data collected during the evaluation.
Presentation of preliminary findings to the ZRCS: The consultant will develop and deliver a presentation to the ZRCS team, summarizing preliminary findings and providing a debrief on the methodology used. Ideally, this presentation should be conducted during the Project Lessons Learned workshop, in the presence of ZRCS staff and relevant stakeholders.
Draft evaluation report to ZRCS for which ZRSC and its partners will provide feedback.
Submit Final Endline Evaluation Report to ZRCS: The final report submitted by the consultant should include a clear comparison of the findings from the baseline to the endline and recommendations for future programming. The consultant will submit the final report with comments addressed and must meet the minimum requirements specified in this TOR. He or She must accompany the final report within an appropriate format, for dissemination among various levels of stakeholders.

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCES REQUIRED

The consultant must be able to demonstrate the following skills, knowledge, and experience:

Education:

Master’s degree in Climate Change and Sustainable Development, in Disaster Studies, Public Health, Development studies, Population Studies or related.

Experience:

At least 5 years’ experience in disaster risk management
At least 5 years’ experience conducting evaluations of projects.
Previous assignments in conducting endline studies and evaluations.
Experience with participatory assessment.
Experience with qualitative and quantitative methods
Knowledge or expertise in statistical data analysis software in the case of conducting the endline survey.
Demonstrated knowledge or experience in using QGIS for spatial data analysis and mapping.
Experience conducting similar works with Red Cross (RCRC) is an advantage.

Skills

Fluency in English, Tonga and Nyanja
Ability to write concise, yet comprehensive reports.
Ability to meet deadlines.
Knowledge of mobile data collection.
Competences in qualitative and quantitative data software is desirable.

Knowledge

Technical knowledge in Emergency and Disaster Management, Public Health and Community Based Surveillance

PROPOSAL BY CONSULTANT TO ZRCS

Interested consultants meeting above specifications are expected to submit the following in view of the selection process using the link application form on or Before Thursday 31st July,2025.

Technical offer/ Expression of Interest.
Technical proposal describing how evaluation should be carried out.
Financial proposal (consultancy fees).
List of the previous studies/research developed by her/him, including the link to be able to review them (if this is already included in the CV, it wouldn’t be necessary to attach it separately).