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Plan International

PLAN ASIA CIVIL SOCIETY REGIONAL PROJECT

FOR INCREASED ACCOUNTABILITY OF ASEAN AND SAARC TO THE REALISATION OF CHILDREN’S RIGHT TO PROTECTION

Terms of Reference for the End of Project Evaluation of Plan Asia Civil Society Regional Programme (2011-2015)

1.Introduction

Plan is an international child-centred development organisation. Plan’s vision is of a world in which all children realise their full potential in societies that respect people’s rights and dignity. Plan works in 66 countries across the world; in 50 developing countries across Africa, Asia and the Americas supported by fundraising in 21 countries and by 4 regional offices and Plan international headquarters in the UK.

Child Centred Community Development (CCCD) is Plan’s Child Rights approach, in which children, families and communities are active and leading participants in their own development. This approach recognises the intrinsic link between poverty and rights, where poverty is both a cause and consequence of the denial of rights. For more information visit www.plan-international.org 

2.Background  

Plan Asia Regional Office (ARO) has been implementing a 5 year Regional Programme (January, 2011 - December 2015) which aimed at strengthening the role of the civil society in reducing poverty through effective and consistent realisation of children’s rights in Asia. Although the slightly delayed Programme start-up in June 2011, the Programme has effectively delivered all activities as per the annual work plans. The 5 year programme worked towards strengthening civil society capacity, including children´s groups, for effective child rights monitoring, improved child protection and children´s participation in their own development. The Programme was implemented at the Asia regional level by Plan Asia Regional Office (ARO). Plan ARO collaborated with CSO coalitions and Plan Offices in 09 countries in order to achieve the programme objectives.

The Programme has received support via Plan Norway and Plan Sweden from the back-donors NORAD and SIDA. In addition, certain parts of the Programme have received support from Plan Netherlands and Plan Finland. However, the scope of the evaluation is limited to the logframe for the Programme. The intended users of the evaluation report are Plan offices in Asia involved in the Programme, Plan National Offices providing funding for the programme, back donors, primarily NORAD, and CSO coalitions targeted by the initiative and their member organisations.  

3.Objectives

The objective of the consultancy is to evaluate if and how the Programme has reached the intended output and outcomes. The evaluation will cover the period 01 January 2011 to 31 December 2015.

Particular attention will be given to assess:

How the trainings conducted and materials developed in the Programme have strengthened the capacity of targeted CSO coalitions, and if/how this increased capacity and material have been used and resulted in actions by the coalitions, and the results of these actions.

To assess relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability of the Programme.

To identify and document lessons learned and provide recommendations to improve the quality of the future programmes.

In addition, the evaluation shall consider and report on the following aspects:

How consistent is the Programme with key aspects of Plan’s CCCD approach;

How consistent is the Programme with the regional strategy;

How well has the internal monitoring system contributed to the evaluation and to ongoing Programme implementation;

How appropriate was the original project/programme design for achieving the results that were originally expected.

4.Methodology/Tasks

The prospective consultant/evaluator will be required to submit a detailed methodology based on their interpretation of the evaluation objectives. Specifically, the consultant(s) will be expected to carry out the following tasks:

Conduct a desk review of relevant documentation; including project proposal, means of verification, previous evaluations and assessments, progress reports and documentation of actions taken by coalitions and results of actions;

Conduct in-depth distance interviews with selected people at the targeted CSOs and focal points at Plan offices using ICT;

Reflective practice: the evaluation process, methodology and reports should be structured in ways that encourage participants to reflect, discuss and potentially revise their understanding and behaviour;

Responsible process: Processes should include sensitivity to and monitoring of the different political interests and guard against negative consequences and misuse of information;

Fair and inclusive: Evaluator should seek the views of different stakeholders and be able to identify and address potential conflicts of interest and unequal power relations. Special efforts should be made to make the evaluation design and process child centred and sensitive to aspects of gender and inclusion. This includes use of methods sensitive to inclusion and relevant disaggregation of data;

Conflict of interest: Evaluator must state any conflicts of interests and potential biases, including bias towards a particular technical programme approach (e.g. one type of microfinance or child survival programme);

Based on Rights and Ethics: Evaluators and evaluations must respect and protect human rights, child rights and the dignity of participants; and comply with ethical standards.

5.Deliverables/output

The consultant will prepare:

An inception report which comprises an understanding of the ToR, proposed methodology and tools, and assignment;  

Data collection tools and sampling framework

Draft report with a PowerPoint presentation of findings

Final report

These deliverables are to be:

Prepared in English only.

Submitted to Plan electronically via email and/or electronic media storage devices.

The final evaluation report that, as a minimum, includes a standard cover sheet; executive summary; description of objectives, methods and limitations; description of programme activities; findings and conclusions.

Plan shall:

Contract the Consultant based on its principles, standards and practices;

Provide guidance to the Consultant throughout the consultancy period;

Provide necessary contact details for ICT meetings/distance interviews;

Approve all deliverables including final sign-offs for the purpose of making payments.

The consultant on his/her part will be responsible for:

Conducting the consultancy in accordance with the ToR;

Design methodology for completing the tasks as per agreed timeframe;

Regular progress reporting to Plan ARO;

Production of deliverables in accordance with contractual requirements;

Adhere to Plan’s Child Protection Policy, standards and practices while conducting the consultancy.

6.Schedule

The consultancy shall be completed within a period of maximum 20 days, starting at the latest on 1st of October, 2015.  

7.Qualifications

The consultant(s) is expected to meet the following qualifications and competencies:

Child Rights expert with substantial knowledge of Child Protection and a rights based approach with at least 5 years’ experience in designing, implementing and evaluating rights based programmes in developing countries.

Extensive knowledge of Civil Society and the Busan Principles.

Good knowledge of the Asian context regarding child rights and civil society

Fluent in English.

Fully acquainted with project cycle management,

Previous engagement with and knowledge of Plan is desirable.

8.Payments

The consultant will receive remuneration under Plan’s terms of payment, which will be based on the output of the work within the agreed timeframe and not on further duration that it might take. The final report of the evaluation must be formally accepted as completion of the assignment by programme management in both at Plan Norway and ARO.

9.Child Protection

Throughout the process, compliance with Plan’s Child Protection Policy and standards must be assured.

10.How to apply?

Please submit your proposal to Plan Asia Regional Office at the latest Thursday the 21st of September, 2015.   To ; PlanAsia.JobVacancies@plan-international.org

Only shortlisted candidates will be notified and interview

Plan takes active measures in recruitment and employment to ensure children are protected.

Plan is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

www.plan-international.org