1. Evaluation context.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Zimbabwe’s Transition and Resilience Unit (TRU)  unit focuses on the well-being and protection of mobile and vulnerable individuals in Zimbabwe through the provision of tailored assistance and interventions that focus on strengthening the capacity of Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission to work with IOM and its network of implementing partners(IPs) in monitoring and advocating for rights of vulnerable and at risk populations. The project contributes towards improved human rights protection environment and ensure that responsible authorities take measures to protect citizens through improved protection monitoring, information management and analysis, strengthened referral paths and response coordination. The protection of populations at risk of human rights violations and internal displacement will be strengthened through enhanced compliance with existing legislation and policies through strengthening the role of ZHRC and evidence-based advocacy. The project is based on a collaborative multi-disciplinary approach given the different comparative advantages of partners from legal services, psycho-social support, civic education, advocacy, information sharing and case management which creates a strong foundation for success.

Part of these efforts involved the improvement and the preparedness of relevant actors for responses to mobility dimensions of humanitarian crises, particularly contributing towards comprehensive promotion and protection of human rights of vulnerable and at risk populations including internally displaced persons (IDPs), migrants and other affected communities. This is part of IOM’s global efforts to ensure safe, orderly and regular migration in full respect of the human rights of all mobile and vulnerable individuals to both migrant and host communities.

Since November 2017 the Embassy of Sweden in Zimbabwe contributed to these objectives through the assistance of mobile and vulnerable individuals through the project Scaling up Coordinated Protection, Promotion and Enforcement of Human Rights for Citizens and other Vulnerable Groups including Internally Displaced Persons in Zimbabwe. The ongoing project is expected to be completed by January 2022 and throughout implementation period IOM has been contributing to the protection of mobile and vulnerable communities through increased access and utilization of human rights protection information and services. The project has four expected outcomes, namely:

• Increased access and utilization of human rights protection information and services by citizens,
• Strengthened capacity for effective engagement between citizen groups/representatives and duty bearers,
• Improved dialogue on policy and legislative reforms between state and non-state actors,
• Increased citizen monitoring, learning and evidence-based advocacy on human rights issues.

Within the framework of the project, an addendum was created following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. This addendum focused on addressing the challenges posed by the pandemic through risk communication, screening and profiling of returning migrants, transportation and provision of PPE to returning migrants.

1. Evaluation purpose

The overall objective of the evaluation is to evaluate the project’s overall design, management and implementation and to assess if the project has achieved the intended results by analysing project objectives, results and activities, with considerations to the overall objective of the project.

The evaluation is being conducted for use by the donor in order to assess the efficiency in addressing the project objective and to measuring how economically resources/inputs (funds, expertise, time) were converted into results throughout the project life cycle. The evaluation will be also for use by management in IOM to improve the performance of other ongoing projects and best use of project resources based on the findings of the evaluation. The impact of the project will be assessed through the analysis of the implemented activities.

1. Evaluation scope

The evaluation will cover the whole project implementation period from November 2017 to 31 July 2021. The evaluation is expected to cover all project components including:

• Protection assistance provided to mobile and vulnerable individuals and communities in Zimbabwe.
• Assess the relevance, performance and success of the activities implemented so far and analyse the progress made towards the achievement of the project’s objectives and results
• Outreach activities and community cohesion events in Zimbabwe.

The external evaluator is expected to conduct part of the evaluation in Harare and visit implementing partners in Zimbabwe and air ticket will be provided by IOM.

1. Evaluation criteria

Project’s performance will be evaluated according to the OECD/DAC evaluation quality standards based on the criteria of relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability and impact.

1. Evaluation questions

The evaluation is expected to respond to the following key evaluation questions under each of the evaluation criterion below:

                 a) Relevance

• To what extent has the project responded to the priority needs of the target beneficiaries and stakeholders?
• To what extent has the project responded to national priorities in implementing countries?
• To what extent was the programme’s approach to protection and direct services in line with IOM’s Migration Crisis Operation Framework
• Did the project respond to the needs of the project beneficiaries and other target groups /stakeholders?

                  b) Effectiveness

• To what extent were the project activities translated into planned outputs, outcome and long-term goal?
• To what extent did the dedicated migrant assistance facilities improve the access of vulnerable IDPs and migrants to protection services prior to their return?
• What is the quality of the results /services/products provided?
• What are the main obstacles or barriers that the project has encountered during the implementation of the project? Has the project been successful in addressing these obstacles?
• Are there any factors that prevented beneficiaries and project partners from accessing the results/services provided?
• How appropriate are the project designs to achieve project results in the context in which they operate?
• How coherent and sound the intervention logic based on target country specific needs?

c) Efficiency

• How effectively were the project performances and results monitored?
• Were the projects’ activities undertaken and outputs delivered on time?
• Were the costs proportionate to the results achieved?

d) Impact 

• What impact did the project have on the beneficiaries and what are the key project intervention and delivery strategies that contributed to the observed impact if any?
• Are there any unintended positive or negative effects in relation to anticipated results in the project document?
• Did the project take timely measures for mitigating any unplanned negative impacts?

e) Sustainability

• What are the key project activities and benefits that are like to continue after the project has ended?
• Are structures, resources and processes in place to ensure that benefits generated by the project continue once external support ceases?
• To what extent is the project embedded in institutional structures that are likely to continue addressing migrants’ vulnerabilities once external support has ceased?
• Are there functional mechanisms that to ensure continuity of project activities and benefits beyond the project life cycle?
• Do the project partners have the financial capacity and are they committed to maintaining the benefits of the project in the long run?
• To what extent have target groups and possibly other relevant interest groups /stakeholders been involved in the planning /implementation process?
• Gender mainstreaming: the evaluation is also expected to assess the extent to which the project mainstreamed gender in its design, implementation packages and strategies as well as in reporting.

The above are key evaluation guiding questions. The evaluator may propose additional questions that are relevant for responding to collect sufficient data to meet the expectations of the evaluation.

1. Evaluation methodology

This summative evaluation will be conducted through an external individual evaluator. It is expected to use mixed methods approach to collected needed quantitative and qualitative data to assess the project performance in relation to intended short, medium- and long-term results.

Efforts shall be exerted to safeguard the inclusivity and engagement of relevant stakeholders to bring out their voice on how they perceived the implementation of IOM project, notably vulnerable migrants, returnees, reintegrated migrants, host communities, civil societies, government counterparts, community and local authorities’ leaders.

The evaluation is expected to use a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods to collect data needed to inform the objective assessment of the project performance in relation to planned results. Minimum expected data collection methods shall include:

1. Desk review to have a better understanding of the circumstances that surrounded the project throughout its life cycle;
2. Field visits in some selected areas in Zimbabwe;
3. FGDs with beneficiaries in selected project implementation sites; and
4. Key Informant Interviews with community leaders, relevant authorities, staff involved in the implementation of the project and the management.

The evaluator is expected to develop a detailed the methodological approach in close consultation with IOM in order to ensure rigour in the evaluation process and resultant findings and recommendations.

The evaluation processes shall be in line with IOM Data Protection Principles, IOM’s code of conduct, do no harm principles, UNEG norms and standards for evaluations.

1. Evaluation deliverables

The evaluator will be responsible for providing the following:

1. A draft evaluation inception report that illustrates the approach to the evaluation. The inception report should comprise an analysis of the project documents and reports available, an evaluation matrix, an evaluation of data collection instruments and a detailed provisional work plan;
2. A presentation of the preliminary evaluation findings;
3. A draft evaluation report outlining lessons learned and recommendations;
4. A final analytical evaluation report with a summary of the evaluation brief (two pager) that reflect comments and feedback from IOM. The final report should be structured according to IOM evaluation report template that include the following key sections:
   • Executive summary
   • Introduction
   • Context and purpose of evaluation
   • Evaluation framework and methodology
   • Evaluation findings
   • Conclusion and recommendations
   • Annexes

1. Evaluation workplan.

Activity

Responsible

Place
Place

1- Desk review of project documents and data analysis/ Presentation of an inception report (analysis of the project documents and reports available, evaluation matrix, evaluation of data collection instruments and a detailed provisional work plan)
Evaluator
Home-based
10 days

2-Meetings: project manager/staff/focal points, management.
Evaluator
Zimbabwe
10 days

3-Report writing and submission of the first draft
Evaluator
Home-based
10 days

4- Incorporate feedback and submit a final report with a two-pager evaluation brief
Evaluator
Home-based
5 days

1. Method of payment:

The payments should be done upon deliverable of the following:

Inception report delivered and approved by IOM
20%

First draft of the final report delivered and approved by IOM
40%

First draft of the final report delivered and approved by IOM
40%

All payments terms shall be issued per the terms and condition of the Purchase Order (PO) based on the disbursement of satisfactory submission of documents above mentioned.

The annexes should include data collection instruments, list of stakeholders interviewed during the evaluation, list of documents reviewed, the evaluation matrix and the evaluation ToR.

1. Required qualifications and experience.

The candidate is expected to demonstrate the following minimum academic background and experience in evaluation:

• Master’s degree in advanced applied research/evaluation methods, economics or any related academic discipline or an affiliation with a research institution or a university;
• At least 06 years of experience in developing and implementing evaluations with the UN, International NGOs and/or donors;
• Experience in evaluating programmes addressing human rights, migration governance and/or familiarity with migration dynamics in Southern Africa will be considered an asset;
• Experience in gender analysis and knowledge of English is required.
• Conversant with the human rights context in Zimbabwe and SADC region;
• Familiarity with the OECD/DAC and UNEG evaluation framework;
• Strong background in monitoring and evaluation techniques in humanitarian and development contexts.

1. Application procedure/ How to Apply.

The interested consultant should submit a technical proposal with a detailed evaluation methodology, provisional work plan, and the overall approach to the evaluation and an all-inclusive budget proposal  by Friday the 09th of July 2021 to. Late submissions will not be considered. The submission should include the followings:

• A technical and financial proposal

(Financial proposal should be “all-inclusive” and include a breakdown. The term ‘all-inclusive” implies that all costs - professional fees, communications, utilities, consumables, insurance, visa, accommodation in Zimbabwe, etc.- that could possibly be incurred by the Contractor are already factored into the financial proposal);

• A cover letter;
• A detailed CV;
• Three references;
• Examples of two recent evaluation reports produced.

When evaluating the competing applicants, IOM will consider the written qualifications/ capability, the information provided by the applicants, and any other information obtained by IOM through its research.

Applications with missing documents will be treated as incomplete and will not be considered for further assessment.

Kindly note that for efficiency reasons, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Posting period: 15 June 2021 to 9 July 2021

IOM will be responsible for the round air ticket of the consultant from country of origin to Harare, Zimbabwe. In case needed, IOM will also be responsible for transportation of the consultant from Harare to additional cities.