Call for Consultants: HSNP Mid Term Evaluation

Background

HelpAge is a global network of not-for-profit organisations with a vision of a world where older people fulfil their potential to lead active, dignified, healthy and secure lives. With more than 70 affiliates and 300 partners across more than 50 countries the HelpAge network brings together hundreds of organisations worldwide. HelpAge has a secretariat with offices in London and Brussels, seven regional centres in Africa (2), Asia/Pacific (2), Latin America, the Caribbean and Central Asia in addition to country programme offices. The rights component of the HSNP programme is managed by the East, West and Central Africa Regional Development Centre (EWCARDC) in Nairobi, Kenya. EWCARDC focuses on strengthening the capacity of partner organisations including HelpAge affiliates working with older people. It also works to advocate the rights and welfare of older people at regional, country and local levels. HelpAge has had Observer Status with the Africa Union since 2000 when an MOU was signed between the two organisations.

The Mid Term Review of theSocial Protection RightsComponent

In 2008, HelpAge International, as part of a group of organizations, commenced implementation of Phase I of the Government of Kenya led and UKaid and AusAID-financed Hunger Safety Net Programme (HSNP). The objective of Phase I (April 2007 - March 2012) was to design and pilot cost-effective mechanisms for beneficiary targeting, payment delivery and grievance management in four counties in Northern Kenya (Turkana, Wajir Marsabit and Mandera).

Following the end of Phase I of the HSNP programme we were awarded the responsibility to undertake the Social Protection Rights component under phase II of the HSNP. Our objective within the programme is to establish a grievance and accountability mechanism that will allow for programme stakeholders to realise their rights within the programme as well as support the communities to realise their rights as enshrined in the Kenyan constitution. We expect to achieve these in a sustainable manner by bringing on board state actors to support the implementation of this project and to carry on with the project post 2017. The state actors that are on board include the Commission on Administrative Justice, the Kenya National Commission for Human Rights and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission.

HelpAge works with five partner institutions based in Turkana, Wajir Marsabit and Mandera counties and these include the following;

a) District Pastoralist Association (DPA)—Wajir

b) Kenya National Commission for Human Rights (KNCHR)—Wajir

c) Pastoralist Integrated Support Programme (PISP)—Marsabit

d) Horn of Africa Women Empowerment Network Kenyan Agency (HAWENKA)—Mandera

e) Rural Agency for Community Development and Assistance (RACIDA)—Mandera

In Turkana, we have established a HelpAge sub office in Lodwar from which we undertake our project activities.

Programme Objectives

The goal of the programme is to contribute to the reduction of poverty in Turkana, Wajir, Mandera and Marsabit through increasing accountability (from all stakeholders but especially GoK) in the delivery of HSNP.

The outputs of the programme are:

• Output 1: 70% of cases of eligible beneficiaries to HSNP raised through C&G mechanism are resolved by 2017: This will be achieved cycle by cycle and will link to the National Safety Net Programme Disburdenment Linked Indicators.
• Output 2: 70% of adult population (and 50% of women, disabled and older people) in HNSP sub locations is aware of and knows how to claim their rights to social protection. The programme will increase awareness of methodologies and locations of raising complaints and grievances, and especially focus of poor and marginalized groups to ensure equity of access to services within the communities.
• Output 3: Rights committees and county based NGOs effectively hold duty bearers to account over HSNP delivery: The programme will enhance the capacity of claim holders at the grassroots and also at county level to claim rights for and effective HSNP programme delivery of Cash Transfers.
• Output 4: Statutory complaints and grievance institutions (IPCRM) have increased capacity to collect and process complaints from right holders. The programme will work with the IPCRM to ensure sustainability of interventions by claim holders.
• Output 5: Key learning from HSNP C&G mechanism are shared with and influence design and delivery of other cash transfer programmes inside Kenya and internationally. The programmed will learn to influence the annual budgeting of Kenya, The NSNP complaints and grievances mechanism and regional and international debates on accountability mechanisms of cash transfers.

Programme Activities

1. Training of partners on entry and forwarding of complaints within the MIS;
2. Undertaking TOT on re-training on Complaints and Grievance system and Charter of rights and responsibilities to Partner NGOs;
3. Undertaking retraining of Rights Committees on Complaints and Grievance system and Charter of rights and responsibilities including collection, processing and feed-backing of complaints;
4. Distribution and collection of complaints log in books to Rights Committees;
5. Undertaking trainings for RCs on investigation of validity of selected complaints;
6. Undertaking investigations of validity of selected complaints.
7. Undertaking radio campaigns on HSNP and cash transfer processes;
8. Undertaking audio visual awareness creation activities in HSNP and cash transfer processes;
9. Supporting the participation of partner NGOs in chiefs and sub assistant chief Barazas to create awareness in HSNP and cash transfer rights;
10. undertaking TOT trainings to partner NGOs on cash transfer rights (including training on lobbying and advocacy);
11. Devolving cash transfer rights trainings (including lobbying and advocacy) to all RCs in all sub-locations in the four counties;
12. Strengthening and supporting advocacy group activities;
13. Supporting structured advocacy group and state officials meetings on cash transfer rights and wider rights;
14. Undertaking TOT on the IPCRM process;
15. Devolving the training on IPCRM to RCs;
16. Undertaking trainings of selected government officials NDMA, FSD and Equity Bank on protection of rights with HSNP and IPCRM;
17. Collecting and reporting back IPCRM related complaints from individuals, RCs and partner NGOs;
18. Collecting programme complaints from individuals and RCs.
19. Undertaking a longitudinal learning, monitoring and evaluation assessment of HSNPs participation, non-discrimination, transparency and accountability;
20. Developing policy briefs for NDMA/PILU on improvement to cash transfer delivery; include percentage for HelpAge website maintenance in budget as well as possibly a photo journalist or other case study/photo development.
21. Developing research and lessons learnt outputs for national, regional and internal audiences;
22. Participating in and develop lessons leant outputs for NSNP’s C&G mechanism;
23. Sharing the HSNP C&G experience with other countries and regional learning opportunities.

Programme Management

The programme is managed by HelpAge and support from the regional HelpAge office in Kenya.

Additional technical expertise is provided by experts in our Head Office in London on areas such as Social Protection.

In Marsabit, Mandera and Wajir, we implement the program through our partners. In Turkana, HelpAge implements directly through HelpAge staff based in our Lodwar office.

Purpose of the Mid Term Review of the Social Protection Rights Component

The purpose of the Mid Term Review of the Social Protection Rights Component is to:

1. To track the implementation of complaints and grievance mechanism of HSNP Phase II.
2. To inform the project management and stake holders of the corrective measures that are needed to ensure that complaints and grievance mechanism remains on track.
3. To set course for the remaining duration of the project.

Specific Objectives of the Mid Term Review of the Social Protection Rights Component

1. To review the program successes and achievements of objectives for phase II as per the approved proposal and work plan for the Social Protection Rights Component.
2. To assess the effectiveness and efficiency of the approaches employed in the implementation of the programme.
3. To examine achievements and constraints experienced during implementation.
4. To identify best practices and lessons learnt to inform recommendations on any changes required to enable the attainment of results.

Scope of Work

This consultancy is to conduct a Mid-Term Review of the programme implementation status of the HSNP Social Protection Rights Component of Phase II. In conducting the review, the consultant should ensure independence and impartiality to ensure objectivity of the exercise. The consultant shall be required to travel to some select counties to collect data as part of the assignment.

Key Tasks

· Conduct desk review of HSNP programme documents including proposal, capacity assessment report, workshop reports, Log frame, budgets, processes reports, programme reports and other relevant literature and with support of key programme staff, develop review protocol and instruments.

· Carry out comprehensive participatory review engaging HelpAge HSNP staff, partners, beneficiaries and stakeholders.

· Conduct a comparative analysis of the review findings in relation to HSNP phase II proposal.

· Finalize the programme review report.

Key Deliverables and Expected Outputs

1.Inception report

It is expected that the consultant shall have an inception meeting within two days after signing the contract. In this meeting, the consultant shall be briefed on the assignment and provided an opportunity to prepare the inception report and assessment tools which will be due within two days of the assignment. This report will entail a realistic Work Plan that will operationalize and direct the review. The consultant/firm shall then compile an inception report describing or improving their conceptualization on how they propose to undertake the review, improve their methodology, and in general bring refinements and elaboration to these Terms of Reference. The inception report will address the following elements:

· Specific set of issues and questions to be addressed by programme component under review

· Relevant documentation which will be reviewed

· Review framework, and methodology

· Work schedule including dates and deliverables by dates

· Outline for the final report

2.Draft final report

3.Final report

NB: The final report shall have field reports from the key informant interviews and focus group discussions as annexes.

Key qualifications

· Masters’ degree in social sciences, management, research or relevant discipline.

· At least 5 years’ experience at a senior management position in programmes.

· Hands on experience in monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning.

· Prior experience in conducting programme reviews and evaluations.

· Extensive experience in social protection and rights will be an added advantage.

· Excellent report writing skills.

Duration of the Consultancy

The consultancy will take 15 working days. If you are interested and meet the above key qualifications, kindly submit the following:

· Expression of interest not more than (5) five pages.

· Capability statement (strictly not more than 1 page).

· Curriculum vitae.

· Detailed financial proposal in Kenya shillings

· Sample of at least two (2) previous reports of a similar assignment. Please include contacts (name, email, phone and institution) of the person(s) who supervised these assignments.

HOW TO APPLY:

All applications MUST be emailed to hr.ewca@helpage.org by 4th May 2015.