Democratic Republic of the Congo: Evaluation of Concern Worldwide’s Emergency Programme in Tanganyika and Haut Lomami, DRC.

1. Context

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is one of the least developed countries in the world, ranking 176 out of 188 countries and territories on the 2015 United Nations (UN) Human Development Index. 88% of the population survive on less than $1 per day (UNHDR, 2015), and high levels of inequality persist throughout the country. A combination of natural disasters and man-made conflicts, political instability and weak governance contribute to this state of affairs. Consequently, many parts of the country are heavily reliant on humanitarian aid.

DRC has suffered from numerous outbreaks of violence in recent years generating widespread displacements and enormous humanitarian needs, particular in the eastern part of the country. Tensions between the two ethnic group Luba (sedentary) and Batwa (Pygmies semi-sedentary) has been ongoing for decades in Eastern DRC and have intensified at the end of 2016. Indeed, in October 2016 conflict between the two ethnic groups Twa and Baluba broke out in Nyunzu - 150 kms northeast of Manono – leading to a massive displacement of population. Although it was quite hard to believe it could reach Manono territory, fights spread and started there in December 2016. The intensity of this conflict forced thousands of people to leave their villages and homes to Manono territory and thousands household even fled to Haut Lomami province. People who had to flee left everything behind and were either welcomed in host families, in public places (schools, churches) or temporary shelters. In response to the displacement, IDPs in Manono received NFI kits in July 2017 from Concern and several other NGOs. Concern was the only organization to respond respond with shelter/NFI assistance in the province of Haut Lomami.

In addition to the inter-ethnic conflict and population displacements, many provinces in eastern DRC, including Manono and Haut Lomami also face a cholera epidemic. In the Mulongo and Malemba-Nkulu health zones of Haut Lomami, the cholera epidemic spread rapidly throughout 2017-2018 and resulted in many deaths. The problem was compounded by a lack of access to safe water, sanitation infrastructure and knowledge of proper hygiene practices. Further, the region is surrounded by lakes in which the bacteria vibrio cholera is present. MSF and ALIMA implemented cholera emergency responses, but stayed only a few months to contain the epidemic.

Currently, even though many households have started to return to their villages of origin, most IDPs in Haut Lomami are still living there (about 5,000 IDP households). The situation seems to have stabilized in some areas of Tanganyika, yet the North of the province remains extremely volatile. Tensions between the Twa and Luba, with sporadic fighting still breaking out, is hindering the return of many IDPs to this region.

2. Concern's Programme in Malemba Nkulu, Nyunzu, Kabalo and Pweto

Concern has been operating in DRC since 1994 and began operating in Ex-Katanga in 2006. Concern is currently implementing a 5-year development programme focused on WASH and livelihoods in Manono territory, Tanganyika province. In August 2018, Concern launched an emergency programme in the territories of Nyunzu, Kabalo, Malemba Nkulu and Pweto in the respective provinces of Tanganyika, Haut-Lomami and Ex-Haut Katanga. This intervention, funded by OFDA, targets IDPs, recently returned displaced households and host families in the provision of shelter materials, hygiene kits, rehabilitating water points, latrine construction, hygiene promotion and the reinforcement of local WASH actors. Shelter assistance activities included provision of shelter material for shelter construction of 1,652 households and shelter repairs of an additional 1,000 households. Key WASH program components included distribution of 6,068 hygiene kits to IDPs and recently returned displaced households and rehabilitation of 86 water points.

The cyclical nature of armed conflict in DRC has led to protracted displacement across Tanganyika, Haut Lomami and Haut Katanga. Therefore, following the current emergency project, an expansion of program activities is planned via a new emergency assistance programme in conflict-affected areas of Tanganyika, Haut Lomami, and Haut Katanga, which are all prone to conflict and displacement of populations.

3. Scope of Work and Purpose of the Evaluation

The purpose of the external evaluation is to assess to what degree the program and methodology was successful in achieving planned results and objectives as laid out in the program proposal. Second, the evaluation should identify future program interventions and make recommendations for sustainable assistance to IDPs and returnees. This information will be used to establish best practices and assist Concern Worldwide in designing new interventions in Tanganyika and Haut Lomami provinces. Lessons learned including successes and areas for improvement, will be directly applied to the implementation of the next OFDA emergency program in Pweto, Kabalo, Nyunzu and Malemba.

Specific evaluation tasks to be undertaken:

1. Assess progress made towards the achievement of objectives, indicators and targets.

2. Assess the appropriateness of the targeting strategy for beneficiary selection.

3. Compare Concern Worldwide targeting approaches with other agencies and to what extent there is coherence across the sector in approaches.

4. Support the organization’s commitments to accountability to donors, government, public, and beneficiaries through publication of the evaluation report to inform the decisions and actions resulting from findings.

5. Using the DAC criteria, assess the relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, and impact of the project.

6. Assess mainstreaming and integration of protection and gender into program activities, evaluating gaps, areas of improvement, and provide recommendations for next OFDA program.

7. Identify lessons learned and provide practical and innovative program options for assisting IDPs/returnees in a sustainable manner based on integration and/or relocation.

Evaluation methodology:

Evaluation methodology will be finalized with the consultant in advance. The planned multi–faceted methodology which will include:

Desk- Research / Literature Review the consultant will be expected to conduct a complete review of program proposal, progress reports and other supporting documentation provided. In addition, documents published by organizations working with IDPs/Returnees will be reviewed to situate the USAID-OFDA/Concern project within the wider context of humanitarian assistance provision in Eastern DRC.

In the field: the consultant (with the support of Concern field staff as required) will facilitate interviews and discussions with a sample of program participants and non-participants, and staff through household interviews and focus group discussions. Key informant interviews with other key stakeholders, including market traders, UN and NGO actors and local government figures, will also provide an insight as to program implementation, and alternative options for more durable solutions for IDPs and returnees, taking in to account an analysis of the protection risks. The consultant will be encouraged to use a variety of techniques including participatory approaches in the field to verify Concern’s own findings on results and indicators through reviewing internal program monitoring documentation and end line survey results. Qualitative information on beneficiaries’ own experience of the program (involvement in design, targeting, delivery of assistance, follow-up, complaints response mechanism) should be collected to complement quantitative output and outcome data. Program and support staff will also be useful sources of information regarding processes employed during the course of the initiative and will provide insight in relation to some of the successes and challenges faced. The consultant will interview other main actors working on IDP/returnee programs as well as the relevant cluster leads to compare strategies/approaches and developments within the sector, given the nature of the protracted response to the conflict in the DRC, regional specificities and international humanitarian priorities.

Post- field analysis: the consultant will analyse and review data collected, draft and finalize final report taking into account feedback from Concern and other peer reviews.

Activities

The consultant will be fully responsible, in consultation with Concern staff, for the following:

· Conduct literature review of relevant project documents

· Develop qualitative and quantitative data collection design incorporating participatory methods

· Prepare checklists and questionnaire for data collection

· Develop or prepare data tallying or compilation sheet

· Based on indicators, tabulate, analyze and interpret data collected

· Compare final evaluation data with other available data and analyze trends to draw impact

· Provide recommendations for improving the methodology of future programming for maximum impact.

· Provide recommendations for integrating protection, gender, DRR elements in future programming as well as ensuring program objectives and indicators are gender / protection sensitive

· The consultant will be requested to provide a list of organisations, people or groups interviewed, list of sites visited, abbreviations, maps, charts or graphs that may have been used for this evaluation.

Outputs/deliverables:

The consultant should provide an evaluation report in English (max 25 pages) with a 2 page executive summary that addresses the following points:

· Assess the level of community involvement in the programme from design through to implementation.

· Assess Concern’s adherence to key standards including Sphere Standards and People in Aid as well as compliance with Cluster (WASH, Shelter, Protection) guidelines.

· Evaluate whether the objectives were met within the stated timeframe.

· Evaluate the relevance, efficiency, qualityand impact of program activities (in terms of approach chosen and resources available and used, including choice of cash, voucher markets, NFIs etc.).

· Assess integration of gender, protection, and DRR in all program aspects and activity implementation, identifying gaps, areas of improvement; providing recommendations for opportunities in mainstreaming gender, protection, and DRR in for next OFDA program.

· Assess the appropriateness of targeting methodologies used for each programme component including synergies between WASH elements and Shelter and assistance of most vulnerable and conflict affected households

· Assess Concern’s Complain Response Mechanism (CRM) and MEAL practices under this program and provide recommendations for improving CRM and MEAL practices

· Assess the added value and cost-effectiveness of Concerns activities in regards to other humanitarian actors and emergency response in Tanganyika / DRC. Concern’s provide an added value in a cost efficient manner to the broader humanitarian response.

· Examine the appropriateness of current program in regards to emergency response and for future interventions. This will involve:

• Analysis of the perceptions of stakeholders (government authorities, donors, NGOs, UN and other international organisations, communities [women and men], civil society) regarding relocation/integration (feasibility, challenges, risks etc.)

• Making recommendations for future programme options for IDPs/returnees in this context

4. Lines of Communication

The Consultant will report to the Country Director of Concern Worldwide DRC and liaise with the Area Manager, Programme Manager, Programme Director, Director Business Development, M&E Manager and Desk Officer.

5.Provisional Timeframe

3 weeks in July 2019 (including preparation and travel). The report might be written and shared by August 15, 2019.

6. Profile

Essential

• Relevant academic background in international development/humanitarian studies
• Strong qualitative and quantitative analytical skills
• Experience in conducting literature reviews and programme evaluations, including use of participatory methods ( PLA, PRA)
• Solid experience in implementing humanitarian programmes in fragile contexts.
• Excellent communication and report-writing skills in English.
• Ability to speak French.
• Willingness and ability to work long hours in a difficult environment.

Desirable

• Experience in DRC.
• Experience of working in remote and security sensitive locations.
• Knowledge of Swahili

Expressions of interest and enquires

Please submit an Expression of Interest by 7 June 2019 to Sile Sammon (Desk Officer) sile.sammon@concern.net and Anne Leewis (Programme Director) anne.leewis@concern.net outlining exact availability in line with the approximate timeline. The expression of interest should contain: (a) a technical offer and (b) a financial offer, comprising:

1. Technical offer:

   • Up to date CV of the consultant(s) explaining how the consultant(s) meets the skills and experience required.

   • Technical proposition detailing proposed methodology and resources needed (max 3 pages).

   • At least one example report from similar work which demonstrates evidence of the skills and experience required.

2. Financial offer:

   • A list of all expenses expected to be incurred by the consultant including a daily rate.

   • Costs of transport in-country and accommodation will be covered directly by Concern and should not be included.