Expression of Interest for Baseline, Midline and Endline Evaluations

Service: Expression of Interest for Baseline, Midline and Endline Evaluations

Location / Preferred location(s):  South Africa

Position Type: Consultant

Grade: Consultant, firm, institution.

Reports To: Project Manager

 

1. Introduction:

 

Ipas South Africa (Ipas SA), in partnership with the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO), will be implementing a three-year project titled ‘Strengthening Comprehensive SRHR Programmes and Gender Equity for Women and Girls in South Africa.” The project will be implemented in two of South Africa’s nine provinces, namely KwaZulu Natal (KZN) and Eastern Cape (EC), in five and three districts, respectively.  The key targets for the project will be women, girls, and other pregnant persons, including persons with disabilities and LGBTIQA+ individuals. These vulnerable groups face various barriers, such as poverty, stigma, marginalization, discrimination, and exploitation, that hinder their access to quality SRH information and services.

 

Ipas SA will provide strategic, targeted support to national, provincial, district, and local governments and key partners to help them seize immediate opportunities to advance and protect the abortion ecosystems. Another important element of the project is to incorporate SRHR services in climate crisis initiatives to address the injustices and limited access to SRHR services that women,  girls, and other vulnerable key populations face during a climate crisis.  Ipas recognizes the impact that the climate crisis in South Africa and the broader Southern African Development Community (SADC) region has on reproductive freedom, gender equity, and the resilience of health systems and communities. Therefore, the project will prioritize harmonizing climate, gender, and SRHR programs to respond to evidence, learning, and expressed needs of health systems and communities.

 

Ipas SA is seeking a qualified and experienced consultant/organization to conduct a baseline and, subsequently, a mid-line and end-line evaluation for this project. The baseline evaluation will assess the status quo of project indicators before implementation. The consultant/organization will further assess the impact of the project intervention midway through the project against the baseline data and provide recommendations for the second implementation phase. Lastly, the consultant/organization will also conduct an end-line evaluation to assess the impact and outcomes of the project against baseline and midline data, identify lessons learned, and provide recommendations for future programming following the project closure.

 

 

 

 

2. Goal and Objectives

The goal of the project is to ensure that women, girls, and people who can become pregnant in South Africa have increased reproductive freedom, experience gender equity, and are more resilient to the climate crisis.

• This project’s objectives:

 

1. Strengthen KZN and EC health systems to build responsiveness, inclusivity, and resilience to SRHR through shocks and stressors.
2. Increased social and community support for people to access SRHR services in Ipas intervention communities (Including LGBTQIA+ community and persons with disabilities)

 

3. Baseline Evaluation Objectives:

The main objectives of the baseline evaluation are as follows:

 

• Establish a clear understanding of the current situation access to SRHR services and information for women, girls, LQBTQIA+, persons with disabilities and other key populations, with reference to the project work plan and key deliverables.
• Assess the needs, perceptions, and expectations of the target beneficiaries.
• Identify potential challenges and opportunities that may impact project implementation
• Review available national, provincial and district data sources to find statistics relevant to the project and its objectives.

 

4. Deliverables:

 

The consultant/organization is expected to deliver the following:

 

1. Inception report outlining the evaluation framework and methodology.
   • Review project documents, including the project proposal, concept note, project work plan, and project
   • Develop an evaluation framework and methodology in consultation with the Ipas.
   • Conduct a thorough desk review to assess national, provincial, and district statistics linked to the project goal and objectives in the specified districts.
2. Baseline evaluation report that includes findings, lessons learned, conclusions, and actionable recommendations and incorporates stakeholder feedback.
   • Conduct field visits to project sites and conducting interviews with key stakeholders, beneficiaries, and project staff.
   • Analyze quantitative and qualitative data to establish the project baseline
   • Assess health facilities and community resilience to withstand shocks and stressors during a climate crisis.
   • Draft a baseline evaluation report and share for review and feedback.

 

3. Midline evaluation report that includes findings, lessons learned, conclusions, and actionable recommendations and incorporates stakeholder feedback.
   • Conduct field visits to project sites and conducting interviews with key stakeholders, beneficiaries, and project staff.
   • Analyze quantitative and qualitative data in comparison with baseline data
   • Compile lessons learned from the project
   • Draft an evaluation report and share for review and feedback.
   • Submit Midline report incorporating feedback and recommendations from draft.

 

4. Endline Evaluation report that includes findings, lessons learned, conclusions, and actionable recommendations and incorporates stakeholder feedback.
   • Conduct field visits to project sites and conducting interviews with key stakeholders, beneficiaries, and project staff.
   • Analyze quantitative and qualitative data in comparison with baseline and midline data
   • Compile lessons learned from the project
   • Draft an evaluation report and share for review and feedback.
   • Submit endline report incorporating feedback and recommendations from draft.

 

5. Scope and Methodology:

The study should employ a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods to gather data on key performance indicators, ensure diverse perspectives to the baseline, and promote different stakeholder groups’ participation. The evaluation will establish the baseline for the programme’s key indicators and provide the benchmarks to measure the programme performance and form the final assessment basis. Besides, the baseline will inform the programme target setting at various result levels. The scope of the baseline will include the following:

1. 5 districts in KwaZulu Natal – (Amajuba, eThekwini, Ugu, King Cetswayo, UMgungundlovu)
2. 3 districts in Eastern Cape – (Alfred Nzo, Joe Gqabi and Sarah Baartman)

• 30 public health facilities in EC and KZN (primary, secondary and tertiary level facilities)

1. Communities in the 5 districts in KZN and 3 districts in EC (Targeting community groups and members such LGBTQI+, people with disabilities, women and girls and other vulnerable groups)

 

6. Timeline:

 

The consultant/organization is expected to complete the baseline evaluation within five weeks from the engagement date. The tentative timeline for key milestones should be included in the proposal. Timelines and specific deliverables for Midline and Endline evaluations will be discussed at the time of implementation.

 

 

 

7. Qualifications:

 

The consultant/ organizational lead staff should possess the following qualifications:

 

1. Bachelor’s degree in one of the following fields, statistics, demography, public health, preferably SRHR, or another relevant field. Exposure to climate change related work will be an added advantage.
2. Proven experience in conducting baseline and endline evaluations for NGO projects.

• Expertise in quantitative and qualitative research methods, including data collection methods.

1. Familiarity with the SRHR and South Africa’s SRH landscape.
2. Proven experience working with district health services in rural communities and engaging community-based stakeholders.
3. Strong analytical and report-writing skills.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

8. Application Submission:

 

Interested applicants should submit a detailed application, including a CV, examples of previous similar work, and a proposed methodology to [email protected]

 

9. Budget:

 

The budget for the consultancy should cover all costs, including travel, accommodation, and fees for the baseline, midline and endline evaluation. The applicants are encouraged to provide an estimated total of these costs in their application.

10. Contact Information:

Tafadzwa Madondo, Project Manager, Email- [email protected]

 

Ipas is strongly committed to providing a work environment that is free from all forms of harassment, discrimination, and inequity.  We recruit, employ, train, promote, and compensate our personnel without regard to race, age, sex, religion, national origin, color, creed, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, veteran status, military service, disability, genetic information, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, sexual orientation, or any other personal characteristic protected by law or outlined by Ipas policy.