Consultant – Monitoring & Evaluation and Learning Assessment at the International Rescue Committee (IRC)

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Consultant – Monitoring & Evaluation and Learning Assessment of ‘From Response to Resilience in Maiduguri’

Requisition ID: req29472
Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Employment Type: Full Time
Employment Category: Consultant
Sector: Governance
Open to Expatriates: No
Start Date: This consultancy assignment is anticipated to start in August, lasting around 40 working days including final report submission.

Background of the Project

• In partnership with the European Commission of Humanitarian Aid Operation (ECHO), IRC’s Governance sector is implementing a project titled “From Response to Resilience (R2R)” in Maiduguri, Borno State. The project seeks to empower local authorities and three local communities to jointly prepare them for and respond to risks associated with natural and man-made hazards.
• In collaboration with local communities and local authorities, the project created and is partially implementing Neighborhood Resilience Plans to help reduce these risks and ensure that the neighborhoods are better able to adapt and grow in the face of hazards.
• R2R seeks to address three interlinked problems: (1) the need for state and local authorities to plan for and manage urban risk, (2) the need to enhance community structures and civil society coordination’s opportunities to engage state and local authorities and hold them to account, and (3) the need to link up neighborhood-grounded and data-driven initiatives which are inclusive of urban displaced communities with community engagement strategies and city-wide capacities for resilience.
• Project staff have collaborated closely with state and local authorities and local communities to strengthen their capacities to plan for and participate in inclusive, coordinated, and actioned disaster risk reduction plans that address these three interlinked problems.  The timeline for this project is May 2019 to April 2022.

Purpose of Consultancy

• The purpose of this consultancy is to design and implement the monitoring, evaluation, and learning assessment of “From Response to Resilience in Maiduguri”, as the project nears the competition of a nearly 3-year implementation period on April 30th, 2022.
• This evaluation should build from previous data collection and analysis to assess the uptake of knowledge and positive practices for shock response and disaster recovery.
• IRC is also seeking to understand the effectiveness of the project’s innovative area-based approaches and potential applicability to additional locations in Maiduguri and Northeast Nigeria.

Scope of Work
Desk Review:

• Review of ECHO R2R project proposal and MEAL requirements, including initial project terms of references and donor-approved outcome level indicators.
• Desk review of existing IMPACT Initiatives evaluation documents and learnings to date, including the research design, data & processing, and outputs for the following assessments: Neighbourhood Delineation (Oct 2019 – Dec 2019), Vulnerability, Needs, and Service Assessments (January 2020 – April 2020), and Durable Solutions Analysis (March 2021 – January 2022).
• This task will include: Review of all available documents

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Assessment:

• Building from the existing baseline and midline evaluations and in collaboration with the R2R project team and IRC MEAL team, design and execute the methodology for the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Final Assessment.
• Evaluate the differences in knowledge and practice related to shock response and disaster recovery amongst civilians in targeted locations and local authorities in Maiduguri.  Differences should be measured against baseline and mid-line data previously collected.
• Through participatory infrastructure mapping approaches, map critical services and infrastructure changes in targeted locations. Use of GIS is suggested.
• Execute stakeholder analysis detailing perceptions of the effectiveness of the area-based approach activities implemented within the project.  Activities evaluated should include: (1) the City-Level Collaboration Forum, Neighborhood Working Groups, and Community Review Forums; (2) capacity strengthening approaches with state and local authorities to build capacity for inclusive planning, coordination, and action; (3) capacity strengthening approaches with community leaders and representatives to lead and manage risks within their own neighborhood; and (4) actions that strengthen joint planning, coordination, and action between communities and authorities.
• Assess the potential of scaling up area-based approaches to other neighborhoods across Maiduguri and throughout Northeast Nigeria, by identifying the action’s strengths, weaknesses and limitations. The effectiveness of the approach will be measured through key informant interviews with relevant stakeholders and end-line community engagement mechanisms, such as surveys, FGDs, or town halls.
• This task will include:
  • Determine the appropriate methodology and sampling procedures
  • Develop/review data collection tools
  • Undertake field data collection, including training and collaborating with enumerators, as well as subsequent data management and cleaning
  • Conduct data analysis

Reports:

• Produce one comprehensive report that include a presentation of fundings and insight on all assessment topics, identifying crosscutting themselves and outlining progress between baseline and end line values.
• This task will include:
• Share preliminary report with IRC team as per agreed timeframe.  Finalize the report including clear measurements.
• Facilitate a virtual or in-person data validation workshop.

Methodology

• The IRC suggests a mixed methods approach, integrating quantitative and qualitative methods, ensuring collection and reporting of corresponding end line data.  Data triangulation and integration including, key informant interviews, focus group discussion (FGD) with communities and local authorities, and direct observations of service delivery points and infrastructure will be very essential.  The consultant is free to suggest an appropriate methodology that fully addresses all ToR requirements.

Deliverables

• One comprehensive report incorporating:
• End-line summary report outlining differences in knowledge and practice related to shock response and disaster recovery amongst civilians in the 3 targeted locations and Maiduguri government stakeholders.
• Infrastructure mapping in targeted neighborhoods
• A stakeholder analysis detailing the stakeholders’ perception of the effectiveness of the Area Based Approach activities implemented within this action
• A summary report outlining the potential, including SWOT analysis of scaling up the area-based approach to other neighbourhoods across Maiduguri and throughout Northeast Nigeria.
• Research design, datasets, and all other outputs drafted related to this evaluation.

Qualifications
Consultant Profile:
This consultancy is open to all interested and qualified national and international consultants meeting the under-listed criteria:

• At least 5 years proven experience in research, assessments, and evaluations in humanitarian and development programming, preferably in disaster risk management.
• In-depth knowledge of quantitative and qualitative research methods.
• Excellent analytical, presentation and writing skills in English.
• Experience in similar assignments or context in urban resilience programming.

Application Closing Date
15th August, 2022 (12:00am Western Africa Standard Time (GMT +1)).