1. About the Development Fund
For more than 40 years the Development Fund (DF) has collaborated with local communities and civil society organizations in developing countries to improve the production of food and income generation of highly vulnerable and marginalized rural communities. DF’s vision is a sustainable and just world with freedom from hunger, poverty, and marginalization. Hundreds of thousands of small-scale farming households have received DF-support to develop resilient livelihoods and eliminate hunger, malnutrition, and poverty in their communities.
DF has stood steadfast in the forefront among development organizations promoting the empowerment of marginalized rural communities, pro-poor policies and appropriate solutions, particularly through approaches such as crop diversification, model-farmer, adaptive climate villages, affordable climate-smart agriculture techniques, community seed-banks, small scale irrigation and mechanizations, local natural resource management, microcredits and capacity building of civil society and grassroots organization. DF mobilizes the assets of small-scale farmers to ensure local contribution, involvement, and ownership, which is key to a sustainable, resilient, and equitable development.
2. Background and Context
2.1 Project description
The REDD+ Participatory Forest Management (PFM) in South-West Ethiopia (REPAFMA-SW Ethiopia, Phase III) project has been implemented since 2021 as part of Norway’s International Climate and Forests Initiative (NICFI) for the period 2021 - 2025. The project is implemented across 14 Woredas housing a contiguous forest block of high conservation significance covering parts of Oromia, Gambella and Southwest Ethiopia Peoples Regional States. Specifically, project implementation areas include Kefa, Sheka, and Bench Sheko Zones of the South West Ethiopia Peoples Regional State, Iluababor zone of Oromia Regional State, and Agnwa zone of Gambela People Regional State.[1] The areas of project intervention fall within one of the 36 globally biodiversity hotspots and constitute Ethiopia’s largest remnant forest block and home for important plant genetic materials such as the wild varieties of Arabica coffee. Moreover, the project areas of intervention Serve as a water tower for the region and inhabited by communities which are hugely dependent on the forest resources for their livelihoods.
The main purpose of the project is to further develop existing PFM interventions and test innovative practical solutions concerning management, production, processing and marketing methods, as well as addressing the institutional set-ups and incentives needed for sustainable forest management in Southwest Ethiopia. A major focus of the project is to identify, appraise and pilot sustainable forest-friendly livelihood options for Forest Dependent Communities (FDC), involving socioeconomic analysis, monitoring forest condition in near-real time, trade-offs between sectors, land uses, and management approaches and strengthening relevant capacity of PFM institutions.
2.2. Objective of the project
The project integrates a wide range of activities to address related socio-economic, institutional, and environmental issues. These are linked and designed to contribute to the defined NICFI Impact and Outcome. The overall objective (the intended impact) of the project is to contribute towards reduced and reversed forest loss in Southwest Ethiopia. This will be achieved through three outcomes contributing to NICFI Outcome (intermediate Outcome).
NICFI Outcome (intermediate outcome): The rights and livelihoods of forest dependent communities are improved, also referred as NICFI Outcome (intermediate outcome)
Outcome One: PFM institutions manage forest resources sustainably.
Outcome two: Public institutions have the capacity to provide effective support to PFM institutions in sustainable forest management and diversified livelihoods.
Outcome three: Forest dependent communities have a diversified income base from forest friendly activities.
2.3 Project Implementation Modality
The REPAFMA-SW Ethiopia, Phase III project is implemented by DF in collaboration with Ethio Wetlands and Natural resources Association (EWNRA) and the Alliance of Biodiversity and Centre for International Tropical Agriculture (CIAT). EWNRA has been partnering with the DF since 2013 on earlier phases of the same project, and the Alliance of Biodiversity and CIAT since 2021. EWNRA’s role is to provide technical back-up to relevant public and community-based forest management institutions towards efforts in consolidating PFM activities across project intervention Woredas resulting in 569,111 hectares of forest landscape under PFM arrangements. The role of Biodiversity and CIAT mainly entails building capacity of relevant experts from local government and project staff on satellite based near real time forest monitoring and conducting surveys, assessments and analysis in key programme thematic areas to inform the design of strategies and plans to be implemented by EWNRA.
3. Objectives of the Mid-Term Review
The objective of Mid-Term Review (MTR) is to assess and document the performance of the Project and the extent to which the outputs and outcomes have been achieved, determining coherence, efficiency, and effectiveness. The MTR is forward-looking and will assess whether and to what extent results (i) are sustainable, and (ii) may contribute to achieving the intended impact.
In addition, the MTR will assess success factors and constraints, capture lessons learnt and document new knowledge and important topics for further enquiry, action, lobbying and/or influence. It will also review and assess the findings and recommendations of the Project Progress Reports.
The MTR will ensure accountability towards Norad as a donor as well as the target beneficiaries of the project. The findings of the review will be used by DF and its IPs to make necessary adjustments to the project for the remaining grant period. On this basis, the review shall also provide clear (actionable) recommendations for improvement and identify important areas for learning.
4. Review Questions
The MTR shall answer the following questions:
Effectiveness:
Coherence:
Efficiency
Sustainability
Specific questions I - Contribution to NICFI Outcome
Specific questions II – Contribution to NICFI Areas Strategic Interest
5. Scope of the Review
6. Main users and stakeholders
The main users of the MTR are DF, EWNRA, the Alliance of Biodiversity and CIAT and Community Based Forest Management Organizations such as Forest Management Associations, Forest Management Cooperatives as well as the grassroots Forest Management Groups, and Forest Products Marketing Cooperatives which receive day-to-day technical and in-kind assistance from the project. Other stakeholders having an interest in the project or its review include relevant institutions of the Government of Ethiopia operating at varies levels of administration. At federal level, the Forest Development is the single most important institution having a stake in the project given its leadership to forestry in general, and REDD+ and PFM in particular. At regional level, project contractual agreements have been signed with the respective bureaus of Finance and Economic Cooperation of Oromia, Gambella and Southwest Ethiopia Peoples Regional States implying they have interest in the programme or its review. Moreover, relevant regional bureaus, zonal and woreda land use offices including forestry and environment, agriculture, and cooperatives have been key project partners focusing on certain or entire thematic areas of the programme and hence have an interest in the review. The review will also be used by NICFI (donor of the project) and other civil society organisations implementing similar projects in Ethiopia or other countries.
7. Methodology
The consultant will develop appropriate methodologies and data collection tools to answer the above review questions. The review team shall use a mix of quantitative and qualitative data for the assessment of results including desk reviews of relevant documentation. Qualitative data can be collected through focus group discussions, Key Informant Interviews and observation among other techniques. In addition, the review shall employ participatory methods that give voice to the local communities. It shall consult community-based institutions, namely Forest Management Groups, Forest Management Cooperatives, Forest Management Associations and Forest Product Marketing Cooperatives, project staff (from DF, EWNRA and the Alliance of Biodiversity and CIAT), relevant government office staff, local, regional and federal authorities, regional and national and regional REDD+ coordination units, and other relevant stakeholders. The areas and partners to be included in the study is to be decided by DF through consultations with the partners and the consultant.
Sampling
Based on the information provided in table below, the consultant will select one Woreda from each of Keffa, Bench Sheko and Sheka zones of SWEPR and two Woredas from Illubabor zone in Oromia region and Gambella Woreda from Anywa zone of Gambella region. Then, proportionally the FMGs will be sampled from each sampled Woreda; likewise, the households will be proportionally sampled from the sampled FMGs.
Intervention areas
Please find table of Intervention areas: here.
8. Deliverables
Inception Report: The Inception Report will not exceed 15 pages in length and will comprise detailed methodology, including data collection tools, indicative survey questions, and interview protocol; initial findings based on a desk study (document/literature review), a work plan and a comprehensive list of stakeholders and key informants (KIs); list of relevant documents and references; and any other issue of importance.
Draft report: The Draft MTR Report shall be delivered in English and shall not exceed 30 pages, including an executive summary and excluding annexes, with the following sections (illustrative, not exhaustive):
MTR findings shall flow logically from the data, showing a clear line of evidence to support the conclusions. Conclusions should be substantiated by findings and analysis. Review questions shall be clearly stated and answered in the executive summary and in the conclusions. Recommendations and lessons learned should flow logically from conclusions. They must be clear, relevant, targeted and actionable so that the review can be used to achieve its intended learning and accountability objectives.
The structure will be agreed at the inception stage. The report will be presented both in hard copy and an electronic version and be presented in a way that enables publication without further editing. The Executive Summary will include the main findings and conclusions, lessons learned, an assessment of what has worked well, and recommended improvements.
Presentation: The consultant will present initial findings to DF, IPs and key stakeholders for validation.
Final report: The MTR Report in English shall incorporate Client comments and shall not exceed 30 pages including the executive summary and excluding annexes. It shall be submitted in digital form.
9. Timeline and resourcing
The duration of the MTR is estimated to a maximum of eight weeks. The review should commence, no later than July 1, 2023. The budget available for the MTR is estimated at 300,000 NOK. Activities, dates (to be agreed) and deadlines (to be proposed by the consultant and agreed) for the consultancy work are:
Activity Delivery Dates
Start-up – Preparatory/Contract signing
Start-up meeting (kick-off)
Phase 1 – Inception / desk study
Phase 2 – Data collection
Phase 3 – Analysis and Reporting
10. Roles and Responsibilities
The consultant will prepare a comprehensive participatory methodology for undertaking the review. S/he will collaborate with partners to appraise existing data collection tools and design as needed and collect data. S/he is expected to travel to project implementation areas, adequately familiarize him/her with the project logical framework and any relevant information relating to policy and legal frameworks in the agriculture, forestry, environment, and related sectors. The consultant will be responsible for data analysis and report writing which will be accompanied by presenting study results to DF, and partner organization for validation. Whereas field visits and contact sessions with communities will be facilitated by partners.The main responsibility for ensuring that all responsibilities are carried out lies with the consultant.
The consultant will undertake the following activities:
Other responsibilities of the consultant:
DF will be responsible for the following:
Implementing partner(s) will be responsible for the following:
11. Desired competencies and skills of the consultant
The review team shall preferably be international consultant(s). The term Consultant in this ToR refers to the review team. The Consultant will liaise closely with DF, implementing partner staff, staff of relevant government and non-government institutions in the areas where the review will take place.
The members of the consulting team should hold the following competencies and skills:
12. Reference documents (secondary data for desk study/literature review)
DF and the implementing partners will provide the Consultant with all available project documentation upon signing of the contract. The Consultant is encouraged to identify any other sources for appropriate additional information that may be required to supplement what is provided by the project. Project documents available include:
[1] The project is implemented in 14 Woredas and 129 Kebeles through strengthening 354 FMGs.
[2] Instructions to the reviewer: A full mapping of NICFI initiatives is not necessary in answering this question. Rather, to do so, the reviewer may engage in dialogue with the DF and IPs as well as collaborating partners.
Download full ToR (with Annex): here
Tenders/offers to conduct the Evaluation will be accepted from consultants as well as firms, and must be submitted in two separate documents, one containing technical proposal and the other financial proposal clearly marked “Consultancy Service for Mid-term Review of the REDD+ PFM project” and sent by email to Lidia Bekele, Administration Assistant at DF Ethiopia [email protected]
Please note that the bid must contain CVs of the proposed evaluation team. Financial proposal shall disclose all pricing information related to the consultancy service as described in this Terms of Reference in USD for international consultants. Fee (non-recurring and recurring costs), travel cost and other out of pocket expenses should be given separately as a lump sum. Conditional cost is not acceptable.
For further details or questions regarding this ToR for the Evaluation, kindly contact Sisay Kassahun, Country Program Coordinator: [email protected]
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