Terms of Reference

Final evaluation for “Natwe Turashoboye (We Can Also)” Project  

Reporting to:  Chance for Childhood Programme Manager

Geographical Location of the Project: Nyabihu District

January 2024

1. About Chance for Childhood

We are child centred international non-governmental organization supporting children and young people in Africa who face inequalities such as lack of access to education and safe spaces, providing them with the tools and skills they need to build their own futures. 

We don’t work alone. Together with partners, supporters, children, and their communities, we protect, educate, and create lasting change for every child threatened by violence, neglect and conflict. 

We believe that no child should have to fight for a safe, happy childhood. We exist to ensure that every child in Africa can thrive from their early years through to adulthood.

Our interventions in Africa are in Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Ghana, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

2. Project background

The Government of Rwanda is strongly committed to ensuring that all children can achieve their full potential in a safe and protected environment. In March 2012, the Strategy for the National Childcare Reform was endorsed with an aim to set-up and strengthen a national child protection system that provides optimum protection to all children.[1]  

In order to support this initiative Chance for Childhood in partnership with MindLeap and Empowering Children with Disabilities (EmCD) are implementing the project entitled Natwe Turashoboye meaning 'we can also' in Kinyarwanda  aims to improve inclusion, participation & protection of D/deaf girls in Rwanda at 3 levels. Individual: dance therapy, safe spaces, agency building D/deaf girls’ participation in local decision-making; Community: shift values that perpetuate exclusion & violence; Institutional: strengthen accessible referral pathways. In this project we work with students (D/deaf girls and boys, with their hearing peers), parents, teachers, Local leaders, health nurses and Isange One Stop Centers,

In the current project we want to learn which groups benefit most from the intervention (hearing and non-hearing groups) using disaggregated data, and we want to know whether positive behaviour and attitudinal changes persist even after dance training has ended.

We also want to learn whether by improving safeguarding services, we can increase participation amongst girls with disabilities. We also want to see the impact of explaining ‘inclusive safeguarding’; what this means in our context and the value it adds on the project given its uniqueness here in Rwanda.

Using the evidence generated, we want to see how this project feeds into wider systems like referral pathways and making a sustainable change to inclusion of deaf girls in the wider societal decision making.

We also want to test whether improved confidence and self-esteem leads to improved agency to participate in decision-making events which could otherwise be intimidating for D/deaf girls. We want to confirm further if knowledge gained through community engagement translates into changes in attitudes and behavioural practices.

3. Assignment

3.1 Project Final Evaluation

The consultant will be expected to produce a 20-page (maximum) final evaluation report.  The project final evaluation should be a comprehensive package reflecting the following key dimensions:

1. Dance training/therapy for Deaf girls
2. Community advocacy events about the rights of a Deaf Girl
3. Training primary teachers about Inclusive Safeguarding.
4. Training Health centre nurses and Isange One Stop Center local leaders and parents in Rwandan Sign Language.
5. Inclusive message delivery at school general assemblies
6. Inclusive message delivery in community forums by Deaf girls
7. Meetings held with district officials about protection and participation of Deaf girls in community decisions.

4. Purpose of the Project final evaluation  

4.1. Rationale

It is vital to consider creative techniques to offer benefits for D/deaf girls and their families to successfully accomplish their protection and safety. It is therefore important to provide information to stakeholders working on child protection to obtain various options, particularly those that have been proven effective in assisting in the development of a tailored & comprehensive package of interventions aimed at supporting D/deaf girls to participate in community forums and take the lead in advocating for their rights dues to high self-esteem they developed through dance.

4.2. Objectives

Final evaluation serves the three objectives: evaluation of the protection measures, skills development for D/deaf girls and accessible communication.

• Protection measures:

Evaluate the extent to which the project implemented protection measures for D/deaf girls, including safeguards against discrimination, abuse, and exploitation.

Evaluate the project's success in creating a safe and inclusive environment for D/deaf girls to participate without fear of harm.

Evaluate the project's contribution to influencing policies and practices related to the protection and participation of D/deaf girls.

Assess the sustainability of the project's outcomes and their potential to continue benefiting D/deaf girls beyond the project duration.

• Skills development

Assess whether the project provided opportunities for D/deaf girls to develop or acquire new skills, knowledge, and confidence.

• Evaluation of accessible communication

Evaluate the availability and use of sign language to facilitate participation of D/deaf girls in education, health, and social inclusion.

4.3. Target audiences

Several stakeholders both internal and external to CfC have interest in the project evaluation in which they will be asked to play a role.  Table 1 below provides a preliminary stakeholder analysis, which should be deepened by the consultant during the documentation of the project.

Accountability to targeted populations, is tied to CfC commitments to include people we work with as key stakeholders in their work. As such, CfC is committed to ensuring the involvement of Deaf girls, their guardians and parents and members of the support system including families of CwDs and respective communities.

Table 1: Target audiences

4.4. The primary users of this project final evaluation

CfC will use the findings to enhance decision- making notably related to programme implementation and/or design, organizational strategy, and partnerships.  It will also provide a comprehensive understanding of a project's outcomes, impacts, and the effectiveness of its strategies. This information is then applied to enhance organizational learning and improve future project planning and implementation as well as to inform the scale-up of the Natwe turashoboye approach.

5. Project final evaluation approach

5.1. Scope

The project evaluation will focus on the three years project that CfC has so far implemented in Nyabihu district from May 2021 up to April 2024. 

5.2. Data Availability

The consultant will go to the field and collect data based on the project objectives however, the consultant may also use the project annual, monitoring reports and midterm review in addition to the field data.

Concerning the quality of data and information, the consultant should:

1. Assess data availability and reliability as part of the inception phase expanding on the information provided  
2. Systematically check accuracy, consistency, and validity of collected data and information and acknowledge any limitations in drawing conclusions using the data.

5.3. Methodology

To respond to the above-mentioned deliverables, the consultant shall use the data from interviews with families, community-based service providers, and community/ local leaders, which will contribute to an understanding of the current context as well as the experiences of these key stakeholders. This, in combination with desk research, will provide a comprehensive understanding of how the project based on supporting Deaf girls was developed and implemented.  

5.4. Cultural Sensitivity of project review

The consultant should have a wide and being familiar with local traditions and particularities.

Further details can be discussed during the inception phase.  

5.5. Quality Assurance

This quality assurance process shall not interfere with the views and independence of the consultant but ensures the project review provide the necessary evidence in a clear and convincing way.   

The consultant should be assured of the accessibility of all relevant documentation within the provisions of the acceptance disclosure of information procedures.   

5.6 Ethical Clearance

The consultant the consultant should be aware of the no faces and Overexposed campaign which were recently launched by CfC. However, the consultant is also expected to have a flexible mentality and willingness to closely collaborate with COMIC RELIEF throughout the consultancy time if need be.
6.  Phases and Deliverables

The project evaluation will proceed through the following phases (please note the timeframes are not indicative of the no. of days needed throughout each stated period):

- Desk Review and elaboration of a work plan (up to 1 week):  

  Looking at different reports, proposal, and action plans.

- Discussion of the plan with CfC. Incorporation of adjustments if needed (2 days)

1-2 days (Kigali):  Debriefings in Kigali and clarification of some questions

- Field Visit to see what activities have taken place in the community and talk to some stakeholders (1 week)

- Elaboration of a draft of the final evaluation report (2 weeks)

CfC shall review the draft to ensure that it meets the required quality criteria and planned objectives.

- Elaboration of the final evaluation report (1 week)

7. Communication and budget

7.1. Communication  

The consultant team shall provide weekly email updates to CfC on progress made against expected targets. Emails and inquiries from consultant should be answered in a turnaround period of two working days.

7.2. Budget and application guidelines

The total budget for this consultancy is nine million, six hundred fifty six thousand and four hundred Rwandan Francs (9,656,400 RWF) which is inclusive of all related costs including 15% withholding tax. 

Applicants are requested to provide a proposal in line with the details provided above.

7.3. Terms of payment

This should be discussed and agreed on during contract signing time. However, 10% of the total cost should be advanced upon signing and the remained should be paid upon completion of the assignment.

7.4 Key skills and Competence requirements

• Experience in conducting of project/program evaluations/reviews.
• A demonstrated strong awareness and understanding of Inclusive development concepts both in Rwanda and globally, is strongly preferred 
• An excellent command of standards English mainly in writing and speaking  
• Solid experience as a lead in data collection, analysis and evaluation report writing 
• Adherence to Comic Relief and Chance for Childhood’s Values
• Ability to operate under strict time limits and apply high production and technical standards for the purpose of maintaining high level of professionalism.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Be flexible and responsive to changes and demands.
• Be client oriented and open to feedback.

How to Apply:

Interested candidates are requested to submit a proposal outlining the following in line with the details provided in the tender above:

• A detailed CV
• Brief letter, describing previous experience on similar projects. Creative ideas and suggestions are encouraged.
• Technical proposal.
• Financial proposal with detailed budget breakdown

Eligibility

• Three links to work samples demonstrating most relevant previous productions.
• Three references (with contact information) from previous clients
• Detailed list with technical information of the equipment intended for use, including camera, light, sound, editing software etc.

Brief presentation of the team, with CVs and functional responsibilities of the key people to be engaged in the evaluation exercise

Please submit your application to apply@chanceforchildhood.org with subject line “Final evaluation for Ntawe Turashoboye project”. The deadline is 31^st January 2024.  Only strongest candidates will be contacted due to anticipated high volume of applications.

8. Safeguarding

Chance for Childhood promotes and upholds the principles of equal opportunities and its policies. Chance for Childhood has a zero-tolerance approach to any harm to, or exploitation of, a vulnerable adult or a child by any of our staff, representatives, or partners. Recruitment to all jobs at Chance for Childhood includes criminal record checks/police background check and the collection of relevant references. Safeguarding our beneficiaries is our top priority in everything we do. 

The successful candidate will therefore need to review, agree, and sign Chance for Childhood’s Child Protection Policy (CPP) prior to starting the post.

8. 1.  Prevention from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA)

The construction company and its employees, staff and/or subcontractors shall not be involved in any sexual exploitation or abuse. The construction company shall ensure that its employees, agents, contractors, and sub-contractors comply with the highest standards of moral and ethical conduct. Any incident of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse shall be reported to Chance for Childhood. Any failure by Construction company to take preventive measures against sexual exploitation or abuse, or to investigate allegations or take corrective action, shall constitute grounds for termination of the Agreement.

For the purposes hereof, the following definitions shall be used:

Sexual exploitation means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another.

Sexual abuse means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions.

[1] Cabinet Brief: Strategy for National Child Care Reform (n.d.).