Background
The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) is a Quaker organization that includes people of various faiths who are committed to shift the mindsets that prioritize militarized approaches over peaceful and people-centered solutions, promotes sustainable economic systems that benefit everyone, rather than those that favor the wealthy and exacerbate inequality and environmental crises and challenges forced displacement and champions the dignity and rights of all people on the move.
With a vision of a just, peaceful, and sustainable world free of violence, inequality, and oppression and a mission Guided by the Quaker belief in the divine light of each person, AFSC works with communities and partners worldwide to challenge unjust systems and promote lasting peace. As such We respect the equality, worth, and dignity of all people and regard no one as our enemy, seek right relationship with all life on a sustainable Earth, accepts that our understanding of truth is incomplete and seek ever deeper insights from lived experience, we trust the Spirit to guide discernment of our collective actions. We assert the transforming power of love and active nonviolence as a force for justice and reconciliation.
The 2-year pilot project in South Sudan and the end term evaluation are funded by Bread for the World and implemented in partnership with eight partner organizations based in Juba South Sudan.
South Sudan Context
South Sudan is the world’s youngest, least developed nation. Following independence from Sudan in 2011, nascent state-building and development efforts were reversed catastrophically by a political power struggle within the country’s ruling party (the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, the “SPLM”) in 2013, which rapidly escalated into a full civil war across ethnic lines and into several states within South Sudan. With over 65 ethnic communities in South Sudan, ethnicity has been politicized and used to incite conflict. South Sudan remains one of the world’s most fragile states politically, socially and economically
The current conflict, has devastated the country, causing tens of thousands of civilian deaths and the displacement of over four million people internally and into neighbouring countries. South Sudan is ranked as the fourth least peaceful country, with political chaos threatening the country with collapse and undermining regional stability.
Uncontrolled inflation continues to put many households in both urban and rural areas under stress as they are unable to afford even the minimum food basket. According to the 2021 South Sudan Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO), more than two-thirds of the South Sudanese population and some 300,000 refugees and asylum seekers in South Sudan need some form of humanitarian assistance and protection, as the country continues to experience the cumulative effects of years of conflict, a surge in sub-national violence, unprecedented flooding, and hyperinflation, further compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic. South Sudan continues to see a rise in the number of confirmed COVID 19 cases. By March 2021, there had been 9,809 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 106 deaths, reported to WHO. There could be many more cases, but the testing capacity is low because of inadequate testing kits, health personnel and the stigma associated with the disease is causing many people not to go for testing.
Context: Trauma Healing for Enhanced Peacebuilding in South Sudan Pilot Project
AFSC has been implementing a trauma healing for enhanced peace building pilot program in South Sudan for a period of two years (October 2019 -September 2021). The program aims to contribute to quality trauma healing processes for peaceful co-existence in South Sudan by ensuring that Peace builders of 8 CSOs/FBOs are sufficiently supported to care for themselves as well as others. The program has two main components namely, Capacity Building for Peace builders and Institutional Capacity Building for 8 CCOs/FBOs. A series of activities have been implemented to ensure success of the program.
Trauma is the long-lasting negative impact on behaviour, beliefs, feelings, and the body which leads to reduced functioning and often leaves one feeling confused, powerless and stuck. Trauma healing is a process that requires time, especially in South Sudan, where the population has experienced traumatic events due to prolonged conflict. Experiencing traumatic events can cause people to get stuck in cycles of violence. It has been reported[1] that the prevalence of PTSD, Depression, and Anxiety have been found to be as high as, 48%, 59%, and 26%, respectively among the population in South Sudan. This has been overwhelming majority of South Sudanese and peace builders have been affected. It should be noted that trauma that is not healed is transferred. This means that peacebuilders are at risk of transferring their own trauma to those who need support. There is urgent concern and need to support peacebuilders to heal their own trauma to heal others and avoid transferring their own to ‘victims’.
The AFSC pilot project addresses trauma for the peace builders in South Sudan for them to promote post conflict trauma healing and reconciliation in the communities. South Sudanese civilians have borne the brunt of the conflict as militias have carried out indiscriminate attacks. This has led to some of the worst scenes witnessed in war situations, such as rape, torture, and murder. Currently there are very limited efforts in South Sudan to support secondary trauma experienced by the peace actors at community and national level and therefore the need for this project.
The project goal is Contribution to quality trauma healing processes for peaceful co-existence in South Sudan while the objective is Peace builders of the 8 CSOs/FBOs are sufficiently supported to care for themselves as well as others. The project has two components namely; Capacity Building for Peace builders and Institutional Capacity Building for 8 CCOs/FBOs.
The indicators are.
- Out of the 320 reached peace builders, 50 are referred/linked to higher level therapy
- Psychosocial support policies are mainstreamed in the organizational culture and programs by at least 50% of the target organizations and
- 4 CSOs/FBOs are engaged in evidence-based advocacy on psychosocial support policies to be mainstreamed across the peace building sector
Evaluation Objective
The overall purpose of this evaluation is to measure the achievement of the project objective “**Peace builders of the 8 CSOs/FBOs are sufficiently supported to care for themselves as well as others “.**
The evaluation will specifically:
Assess the pilot project’s relevance, performance, effectiveness, impact, efficiency, and sustainability. The findings will inform the design of a scaled-up program for South Sudan.
Verify the achievement of the project objective in reference to the indicators.
Clearly capture the learnings by the project stakeholders: implementing organizations, AFSC staff, trained peace builders and other peace builders reached through outreach activities in South Sudan.
Highlight learnings, case studies and challenges in project implementation and continuous morning.
Establish any variances between the project design and the actual implementation
Give recommendations on future trauma healing programming in South Sudan
Key Evaluation Questions
This is an external evaluation, and the report will be consumed internally and externally. The report will be made available electronically to AFSC staff, current and potential partners, and the donor (Bread for the World). As a follow up to the pilot project, the evaluation report findings will be used to enrich the design and implementation of a scaled-up program in South Sudan and other AFSC peace building programs.
Key Questions to Guide the Evaluation on relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability, impact, and learning
Are project interventions meeting the beneficiaries’ needs?
Which activities have been implemented?
Have the activities contributed to the achievement of the project objective?
What are the outputs and outcomes of the project?
What were the major factors influencing the achievement or non-achievement of the objective?
Were the project interventions efficiently implemented?
How has the project contributed to the overall goal of post conflict healing and reconciliation in South Sudan?
How sustainable are the project interventions?
What are the key learnings emerging from the project?
Should the project design be replicated, are there aspects that should be reviewed?
What has happened as a result of the project? What’s the most significant change that has been achieved (Intended and unintended outcomes)
Evaluation Methodology, process, and reporting
The evaluation will involve participatory methodologies and tools. The evaluator will creatively employ a mix of techniques for data collection and will among others hold meetings and discussions, key informant interviews with the project partners; the 8 CSOs/FBOs based in South Sudan, direct beneficiaries who include the 36 trained peacebuilders, Peace builders reached through outreach activities, recipients of counseling services, other organizations involved in trauma healing work in Juba and AFSC staff.
AFSC will make accessible project documents for review and secondary data collection. The documents will include the project proposal and budget, cooperation agreement, partnership documents, baseline study report, activity reports, AFSC internal and donor reports.
Evaluation process and timeline
The evaluation will be carried out in the month of May. While the evaluator will propose and negotiate the number of days to carry out the work, the report should be ready by 31st May.
Proposed Timeline
No Tasks #of days
1 Analysis of relevant documents, development of evaluation design 1
2 Initial meeting with program team 1
3 Finalize inception report 1
4 Field work 5
5 Compilation and Preparation of preliminary findings 3
6 Review and compilation of implementing organizations/staff feedback 2
7 Preparation of draft report and submission for feedback 2
8 Finalize report taking into consideration AFSC and Bread for the World feedback 4
Total 19
Reporting
Evaluation Design/Inception Report
The evaluation will prepare an inception report (approx. 3-5 pages) defining how the objectives, questions and reports as described in the ToR can be achieved within the evaluation timeline. The inception report shall be agreed and approved by AFSC before the beginning of the evaluation process. The evaluator is permitted to make suggestions to improve, supplement or restrict the TOR. AFSC may refuse any suggestions which modify the objectives and crucial questions of the evaluation, if not convinced of their validity.
Final Evaluation Report
A draft report will be sent to AFSC by 5th June for validation. The final report shall be written in English (max 30 pages) and has – as a minimum - to include the following contents:
- Key data of the evaluation
- Executive summary: a tightly drafted, to-the-point, free-standing document (about 3 pages), including the key issues of the evaluation, main analytical points, conclusions, lessons learnt and recommendations.
- Introduction: purpose of the evaluation, evaluation scope and key questions. Short description of the project / program to be evaluated and relevant frame conditions
- Evaluation design/methodology
- Key results/findings*: regarding the questions pointed out in the TOR/inception report (including project/program and context analysis), Assessment of the extent to which issues of equity and gender are incorporated in the project. Key findings must include partner feedback during validation workshop.
- Conclusions* based on evidence and analysis
- Recommendations* regarding future steps – carefully targeted to the appropriate audiences at all levels, relevant and feasible (if possible, for each conclusion a recommendation).
- Lessons learnt* (generalizations of conclusions applicable for wider use).
- Most Significant Stories and analysis
- Annexes (ToR, list of persons/organizations consulted, literature and documentation consulted etc.). CV of the consultant should be also annexed.
* The interlinkages between key results/findings, conclusions and recommendations / lessons learnt must be logical, clear and transparent.
The final report will be submitted to AFSC and shared with partners and Bread for the World.
Draft implementation plan
The draft implementation plan is intended to assist AFSC implement recommendation by the evaluator. The format is in Annex 3 (implementation plan). The evaluator may choose to fill in the key data of the evaluation and the recommendations in Annex 2.
Key qualifications of evaluation consultant
The Evaluation consultant should be fluent in English; spoken and written, have strong analytical skills, good listening and proven experience in evaluating peace and trauma healing programs. Knowledge of South Sudan would be an added advantage.
Other requirements:
- Advanced university degree in a relevant field.
- At least 5 -7 years of experience conducting similar assignments.
- Extensive experience in evaluation and field research (qualitative and quantitative methods of research) in South Sudan (relevant experience to the subject matter).
- Ability to provide clear guidance to field research teams.
- Proven ability to deliver against targets and meeting deadlines within a short timeframe.
- Relevant computer skills.
Content of the evaluator’s offer
The evaluation consultancy bids should contain:
- CVs of the evaluation team involved
- Technical proposal – outlining evaluation design, explanation, and justification of the methods to be deployed
- Financial proposal - Complete cost estimate that includes both, the fee as well as any ancillary costs to be incurred, such as transport, accommodation, taxes, fees, and dissemination meetings
- Organizational profile and contact information
Responsibilities and duties
This is an independent evaluation commissioned by the AFSC. The Terms of Reference are approved by Bread for the World. The Somalia and South Sudan Country Representative, assisted by the project officer, is responsible for approving the Inception Report and providing comments on the draft Evaluation Report. The Somalia CR is responsible for making all arrangements necessary for the implementation of the evaluation, subject to the evaluator terms of the contract. This includes providing access to relevant documents, contact information for interviewees, and potential travel arrangements when necessary.
Literature
The evaluator will have access to the following documents:
Project proposal
Baseline and project periodic reports
Quarterly reports
Training reports
Counselling reports
Trauma healing policies for the partner organizations
Meeting minutes
How to apply:
Proposal Submission Requirements
All proposals must be received by 9th of May**.** Proposals received after this time will not be given primary consideration. A cover letter and proposal with budget and timeline should be emailed to InfoAfrica@afsc.org as an Adobe PDF file. All other formats will not be considered. Proposals should be no more than five pages in length and should include the complete scope of work and deliverables including the following sections:
a. Organization/Evaluator Background
Include the organization and/or individual’s name. Describe the general nature of work and the name of the reviewer that will be conducting the work. Describe any International peacebuilding and development experience, education, skills, and languages. Proposals must include three examples of related work completed and contact information for the organizations served.
b. Statement of Proposed Work
State in succinct terms an understanding of the work to be completed. Describe the methodologies proposed to complete the evaluation and a final report including a timetable for completion of specific tasks, the personnel needed to complete tasks, and expectations for support and assistance from AFSC. Describe the work plan for the review. Proposal may also include other activities deemed necessary by the evaluators and specified within the work plan.
While the evaluators are expected to work independently, AFSC staff will assist in facilitating access to evaluation participants, documents, and solving problems and concerns that may develop throughout the course of the review. AFSC staff could help arrange transport and accommodation as needed and with prior approval of the Country Representative, SouthSudan.
c. Budget and Deliverables
Provide a detailed budget as well as a description of the specific deliverables that will be submitted, and expected schedule of compensation.
d. Evaluation Schedule
The proposal should include a set of dates available to the evaluator and a preferred timetable taking into consideration that the final report must be completed by 4th June 2021**.**
e. Additional Information and Comments
Include any other information deemed important, but not specifically required elsewhere.