ToR for Conducting: POST DISTRIBUTION MONITORING FOR CASH FOR NUTRITION SUPPORT

Introduction

To support the IDPs, Returnees and Host Communities in Gida Ayana Woreda of Oromia Region, Action for Social Development and Environmental Protection Organization (ASDEPO) along with Positive Action for Development (PAD) designed a cross-sectoral project aimed at improving the nutritional status of affected communities through cross-sectoral interventions that included Nutrition, Health, WASH and Agriculture. Sub-grated through PAD (lead organization), ASDEPO is implementing the nutrition project while PAD is managing the implementation of health, WASH and Agriculture sectors.

The nutrition project, among the activities, includes a cash support component targeting caregivers of children recovering from malnutrition and discharged cured from OTP/SC services, as well as malnourished pregnant and lactating women. This support aims to prevent relapse by strengthening household purchasing power and reducing the opportunity cost of caregiving in contexts of high food insecurity.

For caregivers of infants under six months, the cash assistance enables mothers to procure essential food supplies from local markets, thereby improving their own nutritional intake during lactation and enhancing the infant’s nutrient intake through breastfeeding. For children over six months, mothers or caregivers similarly use financial support to purchase food supplies that supplement the child’s diet, helping to sustain recovery and prevent recurrence of malnutrition.

Through this project, ASDEPO provided cash assistance to 382 caregivers of children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) who were discharged cured from OTP and SC centres in Gida Ayana Woreda. Each beneficiary received ETB 8,844.00 via bank transfer deposited directly into their account through the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia. Beneficiary selection was carried out in collaboration with the four health clusters in Gida Ayana, an established selection committee, and the Woreda Health Bureau.

General Objective of the PDM

The PDM is planned to be conducted within two weeks of the completion of the cash assistance transfer, by a licensed external consultant. The PDM is intended to measure the appropriateness of the distribution, the effectiveness of the distribution methodology, and the possible protection risks encountered during and after the distributions. It is also intended to gather beneficiary feedback on their satisfaction and document any challenges encountered throughout the process, from beneficiary selection to the final distribution and use of the items.

Specific Objective of the PDM

The specific objectives of the PDM are:

1. To assess the timeliness, effectiveness and efficiency of the cash transfer
2. To verify receipt of correct amounts of cash assistance by the target beneficiaries
3. To assess the overall satisfaction of beneficiaries with the process followed in the cash transfer
4. To assess adherences to accountability to affected people in the process of selection of beneficiaries and cash transfer to the beneficiaries.
5. To assess challenges and/or protection concerns encountered during and after the cash transfer.
6. To systematically document and apply lessons learned to strengthen future cash support interventions and enhance the overall quality and effectiveness of similar projects.

Deliverables

Inception Report

The inception report should contain: The key data of the consultancy, suggestions for ToR amendments (if any), the consultancy preparation (team, timetable, distribution of tasks, reporting), evaluation design (chosen approach, design, data sources and tools for their implementation (questionnaires, KII, data processing and analysis etc.), sample size and sampling technique, data analysis and presentation tools, steps for their implementation, plan for enumerators and their training, a draft implementation plan for the consultancy and ethical consideration to be considered in the process of data collection, analysis and presentation. The inception report could be discussed with ASDEPO MEAL and Program teams.

Preliminary Evaluation Report

All findings, conclusions and recommendations including the methodology should be described and presented and submitted and evaluated by ASDEPO MEAL department. The consultant is required to submit or grant access to collected raw data, with particular emphasis on the sample survey data.

Final Report

The final report must present key findings, conclusions, recommendations, and lessons learned in a clear and transparent manner, ideally organized side by side in a table to demonstrate the logical progression. It should also incorporate all comments and feedback provided on the preliminary evaluation report. Where necessary, the evaluator may extend the report with additional points. All appendices and relevant photographs should be annexed with appropriate captions.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. ASDEPO will provide:
2. All necessary / required project documents.
3. Staff technical support during data collection.
4. The consultant:
5. Responsible for logistic arrangement, and deployment of enumerators and supervisors for the assessment.
6. Document, review and analyse what is the current experience and capacity of the consultant in conducting PDMs.
7. Develop harmonized PDM tools that are integrated and aligned with the project indicators, desired goals and methodologies for response strategy.
8. Train and orient the data collectors on the use of the tools developed in point 2 and best practices when conducting PDMs.
9. Develop and implement a survey report of the main tools used by the project team during the entire process to conduct PDMs.
10. Undertake the Post-Monitoring Distribution within the proposed time frame.
11. Submit a final Report outlining overview of findings, activities and any key recommendation for future Dignity kit distribution interventions.

Requirement/qualification

• The consultant firm’s key individual leading the activity should have a minimum of M.A/ M.Sc. degree in any fields of study.
• Strong analytical, report writing and presentation skills.
• Present evidence of conducting similar studies.
• Strong qualitative and quantitative research and analytical skills.
• Proven record of excellent management, leadership, decision-making and interpersonal skills.
• Proven strong, clear technical writing and oral presentation skills in English.
• Proven ability to prepare high-quality technical reports on time.
• The consultant is expected to review the TOR very carefully.

Experiences

• Previous valued experience in the setting of humanitarian response and conducting PDM.
• The consultant/candidate should have a minimum of MA /M.SC in any fields of study.
• Strong analytical, report writing and presentation skills.
• Strong qualitative/quantitative research and analytical skills
• Proven record of excellent management, leadership, decision-making, and interpersonal skills
• Proven strong, clear technical writing and oral presentation skills in English
• Proven ability to prepare high-quality technical reports on time.
• Proven ability to prepare high-quality technical reports on time.