ToR: Conducting Terminal Evaluation for The Rise and Help Program

1.Background and Programme Context

1.1. About SOS Children’s Villages Ethiopia

SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia is an International Non-governmental organization and a member of the SOS Children’s Villages International Federation. The organization started its humanitarian work in Ethiopia with the opening of its first Village in Mekelle, the Northern part of Ethiopia in 1974. Since then, it has expanded its programmes to different regions including Amhara, Oromia, Somali, Harari, Sidama, Southern Ethiopia, and South-Central Ethiopia regions. Through its unique family-based care model, the organization has provided a nurturing environment where children can flourish, grow, and realize their full potential. The programme also works with different youth empowerment initiatives, supporting young people to help them become productive and independent members of society. The family and community development programme has enabled many families in the communities to become sustainable and provide the necessary care for their children. Furthermore, SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia also provides humanitarian assistance interventions in cases of natural and human-made disasters, when the livelihoods of families and communities are disrupted. SOS CVE collaborates and partners with like-minded organizations, community structures, government entities, and relevant all in advocating for the fulfilment of the rights and needs of vulnerable children, young people and families.

SOS CV Ethiopia engages with a variety of community-managed organizations and local government authorities. It supports them in providing an enabling environment for the most vulnerable communities and families to access vital social services and protection whether in peaceful times or crises, to ensure care and protection for all children and youth living in their community

1.2 Description of the Project

The Rise & Help Project is a one-year initiative designed to empower young and marginalized change-makers by enabling them to engage in voluntary civic action without the burden of financial insecurity or dependence on family support or alternative income sources. The project was implemented to strengthen youth participation in civic and community development initiatives while promoting volunteerism, leadership, personal growth, and social responsibility.

The project directly supported 20 volunteers based in Addis Ababa and Bahir Dar, operating under both full-time and part-time volunteer modalities. Through financial and non-financial support mechanisms, capacity building, mentoring, and practical engagement opportunities, the project aimed to create an enabling environment for volunteers to contribute meaningfully to community development and social impact initiatives.

As the project reaches its completion, a terminal evaluation will be undertaken to assess its overall performance, achievements, effectiveness, impact, sustainability, and lessons learned. The evaluation findings will inform future youth engagement and volunteerism programming and provide accountability to stakeholders.

2. Rationale and Overall Purpose of Terminal Evaluation

The overall purpose of the terminal evaluation is to assess the extent to which the Rise & Help Project achieved its intended objectives and contributed to empowering young volunteers and marginalized changemakers.

Specifically, the evaluation will:

• Assess the relevance of the project’s design and interventions.
• Measure the achievement of planned outputs and outcomes.
• Examine the effectiveness and efficiency of project implementation.
• Assess the project’s contribution to volunteer empowerment and civic engagement.
• Determine the sustainability of outcomes beyond the project period.
• Identify key lessons learned, challenges, and best practices.
• Generate recommendations for future volunteer and youth empowerment initiatives.

3. Objectives of the Terminal Evaluation

The evaluation objectives should incorporate clear flow, avoid overlap, and align better with standard terminal evaluation criteria (relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, sustainability, learning, and cross-cutting themes)

3.1 Overall Objectives

The evaluation will assess whether the project achieved its intended objectives and outcomes at the same time, examine the performance, results, sustainability, and contribution to volunteer development, while documenting lessons learned, best practices, and recommendations to inform future programming and organizational learning.

3.2. Specific Objectives are:

The specific objectives of the Terminal Evaluation are:

1. Assess the relevance of the project in addressing the needs and challenges faced by young and marginalized volunteers.

2. Determine the extent to which the project achieved its intended outputs and outcomes.

3. Evaluate the effectiveness of financial and non-financial support provided to volunteers.

4. Assess the quality and effectiveness of project management, coordination, and implementation arrangements.

5. Examine the project’s impact on volunteers’ skills, confidence, leadership, civic participation, and employability.

6. Evaluate the sustainability of project achievements and benefits.

7. Document lessons learned and recommendations for future interventions.

3.3. Project Goal, Outcomes and Outputs

3.3.1. Project Goal:

3.3.1.1. Long term objective

Youth from disadvantaged backgrounds engage for a chosen global challenge thereby developing critical thinking, leadership, and organizational skills that can contribute to their societies and shape their future roles in society.

3.3.1.2. Short term objective 

provides young people with the opportunity to actively contribute to and drive positive change on issues that matter most to them in their local communities.

3.3.2. Project Outcomes & Outputs:

Outcomes:

1. Enhancement of access for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to engage in a civic activity of their choice, enabling them to contribute to their communities and shape their future roles.

2. Development and strengthening of participant’s international and regional networks, fostering global and regional solidarity and cooperation.

3. Positive contribution by participants’ civic engagement to their local communities through the civic activity of their choice.

4. Development of participants’ new skills, including technical, vocational, and soft skills, influential for determining participants’ future roles in society be it further education or employment.

3.4. Major evaluation /research questions

The commissioned consultant should list relevant and possible evaluation questions by referring to the project document and the project result framework and show the terminal evaluation questions during the inception report presentation.

4. Scope of the Terminal Evaluation and Project Targets

4.1. Geographic Scope

The terminal evaluation will be limited to the project participants who are 19 young adults. The project was being implemented in Addis Ababa and Bahirdar where 14 of them are from Addis Ababa and 5 are from Bahir Dar. The subcities where the Volunteers from Addis Ababa work at are Kirkos, Lideta, Kolfe Keranyo and Arada Sub Cities and the volunteers from Bahirdar worked at in Atse Tewodros, Gish Abay, Fasil and Tana Sub Cities.

4.2. Target Groups and Project Participants

The primary target groups are 19 young who were deployed across education, health, and social development institutions and the 12 Organizations who hosted these volunteers for one year.

Table 1. Programme participants/project beneficiaries.

 5.  Terminal Evaluation Methodology

The consultant(s) must develop a strong data collection methodology for this terminal evaluation, ensuring the data’s reliability and validity. A mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative and qualitative research methods, is recommended to produce the highest quality and most credible evidence. This study will collect data, disaggregated by sex, age, and disability, for the indicators listed in the result framework (the RF will be annexed for the winner consultant). The chosen methodology must be sensitive to the local context and ensure that all respondents, regardless of their background, have an equal opportunity to participate in the baseline study.

The terminal evaluation environment should be designed to provide safe and inclusive spaces that encourage all participants to respond freely, irrespective of gender, age, disability, origin, or religious beliefs. As far as possible, the consultant should disaggregate data by sex, age, and disability while collecting and analysing data. Furthermore, the consultant should also clearly explain which questions will be answered using which methods. The Consultant should also ensure that the survey and qualitative methods (such as focus group discussion (FGD), key informant interview (KII) and group discussion) with participants and their host communities/organizations are representative of the project’s target groups and key stakeholders.

5.1. Sampling

The consultant is required to propose statistically sound sampling strategies to ensure representativeness. He/she is required to clearly state the sample size and the acceptable margin of error. The consultant will develop a detailed data analysis plan, outlining the statistical methods to be used for the quantitative data and the thematic analysis approach for the qualitative data. All data collection activities should be conducted following the highest ethical standards, ensuring informed consent, confidentiality, and the safety of all participants.

6. Work plan and Deliverables

6.1. Work Plan and Timetable

The terminal evaluation task is expected to be finalized within 30 days after the contractual agreement is signed. The consultant is expected to develop her/his detailed work plan based on the following table.

6.2 Deliverables

The commissioned external consultant must deliver the evaluation findings within 30 days of the contract signed. Based on the work plan, SOS Children’s Villages of project intervention programme locations expect the following deliverables:

• An inception report of 8 pages on the evaluation design, methodology, sampling frame, sampling technique, sample size, assessment tools and work plan
• Draft evaluation report.
• The consultant is expected to analyse the data and present findings (for both draft and final findings) in the intervention areas (Addis Ababa & Bahirdar sites).
• Final report – The findings of the evaluation report including an executive summary and data collection tools in both electronic and hardcopy formats, should be submitted.
• Raw data, which has been cleaned (both qualitative and quantitative, including original field notes for in-depth interviews and focus group discussions, and recorded audio material), should be submitted with the report. SOS CVE will have sole ownership of all final data, and any findings shall only be shared or reproduced with the permission of SOS Children’s Village Ethiopia.

6.3. Report criteria

The reporting criteria of the terminal evaluation shall be in line with the SOS Children’s Villages Ethiopia Result Based Project Management (RBPM) toolkit and should be shared with the winner consultant along with the data review process and/or for the preparation of the inception report.

7. Qualification of the Researcher/Research Team

• The applicant consultancy firm shall have at least a master’s degree in a relevant field of study such Psychology, Sociology, Social Work, development studies, Gender studies, Economics, Project Management, Monitoring & Evaluation and other related fields per the required assignment
• The consultancy firm/team lead should have at least 5 years’ work experience & proven competency in assessments, monitoring, research, terminal evaluations, baseline assessments or organizational/program evaluation (baseline, midterm, and final evaluations). The applicant consultancy firm shall attach at least one sample final evaluation report produced on a similar topic.
• A good understanding of family strengthening, child development, community empowerment, livelihoods and development programme work.
• A good understanding of child/youth rights/safeguarding & other issues affecting vulnerable children in the Ethiopian context.
• proven experience in working with conceptual frameworks and data collection methods (including age-appropriate data collection methods)
• Proven experience in participatory processes and data collection methods
• Strong skills in coordination, good facilitation, organizational, and interpersonal skills
• Proven experience in participatory processes
• Strong skills in coordinating teamwork
•  analytical and conceptual skills on market and livelihood assessment
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills in English.
• Ability to transfer complex concepts and ideas into practical and simple language.
• Experience in organizing research processes with SOS Children’s Villages or similar child-focused organizations.
• Experience in managing baselines, final evaluations and livelihood assignments in respect of the participating communities’ culture, social norms, values, and behaviour; and maintain appropriate relationships with participants of this evaluation.
• Legally registered firms with renewed license, VAT registration and TIN number

8. Child Safeguarding and Ethical issues.

SOS Children’s Villages is committed to ensuring that all research, evaluation and data collection processes (i.e. evidence-generating activities) undertaken by SOS Children’s Villages and its partners are ethical and respect child safeguarding policy and procedure.

The consultant must respect the rights, dignity and protection of children and other vulnerable population groups and should ensure special protection for children and other vulnerable groups during any data-generating activities to minimize any potential risks. Any research, evaluation and data collection SOS Children’s Villages is directly carrying out or is involved in as a partner.

Ethical practices need to be ensured in the following circumstances: 

• Any research, baseline, midterm or final evaluations and data collection SOS Children’s Villages has commissioned for ethical oversight of these processes.
• Any research, evaluation and data collection carried out by researchers/consultants on SOS Children’s Villages programmes and participants.

Hence, relevant Coordinator in SOS Children’s Village FCSP programme family strengthening and child development project will ensure that any researchers, evaluators and data collectors should receive awareness training on, sign and adhere to SOS Children’s Villages core policies:

Obtaining consent from research participants is central to the research relationship and signals respect for the research participant’s dignity, their capability to express their views and their right to have these heard in matters that affect them. Informed consent is an explicit agreement that requires participants to be informed about and understand the research/assessment. This must be given voluntarily and be renegotiable, so that participants may withdraw at any stage of the research process.

9. Logistical Arrangements

The awarded consultant shall show feasible logistical arrangements for the assignment as part of the technical proposal. National or location-level staff (SOS CVE) will be available to help organize the interviews including contacting SOS CVE, announcing and local preparation of evaluation, and linking to community duty bearers and national authorities if required.

10. Duration of the Contract and Terms of Payment

Payment will be made only upon SOS Children’s Villages’ acceptance of the work performed in accordance with the above-described deliverables. Payment will be affected by bank transfer in the currency of birr.

Funding and Payment: The consultancy firm will be paid by SOS Children’s Villages as follows: 

• 30% on the submission and approval of the inception report/Technical Proposal.
• 30% on completion of the draft report.
• 40% on completion of the final report.

Duration of contract: the contract is effective from the moment it was signed until the acceptance of work by the SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia management team.

10.1. Notice of delay

Shall the successful bidder encounter a delay in the performance of the contract which may be excusable under unavoidable circumstances; the contractor shall notify SOS Children’s Villages in writing about the causes of any such delays within one (1) week from the beginning of the delay.

After receipt of the Contractor’s notice of delay, SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia shall analyse the facts and extent of the delay and extend the time for performance when in its judgment the facts justify such an extension.

10.2. Copyright and other proprietary rights:

SOS Children’s Villages shall be entitled to all intellectual property and other proprietary rights including, but not limited to, copyrights, and trademarks, with regard to products, processes, inventions, ideas, know-how, or documents and other materials which the Contractor has developed for SOS Children’s Villages under the Contract and which bear a direct relation to or are produced or prepared or collected in consequence of, or during the course of, the performance of the Contract. The Contractor acknowledges and agrees that such products, documents, and other materials constitute works made for hire for SOS Children’s Villages.

All materials: interviews, reports, recommendations, and all other data compiled by or received by the Contractor under the Contract shall be the property of SOS Children’s Villages and shall be treated as confidential and shall be delivered only to SOS Children’s Villages authorized officials on completion of work under the Contract. The external consultant is obliged to hand over all raw data collected during the assessment to SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia.

10.3. Termination:

The termination of the service agreement for the assignment will be in accordance with the contractual agreement to be included at the formal agreement’s actual signing