Terms of Reference (TOR): Final Evaluation of the Project

1. Background of the Project

The project “Improving the Living Conditions of the Poor in 7 Villages in Guassa by Harmonizing Efforts for Food Security and Environmental Sustainability” was implemented from October 2020 to September 2025 in the Guassa Plateau, located in Menz-Gera Woreda, North Shoa Zone, Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia.

Guassa Plateau is a highland ecosystem characterized by fragile natural resources, high vulnerability to climate variability, and low socio-economic development. Agriculture is the primary livelihood, but productivity is constrained by soil degradation, deforestation, overgrazing, and recurring droughts. Many households live below the poverty line, relying on subsistence farming and livestock rearing.

The project aimed to address these challenges through an integrated approach combining livelihoods improvement, food security, environmental sustainability, and health interventions. The focus was on:

• Livelihoods: Enhancing household income through honey production, apple and potato cultivation, poultry farming, and vocational training for youth.
• Natural Resource Management (NRM): Soil and water conservation, land rehabilitation, afforestation, and sustainable land-use practices.
• Health and Social Development: Family planning education, nutrition awareness, and gender-sensitive interventions.
• Institutional Strengthening: Strengthening Kebele- and Woreda-level multi-sectoral committees for sustainable planning and coordination.

By combining these interventions, the project sought to improve resilience, reduce poverty, strengthen community cohesion, and promote environmentally sustainable livelihoods. This TOR is therefore prepared to conduct final evaluation of the project achievements through hiring external consultant.

2. Objectives of the Evaluation

The primary objective of this evaluation is to assess the project’s overall performance and the extent to which it achieved its stated goals and objectives. The evaluation will use the OECD-DAC evaluation criteria (Relevance, Effectiveness, Efficiency, Impact, and Sustainability) and will also assess cross-cutting issues such as gender, inclusion, participation, and learning.

Specific objectives include:

• Determine the relevance of the project in addressing the needs and priorities of the target communities.
• Assess the effectiveness of project interventions in achieving intended outcomes in livelihoods, food security, NRM, and health.
• Evaluate efficiency in the use of resources and project management structures.
• Examine the impact on long-term development, including poverty reduction, community resilience, gender equality, and social cohesion.
• Assess sustainability and the likelihood of continuation of benefits beyond the project period.
• Analyze integration of gender, inclusion, and social equity in project design and implementation.
• Identify lessons learned, best practices, and recommendations to inform future interventions.

3. Key Evaluation Criteria and Questions

Relevance

• Were the project objectives aligned with the specific needs of smallholder farmers, pastoralists, and landless youth in the Guassa Plateau?
• Did the project address local priorities related to food security, poverty reduction, natural resource management, and climate adaptation?
• How well did the project integrate gender-sensitive approaches, and did it actively include women, youth, and other marginalized groups in planning and decision-making?
• Were local knowledge, customs, traditional agricultural practices, and community priorities effectively incorporated into project design and implementation?
• Did the project respond to environmental challenges, such as soil erosion, deforestation, and water resource management, in ways relevant to local livelihoods?

Effectiveness

• To what extent did the project achieve its intended outcomes in:
  • Livelihoods: increased income, diversified income sources, and adoption of sustainable farming practices
  • Food security: improved crop yields, livestock productivity, household food availability
  • Environmental sustainability: land rehabilitation, tree planting, soil and water conservation measures
  • Health: knowledge and adoption of family planning, nutrition, and sanitation practices
• How successful was the integration of interventions across livelihoods, health, and environmental management?
• Were gender equality and youth inclusion effectively addressed across interventions, ensuring equitable participation and benefits?
• Did the project meet the planned outputs:
  • Honey production (number of beehives, honey yield, cooperative formation)
  • Apple and potato cultivation (area planted, yield, adoption of improved techniques)
  • Poultry farming (number of households supported, flock growth, sustainability)
  • Vocational training and youth start-up support (number trained, businesses initiated, follow-up support)
• Did the project strengthen local institutional capacity for service delivery and technical support?

Efficiency

• Were objectives achieved within the allocated budget and project timeline?
• Were human, financial, and technical resources deployed efficiently to produce outputs?
• How effectively did project management, coordination, and communication structures support timely decision-making?
• Were procurement, training, and implementation processes cost-effective while maintaining quality standards?
• Did the project adopt innovative approaches that increased efficiency in achieving results?
• What long-term changes have occurred in community livelihoods, income levels, food security, and household resilience?
• What is the prevalence and level of Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) in the intervention households?
• Did the project influence behavioral changes related to health, family planning, nutrition, sanitation, and environmental stewardship?
• To what extent did the project improve community cohesion, social networks, and conflict reduction, including collaboration among different social groups?
• Have project interventions strengthened local governance, cooperative formation, and collective action in resource management?
• Are there signs of replicable and scalable practices emerging from project activities?

Impact

Sustainability

• Will project outcomes continue beyond the project’s end without external support?
• Are there local institutions, cooperatives, or community groups capable of maintaining livelihood activities (honey production, and poultry farming)?
• Will environmental management practices, such as soil conservation, tree planting, and watershed management, be maintained by local communities?
• How likely are the project’s approaches to be adopted or replicated by other communities or local government initiatives?

Cross-Cutting Issues

• How effectively did the project implement gender-sensitive and socially inclusive approaches throughout all interventions?
• Were marginalized groups, including women, youth, and landless households, included in planning, decision-making, and benefits sharing?
• Did the project actively promote equity, social inclusion, and human rights, and reduce discrimination or barriers to participation?
• Were environmental, social, and cultural considerations integrated into all interventions?
• What key lessons have emerged regarding multi-sectoral project design, integration, and implementation?
• Which best practices were documented, and how were they shared with stakeholders?
• Are there specific interventions or strategies that could be scaled up or replicated in similar highland ecosystems or other regions?
• How effectively did the project monitor and adapt its strategies based on ongoing learning and feedback?
• Geographical Coverage: Seven kebeles (Dargegn, Chare, Quangwey, Yedi, Wojed, Siregedel, and Anaz) located in Guassa, Menz Gera Woreda, North shoa zone.
• Target Groups: Smallholder farmers, landless and unemployed youth, households practicing land rehabilitation, women and men participating in family planning and nutrition programs, and local institutions at Kebele, Woreda, and Zonal levels.
• Intervention Areas: Livelihoods, natural resource management, youth employment, health and reproductive health, institutional strengthening, and environmental sustainability.
• Evaluation Focus: Effectiveness, relevance, efficiency, and impact, and sustainability, inclusion of marginalized groups, gender sensitivity, participation, ownership, and lessons learned.
• Desk Review: Project proposals, baseline and progress reports, monitoring data, and relevant policies.
• Key Informant Interviews (KIIs): Project staff, government officials, donor representatives, and community leaders.
• Focus Group Discussions (FGDs): Beneficiaries including farmers, youth, women, and cooperatives.
• Household Surveys: Sample-based quantitative data to measure changes in income, food security, and knowledge/behavioral shifts.
• Field Observations: Physical outputs such as beehives, orchards, poultry houses, and rehabilitated land.
• Triangulation: Cross-checking findings across multiple sources to ensure validity and reliability.

Learning and Best Practices

4. Scope of the Evaluation

The evaluation will cover the entire project period (October 2020 – September 2025) with a focus on:

5. Methodology

A mixed-methods approach will be employed, combining quantitative and qualitative methods:

6. Timeline of Evaluation (September – November 2025)

Key Experts

1. Lead Consultant / Team Leader

• Minimum 10 years of experience managing and evaluating multi-sectoral development projects.
• Expertise in livelihoods, NRM, food security, environmental sustainability, and monitoring & evaluation of multi-sectoral projects.
• Proven ability to lead complex evaluations, coordinate multi-disciplinary teams, and produce actionable recommendations.
• Strong skills in stakeholder engagement, including facilitating validation workshops and presenting findings to diverse audiences.
• Experience in designing and implementing data collection, analysis, and reporting frameworks, integrating quantitative and qualitative findings to produce evidence-based recommendations.
• Deep knowledge of the Ethiopian rural development context, including governance structures at Kebele, Woreda, and Zonal levels.
• Excellent analytical, report-writing, and presentation skills.
• Ability to maintain objectivity, neutrality, and impartiality in all evaluation tasks.

2. Natural Resource Management (NRM) & Agriculture / Livelihoods Expert

• Minimum 7 years of experience in NRM, agriculture, and rural livelihoods evaluations.
• Familiarity with highland ecosystems, soil conservation, afforestation, and sustainable agricultural practices.
• Knowledge of local farming practices and experience with community-based natural resource management programs.
• Understanding of local ecosystem and livelihood dynamics in highland Ethiopian communities.
• Strong field observation, data interpretation, and technical reporting skills.
• Ability to provide actionable recommendations to enhance sustainability of NRM and livelihood interventions.
• Expertise in gender mainstreaming, social inclusion, and empowerment strategies.
• Experience working with marginalized groups such as women, youth, and landless households.
• Skilled in assessing equity, participation, and social development interventions, and providing recommendations for gender-sensitive programming.
• Ability to analyze cultural and social dynamics affecting participation and inclusion.
• Experience in facilitating participatory discussions and FGDs with vulnerable groups.
• Skills in documenting gender-responsive best practices and actionable recommendations.

3. Gender and Social Development Expert

7. Application Process

Consultants (individuals or firms) should submit: on the email stated below.

Technical Proposal (maximum 10 pages)

• Proposed methodology, evaluation approach, and sampling strategy.
• Timeline aligned with the proposed schedule (October 1–Dec 20 2025).
• Description of the expert team, qualifications, and relevant experience

Financial Proposal

• Detailed budget covering personnel rates, travel/data collection, and report production costs.

8. Application Process

Consultants (individuals or firms) should submit: on the specified email address stated below.

1. Technical Proposal (maximum 10 pages)

• Proposed methodology, evaluation approach, sampling strategy and assessment tools.
• Timeline aligned with the Oct 1–Dec 20 2025 schedule.
• Description of the expert team, qualifications, and relevant experience.

2. Financial Proposal

• Detailed budget covering personnel rates, travel/data collection, and report production costs.

Qualifications of the Consultant(s)

• The final evaluation will be conducted by a highly qualified consultant team or independent consultant with proven expertise in integrated development projects, food security, environmental sustainability, livelihoods, and social inclusion.

Firm-Level Requirements

• Minimum 4 years of experience conducting evaluations in food security, livelihoods, natural resource management (NRM), and gender-inclusive development programs.
• Demonstrated experience in managing multi-sectoral, integrated interventions with measurable outcomes and impact.
• Capacity to coordinate multidisciplinary teams and ensure delivery of high-quality evaluation outputs.