Terms of Reference (ToR) for Evaluation -Project Final Evaluation _at Christian Blind Mission (CBM)

Background of Project

The World Report on Disability (WHO, World Bank, 2011) estimates that 17.6% of the Ethiopian population lives with a disability. According to the Ethiopian government, an estimated 95% of people with disabilities live in poverty.

Ethiopia ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD, 2006) in July 2010 and the Ethiopian Constitution of 1995 contains important legislation relating to equality for persons with disabilities. This states in Article 41(5) that the State shall, within available resources, provide funds for the rehabilitation and support of persons with physical and mental disabilities. In addition to national policies and strategies, the regional state of Amhara, where the project is implemented, has developed and put in place its own regional directive on the inclusion of persons with disabilities ‘Disability Mainstreaming Guideline (DMD)’. Despite the efforts of various state and civil actors, there are still major challenges to adequately implement the conventions and guidelines for equal participation of persons with disabilities.

The project is implemented in the Amhara Region in three districts each of the East Gojjam (Mota, Debre Elias, Ammanuel) by Bright Future Initiative (BFI), and Gondar Zones (Addis Zemen, Kimir Dinigaye, Nefas Mewcha) by Cheshire Foundation Action for Inclusion (CFAI). The project was initiated and developed in consultation with the local authorities, self-advocacy organisations (OPDs), community representatives of the target districts, CBM and the two local project implementing organisations (i.e., BFI and CFAI). The six target districts were selected in consultation with the planned stakeholders based on the following criteria: 1) Areas with the highest number of persons with disabilities 2) Lack of accessible infrastructure and inclusive services, 3) Lack of OPDs working in the disability sector 4) Lack of capacity of existing OPDs to fulfil their mandate of advocacy for persons with disabilities 5) The socio-economic status of persons with disabilities and their families.

Both BFI and CFAI have conducted an initial analysis of the situation of persons with disabilities in the target districts in 2022 using a structured questionnaire. According to this, persons with disabilities living in the selected districts face multiple challenges that exclude them from equal participation in the life of their community. Negative attitudes towards persons with disabilities, inadequate support measures, inaccessible infrastructures, limited access to social and health services, and lack of training and employment opportunities contribute significantly to the marginalisation of persons with disabilities in the target districts. Most persons with disabilities are economically dependent on their families. Community initiated groups such as the Community Care and Support Coalition (CCC), ‘Idir’, ‘Equib’ and ‘Mahbers’ often marginalise people with disabilities due to negative attitudes.

There are some self-advocacy organisations (Organisations of Persons with Disability: OPDs) in the target districts, but they are not able to adequately advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities due to low capacity. The Women, Children and Social Affairs Office (WCSA) at zonal and district level is a government structure under the Bureau of Labour and Social Affairs (BOLSA). The WCSA offices are mandated, among other things, to promote the interests and concerns of persons with disabilities so that they are considered in the social services provided by government institutions, such as health and education. However, staff in WCSA offices at zonal and district levels do not have sufficient knowledge in the field of inclusion to fulfil the mandate. Families and caregivers of persons with disabilities are therefore mostly on their own.

Children with disabilities do not have access to mainstream education for several reasons. Among the reasons are low awareness of inclusion in the families concerned, insufficient knowledge of teachers on how to teach children with disabilities, lack of resources and appropriate teaching materials, and inadequate accessibility of schools. These facts lead to children with disabilities either not going to school at all or dropping out early. As a result, most children and young people with disabilities remain dependent on their parents and families for their social and economic needs in the long term. Access to health services is another major challenge for persons with disabilities, as they do not have access to medical care, corrective surgeries, and assistive devices for many reasons. In addition, physical rehabilitation is a prerequisite for children with disabilities to go to school and play an active role in society and later in the labour market.

Based on the situation or problems outlined above, this project was, therefore, developed for a period of 42 months, i.e., 01.09.2022 to 28.02.2026, and with a total budget of €1,395,801 and implemented in the past three years.

The project direct and indirect target beneficiaries expected to reach a total of more than 140,420 children, youth and adults with disabilities, vulnerable persons, stakeholders and community members in East Gojjam and South Gondar in the six districts of Amhara region (Mota, Debre Elias, Ammanuel, Addis Zemen, Kimir Dinigaye, Nefas Mewcha).

The direct target group includes a total of 3,294 people:

• Children with disabilities: 864 (50% of whom are female) aged < 18 years.
• Adults with disabilities: 1,200 adults (50% of them female)
• 180 members from 8 OPDs
• 60 WCSA office staff and 60 social workers
• 180 government and municipal representatives
• 150 representatives of self-help groups
• 360 Members of IVSLA
• 240 Teachers and health workers

The indirect target includes the following groups:

• An estimated 125,000 community members reached through awareness-raising events, radio campaigns and the use of services facilitated by the project
• 11,016 family members of the direct target group (based on an average household size of 4 per-sons) benefit indirectly from the improved living conditions and increased independence of family members with disabilities).

With a project objective of ‘Improving the living conditions of people with disabilities, their families and vulnerable persons in the East Gojjam and South Gondar zones of the Amhara region’, the project goal is to see ‘people with disabilities, their families and vulnerable persons in the target districts of East Gojjam and South Gondar access health and education services, generate income and defend their interests. Evidence-based learning on community-based inclusive development through documentation and dissemination of experiences is ensured’ through the following results by the end of the project life:

• Result 1: 1. WCSA offices at zonal and district level as well as organisations of persons with disabilities (OPDs) and self-help groups represent the interests of persons with disabilities
• Result 2: The services provided by health (rehabilitation) and education staff, as well as village savings and loan associations (VSLA) in the target districts are inclusive and members of the target communities understand the need for inclusive services.
• Result 3: Evidence-based data and best practices on the concept of community-based inclusive development (CBID) is available for all stakeholders in the field of inclusion

In order to achieve these results, the project plan considers the following measures or activities:

Result 1:

1.1 Regional Kick-Off Workshop

1.2 Establishment, training and support of 6 multi-stakeholder steering committees

1.3 Basic training for 24 project staff on CBID

1.4 Train the Trainer training for 60 officials of the zones and district WCSA offices.

1.5 CBID training for 60 social workers

1.6 Inclusion training for 180 government officials and community representatives

1.7 Training for 120 government officials and community representatives on child protection and safeguarding

1.8 Needs analysis of 8 OPDs

https://cbm365.sharepoint.com/sites/intranet-documentlibrary/CBM%20Document%20Library/CBID%20concept%20paper.pdf

For Detail Tor information please refer to this link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iKtGFayqnLLIf8qRWU3u23-lLdidqbDU/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=112871499205828425147&rtpof=true&sd=true

Costs and payments

Interested consultants shall submit an offer to the CBM Ethiopia Country Office as per the address and date of submission date to be specified in the bid announcement. The offer shall include:

• Brief description of the company, its relevant experience, the suggested team members, including CVs
• An outline demonstrating the consultant’s understanding of the TOR and suggested methodology of the evaluation
• Suggested implementation structure and detailed work plan for the entire assignment/work schedule
• Confirmation of availability during the time frame given above
• Financial offer, including all costs related to evaluation fee, including provisions for conducting a disability-inclusive and participatory study (costs for reasonable accommodation), and taxes according to the rules and regulations of the Inland Revenue Authority of Ethiopia
• Necessary documents pertaining to licenses and a TIN or VAT certificate are mandatory

Once the consultancy/evaluation contract is signed, transfer of payment can be arranged in three instalments:

• A first instalment of 30 % shall be done after signing the contract.
• 30% upon submission of the first draft report, and
• The remaining 40% will be paid to the evaluator upon clearance of the final report by CBM and the implementing partners, no later than 14 days thereafter.

CBM reserves the right to terminate the contract in case that the agreed team members are not available at the agreed commencement of the assignment and if no adequate replacement can be provided.