Afghanistan: Evaluation of National Solidarity Programme (NSP) Re-announced

1. Background

1.1 Swedish Committee for Afghanistan:

SCA has been working in Afghanistan since 1982 and is presently managing development programmes in four sectors – Health, Education, Disability and Rural Development with a total annual budget of roughly USD 40 million. The total number of staff in Afghanistan is more than 5,000 of whom 15 are non-Afghans. The SCA presence in Afghanistan consists of the Kabul Management Office (KMO), five Regional Offices and two Liaison Offices. In Sweden SCA has 20 staff working at the Stockholm Management Office (SMO) and around 4 000 members organized in local chapters all over the country.

In the last 10 years SCA has undertaken a change process moving from a primarily humanitarian service delivery approach towards more of a developmental role, putting increasing emphasis on capacity development, rights-based programming and outcome orientation. The mission of SCA is to empower individuals, communities and local organizations, primarily in rural areas and with particular focus on women, girls, boys and vulnerable groups such as people with disabilities, so that they may participate fully in society and influence their own development.

1.2 Project Background

The National Solidarity Program’s (NSP) main objective has been, and still is, to build, strengthen, and maintain the Community Development Councils (CDCs) as effective institutions for good local governance and socio-economic development in rural communities of Afghanistan. Since the initiation of NSP in 2003, SCA as one of Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD’s) Facilitating Partners (FPs) has played a crucial role in providing technical support and guidance to rural communities to develop their capacities and implement project activities in fulfilment of its rural community development plans. As such it also provided a vital link between provincial and national level officials of MRRD and targeted rural communities in Wardak Province throughout NSP’s all phases of implementation that will end in September 2016.

The National Solidarity Programme (NSP) contributes to SCA’s Strategic Objective 4, stating that: ‘Community members are actively engaged in decision making, influencing the development of their communities and are able to hold relevant stakeholders to account’’, and the corresponding outcomes as below:

• Rural communities including men, women, children, and persons with disabilities, are well represented and increasingly participating in democratic community organizations and in decision making processes;


• Local authorities are accountable and able to respond to the demands of local communities.

In order to contribute to the above mentioned strategic objective, rural development programme is facilitating partner of Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development for facilitation of NSP in seven districts of Maidan Wardak Province.

2. Purpose and Scope of Evaluation :

This evaluation assignment is aimed at assessing the level of progress in last 13 years toward overall objectives of NSP under SCA coverage areas; It is expected: (i) to explore achievements, gaps, lessons learnt, (ii) whether the project objectives were achieved or not, (iii) to determine the level of empowerment made within the communities, and, (iv) whether it contributed to SCA relevant strategic objective or not. The overall evaluation findings should highlight best practices to feed into the design of future relevant projects. Finally, it looks into the changes made in people’s lives influenced by the NSP-project. It also helps to see whether NSP is a successful project or not, keeping in mind community empowerment and positive changes made in people’s lives.

Specific Objectives of the evaluation:

This consultancy will adopt mainly qualitative approach. In preparation for this consultancy and familiarize with the work of the NSP project, the consultant will undertake a desk review of key strategic documents such as NSP proposal, Operation manual, strategy documents, work plan, action plan, annual report, evaluation report of NSP project. These documents will be provided by SCA to the consultant.

The consultant will propose a sampling strategy in consultation with SCA for the qualitative data collection. The consultant will develop data collection tools and share with SCA prior to the commencement of fieldwork.

For primary data collection, the consultant will conduct interviews with key staff within the NSP project both in Kabul and SCA regional offices. In addition the consultant will conduct semi structured interviews with key a select sample of the target groups of the programmes and stakeholders. Among the key beneficiaries to be interviewed is a representative sample of women, children and people with disabilities. The consultant will be at liberty to decide on conducting FGDs with any of the target groups.

While the above outline provides the minimum of what SCA expects to be done and covered by this evaluation, the consultant will propose additional approaches and strategies for undertaking this evaluation which will be approved by SCA.

The consultant will be expected to submit a draft report to SCA outlining the details about proposed sampling design, data collection tools in addition to what is already proposed by SCA, the methodology to be used and a work plan/schedule for field visits and major deadlines. SCA shall review the inception report and will approve the survey/study design prior to commencement of the evaluation. The inception report together with the draft data collection tools will be reviewed and approved by SCA before the arrival of the consultant to Afghanistan.

Core Hypothesis could be:

Hypotheses reflect dual function of NSP to impact local governance structures and village economies:

1. Economic Questions:

• Access and utilization of essential services and infrastructure by communities;


• How do the services and infrastructure contribute to the economic well-being of the target groups;


• Women and other marginalized groups’ participation in economic activities.

2. Institutional Outcomes:

• Structures and function of local governance;


• Participation of women, other marginalized groups and non-elite males in governance;


• Interpersonal trust and community relations;


• Attitudes towards central government.

4. Scheduling (timetable/work plan)

The consultancy will be for 25 working days including travelling within Afghanistan to see the project area and for data collection.It does not include weekends, and travel days from home country and back. however, the duration of consultancy will be mutually decided by both the parties (RDP and consultant) based on the plan submitted by the consultant. The time table and the work plan will be finalized by the consultant jointly with the RDP Manager/Coordinator and will be coordinated with the M&E unit prior to start the work in the field. The project areas to be covered in the evaluation will be 1) Maydan Shar, 2) Nirkh, 3) Jalreez, 4) Sayd Abad, 5) Jaghatu, 6) Hisa-i-Awali Bihsud, and 7) Markazi Bihsud Districts of Maidan Wardak Province of Afghanistan

5. Expected output:

• An inception report including plan for Evaluation will be received from the consultant before arrival of the Consultant to Afghanistan. For the inception report the consultant will have the key documents needed for the inception report through emails, meeting with the key persons responsible through Skype. Inception report will cover the details of a draft work plan with a summary of the primary information needs, the methodology to be used and a work plan/schedule for field visits and major deadlines.


• Presentation of findings: The consultant will conduct a debriefing session at Kabul Management Office (KMO) by highlighting the main findings at the end of the evaluation period


• · Draft report: The draft evaluation report will be submitted to the RDP before presentation of findings. The feedback on the draft will be given to the consultant within 10-days after receipt of the draft report.


• Final report: The final report should be submitted by the consultant no later than one week after getting SCA’s feedback on first draft. The Final Report format is expected to include an executive summary that highlights: (a) Executive summary (covering the summary of the whole report) (b)the key findings, (c) the lessons learned, Conclusion

6. Management of the task:

A panel consisting senior management team including Programme Director, Manager/adviser of Monitoring and Evaluation Unit, Head of Rural Development Programme. The RDP Manager with the help of RD project manager in Kabul Management Office is responsible for all practical arrangements required and any other assistance for conducting field visits and for producing essential documentations.

7. Swedish Committee for Afghanistan’s (SCA) Commitment towards consultant

SCA is contracting agency for the proposed evaluation. SCA through its RDP team based at Kabul Management Office and Central Regional Office are implementing actors and main stakeholders in the programme. Therefore, the RDP team will support the evaluation. The major roles and responsibilities of SCA includes

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  To provide relevant project-related information and documents,

  
  


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  SCA will provide round trip flight tickets and other travel costs from the home country of the consultant as well as flights and land transportation within Afghanistan for field visit including accommodation and office space if needed,

  
  


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  SCA will provide consultancy fee as per the agreement which may be deposited in the bank account of the consultant

  
  


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  If necessary, SCA will provide independent translator (not related to the NSP) during field trip.

  
  


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  SCA will also cover the necessary visa and insurance costs.

  
  


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  SCA will provide insurance, necessary security updates and guidance during the stay of consultant in Afghanistan

  
  

8. Qualifications, Experience and Competencies required for the assignment and application process:

8.1 8.1 Qualifications and Experience

• A relevant academic qualification with at least a master’s degree.


• Excellent knowledge of community-driven rural development projects, with specific background, experience, and knowledge on community governance in Afghanistan.


• Experience in rural development intervention’s evaluation implemented by NGOs preferably within Afghanistan, and


• particularly, about projects dealing with community development, community mobilization, participation and empowerment.


• A good understanding of the aspirations and challenges of rural communities in Afghanistan is desirable.


• Objectivity and ability to operate systematically without supervision.


• Result-oriented and committed to respect deadlines.


• Highly proficient in written and spoken English, and preferably a good knowledge of spoken Pashto or Dari for

local/Afghan candidates. o