Country: Colombia
Closing date: 13 Feb 2017
TERMS OF REFERENCE
Summary
Purpose
The Colombian Red Cross (CRC)and Norwegian Red Cross (NorCross) seek to evaluate the impact, effectiveness, efficiency, relevance and sustainability of the Health Care in Danger (HCiD) Project in Colombia implemented as of 2014 to date, in order to identify key lessons and receive recommendations to strengthen and improve ongoing programming for 2017 and identify key components of potential future programs and activities.
Duration
The duration of the evaluation is 20 days, including briefings, desktop review, field work, report writing, presentation, and follow-up. The evaluation will be conducted during the period March - April 2017. Deadline for delivering the draft final evaluation is 3rd April.
Methodology
The evaluation will consist of a desk study of the relevant program documents, agreements and strategy documents as well as field research in Colombia. The consultant will carry out interviews and focus groups with relevant staff at the Colombian RC, NorCross, ICRC Colombia Delegation, Colombian health authorities, beneficiaries and other relevant stakeholders.
Location
The evaluation will take place in Colombia. Specific CRC branches and communities to be defined further on in the process.
Application requirements
NorCross is looking for a consultant that is fluent in Spanish and English, has expertise in HCiD or Mission Médica and experience with or a good understanding of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. He/She should have proven evaluation experience in relevant fields, documented reporting skills and an understanding of the ICRC and the Red Cross Movement is highly desirable.
Background
The Colombian armed conflict has generated humanitarian impact on many levels, amongst them inadequate access to health care due to threats against health care personnel, patients and infrastructure. This results in reduced medical assistance, increase in curable diseases, higher morbidity rates and the interruption of vaccination campaigns, among others.
In response to this situation the Colombian authorities and the Red Cross Red Crescent (RCRC) Movement have taken measures to protect the medical mission since 1996, sensitizing authorities and armed actors, creating a new emblem specific to the civilian medical mission, providing legal protection to vulnerable groups, among them health personnel (DECRETO 4912 DE 2011 article 6), as well as monitoring, analyzing and responding to reported incidents.
New threats are represented by new and changing actors in the Colombian contexts perpetuating fear among health care personnel and the lack of trust in the Colombian health system. The knowledge of legal norms remain low as does registration and systematization of incidents affecting the medical mission.
This project seeks to address some of these weaknesses by
Disseminating the applicable normative Colombian legal framework, promoting its applicability and its implementation
Strengthening the capacity of national authorities as well as civil society with regards to prevention, reduction, and response to incidents related to HCID
This project also aims at providing
Support, through RCRC Movement and government actions, other contexts in the region with regards to HCID.
Between 2014-2016 this action has been implemented through the following Colombian Red Cross branches:
2014-2015: Bolivar, Guajira, Meta, Tolima, Santander
2016: Arauca, Bolivar, Cundinamarca, Casanare, Guajira, Santander
With regards to beneficiaries, during the implementation period, the action has aspired to reach at least 2810 direct and 8430 indirect beneficiaries as per following definition:
Direct Beneficiaries:
State authorities / officials in regions
Health personnel in regions
Red Cross volunteers and staff in regions
Population in affected communities
Indirect Beneficiaries:
Population affected by health problems living in the catchment area of the authorities, health personnel and Red Cross volunteers directly targeted by the action.
Evaluation purpose and objectives
A core focus for the evaluation will be the effectiveness of the project and its outcome to date, with the aim to provide guidance for future improvements and directions.
The purpose of the evaluation is to assess whether the HCiD Project has contributed to its desired results:
R1:Local authorities implement the national legislation with the support of the national authorities and the RCRC Movement
R2:Health personnel knows and applies the rights and duties of the Medical Mission, including safe behaviour
R3:CRC employees and volunteers are in possession of standard tools and concepts that allow them to play the role of privileged auxiliaries in the promotion of MM.
R4: The communities know and respect the Colombian or international MMs and their respective legislation.
R5: Authorities in the Americas with the support of their respective National Societies recognize the experience developed in Colombia and applied according to its context.
The objective of the evaluation is to answer the following questions:
To what extent has the program achieved its desired results and achieved impact?
To what extent has the program made use of relevant HCiD tools and recommendations developed at global level?
To what extent has the program, its different components and their activities been implemented in an effective manner?
To what extent has the program, its different components and their activities been implemented in an efficient manner?
To what extent has the program, its different components and their activities been implemented in a manner relevant to the contextual situation?
To what extent has the program provided outcome (positive or negative, planned and unforeseen), for the target groups (direct and indirect beneficiaries)?
To what extent has the program ensured capacity building of the Colombian Red Cross and sustainability?
The evaluation is to identify lessons learned (positive and negative) and recommend/suggest potential improvements to the program components and activities for ongoing (2017) and potential future work. The outcome of this evaluation will inform NorCross management decision making of strategic policy and planning, coordination and any other adjustments of the program and its implementation together with its partners, including the Colombian Red Cross.
Key evaluation criteria
Efficiency– the extent to which inputs (financial, HR, technical, material resources) were converted into outputs, in the most efficient way possible. The consultant should also consider other modes of implementation and propose alternatives.
Effectiveness– the extent that the intervention has achieved its expected results/outcomes/outputs, as described in the project documents between 2014-2016. Assessment of whether the implementation strategies/ approaches were adequate to achieve the expected results, given the circumstances and possible alternatives.
Relevance– the extent that the intervention is suited to the needs and priorities of the beneficiaries and the country context.
Sustainability– the extent that the intervention is building on existing local capacities, contributes to resilience at local level and the extent to which its results that will outlive the inputs.
Impact– consequences of the project from a long-term perspective (positive or negative, intended or unintended)
Methodology
The evaluation will consist of a desk study of the relevant program documents, agreements and strategy documents as well as field research in Colombia. The consultant will carry out interviews and focus groups with relevant staff at the Colombian RC (HQ and branch level), NorCross (HQ and field level), ICRC Colombia Delegation, ICRC GVA, Colombian health authorities, beneficiaries and other relevant stakeholders.
The consultant will be responsible for developing a detailed methodological framework for the evaluation and is free to suggest other and/or additional methods and questions that have not been indicated above. The evaluation report shall describe the evaluation method and process and discuss validity and reliability. Limitations and shortcomings should be explained.
The Regional and National PMER Focal Points (supported by NorCross), will be put at the disposal to assist the consultant, in line with the overall approach to strengthen regional PMER cooperation.
The consultant will also be asked to provide input, based on the information collected, to another NorCross evaluation that will be undertaken at the global level, in parallel.
Evaluation Quality & Ethical Standards
The consultants should take all reasonable steps to ensure that the evaluation is designed and conducted to respect and protect the rights and welfare of people and the communities of which they are members. The consultants should ensure that the evaluation is technically accurate, reliable and legitimate, conducted in a transparent and impartial manner, and contributes to organizational learning and accountability. Therefore, the evaluation team should adhere to the evaluation standards and specific, applicable process outlined in the Federation Framework for Evaluation.
The Federation Evaluation Standards are:
Utility: Evaluations must be useful and used.
Feasibility: Evaluations must be realistic, diplomatic, and managed in a sensible, cost effective manner.
Ethics & Legality: Evaluations must be conducted in an ethical and legal manner, with particular regard for the welfare of those involved in and affected by the evaluation.
Impartiality & Independence; Evaluations should be impartial, providing a comprehensive and unbiased assessment that takes into account the views of all stakeholders.
Transparency: Evaluation activities should reflect an attitude of openness and transparency.
Accuracy: Evaluations should be technical accurate, providing sufficient information about the data collection, analysis, and interpretation methods so that its worth or merit can be determined.
Participation: Stakeholders should be consulted and meaningfully involved in the evaluation process when feasible and appropriate.
Collaboration: Collaboration between key operating partners in the evaluation process improves the legitimacy and utility of the evaluation.
It is also expected that the evaluation will respect the seven Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross and Red Crescent:
Humanity, 2) impartiality, 3) neutrality, 4) independence, 5) voluntary service, 6) unity, and 7) universality.
Duty of discretion
The consultant undertakes to maintain the utmost discretion towards third parties, including the police, judicial and other authorities, with regard to information acquired in the course of their work. The consultant shall treat all such information confidentially. This rule continues to apply after the work/assignment ends.
Acceptance of risks
The nature of the Red Cross mandate and activities in zones affected by conflict and other situations of violence means that working for the organization can be particularly dangerous. In the field, the consultant is exposed to risks resulting directly from armed conflict as well as from crime, such as abduction, serious illness and accidents. It is impossible to eliminate the risk of bodily or mental harm, or even death.
By signing the undertaking, the consultant hereby attests that he/she has been informed of the content of the preceding paragraph, and he expressly confirms his/her understanding and acceptance of the risks that form part of his humanitarian work.
Consultant's profile
NorCross is looking for a consultant that is fluent in Spanish and English, has expertise in HCiD or Mision Medica and experience with or a good understanding of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. He/She should have proven evaluation experience in relevant fields and documented reporting skills.
Budget, work plan and reporting
The study is budgeted with a maximum input of 20 days. The tender shall present a work plan and total budget, with all expenses included (attached project documents should be used as a reference).
The deliverables are to be prepared in both Spanish or English.
Application Procedures
Interested candidates should submit their application material by February 13, 2017 to Frederik.Siem@redcross.no and Joanna.Radziukiewicz@redcross.no
The Expression of Interest should include:
Technical proposal (when appropriate) not exceeding three pages expressing an understanding and interpretation of the TOR, the proposed methodology, and a time and activity schedule.
Financial proposal itemizing estimated costs for services rendered (daily consultancy fees), accommodation and living costs, transport costs, stationery costs, and any other related supplies or services required for the evaluation.
Curricula Vitae (CV).
Letter clearly summarizing your experience as it pertains to this assignment, your daily rate, and three professional references.
A brief description of your firm or institution (for applicants other than individual contractors).
At least one example of an evaluation report most similar to that described in this TOR.
Application material is non-returnable, and we thank you in advance for understanding that only short-listed candidates will be contacted for the next step in the application process.
Appendixes:
- For more information on the Health Care in Danger Project (globally), please go to http://healthcareindanger.org/hcid-project/
How to apply:
Application Procedures
Interested candidates should submit their application material by February 13, 2017 to Frederik.Siem@redcross.no and Joanna.Radziukiewicz@redcross.no
The Expression of Interest should include:
Technical proposal (when appropriate) not exceeding three pages expressing an understanding and interpretation of the TOR, the proposed methodology, and a time and activity schedule.
Financial proposal itemizing estimated costs for services rendered (daily consultancy fees), accommodation and living costs, transport costs, stationery costs, and any other related supplies or services required for the evaluation.
Curricula Vitae (CV).
Letter clearly summarizing your experience as it pertains to this assignment, your daily rate, and three professional references.
A brief description of your firm or institution (for applicants other than individual contractors).
At least one example of an evaluation report most similar to that described in this TOR.
Application material is non-returnable, and we thank you in advance for understanding that only short-listed candidates will be contacted for the next step in the application process.