External Evaluation Consultant - Nigeria (Borno & Adamawa States)

Danish Refugee Council, one of the world’s leading humanitarian NGOs, is currently looking for a highly qualified consultant to conduct an external evaluation of the DRC Nigeria ECHO-funded rapid response mechanism (RRM) project.

About the consultancy

The DRC Nigeria programme strategy is currently articulated around the provision of emergency assistance and protection, primarily focusing on IDPs currently located in informal settlements and host communities. However, while responding to the most pressing needs of IDPs, DRC simultaneously provides support to returnees who have arrived back to their areas of origin and need recovery assistance as they begin rebuilding their lives.

Since 1 March 2017, DRC has been implementing an ECHO-funded 12-month project: Emergency Response in Nigeria - Addressing Critical Humanitarian Needs of IDPs and returnees through a Rapid Response Mechanism in Northeastern Nigeria. Through this project DRC has aimed to address the immediate needs of internally displaced persons, returnees and vulnerable host populations not already reached by humanitarian assistance, targeting areas with high concentrations of IDPs but with limited assistance. Responses were initially foreseen in the LGAs of Mafa, Bama, Ngala, MMC, Jere, Kaga, Konduga, Gwoza, Kala Balge, Michika and Madagali LGAs, and expanding into newly accessible areas of Borno and Adamawa States.

Your main duties and responsibilities will be:

The evaluation will use the DAC criteria to evaluate the Rapid Response Mechanism project and determine best practices and lessons learned. There will be a particular focus on the relevance and coordination of the programme over project cycles and changes in context, with the aim of analysing the current context in terms of likely scenarios and risks requiring emergency response. The evaluation will include a significant component on how the best practices/lessons learned can be applied to emergency response programming, contingency planning, and supporting other partners and local actors.

The objectives of the evaluation are:

• To evaluate the DRC Nigeria Rapid Response Mechanism from the perspective of emergency response best practice and document lessons learned;
• To conduct a risk assessment and analysis of likely scenarios requiring emergency response – of which the RRM may form a part - in northeast Nigeria;
• To determine how best practices and lessons learned from the DRC Rapid Response Mechanism can be applied to the current context, likely risks/scenarios, and other partners, local actors and duty bearers;
• To provide concrete, actionable recommendations for future strategic and operational development.

 It is proposed that the external evaluator be contracted for between 30 to 35 working days. The external evaluator is responsible for the timely delivery of the following evaluation products:

• An Inception Report (maximum 5 pages):  Based on the documentation review and report of the data analyst, the report will outline the evaluator’s understanding of the evaluation and expectations, along with a concrete action plan for undertaking the evaluation – including methodology and timelines for all deliverables;
• A presentation of the major findings and recommendations of the evaluation to internal stakeholders (to occur immediately upon concluding the fieldwork and prior to departure from Nigeria);
• A Draft Report (maximum 20 pages with an Executive Summary of no more than 5 pages) clearly articulating key findings, conclusions, lessons learned and recommendations for concrete actions to be taken in the implementation of the RRM in Nigeria. The Evaluation Manager/Steering Committee will provide feedback and comment within 7 days of receiving the report.
• A Final Report that incorporates comments from the Evaluation Manager and Evaluation Steering Committee, alongside a response matrix detailing how each comment was handled in the revising of the draft report (delivered within 7 days of receiving Evaluation Steering Committee feedback on Draft Report).

About you

To be successful in this role we expect you to embody DRC's core competencies: Communicating, Taking the lead, Collaborating, Striving for excellence and Demonstrating integrity.

Moreover, we also expect the following:

Required

• Advanced university degree or equivalent in Humanitarian/Development Studies, Social Sciences, or other fields related to the provision of humanitarian assistance in Shelter, NFIs or Protection.
• At least 3-5 years of relevant experience and proven expertise in the humanitarian sector with significant experience in monitoring, data analysis, research and/or evaluation – including prior experience in project and programme reviews and evaluations.
• Strong quantitative and qualitative research skills.
• Ability to work independently and achieve quality results with limited supervision.
• Strong analytical and synthesis skills.
• Excellent command in written and spoken English.

Desirable

• Knowledge of the current literature/practice on displacement-related emergency response. Familiarity with DRC and/or Nigeria emergency response preferred.
• Experience conducting evaluations of ECHO-funded projects preferred.

We offer

Contract length: 30-35 days (dependent on proposal submitted by evaluator)

Level: Consultant

Designation of Duty Station: Maiduguri, Nigeria with travel to DRC Mubi field office and relevant project sites throughout Borno and Adamawa states

Start date: The consultant must finalise the evaluation between 01 March and 15 May 2018

DRC will provide:

1. Consultancy fees at a mutually agreed rate.
2. DRC Nigeria Office will organise the travel to Abuja and to field locations, as well as between field offices and in the field. Accommodation will be arranged by DRC - unless agreed otherwise. Support in visa processing will be arranged by DRC Country Office in Abuja.

For questions regarding the consultancy – including to receive the full TOR – please contact Viviane Appia, Procurement Specialist, procurement.specialist@drc-nigeria.org

Tender process

All applicants must send:

• A cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English.
• CVs of applicant(s) and qualifications/background to undertake the evaluation
• Sample of previous evaluation reports, including methodology and recommendation sections
• Fees / Costs of consultant filled in the request for quotation template attached
• Proof of formal registration in line of work in country of operation or home country
• Proposed timeline and evaluation approach
• The supplier profile and registration filled in and stamped (attached)
• The request for quotation and all the documents required must be submitted on the DRC website
• Closing date for submission 28th February 2018

If you have questions or are facing problems with the online application process, please contact job@drc.dk

For further information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult our website drc.ngo