ToR: Conducting mid-term Evaluation of the Waliso Educare project

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About SOS Children's Villages

SOS Children's Villages (SOS-CV) is a global non-profit organization established in 1949, working in more than two thousand programme locations worldwide. The organization provides support to vulnerable children who have lost or are at risk of losing parental care and their families. SOS Children's Villages Ethiopia (SOS CVE) launched its programming in 1974 and has been operating in eight program locations across the country, including Mekelle, Addis Ababa, Bahir Dar, Harar, Hawassa, Gode, Jimma and Arba Minch.

About the Programme Location

SOS Children's Village Jimma operates various interventions in the towns of Jimma, Agaro, Bedelle, Nekemte and Woliso in the Oromia Regional State, including alternative childcare programs, family and community development programs, humanitarian emergencies, advocacy, and the SOS Hermann Gmeiner Schools and kindergarten.

Rationale for Conducting the Midterm Evaluation

SOS Children's Villages in Ethiopia has planned to conduct a midterm evaluation for its Woliso EduCare project to evaluate process and performance at the midpoint of its implementation period. The evaluation will help determine whether the project is on track to achieve its intended results and provide recommendations for improvement during the remaining implementation period.

Objectives of the Midterm Evaluation

General Objective

To assess the progress, performance, relevance, efficiency, and effectiveness of the Woliso EduCare project at the midpoint of its implementation period and provide recommendations for improvement.

Specific Objectives

• Measure the extent to which planned outcomes and output-level targets have been achieved so far.
• Determine the effectiveness and efficiency of the project in terms of resources utilization, activities accomplishment, and strategies being utilized to achieve expected results.
• Identify implementation gaps, risks, constraints, good practices, and lessons learned during project execution.
• Generate practical recommendations for strengthening implementation and improving performance.
• Provide evidence-based information to guide strategic decisions and future planning.

Project Goal, Outcomes and Outputs

Goal: To contribute to the realization of inclusive, quality education and well-being for vulnerable children in Woliso town, Southwest Shoa zone, Oromia Regional State in Ethiopia.

Outcome 1: The right to participate in inclusive and quality education for girls, boys, and children with disabilities in the most vulnerable situations is enhanced.

• Output 1.1: Targeted boys and girls in all their diversity received educational support and life skills training.
• Output 1.2: Targeted girls and boys in all their diversity have access to health care services.
• Output 1.3: Targeted girls and boys have access to safe and stable accommodation.

Outcome 2: Targeted women in all their diversities have socio-economic and parenting capacities to care for and to protect their children.

• Output 2.1: Caregivers in all their diversity are engaged in environmentally friendly income-generating activities.
• Output 2.2: Women and men in all their diversity have knowledge and skills on parenting, child rights, GBV, SRH, disability and access to Community Based Health Insurance (CBHI).

Outcome 3: Targeted public primary schools have improved capacity to enhance learning outcomes and prevent GBV and Violence Against Children (VAC) among most vulnerable children.

• Output 3.1: Teachers, school administrators and education experts are aware of inclusive, child-friendly and gender equality education.
• Output 3.2: Partner schools have improved, inclusive and accessible school infrastructures.

Outcome 4: Inclusive and responsive community-based systems are in place to protect children and women in vulnerable positions from all forms of harmful practices such as child labour, FGM and early marriage.

• Output 4.1: Partner CSO/KIP have strengthened capacity to respond to child rights, gender equality, and VAC.
• Output 4.2: Local government has capacity to respond to children and women in vulnerable positions.

Major Midterm Evaluation Questions

Child Protection

• What is the situation of child protection in Woliso town?
• What major risks and protection issues are children facing in the target communities?
• What community-based child protection mechanisms currently exist, and how effective are they?

Education Access and Quality

• What is the current level of access to inclusive and protective education services for children in the target areas?
• What are the school enrollment, attendance, and dropout rates among children in the target communities?
• What barriers prevent children from accessing or completing education?
• What is the availability of educational resources in the schools?

Teacher Capacity and School Environment

• What is the capacity of teachers to deliver inclusive, protective, and quality education?
• What training or professional support do teachers currently receive?
• How supportive and safe are the school environments for children, including vulnerable groups?

Livelihoods of Target Groups

• What are the current livelihood opportunities and income sources for households in the target areas?
• What economic challenges affect families' ability to support children's education and well-being?
• What skills, resources, or opportunities are lacking for improving livelihoods?

Governance and Institutional Capacity

• What is the current structural and governance capacity of community organizations, associations, and forums?
• How effective are family-based and community-based structures in supporting children and vulnerable groups?
• What coordination mechanisms exist among stakeholders?

Stakeholder Coordination and Service Delivery

• How do different stakeholders collaborate in delivering child protection, education, and livelihood services?
• What gaps exist in coordination and service delivery among stakeholders?

Baseline for Monitoring and Evaluation

• What are the midterm evaluation values for the outcome and output indicators?

Scope of the Midterm Evaluation

The midterm evaluation is limited to project participant children, youth, families, communities and key implementation partners (CBOs and schools) in Woliso town in the Oromia Regional State under SOS Children's Village Jimma programme location.

Direct Participants

	Caregiver			Children and Adolescents (0–14)			Young People (15–29)			Total
	Female	Male	Total	Female	Male	Total	Female	Male	Total	Female	Male	Total
	392	8	400	590	541	1,131	184	176	360	1,167	725	1,892

Methodology

The consultant is expected to use a mixed-methods approach (quantitative and qualitative) to answer the evaluation questions. Data should be disaggregated by sex, age, and disability (SADD). Methods should include key informant interviews (KIIs), focus group discussions (FGDs), surveys, and desk review of project documents. The consultant should also use SWOT analysis while facilitating meetings with partners and stakeholders.

Work Plan and Expected Deliverables

The midterm evaluation task is expected to be finalized within 40 days after the contractual agreement is signed.

Deliverables

• Inception report (max. 8 pages) on the midterm evaluation design, methodology, sampling frame, sampling technique, sample size, assessment tools and work plan.
• Draft midterm evaluation report (max. 20 pages).
• Final midterm evaluation report including an executive summary and data collection tools in both electronic and hard copy formats.
• Raw data (cleaned, both qualitative and quantitative, including original field notes and recorded audio material).

Duration of Contract and Terms of Payment

Payment will be made in Ethiopian Birr by bank transfer as follows:

• 30% on submission and approval of the inception report.
• 30% on completion of the draft report.
• 40% on completion of the final report.

Qualification of the Researcher/Research Team

• PhD degree (at least the team leader) in Psychology, Sociology, Social Work, Development Studies, Economics, Project Management, Monitoring and Evaluation, or related fields.
• At least 5 years' work experience in international NGOs with proven competency in assessments, monitoring, and evaluation, including baseline, midterm, and final evaluations. At least one sample evaluation report on a similar topic must be attached.
• Good understanding of family strengthening, community empowerment, livelihoods and development programme work.
• Good understanding of child/youth rights/safeguarding and other issues affecting vulnerable children in the Ethiopian context.
• Proven experience in working with conceptual frameworks and participatory data collection methods.
• Strong coordination, facilitation, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills in English.
• Experience in managing evaluations that respect participating communities' culture, social norms, values, and behaviour.
• Legally registered firm with renewed license, VAT registration and TIN number.

Required Skills

• Quantitative and qualitative research

How to Apply

Interested consulting firms are required to submit both technical and financial proposals electronically to procurement@sos-ethiopia.org.

Subject line: Terms of Reference (ToR) for conducting mid-term evaluation of the Waliso EduCare project

Technical Proposal should include:

• Understanding of the assignment and context
• Detailed methodology and approach
• Workplan and timeline with clear deliverables
• Description of team composition and roles
• Relevant experience and past assignments
• Risk analysis and mitigation measures

Financial Proposal should include:

• Detailed budget breakdown including professional fees and fieldwork/logistics costs
• Clear linkage between costs and deliverables

Supporting Documents:

• Company profile
• CVs of key personnel
• Samples of previous work (if available)
• Legal registration and relevant certifications

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