NatureGuard
REQUEST FOR CONSULTANCY SERVICES
Terms of Reference to undertaken End of Project Evaluation of the Plastic Waste Recycling Project – Kabwe.
1.0 Introduction
Nature Guard is an environmental NGO based in Kabwe that exists to improve the natural environment through conducting environmental management programmes including education, recycling and promotion of environmental protection. One of the major challenges facing the predominantly poor people that live in squatter ‘compounds’ of Kabwe is flooding especially during the rainy season. This problem is compounded by the fact that there is generally poor or no drainages for water in these areas at all. Available drainages cannot allow easy flow of water due to plastic waste which has clogged up the drainages thus making it difficult for water to flow through. In addition, indiscriminate disposal of domestic waste in undesignated areas chokes the available outlets for rain water. With the already poor sanitation situation (such as shallow wells and pit latrines), the problem can quickly degenerate into water borne/diarrheal diseases that over the years, has led to many deaths. While some of the domestic waste is bio-degradable and quickly disappears into the soil, plastic waste can continue to wreak havoc for decades. In instances were plastic is deliberately burnt; it can cause air pollution thereby reducing the quality of air which people breathe.
Nature Guard recognises that plastic shopping bags, plastic beverage bottles and wrapping plastics for consumer products, can be recycled into other useful products for sale and while it has many negatives, it can also be transformed into useful materials for everyday use. This begins with changing negative attitudes towards waste disposal (beyond just plastic waste) thereby improving the living environment and living standards for the poor whilst ultimately reducing incidence of preventable perennial diseases like Cholera.
Kabwe has been called a ‘ghost town’ after the mines closed down. From a socio-economic perspective, poverty levels are high, unemployment is equally high and abuse of the natural environment to earn a living is common.
2.0 The Plastic Waste Recycling Project
Nature Guard, with financial Support from the Finnish Embassy through the Civil Society Environment Fund Two (CSEF 2) has been implementing a Plastic Waste Recycling Projectfrom January 2017 to end in December 2018. The project seeks to mitigate the negative environmental impacts that plastic waste imposes on society generally and people in high density communities in particular. This has been achieved by buying and repurposing waste that ordinarily is thrown into drainages and uncontrolled rubbish dumps. Through this initiative, the plastic waste which takes many years to decompose has been transformed into useful materials as the project buys and bales HDPE plastic wastefor sale to recycling companies. This has not only created employment but has also helped improve sanitation, cleaned up drainages and minimize air pollution from plastics which otherwise would have been burnt at dumps or in households.
This project has provided an opportunity for women and young people to earn some income while at the same time cleaning up the environment. Working in collaboration with some private companies, the plastics waste is sold, with the groups that are collecting the waste gaining immediate financial benefit.The project therefore addresses both the demand and supply side of the equation in form of addressing the demand for small incomes and continuous supply of plastic waste. It has promoted the concept of sustainable waste management that promotes and preserves life; enhances protection of the environment and improves income levels for the poorest people in Kabwe town by engaging pupils in schools around the district through environmental clubs in upcycling of plastic waste
The direct beneficiaries (defined as people/groups that sell their raw plastics to the project for bailing/crushing and onward sale to private recycling companies have been calculated at 10 groups per ward. The total number of individual beneficiaries has been 600.
It is also important to point out that the beneficiaries of this initiative are primarily poor people with limited economic possibilities whose involvement in the project will have the potential of transforming their lives through some earnings (small as the funds might be).
2.1 Project Objectives
The overall objective of the project is: Promote sustainable waste management practices that promote and preserve life and enhance protection of the environment
The project has the following expected outcomes/ objectives;
- Improved living environment for residents of the participating wards of Kabwe district
- Enhanced upcycling and recycling of solid waste into usable plastic products by NG in collaboration with school environment clubs
- Increased short term employment opportunities for poor people in the participating wards
- Increased use of sustainable waste management practices
2.2 Purpose of the Evaluation
The overall objective of this Evaluation is to assess, analyse and report on the relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability and impact the ending Plastic Waste Recycling Initiative project and draw lessons for future projects.
2.3 Scope and focus of the Evaluation
The evaluation will look at the following areas: Project management; project activities; reflection of aid coordination engagement and partnerships with key stakeholders. It will address the results achieved, the partnerships established, as well as issues of capacity and approach.
a) The Evaluation Questions
The following key questions will guide the end of project evaluation:
i) Relevance
– Assess design and focus of the project – To what extent did the Project achieve its overall objectives? – What and how much progress has been made towards achieving the overall outputs and outcomes of the project for Support to Environment and Natural Resource Management in Kabwe, Zambia (including contributing factors and constraints); – To what extent were the results (impacts, outcomes and outputs) achieved? – Were the inputs and strategies identified, and were they realistic, appropriate and adequate to achieve the results? – Was the project relevant to the identified needs?
ii) Effectiveness
– Describe the management processes and their appropriateness in supporting delivery – Was the project effective in delivering desired/planned results? – To what extent did the Project’s M&E mechanism contribute in meeting project results? – How effective were the strategies and tools used in the implementation of the project? – How effective has the project been in responding to the needs of the beneficiaries, and what results were achieved? – What are the future intervention strategies and issues?
iii) Efficiency of Project Implementation
– Was the process of achieving results efficient? Specifically did the actual or expected results (outputs and outcomes) justify the costs incurred? Were the resources effectively utilized? – Did project activities overlap and duplicate other similar interventions (funded nationally and /or by other donors? Are there more efficient ways and means of delivering more and better results (outputs and outcomes) with the available inputs? – Could a different approach have produced better results? – How was the project’s collaboration with the Finnish Government through the Civil Society Environmental Fund 2 (CSEF 2) – How efficient were the management and accountability structures of the project? – How did the project financial management processes and procedures affect project implementation? – What are the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the project’s implementation process?
iv) Sustainability
– To what extent are the benefits of the projects likely to be sustained after the completion of this project? – What is the likelihood of continuation and sustainability of project outcomes and benefits after completion of the project? – How effective were the exit strategies, and approaches to phase out assistance provided by the CSEF2 including contributing factors and constraints – Describe key factors that will require attention in order to improve prospects of sustainability of Project outcomes and the potential for replication of the approach? – How were capacities strengthened at the individual and organizational level? (Including contributing factors and constraints) – Describe the main lessons that have emerged? – What are the recommendations for similar support in future? (NB.The recommendations should provide comprehensive proposals for future interventions based on the current evaluation findings).
3.0 Methodology for Evaluation
Nature Guard shall guide and oversee the overall direction of the consultancy.
The evaluation will provide quantitative and qualitative data through the following methods:
- Desk study and review of all relevant project documentation including project documents, annual work-plans, project progress reports , annual project reports
- In depth interviews to gather primary data from key stakeholders using a structured methodology •
- Focus Group discussion with project beneficiaries and other stakeholders.
- Interviews with relevant key informants
- Observations (field visits)
4.0 Duration of the Evaluation
The evaluation is expected to start in November 2018 for an estimated duration of 20 working days. This will include desk reviews, field work – interviews, and report writing.
5.0. Expected Deliverables:
The following deliverables are expected.
5.1. An inception report, outlining the key scope of the work and intended work plan of the analysis, and evaluation questions, shall be submitted after 5 days of commencing the consultancy. The evaluator/s will prepare an inception report which will outline the scope of work, intended work plan and analysis. The inception report will provide Nature Guard and CSEF2 grant managers PMTC the opportunity to verify that they share the same understanding about the evaluation objectives. The inception report should detail the evaluators’ understanding of what is being evaluated and why, showing how each evaluation question will be answered by way of: proposed methods; proposed sources of data; and data collection procedures. The inception report should include a proposed schedule of tasks, activities and deliverables, designating a team member with the lead responsibility for each task or product. The inception report will be discussed and agreed upon with all stakeholders.
5.2. A draft comprehensive report that will inform all the key stakeholders. The report will be produced in English. The report should provide options for strategy and policy as well as recommendations.
Nature Guard will provide comments within 5 days after the reception of the Draft Report. The programme unit should review the draft evaluation report to ensure that the evaluation meets the required quality criteria.
5.3. The Final Report: This will be submitted 5 days after receiving comments from Nature Guard. The content and structure of the final analytical report with findings, recommendations and lessons learnt covering the scope of the evaluation should meet the requirements of the CSEF2 M&E Policy and should include the following: Executive summary (1 page) Introduction (1 page) Description of the evaluation methodology (4 pages) Situational analysis with regard to the outcome, outputs, and partnership strategy (6-7 pages) Analysis of opportunities to provide guidance for future programming (3-4 pages) Key findings, including best practices and lessons learned (4-5 pages) Conclusions and recommendations (4-5 pages) Appendices: Charts, terms of reference, field visits, people interviewed, documents reviewed
6.0. Required expertise and qualification
The Evaluator shall have the following expertise and qualification:
- At least a Master’s Degree in a relevant development field
- Over ten (10) years professional experience in leadingEnvironmental and Sanitation Research, Baseline or Evaluation studies of development projects in Zambia.
- Experience in use of participatory approaches and tools.
- Strong analytical and reporting writing skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Better understanding of Kabwe geographical setting will be an added advantage.
Interested consulting firms and individual consultants are encouraged to submit their technical and financial proposals, attaching their CVs and work plans no later than 17:00 hours on Wednesday, 21st November, 2018 by email to [email protected] with cc to [email protected]. Please ensure that you mention www.gozambiajobs.com as the source of this job advertisement.