Background

No society is immune to the impacts of climate change, but communities living at low levels of development are disproportionately affected (Godfrey, S. and Tunhuma, F.A, 2020). Climate change poses a huge challenge to Ethiopia and its people. Population size matters immensely to climate change impacts. Ethiopia is the second most populous country in Africa, with a highly diverse population of about 110 million (50.5 percent male and 49.5 percent female) and an annual population growth rate of 2.6 percent; and above all, Ethiopia is vulnerable to climate change as a consequence of its low income and dependence on climate susceptible socio-economic sectors such as agriculture and pastoralism.  

Climate vulnerability indexes reflects existing gender inequalities and exacerbates existing socially constructed power relations, norms and practices (Kwauk et al., 2019). Therefore, climate actions must be gender responsive, which recognizes gender differences in adaptation needs and capacities and promotes gender-equitable participation and influence in adaptation decision-making processes.

The current and expected effects of climate change in Ethiopia differ locally, nationally and regionally. Oromia is one of the regional states severely impacted by climate change. Moreover, the level of resilience to climate impacts is challenged when the population struggles with SRHR and gender equality challenges, as is the case in the region. Women workload, their limited decision-making power, and unequal access to and control over resources, reduced their ability to adopt effective strategies to prepare, adapt and respond to disasters and climate change. According to DHS 2016, the fertility rate in Oromia is 5.4 children; however, the wanted fertility of women is only 3.8 children; therefore, the region has unmet need for family planning among women at 28.9% and have a below average use of modern methods of contraception (28.1%).

A gender-equal world would be wealthier, healthier, more peaceful, and more productive. Gender equality, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), and climate change issues are inextricably linked. Therefore, increasing the community resilience by integrating women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights needs and gender equality agendas with climate change adaptation at different levels is fundamental. Recognizing these, the Danish Family Planning Association (DFPA) with strategic partnership agreement with Population Health and Environment Ethiopia Consortium (PHE EC) has been implementing the project “Accelerating Community Resilience through integration of SRHR with Climate Change Adaptation in Ethiopia”.

The project has local, national and global scope. At grassroot level, the project has been implemented in Oromia region, Jimma zone, Dedo Woreda. It targeted vulnerable communities in Sito Kebele, and tried to improve their resilience through integrating Family planning/reproductive health with climate change adaptation effort.

To tangibly verify the project’s contribution, PHE EC wants to hire a consultant with proven experience to conduct an evaluation of the project.

In addition, with an intention to increase number of beneficiary kebeles in the phase two of the project, PHE EC also wish the consultant to conduct micro-assessment in 10 kebeles of the woreda.

Objectives of the consultancy

The general objectives of the consultancy are to conduct project evaluation and to conduct a micro-assessment of ten kebels in Dedo woreda which will be used for project scale up. The project evaluation includes evaluating the current resilience status of targeted households against baseline; and improvement in awareness and knowledge of SRHR among targeted communities and key government stakeholders. 

More specifically, the baseline study will have the following three specific objectives:

1. To assess and determine the current resilience status of targeted households in Sito Kebele against baseline using coping strategy index (CSI);
2. To determine the extent of improvement on awareness and knowledge on SRHR among targeted community and key government stakeholder; against baseline figure
3. To conduct micro-assessment of additional ten kebeles in Dedo woreda where the assessment result will be used to choose kebeles for future project scale up. 

Tasks 

• Develop a detailed work plan, indicating the time in which the study results will be produced and delivered;
• Review the project document, its baseline report, and other relevant literature;
• Consult relevant institutions to discus and learn about the subject matter, to over view the national policy strategy context;
• Develop relevant community engagement and other tools for the evaluation and micro-assessment;
• Facilitate and coordinate data collection in the targeted Kebeles in Jima, Dedo woreda, and consolidate results
• Conduct series of interviews with relevant key government stakeholders at Kebele and woreda level  
• Conduct data analysis and provide result segregated by HHs, youth groups, women, and government stakeholders.
• Develop and submit draft evaluation and micro-assessment report separately for review
• Receive feedback, comment and suggestions; both from PHE EC and the international partners; incorporate the same and submit final reports separately

Expected deliverables

1.  Detailed inception report/work plan which explain the process to follow, methodology to be used and time frame. Feedback provision, incorporation and approval will be followed to the report;
2. Submission of community engagement tools to be used for the evaluation and micro-assessment. Feedback provision, incorporation and approval will be followed;
3. Draft evaluation and micro-assessment reports separately; 
4. Final evaluation and micro-assessment reports with feedback and comment incorporations 

Timescale

The total time required for this assignment is two months maximum. But the consultant will not be working throughout all this time and this should be clearly given in the detailed technical proposal

Terms of Payment

• 40% upon signing of the contract.
• 40% upon satisfactory completion of the draft baseline report
• 20 % upon satisfactory completion of all the deliverables 
• The payments will be made in A/C payee cheques in the name of the consultant/ firm. PHE EC will deduct income tax. Besides, no other benefits shall be admissible beyond what is stipulated in the contract. 

Job Requirements

Consultant qualification

Consultant interested firms or individuals are required to submit:

• A Taxpayer Registration Number (TIN) for individuals, or a currently renewed Business License and Registration of Value Added Tax (VAT) Certificate for firms
• Evidence of previous work, preferably in project evaluation and micro-assessment 
• A Technical Proposal and a budget proposal  

How to Apply

Interested and qualified professionals/firms may submit their proposals, along with the required documents to: vacancy@phe-ethiopia.org or hand delivery at Population Health and Environment – Ethiopia Consortium Office, located in front of Brass Hospital, at ABCO building 3rd floor until December 23, 2021.