CAFOD is recruiting to fill the following positions:
1.) Project Officer (x2)
2.) Terms of Reference
See job details and how to apply below.
1.) Project Officer (x2)
Job Title: Project Officer
Contract Duration: Fixed contract for Nine (9) Months
No. of Person: Two (2) Persons
Duty Station: Bombali and Bo Districts.
JOB SUMMARY
CAFOD works in partnership with local partners and faith-based organizations in Sierra Leone, supporting them amplify the voiceless and reaching people and communities beyond reach. CAFOD is supporting the Inter Religious Council of Sierra Leone (IRCSL) to implement the “Women’s Voice and Engagement for Peace” project and is seeking the recruitment of Project Officers to be based in Bombali and Bo districts respectively. The Project Officers would be responsible to support in the implementation of the “Women’s Voice and Engagement for Peace” project in Bombali and Bo District. They will be tasked with implementing project activities to support the projects objectives at district and community levels, as well as reporting to the General Secretary of IRCSL. They will also support to facilitate in the identification, assessment, and training of women in the 8 selected chiefdoms in the two districts.
CAFOD AND IRCSL IN BRIEF
The Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) is the official development and humanitarian agency of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales and part of the global Caritas family. CAFOD’s way of working is through partnership, both civil society and private sector. CAFOD believes in investing in the capacity of local partners; promoting ownership and responsibility; facilitating the flow of resources and knowledge to the point of need, rather than duplicating efforts or direct implementation by outsiders in unknown contexts. As an enabling agency, CAFOD also supports partners to facilitate change at community level, ensuring communities have the spaces, skills and tools to exert their rights.
The Inter-religious Council of Sierra Leone (IRCSL) is an interfaith organisation working on, inter alia, national reconciliation, health and religious harmony. The IRCSL came into existence to facilitate interfaith collaboration as part of efforts to end the country’s civil conflict. Inaugurated in 1997, it is composed of adherents of the two main religions in Sierra Leone – Christianity and Islam. The organisation has a network of clergy and imams in every part of the country, from village, town, chiefdom, and district, to national levels. They are entrusted with undertaking sensitisation, awareness raising and community education. Its core values and mission include the fundamental responsibility to promote interfaith dialogue, promote peaceful co-existence in communities and provide spiritual, moral guidance for congregations.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Work in collaboration with IRCSL’s District Coordinators to organize, implement, supervise and monitor the project activities and report to the General Secretary of IRCSL with committed accountability to CAFOD’s Programme Officer on quarterly submissions of project narrative report. The responsibilities will include:
Participate in the Training of Trainers facilitated by the Lead Consultant on Civic Roles & Responsibilities, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), Rapid Conflict Assessments, Gender Championing & Peaceful Masculinities.
Lead in the development to tailor training contents according to the target audience in communities, especially the women at chiefdom level.
Lead the development implementation plans in consultations with the General Secretary, Finance Officer and District Coordinators of the IRCSL.
Support in organizing programs and activities in accordance with the objectives and goals of the project.
Work in collaboration with the District Coordinators to identify, select and training of the women on the various training packages identified in the project.
Lead community engagements and mobilization meetings to raise awareness and provides constructive feedbacks.
Facilitate religious leaders’ sessions with men and boys focusing on combatting negative social norms, practices and stereotypes.
Facilitate the development and signing of Community Peace Commitments in the selected chiefdoms.
Facilitate chiefdom to chiefdom and district to district exchange visits to translate cross learning among targeted women in selected chiefdoms working on Civic Roles & Responsibilities, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), Rapid Conflict Assessments, Gender Championing & Peaceful Masculinities.
Develop projects utilizing tools to effectively gather data and other relevant information for reporting.
Ensure that the project is on track and challenges are dealt with through regular project review process.
Provide technical support, and team coordination, including ongoing technical guidance and support with the women trained with the responsibility to translate the knowledge in their respective communities.
Maintain oversight of project budgets for field operations and ensure proper controls and compliance.
Conduct regular field monitoring and supervision of project activities.
Provide weekly or monthly updates to the General Secretary and submit quarterly and end of project narrative reports to CAFOD.
Requirements
Person Specification – Essential Requirements
Qualification
A minimum of first degree in Peace and Conflict Studies, Gender and Development Studies, other Social Sciences, or a similar relevant field.
Additional related courses would be an added advantage.
Experience
At least 2 to 5 years of experience in implementing peacebuilding, gender and civic education projects. o Experience working within the NGO sector.
Experience in working in projects that worked with vulnerable women.
Experience in budgetary and financial controls of field operation activity budget
Experience in working with team and playing supervisory roles.
Demonstrable experience in promoting peace, gender and social cohesion in communities. Experience in training and field use of quantitative data collection methods.
Good knowledge of the area and local customs.
Previous work experience in project location highly desirable.
Skills and Competencies
Technical knowledge of mediating and dialogue creation processes in conflict situations. o Excellent interpersonal communication skills.
Ability to prepare budgets and control expenses.
Highly organized, with excellent planning, prioritization and problem-solving skills.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Competent in Microsoft packages (Word, Excel).
Fluency (written and spoken) in English and ability to communicate one predominant local language in the district.
Must be able to work on their own and able to manage multiple tasks.
Plan, coordinate and organize workload while remaining aware of changing priorities and competing deadlines.
TO APPLY
Applicants are required to submit application package via email address to csamaura@cafod.org.uk and copy amadukamara2@gmail.com with mail subject indicating “WOVEN Project Officer – Name of Applicant and for which duty station (i.e., Bombali or Bo)”. All Candidate’s Cover Letter and Resume (CV) must be submitted on or before Friday, 3rd March 2023 5:00pm GMT.
2.) Terms of Reference
TERMS OF REFERENCE
FINAL EVALUATION ON YOUTH ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT THROUGH STRENGTHENED VEGETABLE VALUE CHAINS IN KAMBIA AND PORT LOKO DISTRICTS, SIERRA LEONE.
Funding Partner: European Union
Contract Number: FED/2019/411-235
| Project Title: |
Youth Economic Empowerment through Strengthened Vegetable Value Chains in Sierra Leone. |
| Contracting Authority |
National Authorising Office (NAO) of Sierra Leone |
| Lead Applicant and Co financer: |
Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD)
Implementing |
| Implementing
Partners: |
Kambia District Development and Rehabilitation Organisation (KADDRO) and
JIM&K Agriculture Business Solutions |
| Target
Locations: |
Kambia District – Gbinleh, Dixon, Masungbala and Magbema Chiefdoms and
Port Loko District – Bureh and Loko Masama Chiefdoms. |
| Project
Outcomes: |
Outcome 1: Increased food and income security for medium scale youth-led farmer groups.
Outcome 2: Enhanced performance of the local and national vegetable value chain. |
| Direct
Beneficiaries: |
Directly target 402 (252 female, 150 male) unemployed, self employed and underemployed youth, with an emphasis on young women. |
| Project Period: |
17th December 2019 to 16th March 2023. |
| Final Evaluation: |
February – March 2023 |
INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND INFORMATION
1.1. About CAFOD
Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) is the official relief and development agency of the Catholic Church in England and Wales and a member of the Caritas Internationalis,
providing humanitarian assistance and development support in many countries worldwide with the aim of protecting lives and relieving suffering during emergencies as well as reducing disaster risks to vulnerable communities. CAFOD currently works in partnership with more than 500 national nongovernmental organizations in about 40 countries, from those of all faiths, and none. CAFOD Sierra Leone, does work in areas including Food and Livelihoods Security, Rights and Participatory Governance and Emergency Preparedness Response and Recovery.
As part of our work in Resilience and Livelihood Support, CAFOD is undertaking a Youth Empowerment through Agribusiness and the Strengthening of the Vegetable Value Chain project funded by the Boosting Agriculture and Food Security (BAFS) project and the EU. CAFOD Sierra Leone is implementing an EU funded project, Youth Economic Empowerment through Strengthened Vegetable Value Chains in Sierra Leone. The key focus for CAFOD and her implementing partners (KADDRO is on ‘Promotion of Agribusiness and Innovative Farming’ and ‘Support to short-scale value chains.
1.2. About the Sierra Leone Country Context
Sierra Leone is ranked one of six countries worldwide with alarming levels of hunger. Sixty percent of the population lives on less than $1.25 per day. The highest number of food insecure people are those who are engaged in smallholder farming, which is no surprise considering it constitutes 77.3% of households in rural areas. Vegetable and fruit farmers are among the most vulnerable. Kambia and Port Loko are the two leading districts in poor food consumption. In both regions, most households are mainly engaged in agriculture, specifically crop farming (87.8% of households in Kambia and 79.1% of households in Port Loko), but more than 50% of their populations face moderate to severe food insecurity, the highest rates in the country. Over half of the chiefdoms in both districts have food insecurity levels of over 70%. High rates of poverty among farming households can be attributed to the fact that farming in Sierra Leone is characterized by environmentally degrading farming techniques, a lack of application of sustainable inputs, low yields, low income and limited investments on-farm. Farmers are largely dependent on manual cultivation, with little access to advanced tools, infrastructure and sustainable inputs, greatly constraining potential production. A lack of diversified livelihood options has led to food and income insecurity. Within the local economy, there are few opportunities for poor people, especially women, who lack resources, information and the capacity to experiment, adapt and establish new and innovative income-generating options. Low incomes, lack of diversification and over-reliance on one income source mean many poor families lack savings to fall back on in times of shocks or stresses. Climate change has led to more drastic environmental hazards and limits the poor’s ability to depend on natural resources for their livelihoods. In addition, public policies have not been able to effectively support agri business initiatives for the poor. These elements were the key drivers for the intervention of CAFOD and its partners resonating with the rapid assessment carried out by project partners.
1.3. Project Description
The project is a response to the call to promote agribusiness and innovative farming in Sierra Leone through the Boosting Agriculture and Food Security (BAFS) project. The project is contributing to the development of a diversified and efficient agriculture sector that promotes sustainable growth and creates jobs by focusing on economic empowerment of youth through capacity development and job creation in the agricultural sector. At the same time, the initiative is also to support the collaboration of Private Sector, Farmers and Non-State Actors in developing economic, social and environmentally sustainable Agriculture Value Chains by contributing towards a vegetable value chain that is economically, environmentally and socially sustainable. The project is directly targeting youth, especially young women, in the creation of medium-scale youth-managed farms. To ensure that these farms are sustainable, the project prioritize careful identification and capacity-strengthening of youth, land planning and management, and enhanced coordination among value chain actors. The environmental impact of each farm was carefully assessed and the most sustainable and profitable methods for production will be prioritized. Technical support on production, marketing and value chain addition were also be provided. The project is to facilitate sustainable service provision and will use social media and digital platforms to enhance connections between youth, strengthen information-sharing and access to markets, as well as offer ongoing technical support and financial services, including mobile money and linkages to lenders.
Overall Objective
The overall objective of the project is: “To provide targeted economic empowerment and resilience strengthening of key rural communities in Port Loko and Kambia Districts in Sierra Leone”. The final evaluation shall collect data on endline values for project indicators for the outcomes and outputs as indicated in the project log frame, in order to monitor and measure project progress towards the indicators throughout the period of implementation.
The Project objectives and Outputs are to:
Specific Objective 1: To increase food and income security for medium-scale youth-led farmer groups.
– Output 1.1: Strengthened technical and financial capacity of youth in agriculture, vegetable production, marketing and sustainable business management.
– Output 1.2: Creation of viable employment opportunities for youth through engagement in year-round production of enhanced breeds of tomatoes, sweet peppers and onions using environmentally sustainable agricultural practices.
Specific Objective 2: To enhance the national and regional performance of the vegetable value chain.
– Output 2.1: Improved production and post-harvest of advanced breeds of vegetables through increased input and service options, access to markets and stronger networks and coordination between value chain actors.
- STUDY OBJECTIVES
The overall objective of the evaluation is to assess the project’s overall performance and establish whether the project’s intended outputs and outcomes were achieved, providing a clear explanation of why or why not for each result/situation. In addition, the consultant will examine the design of the program. The specific objectives to be addressed by the evaluation are:
▪ To assess the relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact and sustainability of the outputs and achievements of the project.
▪ Drawing lessons learned for better implementation performance and for possible scaling up.
▪ Make recommendations to strengthen the impact and sustainability of achievements after the end of the project.
- EVALUATION SCOPE, FOCUS AND TIMELINE
Evaluation Focus
The evaluation will focus on the project’s beneficiaries and other relevant stakeholders in order to address the following issues:
- Analysis of the project Logframe.
- The review should place a focus on how similar projects might be improved in the future, as well as limitations.
iii. Replicability and scaling-up of good practices and lessons learned analysis. In addition, it will cover the following:
▪ The evaluation is expected to assess the entire financial and non-financial results of the program and its management by the Implementing Partners per the OECD/DAC criteria (Likely Design, Impact, effectiveness, efficiency, relevance, and sustainability).
▪ The evaluator may adapt the evaluation criteria and questions, but any fundamental changes should be agreed between the CAFOD, Partners and the Evaluator and reflected in the inception report.
▪ The evaluator will focus to analyze the design of the project (and beneficiaries’ participation into the design); and evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the project
implementation by the partners (including CAFOD) within the agreed contractual conditions.
▪ Assess the program objectives, outcomes and recommend measures (if any).
▪ Investigate the relevance of the project objectives and identify the program priorities areas of interest and the needs of the beneficiaries. Hence, recommend means of incorporating those priorities for similar intervention.
▪ Review the appropriateness and clarity of the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders and the level of coordination between them and the value chain actors.
▪ Review the program concept and design to the clarity of the addressed problems by the program and the soundness of the approaches adopted by the program team to solve these problems.
▪ Assess the performance of the program in terms of timeliness, quality, quantity, and cost effectiveness of the activities undertaken including project procurement.
▪ Assess the application of the project strategies, principles and prospects of the sustainability and ownership of the programme.
- SCOPE AND TIMELINE
The scope of this exercise will include operational communities in the 6 chiefdoms (Gbinleh, Dixon, Masungbala and Magbema Chiefdoms in Kambia district and Bureh and Loko Masama Chiefdoms in Port Loko district) covered by the project throughout the 42 months period. As a result, the complete intervention period (17th December 2019 to 16th March 2023) will be covered in order to provide comprehensive findings, recommendations, and conclusion. The evaluation must be completed in four weeks (20TH February- 20th March 2022), including planning, data gathering, and report writing. A final report must be submitted no later than 31st March 2023 CoB.
- EVALUATION CRITERIA
Data should be analysed in line with the below criteria:
▪ The relevance of the project
▪ The effectiveness and the impact of the project
▪ The efficiency of the project and the methodology
▪ The sustainability of the project
- EVALUATION METHODOLOGY
Evaluation Design and Approach
The Evaluator will propose a suitable study design based on the scope and objectives of the study and the context. The sample population should include the direct project beneficiaries targeted during the implementation of the project.
- THE EVALUATION TEAM ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES AND QUALIFICATIONS
| Lead Consultant (Will plan and coordinate data collection, review data, analyze it and prepare a high quality report)
Reports to CAFOD Agri-business Programme Manager and Programme Officer – (Will support to facilitate through the partners to coordinate the data collection process and coordinate review of report) |
| Key responsibilities
▪ Develop an inception report, detailing the study design, methodology, indicators,
data- gathering tools and work plan to
carry out the assignment agreed in
consultation with CAFOD and Partners.
▪ Conduct desk review of relevant
programme documents.
▪ Develop quantitative and qualitative data gathering tools in consultation with
CAFOD and the partner programme staff. ▪ Conduct training for the data collection teams including pre‐testing of data
collection tools.
▪ Plan and coordinate quantitative and qualitative data collection.
▪ Data quality assurance.
▪ Review, clean and analyse data collected. ▪ Present virtual preliminary findings to for validation
▪ Incorporate input from the validation and submit final report.
▪ Produce evaluation report. |
Desired Qualifications and Abilities
▪ A Minimum of master’s degree or Post Graduate qualification in Social Sciences, Agriculture or a relevant academic discipline.
▪ Work experience of at least 5 years in similar or related work.
▪ Experience in EU funded, or any other institutional donor funded
programmes/projects
▪ Demonstrable previous experience in leading an evaluation, including data collection, analysis and reporting for a development project.
▪ Evidence of producing high quality and detailed evaluation reports.
▪ Demonstrate high level of professionalism. ▪ Excellent English communication, report writing and presentation skills.
▪ Ability to effectively interact with different stakeholders of multiple socioeconomic backgrounds.
▪ Ability to multi-task and work independently, under high-pressure situations
▪ Excellent interpersonal skills.
▪ Strong critical analysis skills and attention to detail.
▪ Flexibility and willingness to travel to rural communities in Kambia and Port Loko district of Sierra Leone
▪ Ability to adhere to strict deadlines. |
- ROLE OF CAFOD AND PARTNERS
- Review and approve the work plan, including the timeframe and methodology to be applied.
- Provide the consultant with background information and reference material including all relevant project documents.
- Ensure that the health and safety procedures and CAFOD’s Safeguarding, Code of Behavior and Antibribery Policies are fully adhered to.
- Ensure smooth flow of consultancy engagement processes including contractual obligations.
- Provide timely feedback to consultant on products submitted for review. • Ensure community sensitization and mobilization of respondents.
- Follow up and evaluate progress on execution of the task assigned.
- Review and approve the draft and final product as stipulated in the expected outputs/deliverables.
- Quality assurance of the final product
- KEY DELIVERABLES
The consultant is liable for the following deliverables during the service period: I. Inception Report: This should be accompanied with the general research instrument and should be presented to CAFOD and Partners within maximum 4 days upon contract signing. This will include, a statement of work clearly outlining a methodology, sampling, and work plan. This may be further refined after additional meetings with the project team.
- First Draft Report: The consultant will make a draft report and share for review to both CAFOD and Partners on the key findings of the final evaluation and recommendations. III. Final Report: The final report should be submitted within five (5) days after reviewed. The soft copy of the report will be submitted to CAFOD.
- All data collected (both raw and aggregated) should be submitted to CAFOD and Partners. The data set should be in the appropriate format agreed upon.
10.DURATION OF ASSIGNMENT
The overall timeframe of this consultancy is 20 days from the date of signing of the contractual agreement.
- PAYMENT SCHEDULE AND CONDITIONS OF CONTRACT
The consultant/consultant company will be paid in instalments after important deliverables are completed and submitted. All Payments shall be made through bank transfer in three instalments.
The following is the payment schedule:
▪ 1st instalment of 40% on Signing of Contract.
▪ 2nd instalment of 30% upon submission of an acceptable first draft report ▪ 3rd and final instalment of 30% upon submission of acceptable final Report incorporating inputs from the dissemination meeting.
Note: The stipulated total cost of the assignment should cover all costs incurred during the research period including travel costs and sustenance for the research team. Reports produced in soft copies and all other costs that may arise during the research period. 10% of Withholding tax shall be deducted from the total Professional fees.
12.CODE OF BEHAVIOUR
The consultant including any member of their research team will abide to CAFOD’s code of behaviour and in line with the Safe, Accessible, Dignified and Inclusive programming framework throughout their engagement with CAFOD. The Consultant will be required to sign the code of behaviour, as well as the safeguarding and anti-bribery policies at the signing of the contract, before commencement of the work. Any violation of Welthungerhilfe’s Code of Conduct or failure to discharge duties according to these terms of reference by the consultant will lead to a unilateral termination of the contract.
- APPLICATION & QUOTATION REQUIREMENTS
Interested applicants to send a technical and financial proposal for the work in line with the following guidance:
– Technical Proposal: The consultant’s understanding and interpretation of the Terms of Reference (TOR), a detailed methodology on how the data collection and analysis will be done and detailed implementation schedule for the evaluation as well as any other proposed approaches the consultant may deem fit for this assessment. Capability statement on How the consultant or firm is structured for the assignment, the role each staff will play including the CVs of the key personnel who will take part in the consultancy. References of three organizations that you have conducted evaluations for within the last three years, that will serve as your professional referees.
– List of Evaluation reports: Final reports for the evaluations conducted for the three reference organizations provided.
– Financial proposal: Itemized budget proposal that should include the consultancy fees and operational costs.
- TIMELINE SUMMARY
| Activity |
Timeline |
| Submission of applications |
23rd February 2023 |
| Inception report |
4 days from contract signing |
| Evaluation completed |
End of March |
| Submission of a draft report |
End of March |
| Final report |
Early April |
Interested consultants/firms that meet the requirements should submit an expression of interest to csamura@cafod.org.uk by 26th February 2023. Include ‘EU-BAFS Agribusiness Final Evaluation’ in the subject line.
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