Terms Of Reference (ToR) for Conducting Endline Evaluation for a Project entitled: Empowering PELUM Uganda members to scale up agroecology for resilient and sustainable food and agricultural systems tender job at PELUM Uganda

1. Background

Since 1995, PELUM Uganda has been working to improve the livelihoods of small-scale farmers and the sustainability of rural communities, through fostering ecological land use management. We share skills and knowledge about good practices and techniques through a broad network of like-minded organizations; undertake research and demonstration projects; and advocate for policies and laws that better support small-scale farmers. PELUM Uganda is part of a 14-country strong association of civil society organizations in Eastern, Central and Southern Africa.

PELUM Uganda works with a strong network of 75 like-minded agricultural NGOs operating in about 122 districts of Uganda, and reaching approximately 3,000,000 smallholder farmers, 65% of whom are women. We promote agricultural systems that address food security, improve incomes, ensure environmental sustainability, and an enabling policy environment. We do this through working with our membership to facilitate learning, experience sharing, developing replicable agricultural models and approaches,as wellas collective advocacy.

Vision: Empowered and Resilient smallholder farming Communities Sustainably utilizing their natural resources.

Mission: To enhance the effectiveness of member organizations to empower their affiliate smallholder farming communities in practicing agroecology through capacity building research and innovation, networking, advocacy for equitable improvement in their livelihoods.

Overview of the project

The project titled: Empowering PELUM Uganda Members to scale up Agroecology for Resilient and Sustainable Food and Agricultural systems was implemented from January 2023 to December 2025 aimed at; Strengthening the resilience capacity of 15 member organizations (10 new and 5 old) and affiliated men and women smallholder farmers to climate change effects; directly targeting 50,000 smallholder farmers (at least 65% women and 35% males and 10% of these e youth), regional focus market development interventions through 15 Member organizations, a reaching to 75,000 smallholder farmers.

Outcomes

• Enhanced resilient capacities of 15 member organizations and affiliate women, men, and youth by 2025
• Increased agroecological markets & business development of 75,000 smallholder farmers affiliated to 15 Mos by 2025

• Increased participation of members and affiliate smallholder farmers in influencing policies, processes,and practices that affect the realization of agroecology promotion among farmers by 2025.

2.  Scope of Work

Objectives of consultancy

The objective of this assignment is to assess the extent to which the intervention has effected change in the lives of the community in relation to climate-resilient agroecological systems, access to agroecological markets and advocacy to ensure that the perspectives of different stakeholders are compared and analyzed in establishing if and how change has occurred.

Specific objectives

• Summarise the impact of the project with reference to baseline and indicators.
• Come with an explanation on what changes are attributed to the intervention and how the intervention contributed to identified changes in relation to income and nutrition security
• Explore and document Unintended and unexpected changes because of the intervention
• Verify the relevance of each project component to the needs, priorities and perspectives of the target group and the most excluded and marginalised groups.
• Assess the level and extent of community participation in planning and managing project inputs and initiatives.
• facilitate participatory sessions among a representative sample of beneficiaries on the most significant change at a community level that the project has affected.

Methodology

The consultant is required to propose a methodology for this End of Project Evaluation that will be agreed up on with PELUM Uganda. The proposal should include:

• A detailed explanation of how qualitative and quantitative methods will be used.
• An indication of the sampling method to be used and
• A description of how the approach is going to ensure that the expected attribution/contribution of the project towards the outcome and the goal will be shown.

Main Evaluation Questions

The purpose of this evaluation is to assess the progress against the goal and to provide a body of evidence for the donor about the impact of the project. The following questions should guide the evaluation:

Relevance:

• To what extent did the project respond to the needs of participants/beneficiaries and partners?
• To what extent were the activities, outputs, and strategies relevant to achieving the intended effects?

Efficiency

• To what extent was the project cost-effective? Consider if the project was implemented in the most efficient way.

Effectiveness

• Is there evidence that anticipated results are being achieved?
• To what extent can the emerging results be attributed to the project intervention? Assess if the project partners added value and delivered value for money.

Impact

• Provide evidence that the project made a difference to the livelihoods of the target groups.
• Provide evidence that the project made a difference to institutional capacity knowledge Management, governance and financial sustainability.
• Explore the likelihood that the intervention and/or its benefits will continue after the donor funding ceases. Particular attention should be given to the environmental dimension of the project and the role which local government has to fulfil to ensure the sustainability of the project.

Deliverables

The scope of the end line survey will involve reviewing PELUM Uganda’s Monitoring Evaluation and Learning system, project proposal; project reports, and any other existing literature, developing qualitative and quantitative data collection instruments, conduct training for enumerators on data collection tools and methodologies, and managing and overseeing data collection in the field. Analyzing qualitative and quantitative data and summarizing findings in a final report. Specifically, the consultant’s scope of work and deliverables include, but not limited to, the following:

1. Inception report
   • Critical review of the ToR and develop recommendations for improvement
   • Prepare a detailed methodology and analytical tools/instruments to be employed in the study. This should include questionnaires for household survey and checklist, and tools for group interaction including focus group discussion and key informants’ interview.
   • List of stakeholders/key informants to be contacted
   • Determine sample size (number of households) for the baseline survey; etc.
   • Prepare a detailed plan of action/schedule covering orientation to enumerators, field work, data collection, analysis, interpretation, draft, and final report preparation with concerned project staff
   • Collect feedback, amend the design of the methods, and submit final Inception Report
2. Selection of enumerators and training
3. Collection of relevant data from relevant sources
4. Analysis of the data/information gathered,
5. Preparation of draft report (the report should not be longer than 30 pages, annexes can be additional), submission to Client for review and presentation of findings to relevant stakeholders for feedback
6. The final draft evaluation report and final report need to be structured according to the OECD/DAC criteria and the evaluation questions.
7. The main body of the evaluation (draft and final version) must be limited to 30 pages, excluding annexes. One of the annexes should consist of a table that summaries the findings and recommendations.
8. Obtain comments and suggestions on the report from PELUM Uganda and partners/MOs, and incorporate into the final consolidated report
9. Submit final report which incorporates feedback (hard copy and electronic version)

3. Proposed Timeline

The tasks in this bid must be accomplished in a maximum of 30 calendar days allotted to the study. This includes feedback time as well as resubmission of amended report.

Indicative timeframe for activities

Requirements, skills and experience

The consultancy firm shall submit Technical and Financial proposals.

a) Technical Proposal

The consultant shall submit as part of the technical proposal the following:

1. Documents which certify that the consultant is eligible to compete in the bid. These documents include renewed trade license, TIN and VAT registration certificates,
2. Technical proposal, which is to include, among others, how the survey is going to be carried out depicting the time required for the whole evaluation reflecting the time allocated (to be discussed and finalized at inception phase); and end line survey process. methodology (approaches, techniques and tools) to be employed during data collection and analysis including sampling framework, work schedule etc.

• A capability statement demonstrating how they meet the required qualifications and competencies.

1. Staff requirements: A survey team consisting of at least 3 core members are required, specifically, Agricultural expert (Agroecologist), Livelihood Specialist (Economist), and policy and governance, Use of value additions such as storybooks & videos, Contractor should not have been involved in the implementation of the project (Empowering PELUM Uganda Members to scale up Agroecology for Resilient and Sustainable Food and Agricultural systems). Necessary support staff, particularly experienced statisticians, should be considered for sample design and data quality assurance. The team members are expected to have the following qualifications and experience:
   • A minimum of 7 years’ experience in carrying out baseline surveys/ impact evaluations, with a focus on agriculture and livelihoods related interventions.
   • Demonstrable academic and practical experience in qualitative and quantitative research methodology, survey/evaluation design and implementation.
   • Strong analytical, facilitation and communication skills.
   • Good understanding of agriculture-based enterprises.
   • Strong analytical and report writing skills.
   • Data collectors should be fluent in the local language.
   • The lead consultant (team leader) should possess at least a Masters’ degree in Agricultural Economics, Agroecology, Sustainable Development, Rural Development, Economics, development studies or related subjects.
2. At least three references (including one from your last client/employer). Submission of sample baseline or end-line survey report completed in the last 24 months will be beneficial to secure maximum points for experience of consultant.

b) Financial Proposal

The consultant shall submit a financial proposal indicating major cost breakdowns. More specifically, the financial proposal shall indicate:

• Consultant level of effort and pay rate
• Other related costs such as equipment, stationery,
• Transport cost to and from the field
• Per Diem and accommodation

PELUM Uganda reserves the right to choose per diem and accommodation and transport service rates to and from the study area and deduct the amount for the service. PELUM Uganda will provide staff to facilitate introduction to local administration officials; however, the PELUM Uganda staff is not part of the survey team. PELUM Uganda will cover cost of hall rent and per diem cost of stakeholders who participate in workshops for the review of inception and draft reports.

4. Requirements, skills and experience

Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria technical proposal 70%

• Appreciation of the TOR and understanding of the assignment
• Company profile which clearly shows experience in similar studies
• Proposed methodology and work plan
• Qualification and technical competency of proposed staff

Financial proposal 30%

• Level of effort of staff and cost breakdown as provided in the format

 5. Application Procedure

Please submit the following documentation to procurement@pelumuganda.org and copy josephineakia@pelumuganda.org by the deadline of April 15^th, 2025. In the subject line, please include “your name” + “BFtW Endline” when submitting.

1. A company CV outlining previous similar experience with names and contact details of references and short summary of study/research undertaken
2. The CVs of the team members proposed for this contract and the name of the designated Lead Person for this contract.
3. An example of a previous report. It is the contractor’s responsibility to ensure that the report is either in the public domain or that they have permission to share the report.
4. A technical proposal
5. A financial proposal