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TERMS OF REFERENCE
CONDUCTING AN EXTERNAL PHASED END-OF-PROJECT-EVALUATION FOR A GERMAN FEDERAL FOREIGN OFFICE (GFFO)-FUNDED PROJECT IN ETHIOPIA, KENYA, SOMALIA
Project Titel: Provision of Emergency life-saving services and resilience building in drought affected communities in Kenya, Somalia, and Ethiopia
Implemented by humedica Ethiopia in Ethiopia, World Concern Development Organization (WCDO) in Kenya & WCDO and Wamo Relief and Rehabilitation Services (WRRS) in Somalia
To be evaluated in 2026 (Kenya) and 2027 (Somalia and Ethiopia)
Background and Context
humedica e.V. is a German humanitarian organization, established in 1979 with the mandate of responding to medical and non-medical relief and disaster emergencies in the world.
The background of the project is the following:
This prolonged drought has caused a widespread humanitarian crisis in the Horn of Africa, particularly in Ethiopia, Somalia, and Kenya. The erratic rainfall has led to significant losses of livestock and crops. Chronic water and food shortages have affected the lives of millions of people. Although there has been temporary relief from the recent spring rains, it will take years for the affected population to recover from the effects of the prolonged drought.
In Ethiopia, the Somali, Oromia and Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples (SNNP) regions have been particularly affected by the drought. Combined with violence due to ethnic conflict, the lives and livelihoods of people in the regions have been severely affected. In the drought-affected areas, about 11.8 million people are currently dependent on food aid. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC)-compatible analysis shows that many areas in southern Ethiopia are classified as emergency (IPC Phase 4), while there are also households that are in disaster (IPC Phase 5). Certain districts such as Dubluq and Elwoye in Borena Zone, Hudet and Moyale in Dawa Zone, and Segen Zuria and Kara Zuria in Konso Zones are identified as hotspots. Humanitarian assistance to drought-affected people in Ethopia’s Somali, Oromia and SNNP regions could not meet the needs in 2022. Although around 11 million people or 66% of the target population were supported with life-saving aid, many people in need did not receive adequate food or nutritional supplements. The situation of vulnerable pastoralists in the affected regions of Oromia, Somali and SNNP remains extremely poor and further scaling up of humanitarian assistance is urgently needed.
In Samburu County, Kenya, more than 200,000 people are in urgent need of food assistance. Although there was good rainfall in some parts of the arid and semi-arid areas (ASALs) in April 2023, food security in the ASAL areas has not yet reached the desired level, according to the Kenya National Drought Management Authority (NDMA).
In Somalia, the cumulative impact of the five-year drought has resulted in loss of life and severe damage to livelihoods in the Lower Juba region. In addition to lack of rainfall and prolonged drought, high food prices, conflict, insecurity, and disease outbreaks have contributed to acute food insecurity and malnutrition in the affected regions. Social support systems were overburdened and as a result, parts of the population have been relocated from rural areas to collective shelters for internally displaced people. The drought has resulted in a large number of IDPs, with Somalia having the highest number, followed by Ethiopia. The number of IDPs is expected to increase further in the first half of 2023, which may lead to tensions between communities.
In response to this, humedica,In collaboration with the German Federal Foreign Office (GFFO), humedica has implemented the project **“**Provision of Emergency life-saving services and resilience building in drought affected communities in Kenya, Somalia, and Ethiopia” through humedica Ethiopia in Ethiopia and the partner organizations WCDO (Kenya & Somalia) and WRRS (Somalia) since 01.09.2023 with original project end of 31.08.2026, with an expected project extension in Ethiopia and Somalia until 30.06.2027.
Project Objectives
The outcome of the current project is reduced acute humanitarian needs and decreased mortality among the most vulnerable people suffering from the drought at the Horn of Africa by providing lifesaving and sustaining integrated assistance.
For Ethiopia, humedica Ethiopia
Established reliable screening and referral system for SAM and MAM treatment reaching children under five and PLW in the selected districts in Ethiopia
Reliable supply of essential nutrients for children and PLW in the selected districts in Ethiopia.
Increased capacity of three Stabilization Centers (SC) (nutrition referral centres) through donation of SC equipment, and increased capacity of pregnant and lactating women through nutrition education in three selected districts.
For Kenya (WCDO) and Somalia (WCDO & WRRS), the partner organizations
Increased ability by 1000 target households to take care of immediate needs through provision of monthly unconditional cash transfers.
Improved access to clean and safe water among 20 villages in Samburu and Afmadow areas through water trucking.
Improved nutrition status of 80,000 children and 3300 PLW in Samburu, Afmadow County/Districts
Therefore, at this point in time, humedica is planning to conduct endline evaluation of the projects across the three countries with external evaluator with a primary purpose of independently assessing the project’s performance, capture evidence of its results, and draw practical lessons from its implementation.
Evaluation Purpose, Objective and Use
At the end of the funding period of this regional project, humedica undertakes an Phased End-of-Project Evaluation which marks the preliminary end of the current funding phase supported by GFFO. This evaluation is a requirement of the German Federal Foreign Office and humedica, but also important to local and international partners.
The objective of this process is to determine how effective the implementation through the partner organizations has been in; in reaching results expected within the objectives of the project proposal and the quality of impact of these results within the project context.
The aim of this External Evaluation is to assess general progress achieved, key lessons and experiences, and areas where gaps and opportunities may still exist in this project’s intervention.
This evaluation is being conducted as per Evaluation Plan approved by humedica e.V.
The overall purposes of the evaluation are the following:
In terms of objectives per outcome the evaluation looks at the following OECD/DAC criteria: Relevance, Coherence, Effectiveness, Efficiency, Sustainability, Scalability/Replicability, Coordination and Cross-cutting Considerations to examine whether the Programme was successful in its strategies to improve inclusion and participation of the most marginalized beneficiaries.
Impact – The extent to which the intervention has generated or is expected to generate significant positive or negative, intended or unintended, higher-level effects.
Review of the conducted interventions in light of the actual needs of the target population in the project region with the goal to identify potential gaps for further project developments.
Findings of this evaluation will help inform humedica, its partners and the funding German Foreign Office key lessons, and strategic trends helpful to improving humanitarian intervention strategies. This should help humedica strengthen areas that may require adjustment in the remaining part of this project, or in any future interventions. In particular, results of this evaluation will be helpful information, providing analysis and direction for improved future interventions.
Evaluation Scope
In addressing the purpose of this assignment, the scope of this evaluation will be limited to determining the status of the partners’ implementation in the following broad areas:
Assess the overall Programme’s performance from planning to implementation, identifying key strengths and areas for improvement;
Evaluate the Programme’s relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, coherence, impact and sustainability, scalability / replicability, coordination, and other cross-cutting considerations, with particular attention to gender equality, social inclusion, and child rights;
Document vital lessons learned and best practices for future strategies and interventions;
Evaluate the effectiveness of partnerships and coordination mechanisms in achieving Programme objectives;
Provide actionable recommendations for improving Programme implementation and enhancing impact for the remaining Programme period or for any future interventions.
Review the partners field financial accountability.
Review field leadership/governance in relation to beneficiaries
Assess the intervention in light of actual needs and evaluate the actual needs of the population in the project area (refugees, as well as host community) in light of the implemented activities.
The evaluation will be carried out in the following places:
In Kenya: Samburu County (Field Office of WCDO) and Nairobi (Country Office of WCDO)
In Somalia: Afmadow District in Lower Juba
In Ethiopia: Addis Ababa (Offices of humedica Ethiopia); Oromia, SNNPR & Somali regions (Project locations)
The evaluation will be carried out at two distinct points in time by the same evaluator:
For Kenya: May / June 2026
For Somalia & Ethiopia: April 2027 (as long as the project is extended; otherwise, possibly in May or June 2026)
The evaluation covers the following target groups:
Humedica Ethiopia country office: to make informed decisions about Programme adjustments and improve implementation strategies; to gain insights for strategic planning and resource allocation in similar contexts;
Local government partners in Ethiopia – Department of Health, medical centres etc.: To enhance coordination and support for the Programme’s objectives;
WCDO Field office in Samburu County & WCDO Headquarters in Nairobi: to make informed decisions about Programme adjustments and improve implementation strategies;
Local government partners in Kenya – Department of Health, medical centres etc: To enhance coordination and support for the Programme’s objectives;
WRRS office in Afmadow District, lower Juba: to make informed decisions about Programme adjustments and improve implementation strategies;
Local government partners in Somalia – Department of Health, medical centres etc.: To enhance coordination and support for the Programme’s objectives;
Beneficiary communities in Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia: To provide feedback and influence
Methodology
The endline evaluation will apply a mixed-methods approach, combining both quantitative and qualitative methodologies to generate robust and credible evidence on project progress, outcomes, and impact.
Quantitative methods will be used to measure progress and results, while qualitative approaches will capture the experiences, perceptions, and insights of community members and key project stakeholders.
Data collection will draw on both quantitative and qualitative sources
Desk study and comprehensive review of relevant documents such as project statistics, project documentation, progress reports, and other publicly available materials related to the project
Questionnaires, surveys, focus-group discussions, and semi-structured interviews with key informants such as project beneficiaries, governmental institutions, international and national organizations familiar with the projects, partners, implementing organizations and donors.
The consultant will specifically:
Develop a concise evaluation framework and plan covering design, target population and area, sampling, data collection methods and tools, ethical considerations, and a detailed evaluation matrix, to be shared with humedica and partner organizations for feedback.
Draft an Inception Report detailing the evaluation methodology in exchange with the project teams
Review available documentation to obtain a general overview of the programme design and progress
Hold meetings and interview relevant stakeholders including implementing partners of the programme
Visit identified project field sites
Conduct data collection and analysis
Draft Evaluation reports
Incorporate comments of the project teams and key stakeholders, complete and submit the final Evaluation report
Consult with the project teams to ensure the progress and the key evaluation questions are covered
Assuring the draft and final reports are prepared in accordance with these Terms of Reference, especially the checklist for the assessment of evaluation report
Facilitate Evaluation meetings to present the main findings and recommendations
Conduct a validation Workshop of the report
Incorporate an outline for adapting key findings in the implementation of the current project in the final report
Incorporate the management responses in the final report in English
Provide a final PDF soft copy report in English
Expected Outputs of this consultancy
The following outputs are expected by the end of the consultancy;
Inception Report detailing consultancy work-plan and proposed processes
Draft evaluation report
Final endorsed report incorporating comments from humedica. The final report must include but not necessarily be limited to up to 25 pages and have elements outlined in the quality criteria for evaluation reports. The report however can have several annexes (as required by the Consultant or the Consulting Team)
Knowledge Products: A concise 10–12 page summary of the evaluation highlighting key findings, along with three case studies covering Food Security, WASH, and Nutrition components
Provide a final PDF soft copy report in English
Presentation Slides: (in Microsoft PowerPoint format) A summary presentation of the evaluation methodology, key findings, and recommendations
All Datasets: All raw and cleaned quantitative and qualitative data (e.g., transcripts), ensuring participant anonymity
Raw data used for both qualitative and quantitative findings, including transcripts and translated documents
b. Photographic, video, and audio materials collected
c. Complete consent documentation obtained from participants, as appropriate
Expertise and Qualifications of the Consultant
The Consultant or consulting firm will possess a Secondary or Tertiary University Degree plus substantive strong background in evaluation of humanitarian programmes with a focus and/or background in evaluation of WASH & Nutrition projects will be an added advantage.
It is also possible to have a leading management team that cooperates with local teams on site who are familiar with the local conditions.
Specifically, the leading consultant should have proven experience and skills in the following areas:
Over 7 years of experience in conducting programme/project evaluations
Sound knowledge and practical experience in humanitarian/development planning and implementation
Extensive research and analytical skills
Excellent writing and oral communication
Facilitation and management skills
Possess leadership skills and be a team player
Knowledge and familiarity in WASH and Nutrition
Independence and impartiality
Experience in the regions is an added advantage
Management of the Evaluation
Brief description of the roles and responsibilities of all actors involved in managing and implementing the evaluation.
The contracted evaluation team is responsible for the overall professional management and implementation of the evaluation, including quality assurance. The evaluation will be conducted in close coordination with project management and MEAL experts. The team leader will oversee all deliverables and report on progress, including any issues that may affect the assignment. All decisions regarding modifications to the Terms of Reference and approval of deliverables are subject to approval by humedica. The consultant will hold regular (e.g., weekly) coordination calls with humedica’s quality team to provide updates and address challenges. Any unresolved disagreements regarding the evaluation process or findings will be escalated to humedica’s management for final decision.
Budget
The financial proposal shall be submitted separately from the technical proposal. The consultant must provide a detailed budget breakdown, including all applicable taxes. The total budget should be presented in EUR and include, but not be limited to, the following cost items:
Consultant daily fees for all team members
International and/or domestic travel costs
Accommodation and per diems
Data collection costs (e.g., enumerator fees, transport)
Translation and transcription costs
Communication costs
Workshop facilitation costs
Any other relevant costs as appropriate
Logistical support
The Project team will provide reasonable logistical and coordination support to facilitate efficient and effective data collection. This will include support in community entry processes, coordination with local authorities, and mobilization of respondents in the target locations.
Workplan / Contract Period – Quantity Structure
The assignment includes following tasks:
Preparation, desk review and preliminary consultative meetings with the implementing partner coordination and field teams and online with humedica HQ
Field visits within the project region for field meetings, data review, focus group discussions, direct and indirect observations.
Preparation and presentation of preliminary outline of the Evaluation Report
Preparation of the full report that includes findings, recommendations and management response.
The estimated level of efforts is between 20 – 25 days and should be carried out between May 2026 and April 2027.
Consultancy Selection Criteria
Individual consultant or consulting firm profile – Capacity to meet requirements, references and financial standing
General strategy/approach – Understanding of objective and results required, risk awareness and mitigation approach
Proposed evaluation methodology – Suitability and strengths of the proposed methodology, proposed technical investment and treatment of key issues
Proposed organization of the work – Planning, proposed scheduling of activities, availability of required skills and quality assurance
Suitability and experience of the Consultant or proposed Consultancy team – Expertise and overall combination of the consultant’s (or consultant team) skills/knowledge proposed: demonstrated knowledge or evaluation strategies and policies, minimum of five years of experience required in each of the tasks above
Financial proposal’s suitability – Fees and other cost structure as against the above
Selection criteria will include the consultant’s previous work, assessed through a review of relevant samples demonstrating experience and proven expertise in similar assignments
How to apply
Interested consultancy firms or Consultants are invited to submit a complete proposal in English consisting of the following documents that at minimum covers, their
Technical Proposal i.e.Company profile and capacity statement (max. 2 pages), including: Legal status and year of establishment, Relevant experience in conducting external evaluations of donor-funded projects (preferably GFFO or comparable public donors), Experience in the respective country/region, Proposed methodology and approach, Proposed team composition, including roles and responsibilities (Estimated level of effort – working days per country).
Financial Proposal that includes the total consulting price in EUR that also indicates breakdown per country (if applicable) and provide a breakdown of Professional fees, Travel costs (if applicable) and any additional costs. All prices must be inclusive of taxes and other charges, where applicable.
Provide supporting documents i.e. CVs of key consulting persons, highlighting: Professional qualifications, Relevant evaluation experience, Contact details (name, email, phone number of the proposed Consultancy Focal Person)
Proposals must be submitted by email only to: [email protected]. With Subject Title as “End of Evaluation – Provision of Emergency life-saving services and resilience building in Kenya, Somalia, and Ethiopia”
The deadline for submission is 25. May 2026, at 23:59 CET
Late submissions will not be considered. Only shortlisted firms will be contacted.