Terms of Reference (ToR) for Conducting Terminal Evaluation for Empowering Families and Communities for the Care

1.Background and programme Context

1.1 About SOS Children’s Villages Ethiopia

SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia is an International Non-governmental organization and a member of the SOS Children’s Villages International Federation. The organization started its humanitarian work in Ethiopia with the opening of its first Village in Mekelle, the Northern part of Ethiopia in 1974. Since then, it has expanded its programmes to different regions including Amhara, Oromia, Somali, Harari, Sidama, Southern Ethiopia, and South-Central Ethiopia regions. Through its unique family-based care model, the organization has provided a nurturing environment where children can flourish, grow, and realize their full potential. The programme also works with different youth empowerment initiatives, supporting young people to help them become productive and independent members of society. The family and community development programme has enabled many families in the communities to become sustainable and provide the necessary care for their children. Furthermore, SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia also provides humanitarian assistance interventions in cases of natural and human-made disasters, when the livelihoods of families and communities are disrupted. SOS CVE collaborates and partners with like-minded organizations, community structures, government entities, and relevant all in advocating for the fulfilment of the rights and needs of vulnerable children, young people and families. 

SOS CV Ethiopia engages with a variety of community-managed organizations and local government authorities. It supports them in providing an enabling environment for the most vulnerable communities and families to access vital social services and protection whether in peaceful times or crises, to ensure care and protection for all children and youth living in their community

1.2 Description of Programme Location and the project

The SOS CVE Arbam Minch Program location is the recent and newly established location under SOS Children’s Villages Ethiopia, founded in   2025 in response to the severe landslide and drought as well as children vulnerability that affected the southern region and southern Oromia, Gamo Zone, Gofa Zone, and Borena zone. As an independent non-governmental organization focused on social development, we are dedicated to supporting vulnerable children. Currently, the program location (PL) runs five projects, which fall under one family and community development and four humanitarian action projects. The cost of this project is estimated as ETB 34,290,000.00(thirty-four million, two hundred nighty thousand birr). This value can vary depending on the actual exchange rate during the implementation periods of the project. Program Cost 30,861,000 birr (90%) and Admin Cost 3,429,000 birr (10%).

The project is under implementation in Arba Minch town targeting two communities focusing on improvement of Children and youth vulnerability and family strengthening programs.

2. Rationale and overall purpose of terminal evaluation

The Saving Lives and Livelihoods by Strengthening Child and Household Resilience project was/is under implementation through January 2024 to December 2026 to improve the resilience, protection, and well-being of vulnerable children and their households through integrated Family and Community empowerment for the Care, Protection of Vulnerable Children and Youth.  The project focused on reducing child vulnerability, improving household resilience to shocks, and strengthening access to essential services, with attention to gender equality, disability inclusion, and protection risks. The project has now reached its completion phase, and a terminal evaluation is required to assess achievements against objectives, measure outcomes, their effectiveness, efficiency, relevance, impact, and sustainability, document lessons learned, and inform future programming, scale-up, and sustainability strategies.

3. Objectives of the Terminal Evaluation

The evaluation objectives should incorporate clear flow, avoid overlap, and align better with standard terminal evaluation criteria (relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, sustainability, learning, and cross-cutting themes)

3.1 Overall objectives

The overall objective of the Terminal Evaluation is to assess the relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, and sustainability of the project’s interventions and integrated approaches in improving the overall well-being of target communities. The evaluation will examine the extent to which the project has contributed to enhanced community well-being, inclusive financial access, employment and livelihood opportunities for young women and men, strengthened livelihoods and resilience, and promoted synergies across intervention areas.

3.2 Specific objectives are:

The specific objectives of the Terminal Evaluation are:

1. Determine the extent to which the project achieved its intended outputs, outcomes, and targets, including progress against planned indicators and expected results.
2. Assess the project’s contribution to improvements in child protection, household livelihoods, and community resilience, including any unintended positive or negative effects.
3. Identify and document good practices, innovative approaches, challenges, lessons learned, and success factors to inform future programming, replication, and scale-up initiatives.
4. Assess the integration and effectiveness of cross-cutting themes throughout project design and implementation, including gender equality, disability inclusion, child safeguarding, accountability to affected populations (AAP), and social inclusion.
5. Provide evidence-based conclusions and actionable recommendations to support organizational learning, strategic decision-making, and the design of future interventions.

3.3 Project Goal, Outcomes and Outputs

3.3.1. Project Goal:

3.3.1.1 Long term objective

Prevent the separation of children from their families, improving the well-being parents to fulfil their parental obligations to their own children, creating a positive impact on future generations.

1. Short term objective 

To contribute to community, local government systems and structures proactive engagement in holistic child development in Arba Minch town by 2026.

3.3.2 Project Outcomes & Outputs:

Outcome 1: Children and young people cared and Protected

Outcome 2:   Households generate and effectively manage their resources and support child development

Outcome 3: Stakeholders in the community coordinate their support for child development

Outcome 4: Public Voices for childcare and protection are successfully mobilized

Outcome 5: Monitoring and Evaluation

Output 1.1: Children and young people are able to protect themselves from abuse

Output 1.2: Children and young people access basic essential services 

Output 1.3: Caregivers acquire positive parenting skills

Output 1.4: KIP CBOs respond to the needs of children and young people

Output 1.5: Partner schools are able to provide quality education

Output 2.1: Caregivers acquire basic business and entrepreneurship skills

Output 2.2: Caregivers acquire saving skills 

Output 2.3: Caregivers engage in sustainable IGAs

Output 2.4: SACCOs respond to the financial needs of households 

Output 3.1.: Stakeholders have better knowledge and skill on childcare and protection

Output 3.2: Community has strong compliant handling mechanisms

Output 3.3: Community has functional referral linkage  

Output 4.1: Stakeholders engaged on events hosted on childcare and protection

Output 4.2: Stakeholders engaged on meetings on childcare and protection

Output 4.3: Media outlets create access to information on childcare and protection

Output 4.4: Local government promotes alternative care placement for children in need

3.4 Major evaluation /research questions

The commissioned consultant should list relevant and possible evaluation questions by referring to the project document and the project result framework and show the terminal evaluation questions during the inception report presentation.

4.Scope of the Terminal evaluation and project targets

4.1. Geographic scope

The terminal evaluation will be limited to the project participants Men, women, girls, boys, families, and the communities in the Arba Minch programme location in South regional state, at Arba Minch Town FCS project sites/areas.  This project has been implementing across two project kebeles: Chamo and Idgetber Kebeles of the town.

4.2 Target groups and project participants

The primary target groups are 635 children (50% girls), 235 caregivers (50%), two CBO, two SACCOs and two-government schools. To ensure community participation, “Beneficiary Selection Committee”, including women, school representatives, CBO leaders will be established or strengthened at Kebele and city levels. Committees consist of the representatives from the community, government, Kebele administrations, project staff, and will undertake identification, selection and registration of beneficiaries.

Moreover, a total of 235 parents/caregivers of which at least 50% are women, were targeted and directly benefited from the intervention of the Arba Mich project.

Note that during the implementation of the project due attention will be given for gender balance while selecting the target group. Accordingly, it’s estimated that at least 50% of the target children would be girls.

Table 1. Programme participants/project beneficiaries.

 5.  Terminal evaluation methodology

The consultant(s) must develop a strong data collection methodology for this terminal evaluation, ensuring the data's reliability and validity. A mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative and qualitative research methods, is recommended to produce the highest quality and most credible evidence. This study will collect data, disaggregated by sex, age, and disability, for the indicators listed in the result framework (the RF will be annexed for the winner consultant). The chosen methodology must be sensitive to the local context and ensure that all respondents, regardless of their background, have an equal opportunity to participate in the baseline study. The terminal evaluation environment should be designed to provide safe and inclusive spaces that encourage all participants to respond freely, irrespective of gender, age, disability, origin, or religious beliefs. As far as possible, the consultant should disaggregate data by sex, age, and disability while collecting and analysing data. Furthermore, the consultant should also clearly explain which questions will be answered using which methods. The Consultant should also ensure that the survey and qualitative methods (such as focus group discussion (FGD), key informant interview (KII) and group discussion) with participants are representative of the project’s target groups and key stakeholders (Community members, women, girls, boys and children).

5.1 Sampling

The consultant is required to propose statistically sound sampling strategies to ensure representativeness. He/she is required to clearly state the sample size and the acceptable margin of error. The consultant will develop a detailed data analysis plan, outlining the statistical methods to be used for the quantitative data and the thematic analysis approach for the qualitative data. All data collection activities should be conducted following the highest ethical standards, ensuring informed consent, confidentiality, and the safety of all participants.

6.Work plan and Deliverables

6.1 Work plan and timetable

The terminal evaluation task is expected to be finalized within 45 days after the contractual agreement is signed. The consultant is expected to develop her/his detailed work plan based on the following table.

6.2 Deliverables

The commissioned external consultant must deliver the evaluation findings within 45 days of the contract signed. Based on the work plan, SOS Children’s Villages of project intervention programme location, Arba Minch, and the national office MEAL and FCSP teams expect the following deliverables:

• An inception report of 8 pages on the evaluation design, methodology, sampling frame, sampling technique, sample size, assessment tools and work plan
• Draft evaluation report.
• The consultant is expected to analyse the data and present findings (for both draft and final findings) in the intervention area (Arba Minch project site).
• Final report - The findings of the evaluation report including an executive summary and data collection tools in both electronic and hardcopy formats, should be submitted.
• Raw data, which has been cleaned (both qualitative and quantitative, including original field notes for in-depth interviews and focus group discussions, and recorded audio material), should be submitted with the report. SOS CVE will have sole ownership of all final data, and any findings shall only be shared or reproduced with the permission of SOS Children’s Village Ethiopia.

6.3. Report criteria

The reporting criteria of the terminal evaluation shall be in line with the SOS Children’s Villages Ethiopia Result Based Project Management (RBPM) toolkit and should be shared with the winner consultant along with the data review process and/or for the preparation of the inception report.