Under the
direct supervision of the Livelihoods and Food Security Specialist, and in
accordance with UNOPS policies, procedures and practices, the Consultant shall conduct
the Midterm Review (MTR) of the two projects related to the land sector.
The purpose
of the MTR is to:
- Demonstrate
accountability to major stakeholders, including donors and beneficiaries,
- Foster
learning for improving project design and/or implementation, and
- Generate
evidence for policy development.
The MTR should help the project team identify key project learnings and adjust
the project implementation through a participatory approach.
The specific objectives of the review include:
1. Address
the LIFT-level evaluation questions concerning the following criteria, in
relation to the projects’ overall approach and their individual components
where appropriate:
a. Relevance: The extent to
which the project and its components are suited to: (1) the priorities and
needs of the target beneficiaries; (2) LIFT’s policies and objectives; and (3)
the Myanmar policy and development context.
b. Effectiveness: A measure of
the extent to which the project is attaining its expected results and targets,
based on the project’s theory of change, measurement framework and/or logical
framework.
c. Efficiency: A measure of the
extent to which the project has delivered value for money, in terms of costs
and major benefits.
d. Sustainability: An assessment
of the economic and, where appropriate, social and environmental
sustainability, of a project, considering here the nature of the project
oriented towards policy change.
e. Gender equality: The extent to which project
design and implementation has considered gender-related differences in the
roles, responsibilities and needs of the target beneficiaries and stakeholders,
and enabled greater gender equality and women’s empowerment.
2. Address
specific technical questions on the following project components and the
implementing partners:
(a)
LCG institutional capacity and networking
(b)
Strategies for policy influencing and advocacy
(c)
Research quality and methodologies
(d)
Effectiveness of knowledge dissemination strategies
(e)
Effectiveness of the training modules and capacity
building
Specific questions for the above key criteria and topics are further
detailed in annex 1. Early on in the consultancy, the consultant(s) will work
closely with LIFT, LCG and GRET to further refine these questions, from which
the consultant(s) will then develop the appropriate data collection
instruments.
3. Distill lessons and good practices, as
well as identify barriers to effective implementation, in order to provide
meaningful and feasible recommendations for improving the projects in their
remaining time, as well as in a possible extension period.
Approach and Methodology
Although to be determined by the Consultant, the mid-term
reviews will be based on qualitative methods, mainly key informant interviews
and focus group discussions.
Suggested data sources and collection methods include:
-
Review of existing LIFT and project documentation
(project proposal, the annual and semi-annual reports, research reports and
studies, and FMO’s field visit reports and other relevant project documents),
the LIFT Strategy (2014-2018),
-
Conduct consultations with relevant project
stakeholders and partners, including key stakeholders in the government
-
Develop an online questionnaire (e.g.
‘SurveyMonkey’ or the like) to be sent to a large number of LCG partners to
broaden the number of opinions collected.
In addition, the Consultant will facilitate a workshop with
the respective project teams to analyse current results, challenges, identify
learnings and consider approaches for improving project design and approaches.
Deliverables
The following documents / events will be required:
1. Design meetings with LCG, GRET and LIFT FMO to clarify midterm
review’s objectives and major questions and to review logistics
2. Inception report, including refined midterm review objectives, major
questions, survey methodologies (i.e., FGD and KII topic guides), and a
detailed work plan.
3. Project review workshops with LCG and GRET project teams
(facilitation only)
3. Debriefing meetings with LCG, GRET and LIFT FMO to discuss the
findings, lessons, and proposed recommendations (two days after completing the
field trip)
4. Two single Draft Final Reports, one for each project, as per an
agreed table of contents referring to the three purposes of this MTR as
addressed in section III (up to fifteen days after the briefing presentation,
5. Two single Final Reports, one for each project (up to seven days
after receiving final written feedback from LIFT).
Work Plan and Estimated Timeframe
The Consultant will work for an estimated 34 days, partially working from home (16 days) and on
research work in Myanmar (18 days) according to the tentative work plan below. A
detailed work plan and meeting schedule will be developed prior to the
Consultant arrival in-country in coordination with LCG and GRET.
In-country visits are planned for the month of October 2017. Consultations
in various locations (Yangon, Nay Pyi Taw, Sagaing and Ayeyarwaddy – to be
confirmed) will be followed by a debriefing to the FMO and the project teams in
Yangon.
Suggested Tasks / Location for LCG project review
|
Estimated number of days
|
Desk review of key
documents (home-based)
|
2
|
Preparing a questionnaire
and launching an on-line survey (home-based)
|
2
|
Meetings and consultations
in Yangon with FMO
|
0.5
|
Meetings and consultations
in Yangon with LCG
|
1.5
|
Meetings with relevant
stakeholders in Yangon, Sagaing and Nay Pyi Taw: policy makers, government,
CSOs, trainees and researchers
|
6
|
Analysis and debriefing in
Yangon
|
2
|
First draft report
(home-based)
|
4
|
Finalized report
(home-based)
|
1
|
Total
|
19
|
Suggested Tasks / Location for GRET project
review
|
Estimated number of days
|
Desk review of key documents (home-based)
|
3
|
Meetings and consultations in Yangon with FMO
|
0.5
|
Meetings and consultations in Yangon with GRET
|
1.5
|
Meetings and consultations in Yangon, Nay Pyi Taw
and Ayeyarwady region with relevant stakeholders
|
4
|
Analysis and debriefing in Yangon
|
2
|
First draft report (home-based)
|
3
|
Finalized report (home-based)
|
1
|
Total
|
15
|
LIFT's Support to the Consultant
LIFT will provide facilitators to support the Consultant in the
logistics and arrangements for research and consultations, and for the
interpretation of interviewees’ responses.
LIFT will cover the costs of meeting and workshop venue, support
workshop organization and will provide all logistical and travel arrangements
in-country.