Norwegian Refugee Council Consultancy: Evaluation of WASH Programme in Dadaab Refugee Camps in Kenya

Norwegian Refugee Council
 

Consultancy – Evaluation of WASH Programme in Dadaab Refugee Camps – Kenya
 

Ref. No: 3102028926
 

NRC Evaluation Terms of Reference

Country: Kenya

Duration: 5 weeks

Reporting to: The Evaluation Steering Committee

1. Background Information

Background on the Conflict / Context

Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya was established in the year 1991 to settle refugees who were displaced following the inter-clan conflicts that broke out in Somalia. 

In 2011, a devastating famine caused by prolonged drought in the Horn of Africa region resulted to displacements and influxes of more than 160,000 refugees from Somalia into the Dadaab camps. 

Consequently, the displaced population increased over the years from the initial total of 90,000 refugees to 343,884[1] refugees, residing in the five Dadaab camps; Hagadera, Dagahaley, Ifo, Kambioos and Ifo 2.

Background on the thematic area in this context (e.g. not NRC intervention specific but for example the WASH situation in the country)

NRC is currently the lead WASH partner for UNHCR providing Water, Sanitation and Hygiene promotion to the refugees living in Hagadera and Kambioos camps. 

In Hagadera camp, NRC started implementing WASH programme in April 2012 after handover by CARE and water supply component in January 2013 after handover by Oxfam in Kambioos. 

Meanwhile, implementation of Sanitation and Hygiene promotion activities in Kambioos camp commenced in June 2014. 

The old and dilapidated water reticulation system required constant repair and maintenance in order to maintain the minimum SPHERE and UNHCR standards on water supply. 

Currently; NRC operates 9 boreholes of which 7 are now operating on solar-diesel hybrid water pumping systems, 10 elevated storage tanks where 8 are 100m3 capacity each, 1 is 150m3 and another is 250m3, and other ground storage tanks, and the entire water reticulation systems in both camps. 

The average water per capita was maintained at 23.1l as at end of May 2016.

The sanitation standards among the target population still remain a challenge despite significant improvements over the years. 

Latrine census conducted in July 2015 by NRC indicated that 8 persons shared 1 latrine (1:8) which is below the locally recommended standards of 1:5. 48% of the total households did not have a latrine, while 13% of the existing latrines were filled up and not functional. 

Access to latrines in the schools within the camps has been a challenge, with low latrine coverage due the high school enrolment. 

Crude method of solid waste disposal within the refugee camps is another major challenge that poses a great risk to Public health. 

The outbreak of a Cholera epidemic in the Dadaab camps in November 2015 following the long rains has resulted to increased and critical WASH needs, requiring robust response to address them, especially the Sanitation and hygiene situations. 

By 25th May 2016, a total of 1,793 patients have been line-listed for Cholera treatment at the Hospitals in Dadaab. A total of 14 deaths have been reported from all the 5 Dadaab refugee camps.

NRC’s Presence and Activities in the Country

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) has been in operation in Dadaab since 2007 under the NRC Horn of Africa, Uganda, South Sudan and Yemen mission which currently covers 8 countries. 

NRC has been implementing different projects in all the 5 Dadaab camps under its 5 core competencies: Shelter; Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH); Education; Food Security; and Information Counselling and Legal Assistance (Voluntary Repatriation services). 

Following the scale up of the WASH programme in Hagadera and Kambioos camps from 2012, NRC is the lead agency responsible for the provision of WASH services in the two camps, reaching a total population of 124,666 persons (UNHCR data, April 2016). 

The WASH projects have been funded by the UNHCR, ECHO, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (NMFA), BPRM, SIDA and UNICEF.

Over the years, NRC has been working closely and in coordination with UNHCR and other humanitarian agencies in providing basic and life-saving services to the refugees and host community. 

Since the onset of the cholera outbreak on 18th November 2015, NRC has responded extensively to the crisis with the effort to contain the outbreak in Dadaab, specifically focusing on Hagadera and Kambioos camps, in close coordination and collaboration with UNHCR, UNICEF, Department for Refugees Affairs (DRA), IRC and other WASH actors, government line Ministries, and the affected populations.

Outside of Dadaab (Garissa County), NRC runs similar projects in the Kakuma (XX County) targeting refugees mainly from South Sudan and in Mandera (YYY County) targeting mainly internally displaced persons (IDPs). 

The Dadaab operation remains the biggest of NRC’s operations in Kenya.

NRC’s Intervention (related to the core competency to be evaluated)

NRC has been implementing a full package of water supply, sanitation (including solid waste management), and hygiene promotion activities in the two camps – Hagadera and Kambioos, while working as the implementing partner of UNHCR. 

The overall objective of the WASH programme is to ensure that people affected by displacement, including vulnerable persons have improved public health status and living conditions, by ensuring that supply of potable water to the refugees is increased and maintained, and that the refugees live in satisfactory conditions of sanitation and hygiene. 

These are the specific objectives agreed on by UNHCR and WASH actors in Dadaab.

The specific project to be evaluated
In 2016, NRC has planned to carry out an evaluation of the Dadaab WASH programme in order to assess the progress towards achieving the overall objective, which is in line with the NRC Kenya WASH strategy. 

NRC has been conducting baseline and technical assessments, and knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) surveys over the years, and has internal monitoring mechanisms such as the KAP surveys, Post Distribution Monitoring (PDM), weekly monitoring of field activities, and regular meetings, including technical review meetings. 

Therefore, the planned evaluation will build upon existing internal M&E information.

The table below summarizes NRC’s specific interventions with reference to the evaluation:

Activity	Period
Water supply expansion (pipe networks, tap stands, storage tanks, etc.)	April 2012 to June 2016
Water supply operation and maintenance (boreholes, pipe networks, etc.)	April 2012 to June 2016
Emergency water supply	April 2012 to June 2016
Water treatment and water quality monitoring	April 2012 to June 2016
Latrine construction	April 2012 to June 2016
Solid waste management	April 2012 to June 2016
Hygiene promotion	April 2012 to June 2016
Cholera preparedness and response	September 2015 to June 2016
Renewable energy and other innovations	March 2014 to June 2016
Partnerships with other humanitarian actors, commercial and government agencies	April 2012 to June 2016

2. Purpose of Evaluation and Intended Use

The planned WASH programme evaluation is part of the NRC’s strategic plan for improving programme quality and effectiveness.

The main purposes of the evaluation exercise are to:

• Has NRC been able to reach the right people through the WASH programme?
• Were the interventions relevant to the achievement of the overall WASH goal? 
• Was NRC able to address the basic and life-saving needs of the target group, in line with agreed strategies and as per the internationally recognized and recommended standards?
• If any, how has the WASH programme contributed to durable solutions for the refugees in Dadaab camps?
• How well were the interventions coordinated?
• Were there constraints, if any, encountered towards achieving better effectiveness within the programme and how well were they mitigated?
• What evidence is there (if any) that learning (M&E) from previous WASH projects were incorporated into the implementation strategies?

1. Determine and document the level of preparedness and the extent to which NRC responded to cholera outbreaks in Dadaab camps, including the most recent the ongoing cholera outbreak. 
2. How were NRC’s interventions coordinated with other actors? 
3. What key lessons learnt that could be utilized to help improve NRC’s preparedness and response towards similar crisis in the future?
4. Identify and document innovations, best practices and areas of learning opportunities.

• What are the positive aspects and how can we can build on these in the future?
• What are the negative aspects we should avoid or improve on?
• What could be the solutions to those problems?

• Design the evaluation methodology and relevant tools to be used.
• Develop the evaluation matrix
• Conduct a desk review of available documents e.g. project proposals, project reports, M&E matrices, logical frameworks, budgets, work plans, any relevant documentation, and the current WASH situation in the whole of Dadaab refugee camps.
• Carry out consultations with the WASH actors in Dadaab and key stakeholders (UN agencies, NGOs and the Government).
• Document specific innovations, best practices and lessons learnt during the years.
• Conduct training of enumerators.
• Conduct visits to the project sites.
• Compile draft report and submit to the evaluation committee for review
• Prepare final report (using the NRC’s evaluation reporting format to be provided by the start date) and submit to NRC.

• NRC
• Project beneficiaries – individuals/households/families i.e. persons of concern in Hagadera and Kambioos camps; ensure that related gender issues are considered with participation from women, men, girls, boys, youth, elderly persons and those with special needs, key informants, camp leaders, WASH committees, community workers e.g. hygiene promoters.
• UNHCR, UNICEF and Government line ministries.
• Other organizations operating in Dadaab

• Clearly indicate how data shall be collected and analyzed, and should be able to answer the key evaluation questions.
• Deepen the understanding of the quantitative results from the baseline and other surveys.
• Capture qualitative information not covered in the surveys.
• Investigate how the beneficiaries’ new knowledge and strengthened capacities gained through the project are being applied in practice.
• Highlights advocacy issues encountered during the project implementation and how it could be improved.
• Address innovation or added value to NRC and entire Dadaab refugee operation.

• The views expressed in the report shall be the independent and candid professional opinion of the evaluator. The evaluation will be guided by the following ethical considerations:
• Openness  –  of information given, to the highest possible degree to all involved parties
• Public access –  to the results when there are not special considerations against this
• Broad participation – the interested parties should be involved where relevant and possible
• Reliability and independence  – the evaluation should be conducted so that findings and conclusions are correct and trustworthy

1. Mohamed Bundu – Area Manager Dadaab, Kenya (Chairperson)
2. Neil turner – Country Director Kenya
3. Catherine Nyokabi – Grants Coordinator Kenya
4. Mohamed Biely – Regional M&E Manager
5. Under recruitment – Regional WASH Advisor
6. Richard Bauer – Global WASH Advisor
7. Lian Bradley – Global M&E Advisor

• To establish and approve the Terms of Reference of the evaluation;
• Select the external evaluator/consultant;
• Review and approve the proposed evaluation methodology/strategy and relevant tools to be developed by the evaluator;
• Monitor the evaluation process
• Review and comment on the draft evaluation report;
• Approve the final report
• Establish the dissemination and utilization strategy.

• Project proposals, including narrative, work plans, logical frameworks and budgets.
• KAP surveys reports and relevant assessments.
• Final reports for the WASH projects funded by the different donors.
• M&E matrices
• WASH Strategy for NRC Kenya.
• Security briefing and situational updates.

• Make available, counterpart staff for necessary support in the field
• Make prior contact with relevant stakeholders
• Provide transportation and accommodation needed during the evaluation. Meanwhile, the evaluator is expected to arrange for own meals and other necessary upkeeps for the period of the assignment. 

• An inception report (see separate guidelines)
• A presentation of findings and recommendations which are discussed and validated and key learnings documented.
• Draft Report
• Final Report

• Demonstrated 5 years’ experience in planning, formulation and implementation of WASH projects
• Previous experience conducting similar tasks in camps or conflict-affected contexts such as Dadaab
• Excellent report writing skills
• Excellent communication skills; experience facilitating trainings/workshops will be an advantage
• Knowledge of the international humanitarian standards such as Sphere and WHO, related to WASH sector.
• Previous experience working with international humanitarian organizations or UN agencies.
• Master or Bachelor’s Degree in WASH/Public Health or related fields.

• Interest letter; outlining methodology and tools for data collection, management and analysis to be used, and the approach briefing note.
• CV (as annex) or outline of relevant skills and experience possessed by the consultant who will be carrying out the tasks and any other personnel who will work on the project.
• Examples of relevant work, with contacts of at least three organizations, preferably in the last 5 years that have contracted the consultant/firm to carry out WASH Programme evaluation or WASH combined with other sectors e.g. Health/Nutrition, Education.
• Detailed financial proposal, including consultancy fee.
• Be able to complete the assignment within the proposed timeframe (no later than  29th July 2016)

• Proposal including, outline of evaluation framework and methods, including comments on the TOR, proposed timeframe and work plan (bids over 6 pages will be automatically excluded).
• Proposed evaluation budget
• CVs and evidence of past evaluations for each team member