ToR: Endline of Project “From Global Goals to Local Impact: Influencing private sector action on SDGs in India”

Terms of Reference

Endline of Project “From Global Goals to Local Impact: Influencing private sector action on SDGs in India”

Background (Organization):  

Oxfam India is a movement of people working to end discrimination and create a free and just society. We work to ensure that Adivasis, Dalits, Muslims, and Women & Girls have violence free lives with freedom to speak their mind, equal opportunities to realize their rights, and a discrimination free future. We research to find lasting solutions to end rising inequalities and exclusion of marginalized communities from getting decent jobs, quality free education and healthcare. We campaign with the public to demand policy changes from governments for creating a just and inclusive country as envisioned in the Indian Constitution. We mobilize support to save, protect and rebuild lives of the poorest of poor affected by crisis and humanitarian disasters. 

By putting the rights of marginalized at the heart of everything we do, we work to create a discrimination free India where everyone lives a life of dignity, free from injustice and inequality. Over the last year, we have changed the lives of over one million people in our six focus states—Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Assam. We are also part of the Oxfam global confederation with affiliates in 20 countries fighting together build a better world.   

Oxfam has been in India since 1951. It first came to India to respond to Bihar famine. In 2008, Oxfam India became an independent affiliate and an Indian NGO. Oxfam India is an autonomous Indian organization and has staff and board members from within India. Oxfam India is a member of the global confederation of 20 Oxfams across the world. Government of India has registered Oxfam India as a non-profit organization under Section 8 of the Indian Companies Act, 2013 and have a Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) license.

Background (Project):  

Oxfam India is implementing a four year project to contribute to Indian Civil Society’s ability to be independent agents of change in making the country’s growth inclusive and sustainable. The project aims to strengthen the leadership and abilities of Indian civil society to engage and influence private sector response and accountability on SDG (sustainable development goal) 5, 8, 10 & 16. It also aims to strengthen the CSO leadership by creating a unified understanding and approach towards private sector engagement. The project  lays emphasis on building relationship with practitioners having experience of working on new strategies and tools. It proposes to tap into the experience of European and Indian civil society in running campaigns and programs to hold private sector accountable.  The action will facilitate engagement and collective approaches between European and Indian CSOs on the role of private sector in global concerns such as gender equality, reducing inequalities and building peaceful inclusive societies.

The project focuses on the following result areas:

• Strengthened understanding and capacity of Indian civil society to engage and influence private sector response and accountability;
• Increased dialogues and exchanges between European and Indian civil society on successful practices, approaches and tools for engaging private sector on target SDGs;
• Strengthened collaboration and multi-stakeholder dialogue between CSOs, government, businesses, institutions, communities, academia and media on role of private sector in target SDGs;

The key strategies includes building the awareness and capacity of civil society in 6 States working with communities vulnerable to or negatively impacted by private sector action through on ground implementation of the SDG framework. The project  will target SDG goals on gender equality, decent work for all, inequality and building peaceful societies which have been largely ignored by most as not being a priority for private sector. The action will address gender issues by focusing on accountability and action of the private sector on gender equality in the workplace, supply chain and community engagement. It will also focus on addressing the issues of marginalised communities and the role of private sector in becoming more inclusive across functions. Using innovative digital learning and exchange methods will lay the foundation of a robust, scalable and sustainable model of continuous dialogue between civil society in Indian and Europe.

Purpose:

The purpose of this assignment for the consulting agency is to conduct a cost-effective and robust End line Survey to measure progress made so far for the project and to assess which strategies worked well and which didn’t work well. Scope of the work would include appropriate use of Sample Survey techniques, analysis and qualitative methods. The consulting agency will require understanding Project Concept, Logframe, Operation Strategy and implementation of the program by Oxfam India. The consulting agency will be responsible to document how the project has rolled out with significant measureable changes and milestones achieved over time.

Through this endline evaluation, we hope to:

• Understand the progress towards the impact of the project
• Assess strategies and their contribution to outcomes (planned and unplanned) and the strengths of the assumptions at various level of theory of change.
• Identify best practice and opportunities to strengthen the program
• Document the key milestones of the project with key learnings and challenges
• Foster learning across partners and program working areas

Specifically, the final review will:

• Provide an independent assessment of the project, including strengths and weaknesses. 
• Document key reflections and learnings
• Key learnings from diverse stakeholders ( ranging from students , Indian CSOs, Academicians, Europrean CSOs)a
• Key recommendations for future programming

The scope of the work would include designing the framework by using appropriate research techniques. The evaluator will require understanding on Project Concept and Project Design.

Methodology: The study is to be designed as a holistic assessment, comprising both the qualitative and quantitative components to capture the current level of understanding of CSOs on SDGs and role of private sector in delivering SDGs.

Target group: The following types of target group should be covered in the endline study.

• Representatives from civil society organisations at district /regional /state level
• Individuals from diverse sectors ( private sector , social sector , Academics etc)
• Representatives from civil society organisations at national level
• Representtaives from EU CSOs 

It is expected from the agency to prepare & finalize the tools with inputs & consultation with Oxfam India. 

Following would be the proposed activities expected to be carried out by the Consulting agency:

• Complete literature review, based on which the survey design will be finalised. The survey design, study tools and reporting format should be agreed on before the survey work.
• Coordinating with Oxfam India focal person(s) in preparation and planning of survey indicators, study tools/data collecting instruments, sampling strategy, plan for data analysis and implementation of the survey.
• Ensuring that high quality survey standards and harmonised, globally endorsed methodologies are applied to complete the survey. It is therefore important to share all relevant information in time, including information on the survey methodology, the sample size calculation, the listing exercise (including a list of people interviewed/approached), questionnaire design, the training report, the field data collection report, the preliminary analysis, the draft and final analysis, and reports and the database.
• Designing data entry template and ensuring simultaneous data entry.
• Preparing a data analysis plan and analysing the survey data.
• Analysis of the data from qualitative tools
• Preparation and submission of draft report in electronic version
• Prepare a summary document (maximum 8 pages) capturing background, Methodology, result of the study with recommendations.
• Maintain a gender lens in each aspect of the study.

The final report should include at a minimum the following elements:

• Executive Summary
• Acknowledgements
• List of Acronyms and abbreviations
• Table of Contents
• Background/ Brief Project description
• Purpose of the Survey
• Methodology (including sampling)
• Objectives of the Survey
• Summary of the survey methodology and data collection techniques
• Main Findings (overall & state wise)
• Key Observations
• Recommendations
• Conclusion 

Annexes to the report:

• Terms of Reference
• Timetable
• Survey instruments: questionnaire, interview guide etc. as appropriate
• Sampling Plan
• Any other relevant material.

Timeframe:  The agency will propose a timeline and adhere strictly to the survey schedule proposed. It is expected that the assignment would be completed within 35 days from the award of the contract. This would be a Consultancy Contract for above said duration with a consolidated payment as per a pre agreed payment schedule.

Proposals and Financials should be submitted separately (in two separate files) to Procurement, Oxfam India (procurement@oxfamindia.org). Deadline for submission is 9^th May 2021.

1. Profile of the organization (1 / (½) page): Brief overview of the organization including year of establishment, main areas of expertise, past client, organizations (credentials) including experiences with government and international organizations, financial particulars, geographic scope of work and contact information of key focal points.

2. Relevant  Experience  (Max ½ page per project): Summary of relevant experience in conducting evaluation at State/national level. Brief description of the project, nature of technical inputs provided by the Agency, resource allocation and results.

3. CVs of Team Members (attach separately): Curriculum Vitae of team members from the Agency/Consultants who will be a part of the Evaluation team. (Note: These exclusive members should be available for the entire assignment.). CV of Evaluator who will lead the process of advocacy evaluation also needs to attach herewith the proposal.

4. Technical Proposal (10 pages):

• Methodology and approaches to conduct the study as per listed deliverables.

• Time schedule with milestones / performance targets.

5. A separate Financial Proposal (containing details of personal fees, travel, other expected costs, etc. – 2 pages): Detailed budget the line item-wise costs under the broad cost heads of recruitment and training, remuneration for interviewers/supervisors, survey team travel, other travel (researchers & others), printing and stationery, communication, data analysis, research staff/professional cost 

Proposal Presentation: Shortlisted agencies/consultants would be invited to make a presentation on their proposed proposal. The proposal presentation would be held in Delhi at the Oxfam India office. No reimbursement of expenses would be provided for the same.

Skills and Competencies:

The assignment will be carried out by a consultant/agency with the following competencies:

• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in conducting high quality, credible evaluations in the development sector
• Understanding of sustainable development goals.
• Understanding of private sector and role in development.
• Demonstrated experience in documenting context analysis and conducting endlines with civil society organisations at the national & state level.
• Familiarity with policy advocacy work and political sensitivities
• Excellent writing and verbal communication skills in local language
• Experience in designing and implementing evaluations with particular emphasis on participatory & inclusive methods. This includes methods that engage stakeholders from evaluation design, through implementation, data analysis & development/testing of recommendations. Also should include methods that enable meaningful participation of women and other groups including people with disabilities and younger & older people.
• Knowledge of & experience in applying DAC evaluation criteria with sensitivity to evaluation task & the context for the evaluation (http://www.oecd.org/dac/evaluationofdevelopmentprogrammes/daccriteriaforevaluatingdevelopmentassistance.htm)
•  Program implementation and/or management experience in relevant thematic sector i.e. gender justice private sector engagement and SDG & in the context where the program is implemented (or demonstrated understanding of program approach & implementation context)
• Demonstrated capacity for effective communication & interpersonal relationship with a range of stakeholders
• Knowledge & use of evaluation ethics processes
• High level of understanding of Oxfam’s approach 

Evaluation Transparency & Ethics:

Oxfam India would follow the Oxfam International Evaluation Policy guideline. The guideline compasses an ethical standard, sharing of the evaluation publicly along with the management action taken report. The detailed ethics standard would be part of the contract which the agency/consultants have to commit to adhere as part of the assignment.

Budget: The tentative budget for this assignement is 11,00,000 INR.

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