Consultant to undertake program evaluation of Strengthening Preparedness and Resilience through Inclusive Community Governance in the Maldives

About the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center:

Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) is an autonomous international organization with a vision to reduce disaster and climate risk impacts on communities and countries in Asia and the Pacific by working with governments, development partners, international organizations, NGOs, civil society, private sector, media, and other key stakeholders.

Established in 1986 as a technical capacity-building center, ADPC has grown and diversified its expertise across social and physical sciences to support sustainable solutions for risk reduction across a broad range of specialist areas, with over 100 staff from 19 different nationalities and a wide range of professional expertise with experiences from all levels of engagement typically required for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Resilience (CR) in an effective manner. ADPC is a competent regional resource center with seven thematic departments: Preparedness for Response and Recovery, Risk Governance, Climate Resilience, Urban Resilience, Health Risk Management, Geospatial Information, and ADPC Academy. These are supported by Finance, Human Resources and Administration, and Strategic Planning departments.

ADPC works on three cross-cutting themes: Gender and Diversity, Poverty and Livelihoods, and Regional and Transboundary Cooperation through permanent working committees. ADPC recognizes the importance of examining the linkages between disaster risk management, poverty reduction, gender equality, sustainability, rights-based approaches, climate change, and regional cooperation. ADPC, through its programs, supports the implementation of national, regional, and global frameworks, including Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 (SFDRR), the Paris Agreement for Climate Change, the New Urban Agenda, the recommendations and priorities of World Humanitarian Summit (WHS), etc. For details, please refer to the ADPC website at http://www.adpc.net/.

ADPC Strategy 2020 guides the organization in providing comprehensive risk reduction support to countries and communities in Asia and the Pacific. ADPC recognizes the importance of examining the linkages between disaster risk management, poverty reduction, gender equality, sustainability, rights-based approaches, climate change, and regional cooperation. For details, please refer to the ADPC website at http://www.adpc.net/

Department Introduction

The Preparedness for Response and Recovery (PRR) Department of ADPC focuses on enhancing the preparedness and response management capacities of governments, response organizations, volunteers, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, communities, and other traditional and non-traditional actors of the Disaster Risk Management Ecosystem. It also strives to strengthen the capacity of institutions and at-risk communities for faster and more efficient disaster recovery. The department works with the above-stated actors to ensure that the regional, national, sub-national, and local disaster preparedness, response, and recovery frameworks and implementation plans are in place well before disaster strikes.

ADPC is implementing the Strengthening Preparedness and Resilience through Inclusive Community Governance in the Maldives (SPRING) program in collaboration with Maldivian Red Crescent (MRC) and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Maldives other related service providers, and at-risk communities of selected islands to increase the overall resilience and reliance of all segments of communities in the Maldives to disasters. The project supports the ‘all of society approach’ to risk reduction, mobilizing the most vulnerable and marginalized groups into the risk reduction process and integrating disaster preparedness and mitigation into overall community development processes. While mobilizing the most vulnerable groups for risk reduction, the project will also support the decentralization agendas of the Government of Maldives and support Inclusive Community Governance through meaningful engagement for playing a lead role by the at-risk communities to identify and prioritize and implement risk reduction measures as part of community development.

Purpose of the Assignment:

The proposed evaluation assesses how the program, its processes, outputs, and outcomes have contributed to enhancing the capacity to prepare for and mitigate disaster impacts in the targeted communities of the Maldives through inclusive community governance and mobilizing key stakeholders in improving the awareness of and access to information, including early warnings. The evaluation will focus on aspects related to different sub-sectors covered by the program, namely:

• Sub-sector 1: Building Community Awareness/Mobilization
• Sub-sector 2: Capacity Building and Training (readiness and preparedness)
• Sub-sector 3: Policy and Planning
• Sub-sector 4: Global Advocacy and Engagement

The learnings from the evaluation will be used to shape similar programs in countries where ADPC is currently working and where there are synergies in scaling up activities.

The evaluation will investigate the effectiveness, efficiency, relevance, impacts, and sustainability of interventions identified in the program framework guided by the following key questions and areas of investigation:

1. How effective were the program activities in fostering community awareness and mobilization to mitigate disaster impacts in targeted Maldivian communities through inclusive community governance?
2. To what extent were the capacities of organizations and individuals engaged in project activities enhanced?
3. How effective were program interventions in promoting private sector resilience in the Maldives?
4. How effective were the program’s global advocacy and engagement interventions in enhancing awareness, support, and collaboration for advancing DRR through jointly organized events and regional knowledge sharing?
5. Assess the relevance of the program design, approach, and outcomes/outputs to enhancing the capacity to prepare for and mitigate disaster impacts in the targeted communities of the Maldives.
6. Assess the significant differences in the capacities (i.e. impact) to prepare for and mitigate disaster impacts in the targeted communities of the Maldives facilitated through the program interventions. To what extent was the actual application of training and knowledge gained through program interventions used in responding to real emergencies (if any)?
7. Assess the extent to which the interventions are likely to continue beyond the project period (i.e. sustainability).
8. What is the compelling evidence to suggest that the program has significantly contributed to reducing disaster impacts on at-risk communities in Maldives?

Expected Outputs:

1. Finalized methodology with key learning questions/questionnaires for data collection in consultation with the project team.
2. Work plan with report outline/format for the assignment.
3. Draft evaluation report.
4. Validation presentation (virtual or in person) to program partners, including NDMO, MRCS, ADPC and USAID BHA representatives.
5. Final evaluation report with annexes of key documentation such as transcripts.
6. PowerPoint presentation summarizing findings.

Responsibilities and Tasks:

The consultant is expected to evaluate the program using secondary data and primary data collection from Maldives. Therefore, it is proposed to use the following methods to carry out the evaluation and provide the analysis:

1. Desk study to review all project-related documents, including project proposal, program framework, tracker, progress reports, knowledge products, meeting minutes, etc.;
2. In-depth interviews and focus group discussions with key stakeholders and beneficiaries using a structured questionnaire;
3. Interviews with key informants (KIs to be identified in consultation with the program team and partner agencies) and
4. Observations through field visits to project sites as possible and necessary.

Following is a list of specific tasks expected from the consultant:

• Design and finalize the evaluation methodology and work plan in consultation with the ADPC program team;
• Conduct desk research reviewing the program documents;
• Collect primary data through interviews and discussions;
• Conduct field visits/observations as possible and necessary based on the work plan and the agreed methodology;
• Conduct evaluation assessment and summarize findings;
• Draft evaluation report;
• Make a presentation to validate the key findings and incorporate comments from project partners and beneficiaries.
• Finalize the evaluation report and prepare a PowerPoint presentation on the findings.

Working Principles:

In performing the duties and responsibilities indicated above, the Consultant will be supervised by the Technical Lead – Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation, and the Program Lead under the overall guidance of the Director of Preparedness for Response and Recovery (PRR) Department of ADPC.

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications and Specifications

• At least a master’s degree in public policy, international development, disaster management, emergency management, or any other relevant university degree;
• At least ten years of experience in working with international organizations and donors;
• Extensive expertise, knowledge, and experience in the field of disaster management, emergency response, and institutional development;
• Knowledge and understanding of institutional setup for emergency response mechanisms in the South Asian Region;
• Experiences in carrying out evaluations for similar programs;
• Understanding of the culture and working modalities in the South Asian Region;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and
• Previous experience with USAID’s BHA /OFDA-funded project evaluation is an added advantage.

Duty Station:

Home-based with visit(s) to the Maldives

Contract Duration:

15 June 2024 – 31 August 2024

Itinerary:

The program team shall finalize the itinerary based on the deliverables and work plan.

Submission Requirements:

Interested applicants may submit their applications with the following documents:

1. Updated CV/resume of applicant;
2. Description of prior experience with similar assignments;
3. Brief description of the approach and methodology for the said assignment;
4. Draft work plan; and
5. Proposed budget (with details such as professional fee, travel, accommodation, per diem, etc.).