Company Profile

Oxfam is a global movement of people working together to end the injustice of poverty.

One person in three in the world lives in poverty. Oxfam is determined to change that world by mobilizing the power of people against poverty. Around the world, Oxfam works to find practical, innovative ways for people to lift themselves out of poverty and thrive. We save lives and help rebuild livelihoods when crisis strikes. And we campaign so that the voices of the poor influence the local and global decisions that affect them. In all we do, Oxfam works with partner organizations and alongside vulnerable women and men to end the injustices that cause poverty.

Job Description

Terms of Reference for Feminist Mid-term Evaluation of Power to Choose Project (2021-2028)

Background
Oxfam is a rights-based global development organization with more than 82 years of experience in more than 80 countries worldwide. Oxfam’s mission is to end the injustice of poverty and inequality through systemic change and the advancement of political, economic, and social rights. Oxfam has been working in Ghana since 1986, managing flagship programmes in economic and social justice, women’s right and gender justice and social inclusion, and accountable governance. Oxfam’s experience in Ghana and strong partnerships with government institutions, Ghanaian civil society organizations and communities supports the delivery of active and innovative programmes and advocacy work seeking to improve the well-being of Ghanaians and strengthen accountability.      

Building on Oxfam’s expertise in using a rights-based approach as well as working on shifting power relations and social norms, Oxfam in Ghana with funding from Global Affairs Canada through Oxfam Quebec launched a seven-year project, namely Power to Choose to address acute gaps in sexual and reproductive health and rights for adolescent girls and young women.                                           The Power to Choose project is being implemented by Oxfam in Ghana, in partnership with Women in Law and Development in Africa, (WiLDAF Ghana), Norsaac, SEND Ghana, Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG), Participatory Action for Rural Development Alternatives (PARDA), Ghana Health Service, Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Ghana (SOGOG). The ultimate objective of this project is to enhance the enjoyment of health-related human rights for young women and adolescent girls living in vulnerable and marginalized conditions. Launched in April 2021 and scheduled to run till early 2028, the project aims to significantly improve the lives of these young women and adolescent girls through comprehensive but targeted interventions.

The project’s ultimate outcome is increased enjoyment of health-related human rights by young women (YW) and adolescent girls (AG) who live in vulnerable conditions and who experience marginalization in Ghana. However, below are the intermediate and immediate outcome statements.

The project is in its fourth year, and as part of our organisational commitment to mutual accountability and joint learning a Mid-Term Review (MTR) to assess its effectiveness, demonstrated results of (or progress towards) the outcomes set out in the project Theory of Change and results framework and identify learning for project improvement. The ultimate objective of the MTR is to learn from and to improve implementation for the remaining period of the project. 

Oxfam has been working to improve how it monitors, evaluates, accounts, and learns from its programme work using human rights and feminist monitoring and evaluation methodologies.  More recently Oxfam has begun to work on using feminist monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning methodological approaches in assessing our work.  As part of this ongoing development process, Oxfam is looking for an evaluation team to conduct feminist mid-term evaluation of the Power to Choose project in Ghana.

Project’s Geography and targeted populations
The project is being implemented in 37 communities in eight (8) administrative districts across three (3) regions/zones of Ghana.

Specifically, the targeted population includes:

• Adolescent girls (10-19 years) and young women(20years-24years), including those who are living with a disability, unmarried, indigenous, or experiencing marginalization in other forms.
• Adolescent boys and young men
• Parents or guardians of adolescents and youth
• Traditional and religious leaders
• Government authorities
• Women’s and youth’s organizations and movements
• Civil society organizations (CSOs)

Specific Objectives of the Mid-Term Evaluation 
The main objective of the feminist midterm evaluation is to systematically assess to understand WHAT change(s) the project generated in the first three (3) years of implementation and HOW these changes happened, including learnings on WHAT approaches worked well and/or need improvement for the remaining period of the project. This mid-term evaluation has more of utilization and learning focus.

Specific objectives include:

• Assess effectiveness and efficiency of overall project cycle management in terms of design, planning, implementation and monitoring to achieve agreed results. This includes division of roles and value-added between Oxfam in Ghana office and national partners. It also includes adaptiveness to changing needs and contexts, effectiveness of and engagement with duty bearers and other actors, effectiveness and relevance of partnership and local leadership approach under this project.
• Assess the relevance and effectiveness of the project strategies and approaches in building the agency of the young people vis a vis the current context.
• Assess the quality and relevance of project and risk management systems including accountability and feedback mechanisms for safeguarding and other forms of unethical behaviour.
• Assess the quality, relevance and application of the project’s results management and MEL-systems, including assessment of the overall Theory of change (ToC) and how the partners including Oxfam systematically learn and adapt from its ongoing programming.
• Assess delivery and documentation of results against stated objectives and outcomes. The extent to which Oxfam and partners have delivered (progress towards) results under the project. The assessment of results delivery includes an assessment of quality assurance systems and mechanisms.
• Assess progress towards meaningful inclusion of adolescents and young people, including focus on rights, empowerment, voice, meaningful participation, and representation.

Key Evaluation Questions:
Broadly, the mid-term evaluation seeks to explore these 3 mains questions.

• To what extent is the project generating change in terms of the target young people and adolescents experiencing positive changes (making choices over their own bodies, agency to express their SRHR needs and seek more care or assistance, increased knowledge on SRHR among young people and adolescents, positive changes in male attitudes and behaviours towards SRHR as well as the capacity of the project and young people shaping relevant policy and practice changes ? 
• To what extent is the project doing the right things in terms of design, adaptive management, co-creation, collaboration, coordination and partnership?
• To what extent is the project doing things right in terms of processes (whether implementation has been done well), application of feminist and youth-inclusive approaches?

his mid-term evaluation will as well specifically explore questions and analysis of the following prioritized project themes. These questions are subject to amendment whilst partner organisations and stakeholders participate in defining the evaluation scope at a planned Feminist Mid-Term Evaluation Workshop.

Scope of the mid-term evaluation
The project is multi-country and implemented by national partners in 7 other countries in Africa, Middle East and Latin America. In Ghana, majority of our interventions are carried out in conjunction with Ghanaian civil society, Ghana Health Service, Ghana Education Service, and traditional and religious leaders. The project is multi-disciplinary with several major functional dimensions:

1. Policy influencing at national levels, targeting governments, institutions and the local authorities.
2. Strengthening health systems for youth and gender-friendly health services and information
3. Research and analysis.
4. ‘Popular mobilization’ activities to engage young people and the public.
5. Young people's agency on sexual and reproductive health and rights
6. Work with the media in support of all these dimensions.

The focus of the assignment is a mid-term evaluation of the Power to Choose project, (2021-2027) which has been implemented since 2021. The scope of the evaluation will include two (2) of the three (3) major project focus areas (Young people’s Agency Building, Service delivery at health facilities, and Policy influencing through youth groups) as well as the project design cycle. The terminology used in the mid-term evaluation will be in accordance with the OECD Glossary of Key Terms in Evaluation and Feminist MEAL. The focus will be on four (4) Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) criteria (relevance, coherence, effectiveness, potentials for sustainability).

Prioritized Themes for the evaluation
The evaluation will focus on answering learning questions to assess how the targeted young people and adolescents are experiencing positive changes regarded the following project themes:

• Bodily autonomy
• Agency of YW & AG around SRHR Informed decisions in relation to SRHR
• Capacity to make informed life decisions on SRHR
• Influencing policies and practice Change
• Enabling environment (attitudes around SRHR)

Evaluation Approach and Methodology:
The mid-term evaluation will take a participatory approach to deliver the expected objectives to ensure the involvement of key stakeholders in all phases of the evaluation including preparation, field visits, report preparation and dissemination.  The facilitator will work in close consultation with the Mid-term Evaluation Reference Group (RG) in the development of the study design with full consideration of limitations and feasibility. The RG, made of selected project team members (including implementing partners), key stakeholders and target beneficiaries will provide the needed support, coordination and key decision-making for the evaluation duration.

The mid-term evaluation will use the feminist Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) approach to ensure all processes adhere to the feminist principles, including Nothing about us without us and Leaving No-One Behind, and the application of Human Rights-Based Approach (HRBA), focusing on vulnerable people’s and marginalized groups’ needs, rights, dignity and voice. 

a) Data Collection
The mid-term evaluation will adopt a mixed method comprising of both quantitative and qualitative data collection approaches and guided by Oxfam’s feminist MEAL approach  (Guidance note on feminist MEAL), including Do No Harm principle.

The conduct of the evaluation shall strictly comply with the following ethical practices in research and evaluation: 

• Power to Choose consent forms (EN)
• Oxfam Child Safeguarding Policy (18 and under)
• Oxfam Youth Safeguarding Policy (15 to 24 years old)
• Oxfam Digital Safeguarding Policy
• Oxfam Ethical Content Guidelines
• Code of Conduct for non-Oxfam staff 

Data Analysis
Data analysis will be guided by the following considerations.

• Intersectional analysis: Data should not only be disaggregated and analyzed by gender and age groups but must also consider other social identities according to the context in the project locations. Thus, consideration of geographic locations, relationship status, and disability should be included in the analysis.
• Sense -making: The evaluation will include data sense-making session(s) or participatory analysis session(s) with relevant stakeholders including women and youth, to inform the evaluation’s report.

Key Deliverables:
Key deliverables of the assignment include:

• An Inception Report in English; not exceeding 10 pages plus annexes, based on the desk study and initial interviews, which will serve as a presentation of the main issues to be addressed during the data collection/field work, as well as detailing and fine-tuning the methodology and work plan. **The inception report must be agreed upon before any data collection begins.
• Draft Report in English:  The report will provide draft findings responding to the key questions identified in these terms of reference and including draft recommendations for corrective measures that can be applied in the remaining period of the project. Oxfam will provide consolidated feedback on the preliminary report.
• An updated Performance Measurement Framework (PMF): In collaboration with Power to Choose project team, produce an updated version of the PMF including progress on outcome indicator targets as compared to the project baseline qualitative and quantitative indicators.Selected indicators will be attached to the contract.
• Final Report in English: The report will detail the methodology applied, analysis of findings and actionable recommendations following the template agreed for the preliminary report. The final report should not exceed 30 pages (excluding annexes), include a brief executive summary, and be accompanied by a maximum 10 slides with the summary (PowerPoint presentation).

Duration and Schedule:
The overall evaluation is expected to be completed within 45 consultancy days, spanning from 31^st October 2024 to 20^th February 2025. Kindly develop your work plan into weekly deliverables.

 Timelines

Evaluation Reference Group
An evaluation reference group, composing of representatives of Oxfam Power to Choose Project Team, Partner representatives, Ghana Health Service, adolescents, and young people on the project, will provide overall quality assurance of the evaluation process in accordance with feminist MEAL principles and OECD evaluation criteria. The evaluation reference group will primarily be responsible for validating the inception, preliminary and final Mid-term Evaluation reports and will ultimately be held accountable for the assignment.

Audience:
The audience of the mid-term evaluation products shall include the project team, primary change agents (adolescent boys and Girls), Oxfam Quebec, Ghana Health Services, Oxfam in Ghana and power to choose project partners.

Budget
The consultant shall budget for the following in their financial proposal:

• Professional consultancy Fees.
• Logistical expenses during field work (such as local transport, domestic flights, car rentals, hotel accommodation etc.).
• The budget should be based on person-days, divided among the consultants. The exact number of days may be decreased and/or re-distributed among team members and will be decided upon during the inception phase and subject to the finalized methodology developed in the inception report.
• Note that payment will be made based on the agreed fees and associated costs in the bid budget (not based on actual expenses incurred by the consultant). Consultants should therefore identify and submit comprehensive budget covering all areas.

Required Skills or Experience

Required Profile of the Consultancy Team: 
The consultant (s) should collectively have the following qualifications, skills and experience.

• Minimum of a master’s degree preferably in public health, Health Policy, Planning and Management, Population, Family and Adolescent Reproductive Health, Social and Behavioural Sciences, SRH, or related field.
• The candidate(s) must have minimum of 5-10 years of experience working in or doing research, evaluations and reviews of advocacy programs and projects targeting young people and Adolescents, and youth friendly programming.
• The candidate(s) must demonstrate experience and competencies in using qualitative research methodology in evaluations.
• Ability to interact with a cross-section of people, from those at the grassroots to senior officials in government and multilateral agencies.
• Fluency in English and knowledge of Ghanaian languages (Twi, Dagbani, Mamprusi) is a plus.
• Exceptional knowledge of Ghana’s health policies, particularly as they relate to Sexual and Reproductive Health, and adolescent health issues.
• Must be willing to collaborate with the Oxfam team and Partners in delivering the work and in adopting feminist approaches for the consultancy. 
• Must adhere to Oxfam’s Code of Conduct.

Selection Criteria:
Selection will be based on:

• Clear, credible, and structured proposed methodology
• Excellent track record in conducting evaluations and/or reviews of health-related advocacy programs
• Experience of advocacy/policy influencing work monitoring and evaluation
• Excellent interpersonal skills and adaptability
• Time available during the critical period of October,2024 to February 2025
• Demonstrable experience and competencies in using qualitative research methods in evaluations.
• Demonstrable willingness to collaborate with the project team and partners in delivering the assignment. 
• Demonstrable value for money and realistic yet affordable budget.
• Please note that applications would be reviewed on roll out bases.