Background

Mozambique is a country affected by frequent natural disasters; and since 1976 has suffered from at least 45 significant incidences of natural disasters such as floods, cyclones, droughts, and earthquakes.  In January 2008, while still recovering from the devastating floods of early 2007, Mozambique again experienced a major flood situation, as a consequence of high levels of rainfall in the country, compounded by persistent heavy rains from neighboring countries.  
 
While the human cost of these disasters has been very high, the impact on the economy is even more severe, as clearly illustrated by the 2000 floods, which reduced the GDP growth rate from over 10% to less than 2%, with direct and indirect losses estimated at US$488 million.   As much as 25% of Mozambique’s population faces a high mortality risk from natural hazards, and it ranks as the second most geographically exposed country in Africa, which this fact is reflected in the country’s poverty reduction strategy (PARPA II) and in the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) 2007-2009. These priorities are also highlighted by the commitment of the Government of Mozambique as a signatory to the Hyogo Framework, and the ten years National Master Plan for Disaster Risk Reduction.  
 
"Strengthening Local Risk Management and Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction”
 
This project was developed with a view to enhancing disaster preparedness, mitigation, risk and vulnerability reduction. The overall goal is to build on the 10 year plan to strengthen national capacities and institutional frameworks and systems at all level to reduce the risk of disasters and mitigate their impact on the vulnerable populations of the country. Given the flood situation at the time of initiation of the project, it also aimed to strengthen the early recovery process and to provide technical assistance to develop an appropriate and timely recovery plan.
 
Main Outputs:
 
  • DRR and vulnerability reduction mainstreamed in national development plans and programmes.
  • Government and Civil Society capacities for disaster risk reduction strengthened at central, provincial and local levels.
  • National Information System set up for disaster risk reduction  
The project was initially designed for 2 years (2008- 2009), andwas subsequently extended until December 2011.  It should also be noted that from 2008 to the end of 2010 the project was carried out through the Direct Implementation Modality (DIM). Currently, the project is being implemented under the National Implementation Modality (NIM), by the National Institute for Disaster Management (INGC). The CPR unit provides administrative support and the advisory services is provided by the Chief Technical Advisor:  Disaster Risk Reduction.

Duties and Responsibilities

Purpose of the Evaluation:
 
The findings and recommendations of this evaluation will inform future Disaster Risk Reduction programme interventions and policy for UNDP Mozambique relating to both soft (policy and advocacy) and technical programming (implementation of policy through institutional support) at all levels. In this context, the evaluation will assess the impact of UNDP Mozambique’s contribution to strengthening capacity for disaster risk reduction at all levels in Mozambique and document the factors that contributed to the achievement (or not) of related results with specific reference to the value added of UNDP Mozambique.
 
The evaluation results and recommendations will be used by UNDP Mozambique as a basis for DRR programming guidelines for its staff at various levels – country, regional and global – and inform UNDP Mozambique policy regarding disaster risk reduction and emergency preparedness particularly with a view to the continued implementation of cooperation in this area under the new UNDAF 2012-2014.
  
The 2008-2011 project was reviewed in August 2010 by the Bureau of Crisis Prevention and Recovery Regional Support Centre, Johannesburg. That review will complement the evaluation of the project proposed here.  
 
Scope of the Evaluation:
 
In accordance with UNDP programme procedures, the Government of Mozambique and UNDP have agreed to undertake an evaluation of the DRR project 2008-11 to assess the project’s implementation in Mozambique, in terms of its efficiency, effectiveness, appropriateness, relevance, impact and sustainability, translated into: 
  • Assess the appropriateness of the design and choice of UNDP areas of response, on the basis of its mandate and comparative advantage;
  • Assess progress towards achieving the stated programme outcomes and outputs, taking into account cross cutting-issues such as capacity development, institutional strengthening, gender;
  • Assess the impact of activities carried out under each of the programme components, especially with regards to developing capacities at central and decentralised level;
  • Assess the extent to which the programme components have contributed to the achievement of the UNDAF objectives and overall support to the operations of the UN system in Mozambique;
  • Assess the appropriateness of implementation arrangements, including but not limited to, organizational structure, managerial support and coordination mechanism used by UNDP to support the project/programme;
  • Document challenges encountered and enumerate what needs to be done, how and by who, in order to make the DRR project more responsive and better aligned to national development priorities while at the same time making greater contribution to the UNDAF and ensuring sustainability of the programme;
  • Consider future potential synergies other than those being explored currently; for example, with the Climate Change Adaptation portfolio and the UNDP Project on Decentralisation;
  • Identify operational issues and bottlenecks in the implementation of the programme, implementation modalities and frameworks, and advise on any required change in terms of outputs, implementing partners, and allocation of resources and make recommendations.
Methodology:
 
It is proposed that a combination of methodological approaches be used to ensure that the most appropriate methods will be applied throughout the exercise. These approaches include, but are not limited to the following: 
  • Desk review of all the relevant documents including the UNDAF, CPD, CPAP, AWP’s, National Development Plan (PARPA), the 10 year master plan for Disaster Risk Reduction, the various Project Documents, field visits/monitoring reports, programme/project management meeting reports, reports of Steering Committee Meetings and other project and programme review meetings.
  • Interviews with key informants and counterparts
  • Analyses and synthesis of all relevant data and information and subsequent compilation of succinct report addressing the full range of scope of work outlined above  
The evaluation team will be expected to clearly document and explain its justification for the choice of methodological approach(es) to be used in this process, including planned surveys and questionnaires. The team shall visit the provinces and all project sites at district level as needed, interviewing project stakeholders and visiting project activities.  
 
The methodology and the work schedule prepared by the team shall be discussed and agreed with the Country Office Senior Management and the National counterpart at the beginning of the mission before proceeding with the collection of data and interviews with the Project stakeholders.

Competencies

The consultants will be expected to prepare and present the following set of deliverables within a total of 25 working days.  
International consultant deliverables will be supported by 21 working days input from the national consultant:
 
1.     Inception report. It should explain the timeframe, methodologies, and planned interviewees, and it has to be agreed and approved by UNDP and government. (5 days-home based)  
 
2.     Draft DRR Project evaluation report. The report shall analyse the areas presented in the present ToRs, evaluate and provide recommendations where necessary in order to improve the project’s performance and efficiency. The two copies of the draft reports (English and Portuguese versions) shall be submitted ten days before a presentation with UNDP, the Government Coordinating Authority and other stakeholders who have been part of the evaluation process. (15 days in country).
 
3.      Final project evaluation report, which should include (5 days home based): 
  • An assessment of the progress in achieving the project outcomes and outputs and their contributions to and associated impact on UNDAF outputs and outcomes and, importantly, national development and DRR priorities;  
  • Documentation of best practices and challenges encountered in the implementation of the DRR project, including an assessment of the appropriateness of the project’s implementation arrangements;
  • An assessment of present and emerging national development and DRR priorities and how the project can be better positioned to respond to these priorities.   
The report must be produced in line with UNDP evaluation report format and quality control checklist for its content, with an executive summary describing key findings and recommendations. The assessment is composed of the following:
  • A report containing (Hard copy, a soft copy in MS Word and Acrobat reader, Times New Roman, Size 12, Single Spacing).
  • Executive summary 
  • Introduction, description of the evaluation methodology 
  • An analysis of key interactions (the outcome, substantive influences, UNDP’s contribution and how UNDP works with other relevant actors) and associations between variables measuring the outcome.
  • Key lessons learnt, highlighting key factors that might hamper the impact of CO programmes and projects and suggesting possible recommendations. 
  • Assumptions made during the evaluation and study limitations.
  • Conclusions and recommendations
  • Annexes: ToRs, field visits, people interviewed, documents reviewed, etc

Required Skills and Experience

The evaluation team will be composed of a national and international consultant.  
 
 
International Consultant 
  • Relevant advanced university degree or first level degree combined with 10 years of progressive experience in the area of Disaster Risk Reduction.
  • Minimum 7 years of progressively responsible positions.
  • Extensive experience in implementation of donor funded projects.
  • Experience in evaluation of projects (experience with evaluation of DRR, especially UNDP led DRR projects would be a distinct advantage).
  • Adequate experience in working in multi-cultural environments, with senior Government officials as well as civil society organizations.
  • Good command of written and spoken English, Portuguese a distinct advantage.
National Consultant 
  • Relevant advanced university degree or first level degree combined with at least 5 years of progressive experience in the area of Disaster Risk Reduction.
  • Minimum 5 years of progressively responsible positions.
  • Extensive experience in implementation of donor funded projects.
  • Experience in project evaluations (Experience with evaluation of DRR projects would be an advantage).
  • Adequate experience in working in multi-cultural environments, with senior Government officials as well as civil society organizations.
  • Fluent Portuguese, good command of written and spoken English.

The international consultant will lead the evaluation team, and the national consultant will provide necessary administrative support. The evaluation team must be independent from both the policy making process and the delivery and management of assistance.