Job Description
Individual Consultant to conduct the assessment on building resilience for sustained provision and uptake of SRH and GBV services in selected climate change and disaster prone counties in Kenya
Background and Context
Kenya, situated in East Africa, grapples with a complex interplay of challenges: rapid population growth, climate vulnerability, and persistent gender inequalities. The nation is characterized by arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs), which are particularly susceptible to climate change impacts. These areas experience recurrent droughts, floods, and resource-based conflicts, all of which disproportionately affect women and girls.
Climate change exacerbates existing vulnerabilities in the provision and uptake of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and gender-based violence (GBV) services. Disruptions to healthcare infrastructure, displacement of populations, and heightened protection risks undermine the well-being of women and girls. Maternal mortality remains high, and access to essential SRH services is limited, particularly in climate-affected regions.
Against this backdrop, the project "Building Resilience for Sustained Provision and Uptake of SRH and GBV Services in Selected Climate Change and Disaster-Prone Counties in Kenya" was launched. Implemented by UNFPA Kenya, the project aims to address the critical nexus of climate change, SRH, and GBV. It focuses on four counties: Garissa, Tana River, Turkana, and Mandera, which are among the most vulnerable to climate-related disasters.
The project recognizes that building resilience requires a multi-faceted approach. It seeks to strengthen the capacity of health systems to provide quality integrated SRH and GBV information and services, even in the face of climate shocks. This includes training healthcare workers, procuring live-saving commodities and other essential supplies, and establishing mobile clinics to reach underserved populations.
Furthermore, the project emphasizes the importance of evidence generation and advocacy. By conducting vulnerability assessments and disseminating findings, it aims to inform policy and programmatic decisions and ensure that SRH and GBV considerations are integrated into climate action and disaster risk reduction strategies.
Community engagement is another cornerstone of the project. It seeks to empower women and youth-led organizations, train community resource persons, and raise awareness about SRH and GBV risks and services. By fostering community ownership and participation, the project aims to create sustainable solutions that extend beyond the project's timeframe.
The project aligns with national and international development priorities, including Kenya's Vision 2030, the ICPD25 Nairobi Summit commitments, and the Sustainable Development Goals. It also contributes to UNFPA's mandate and strategic plan, which emphasize the importance of addressing climate change, promoting gender equality, and ensuring universal access to SRH and GBV services.
The Position:
The Individual consultant will conduct an assessment to provide an independent assessment of the project's performance and results. It will generate evidence-based findings and recommendations to inform UNFPA and stakeholders on the project's achievements, challenges, and lessons learned. The assessment will also contribute to accountability and transparency, ensuring that the project's resources are used effectively to address the critical needs of vulnerable populations in Kenya.
The Individual Consultant will work under direct supervision of the Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist, or her representative, in close consultation with the Humanitarian Team and the Project Consultant based in Kakuma.
The Humanitarian Specialist will be responsible for providing all the requisite documents for the assessment, including the stakeholder map. The Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist shall be responsible for coordination of the technical aspects of the assessment, pertaining to the review of the deliverables.
How you can make a difference:
UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled. UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.
In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.
UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.
Job Purpose:
To conduct the assessment on building resilience for sustained provision and uptake of SRH and GBV services in selected climate change and disaster prone counties in Kenya
The objectives of the assessment are to:
- Assess the effectiveness of project strategies and interventions in building the resilience of health and protection systems and community capacities.
- Examine the efficiency of project implementation and resource utilization, including procurement, distribution of supplies, and training activities.
- Determine the relevance of the project to the needs of the target beneficiaries, including women, girls, adolescents, and refugees in the selected counties.
- Analyze the sustainability of project outcomes and the potential for long-term impact, including the integration of SRH and GBV into county plans and community structures.
- Identify lessons learned and promising practices for future UNFPA interventions in similar contexts, focusing on climate change adaptation, SRHR, and GBV.
The assessment will encompass the project's entire implementation period, spanning from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2024. It will maintain a specific geographical focus on the four target counties: Garissa, Tana River, Turkana, and Mandera. Additionally, the assessment will extend its examination to encompass the refugee camps situated within these counties, namely Dadaab and Kakuma.
Assessment Criteria and preliminary questions
Relevance:
- To what extent are the project's objectives and activities aligned with the actual needs and priorities of the target beneficiaries, including women, girls, and at-risk populations in the selected counties?
- Are the project's activities and outputs consistent with UNFPA's mandate, Kenya's development priorities, and the broader context of climate change and gender-based violence?
- To what extent did the project contribute to the reduction of climate change-induced sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and gender-based violence (GBV) risks?
Effectiveness:
- To what extent were the project's objectives achieved, or are expected to be achieved, and what were the key contributing factors and challenges?
- How effective were the project's strategies and interventions in strengthening the resilience of health systems and community capacities to provide and uptake SRHR and GBV services?
- What changes or improvements have occurred in the provision and uptake of integrated SRHR and GBV services in the target counties as a result of the project?
Efficiency:
- Were the project's resources (financial, human, technical, etc.) used in the most efficient way to achieve the intended outcomes?
- Were there any delays or bottlenecks in the implementation process, and how were they addressed?
- How well did the project coordinate and collaborate with other relevant stakeholders and partners?
Sustainability:
- Are the project's benefits and results likely to continue after the project ends?
- What mechanisms or strategies are in place to ensure the long-term sustainability of project outcomes?
- How well has the project integrated SRHR and GBV considerations into county plans and community structures to ensure ongoing support and ownership?
Coherence:
- How well did the project fit with other UNFPA interventions and the broader development context in Kenya?
- Were there any synergies or complementarities with other initiatives or programs, and how were they leveraged?
- Were there any contradictions or inconsistencies between the project and other interventions, and how were they managed?
Coverage:
- To what extent did the project reach its intended target population, including vulnerable and marginalized groups?
- Were there any gaps or exclusions in the project's reach, and how were they addressed?
- How well did the project address the specific needs and vulnerabilities of different groups within the target population?
Connectedness:
- How well did the project collaborate and build connections with relevant government entities, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders working in the SRHR and GBV sectors?
- Did the project effectively leverage existing local knowledge and expertise to enhance project outcomes?
- To what extent did the project contribute to strengthening networks and partnerships among stakeholders to address climate-related SRHR and GBV challenges?
- Were there any challenges or barriers to collaboration and how were they addressed?
Assessment Approach and Methodology
The assessment will adopt a theory-based and participatory approach, utilizing mixed methods to gather comprehensive data.
Methodology
- Desk Review: A thorough review of project documents, reports, and data will be conducted to understand the project's design, implementation, and results.
- Key Informant Interviews: Interviews will be held with key stakeholders, including UNFPA staff, implementing partners, government officials, community leaders, and beneficiaries, to gather their perspectives on the project's relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability.
- Focus Group Discussions: Discussions with beneficiaries will be conducted to capture their experiences, perceptions of the project's impact, and suggestions for improvement.
- Field Visits: Visits to project sites will allow for direct observation of activities, interactions with beneficiaries, and validation of data collected through other methods.
- Data Analysis: Qualitative and quantitative data will be analyzed using appropriate software and techniques to identify trends, patterns, and key findings.
Assessment Matrix
An assessment matrix will be developed to align assessment questions with data collection methods, indicators, and sources of information. This will ensure a systematic and comprehensive assessment of the project's performance.
Ethical Considerations
The assessment will be conducted in an ethical and culturally sensitive manner, ensuring the confidentiality and anonymity of participants. Informed consent will be obtained from all participants, and any potential risks or harms will be minimized.