Job Description

1.    PROJECT SUMMARY 

2.    INTRODUCTION

This document provides Terms of Reference for the external final evaluation of the project "Protecting Children Against Conflict Related Child Rights Violations in Yemen." The project, funded by ECHO, spans from May 2022 to June 2025 and aims to support the monitoring and reporting of grave violations and other serious child rights violations, as well as the delivery of life-saving child protection (CP) services for children at heightened conflict-related CP risks in the governorates of Aden, Lahj, Al Dhalea, and Taiz. The WHO estimates that some 4.8 million people in Yemen have at least one disability, though there is no precise data on their number and situation. Children with disabilities remain one of the most vulnerable and socially excluded groups facing challenges in accessing basic services and they are exposed to abuse and exploitation. Hidden behind closed doors, shut away in institutions, and stigmatised, many are often overlooked in policies and services. According to OHCHR, conflict worsens conditions for persons with disabilities, leading to new impairments from landmine injuries and trauma from violence. Women and girls with disabilities face heightened risks of gender-based violence due to entrenched social exclusion and discrimination. The Muhamasheen, historically marginalised due to their alleged African origin, continue to suffer descent-based discrimination.
Lastly, regional conflict dynamics in the Middle East are increasing risks for both Yemeni populations and aid agencies, which are also facing declining humanitarian funding. There is a lack of interest from development donors to invest in Yemen, affecting the Humanitarian-Development Nexus.

3.    BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT

Save the Children’s Yemen Response: Save the Children has been working in Yemen since 1963, implementing both humanitarian and development programs. The Yemen country office is located in Sana'a, supporting seven field offices in the north (Hodeida, Sana'a, Hajjah, Sa'ada, and Ibb) and the south (Aden and Taiz). Save the Children has an operational presence in ten governorates: Sa’ada, Hajjah, Hodeida, Amran, Sana’a, Taiz, Ibb, Lahj, Aden, and Al Dhalea.
The ECHO CP project has been in Aden, Lahj, Taiz and Al Dhalea since May 2022 to date. After the initial project that ran from May 2022 to May 2023, we have had 3 modifications requests. The current modification request ends in June 2025. The project has 3 key elements; (i) strengthening SC’s contribution to monitoring and reporting of grave violations against children’s rights under UN Council Resolution 1612 and under Centrality of Protection Policy; (ii) prevention of child protection violations against most vulnerable and at risk children, and; (iii) response to grave and serious violations committed against children through comprehensive multi-sectoral responses tailored to the needs of affected children and their families.
As background documents to this evaluation, the consultant will review the following documents: SCI strategy, project documents for all the phases, project progress reports, activity reports where they exist.
ECHO Funded Project in Aden, Lahj, Al Dhalea, and Taiz: The ECHO-funded project aligns with Save the Children's strategic objectives, such as supporting the monitoring and reporting of grave violations and other serious child rights violations and delivering life-saving CP services for children at heightened conflict-related CP risks in Aden, Lahj, Al Dhalea, and Taiz governorates. CP services will be delivered through prevention and response strategies, reaching a total of 63,315 individuals (20,568 girls, 20,645 boys, 11,051 women, 11,051 men).
The action aims to contribute to ensuring accountability for grave violations committed against children through:

1.    Strengthening SC’s contribution to monitoring and reporting of grave violations against children’s rights under UN Council Resolution 1612 and Centrality of Protection Policy.
2.    Responding to grave and other serious child rights violations committed against children through comprehensive multi-sectoral responses tailored to meet the needs of affected children and their families.
3.    Preventing CP violations against the most vulnerable and at-risk children.

The action was intended to complement and feed into UN-led Monitoring and Reporting coordination mechanisms (MRM) at national and sub-national levels and support other protection and CP coordination mechanisms such as the Protection Cluster, CP AoR, GBV AoR, MHPSS TWG, and CM TWG to ensure effective and efficient use of available protection resources and capacities by sharing information and lessons learned. As part of SC's ambition to work towards a strong civil society under its localization strategy, SC aimed to contribute to the operational and technical capacity strengthening of local CP-focused CSOs working in coordination with MoSAL, CP AoR, and UNICEF. To facilitate better access to communities and support access to other services beyond CP in catchment communities, SC has established two community centers that act as hubs for multi-sectoral services.
Target Locations: Yemen - Aden, Lahj, Taiz, and Al Dhalea (Khormaksar, Dar Sad, Tuban, Musaimir, Al-Qabaita, Salah, Jabal Habashi, Makbana, Almodafar, Saber Almwadem, Al-Buraiqa, Al-Qabaidah, Al Dhalea)

Unique Beneficiaries:

• MR2: 38,857 people (19,633 females and 19,223 males)
• MR3: 63,315 people (31,619 females and 31,696 males)
• MR4: 64,742 people (32,333 females and 32,409 males)

Cash Assistance: A budget has been planned for comprehensive case management. SC provided in-kind assistance under these activities in terms of material support, access to essential services, and transportation support. SC preferred to implement the action using in-kind assistance to ensure effectiveness in the case management process and to avoid the risk of possible diversion of cash transfer funds from the intended purpose given severe economic distress in the majority of families.

Objectives of the Project:

• Principal Objective: Conflict-affected children in Yemen are protected from grave violations and other serious child rights violations, and affected children have access to timely comprehensive multisectoral services for rehabilitation, healing, and reintegration at the community level.
• Specific Objectives: Girls and boys and their families affected by armed conflict in Taiz, Aden, Lahj, and Al Dhalea Governorates have access to gender-sensitive MRM, preventive, and responsive protection services.

Outcome Indicators:

• % of beneficiaries reporting that humanitarian assistance is delivered in a safe, accessible, accountable, and participatory manner (Target Value: 75%)
• % of children and caregivers who report satisfaction with direct services received and the response actions taken through the case management process (Target Value: 85%)
• # of grave violation incidents reported by SC to the County Task Force on MRM and its changes over time (Target Value: 1050)
• % of individuals/target population in a given context reporting an improved feeling of safety (with dignity) by the end of the intervention compared to at the beginning (Target Value: 50%)
• % of caregivers and community members who report having taken action to prevent or respond to violence against children (Target Value: 60%)

Other Responses in Aden and Lahj: In addition to ECHO’s response in Aden and Lahj, Save the Children is also addressing the significant humanitarian needs in other sectors, including health, nutrition, WASH, CP, and food security, supporting both host communities and IDPs. Projects are supported by JPF, WFP, USAID, NMFA, and FCDO.
Purpose of the Evaluation: This end-of-project summative evaluation aims to assess the relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, and sustainability of the project. The lessons learned through this evaluation will be applied by Save the Children Yemen to inform future strategies and program design and to understand how future projects should be set up and implemented effectively. More specifically, the evaluation will assess the process of implementation (fundamentally program management effectiveness), project outcomes, and the possible impact of the project, as related to the project design and presence on the ground. The main audience for the report is Save the Children International, Save the Children Norway, ECHO, beneficiaries and the local authorities. The report will also be shared with other key partners and stakeholders.
Time Period: The evaluation will cover the project period from May 2022 to June 2025 for the ECHO-funded project: Protecting Children Against Conflict-Related Child Rights Violations in Yemen.

4.    SCOPE OF STUDY

4.1    Purpose, Objectives and Scope

The primary purpose of this end-of-project summative evaluation is to assess the relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, and sustainability of the project. The lessons learned through this evaluation will be applied by Save the Children Yemen to inform future strategies and program design and to understand how future projects should be set up and implemented effectively. This study differs from previous studies by focusing on the comprehensive end-of-project evaluation, incorporating lessons learned throughout the project lifecycle.

Objectives of the Study: The main objectives of the study are to:

• Assess the process of implementation (fundamentally program management effectiveness).
• Evaluate project outcomes and the possible impact of the project, as related to the project design and presence on the ground.
• Provide insights into the relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, and sustainability of the project interventions.

Scope of the Study: The study will focus on the entire project, covering the period from May 2022 to June 2025. It will evaluate the project's implementation in the governorates of Aden, Lahj, Taiz, and Al Dhalea. The evaluation will consider the following aspects: