Job Description

Background and Context
The Civic Education for Somalia Development (CESD) project, implemented by Somali Lifeline
Organization (SOLO), was designed to address the low participation of Somali citizens particularly
women, youth, and marginalized groups; in civic duties, governance, and decision-making
processes. The project sought to strengthen citizens’ participation in civic activities through
enhanced civic education, capacity development, and collaboration between civil society
organizations (CSOs), community structures, and local authorities.
The CESD project contributes to the broader objective of promoting a stable, resilient, and
accountable Somali society. Its design aligns with the EU’s Civil Society Organizations as Actors of
Governance and Development Programme, which emphasizes enhancing local governance,
transparency, and accountability through active citizen participation and CSO engagement.
The project’s overall objective is: To contribute towards promotion and building of a more stable,
resilient and accountable Somali society.
The specific objective is: To strengthen citizens’ participation in civic activities in Somalia.
The project has three key outcomes
1. Enhanced capacity of 16 Resource Persons (RPs) in civic education training, monitoring,
and reporting.
2. Eight (8) Community Resource Centres (CRCs) developed and capacitated to deliver civic
education services.
3. Increased understanding and awareness of basic rights and principles for social, economic,
and political participation among community members.
2. Purpose and Objectives of the Evaluation
The purpose of the endline evaluation is to assess the overall performance, achievements, and
outcomes of the CESD project at the end of its three-year implementation period. The evaluation
will determine the extent to which the project has achieved its objectives and contributed to
improved civic awareness, participation, and accountability in governance among the target
communities in Kismayo and Dollow.
Specific objectives
I. Assess project relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, and sustainability.
II. Identify key lessons, good practices, and challenges for future civic education and
governance programs in Somalia.
III. Provide evidence-based recommendations to SOLO, partners, and donors for scaling or
refining civic education interventions.
3. Scope of the Evaluation
The evaluation will cover the entire CESD implementation period (January 2023 to December
2025) and focus on both project locations; Kismayo (Lower Jubba) and Dollow (Gedo).
It will assess all levels of the results framework (impact, outcome, and output indicators),
particularly;
a) Strengthened capacity of RPs and CRCs.
b) Citizen awareness, participation, and civic engagement.
c) Institutional linkages between CSOs, communities, and local authorities.
d) Advocacy and policy influence achieved through civic education initiatives.
The consultant will make reference to a baseline report and the result-oriented monitoring
report. These documents will provide some guidance, however, the consultant will make
judgement on the methodologies initially applied and for this phase.
4. Evaluation Criteria and Questions (OECD DAC Framework)
The log-frame is annexed to this document for more guidance/clarity.
A. Relevance
i. To what extent was the CESD project aligned with the needs and priorities of communities,
especially marginalized groups, women, and youth?
ii. How relevant were the project’s objectives and strategies to Somalia’s governance context
and EU priorities on civil society participation?
iii. Were the approaches and methodologies used (CRCs, RPs, community dialogues)
appropriate for addressing identified governance and civic education gaps?
iv. Did the project respond effectively to contextual changes (political, security, or socioeconomic) during implementation?
B. Coherence
i. How well did CESD complement or coordinate with other civic education, governance, or
accountability initiatives by government or other CSOs in Jubbaland?
ii. Were there synergies or overlaps with similar interventions funded by the EU or other
development partners?
iii. To what extent did the project’s partnerships (government, CSOs, private sector) enhance
or limit project coherence and policy alignment?
C. Effectiveness
i. To what extent were the project’s intended outcomes and outputs achieved?
ii. How effective were the training and deployment of Resource Persons in enhancing civic
awareness?
iii. Were the CRCs established, functional, and effectively serving as civic education hubs?
iv. How did the project influence citizens’ participation in civic and governance activities?
v. To what degree were advocacy and awareness campaigns effective in promoting
accountability and inclusion?
D. Efficiency
i. Were project resources (human, financial, material) utilized economically and efficiently
to achieve outputs and outcomes?
ii. Was the project’s management and coordination structure effective in ensuring timely
implementation and monitoring?
iii. Were there delays or bottlenecks in implementation, and how were they managed?
iv. Was the cost of achieving outcomes reasonable compared to results obtained?
E. Impact
i. What observable changes occurred in civic engagement, participation, or governance
accountability as a result of the project?
ii. Did the project contribute to improved dialogue and cooperation between CSOs, local
authorities, and communities?
iii. What changes (intended or unintended, positive or negative) have occurred among
targeted groups, particularly women and youth?
iv. To what extent has the project contributed to strengthening democratic culture, rights
awareness, and citizen empowerment?
F. Sustainability
i. Are the outcomes of the project likely to continue after donor support ends?
ii. What mechanisms (institutional, financial, social) are in place to sustain the CRCs and RPs
beyond the project period?
iii. Have local authorities and CSOs demonstrated ownership and commitment to sustaining
civic education initiatives?
iv. What strategies could enhance long-term impact and institutionalization of civic
education in Jubbaland?
5. Methodology
The consultant to provide their approach to undertake this assignment comprehensively, they
may consider the below suggestions or propose separate ones, to achieve the similar objectives.
The evaluation may adopt a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative
techniques.
 Desk Review: Review project documents, progress reports, monitoring data, training
materials, and the results framework.
 Key Informant Interviews (KIIs): With SOLO staff, local government officials, CRC
representatives, EU representatives, and partner CSOs.
 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs): With community members, RPs, youth and women
groups, and beneficiaries of civic education activities.
 Surveys: To capture quantitative data on awareness, participation, and satisfaction levels.
 Case Studies: To document best practices, success stories, and lessons learned.
Gender, inclusion, and conflict sensitivity will be mainstreamed throughout the evaluation
process

Experiences and Qualifications

Expected Deliverables
1. Inception Report – including evaluation design, methodology, tools, and work plan.
2. Draft Evaluation Report – with preliminary findings and recommendations.
3. Validation Workshop – presentation of findings to SOLO and stakeholders.
4. Final Evaluation Report – incorporating feedback, including executive summary, findings,
lessons, and actionable recommendations.
7. Evaluation Team and Required Expertise
The evaluation will be conducted by an independent consultant or firm with:
a) Advanced degree in Governance, Development Studies, Social Sciences, or related field.
b) At least 7 years’ experience in governance, civic education, or civil society programming.
c) Proven experience conducting evaluations using OECD DAC criteria in Somalia political
context.
d) Demonstrated familiarity with Somali context and fluency in English (and Somali
preferred)

Skills Required

Attachment

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