1.Duty Station of the Consultancy: Work from Home (remote) with included field missions
2.Duration of Consultancy: 2 months
A 2-months timeframe upon a ward of contract is expected to be enough for the evaluator to submit the final evaluation report and related other deliverables (brief and MRF), to be discussed between him/her and the evaluation management team. Then, the evaluation mission is expected to cover the period from 1 February 2024 to 31 March 2024.
3.Nature of the consultancy: Final external project evaluation (category B)
Final Project Evaluation to assess the design, implementation and results of the IOM project “Enhancing Cross-Border Cooperation on Border Management and Counter-Trafficking between Niger and Nigeria (CATS)”, funded by the Government of the United Kingdom for learning and accountability purposes. It will be the opportunity to determine the extent to which the project contributed to its overall objective and judge on the overall performance of the project against its results framework and the relevant evaluation criteria outlined below.
The key users of this final external evaluation are the following key stakeholders:
- At internal level: the Immigration and Border Governance unit, the Programme Support Unit (PSU) and the Senior Management at both country (Niger and Nigeria) and regional level so that the lessons learned, and good practices recognized can inform the development and implementation of future projects. It will notably support the elaboration of the final report of the project and feed the final closing and capitalization workshop of the project.
- At external level: the donor, UK CSSF, and the Governments of Niger and Nigeria so that the findings and conclusions can be used in consideration of future project funding approval and in preparation of future country-wide strategies.
More specifically, the evaluation will need to focus on the following:
- The project’s contribution to effectively strengthening the resources and capabilities of border authorities in Niger and Nigeria.
- Assess the relevance of the Theory of Change and design of the results matrix and the extent to which the objective, outcomes and outputs are well formulated; the indicators were SMART and baseline and targets appropriate.
- Assess how the project performed against key standard evaluation criteria.
- Assess the gender mainstreaming throughout the project cycle.
- Examine the vertical and horizontal logic of the project’s results matrix.
- Assess the effectiveness of project management systems and tools, including monitoring and evaluation protocols and frameworks.
- Identify Challenges and opportunities, best practices and lessons learnt to inform future similar project development and implementation.
4.Project Context and Scope:
As the United Nations agency for migration, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is committed to promoting humane and orderly migration that benefit all, by reinforcing governmental capacities to promote rights-based migration aimed at protecting the rights of migrants and border communities. In line with IOM’s corporate strategy, the activities of the Immigration and Border Governance (IBG) units of IOM Missions in Niger and Nigeria aim to provide support to the Governments of Niger and Nigeria in building capacities in terms of infrastructure and equipment, and foster enhanced institutional governance of the National Police, immigration and the various stakeholders involved in border management.
Insufficiently regulated land borders and limited cooperation between established international networks have allowed the proliferation of trafficking in goods and people along the Niger-Nigeria border. This has exposed the sub-region at risk of greater and more complex insecurity.
In this context, the IOM project “Enhancing Cross-Border Cooperation on Border Management and Counter-Trafficking between Niger and Nigeria (CATS)”, funded by the Government of the United Kingdom, has supported the Governments of Niger and Nigeria during 56 months from August 2019 to March 2024 to mitigate these impacts. This has been done notably by promoting the enhancement of effective border management through the installation of Border Management Information Systems (BMIS) along the Niger-Nigeria border. In addition, the project helped to strengthen cooperation and communication between Niger and Nigeria at the formal and international levels to effectively combat human trafficking and migrant smuggling, to strengthen anti-trafficking measures and effective border management and to improve assistance to Victims of Trafficking.
Through the CATS project, IOM’s BMIS, the Migration Data Analysis and Information System (MIDAS), was installed in some border posts along the Niger-Nigeria border. This deployment resulted in the collection and storage of substantial volumes of personal and biometric data by the governments of Niger and Nigeria. This database represents a great opportunity to inform public policy and decision-making by identifying trends and criminal modus operandi, but also initiative joint investigations and induce legal cooperation between the two countries. Additional support was therefore required to ensure effective border management in line with international norms and standards. This includes ensuring that the institutional and legal frameworks in place have the means and capacity to protect the privacy rights of migrants and travelers throughout the data lifecycle, as well as harnessing the potential of these data to be used for investigation and prosecution.
The main objective of CATS II is to contribute to effective border management and counter-trafficking in and between Niger and Nigeria. The project was designed to focus on the following outcomes and related outputs:
- Outcome 1: Nigerien and Nigerian authorities are able to better collect and manage information and cooperate for improved border management and counter-trafficking along their shared border;
- Output 1.1: 4 border posts and 1 training centre in Niger are equipped with the MIDAS system in total under the two phases.
- Output 1.2: Border officers in Nigeria have access to MIDAS mobile means and architecture plug & play
- Output 1.3: Border officers demonstrate capacities to use the MIDAS system in Niger and to train other border officers on MIDAS use
- Output 1.4: Nigerien and Nigerian authorities are informed about key issues related to national data management
- Output 1.5: The development of national legal and operational data management frameworks is advocated in Niger and Nigeria
- Outcome 2: Nigerien and Nigerian authorities build analytical capabilities from immigration data base to identify trends, threats and modus operandi for criminal activities including trafficking.
- Output 2.1: Immigration services on both sides make the most of existing data bases collected through MIDAS system and develop dedicated materials;
- Output 2.2: Judicial cooperation between Nigeria and Niger is strengthened to enable joint investigation.
- Outcome 3: Nigerien and Nigerian border communities support and contribute to preventing and addressing factors that facilitate and support criminal activity across the border corridor;
- Output 3.1: Community awareness and engagement approach on safety and security at the border areas developed, extended and operationalized.
- Output 3.2: Strengthen border communities’ resilience to transnational crime. Output 3.3: Capacities of Immigration, NAPTIP and border officials to carry out their operations adopting a human rights and victim-centered border management approaches, aimed at ensuring the protection of the rights of local population, migrants.
- Outcome 4: Human trafficking between Niger and Nigeria is combatted and VoTs effectively identified, assisted and rehabilitated, with support of the communities.
- Output 4.1: Enhance cross border cooperation for the protection and reintegration of VoTs in line with the SOPs for Return Readmission and Reintegration, the National Referral Mechanisms for Protection and Assistance to Trafficked Persons in Nigeria and Niger (NRM)
- Output 4.2: National protective services and comprehensive reintegration support options for VoTs in Niger and Nigeria are enhanced.
- Output 4.3: Identified VoTs provided with individualized and reintegration assistance, including Mental Health and Psychosocial Support, medicals, business skills training, economic reintegration, education, etc.
- Output 4.4: Local communities of border regions are aware of local pathways and are engaged in the prevention of TiP and the identification of victims, with due consideration for enabling gender dynamics and cultural practices.
These Terms of Reference (ToR) will serve as a basis for the management and carrying out of the final evaluation of the CATS II project in Niger and Nigeria.
The final evaluation is expected to cover all results under the project implementation period (1 August 2019 – 31 March 2024). Furthermore, the geographical scope of the evaluation includes the two countries[1] targeted by the project: Niger and Nigeria, with a focus on the joint border.
The evaluation will focus on the effective consideration of conflict dynamics / sensitivity issues integration throughout the project cycle.
5.Organizational Department / Unit to which the Consultant is contributing:
International Organization for Migration / Immigration & Border Governance Unit, Project title: “Enhancing cross-border cooperation on border management and counter-trafficking between Niger and Nigeria (Phase II)”.
6.Category B Consultants: Tasks to be performed under this contract
As part of the evaluation, the evaluator is expected to develop and submit the following deliverables in both French and English language to the Evaluation management Team:
- An inception report (as per IOM template) outlining the final evaluation questions, the evaluation matrix, the data collection tools and a detailed workplan of the evaluation. This deliverable will be submitted to the evaluation management team for review/approval after the desk review.
- A presentation of the preliminary findings of the evaluation to IOM team and possibly other partners. It will be the opportunity for the evaluator to present the initial findings following the on-field data collection phase with selected key informants. These findings, in the form of a PowerPoint presentation, could for instance be used during the final closure workshop of the project and presented to the various stakeholders.
- A preliminary evaluation report (as per IOM template): submitted to the evaluation management team and project stakeholders for their review. The report incorporating the feedback of the Evaluation Management Team will be shared with the evaluator.
- A final evaluation report (as per IOM template and standards): incorporating feedback and including an executive summary, background and context, methodology, findings, Lessons Learned, recommendations, conclusions.
- Two-pages evaluation brief: following the IOM template, it should outline the main findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the evaluation.
- A management response framework (as per IOM’s template): partially filled out on the recommendations of the evaluation.
All these deliverables will need to be reviewed / endorsed by the project evaluation management team / PSU Niger – Nigeria / RO M and E.
More specifically and related to theses tasks, the following indicative timetable is proposed, subject to further discussion with the selected candidate upon signature of the contract:
Activity Numbers Activities Person in charge Dates – duration Location
1.Mission scoping / inception meetings[1] Evaluator and IOM evaluation management team 5 February 2024 (1 day) Virtual or on-site
2.Documentary review Evaluator 6 to 11 February 2024 (6 days)
3.Submission of the inception report Evaluator 12 February 2024 (1 day)
4.Meeting for the presentation and validation of the inception report Evaluator and IOM Evaluation Management Team 15 February 2024 (1 days) Virtual
5.Site visit + interviews: with stakeholders / resource persons Evaluator and IOM (project team)
From 16 February to 1 March 2024 (14 days)In Niger and Nigeria (on site)
6.Presentation of preliminary findings to IOM Evaluator 4 March 2024 (1 days) Virtual
7.Submission of preliminary evaluation report (in the form of a PowerPoint presentation) and collection of feedbacks Evaluator 5 to 7 March 2024 (3 days) Closure workshop in Lome from 5 to 7 March 2024
8.Review and submission of final evaluation report for validation by IOM Evaluator and IOM (evaluation management team) 20 March 2024(1 day)Virtual
9.Submission of additional documents: i) evaluation brief and ii) management response framework Evaluator 22 March 2024 (1 day) Virtual
10.Final approval of the report and incorporation in the project final narrative report (payment of last instalment)Evaluator and IOM (evaluation management team) 27 March 2024Virtual or in person
- Performance indicators for the evaluation of results
In line with IOM and OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) evaluation standards, below are suggested evaluation questions for the evaluation of results. These questions will be further refined by the selected evaluator during the inception phase of the evaluation:
Relevance: Does the intervention address the problem?
- To what extent were the needs of beneficiaries and stakeholders considered during project design?
- To what extent has the project provided an adequate response in terms of border management and counter trafficking?
- To what extent do the expected outcomes and outputs remain valid and pertinent as originally intended in terms of direct beneficiary needs?
- Is the project aligned with national priorities and strategies, government policies, regional and global commitments?
- Was the project designed with a logical connection between its objective, outcomes, outputs, and indicators based on a solid rationale/needs assessment?
Coherence (internal and external): does the intervention fit in with other interventions?
Internal:
- Did the project foster synergies and establish links with existing initiatives undertaken by the governments of Niger and Nigeria within the framework of border management and counter-trafficking?
- To what extent was the intervention in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and relevant IOM strategies and policies, including the IOM Institutional Strategy on Migration and Sustainable Development, the Migration Governance Framework and the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration and other strategies related to migration and border governance?
- To what extent CATS II was complementary with CATS I at Project design and other key steps of the project cycle?
External:
- How effectively did the project create synergies and linkages between its actions and the strategies, policies but more importantly the operational approaches of the governments of Niger and Nigeria?
- How effectively did it prioritize issues that closely matched donor priorities?
Effectiveness: Did the intervention achieve its objectives?
- To what extent did the results achieved lead to the specific objectives targeted?
- Were the outputs and outcomes of the project achieved as planned? Are beneficiaries satisfied with the services/goods provided?
- How do the Niger and Nigeria authorities, in particular senior immigration officials, data protection entities and counter-trafficking agencies perceive the technical assistance provided by the project?
- To what extent has the project contributed to enhance cross-border cooperation between Niger and Nigeria?
- What major factors influenced the achievement or non-achievement of project objectives, and did the results reach beneficiaries as intended?
- To what extent have the governments of Niger and Nigeria (in the various field of intervention) been engaged in planning and achieving the project objectives?
- Were project activities implemented as per the established schedule?
Efficiency: Were resources used optimally?
- Were project activities planned and implemented in a cost-efficient manner?
- In comparison to similar projects in the West and Central Africa region, were the means of implementation justified in terms of real costs and MIDAS equipment acquisition practices?
- How did beneficiaries and partners assess the efficiency of project management?
- To what extent were resources (funds, technical skills, and time) efficiently converted into tangible results?
- Were resources used efficiently, and was reporting done in accordance with donor and IOM requirements?
- To what extent were the management and decision-making structures effective and adequate to ensure efficient project implementation?
- Were the monitoring and evaluation measures for the project effective and if needed, how could they be improved?
Impact: What difference has the intervention helped make?
- How has the project contributed to improving the capacity for border management and combating human trafficking and smuggling in Niger and Nigeria?
- What significant impacts, whether positive or negative, direct or indirect, intended or unintended, can be attributed to the project?
- Were timely measures taken within the project framework to mitigate any unforeseen negative effects?
Sustainability: Will the benefits of the project last after its conclusion?
- What mechanisms were established by the project to ensure sustainability in terms of information management capabilities across both sides of the border and to maintain communication and cooperation between Niger and Nigeria?
- Were the designed activities and allocated resources, including time, finance, and expertise, sufficient to achieve sustainable project objectives and results?
- To what extent do project partners possess the financial and technical capacity to independently maintain the benefits of the project, ensuring a sense of ownership and interest in sustainability?
- Do project partners have the financial and technical capacity to sustain project benefits in the long term?
- What are the recommendations and key lessons learnt for a possible next phase of the project?
Gender and human rights: Did the project integrate these cross-cutting issues?
- How was the gender dimension integrated into the project cycle, in particular the development, planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting phases?
- How was the human rights approach considered across the project cycle, especially in development, implementation, monitoring and reporting stages?
- If target groups have suffered unintended negative impacts, have project managers taken appropriate action?
Conflict sensitivity analysis / dynamics
- How effectively has the project engaged with and involved local communities in the design and implementation of border management and anti-trafficking activities?
- To what extent has the project considered the diverse perspectives and needs of different ethnic or social groups in the border regions?
- What measures were in place to identify and mitigate potential negative impacts of the project on local communities or existing conflicts?
- How adaptable was the project to changing conflict dynamics in the region, and did it have mechanisms for adjusting strategies based on evolving situations?
7.Education, Experience and/or skills required
The individual Evaluator selected for this evaluation must have the following qualifications
- Masters university degree (Bac+5) in social sciences, statistics, management or any other related field;
- At least 5-10 years of experience in conducting evaluations and studies and in monitoring development projects and programs;
- Solid experience and skills in developing research methods and tools for qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis;
- Experience in gender analysis and human rights-based approaches;
- Solid experience in project evaluation related to issues such as migration management, cross border security and management, anti-trafficking and migrant smuggling, and gender is an advantage;
- Similar work experience in West Africa would be an asset;
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills in French and English and good professional command of both languages, in view of data collection and interaction with stakeholders from the 2 countries. If applicable, professional translation services fees can be included in the financial offer.
8.Travel required
With data collection and direct observations, the evaluator will have to travel to Niger and Nigeria as well as to the sites. He will also have to travel to Togo as part of the presentation of the preliminary findings of the evaluation to the stakeholders at the final closure workshop.
9.Competencies
Interested candidates are invited to submit the following documents (in the preferred language English or French):
- A Curriculum Vitae detailing knowledge/experience of the lead evaluator / team leader in the above-mentioned fields;
- If applicable, the curriculum vitae of key secondary members of the team managed by the lead evaluator such as: statistician, field evaluator, professional translators, counter-trafficking or border management specialist, etc
- A technical proposal including a detailed evaluation schedule.
- A detailed budget (financial proposal), including all-inclusive rates – daily fees/expenses, during the mission in Niger, Nigeria and Togo etc.
- A cover letter to be attached to the application form, specifying the Evaluator’s period of availability and the start date of the assignment.
- At least two references (including final evaluation reports) from evaluation missions carried out by the candidate.
All applications must be sent before 4 February 2024. No offer will be considered after this deadline**.**
Values
- Inclusion and respect for diversity respects and promotes individual and cultural differences. Encourages diversity and inclusion.
- Integrity and transparency: maintains high ethical standards and acts in a manner consistent with organizational principles/rules and standards of conduct.
- Professionalism: demonstrates ability to work in a composed, competent and committed manner and exercises careful judgment in meeting day-to-day challenges.
- Courage: demonstrates willingness to take a stand on issues of importance.
- Empathy: shows compassion for others, makes people feel safe, respected and fairly treated.
Core Competencies – behavioural indicators
- Teamwork: develops and promotes effective collaboration within and across units to achieve shared goals and optimize results.
- Delivering results: produces and delivers quality results in a service-oriented and timely manner. Is action oriented and committed to achieving agreed outcomes.
- Managing and sharing knowledge: continuously seeks to learn, share knowledge and innovate.
- Accountability: takes ownership for achieving the Organization’s priorities and assumes responsibility for own actions and delegated work.
- Communication: encourages and contributes to clear and open communication. Explains complex matters in an informative, inspiring and motivational way.
How to apply
Application: Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications – CV and motivation letter addressed to the Chief of Mission – via the email address: recruitmentiomniamey@iom.int
For an application to be considered candidates are requested to mention the vacancy reference N°VAC009/2024
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted