Our vision

That every child receives one daily meal in their place of education and that all those who have more than they need, share with those who lack even the most basic things.

Our mission

To enable people to offer their money, goods, skills, time, or prayer, and through this involvement, provide the most effective help to those suffering the effects of extreme poverty in the world’s poorest communities.

Our values

Confidence in the innate goodness of people – respect the dignity of every human being and family life – good stewardship of resources entrusted to us. Visit https://marysmeals.org to read more about us. 

1. Introduction

Mary’s Meals International seeks a consultant/s to undertake the final evaluation of a 2.5-year school feeding project, funded by FCDO in Liberia. The project began in April 2022 and will end in September 2024. The final programme evaluation is planned to take place during September to November 2024.

2. About the programme

The project objectives are to contribute to improve engagement for children through increased access and participation in primary school, achieving universal inclusive and quality education primary and pre-school education for children in Liberia, to reduce classroom hunger, to improve progression within primary schools, improve capacity to manage and deliver school feeding programmes in local, district and national level. The programme was designed to reach a total of 242 schools across Bong, Bomi and Grand Cape Mount counties in Liberia.

The outcomes of the project are:

• Children gain an education that provides an escape route from poverty, progressing towards SDG 2 & 4 (Ending all forms of hunger and inclusive and quality education for all)
• 43,000 children have improved ability to attain basic education through community owned SFP in Bong, Bomi and Grand Cape Mount counties

3. Evaluation purpose

This evaluation will assess the extent to which the original project objectives have been achieved.

The objectives of the evaluation are:

• To assess the extent to which each of the original project objectives have been achieved.
• To provide an assessment of the programme impact.
• To provide learning and practical recommendations with the potential for future adoption and integration within Mary’s Meals’ work. 

The evaluation will consider project impacts in relation to the intended impacts of the project, which are:

• Reduction in classroom hunger
• Improved access, participation, and progression within primary education
• Increased community support for managing and delivering the SFP
• Improved capacity to deliver school feeding programmes at local, district and national level

Throughout the assignment, the evaluator will use indicators that have been defined and implemented by Mary’s Meals, as appropriate for their assessment. The FCDO grant log frame will be provided and should act as a key document and guide for the evaluation.

4. Evaluation Criteria

This evaluation will consider the following specific evaluation criteria:

Impact:

• Were the programme activities implemented as planned?
• Were the planned objectives met?
• What impacts has the programme achieved in the target schools and communities?
• Who has benefited directly and indirectly from the programme? (The evaluation should consider other dimensions of diversity such as gender, age, socio-economic status, ethnicity and disability etc).
• How were beneficiaries and their communities involved in the project?

Sustainability:

• What was the level of involvement and ownership of the programme on the part of target communities? To what extent were the target communities contributing time, money, or other resources to the running of the programme?
• What was the level of involvement and ownership of the programme on the part of government authorities (including ministry officials)? To what extent were these stakeholders contributing time, money, or other resources to the running of the programme?
• What effect has the programme had on the level of knowledge, skills, and capacity within the target communities and government authorities to maintain and manage school feeding programmes?
• What could be appropriate next steps to support the SFP going forward?
• What role do the fuel-efficient stoves play in the sustainability of the programme? To what extent has the stove contributed to the SFP fuel source (Has there been a reduction in the amount of fuel needed? To what extent has the trainings and community engagement activities provided the communities with the capacity to maintain the stove?
• What role does local food procurement play in the sustainability of the programme?

Efficiency:

• To what extent was the SFP delivered efficiently and cost-effectively?

5. Evaluation methodology

The evaluation will include both desk review and fieldwork components in sampled project Schools. The evaluator will be expected to undertake the following:

• Desk review of project documentation and monitoring data for the relevant areas.
• Fieldwork with a selection of schools and direct beneficiaries within the project districts. Age-appropriate methods should be used.
• Interviews with Mary’s Meals staff, head-teachers, community, and government representatives as appropriate.

Fieldwork should be conducted in a representative sample of schools in the programme counties.  Following the data collection and analysis, the consultancy team will be expected to present and discuss the key evaluation findings with project team and stakeholders.

6. Timeline of the Evaluation

The following is a guide to the expected timeline and outputs for the evaluation:

No.	Action	Timeframe
1	Closing date for receipt of evaluation proposals	9th Aug 2024
2	Selection of consultancy team (evaluators)	30th Aug 2024
3	Inception Report: Consultancy send proposed evaluation methodology to Mary’s Meals	13th Sept 2024
4	Evaluation field research	7th Oct to 18th Oct 2024
5	Research data shared with Mary’s Meals	28th Oct 2024
6	Draft of report submitted for review and comment	4th Nov 2024
7	Consultants present and discuss research findings with key programme stakeholders	18th Nov 2024
8	Final Evaluation Report, Executive Summary submitted	29th Nov 2024

All raw data and information collected during the course of the assignment must be supplied to Mary’s Meals in an agreed format as an output of the assignment.  

7. Evaluation team

Mary’s Meals is looking for an independent evaluator or evaluators who can demonstrate the following experience and competencies:

• Proven experience in the design and implementation of evaluations.
• Skills in the collection, analysis and management of both quantitative and qualitative data;
• Knowledge of education programmes in general, and ideally school feeding programmes in particular;
• Knowledge of the current development context in Liberia;
• Ability to communicate in relevant local languages; Understanding of ethical aspects of research including safeguarding, and ensuring the anonymity and confidentiality of respondents.

The selected consultant(s) will be expected to sign and abide by applicable Mary’s Meals policies.

8. How to apply

To apply for this assignment, interested consultants should provide the following:

• A proposal for how they would approach the assignment. This must include an outline of the consultant’s proposed methodological approach to the field research component not exceeding 5 pages. A valid and up to date tax clearance and business registration documents should be attached to the proposal.
• A sample of relevant recent written work: ideally an evaluation report or similar.
• CVs of all consultants who would be involved in the assignment.
• A detailed budget for the evaluation, including daily rates and all expenses or per diems. Please contact Mary’s Meals for further information on appropriate budget levels on the following number 0778012300

Please send applications to: procurement.liberia@marysmeals.org

The closing date for the receipt of applications is 9^th August 2024