[hepr-vn] Oxfam GB seeks Consultant for Periodical Review of Cash Transfer Project

[Vern Weitzel]

Subject: 	Oxfam GB seeks Consultant for Periodical Review of Cash
Transfer Project
Date: 	Tue, 30 Sep 2008 04:07:22 +0100
From: 	NQMinh at oxfam.org.uk

TERM OF REFERENCE

Periodical Review of the Cash Transfers for Development Project

1. Background

Oxfam Great Britain in Vietnam (OGB) is implementing a pilot project
that provides once-off significant cash transfer to poor households in
a non-emergency context in An Loc commune of Loc Ha district (formerly
Can Loc district), Ha Tinh province. The project design is based on a
rationale that over the past decade, there has been a growing body of
writing that questions the impact of the work done by development and
humanitarian organisation. As an INGO, OGB challenges itself whether
as an INGO it truly add value it think it does. And is it sure that
giving poor people a relatively large amount of cash will not generate
sustainable positive change? By providing an amount of cash with
minimum conditions and interventions, it is expected that the project
will provide an appropriate answer for the question. The project has
been started by providing once-off cash to selected beneficiaries in
early 2007 with expected impacts that:

• Poor people increase their assets, so improve their well-being;

• Women’s control over resources and assets is increased;

• Asset inequality between households is reduced.

If successful, the project will challenge:

• The standard approach of development projects which is for
professional experts to lead in identifying suitable livelihoods,
rather than empowering individual households to make diverse choices;

• The high level of administrative and consultancy costs faced by
international NGOs and donors due to the high number of project staff
and partners involved in designing and implementing standard
livelihood projects;

• Beliefs in the development community about poor people’s ability to
make wise and rational use of cash.

The project is now in its second year of operation, as part of its
regular monitoring and evaluation process, OGB would like to seek an
individual consultant to conduct an exercise with specific
requirements as follow:

2. Objective

To conduct a periodical review and documentation of the project ‘Cash
Transfers for Development: an Oxfam Learning Project in Vietnam’
(hereafter called Cash Transfer Project)

3. Specific tasks

• To document what have been implemented by the project in last six
months (March – August 2008);

• To process, interpret and analyze data on beneficiaries’ use of cash
granted in last 6 months which have been collected, entered by the
PPC;

• To compare and analyze people’s use of cash granted in review period
versus previous one year (February 2007 – February 2008). Identify
changes in trend (if any) compared to earlier periods;

• To document the effectiveness (or impact if any) of the project to
beneficiaries, local authorities, community-managed groups, government
authorities etc.;

• To capture constrains, difficulties or challenges faced by
implementing partner, government authorities, local people and,
beneficiaries over past 6 months;

• To draw lessons and recommendations for OGB in next six
months/remaining time.

4. Process and methodology

The review bases primarily on statistical data analysis which has been
collected by PPC. In addition, the consultant will visit project sites
to conduct interviews, group discussions with beneficiaries,
community-based groups, government authorities at different levels and
the local NGO to seek supporting data, seek clarifications or collect
case studies for review purpose. Though statistical analysis remains
the primary mean of the review, the consultant is encouraged to apply
participatory tools and techniques to ensure full participation of
project stakeholder, especially the poor during the fieldwork
exercise.

5. Output of the assignment

Output of the assignment should be documented in a report that covers
above-mentioned aspects (specified in ‘Specific tasks’ section), the
report should be presented in English, follow OGB’s format and, should
not exceed 30 pages in length.

6. Consultant qualifications

• High competency in processing of statistical data; familiar with
technical software e.g. SPSS, STATA;

• At least 5 years of experience with demonstrated monitoring and
evaluation knowledge, skills and experiences of rural development
programme;

• In-depth knowledge of research methods with particular focus on
participatory methods, including in-depth interviews, focus group
discussions and product or behavior trials;

• Excellent English writing and analytical skills.

• At least a Bachelor’s degree in development studies, economics and
social sciences.

7. Indicative timeframe

The review should be conducted in October 2008 with an indicative
timeframe as follow:

No.	Activity	Number of consultant-days
1.	Designing	2
2.	Fieldwork	3
3.	Data processing (statistical and qualitative)	3
4.	Report writing	4
5.	Report finalistion	1
Total 	13



8. Contact person

Interested consultant is requested to submit a proposal which proposes
methods, process, timeframe, report outline, budget projection and CV
to:



Nguyen Quang Minh
Programme Coordinator - Livelihoods
Oxfam Great Britain in Vietnam
16 Mai Hac De St., Hanoi
Tel:    +84 4 945 4362 (Ext: 119)
Fax:   +84 4 945 4365
Email: nqminh at oxfam.org.uk

Applications are welcome before 5pm, 8th October 2008


Minh
Nguyen Quang Minh

Programme Coordinator - Livelihoods
Oxfam Great Britain in Vietnam
16 Mai Hac De St., Hanoi
Tel:    +84 4 945 4362 (Ext: 119)
Fax:   +84 4 945 4365
Mob: +84 972 999 800
Email: nqminh at oxfam.org.uk <mailto:nqminh at oxfam.org.uk>
Web: www.oxfam.org.uk <http://www.oxfam.org.uk/>


Oxfam works with others to overcome poverty and suffering.

Oxfam GB is a member of Oxfam International and a company limited by
guarantee registered in England No. 612172.
Registered office: Oxfam House, John Smith Drive, Cowley, Oxford, OX4 2JY.
A registered charity in England and Wales (no 202918) and Scotland (SCO
039042)

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