MESPT-ADMIN-03-2024 – Consultancy to undertake an Assessment of MESPT Impact Evaluation Preparedness for Danida Funded Programme

1.0 Background Information about MESPT

Micro-Enterprises Support Programme Trust (MESPT) is a Kenyan development organization established in 2002. MESPT’s overall objective is to promote economic growth, employment creation and poverty alleviation through enterprise development. This is achieved predominantly through supporting the development of agricultural value chains whilst embracing and promoting the green growth and climate change agenda. Through its vision of building a more Prosperous Society, MESPT facilitates increased commercialization, decent employment, and green transformation through targeted interventions in the selected value chains. MESPT key workstreams involve building the capacity of value chain stakeholders by increasing agricultural productivity and food safety systems, facilitation of market linkages and access to finance. MESPT also promotes the uptake of green interventions that contribute to a greener economy in Kenya.

MESPT sectors of development include:

1. Agri-enterprise development and access to markets
2. Access to finance and financial inclusion
3. Agricultural productivity and food safety
4. Green transformation
5. Gender equity and youth empowerment (40:30% representations respectively in all programmes)

The Trust is a multi-donor entity jointly founded by the Government of Kenya and the European Union who later relinquished their position to the Royal Danish Embassy in Kenya, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark (DANIDA). To learn more about MESPT, please visitwww.mespt.org.

2.0 The overall objective of the consultancy

The main objective of this consultancy is to evaluate the quality and adequacy of existing documentation towards effective demonstration of MESPT achieved results through DANIDA funded programmes. It will also involve identification of data/ information gaps as well as working with MESPT Team in strengthening the quality of documentation needed to sufficiently demonstrate accountability and compliance with the donor guidelines. In overall this assignment is aimed at enhancing MESPT preparedness for an impact evaluation study.

The specific objectives of the assignment are:

1. Assess the quality and adequacy of existing documentation of DANIDA funded Programmes.
2. Identification of data/ information gaps that need to be strengthened to enhance MESPT accountability.
3. Develop a clear action plan for strengthening the existing evidence for MESPT demonstrated impact.
4. Facilitate the impact evaluation readiness by ensuring all the documentation is in place and filed in a way that it can easily be retrieved and utilized.

3.0 Scope of the consultancy

The consultancy will cover past programmes funded under the DANIDA MESPT partnership since2005 to date. The programme funded include: – Add projects from 2005 as indicated in the MTR

This will involve.

• Develop an inception report detailing the methodology, tools and techniques and works schedule that will be used to successfully undertake the assignment.
• Undertake review of all documentation at MESPT on various programmes funded by DANIDA to assess their quality and adequacy in demonstrating MESPT results achieved.
• Undertake review at MESPT partners’ level to ensure the documentation is in congruence with what is at MESPT for demonstrated impact.
• Facilitate identification key data/ information gaps. This will include in-depth interviews with MESPT staff as well as visiting specific projects sites across all the counties that the MESPT supported partners are located.
• For any gaps identified, interrogate, analyze the gaps as well as support MESPT on the best steps/ measures to be undertaken in to addressing them.
• Develop a clear plan and facilitate strengthening the existing evidence to ensure it sufficiently demonstrate impact and accountability.
• Develop a draft report detailing the findings and recommendations.
• Present key findings and recommendations to MESPT Team
• Submission of the final report integrating feedback from MESPT Team

4.0 Methodology

The consultancy firm will develop a suitable methodology for the assignment that will ensure that the objective of the consultancy is achieved through a consultative and participatory manner. It is expected that the consultant will adopt a hybrid approach that will involve desk review, in depth discussions with MESPT teams and its partners as well as field visits project sites to gather and document the status of interventions that were supported by DANIDA.

5.0 Expected Deliverables

The consultancy firm will provide the following deliverables: –

• Inception Report:

An inception report outlining the detailed work plan with clear timelines and submission of deliverables. It will also include the data collection tools and the list of Stakeholders/ partners to be interviewed. A comprehensive file with all the documentation relating to DANIDA funded programmes from 2005 to date

• Draft Final Report

The draft final report will follow the same format as the final report (described in the next paragraph) and will be maximum of 40- 50 pages in length.

• Final Evaluation Report

The final report should be produced according to the DANIDA/MESPT evaluation guidelines. The maximum length of the final report should be 40-50 pages in length. It will follow but not limited to the following format: – 1) executive summary, 2) introduction and objective of the assignment 3) Methodology, Tools and techniques used, 4) findings, 5) conclusions and 6) recommendations 7) annexes of the ToR, Data collection instruments, List of meetings/consultations attended, List of persons or organizations interviewed, List of documents/publications reviewed and cited, photo gallery of impacts documented.

6.0 Duration of the Assignment

The assignment will begin with an inception meeting at MESPT Head Office and conclude with a debriefing meeting with the chief Executive Officer. In overall the exercise is expected to take a maximum 40 working days from the date of signing the contract spread over 2 months.

7.0 Administration and logistical arrangements

The consultancy firm will report to Chief Executive Officer and will work closely with all respective Managers and departmental heads. The evaluation will be carried out with logistical support and services of contracted consultancy firm.

8.0 Qualifications and competencies of consultancy team

The consultancy firm should have a diverse mix of technical expertise and academic qualifications necessary for successful delivery of the assignment. In specific the team lead should have at least the following qualifications: –

• An advanced university degree (preferably master’s degree) in applied statistics, Monitoring & Evaluation, Agricultural Economics, Agri-business, Agricultural Education and Extension, Development studies, programme management and/or other related social sciences.
• A minimum of 10 years of professional experience specifically in evaluating programmes in Market Systems Development, value chain development, integrated Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture for international development initiatives preferably in Africa.
• Demonstrated expertise and capability in assessment of small and medium scale enterprise development, regional private sector development, employment creation, related national policies and knowledge of government operational framework.
• Demonstrated experience in conducting impact evaluation of complex bilateral donor funded project.
• Demonstrated experience in conducting M&E capacity assessments, data quality audits/assessments.
• Proven experience with logical framework approaches and other strategic planning approaches, M&E methods, and approaches (including quantitative, qualitative, and participatory), information analysis and report writing.
• Knowledge and expertise of evaluating programmes using result-based impact evaluation guidelines.
• Knowledge and experience with DANIDA and EU funded programme will be an added advantage.
• Excellent communication and interview skills.
• Excellent English report writing skills.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver quality results within strict deadlines.