Evaluation of Shelter Assistance UN High Commissioner for Refugees
Consultant: Evaluation of Shelter Assistance in Afghanistan
UN High Commissioner for Refugees
Closing date: 15 May 2012
19 April 2012
“Request for Proposals”Evaluation of Shelter Assistance in Afghanistan
I. Overview of UNHCR’s objectives and information related to this specific activity:
Since 2002, UNHCR’s shelter assistance programme has provided over 215,000 units of shelter to vulnerable returnees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) throughout Afghanistan. The programme has been subjected to technical and financial reviews and its design and implementation procedures have been improved over the years. However its contribution to the improved reintegration outcomes defined as achieving sustainable return and parity between returnees and other members of the local community has not been researched.
To pursue this objective, UNHCR is requesting proposals to carry out an evaluation of its shelter assistance programme in Afghanistan.
Non-profit organizations are invited to prepare their proposals and submit to UNHCR Office in Kabul by Tuesday 15 May 2012 before 16:00 pm to email address khpalwak@unhcr.org.
II. Requirements:
The Implementing Partner shall consider the following requirements in submission of their proposals:
• A statistically significant number of shelters constructed with UNHCR assistance within the last three years (2009, 2010 and 2011) throughout Afghanistan will be physically visited, beneficiaries interviewed, occupancy rate established and information obtained accordingly and in the format of UNHCR. The research proposal must define a statistically number of shelters to be reviewed. Information about the number of shelters constructed between 2009-2011 and locations is available upon request (khpalwak@unhcr.org).
• Regions to be covered will include the East, Central, North, Southeast and Western regions of the country. Once again, the statistically significant sample should indicate what percentage will be reviewed in each of the respective regions.
• The goal of the shelter evaluation is to identify the impact and socio-economic contribution of UNHCR’s shelter assistance to the sustainable reintegration of returning refugees at the household level.
• The Shelter Evaluation should shed light on such issues / questions as follows:
Beneficiaries: 1) Are the selected beneficiaries the most vulnerable in their community? 2) Has the beneficiary selection process been relevant and appropriate? 3) Are vulnerable female headed households sufficiently represented in the selection criteria and procedures (or alternatively, how could single female headed households be better identified through the selection process?)
Individual: How has shelter impacted their life (positive, negative, neutral)?
Community: 1) How have shelter projects affected other community members (increased tensions, or alternatively improved community life through increased absorption capacity?) 2) If the shelters are currently unoccupied or have been rented to others, what are the reasons? 3) If people have left their UNHCR shelters, is it because there were insufficient livelihood opportunities or access to basic services?
Shelter assistance programme: 1) Is the programme cost effective (cost-benefit of identifying vulnerable households, are shelter construction components according to accepted standards and quality? Are procurement procedures and prices on par with local market rates?) 2) What modifications can be suggested to improve the current programme?
The research final evaluation report should also include information on:
A) Number of shelters visited (date and location) in each region B) Date of shelter assistance C) Date of beneficiary return D) Number and details of beneficiary interviewed E) Number and details of other persons interviewed (selection committee, local population) F) Shelter occupancy rate / owner or rented / reasons for vacancy G) Do beneficiaries match the
VRF forms
Other issues to be researched within the evaluation includes:
• Is the shelter programme relevant to the reintegration needs of returnees? How can it be modified to better address these needs?
• Has the shelter program helped to stabilize the returnee population in their places of origin? Is shelter assistance to households a potential driver of conflict between the host community and returnees, and if yes, is the current practice of allocating some shelters to most vulnerable community members sufficient to reduce this possible source of conflict? Should alternative mitigating measures be put into place?
• Range of beneficiary indebtedness prior to and after receiving shelter assistance. Methods and rate (time taken) of debt payment. If there is indebtedness, what are the mechanism used to settle with creditors?
• Are UNHCR demands for beneficiary participation too high? If yes, what would be the recommendation to reduce this?
• What possible exit strategy could be foreseen for the UNHCR shelter programme? Which ministry could potentially address shelter for the most vulnerable?
• It is acknowledged that the shelter progarmme is designed for the most vulnerable “landowners” whilst the most vulnerable returning refugees are those with no access to land (or insufficient access to land to accommodate the increased family size during years of exile). Does UNHCR (through NRC) do enough to address the needs of the most vulnerable returnees to secure access to land and shelter? What more could be done?
• Could shelter construction for the eligible families be supported in a more cost-effective manner by permitting more diversified procurement and financing arrangements?
• Are vulnerable beneficiaries (women head of household, elderly, disabled, very large families, low income families, EVIs) impacted in the same way by the shelter assistance?
III. Format and submission of proposals Applicants are invited to submit their proposal for financial support to undertake these activities to UNHCR. The recommended proposal format is attached as annex A. The suggested budget can be submitted in Excel or similar software. The narrative and financial budget should indicate as to how long the research is expected to take.
IV. Due dates Proposals should be submitted to Nematullah Khpalwak, in UNHCR Kabul through Email address: khpalwak@unhcr.org no later than Tuesday 15 May 2012 - 16:00 pm.
V. Evaluation procedures UNHCR will review all proposals using the following point system:
Component Maximum score Sound and feasible implementation strategy 40 NGO has a proven expertise in providing evaluation services in Afghanistan or other country 30 NGO has a proven financial control system, with sufficient internal controls and no recorded cases of fraud or mismanagement from UNHCR or other donors 10 The proposal represents value for money, and is cost efficient and puts forward an effective plan of action 20
How to apply:
Non-profit organizations are invited to prepare their proposals and submit to UNHCR Office in Kabul by Tuesday 15 May 2012 before 16:00 pm to email address
khpalwak@unhcr.org .
UN High Commissioner for Refugees
Closing date: 15 May 2012
19 April 2012
“Request for Proposals”Evaluation of Shelter Assistance in Afghanistan
I. Overview of UNHCR’s objectives and information related to this specific activity:
Since 2002, UNHCR’s shelter assistance programme has provided over 215,000 units of shelter to vulnerable returnees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) throughout Afghanistan. The programme has been subjected to technical and financial reviews and its design and implementation procedures have been improved over the years. However its contribution to the improved reintegration outcomes defined as achieving sustainable return and parity between returnees and other members of the local community has not been researched.
To pursue this objective, UNHCR is requesting proposals to carry out an evaluation of its shelter assistance programme in Afghanistan.
Non-profit organizations are invited to prepare their proposals and submit to UNHCR Office in Kabul by Tuesday 15 May 2012 before 16:00 pm to email address khpalwak@unhcr.org.
II. Requirements:
The Implementing Partner shall consider the following requirements in submission of their proposals:
• A statistically significant number of shelters constructed with UNHCR assistance within the last three years (2009, 2010 and 2011) throughout Afghanistan will be physically visited, beneficiaries interviewed, occupancy rate established and information obtained accordingly and in the format of UNHCR. The research proposal must define a statistically number of shelters to be reviewed. Information about the number of shelters constructed between 2009-2011 and locations is available upon request (khpalwak@unhcr.org).
• Regions to be covered will include the East, Central, North, Southeast and Western regions of the country. Once again, the statistically significant sample should indicate what percentage will be reviewed in each of the respective regions.
• The goal of the shelter evaluation is to identify the impact and socio-economic contribution of UNHCR’s shelter assistance to the sustainable reintegration of returning refugees at the household level.
• The Shelter Evaluation should shed light on such issues / questions as follows:
Beneficiaries: 1) Are the selected beneficiaries the most vulnerable in their community? 2) Has the beneficiary selection process been relevant and appropriate? 3) Are vulnerable female headed households sufficiently represented in the selection criteria and procedures (or alternatively, how could single female headed households be better identified through the selection process?)
Individual: How has shelter impacted their life (positive, negative, neutral)?
Community: 1) How have shelter projects affected other community members (increased tensions, or alternatively improved community life through increased absorption capacity?) 2) If the shelters are currently unoccupied or have been rented to others, what are the reasons? 3) If people have left their UNHCR shelters, is it because there were insufficient livelihood opportunities or access to basic services?
Shelter assistance programme: 1) Is the programme cost effective (cost-benefit of identifying vulnerable households, are shelter construction components according to accepted standards and quality? Are procurement procedures and prices on par with local market rates?) 2) What modifications can be suggested to improve the current programme?
The research final evaluation report should also include information on:
A) Number of shelters visited (date and location) in each region B) Date of shelter assistance C) Date of beneficiary return D) Number and details of beneficiary interviewed E) Number and details of other persons interviewed (selection committee, local population) F) Shelter occupancy rate / owner or rented / reasons for vacancy G) Do beneficiaries match the
VRF forms
Other issues to be researched within the evaluation includes:
• Is the shelter programme relevant to the reintegration needs of returnees? How can it be modified to better address these needs?
• Has the shelter program helped to stabilize the returnee population in their places of origin? Is shelter assistance to households a potential driver of conflict between the host community and returnees, and if yes, is the current practice of allocating some shelters to most vulnerable community members sufficient to reduce this possible source of conflict? Should alternative mitigating measures be put into place?
• Range of beneficiary indebtedness prior to and after receiving shelter assistance. Methods and rate (time taken) of debt payment. If there is indebtedness, what are the mechanism used to settle with creditors?
• Are UNHCR demands for beneficiary participation too high? If yes, what would be the recommendation to reduce this?
• What possible exit strategy could be foreseen for the UNHCR shelter programme? Which ministry could potentially address shelter for the most vulnerable?
• It is acknowledged that the shelter progarmme is designed for the most vulnerable “landowners” whilst the most vulnerable returning refugees are those with no access to land (or insufficient access to land to accommodate the increased family size during years of exile). Does UNHCR (through NRC) do enough to address the needs of the most vulnerable returnees to secure access to land and shelter? What more could be done?
• Could shelter construction for the eligible families be supported in a more cost-effective manner by permitting more diversified procurement and financing arrangements?
• Are vulnerable beneficiaries (women head of household, elderly, disabled, very large families, low income families, EVIs) impacted in the same way by the shelter assistance?
III. Format and submission of proposals Applicants are invited to submit their proposal for financial support to undertake these activities to UNHCR. The recommended proposal format is attached as annex A. The suggested budget can be submitted in Excel or similar software. The narrative and financial budget should indicate as to how long the research is expected to take.
IV. Due dates Proposals should be submitted to Nematullah Khpalwak, in UNHCR Kabul through Email address: khpalwak@unhcr.org no later than Tuesday 15 May 2012 - 16:00 pm.
V. Evaluation procedures UNHCR will review all proposals using the following point system:
Component Maximum score Sound and feasible implementation strategy 40 NGO has a proven expertise in providing evaluation services in Afghanistan or other country 30 NGO has a proven financial control system, with sufficient internal controls and no recorded cases of fraud or mismanagement from UNHCR or other donors 10 The proposal represents value for money, and is cost efficient and puts forward an effective plan of action 20
How to apply:
Non-profit organizations are invited to prepare their proposals and submit to UNHCR Office in Kabul by Tuesday 15 May 2012 before 16:00 pm to email address
khpalwak@unhcr.org .
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