Kenya: Evaluation of Rescue Dada Centre Project 2022-2024 “Empowering Street-Connected Girls to Achieve their Full Potential”

Rescue Dada Centre’s legal holder is the Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi. The Centre was established in 1992, as a two roomed rescue operation in Mathare slums. However, soon it expanded to a Centre rescuing, rehabilitating and reintegrating street connected girls. Today Rescue Dada Centre has grown to an experienced, registered CCI, with 23 staff and the capacity to rescue, rehabilitate, reintegrate and re-socialize 70 street-connected girls back into the community every year. Its expertise in the field of rescue, rehabilitation, reintegration and re-socialization is recognized amongst numerous actors in the field, including the government’s Children’s Department, various CCIs, and (international) NGOs. The management, over the years, has been able to develop an effective operational structure for the Centre’s work, guided by comprehensive operational policies and a strategic planning, action and reflection cycle that informs the Centre’s work.

Rescue Dada Centre (RDC) works to reduce the number of street-connected children within Nairobi, focusing on girls. We aim at empowering the girls to achieve their full potential and increasing the livelihood security of caregivers. This is done through preventive and curative measures, by rescuing, rehabilitating, reintegrating and re-socializing street connected girls into a conducive family environment, educational sponsorship, strengthening skills and economic empowerment of the caregivers’ and increase commitment of care providers, communities and local government to uphold children’s rights.”

Currently Rescue Dada Centre is implementing a 3-year project “Empowering Street Connected Girls to Realize their Rights” running from 2022-2024 in line with its vision to contribute to an inclusive Society where vulnerable children have equal rights and opportunities to achieve their full potential.

It has the following programmes: 

1. The Child Protection Programme rescues 70 street connected girls, aged 5 to 16 years, each year. The girls are offered residential rehabilitation for a period of 3-6 months when they transit to family-based rehabilitation if not fully rehabilitated following the guidelines of the care reforms by the government. They are then re-socialized through intensive 2 year follow up supporting the girl to readjust to the family and community environment. The programme works with the 4R+P Approach, i.e. Rescue, Rehabilitation, Reintegration and Re-socialization and Prevention one of the best practices for working with street connected children. It addresses the girls immediate (protection from abuse, access to shelter, food, health care, psychosocial support) as well as long term needs (family environment, education, life skills, vocational training) and offers psychosocial support to identified needy caregivers. The programme also supports 40 former street connected girls through secondary school sponsorship.
2. The Empowerment programme aims at increasing the livelihood security of 55 caregivers per year reducing the risk of their children to (re-*)*join the street through business skills training and support to start income generating; supports5 girls in vocational sponsorship; 40 vulnerable girls & mothers through in-house hair dressing and beauty training and employability skills training; 10 caregivers through external vocational training. Target group in internal and external vocational sponsorship are linked to the job market. Empowerment programme has cross-cutting activities which includes life skills training and Alumni Association to ensure sustainability of the support provided.

An overarching component around advocacy and awareness creation runs in collaboration with these two programs. It focuses predominantly on mainstreaming child rights and child protection issues related to street children through training other organizations’ and local government officials on reintegration and children rights and targeted advocacy and sensitization aimed at longer term supportive policy environment.

Key Stakeholders involved in Rescue Dada work include the Archdiocese of Nairobi and Caritas Nairobi, Government departments namely - Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Development, Starehe District Children Office, Civil Society Organizations (e.g. Charitable Children Homes, Non-governmental Organization, Community Based organizations, Church Organizations), Local Government officials (Pangani police, chiefs) and community members (e.g. teachers). Our target group includes: girls, aged 5-16 rescued from the street environment and in rehabilitation, girls reintegrated to the community, (Future) Caregivers of street-connected girls, vulnerable mothers and girls from the community.

2. Rational and purpose of the Evaluation: 

The RDC project “Empowering Street Connected Girls to realize their Rights” (2022-2024) is in the final year of implementation. Therefore, RDC wishes to evaluate the projects current state of implementation success and project the likelihood of achieving its results by the end of 2024.

The broad purpose of the evaluation is to provide analysis and evidence-based, relevant, and practical recommendations for the development of RDC project 2022-2024 in order to develop lasting solutions to specific needs of the target groups RDC is working with.

The findings and recommendations of this evaluation will inform RDCs project direction and contribute to identifying good practice, improving the RDC project approach, programme methodology, sustainability of outcomes and at the same time will be used for accountability purposes towards RDC stakeholders’ at large (government, donor, civil society and the private sector).

3. Scope: 

The time period the review will cover is the duration of the current project 1st January 2022-30th December 2024. The area of geographical focus will be mainly Nairobi and its environs few travels to other parts of the country.

The evaluation will assess the performance of RDC in implementation of the project considering aspects of the following dimensions: relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact and sustainability and make recommendations for the future plan.

The main stakeholders involved in the evaluation are:

• RDC staff
• Representative from Archdiocese of Nairobi
• Street-connected Girls, who are rescued from Nairobi and its environs and are either undergoing rehabilitation, in sponsorship (secondary and vocational), or reintegrated into the community
• The families – caregivers and siblings, of street-connected girls supported by Rescue Dada Centre.
• Girls and vulnerable mothers who are attending/attended RDC`s cosmetology training.
• Caregivers supported through the empowerment programme to start income-generating activities and vocational skills training.
• CCIs and other children actors including teachers trained in the last 2-years in “Good Practices for Reintegration and Child Protection against Child Sexual Abuse” training
• Government institutions and NGOs and other children actors that RDC cooperates with.

Objectives: 

The key question of the evaluation is to determine whether the project has achieved its long-term objectives which are:

1. Objective 1: By the end of 2024, 210 street connected girls that were rescued, rehabilitated and reintegrated have embarked on a life away from the streets where their rights are met.
2. Objective 2: The livelihood security of 195 caregivers, 120 vulnerable girls & mothers in cosmetology, 15 girls in vocational sponsorship improved by the end of 2024.
3. Objective 3: 42 Child protection actors and 3 local government representatives transfer acquired Child Rights and Child protection knowledge within their institutions and/or target groups by the end of 2024.

And to determine to what extent has the project contributed to the overall project goal of reducing the number of street-connected children within Nairobi, with a specific focus on street-connected girls, by increasing self-reliance of caregivers, families and enabling children to realize their full range of rights.

The evaluation will consider the following aspects:

1. To assess the relevance of the project to the needs of the target groups, and context: 

• To what extent do the interventions, objectives, set respond to the problems and needs of RDC target groups and as such relevant to be included in the future RDC projects?
• How relevant was it to the target groups’ needs and priorities?
• To what extent are the objectives of the project still valid?
• How can the project be replicated in other contexts?
• Key lessons the target has learned.

2. To assess the effectiveness of the RDC project in achieving the objectives and (long term) outcomes expressed in the project proposal within agreed timelines and budgets: 

• To what extent were the originally defined objectives and RDC intervention realistic? To what extent were the planned objectives achieved / are likely to be achieved by the end of the project period?
• How effective were the intervention strategies used in the implementation of the project?
• What difference did the interventions make in the life of the target groups (negative / positive, intended/unintended)?
• To what extent did the planned activities contribute to achieving the objective and the expected accomplishments?
• What (internal and external) factors were crucial for the achievement or failure to achieve the objectives so far (indication of strengths and weaknesses)?
• To what extent is the target group reached?
• What are the future intervention strategies and issues?

3. To assess the efficiency of RDC operations by determining to what extent the least costly resources (including financial, human capital, assets) possible have been used in order to achieve the desired results: 

• Were the resources sufficient for achieving the results?
• Were the results commensurate with the resources? Did the actual or expected results (outputs and outcomes) justify the costs incurred?
• How did the project financial management processes and procedures affect project implementation? Were the results achieved on time?
• Were all activities organized efficiently and on time?
• To what extent the resources were used economically? How could the use of resources have been improved?
• Where there any alternatives to achieve the same results? If yes, which ones?
• Was the project implemented in the most efficient way compared to alternatives? In particular, how do the costs and use of resources compare with other similar projects?

4. To assess the positive and negative impacts produced by RDC interventions, directly or indirectly, intended or unintended: 

• Does the RDC project contribute to reaching higher level development goals including the sustainable development goals? To what extent have overall goals of RDC been achieved so far?
• What are the positive and negative changes produced directly or indirectly, intended or unintended?
• What is the impact of the intervention in proportion to the overall situation of the target group or those affected?

5. To assess to what extent RDC activities contribute to sustainability:

• Which mechanisms have been put in place over the period to contribute to financial sustainability of the project?
• To what extent are the benefits of the projects likely to be sustained after the completion of this project?
• What is the likelihood of continuation and sustainability of project outcomes and benefits after completion of the project?
• How effective were the exit strategies, and approaches to phase out assistance provided by the project including contributing factors and constraints?
• Describe key factors that will require attention in order to improve prospects of sustainability of Project outcomes and the potential for replication of the approach.

5. Methodology: 

The evaluation will focus on a participatory, mixed method approach, ensuring that the views of all key stakeholders are taken into account.

This will include (at a minimum) a briefing meeting with RDC management, participatory information gathering, and a debriefing meeting with RDC management and representatives of different key stakeholders to check that the draft report findings and recommendations are representative of the stakeholder views.

The consultant will develop a draft design and plan for the evaluation methodology based on the briefing with RDC management. The RDC management will have the opportunity to review the design prior to finalization.

Secondary data sources to be taken into account during desk study:

Internal Documents: 

• Project proposal 2022-2024
• Project theory of change
• Project reports 2022 and 2023
• Programme Database 2022 and 2023
• Beneficiary files
• Relevant policies including programme policies and procedures and organizational structure
• Audited financial reports from 2022-2023

External Documents:

• National Care Reform Strategy for Children in Kenya 2022-2032
• National Guidelines for Transitioning Child Care System in Kenya 2023.
• New Children’s Act 2022.
• Child Welfare Programmes Guidelines 2023
• Guidelines for the Alternative Family Care of Children in Kenya

During the evaluation the team must consider the OECD/DAC evaluation quality standards. The familiarity with these standards is absolutely necessary to ensure that evaluations meet the international standards and requirements.

6. Key Tasks, Time Frames and Deliverables: 

The consultant will undertake the following key tasks to address the objectives outlined in 4 above:

1. Design the methodology to conduct the evaluation including establishing the sample size, develop tools, plan data collection and define analysis needs.
2. Review related documents including the project proposal and documents outlined
3. Develop a timeframe for the data collection.
4. Collect and analyze the data.
5. Write a draft evaluation report detailing the findings to be discussed in the stakeholder debriefing;
6. Conduct a stakeholder debriefing,
7. Finalize the draft report following the debriefing.

The consultancy is expected to take a maximum of 15 days beginning 1st March 2024 (this includes data collection phase, validation workshop and draft report). The final report arising from the evaluation should be handed over to the Director latest 26th March 2024.

The following are the expected deliverables for the evaluation:

• Inception report outlining the whole plan and the Methodology framework (evaluation plan) for discussion with RDC at the outset of the review;
  • Conduct tasks 1-3 above
  • Planning meeting on methodology and timeframe for data collection.
  • Data collection phase
  • Data Collection: field visits
• Raw data
  • Analysis and draft Report
• Verified data and Draft report
  • Review phase
  • Validation workshop: Verification with key stakeholders
• Documentation of Verification meeting
  • Final Report
  • Writing of final report
• Final report
  • The format & required content will be agreed upon with the consultant prior to commencing the assignment.
• Report validation
  • The consultant will disseminate the report first to the RDC management and thereafter to other staff involved in the review. Comments arising will be addressed before the report is finally shared with partners and other stakeholders.

7. RDC Support Team: 

RDC will support the consultant throughout the process with relevant information, suggestions and logistics. The core team will consist of:

• M&E Coordinator as key contact person
• RDC Management

How to Apply: 

The ideal consultant(s) shall fulfil the following requirements:

• Preferably a Master’s Degree in a relevant field of study
• Evaluation experience of at least 5 years.
• Excellent written and spoken English.
• Excellent reporting and communication skills.
• Being sensitive to issues affecting children and families living and/or working on the streets.
• Of advantage is experience in working with CCIs

Interested firms/consultants should submit technical and financial proposal to rescuedadacentre@gmail.com including;

• Interpretation of Terms of Reference
• Proposed Methodology to undertake the assignment
• Detailed work plan for the assignment
• CV of consultant (s)
• 2 References for Evaluation & samples of similar assignments conducted within the last three years.

Guidelines for the Offer: 

• Context: How do you see the context and what are the potential obstacles to the evaluation?
• Objective of support: What is the aim of the consultancy and what is achievable from the point of view of the consultant?
• Professional background and relevant experience of the consultant/consultancy
• Approach: Which approach (methodology, tools and instruments) does the consultant choose to achieve the objectives?
• Outputs: What are the delivered outputs, what do they contain and in which form will they be presented?
• Timeline: How many working days will be required to produce each output?
• Cost Calculation and Support needed: What are the resources and support required from RDC in order to deliver the outputs?
• Reporting: How do you ensure a feedback loop with RDC?
• The projected fee of the work is 450,000/-

Offers should be sent, not later than 13th of February 2024, to: RDC Email: rescuedadacentre@gmail.com

For any inquiries contact:

Songot Way, off Park Road,

Ngara, Nairobi, Kenya
P.O. Box 31053—00600,
Tel: +254 725 694 624.

www.rescuedada.org
Email: rescuedadacentre@gmail.com