Final Evaluation - quantitative review - FCDO-funded EAST programme (DRC)

Background

The EAST programme (Enabling Affected Populations to Survive and Thrive) is a multi-sectoral initiative funded by the UK Government through Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and implemented by a consortium of Concern Worldwide (lead), Première Urgence Internationale (PUI), Acted, the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), and Congo Handicap.

The programme operates in North Kivu, South Kivu, Ituri, and Tanganyika provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), areas heavily affected by protracted conflict, displacement, and chronic poverty. EAST’s integrated approach combines livelihoods and economic recovery, health and nutrition, protection, and the inclusion of persons with disabilities. This project seeks to strengthen the food security and nutrition levels of households affected by conflict and long-term displacement, and to ensure that vulnerable households are protected, able to access humanitarian assistance and better equipped to recover from the effects of violence.

The programme started in December 2023 and runs until March 2026.

The first phase of the evaluation covered the programme’s effectiveness and relevance and impact and sustainability, generating lessons learnt and recommendations. In particular, the below questions were evaluated during the first phase:

• Q1: How well has the programme addressed the priority needs of crisis-affected populations? To what extent is the programme reaching those most in need (coverage, targeting effectiveness)?
• Q2: How well was the consortium’s capacity to adapt effectively to change in the context; and how adequate were adapted activities to change in context?
• Q3: How well did the program align with broader strategies for IDPs and returnees?
• Q4: What are the differences in resilience and autonomy between IGA and CFW participants?
• Q5: How do the different sectors interact and overlap
• Q6: How effective is the consortium model?
• Q7: How effective was the program’s localization strategy?
• Q8: To what extent are programme achievements likely to be sustained?
• Q9: How well are cross-cutting themes integrated across the programme (gender equality, disability inclusion, protection mainstreaming, Do No Harm, and conflict sensitivity)?

The second phase of the evaluation will provide a comprehensive assessment of the EAST’s programme effectiveness and relevance and will in particular focus on progress against objectives. Additionally, it will generate lessons learnt and recommendations that could guide future resilience programming in the DRC and similar fragile contexts.

Scope of the Evaluation

• Geographic Coverage: North Kivu, South Kivu, Ituri, and Tanganyika provinces.

• Sectors/Thematic Areas: Livelihoods & economic recovery, health & nutrition, protection, disability inclusion.

• Timeframe: Project implementation period: December 23/March 26

Purpose of the Evaluation

This second phase will focus on evaluation objectives around progress and achievements against programme objectives – have we done things right ?

• Sectoral Overlap and Aggregate Impact: We are particularly interested in understanding the aggregate impact of the Programme rather than isolated sectoral reporting.
• Progress Towards Outcomes: Provide a clear picture of the progress made against the intended outcomes.
• Consortium Model: Evaluate quantitatively the effectiveness of the consortium model in achieving EAST project objectives
• Programme Pivot: Reflect on what worked well and what challenges were encountered during Programme adaptation. Evaluate how far the activities were adequately adapted to the change in context.
• Value for Money: Assesshow far theprogramme achieved value for money in terms of efficiency, effectiveness, economy, and equity.

Objectives

1. Progress towards programme objectives (Objective 1-5)

• Measure the overall achievements of EAST against its stated objectives, logframe indicators, and theory of change at consortium level and across project targeted provinces to draw comparisons between provinces
• Assess the impact of contextual changes on reaching objectives and progress outcomes.
• Assess the extent to which the project design and activity implementation packages are appropriately and equitably adapted to the realities and specific needs of the targeted territories, in order to inform programming that reflects province-specific characteristic
• Evaluate the extent to which planned outputs and outcomes were achieved across all thematic areas (livelihoods, health & nutrition, protection, inclusion) and assess the reasons (contextual, programmatic, or design factors) for any under or over performance
• Document persistent needs in targeted areas of the EAST programme to inform future funding opportunities, including a strategic orientation of a potential phase 2 of the programme.

2. Reflection on OECD DAC criteria (suggested Effectiveness and Sustainability)

• Assess cost-effectiveness, value for money, and the added value of a consortium approach.
• Examine quantitatively how well the programme addressed the priority needs of crisis-affected populations in eastern DRC, including women, and persons with disabilities.
• Examine to what extent the project is integrated into the government health system, and what evidence exists of sustainable pathways

3. Examination of unintended consequences

4. Assessment of cross-cutting issues

• Assess how well the programme integrated gender, protection, disability inclusion, conflict sensitivity, and climate-sensitive approaches (Cross-Cutting Issues)
• Examine how accountability to affected populations (CRM), equity, and inclusion principles were integrated and how they were accessible and perceived by communities.
• Assess the extent to which programme achievements, particularly in livelihoods and community structures, are likely to be sustained beyond project closure.

5. Identification of lessons learned

• Evaluate the effectiveness of the consortium model quantitatively, with particular attention to the efficiency of the model in reaching programme targets.

6. Generate actionable recommendations to guide adaptive management and future programme design, and advocacy efforts.

7. Assess the effectiveness of the communication and visibility strategies of the programme and toward FCDO through identification of best practices and areas for improvement.

Key Deliverables

1. An inception report outlining the methodology, sample, evaluation tools, work plan, etc, which will be submitted within two weeks of the contract being signed. Please include an evaluation matrix of questions, sub-questions.

2. The data collection and analysis in accordance with proper ethical guidelines (informed consent, confidentiality and data protection, Do No Harm, gender and protection sensitivity, transparency with affected populations) after fieldwork in each of the supported four provinces.

3. A preliminary report with key outcomes at the end of the data collection phase

4. A final report incorporating comments, key findings, lessons learned, and practical

recommendations, structured according to FCDO evaluation guidelines.

Duration and Timeline

• Contracting: January 2026

• Inception Phase: February 2026

• Data collection: February 2025

• Report: March 2025

• Submission to Donor: April 2025

Management & Coordination

The evaluation will be managed by Concern Worldwide (lead agency), in coordination with EAST consortium partners (PUI, Acted, DRC, and Congo Handicap). A steering committee composed of the Head of consortium; Meal team of Consortium Coordinating Unit and consortium partner M&E leads will provide oversight and feedback at key stages.

Required Qualifications & Experience

Proven expertise in designing and conducting multi-sectorial and integrated and large-scale programme evaluations, preferably in fragile/conflict-affected contexts.

• Strong knowledge of humanitarian and resilience programming, including livelihoods, nutrition/health, protection, and disability inclusion.

• Familiarity with FCDO evaluation requirements and reporting structure

• Demonstrated experience in participatory evaluation approaches and inclusion of marginalized groups.

• Excellent analytical, writing, and facilitation skills in French (English proficiency strongly preferred).

• Team composition must include local researchers with knowledge of Eastern DRC

Essential

• Strong knowledge of humanitarian and resilience programming, including livelihoods, nutrition/health, protection, and disability inclusion.

• Demonstrated experience in participatory evaluation approaches and inclusion of

marginalized groups.

• Excellent analytical, writing, and facilitation skills in French (English proficiency strongly preferred).

• Strong experience and understanding of the context in Eastern DRC. Team composition must include local researchers with knowledge of Eastern DRC context and local languages and dialects, including Swahili.

• Relevant and strong experience in research, evaluation, and consultancies, using key evaluation principes and using quantitative, qualitative and change measurement approaches.

• Willingness to participate in vetting process which may include a self-declaration of criminal convictions.

• Availability to start the evaluation work at the stated time

Desirable

• Familiarity with FCDO evaluation requirements and reporting structure

• Ability to lead a team

• Strong interpersonal and social skills

• Acceptable to all key stakeholders

• Reasonable budget

Budget

The Qualitative review was the first phase of the final evaluation. The second phase will include quantitative data collection, including progress against outcomes, and is budgeted at around 20,000 GBP.

The budget will cover consultancy fees, travel, accommodation, enumerator costs, translation costs if required, workshops, and production of deliverables. Consultants are invited to submit a detailed financial proposal.

Methodology :

The consultant/firm is expected to propose a robust mixed-methods approach that will include:

• Desk Review of project documents (proposals, logframe, reports, monitoring data, previous evaluations in particular phase 1 final evaluation report, market and PDM assessments, protection analyses, communication materials, clusters and internal guidelines, FCDO priorities).

• Qualitative Methods including Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), and case studies with beneficiaries, community leaders, consortium staff, and local authorities.

• Participatory Approaches should target (but not limited to) inclusion of people with disabilities, women, and youth in evaluation design and data collection.

• Conflict Sensitivity & Do No Harm: All tools and approaches must ensure protection and ethical principles, especially regarding protection participants (VBG survivors for example).

• Field observation during sites visits to directly assess the quality and relevance of programme activities

• For inclusion, Sign Language Interpreters will support the consultant during field visit to ensure the effective participation of persons with hearing disabilities.

The methodology should ensure triangulation of data sources to strengthen validity.

Data

During this recruitment and selection process, you will provide Concern with your personal data. Concern takes its responsibilities towards this personal data very seriously and is committed to complying with all relevant data protection legislation. Concern uses this information to consider your suitability for this position and may contact you to call you for an interview. Your data may be shared internally to consider this application. Concern will store your data securely. You have certain rights under data protection legislation.

Safeguarding at Concern:

Concern has an organisational Code of Conduct (CCoC) with three Associated Policies; the Programme Participant Protection Policy (P4), the Child Safeguarding Policy and the AntiTrafficking in Persons Policy. These have been developed to ensure the maximum protection of programme participants from exploitation, and to clarify the responsibilities of Concern staff, consultants, visitors to the programme and partner organisation, and the standards of behaviour expected of them. In this context, staff have a responsibility to the organisation to strive for, and maintain, the highest standards in the day-to-day conduct in their workplace in accordance with Concern’s core values and mission. Any candidate offered a consultancy opportunity with Concern Worldwide will be expected to sign the Concern Code of Conduct and Associated Policies as an appendix to their consultancy contract. By signing the Concern Code of Conduct, candidates acknowledge that they have understood the content of both the Concern Code of Conduct and the Associated Policies and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these policies. Additionally, Concern is committed to the safeguarding and protection of vulnerable adults and children in our work. We will do everything possible to ensure that only those who are suitable to work or volunteer with vulnerable adults and children are recruited by us for such roles. Subsequently, being engaged as a consultant with Concern is subject to a range of vetting checks, which may include criminal background checking.

How to apply

Please send a full application pack, including a technical and financial proposals, as well as an evaluation matrix to tess.recoque@concern.net before Sunday, 25th January 2026 COB.