After 03 years of implementation, the project “Green solutions for access to energy for poor communities in the Mekong Delta” need to hire an independent expert to evaluate its results.
1. Introduction
Green Innovation and Development Centre (GreenID) is a Vietnamese non-profit organization (NPO) established in 2011, working to promote sustainable energy development, wise use of green solutions and inclusive decision processes in Vietnam and the larger Mekong region. GreenID has diverse and close partnership with multi-stakeholders at national and local levels. GreenID is an active member of several NGO networks at national, regional and global levels. From 2016 - 2018, GreenID had got financial support from Bread for the world to conduct the project on “Green solutions for access to energy for rural poor in the Mekong Delta” (Phase 1). After finished phase 1, there are still about 700 households in Tinh Bien still remain non-electrified. About 3,660 households in 15 communes not yet connected to the grid in Tri Ton district based on initial data of Agriculture Department in 2018. Un-electrified households are located in scattered hamlets and the main grid where grid extension is too costly, but unreachable. The infrastructure such as road is often in poor status. This results in higher cost for construction and installation. Energy utility is not interested in expansion grid to this area due to a low demand but high investment. Due to high investment cost and lack of state budget, the grid extension project for off-grid communities in these two districts were delayed. Meanwhile, off-grid renewable energy solutions are not yet prioritized in the current rural electrification program. In addition, it is also lack of appropriate financing mechanism supporting for end-users to apply alternative renewable energy solutions. This new trend promises green economy development potential however some new challenges for local authorities and farmers are identified. Solar farm require a lot of land so it will require land use shifting, which will affect employment and livelihoods communities. Emerging solar farm project registration in the districts may contain high potential of land conflict and loss livelihood for famer due to lack of comprehensive energy and land use policies in place and lack of available alternative livelihood options for farmers. These are the most challenges for local authorities in the coming time.
With aims to improve livelihood conditions through alternative solution application for rural people in two district, GreenID had summitted a proposal and received a funding from Bread for the World (BFTW) from March, 2019 to February 2022, to conduct the project on “Green solutions for access to energy for poor communities in the Mekong Delta””. This project will conduct in 04 communes including O Lam, An Tuc, Chau Lang and An Hao of Tinh Bien & Tri Ton district, An Giang province. The main project’s objective is to create opportunities for green livelihoods for the poor households through increased application of renewable energy. By this application, it will help improve life conditions of rural people and contribute to sustainable energy solution development in An Giang province and Mekong Delta, Vietnam. In order to implement this project, GreenID is continuing coordinate with An Giang’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) under Project Management Board with participation of representatives of commune, district and village. The target group including:
- At least 500 off -grid households in 04 communes of 02 districts of which at least 50% are poor households and 50% beneficiaries are women
- At least 04 local entrepreneur/enterprises provides alternative energy solutions for off – grid households
- At least 50 poor households most likely affected by large – scale solar plant will benefit from suggested alternative livelihoods solutions
- Up to 20 households in green village applied different green livelihood solutions to improve their living conditions.
- At least 6 staffs of provincial government benefit from the project activities
- At least of 03 staff of national state agencies including National Assembly, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development receive news and policy recommendations from the project
- At least 02 Researchers from An Giang University benefit from engagement in project study
- 05 GreenID Staff enhanced its capacity through implementation process of this project
After 03 years of implementation, the project end-phase evaluation is to assess energy of the project interventions toward improve livelihood of poor and off – grid community in An Giang province. The evaluation will help GreenID, its international and local partners to identify the successes, challenges, and lessons learnt for development of the project in the future.
2. Cause and Evaluation Objectives:
The project evaluation is conducted at the end of the period in this time in order to timely evaluate the project results and lessons learned during implementation. The results will be used to share with stakeholders in order to improve the effectiveness of cooperation to continue project activities and achieve results. At the same time, the evaluation results are also considered as an inputs for the next project development.
Objective of the evaluation: To evaluate the project’s process and pending issues and challenges in implementation. The evaluation will also assess other project quality aspects such as relevance, equity, and sustainability, and provide lesson learnt for improvement of project in the future and recommendation of the way forward.
3. Key questions:
- Effectiveness: To assess the achievement of project at objective/outcome level of “improve livelihood of poor and off – grid community in An Giang province”
- Efficiency: To access how the objectives be achieved in an economically viable manner.
- Impact: To access how the project contribute to the attainment of overall project development goal.3
- Relevance: To assess how the project design and implementation is appropriate to local needs & local government policies/orientation & GreenID’s strategy.
- Equity: Assess how the project paid attention to target groups – disadvantage households, gender equality.
- Sustainability: To assess the overall management and structure of the project, particularly focusing on potential practices of the project to be participated, owned and continued by local people.
4. Evaluation design/methods
This final assessment is conducted in combination with secondary data review, qualitative and quantitative evaluation. The consultant will review and statistic data from secondary data and work with GreenID project manager, then conduct in-depth interviews (IDIs), focus group discussions (FGDs) and conduct quantitative surveys. The detailed design of the evaluation method will be proposed by the consultant in the proposal sent to GreenID.
5. Process of evaluation/Timeframe The evaluation will be conducted from June to August, 2021 with detailed requirements as follows:
6. Expected outputs:
- A final evaluation report in English. The report have to include executive summary. The length is around 30 pages without annex.
- The report should be used Unicode font (Time new roman 12 or arial 10).
7. Key qualification of the evaluator
− An independent expert with at least 05 years of experience in the field of evaluation and evaluation of development projects and other related projects.
− Having a master's degree or higher degree in accordance with the content of evaluation work such as community development, energy management, environment, development consultancy ...
− Ability to use English fluently (Speaking and writing).
− Ability to write and present reports in English.
− Ability to synthesize, analyze independently, objectively and make appropriate, insightful, creative and feasible recommendations in the Vietnamese context.
− Able to complete jobs with a commitment to quality under pressure of time.
− Ability to go on the field in the field required by the job.
− Objectively and honestly in the spirit of constructing and giving suggestions to improve the project implementation efficiency.
8. Content of the evaluator’s offer
- Consultant fee will be negotiated based on consultant’s competency, market competitiveness and in accordance to Bread For The World cost norm & GreenID financial regulation.
- All expenses related to travel, accommodation, meals and other cost occurred during the evaluation will be discussed and included in consultant fee package.
Contact information:
Please submit your CV (including consultant fee and technical proposal) to Ms. Nguyen Thi Ha – Program Manager, GreenID.
Address: C1X3, Lane 6, Tran Huu Duc Street, Nam Tu Liem district, Hanoi.
Tel: 02437956372.
Email: ntha@greenidvietnam.org.vn.
Deadline for applicant: 15/7/2021.