Overall Objective
The overall objective of Mid Term Review (MTR) is to assess performance of the strategy, paying particular attention to the impact of the actions against its objectives and to identify key lessons and to propose practical recommendations to improve performance in the second half of strategy implementation. Half-way into FTA strategy and project implementation, and considering the emerging trends driving the strategy and its foundational tenants, the MTR will;
- Assess strategy implementation against the backdrop of provided core support, project plans and agreed MEAL framework;
- Assess the relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability, impact and outcomes halfway into implementation of the strategy and the various projects being implemented alongside the strategy;
- Identify emerging issues in programming and operations and recommend to FTA how to improve/adjust implementation of the current strategic plan in the second half making progress towards fulling FTA mission and contributing to its vision.
Scope of The Mid Term Review
The evaluation will review the performance of the FTA 2021 – 2025 Strategic Plan since its inception to date. Specifically, create an accurate and comprehensive picture of the project implementation, generating findings on evaluation criteria and documenting good practices and lessons learned.
The MTR will be the result of an analysis of strategy and projects implementation; analysis of strategy and project documents, literature review, and quantitative and qualitative assessment based on the agreed methodology with the Consultant(s). The consultant(s) should propose a robust methodology that will representatively survey key internal and external stakeholders including but not limited to secretariat staff, regional staff, respondents from Producer Organizations.
Geographical scope: FTA driving strategy implementation through 4 directorates and implementing the strategy and projects in the 4 regions across various value chains as follows;
At the FTA Secretariat are the 4 Directorates overseeing implementation of the strategy and projects;
- Commercial Directorate: overseeing implementation of strategic pillar 1 Product and Market Development and working through the regions;
- Strategy and Impact Directorate: overseeing implementation of pillar II Policy & Advocacy as well as monitoring and evaluation unit and working through the regions;
- Programmes Directorate: overseeing implementation of pillar 3 Sustainable Farming Systems and 4) Transformed & Strengthened Producer Organizations as well as implementation the 4 regions and projects and working with regions;
In the regions, implementation of strategy and project interventions is delivered through;
- West African Network (WAN): Key products are Cocoa, Banana. Key focus countries are Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire;
- Eastern & Central African Network (ECAN); Key products are Coffee, Flowers, Tea; Key countries are Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, and Rwanda;
- Southern Africa Network (SAN); Key products are Sugar, Tea, Wine; Herbs, herbal teas and spices; Key Countries are Malawi, South Africa, Madagascar and Mauritius
- Middle East & Northern Africa Network (MENA): Key products are Nuts & oils; Herbs, herbal teas & spices key countries are Egypt, Tunisia, and Morocco.
The Consultants will propose the MTR approach, methodology and sampling frame and have in-country team members. This assignment will be delivered in a combination of virtual and in-person meetings.
The MTR will incorporate major findings from FTA annual reports and project progress reports, organizational and project financial audits and other organizational and project documentation and publications in order to draw evidence-based conclusions and recommendations on the six standard evaluation criteria (OECD/DAC) outlined below:
1. Relevance
- Assess the extent to which the FTA strategy objectives and design respond to beneficiaries, global, country, and institution needs, policies, and priorities, and continue to do so;
- What aspects the strategy would need to be modified to improve its relevance in the second half of strategy implementation?
2. Coherence
- Assess the extent to which the various projects implemented by FTA support achievement of the strategic objectives. Assess internal coherence, the synergies and interlinkages between the strategy and projects implemented by FTA. Also assess external coherence i.e., the consistency of the projects and the strategy interventions with other actors’ interventions in the same context including complementarity, harmonisation, and co-ordination with others;
- Based on the progress so far, make recommendations what changes to current arrangements would improve coherence in the second half of strategy implementation.
3. Effectiveness
Assess to what extent the strategy outcomes (short term and long-term output level) have been achieved, the major factors influencing these achievements. Specifically,
- Assess the qualitative and quantitative achievements of objectives, strategies, activities, targets, indicators, as defined in the FTA MEAL framework, as well as other documents and work-plans;
- Assess how the various projects being implemented are contributing to the strategy and progress they are making towards contributing to the overall strategy;
- To what extent has the strategy promoted various cross cutting themes gender, youth, climate etc? What approaches have been adopted to ensure the cross-cutting themes are fully considered in developing project outputs and carrying out project activities;
- Based on the findings, make recommendations what changes to current arrangements would improve effectiveness in the second half of strategy implementation.
4. Efficiency
- To what extent the objectives are achieved in a timely and economically viable manner- are the deployed resources to implement the strategy and the various projects adequate in relation to the achieved results? Is the conversion of inputs (funds, expertise, other resources, time, etc.) into outputs, outcomes, and impacts, in the most cost-effective way possible?
- Based on the findings, make recommendations what changes to current arrangements would improve efficiency in the second half of strategy implementation.
5. Impact and Sustainability
- Assess the extent to which the strategy and various projects are generating significant positive or negative, intended, or unintended, higher-level effects. What are the significant and potentially transformative effects of the outcomes of the strategy?
- Assess the extent to which the net benefits of the strategy outcomes continue, or are likely to continue?
- Based on the findings, make recommendations what changes to current arrangements would improve impact and sustainability in the second half of strategy implementation.
6. Effectiveness of management arrangements
Review the performance of the monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, reporting and the use of various M&E tools. In particular,
- Assess the qualitative and quantitative aspects of management and other inputs (such as equipment, monitoring and review and other technical assistance and budgetary inputs) provided by FTA vis-à-vis achievement of objectives, strategies, activities, targets, indicators of the Strategic Plan;
- Review the MEAL framework on its appropriateness to track the strategy implementation and propose any changes to it not limited to indicators and result areas.
- Identify factors and constraints which have affected the Strategic Plan’s implementation including technical, managerial, organizational, institutional, and socio-economic issues in addition to other external factors.
- Based on the findings, recommendations what changes to current arrangements would improve effectiveness of management arrangements in the second half of strategy implementation;
Specific Outputs
The MTRs findings and recommendations will be thoroughly discussed at FTA. The Consultants will complete and submit a draft final report in soft copy at the end of the assignment. Key stakeholders (Program Team representatives, MEL Team and the FTA Leadership Team) will provide comments on the Draft Final Report, based on which The Consultants will finalize the report.
The consultant is expected to deliver:
- An Inception report that articulates the overall requirements of the TOR including proposed methodology, work plan with clear timelines, and division of labour where necessary;
- Draft report on the implementation of the tasks defined in the TOR recommendations;
- A validation workshop (virtual);
- Mid-Term Evaluation Report;
- A Power-Point presentation with the preliminary findings and recommendations.
Duration and time frame
The mid-term evaluation shall be expected to be completed within 3 months from the start date from mid-April to end July 2023.
