Open call: Project evaluation for the Sound Connects Fund

Context

The Music In Africa Foundation and Goethe-Institut are implementing the Sound Connects Fund, a European Union (EU) and Africa Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP) funded 40-month project aiming at supporting creatives in Southern Africa in nine countries, namely Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho and eSwatini.

The project aims to support creatives and practitioners through sub-grants to improve their products and services, in gaining more access to markets and to finances, as well as in implementing initiatives focused on audience literacy.

The Music In Africa Foundation is a non-profit, pan-African organisation with a vision to be the leading source of information and exchange in and for the African music sector. As the Federal Republic of Germany’s internationally active cultural institute, Goethe-Institut promotes access to the German language, encourages international cultural cooperation and provides up-to-date information about Germany.

Services required and purpose of the evaluation

The final evaluation will focus on the entire implementation period (2021-2024). The performance of the project will be assessed against planned results and the preliminary indicators of potential impact and sustainability. The evaluation will reference the project proposal and the logframe and propose actionable recommendations for future projects.

Basic information

• Two implementing organisations.
• 36 grantees in nine countries.
• One external MEAL (monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning) service provider.
• One external financial auditor.

Scope of Work (services, activities and outputs)

The final evaluation will give an overview of the SCF project’s achievements and highlight any gaps, missed opportunities, challenges, etc. The results of the evaluation will inform the donors, implementation partners, the direct and indirect beneficiaries, and associate partners.

Approximate steps of deliverables

Deliverable 1: Clarification meeting and inception report, based on the terms of reference and existing information. After a first discussion with the contractors, the service provider will prepare a detailed inception report, including methodology and evaluation criteria. The inception report details the evaluators understanding of the evaluation and how the evaluation questions will be addressed. This is to ensure that evaluator and the stakeholders have a shared understanding of the evaluation.

Deliverable 2: Research, including materials by SCF management and interviews with SCF management, external service providers, training facilitators, grantees and other associate partners. Preliminary findings presented in a maximum five-page document, including possible table of contents for the evaluation report.

Deliverable 3: Frist draft evaluation report for review and comments by the MIAF, Goethe-Institut and stakeholders. Comments will be provided within 10 days after the reception and a joined meeting will be held to discuss the feedback.

Deliverable 4: Final Evaluation Report (e-copy), including a well-designed PowerPoint presentation summarising the methodologies, key findings, conclusions and recommendations as well as a summary report with a maximum of two-to-three page format.

NOTE:

• The service provider will work closely with the SCF team and the M&E consultant who will provide necessary support and guidance to facilitate the evaluation process and completion, including liaison with the beneficiaries of the project.
• Travels for project visits are not planned, however attendance for the last conference in January/February 2024 might be required. Travel costs will be paid directly by Goethe-Institut.

Duration of the service

Approximately four months between November 2023 and February 2024. Final delivery is end of February 2024.

Required expertise, qualifications and competencies (including language requirements)

• At least five years of proven experience in conducting evaluations for international organisations.
• Extensive experience in project evaluation of cultural and development projects, as well as a fair understanding of the cultural and the creative industries within Southern Africa.
• Expertise and experience of working in the Southern Africa region in a similar capacity.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.
• Strong technical and analytical capacities and demonstrated knowledge of research methods and techniques for data collection and analysis.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, and excellent report writing in English.

Submission of proposals

Only qualified and experienced service providers capable of delivering services on time and at affordable rates with a proven track record will be considered.

Interested service providers should submit a detailed technical and financial proposal, including the following:

• Technical offer/description of implementation of services.
• Budget that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs.
• Overview of past experience of the bidding company/consortium of companies/freelancers covering at least the last three years (maximum the last six years).
• Clear indications of all personnel involved (by providing respective CVs).

General provisions

1. Goethe-Institut reserves the right not to appoint any service provider or to appoint the work to more than one bidder.
2. Goethe-Institut reserves the right to undertake reference and other checks and by responding to this bid; the consultant(s)/service provider hereby gives Goethe-Institut consent/authority to undertake such checks.
3. Goethe-Institut reserves the right to withdraw this bid/or amend these terms of reference by notice in writing (email or posting on the website) to only shortlisted bidders who will have responded to this call prior to the closing date.
4. The award of the contract will be based on best value for money – that being the best outcome for Goethe-Institut as a whole, considering price, economic, environmental and social benefits (if applicable).

Miscellaneous

• The information, materials and documents made available by the contracting authority may only be used for the purpose of this tender, have to be kept strictly confidential and are not allowed to be recirculated to third-parties without prior approval of the contracting authority.
• Costs incurred for the preparation and presentation (including travel expenses) for the bid cannot be reimbursed. Unless otherwise agreed, the documents, samples, etc. attached to the bid will pass into the ownership of the contracting authority; bidders cannot claim a reimbursement of any costs.

Instructions on submission of offer

Offers need to be submitted electronically (preferably in one PDF) in English to Ms Priscilla Mwasinga at [email protected] with the subject line ‘SCF Final Evaluation’ no later than 31 October 2023.

Late submissions will not be considered.

Contact for further inquiries

Ms Priscilla Mwasinga, MEAL officer, at [email protected].