SPARK is interested in evaluating its ABIN programme, in its end phase.

Effectiveness

• How did the five respective value chains develop in Cibitoke (Honey, Fruit, Maize and Cassava) and Rumonge (Fish) as a consequence of the start-up of 3 incubators with innovative equipment in which the entrepreneurs engaged (especially regarding commercialization, i.e. market access)?
• How did the programme contribute to innovations (in the Burundian context) and what was the effect of this locally and nationally?

Sustainability

• How relevant is the programme for improving (future) food security?
• To what extent the programme contributed to systemic change in the local agri-business development ecosystems of Cibitoke and Rumonge provinces?

Impact

• Is there any unintended (positive and/or negative) impact of the programme in the the Cibitoke and Rumonge provinces?
• To what extent the programme influenced positively perceptions/attitudes in the communities it operated, relevant to violence and stability?

Deliverables

The consultant(s) conducting this evaluation will produce the following deliverables for this evaluation:

1. Inception report (that includes Methodology and Evaluation matrix, Work plan and detailed timeline);
2. Draft and final report, which will have the following structure[2]:

• Executive summary
• Introduction
• Methodology
• Analysis and findings
• Conclusions on findings, lessons learned and recommendations
• Annexes: Relevant maps and photographs of the evaluation areas, desktop review references, data collection tools, list of interviewees and participants in focus group discussions and raw data in an agreed format.

3. Presentation and validation of key findings of the evaluation to the (one day) workshop organised by programme title staff.

The final evaluation report will be written in English, in PDF and Word format and will be published on the SPARK website.

Calendar (to be worked out for October and November 2022)

Budget for Mid-term Evaluation

The maximum available budget for this assignment is 15.000 euro (incl. VAT), which includes eventual (airplane) travel costs to Burundi. For Field-Visit (Week of November 7^th), SPARK will take care of Transport & Accommodation & Restoration Costs.

Payment Scheme for the Final Programme Evaluation

The payments for the Final Programme Evaluation will be done through the receipt of invoices and upon deliverables approved by the SPARK staff, according to the following scheme:

Expertise required for the Final Programme Evaluation

The evaluator(s) should be (a team of) experienced and independent consultant(s), freelance or from a consultancy organisation, with at least the following expertise:

• Advanced university degree in International Development, Economics, Agribusiness or other related field;
• A minimum of 7 years of professional experience with conducting programme/project evaluations;
• Demonstrated experience in (SME) agribusiness development (especially in relation with Value Chain development and Agri-Business Incubators);
• Previous professional experience in Burundi will be considered an advantage;
• Advanced communication, analytical and reporting skills;
• Fluent in English and French (both reading and writing);
• Fluency in Kirundi will be considered an advantage.

Application for the Final Programme Evaluation

The deadline for submission of applications is the Monday, 17/10/2022.

All applications should include the following:

• Cover letter (maximum 1 page) stating the candidate(s) full-time availability from October 24^th till November 30^th;
• CV’s of all evaluation team members, including three references with contact details per member.
• Example of a similar / relevant previous evaluation done by the Evaluator(s) (preferably in English).
• Technical proposal, which should include:
• Word/PDF: Understanding of the evaluation’s ToR (goals, key research (sub-) questions, VC analysis approach, knowledge of Agri-Business Processing Centres/Incubators, planning, etc.
• Excel/PDF: Financial Proposal, including breakdown per budget line & calculation of total costs per budget line (unity, quantity, price, total).

Interested consultants or firms should send their application to: g.vliegher@spark-online.org, copying j.d.wit@spark-online.org, n.koufos@spark-online.org and d.gikoro@spark-online.org.

Further information may be requested and questions may also be discussed with Gabrielle De Vliegher (g.vliegher@spark-online.org).

Please note that incomplete applications will not be considered.

Due to the large volume of applications we receive, we cannot respond to every applicant individually. There may be a delay between the application deadline and the moment we contact selected applicants.

If you have not received a reply, we regret to inform that we have continued with other candidates.

About SPARK

SPARK develops higher education and entrepreneurship to empower young, ambitious people to lead their fragile and conflict-affected societies into prosperity. SPARK is a dynamic and growing, international not-for-profit development organisation with 100+ staff members, in more than 14 offices around the world. SPARK supports refugees in the Middle-East by providing them with scholarships in universities and higher education institutions in the region. SPARK also supports young entrepreneurs in fragile states, to start or grow their own businesses.

[1] All SPARK programme evaluations’ objectives align with the OECD/DAC Criteria for Evaluating Development Assistance and the EU Guidelines for Evaluations with Gender as a Cross-cutting Issue.

[2] SPARK will provide the template for the Final Programme Evaluation Report. Additionally, the report should be maximum 20 pages, excluding the annexes.