Background

SoCha (meaning social change) is a U.S. small business focused on monitoring, evaluation, and learning in international development. We are preparing a proposal in response to USAID’s call for an evaluation of community gardens programming in Zimbabwe. We are seeking a highly experienced evaluator with quantitative and qualitative research skills to lead the evaluation, which is expected to launch in August 2024 after a contract is awarded to the successful bidder.

Zimbabwe is an agriculture-based economy with the majority of rural communities relying on rainfed agriculture. Community gardens and water supply infrastructure are the most common types of assets created by USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA)’s Early Recovery, Risk Reduction and Resilience (ER4) awards in Zimbabwe. Most community gardens are established to promote access to nutritious foods and increase household income. The gardens have had mixed success with some continuing to function after activities end, while some are abandoned after activities end.

USAID has commissioned this evaluation to assess the contribution of community gardens to household nutrition and income. This evaluation will look at three aspects related to community gardens: 1) Assess if community gardens are making any meaningful contribution to nutrition, particularly focusing on dietary diversity of women of reproductive age and children 6-23 months old and household income. 2) Assess different sizes of plots per participant and establish the minimum plot size necessary for gardens to be effective in improving nutrition and/or income. 3) Assess the functionality and sustainability of gardens focusing on governance, water supply, production, and marketing. The evaluation results will inform BHA on investment in gardens and related infrastructure. It will enable BHA to develop technical guidelines on minimum standards for investment in community gardens and related infrastructure.

SoCha seeks highly skilled and qualified Subject Matter Experts to support the Community Gardens Contribution to Household Income and Nutrition evaluation in Zimbabwe. SoCha is looking for an individual with expertise in one or several of the following subject matter areas: (1) Agriculture, especially agricultural economy and irrigation, (2) economics and business management, (3) gender, (4) governance and sustainability, and (5) nutrition, especially food security. The period of performance for this evaluation is approximately 6 months. Subject Matter Experts will report to the Evaluation Team Leader.

Scope of Work

Subject Matter Experts’ responsibilities include:

• Conduct desk review of research, studies, and evaluations in subject matter area.
• Support evaluation design, especially the design of data collection tools.
• Support qualitative analysis. This includes reviewing community garden case studies and household survey findings, and providing summary analyses in subject matter area.
• Support the team leader in presenting preliminary findings to USAID and internal and external stakeholders.
• Draft and/or review sections of the final report in subject matter area.

The tasks outlined above are subject to change and are indicative but not exhaustive for the role. Other tasks may be assigned by USAID, the SoCha Technical Director, and/or the Evaluation Team Lead.

Minimum qualifications and experience

This position is open to local and international consultants.

• An advanced degree in a relevant field including agriculture, economics and business management, gender, governance and sustainability and/or nutrition.
• Proven experience in conducting research and/or evaluating development programs in agriculture, economics and business management, gender, governance and sustainability, and nutrition.
• Proven skills and experience in developing tools and instruments for evaluations and/or research such as survey questionnaires, semi-structured interview guides, or observation protocols.
• Proven skills in the analysis of qualitative and/or quantitative data.
• Proven skills in report writing.
• Experience in Zimbabwe highly desired.
• Experience and familiarity of USAID policies and procedures, including the ADS 201 series is highly desired.
• Strong communication and writing skills in English are required.

Location

Zimbabwe 50% and remote 50%.