ENDLINE EVALUATION FOR REALISING THE POTENTIAL OF RESPONSIBLE ASGM TRADE (FVO) PROJECT IN TANZANIA

Background

About the organisation

Solidaridad is an international civil society organization (CSO) with 55 years of experience in developing solutions that create resilient communities and sustainable supply chains. We work across value chains to make sustainability the norm, by supporting the transition to an inclusive economy that ensures sustainable livelihoods, fair wages, and production in balance with nature. Guided by our producer-first approach, we champion sustainable land use, contribute to improved working conditions and livelihoods, and ensure food and nutrition security while strengthening producer organizations. We bring together supply chain players and engage them with innovative solutions to enhance production and drive the transition to economies that maximize the benefits for all. Our efforts focus on strengthening local capacities in developing nations, supporting the creation of enabling environments for economies to thrive, and improving market access. Through our interventions, we also promote fair and transparent trade, uphold corporate social responsibility, and encourage ethical sourcing and conscious consumption.

Solidaridad works in over 40 countries, on five continents, through seven independently supervised regional expertise centres: East and Central Africa, West Africa, Southern Africa, Europe (and Network Secretariat), Latin America, North America and Asia. Solidaridad East and Central Africa, one of the regional centres, headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, has country offices and operations in Kenya (Regional Office), Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Uganda, and outreaches in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Burundi, Rwanda, and Cameroon. We support producer organizations to promote sustainable production of specific commodities, including agriculture (coffee, tea, cocoa, fruits and vegetables, and local foods), mining (artisanal and small-scale gold and diamond), and industries (textiles and leather).

About the project

The Realizing Potential for ASGM Trade (FVO) is a 4-years project being implemented by 3 international Organisations -Solidaridad, Fair Phone and The Impact Facility. The project was implemented in Geita Tanzania. The Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) sector in Tanzania has faced significant challenges, including the use of toxic chemicals such as mercury and land degradation. The FVO project was implemented over four years to address these risks by enhancing miners’ capacity to utilize geological information effectively, improving environmental management practices, and introducing safer processing techniques. This Terms of Reference (ToR) outlines the objectives, scope, methodology, deliverables, and timeline for the endline evaluation of the project.

Evaluation objectives:

The primary objectives of the endline evaluation are as follows:

• Assess Impact: Evaluate the overall impact of the FVO project on reducing the use of toxic chemicals and improving environmental management among the 10 ASGM mines.
• Evaluate Capacity Building: Measure improvements in miners’ knowledge and skills regarding geological information utilization and environmental management practices.
• Analyze Mercury Management: Assess the effectiveness of introduced mercury management or mercury-free processing techniques in reducing pollution and health risks.
• Review ESG Compliance: Evaluate improvements in mine operations concerning Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria.
• Examine Inclusivity: Analyze how well women inclusivity initiatives were integrated into project activities and their outcomes.

Scope of Work

The scope of work is as follows:

The consultant will be responsible for conducting a comprehensive evaluation that includes:

Data Collection:

• Conduct surveys and interviews with miners, local stakeholders, and project staff.
• Review existing project documentation including baseline data, progress reports, training materials, and monitoring records.

Field Visits:

• Visit each of the 10 ASGM mines to observe practices related to mercury usage, environmental management, and operational improvements.
• Engage with community members to gather qualitative insights on changes experienced due to the project.

Analysis:

• Analyze quantitative data collected from surveys using statistical methods to determine changes over time.
• Qualitatively assess feedback from interviews to identify themes related to capacity building, ESG compliance, and women’s involvement.

Reporting:

• Prepare a detailed report summarizing findings against each objective outlined above.
• Provide recommendations based on evidence gathered during the evaluation process.

Suggested Approaches and Methodologies

The detailed methodology and field work schedule will be developed in consultation with Solidaridad and the consultant during the inception meeting.

However, the consultant will ensure the following methodology:

• The evaluation will employ a mixed-methods approach combining both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies:

Quantitative Methods:

• Use structured questionnaires to collect data from miners before and after project implementation.
• Employ statistical analysis tools (e.g., SPSS or R) to analyze survey results.

Qualitative Methods:

• Conduct semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders including miners, local authorities, NGOs involved in ASGM support, and community leaders.
• Organize focus group discussions with women miners to understand their experiences better.

Comparative Analysis:

• Compare endline data with baseline data collected at the beginning of the project to measure progress effectively

Deliverables

The consultant is expected to produce the following deliverables:

1. An inception report detailing the evaluation plan within one week of commencement.
2. A draft evaluation report highlighting preliminary findings within six weeks after fieldwork completion.
3. A final comprehensive evaluation report incorporating feedback from stakeholders within two weeks after receiving comments on the draft report.

Expertise Required and Qualification

The consultant or consulting firm should possess the following qualifications and experience:

1. Professional Qualifications:

• Masters in Mineral processing Engineering

1. Experience:

• Proven experience working with similar assignments in similar sectors.
• Specialized knowledge regarding mercury management practices, ESG criteria, gender inclusivity initiatives, and traceability systems in artisanal and Small Scale gold trading.
• Excellent communication skills with proficiency in English language is an advantage.

Duration

The assignment is expected to be undertaken not more than 1month from the date the contract is signed.

Reporting

The Consultant will report directly to the Solidaridad Tanzania Country Manager and work closely with the project team to undertake the assignment.

Confidentiality Statement

All data and information received from Solidaridad for the purposes of this assignment are to be treated confidentially and only be used in the execution of this TOR. All intellectual property rights, including all reports, arising from the execution of this TOR shall be assigned to Solidaridad. The contents of written materials obtained and used in this assignment may not be disclosed to any third parties without the expressed advance written authorization of Solidaridad.