US Embassy Yaounde Cameroon Jobs and Opportunities: - US Embassy Yaounde Seeking Independent External Evaluation and Audit of the Food for Progress 2

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Terms of Reference (ToR) for an Independent External Evaluation and Audit of the Food for Progress 2003 Program in Cameroon

1. Background information

In line with the Food for Progress (FFPr) Act of 1985 and Convention Amended agreement OGSM: FGR-631-2003/333-00 signed on August 17, 2003 and agreement OGSM: FGR-631-2004/167-00, between the Government of the United States of America (USG) and the Government of Cameroon (GoC) represented by Cameroon’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MINADER), CARE International in Cameroon was contracted as the main Recipient Agency (RA) for the Food for Progress 2003 (FFPr03) Program. This was formalised through Agreement No2125/MINAGRI between CARE and MINADER on September 11, 2003 aimed at increasing food production and food security by creating, improving or expanding agri-business and food production activities in order to alleviate poverty, promote agricultural development, enhance food security and create employment in the North and Far North Regions of Cameroon. In order to ensure an efficient program implementation of this 4.62M project, further provisions were made for CARE to sub-contract part of the agricultural production component of the FFPr03 program to the Société Agro-Industrielle de la Bénoue (SAIB) to support the development of commercial agriculture alongside traditional small-plot agriculture with a sprinkler irrigation system and the setting up of a rice husking factory in the Lagdo Valley. Also, the micro-credit component of this program was sub-contracted to Credit du Sahel (CDS) in an agreement done on April 29, 2004 to provide financing for local farmers through micro loans in the North and Far North Regions. In addition, an agreement was done on July 14, 2006 between CARE and Winrock International to implement an agri-business development project in the North and Far North regions in Cameroon. Finally, the improvement of the infrastructures for the Lagdo irrigation system was sub-contracted to “Mission d’étude d’Amènagement et Devéloppement de la Province de Nord”, generally referred to as MEADEN. The last two sub-implementing organizations involved in the implementation of the FFPr03 program were Organisme de Devéloppement, d’étude, de formation et de Conseils (ODECO) for the implementation of the Lake Chad Tree Planting Project in the Lake Chad region in Cameroon and the Limbe Botanic Gardens for the implementation of a floriculture project in Cameroon.

The implementation of this USDA / GoC funded program began in January 2004 and extended beyond the initial completion date with an extension period to allow all the other program components to continue with the program implementation until August, 2010. CARE received the global amount of $2.896.000 and disbursed approved funds to the different sub-implementing organizations and sub-granted to partner organizations for certain technical aspects. Unfortunately, the SAIB component of the program never took off along with the other program components due a land lease issue which has recently been addressed.

The supervisory body of this program was the FFPr03 Review Committee chaired by the Permanent Secretary of MINADER. This was made up of representatives of the Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development (MINADER), the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Regional Development (MINEPAT), MEADEN, the main RA CARE and the U.S. Embassy. The sub-implementing organizations were not considered to be part of the Steering Committee.

In order to officially close out this program, an independent external evaluation and audit has to be carried out in the North and Far North Regions as well as in Limbe, South West Region by July 28th 2011.

2. Evaluation objectives

• Assess the individual management of the FFPr03 funds by CARE, Winrock International, MEADEN, SAIB, the Limbe Botanic Garden, ODECO and Credit du Sahel.
i. If the detailed objectives in the agreements were obtained.
ii. If the funds were rightly spent according to the terms of the agreements.
iii. The institutional capacity and sustainability of the program activities.
iv. The amount and location of any unspent funds and procured assets.
v. The strengths and weaknesses of the different program components.
• Assess the poverty reduction mechanisms put in place in order to empower farmers.
• Assess the program’s impact towards increased agricultural productivity through improved methodologies for financing the rural development project that will increase food production and food security, in order to create, improve, or expand agri-business and food production activities, alleviate poverty, promote agricultural development and create employment in the North and Far North regions in Cameroon.
• Identify program achievements worth strengthening.
• Assess if the methodology used was transparent and adapted to the context.

3. Required Background of the Evaluator

- Team must be bilingual (English and French).
- Tracked experience in carrying out external evaluation of development programs / projects.
- Tracked experience in carrying out external audit of development programs / projects.
- Strong development, agricultural and financial management skills.
- Versed with internationally recognised ethical values.
- Has not been involved in the implementation or assessment of any of the FFP activities in Cameroon during the program implementation.
- Has an international reputation.
- Have two attainable references.

4. Expected Evaluation Results

The individual(s) or team(s) is (are) expected to produce a report in English featuring:
 an executive summary of not more than 2 pages
 detail findings

The evaluation / audit report should assess:
- The program implementation.
- The impact of the activities on the beneficiaries in the project regions.
- The sustainability of the program activities.
- Identified issue(s) on cost / expenses and value for money if any.

The selected auditor / evaluator should:
• Prepare and submit a draft report in English on the findings for comments to MINEPAT, MINADER and the U.S. Embassy in Yaoundé.
• Prepare a narrative report in English clearly indicating if the program objectives detailed in the agreement between the USG and the GoC were reached. This report should be submitted to the Embassy, MINADER and MINEPAT in fifteen hard copies and three soft copies.
• A financial audit report in English assessing the financial systems used, any issues identified, the amount spent, the amount unspent and their location. This should be submitted to the Embassy and GoC in fifteen hard copies and three soft copies.
• Provide a list of all the identified items procured using the FFPr03 funds, indicating the state of the equipment / vehicles and where they are located.

Proposals are expected from interested candidates or parties that meet the requirements in point 3 above by 12:00 noon, on Friday July 08 2011 latest. The application file submitted in English should include:

i. A letter of interest including at least two references.
ii. The methodology to be used.
iii. The detail plan indicating the required time to carry out the evaluation, audit and submit the final report on or before July 26, 2011.
iv. The Curriculum Vitae of the individual or members in the evaluation team.
v. The cost of the evaluation and audit exercise.

Applications should be addressed to:
The Food for Progress Program,
Political and Economic Section,
U.S. Embassy Yaoundé,
6050 Avenue Rosa Parks,
B.P. 817 Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Email: AkomCA@state.gov
Hard copies and / or electronic copies would be accepted.