Independent External Midterm Evaluation

ACBAR Procurement Notice: Independent External Midterm Evaluation Reference Number: RFQ-35129 Publishing Organization: Unionaid Notice Type: Request for Quotation Published Date: 2026-10-26 Closing Date: 2026-11-09 Page 1 of 7 TERMS OF REFERENCE (ToR) Independent External Midterm Evaluation 1. Background and Project Overview Union Aid is a non-governmental, not-for-profit organization established in 1979, with experience implementing more than 80 humanitarian and development projects across Afghanistan in health, nutrition, WASH, education, food security, and emergency assistance. In partnership with Malteser International, Union Aid is implementing a project from 1 December 2025 to 31 December 2027 to improve access to essential healthcare, prevent and treat acute malnutrition, and address water, sanitation, and hygiene needs. The project supports six Basic Health Centers (BHCs) in Balkh Province: Baba Yadgar, Joghdak, Gozar Panjsher, Karte Khorasan, Karte Nawshad, and Yolmarab. It targets internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees, and vulnerable host communities, with particular attention to women, girls, children, older people, and persons with disabilities. The project comprises three main outputs: Output 1: Improved Access to Essential Health Services Delivery of primary healthcare through six Basic Health Centers, including maternal and child health, MHPSS, NCD management, community outreach, referrals, health worker capacity building, and essential medicines and supplies. Output 2: Improved Access to Quality Nutrition Services Screening and treatment of acute malnutrition among children under five, nutrition services for pregnant and lactating women, infant and young child feeding counselling, specialized nutritious foods, and health worker capacity building. Output 3: Improved Access to Emergency WASH Services Provision of safe drinking water through well chlorination, hygiene promotion, WASH supplies, and maintenance of sanitation facilities. Project Title Accessible and Integrated Health, Nutrition, WASH Life-Saving Services for Vulnerable IDPs, Returnees, Especially Women and Girls, and Afghan Host Communities inside Afghanistan Project Reference S09-51-AFG/AFG/MaltInt/2026/01 Donor German Federal Foreign Office (GFFO) Applicant / Implementing Partner Malteser International (MI) / Union Aid Project Duration 1 December 2025 – 31 December 2027 Evaluation Period 1 December 2025 – December 2026 Geographical Coverage Balkh Province, Afghanistan Contracting Organization Union Aid, in coordination with Malteser International Page 2 of 7 2. Purpose and Objectives The evaluation will independently assess project progress, performance, and emerging results across health, nutrition, and WASH, identify implementation challenges, and recommend practical improvements and corrective actions during the remaining project period. It will assess relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, service quality, progress against targets, inclusion, safeguarding, accountability, coordination, and sustainability; identify good practices and lessons; and recommend actions to help achieve project targets by 31 December 2027. 3. Scope and Evaluation Criteria The evaluation covers implementation from 1 December 2025 to December 2026 across all three outputs and the six supported BHCs. The exact cutoff date for the midterm evaluation will be November 31,2026. Health Services: availability, access, utilization and quality of primary, maternal and child health, immunization, NCD and MHPSS services; staffing, medicines, referrals, outreach, HMIS, infection prevention and patient safety. Nutrition Services: screening, treatment and referral of SAM/MAM cases; services for pregnant and lactating women; IYCF counselling, supplies, coverage and quality. Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH): progress towards the target of chlorinating 530 wells; water safety, hygiene promotion, WASH supplies, sanitation, committee functionality, community practices and sustainability. Cross-cutting and management: gender, disability and other vulnerable groups, protection/PSEAH, complaints and feedback, community participation, conflict sensitivity, humanitarian principles, environment