1. About CSBAG

The Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group (CSBAG) is a coalition formed in 2004 to bring together CSOs at national and district levels to influence Government decisions on resource mobilization, allocation, and utilization for equitable and sustainable development. The major aim of CSBAG participation in the local and national budgeting processes is to ensure that the respective budgets are people centered and subsequently contribute towards, poverty reduction, socio economic transformation and reduction in social inequality. CSBAG’s Vision is “a Uganda with a people centered budget that dignifies Humanity”. The Mission is “to work towards ensuring that resource mobilization, allocation and utilization is inclusive for a transformed Uganda.

1. Background.

CSBAG’s pursuit for equitable resource mobilization, allocation, and utilization by government, is guided by its strategic plan, which is anchored on the theme of Supporting Public Accountability for Revenue and Expenditure (SPARE) and envisions “A Uganda with a people centred budget that dignifies humanity”.  

SPARE is the second-generation Strategic Plan for CSBAG and it provides the road map for programming and operationalizing of the organization’s activities for the periof 2019-2023.  The CSBAG strategic plan seeks to address three key strategic objectives, namely:

1. To influence decisions of governments at both local and national, development partners and private sector approaches on resource mobilization and utilization for equitable, sustainable, and transformative development.
2. To conscientize the citizens to become active participants in policy and decision-making spaces for inclusive growth and development.
3. To build and strengthen the capacity of CSOs, government agencies and private sector actors to carry out its mandate.

To deliver on the above, CSBAG is implementing directly but also through a collaborative approach with its members under the CSO regional budget coalition and other CSBAG outreach structures.

3. The Purpose of Mid Term Review

2021 is the mid-point of the CSBAG Strategic Plan and there is a need to take stock of overall progress registered to date.  CSBAG is thus seeking qualified individuals/firms to undertake a Mid Term Review (MTR) of its strategic plan, through which the organisation can document progress made, identify challenges, and suggest how CSBAG can deliver, even, more effectively in the remaining period basing on the lessons from the MTR.

4. The specific Terms of Reference

CSBAG seeks to undertake a midterm review to demonstrate the progress registered so far.  The specific terms of reference for this assignment include:

1. Assessing progress against the goals and outcomes of the strategic plan, including what has/hasn’t worked in the delivery of the Strategic Plan so far.
2. Reviewing effectiveness of the key strategic interventions applied by CSBAG in the implementation of its Strategic Plan 2019-2023.
3. Reviewing of global and national trends and their effects on achieving the CSBAG Strategic Plan and identify areas that may require renewed efforts to accelerate progress.
4. Providing recommendations that will i) inform implementation of the remaining period of the current strategic plan and ii) contribute to the development of the next strategic plan.

5. Key Deliverable and timeline

This assessment will be undertaken for a period of 20 working days and not exceeding 25^th February 2022.  The Reporting will be designed in three parts.

1. Preliminary study of CSBAG TORs and submission of an inception report with a methodology and time frame.
2. Submit draft report within 15 days of the award of the contract, covering report with an opinion, and detailed report.
3. Submit final report. The Report shall contain the following:

• Executive Summary of MTR findings with recommendations.
• Overall assessment arising out of the findings
• Final Report should include:

1. Executive summary
2. Intervention description
3. Evaluation purpose and Evaluation methodology
4. Findings
5. Conclusions (answers to the Evaluation Questions)
6. Lessons Learnt
7. Conclusion and recommendations
8. annexes (such as list of people interviewed, key documents consulted, data collection instruments)
9. Final de-briefing on the report findings.

6. Reporting

The consultant will be reporting directly to the Executive Director on this assignment and will have a close working relationship with the CSBAG M&E Officer.

7. Qualifications and competencies

Interested applicants should have the following qualifications and competencies:

1. A minimum of a master’s degree in Economic Policy Management, Public Policy Management, Social Sciences, Monitoring and Evaluation, Research, and other related fields.
2. Understanding of the Ugandan context, including knowledge of the Civil Society Sector in Uganda.
3. Experience in conducting evaluations of programmes demonstrated through the provision of previous evaluation reports.
4. Demonstrated track record in results-based monitoring and evaluation, organisational level performance management.
5. Experiencing of strategic planning and execution and carrying out strategic plan reviews.
6. Research experience and the ability to analyse qualitative and quantitative data and compile and summarize results.
7. Strong writing and communication skills.

8. Submission of proposals for the tasks

CSBAG is inviting proposals as specified in this Terms of Reference. Interested consultants/firms are requested to submit technical and financial proposals based on guidance below:

1. Only financial proposals quoted in UGX shall be accepted.
2. The technical proposal should contain:
3. Description of the understanding of the tasks, including comments on the TORs.
4. A brief critique or advice on, what the TOR ought to have included or considered, from your understanding of the task
5. A description of the methodology to be followed, to achieve the desired objectives.
6. Work plan and time scheduling of information gathering and other activities; and
7. CVs of the consultant/firm

9. Application Evaluation Criteria

No	Criteria	Rating/vetting
1	Understanding of the TOR	10%
2	Proposed methodology and planning of assignment	10%
3	Experience in evaluating similar programs in Uganda	25%
4	Experience of the team in conducting similar scale evaluations (we might require copies of previous reports)	30%
5	Experience and suitability of the team leader	10%
6	Cost of the exercise (breakdown)	10%
7	Contact details for 2 referees	5%
	Total	100%

• 10. Application Process.

Interested candidates should submit their application letter, updated CVs, technical and financial proposals and references for similar work conducted previously, addressed to the Executive Director: Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group (CSBAG), email: hr@csbag.org and cc: wonyango@csbag.org Physical copies can also be delivered to our offices: Plot 11 Vubyabirenge Close Ntinda-stretcher road by 5:00pm on 5^th January 2022.