TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR)

MID-TERM REVIEW OF THE SOS CHILDREN’S VILLAGES ESWATINI NATIONAL STRATEGY (2023–2027)

1. Background

SOS Children’s Villages Eswatini is implementing its National Strategy (2023–2027) with the overall goal of ensuring that households participating in SOS programmes become self-sustaining and provide quality care for every child.

The strategy was developed based on assumptions regarding programme growth, expansion, family strengthening, alternative care, organisational modernisation, and community development. Implementation was expected to take place across the programme locations of Mbabane, Nhlangano and Siteki, while progressively expanding services into additional communities through reintegration and formal kinship care.

Since implementation began in 2023, several internal and external changes have influenced programme delivery. These include:

Reduction in the number of children supported under Family Like Care (FLC).
Increased reintegration of children into their families of origin in line with the UN Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children.
Reduced funding for Direct Family Empowerment (DFE), resulting in greater emphasis on Community Focused Empowerment (CFE) interventions.
Limited implementation of the planned expansion strategy, with expansion fully realised only in the Siteki Programme Location.
Shifts in programme priorities, funding availability and operational approaches during implementation.

These changes have inevitably affected the assumptions, targets and expected outcomes outlined in the National Strategy.

The organisation therefore seeks to undertake a Mid-Term Strategy Review to determine how implementation has evolved, assess progress toward the strategic goal, verify achievements at community level and among beneficiaries, identify implementation gaps, and recommend adjustments for the remaining implementation period (2026–2027).

Unlike the initial desk review, this assignment will include extensive field verification in the programme communities to compare planned interventions against actual implementation and community experiences.

2. Purpose of the Review

The purpose of the Mid-Term Review is to assess the extent to which the National Strategy remains relevant, effective and achievable despite changes in programme implementation, funding and organisational priorities.

The review will verify actual progress made in communities, assess whether strategic objectives are still on track, and provide evidence-based recommendations for improving implementation during the remaining strategy period.

3. Objectives

General Objective

To assess the implementation progress, effectiveness, relevance and continued suitability of the National Strategy (2023–2027) through document review and field verification.

Specific Objectives

The review shall:

Assess progress toward the strategic goal and expected outcomes.
Determine the extent to which strategic targets have been achieved.
Compare planned interventions against actual implementation.
Assess how programme changes have affected the achievement of strategic objectives.
Verify implementation results at community level.
Assess community perceptions regarding programme relevance and impact.
Assess the sustainability of interventions introduced under the strategy.
Review the effectiveness of reintegration support provided to children returned to family care.
Assess the impact of reduced Family Like Care (FLC) and Direct Family Empowerment (DFE) support on intended strategy outcomes.
Determine whether Community Focused Empowerment (CFE) interventions are contributing towards the intended strategic goal.
Identify lessons learned, good practices and implementation bottlenecks.
Recommend strategic adjustments for the remaining implementation period.

4. Scope of the Assignment

The consultant shall review implementation between January 2023 and the date of the review.

Geographic Coverage

The review will cover programme locations and communities where SOS Children’s Villages Eswatini has been operating from 2023 to date.

The consultant will undertake field verification in the following communities:

Siphocosini
Sigangeni
Zombodze
Mbilaneni
Lusabeni
Phafeni

Any additional communities where reintegrated children from Family Like Care (FLC) have been placed will be obtained from the location files.

The National Association (NA) has been operating in three Programme Locations:

Mbabane Programme Location – Hhohho Region
Nhlangano Programme Location – Shiselweni Region
Siteki Programme Location – Lubombo Region

Strategic Areas

The review shall assess:

Programme Expansion
Family Strengthening
Alternative Care
Reintegration
Community Development
Child Participation
Organisational Modernisation
Resource Mobilisation
MEAL Systems (SOS Connect)
Partnerships
Sustainability

5. Key Review Questions on the Impact of the National Strategy

NA Programmes Relevance

Is the strategy still responding to the needs of children, families and communities?
Have implementation changes affected the relevance of the strategy?

NA Programmes Effectiveness

What progress has been made toward achieving the strategic goal?
Which targets have been achieved?
Which targets are unlikely to be achieved?
What factors contributed to success?
What factors limited implementation?

NA Programmes Efficiency

Were available resources used efficiently?
Were programme changes managed effectively?

NA Programmes Impact

What changes have occurred in children’s wellbeing?
How has reintegration contributed to family care?
Have households become more self-reliant?
What changes are visible within the communities?

NA Programmes Sustainability

Are supported households maintaining gains independently?
Are community structures capable of sustaining programme outcomes?

NA Programmes Adaptation

How did reductions in Family Like Care affect implementation?
How did reductions in DFE affect programme outcomes?
Has Community Focused Empowerment compensated for these changes?
Did limited programme expansion affect the achievement of strategic targets?

6. Methodology

A mixed-methods approach shall be used.

Desk Review

The consultant shall review the following documents:

National Strategy
Annual Operational Plans
Annual Reports
MEAL Reports
Sponsorship Reports
Reintegration Reports
Financial Reports
Monitoring Data
Project Evaluations

Field Verification

The consultant shall conduct:

Community visits to verify implementation.
Focus Group Discussions with community members who are beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries.
Key Informant Interviews with traditional leaders, caregivers and community structures.
Interviews with Executive Board Members.
Interviews with Executive Management.
Interviews with Middle Management.
Interviews with Programme Directors.
Interviews with Social Workers.
Interviews with MEAL Staff.
Household visits.
Visits to reintegrated children and their caregivers.
Observation of completed interventions.

7. Expected Deliverables

The consultant shall submit:

Inception Report.
Data Collection Tools.
Community Validation Presentation.
Draft Mid-Term Review Report.
Final Mid-Term Review Report incorporating comments.
Presentation of findings to National Management.

8. Proposed Timeline

Activity	Days
Inception Meeting	1
Document Review	3
Tool Development	2
Field Data Collection	8
Data Analysis	4
Draft Report	3
Validation Workshop	1
Final Report	2
Total	Approximately 24 Working Days

Timeline: The assignment should be completed not later than 5 November 2026.

9. Expected Outputs

The review should produce:

Progress against each strategic objective.
Status of strategy indicators and targets.
Assessment of implementation fidelity.
Assessment of programme adaptations.
Community-level evidence of results.
Analysis of factors affecting implementation.
Good practices and lessons learned.
Recommendations for improving implementation during 2026–2027.
Recommendations for the development of the next National Strategy.

10. Application Submission

All applicants must submit their applications in a sealed envelope by 12 noon on 18 September 2026 at:

SOS National Office

Behind the SOS Children’s Villages Blue Gate

Applications must include:

Cover Letter
CV and references
Academic certificates
Three referees and recommendation letters
Sealed envelope with a clear label

Important Notice

No emailed documents will be accepted.

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TOR MID-TERM REVIEW OF THE SOS CHILDREN’S VILLAGES ESWATINI