Tenders are invited for Consultancy Evaluation Sustainable Community Development and Improved Self-Help Capacities in Conflict-Affected Areas of Northern Shan and Karen. Closing Date: 1 Nov 2025 Type: Consultancy Themes: Health/Recovery and Reconstruction TERMS OF REFERENCE Consultancy services to carry out final evaluation on the project titled Sustainable community development and improved self-help capacities in conflict-affected areas of Northern Shan and Karen States. in Myanmar 1. Background and Rational The project titled Sustainable Community Development and Improved Self-Help Capacities in Conflict-Affected Areas of Northern Shan and Karen States was initially designed to support communities in South-Eastern Kayin (Karen) State and Northern Shan State. Following the March 2025 earthquake, the scope was expanded to include Southern Shan State, with a particular focus on the affected areas. These areas are heavily impacted by protracted armed conflict, population displacement, and limited access to essential public services such as education, health care, and livelihoods. The local populations, predominantly ethnic minority groups, are among the most vulnerable in Myanmar, with women and children disproportionately affected. The target areas were deliberately chosen because the needs are immense and the target group receives little support from other actors. In Karen State, the target communities are located near the Thai border, including villages rebuilt by returnees after past conflicts. Agriculture is the primary livelihood, supplemented by forest products, seasonal labor migration, and small-scale trading. Only one-third of the villagers own agricultural land, while the remainder earn their income mainly as day laborers. Farmers often rely on Thai businessmen for agricultural inputs such as seeds, fertilizer, and machinery rental, with repayment rates twice the loan value due immediately after harvest. Rice is primarily produced for home consumption, and the population receives seasonal cash income from crop sales. In Shan State, the project focuses on remote, mountainous communities with limited land access and livelihood options, where traditional farming systems and migration are key coping mechanisms. In Northern Shan, multiple ethnic armed groups remain active, resulting in sporadic clashes with the Myanmar Army and inter-ethnic tensions, which have triggered population movements and increased livelihood insecurity. The local population, mainly Shan and Palaung (Taang) ethnic groups, are traditional rice and upland farmers who previously practiced poppy cultivation for cash income. However, slash-and-burn farming systems no longer fully meet their needs, and access to suitable land for both agricultural and non-agricultural income sources remain limited. The situation is further exacerbated by the presence of armed groups and local militias, which collect tribute and recruit soldiers and porters from the local population. In Southern Shan, the Johanniter and Meikswe Myanmar will carry out targeted measures in the township of Nyaung Shwe, particularly in the eastern coastal areas of Inle Lake, to support the communities affected by the March 2025 earthquake. These efforts aim to enable a smooth transition from reconstruction to self-sufficiency, thus ensuring the long-term resilience and sustainable development of the affected population. The project was initially designed as a three-year initiative, beginning in October 2020 and scheduled to end in September 2023. During implementation, the project underwent four amendments and extensions. Among these, the end date was extended first to April 2024 and later to April 2026, bringing the total duration to five years and six months. It is implemented in 71 villages across Shan State and Kayin (Karen) State: - Kayin State: 25 target communities (originally 20) in Myawaddy and Hlaingbwe townships. - Northern Shan State: 40 target communities (originally 20) in Tangyan and Mongyai townships. - Southern Shan State: 6 target communities in Nyaungshwe Township. Project objectives and results: The overall objective of the project is to protect, restore, and improve the livelihoods of people in the conflict-affected areas of Northern Shan and Karen State, as well as to strengthen their resilience and self-help capacity. This will be achieved through a combination of strengthening local capacities and organizational structures, diversified livelihood opportunities, improved childcare and nutrition, and improved hygiene and sanitation conditions. The project aimed to achieve the following four results: Result 1 Strengthened local capacities through strong community organizations and consideration of gender perspectives Result 2 Diversified livelihood opportunities are accessible to the target groups and are made use of Result 3 Enhanced support of the social, physical and mental development of children aged 0-8 years through early child care Result 4 Improved hygiene and sanitation condition About implementing partners: Meikswe Myanmar Meikswe Myanmar was founded in 2004 in Lashio, northern Shan State, to address health issues for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA), women, and children. Since then, the organization has specialized in implementing programs in education (primarily parenting education and ECCD), health and livelihood support, emergency relief for those affected by disasters and conflicts, and support for internally displaced people and their host communities. A key component of its approach is capacity building among village volunteers and community-based organizations and their networks. In addition to its main office in Lashio, Meikswe Myanmar maintains branches in Yangon, Sittwe and Bogalay and plans to expand its program to other states and regions of Myanmar. The technical teams cover the areas of health, education, livelihoods, and humanitarian aid. In addition to its community development programs, Meikswe Myanmar also runs homes for adults and for orphans living with HIV/AIDS and promotes networking between community organizations. MM is also implementing a number of individual projects supported by various partner organizations and private donors. The partners are IRC, Plan International, Partner Asia, World Concern, World Vision, Open Society Foundation, Capacity Building Initiative, and Johanniter International Assistance. About Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe: Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe (JUH) is a German non-governmental organization, the Federal Headquarters is based in Berlin, Germany and together with people all around the world, JUH strives for life in good health, with secure livelihoods and dignity in times of crisis and for a better future and develops its international programs together with local communities in a culturally and gender-sensitive way, based on the communitys needs supporting the most neglected and vulnerable.. Johanniter has been implementing various projects in SEA with more focus in Myanmar, Cambodia, Philippines and Thailand border. In Myanmar, Johanniter has been operational since 2008, following Cyclone Nargis, and has previously implemented projects in Rakhine, Chin State, and Eastern Bago. Currently, Johanniter in Myanmar is implementing its programs through local partners in Karen State, Shan State, Rakhine State, Chin State, Magway Region, and Mandalay Region. Project reach so far: The following are the summary of project achievements: Detail log frame, progress update and other reference documents will be shared to the selected candidate. - A total of 65 Village Development Committees (VDCs) has been formed, comprising 925 members, of whom 42% are women. - Each VDC has successfully conducted quarterly consultation meetings to identify local needs and priorities, and has developed a comprehensive village development plan to guide and implement community development activities. VDCs developed 22 grant proposals based on their village development plans. - A total of 22 small grants were provided to VDCs for community development projects such as school and road renovations, pond and pipeline improvements, community hall construction, water facilities, and solar streetlights. 19 projects are completed and 3 are nearing completion. - All the VDCs are trained management skills, financial management, community facilitation and gender awareness. - 9 VDC networks have been formed for the development and sustainability of the community development measure. - Multi-purpose cash assistance distribution to 535 conflict affected household in Northern Shan and / or Karen State. - Mine Risk Education event are conducted in 65 villages with 107 village peoples. - Provided the agricultural and non-agricultural vocational training to 1250 villages peoples. - Completed the construction and equipping of community learning center (Teaching center). - Provision of revolving funds to 65 villages in Northern Shan and Kayin State. - Trained 255 women with VDC training on VRF concept, administration and management. - A total of 1,654 community members, identified through the VDCs, have shown interest in obtaining loans for income-generating activities. - 150 Parental Education (PE) Facilitators were selected through a participatory process. - 134 PE facilitators received the TOT and refresher training. - 826 participants are trained on the parents training. - 200 lactating women received food assistance, and a nutrition campaign was conducted for 60 pregnant and lactating women. - 136 playgroup facilitators were selected to support children aged 28 in participating in playgroups that promote their physical and mental development. - Trained playgroup facilitator with training and refresher training. - 12 volunteers have received the MHPSS training. - 143 village hygiene promotors (VHP) are selected and provided the hygiene education (4 clea Tender Link : https://reliefweb.int/job/4181089/tor-consultancy-evaluation-sustainable-community-development-and-improved-self-help-capacities-conflict-affected-areas-northern-shan-and-karen
