Tender for consultancy services for impact evaluation of UKAID match project in Ethiopia, June 2026

## Islamic Relief Worldwide

Islamic Relief is an international aid and development charity, which aims to alleviate the suffering of the world’s poorest people. It is an independent Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) founded in the UK in 1984.

With an active presence in over 40 countries across the globe, we strive to make the world a better and fairer place for the three billion people still living in poverty. As well as responding to disasters and emergencies, Islamic Relief promotes sustainable economic and social development by working with local communities – regardless of race, religion or gender.

**Our vision:**

Inspired by our Islamic faith and guided by our values, we envisage a caring world where communities are empowered, social obligations are fulfilled, and people respond as one to the suffering of others.

**Our mission:**

Exemplifying our Islamic values, we will mobilise resources, build partnerships, and develop local capacity, as we work to:

- Enable communities to mitigate the effect of disasters, prepare for their occurrence and respond by providing relief, protection and recovery.
- Promote integrated development and environmental custodianship with a focus on sustainable livelihoods.
- Support the marginalised and vulnerable to voice their needs and address root causes of poverty.

At the international level, Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW) has consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council and is a signatory to the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Code of Conduct. IRW is committed to the Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs) through raising awareness of the issues that affect poor communities and through its work on the ground. Islamic Relief are one of only 13 charities that have fulfilled the criteria and have become members of the Disasters Emergency Committee (www.dec.org.uk), and is certified against the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS).

IRW endeavours to work closely with local communities, focussing on capacity-building and empowerment to help them achieve development without dependency.

Please see our website for more information http://www.islamic-relief.org/

## Contextual Background

Ethiopia’s Somali Region, Afder Zone, Hargelle Woreda, is an area frequently affected by droughts in the Horn of Africa. The woreda is predominantly inhabited by pastoralist and agro-pastoralist communities, with approximately 80% of the population relying solely on livestock rearing for their livelihood. Hargelle is also classified as a disaster-prone area that experiences annual episodes of severe drought. In recent years, the woreda has faced at least one severe drought annually, which has further depleted local livelihoods and increased community vulnerabilities to climate-related hazards.

Engagement with local government officials and affected communities highlighted the need for sustainable recovery options to strengthen local coping capacities. Through this initiative, Islamic Relief implemented recovery and resilience strategies to support the affected communities.

## Project background

Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW), with funding from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) under the UK Aid Match (UKAM) programme, which is matched by Islamic Relief UK implemented the project “*Reduced vulnerability and strengthening the capacity of pastoralist households to withstand drought shock in Ethiopia*” from **December 2021 to February 2025**.

This project was implemented in Hargelle Woreda, Afder Zone, Somali Region, by Islamic Relief Ethiopia (IRE) in partnership with the Oromia Insurance Company (OIC) and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI).

The project aimed to enhance the resilience of 3,000 pastoralist households, comprising approximately 19,800 individuals, in the targeted area, enabling them to better withstand drought shocks and other weather-related hazards. Its primary focus was on safeguarding livestock assets and ensuring access to clean water, thereby strengthening household livelihoods. Through multi-sectoral interventions, integration with government resilience strategies, and proactive disaster risk reduction (DRR) measures, the project aimed to establish a successful model for community-led climate adaptation and resilience building.

The overarching goal of the project is to bolster the capacity of 3,000 pastoralist households to withstand drought shocks by:

- Reducing livestock losses and minimizing livestock-related diseases;
- Increasing access to and utilization of water resources;
- Facilitating economic opportunities for agro-pastoralists through fodder production;
- Providing access to DRR technologies to improve drought preparedness.

Through an integrated approach, the project aimed to reduce drought vulnerability and promote sustainable livelihoods. This included:

- Livestock protection through Index-Based Livestock Insurance (IBLI) and e