Call for Evaluator(s) to conduct an Final External Evaluation of the project “COVID-19: Civil Society Resilience and Sustainability”

ERIM is looking for an experienced #evaluator to carry out the final evaluation of our #project COVID-19: Civil Society Resilience and Sustainability (COVID CSR&S). This 48-month regional project was launched in July 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic with the objective of assisting CSOs located in the Eastern Partnership countries adversely affected by the crisis.

This vacancy is open until 17th March 2024. You can find all the information below and on our website.

1. Context of the project

ERIM is a French-registered non-profit, non-governmental organisation providing innovative projects to improve the quality of education, strengthen independent media, foster pluralistic civil society development, and reduce conflict. ERIM’s approach emphasizes partnerships with local development organisations to expand capacity, build sustainable institutions and affect change through training, partnerships, education, research, and grant projects.

1. Objectives of the project

COVID CSR&S is a 48-month regional project funded by the European Union and implemented by ERIM, the Transatlantic Foundation-Black See Trust (TF-BST), Human Rights House Foundation (HRHF), Human Rights House Tbilisi (HRHT) and Human Rights House Yerevan (HRHY). The project aims to support grassroots organizations located in the Eastern Partnership countries. Launched in July 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, its objective is to assist civil society organizations (CSOs) adversely affected by the crisis. Through providing core support and capacity-building, the project empowers CSOs to mitigate the pandemic’s adverse effects. A key aspect of the initiative is to promote civic participation and support CSOs to produce quality information.

Donor: EU

Title: COVID-19: Civil Society resilience and sustainability

Duration: 4 years

Location: Six Eastern European countries

Lead organization: ERIM

Duration : 1 July 2020 – 30 June 2024

Budget: 4,25 M €

The project’s target groups include:

• CSOs, independent media & media professionals
• Rural youth & general population, in particular vulnerable groups from rural areas

Project’s overall objective:

Foster the resilience and sustainability of civil society in Eastern Partnership countries to mitigate the immediate and longer-term impact of COVID 19

Specific objectives:

SO 1: CSOs in Eastern European countries build their sustainability and resilience to the effects of the COVID-19 crisis.

SO 2: CSOs in Eastern European countries are better skilled and equipped to continue supporting their beneficiaries and protecting vulnerable communities.

SO 3: CSOs and media in Eastern European countries counter disinformation and fake news, and promote access to reliable information on the pandemic and its impact on communities.

Activities:

1.1: Emergency grants for CSOs (all target countries).

1.2: Psychosocial and legal support to those working for CSOs and initiative groups.

2.1: Technical support grants to strengthen CSOs digitalization.

2.2: Capacity development training in the aftermath of the pandemic.

2.3: Cooperation within civil society.

3.1: Core support to independent media and CSOs working to debunk false information and provide counter narratives.

3.2: Media campaign, advocacy and awareness raising grants.

3.3: Government oversight grants.

1. Objectives of the evaluation

The scope of the final evaluation will center on reviewing the project’s activities and achievements over the course of the past four years, starting in July 2020.

The objectives of the final evaluation are:

• Review the implementation of the project.
• Assess the level of achievement of both outputs and objectives.
• Assess the relevance of the project’s approach and strategies in addressing the identified needs and priorities of the target communities or beneficiaries.
• Assess the effectiveness of the Financial Support for Third Parties (FSTP) component in achieving its intended goals and objectives (including the impact of grants on the sustainability of CSOs).
• Identify strengths and weaknesses in the implementation of FSTP activities.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of project management and coordination mechanisms.
• Provide recommendations and lessons learned to implementing partners.

The evaluation should include the following criteria.

• Relevance:
  • Was the project design and strategy relevant to the changing context of implementation?
  • Did the project appropriately respond to the needs and priorities of the target groups?
• Coherence:
  • Did the project contribute to synergies and interlinkages with other actors or interventions in the project target countries?
• Efficiency:
  • Were the activities implemented in line with the plans?
  • What other strategic priorities should be addressed in future projects?
• Was the project managed effectively, including financial and human resources management, proper work planning, reporting, budgeting, and monitoring?
• Effectiveness:
  • Do the outcomes of the project contribute to accomplishing its specific objectives?
  • What are the major factors influencing the achievement or non-achievement of the specific objectives? How has the project adjusted to these dynamics?
• Impact:
  • How are small, medium or large organizations differently impacted by the project?
  • Did the project contribute to help civil society and independent media in the target countries to overcome the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic?
  • What are the direct and indirect changes produced by the project?
• Sustainability:
  • To what extent do the grants contribute long lasting effects?
  • Do “best practices” emerge from the activities, which of them are likely to continue beyond the project?

Other potential criteria that could be included in the evaluation are Partnership and Collaboration, and Learning.

1. Methodology of the evaluation

The evaluation will include desk research, interviews and writing of the final report:

• Secondary sources, to be gathered through:
  • Desk research: review of the material and documentation developed within the project, log frame the reports of the events organised, relevant reports, results of the mid-term evaluation, surveys, etc.
  • The M&E tools created, including the grants monitoring tables, beneficiaries tracking table, questionnaires, and grants progress scales.
• Primary data sources, to be gathered through:
  • Semi-structured individual interviews (preferably in person): Individual interviews will be used to collect information from the key informants of the project like project partners, experts and consultants and beneficiaries to get their in-depth opinions about the project; its success, strengths and weaknesses, and future course of direction.
  • Focus groups with implementing partners.
  • Interviews and focus groups will be conducted both online and offline, depending on availability and the feasibility of travel.

1. Deliverables

• Inception report (max 2 pages) giving a brief description of the project being reviewed and the consultant’s methodology.
• Final report: evaluation report in English, between 20 and 30 pages, including a table of contents, brief introduction, an executive summary (max 1 page), objectives and methodology, observations, lessons learned and conclusions as well as a list of findings and annexes.
• Short presentation to the project partners, reviewing the main conclusions and recommendations of the evaluation. This presentation (in Power Point) will then be used by ERIM and its partners to present the results to external stakeholders.

1. Organisation and timeline

Travels

If the conditions allow, the consultant(s) will collect data in person and travel to two or more countries where the project is implemented (Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, Ukraine).

Proposed calendar for the final external evaluation

This calendar will be reviewed upon availabilities and opportunities (or restrictions) for travels.

Selection of the consultant

Submission of the proposition, including Evaluation methodology

By 17th March 2024 (EOD)

Inception and desk research

Validate the evaluation tools and methodology with the M&E / Project Managers.

Select persons to be interviewed and to attend to FG.

By 6th April 2024

2

Data collection

Organize the FG discussions.

Conduct individual interviews.

Spring 2024

12

Analysis

Analysis of data collected through FG and interviews.

Spring 2024

5

Reporting

Submission of draft report.

By 3rd June 2024

3

Submission of final evaluation report and presentation to project partners.

By 17th June 2024

2

Total estimated working days

24

1. Application

Qualifications

• Degree or professional experience in human rights and or media related fields.
• At least five years of experience in external evaluation, including EU funded projects.
• Experience in the evaluation of CSO and independent media capacity building and media and information literacy projects would be a strong asset.
• Proficient in handling sensitive projects, demonstrating discretion and professionalism in all aspects of project management.
• Experience in conducting evaluations in a challenging environment.
• Fluency in English is mandatory. Please also mention your level of knowledge (if any) in speaking/ writing and reading in other languages of the project countries (Georgian, Ukrainian Armenian, and Romanian).
• Availability to work on a flexible schedule.

You can apply individually or as a team of evaluators. In either case your application should consist of the following:

• Expression of interest, emphasizing relevant experience, motivation, and daily rate (2 pages max.)
• A technical proposal detailing your understanding of the main issues of the assessment and the context, a methodology proposal as well as an indicative timetable (maximum 6 pages)
• A detailed financial proposal
• An updated CV(s)
• Contact details for 2 references.

Fee:

• Up to 10,000€.

How to apply

If you are interested, please send your application and financial offer to [email protected] and [email protected] with the subject “COVID CS&RS Project – Final External Evaluation”.

The deadline for applications is 17th of March 2024 (EOD).