Evaluation of the Carter Center’s Project Sudan Youth Citizen Observer Network

About The Carter Center :

The Carter Center is a 501(c)(3), not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization founded in 1982 in Atlanta, GA, by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, in partnership with Emory University. The Center has helped to improve millions of lives in more than 80 countries by waging peace, fighting disease, and building hope. The Carter Center is guided by a fundamental commitment to human rights and the alleviation of human suffering. It seeks to prevent and resolve conflicts, enhance freedom and democracy, and improve health.

The Carter Center collaborates with other organizations, public and private, in carrying out its mission around the world. Current information about the Center’s many programs and activities are available at The Carter Center.

The Carter Center is seeking a consultant to conduct an evaluation of a project funded by several international donors. As part of the Center’s aim to support a nation-wide and multi-faceted corps of youth-based observers, the Sudan Youth Citizen Observer Network (YCON), through independent grassroots monitoring, local peacebuilding, public reporting and advocacy, are expanding youth political participation and protecting civic space in Sudan.

Background :

Sudanese youth, particularly young women, played leadership roles during the 2018-19 protests that ousted former president Omar al-Bashir. According to a Chr. Michelson Institute report, some 70% of protestors were women. Young women and men rightfully expected to play a significant role in the post-Bashir transition, including serving as watchdogs of the transition to democracy as well as transitional justice measures, facilitating improvements in social services, and helping to resolve longstanding conflicts in their local communities. The Constitutional Charter, the Juba Peace Agreement (JPA), the core documents of the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC), and the civil society coalition that led protests against al-Bashir, recognize the need to promote youth and women. Yet more than two years into Sudan’s transition, and eight months into a violent conflict between the army and paramilitary, youth and women have been completely sidelined, their watchdog efforts are atomized, and their work to mitigate or resolve conflicts is disjointed. Moreover, both women and youth are the most affected segment of the Sudanese population by the ongoing fighting between the two belligerents.

Since April 15, 2023, the country has experienced significant armed conflict between two warring groups. The YCON therefore has shifted its focus away from observing the political transition towards documenting the current conflict and its impact on security, displacement and humanitarian situation, among others. Methodology has shifted from written reports by observers towards surveys and analysis by the YCON Secretariat. However, the original outcomes have remained static:

Outcome One: Increased coordination among youth-led organizations, resulting in integration of youth perspectives on key political and peacemaking processes and public policy as well as the empowerment of young women to fully participate in monitoring and reporting.

Outcome Two: Through coordinated YCO Network efforts, civic space for young women and men promoted and expanded.

Outcome Three: Improved capacity of YCO and the representatives of youth-led partner organizations, particularly young women, to identify and mitigate conflict at a local and national level.

Goal:

Overall, the project aims to contribute to increased coordination among youth-led organizations and observation and reporting on key transitional processes, resulting in integration of youth perspectives on key political and peacemaking processes and public policy as well as the empowerment of young women to fully participate in monitoring and reporting. Through coordinated YCO Network efforts, the Center sought to promote and expand civic space for young women and men. Additionally, the project intends to improve capacity of YCON partner organizations, particularly the membership of young women, to identify and mitigate conflict at a local and national level.

Scope of Work:

To achieve the above goal, The Carter Center is currently seeking an evaluator(s) to produce a detailed evaluation of the YCON project. The primary users of the analysis will be The Carter Center, donors, project partners, and other stakeholders.

Key Deliverables and Suggested Timeline:

The total timeline for the evaluation is estimated to be one month. Deliverables and suggested timeline follow.

• Desk study and review of all relevant project documentation 5 working days
  • Documents to be provided include project reports, project logframe and performance monitoring data, list of relevant stakeholders, risk assessments, assessments and back-up M&E documentation, including knowledge and satisfaction surveys, and quality assessment matrices.
• Submission of inception report including description of the following:
  • Evaluation work plan and timeline
  • Methodology and data collection tools
  • Structure
• Communication with Carter Center staff, partners, key project partners and stakeholders. 12 working days
• Debrief meeting to present broad findings to field staff. 2 working days
• Submission of first draft of final report in English for review and feedback by Atlanta-based TCC administrative staff, 5 working days, TCC reserves 10 working days for review. The draft should include:
  • Executive summary of key findings and recommendations
  • Table of contents
  • Methodology
  • Research findings
  • Analysis
  • Conclusions
  • Lessons learned/recommendations
  • Appendices, including terms of reference, list of interviewees, evaluation itinerary, research tools, evaluator’s biography, other annexes (including pictures, if taken).
• Submission of second draft of final report for review and feedback by Atlanta-based TCC administrative staff. 5 working days, TCC reserves 5 days to provide comments
• Submission of final version of report of publishable quality. within 5 days following the deadline for receipt of comments.

Logistics and budget:

The Carter Center will arrange any necessary travel to Atlanta or regionally in Africa, including hotel arrangements and work-related local transportation needs.

Evaluation Management:

The evaluation will be managed by the Associate Director in Atlanta and the Deputy Senior Country Representative.

The evaluator will observe the highest standard of ethics and use his/her best efforts to protect The Carter Center against fraud, in the performance of the contract. In particular, the evaluator will not engage in any corrupt, fraudulent, coercive, collusive or obstructive conduct. The evaluator will agree to abide by The Carter Center code of conduct during the length of the consultancy (to be provided and signed prior to deployment).

The Carter Center shall have legal title to any research, statistical and other data and documentation created by the evaluator, and donors will have unlimited access to such material.

Qualifications/Competencies:

• At least 8 years of experience conducting project impact evaluations for NGOs, international organizations or other relevant institutions
• Demonstrated ability to conduct field research and to use participatory evaluation methodologies, including collecting data through interviews, surveys and focus groups
• Familiarity with peace and youth programming and the Sudan context (preferably work experience in the country/region)
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in Arabic and English
• Adaptability and experience working with people in remote and conflict-prone areas