External Evaluator

Who We Are

The Free Yezidi Foundation (FYF) is a humanitarian, apolitical, women-led non-profit organization formally registered in the Netherlands and the United States and registered to operate in Iraq. The Foundation was established shortly after ISIS attempted to eradicate the Yezidi people in August 2014. The Free Yezidi Foundation seeks to implement projects to protect and support the most vulnerable members of the Yezidi community.

FYF is virtually headquartered in the Netherlands and the United States, with its operational base in Duhok, Iraq. The Foundation is particularly engaged with services for Yezidi survivors, with a special focus on Yezidi women and children. FYF also works to assist for all Yezidis seeking justice and accountability.

Background

FYF is implementing a multi-sectorial project intended to address a variety of issues that Yezidis face. This includes GBV prevention and response, trauma treatment, and the provision of legal services. The empowerment of women is an underlying goal of all project activities. This project will also empower religious and ethnic minority communities in northern Iraq to access compensation for ISIS related atrocities and better protection under existing laws.

Final hiring decisions and offers of employment are contingent upon grant award.

Main Assignment – External Final Evaluation

Justification of the Evaluation

FYF is seeking the services of a consultant to conduct final project evaluation for the project in the Khanke IDP Camp in line with FYF’s monitoring and evaluation policy and the provision of the project design (proposal).

The purpose of the final project evaluation is to generate and provide mixed method quantitative and qualitative endline values for impact, and outcome of project whilst monitoring indicator per the overall logical framework of the project. The final evaluation will provide an overall assessment of the project’s performance in relation to achievement of the intended results and in terms of how they have been delivered. The evaluation will identify key lessons learned and propose practical recommendations that will enable FYF and other stakeholders to enhance the impact of future, similarly focused projects.

Evaluation Questions to be Answered

The following suggested questions are expected to be answered through this evaluation. Answers should be specific, analytical and evidence driven. Lessons and recommendations should be drawn out against each question and backed up by evidence. Additional questions that the evaluator deems appropriate must be agreed with FYF in advance and as part of the inception report approval process.

Proposed Questions

Relevance

1. How appropriate was the design of the project with regards to achieving the intended overall outcome to support to improve mental health literacy in the community, with a focus on youth in Khanke IDP Camp?
2. Has the project been responsive to the priorities, needs and future aspirations of the beneficiaries?
3. What follow-on work could build on the results of this project to further enhance their relevance to the beneficiaries and key stakeholders? Why?

Coherence

1. Did the project duplicate or complement the effects of any existing programs or policies?

Effectiveness

1. Did the project achieve all of the intended outputs and outcomes, as per the final Results-based Management Accountability Framework (RMAF)? If yes or no why? What was the reason for mis-achievement?
2. What internal and external factors were influencing the effectiveness of the project in achieving its results?
3. To what extent did the activities reach the target population?
4. Were there any factors that hindered access for the population to the services?
5. How effective was the project partnership in relation to effective delivery of the achieved results?

Efficiency

1. How appropriate were the project’s management structures to support efficient and effective addressing of risks and issues?
2. Was the medical intervention structure and staffing efficient?
3. How worthwhile was the intervention when considering the benefit of patients and the time, money and energy put in by the project?

Impact

1. To what extent has the project achieved its overall objective?
2. Have there been any adverse impacts of the projects approach or achieved results?

Sustainability

1. To what extent are the project’s output and outcome results likely to be sustained beyond the life of the project?
2. To what extent have beneficiaries and key stakeholders taken ownership over the project outcomes and demonstrate an intention to build on them going forward?

If an answer cannot be provided on the foundation of date or evidence, this must be communicated to the nominated FYF Focal Person as soon as possible. Failure to do so can result in decreasing the consultant’s remuneration.

Specific Tasks to be Undertaken by the Evaluator

The evaluator will be required to undertake the following tasks:

1. Design and finalize the evaluation methodology, tools and workplan, detailing the resources and support needed to complete the evaluation to time and quality, and agree with FYF.
2. Undertake the evaluation activities in the field.
3. Analyze the data and present findings to FYF and project partners.
4. Prepare first draft of the Final Evaluation Report for review by FYF.
5. Finalize the Final Evaluation Report considering the feedback provided by FYF.

The report must provide clear, evidence-based and analytical answers to all evaluation questions. It should contain all the necessary raw data information used in the process of data collection and analysis, and any other necessary annexes and references used.

​​​​​​​Tools and methodology proposed

The consultant will use a range of methodologies that shall be participatory, inclusive, gender sensitive, child-friendly and disability friendly to the key stakeholders. Wherever possible, the data obtained should be triangulated to reach conclusions based on a thorough analysis. The data set needs to be comparable with baseline data. Methodologies need to be adapted to ensure proper calculation of each indicator.

The Final Project Evaluation will amongst others consider:

• Secondary data sources – Desk review of the project documents / external reports related to protection and disabilities – Proposal document including the Log Frame, M&E plans, project quality frameworks, baseline, etc.
• Primary data sources (Key Informant Interview, survey) and data analysis process disaggregated by the type of gender, age and disability parameters.
• Data collection methods: Quantitative methods including well-developed survey tools (questionnaires) to be administered to sampled beneficiaries; Qualitative methods through a thorough analysis of information gathered from observations, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, etc.
• Sampling methods – that reflects a diversity of respondents and experiences, including different types of disability, ethnic, gender. Data collection should be conducted in the language chosen by the respondents.
• Tools will be developed in English and translated into Arabic. Beneficiary friendly approaches and tools as per the age, gender, and type of disability policy provisions.
• Comparative approach: the methodology should contain a comparative analysis between the starting period and the end.

All data collected should be disaggregated and analyzed by site, sex, age, and type of disability.

​​​​​​​Assignment Deliverables and Proposed Timeframes

Inception report – after conducting initial document review and preliminary interviews. It will include a detailed evaluation proposal, including methodology. 4-7 working days after contract signature. Electronic submission to FYF focal person.

Initial findings presentation – Summary of findings against final set of agreed findings -3 weeks after approval of inception report – In person presentation.

Draft Final Evaluation Report – 7 working days after Initial Findings Presentation -Electronic submission to FYF focal person.

Final Report – 5 working days after receiving comments from FYF focal person -Electronic submission + 3 hard copies to FYF focal person

Assignment Terms

Budget

The maximum budget of the project final evaluation is $4,000 USD including taxes. Per-diem, accommodation, transportation including air tickets if applicable, translation and other costs should be included in the evaluation fee.

​​​​​​​Management Arrangement

The Evaluator will report to and liaise with the FYF Focal Person (to be designated) on all matters and decisions relating to this assignment. FYF will be responsible for arranging meetings with all relevant stakeholders. To enable this the Evaluator must provide a list and schedule of meetings in good time to ensure all meetings can be arranged in a respectful and timely way. If required, FYF can support the Evaluator with logistics arrangements, but the Evaluator will be responsible for making the respective payments.

​​​​​​​Payment Modality

40%: Following the signing of the Contract on Evaluation Services.

60%: After the final version of the final evaluation report has been submitted and approved by FYF.

FYF reserves the right to deduct up to 0.5% of the total contract price for each day’s delay in meeting the deliverables specified. This deduction shall be applied to the last payment of 60% of the contract price.

​​​​​​​Final Evaluation Report Specification

The Final Evaluation Report, written in English, will be required to comply with the following standards and specification:

1. Executive Summary (max. 2 pages)
2. Introduction (max. 1 page)
3. Methodology (max 2 pages)
4. Findings and Discussions (max. 10 pages)
5. Conclusions (max. 4 pages)
6. Lessons learned and associated Recommendations (max. 6 pages)
7. Annexes

The report should be submitted electronically to the FYF focal person and three official hard copies to the FYF Office.

​​​​​​​Evaluator Experience and Requirements

• At least 6 years of professional experience in conducting development project evaluations.
• Proven experience and knowledge of conducting quantitative and qualitative research.
• Excellent analytical skills.
• Significant practical experience in report writing and formulation of recommendations.
• Excellent spoken and written English.
• Experience of evaluating health related projects.
• Experience evaluating projects containing MHPSS interventions.
• Understanding of project management principles.
• Previous experience with results‐based monitoring and evaluation methodologies.

Please note that most targeted beneficiaries and stakeholders do not speak English, so relevant translation services into Arabic and Kurdish need to be considered in the proposed price of the work and organized by the Evaluator in case of foreign evaluators or organizations.

​​​​​​​Proposal Submission and review of the applications

Interested candidates/organizations whose profile matches the qualification requirements stated above are invited to send their:

1. Curriculum vitae or organizational profile highlighting relevant experience (max.4 pages).
2. Cover letter stating how your experience and competencies can best deliver the assignment (max.1 page).
3. 2 samples of previous similar work.
4. Clear and concise proposal outlining the methodology and sub-questions to be asked (max. 4 pages)
5. Assignment Budget (in USD) broken down by:

– Personnel Service fees.

– Direct evaluation activity costs.

– Anticipated logistics, travel and subsistence costs.

Base of Operations

Externally located, field visits to Khanke, Duhok province of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq mandatory.

Start Date

To be determined, with completion of final evaluation files due by 5 September 2022.

Upon Working with FYF

FYF has non-disclosure and liability waiver clauses in the contract for employees and contractors. All paperwork will be managed between the time the job offer is sent and the candidate begins work.

How to apply

All interested candidates/organizations who meet the above requirements and are confident that their background and experience qualify them to implement Final Evaluation, should e-mail their complete application packs in English language to: [email protected] mentioning “Final Evaluation: HOPE”- Healing Opportunity for Peace & Empowerment” in the subject line of the e-mail.

The selection committee will be formed and will be evaluating the applications against the following criteria:

• Suggested budget/ cost efficiency to complete the evaluation (criteria weight is 20%).
• Quality of the submitted technical offer (criteria weight is 40%).
• Relevant experience, qualification and quality of sample report submitted (criteria weight is 40%).

Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. The final decision will be made after the interviews. Women are encouraged to apply.