Request for Proposals: Project Evaluation Services

Website MADRE

INTRODUCTION

MADRE is an international women’s human rights organization that partners with community-based women’s groups worldwide facing war and disaster. MADRE works towards a world in which all people enjoy the fullest range of individual and collective human rights; resources are shared equitably and sustainably; women participate effectively in all aspects of society; and people have a meaningful say in decisions that affect their lives.

PROJECT OVERVIEW & ASSIGNMENT

MADRE is implementing a project supported by a grant of The U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) called “Reimaging Justice” from October 2020 until December 2023, which aims to promote healing and dignity for conflict survivors within Iraqi communities impacted by ISIL, and call attention to current human rights abuses committed against civil society members.

MADRE and OWFI wish to hire an external evaluator to conduct the final, independent summative evaluation of the project. MADRE is seeking to hire a full-time External Evaluator for a period of 4 months, from September 1st 2023 until December 31st 2023, who can independently conduct the end-of-project external evaluation of the above-described project. The final report shall be submitted to MADRE by December 15th.

EVALUATION OBJECTIVES

The final evaluation will assess the implementation of all project activities within the 39-month period against key evaluation criteria, including results and impact; sustainability beyond the project cycle; and challenges and lessons learned. The evaluation will provide concrete recommendations to strengthen future programming across MADRE’s portfolio.

SCOPE OF THE ASSIGNMENT 

The evaluation will assess all objectives of the Project including (1) rebuilding trust and reintegration for survivors of ISIL violence with their communities; (2) increasing public recognition of and support for ISIL accountability, including GBV and; (3) deepening the understanding of how past atrocities link to current attacks on civil society organizations, women’s rights activists, journalists, and LGBTIQ persons.

The consultant will have full access to information and full autonomy to carry out research and report findings. The summative evaluations will focus on (a) understanding whether expected and unexpected outcomes occurred, (b) identifying factors that affected activities, outcomes and impacts from occurring, (c) assessing the sustainability of results, and (d) drawing lessons that may inform future programming.

The evaluation will be conducted in the KRI governorates of Erbil and Duhok as well as in Baghdad. The evaluation will be based on the OECD evaluation criteria (effectiveness, impact, and sustainability) and will cover the Project as a whole and its specific objectives.

EVALUATION METHODOLOGY

The evaluation will be a summative evaluation, both transparent and participatory, involving all relevant stakeholders. The consultant should propose an evaluation methodology and justification for the selected method(s). MADRE should jointly agree upon the final methodology with the consultant. The methodology used must be gender-sensitive, conflict sensitive, trauma-informed, and respect the Do No Harm principle. The consultant should apply the conceptual framework for evaluating results and changes in behavior, knowledge, attitudes, and practices among target groups because of engagement in program activities and actions.

KEY EVALUATION QUESTIONS

Effectiveness

  • To what extent did the project achieve planned results and objectives?
  • To what extent can we observe an increased acknowledgment of ISIL crimes, including gender-based violence, and support for ongoing accountability and reparations mechanisms and recommendations emitted at community hearings by Iraqi and international actors?

Impact

  • How and to what extent has the project contributed to the achievement of impactful results (both intended and unintended)?
    • What were the impacts of this project on survivors? Can we observe any of the following? If not, why?
      • An increased ability of survivors to seek and access essential and respectful services and support with less fear of stigma, harassment or violence.
      • Improved feelings of safety for survivors of ISIL violence
      • Improved agency, confidence and tools for reintegration for survivors of ISIL violence
      • Communities increasingly question and change their norms, attitudes, and practices towards ISIL survivors, especially survivors of GBV, and increase their support for and engagement with ongoing accountability mechanisms.
      • Increased desire of survivors to participate in OWFI’s work and activism and be agents of change and active community participants
      • What were the impacts of this project on other stakeholders, including, but not limited to government representatives?

Sustainability

  • How and to what extent are the achievements of the project sustainable beyond the period of the Project? To what extent are the processes and systems established during the Project likely to support future impact? For example:
    • To what extent have other similar (local) initiatives sprung up, modeling or supporting the spirit of both the community hearings and OWFI’s work providing shelter to survivors?
  • How are the final recommendations of the hearings being received and potentially implemented by the relevant stakeholders?
  • To what extent do Iraqi civil society organizations, INGOs, international policymakers and donors support more community-based and local initiatives that are better situated to address GBV and promote healing and dignity for survivors and their communities?

Other questions may be added by the consultant in coordination with MADRE.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS OF THE CONSULTANT

  • Bachelor and/or Master’s degree in communications, social research, sociology, human rights, public policy, public health, or a related discipline;
  • At least five (5) years of relevant experience in program/project design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, quantitative and qualitative research methods, and writing assessment reports;
  • Familiarity and experience with the Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) framework and performance indicators of the Bureau of Democracy,
  • Human Rights and Labor (DRL); previous experience with a DRL final project evaluation.
  • In-depth knowledge of gender issues, the impact of gender-based crimes, LGBTQ+ rights, women’s rights, and ISIL crimes.
  • Proficiency in oral and written English is required; proficiency in Arabic would be an important asset.

Rate: $10000 USD for the whole evaluation.  

How to apply 

Submit a cover letter, resume and 2-3 references by August 07th to [email protected]. Include “DRL External Evaluator” in the subject line.