External Consultant for CD4 final evaluation

Project Overview:

The Cooperative Development-4 (CD4) program aims to improve cooperatives in Lebanon to better meet the growing needs of their members. The CD4 program is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by Venture37. Venture37 has designed the CD4 project to address system constraints and grow burgeoning opportunity areas, while leveraging the progress we and other private and public change agents have already made in Lebanon to drive continued cooperative development. Through CD4, Venture37 applies institutional learning and tools to advance cooperatives, so they are better able to meet the evolving needs of their members. The goal of CD4 is to advance cooperatives in Lebanon by 1) improving the cooperative enabling environment through capacity building; and 2) improving cooperative business performance by providing technical assistance (TA) to primary cooperatives directly and through implementing partners. Supporting both of these results, CD4 is working to 3) improve development community support for cooperatives by conducting research on locally-defined learning agenda questions and disseminating learning through local and global channels to improve implementation of CD4 and other cooperative development programs. All CD4 activities have a focus on engaging women and youth in the cooperative development process.

Goals / Objectives:

From March 2024 through July 2024, an external consultant will be hired to conduct a qualitative final evaluation for the Cooperative Development Activity 4 (CD4) implemented in Lebanon. The main aim of this evaluation is to assess and document the extent to which the goals and the objectives established in the Results Framework have been achieved, as well as to provide a critical analysis for any variances or deviations that may have occurred. Evaluation expectations and priority are to present findings and conclusions that address the specific assessment questions and criteria set out below. Lessons learned and recommendations must also be provided to Venture37, USAID, activity participants, activity partners and other stakeholders including the government of Lebanon and USAID/Washington for the improvement of similar future activities.

Key Activities

The evaluation will consist of the following phases: 

REVIEW AND ANALYZE DOCUMENTS FROM THE FOLLOWING SOURCES:

• Internal CD4 Lebanon documentation including, but not limited to 1. Theory of Change, 2. Baseline Evaluation and tools, 3. Annual and semi-annual reports and data tables, 4. Project agreement with USAID, 5. Agreements signed with partners and partners’ progress reports, 6. CD4 Monitoring and Evaluation and Learning Plan (MELP), 7. Annual work plans, 8. Scorecard Report, 9. Annual monitoring data including Social Capital and Perceived Value data, registration, financial and PM2 data, and events and coaching data
• Relevant literature from outside sources, including some shared by the CD4 team and others which the consultant will find on their own (i.e., reports from government, NGO or international organization project reports, relevant academic articles, etc.)
• Develop/Refine Methodology and Data Collection Tools
• In close collaboration with Venture37 and based on the background reading, the consultant is expected to:
• Prepare the workplan for qualitative data collection, data analysis and report writing. This should include the selection of Key Informants and Focus group and Scorecard workshop participants.
• Develop/revise data collection tools for qualitative data collection. Questionnaires, facilitations guides, and Scorecards should be similar to baseline to ensure comparability of data over time, but additional questions should be added to achieve the evaluation objectives and answer the evaluation questions listed above. Venture37 will translate the tools if necessary.    
• Develop and submit an inception report that includes all of the above for review and approval by Venture37.

CONDUCT FIELD DATA COLLECTION

• Organize logistical plans and budget for KIIs, FGDs, and Scorecard workshop including schedule and materials in compliance with agreed methodology and time frame.
• Carry out the fieldwork applying appropriate quality control and research ethics. Note that data collection is not expected to occur on weekends and national holidays (i.e., Easter, Eid, etc.). The consultant will collect data as per the below estimates of FGDs, KIIs and Scorecard workshop

CONDUCT DATA ANALYSIS AND REPORTING

• Analyze, synthetize, and interpret primary and secondary data using appropriate software. Although most of the data collection work conducted by the consultant will be qualitative, the consultant is also expected to conduct quantitative analysis of data collected by Venture37 staff to triangulate the results and present the main findings.  
• Develop a report outline for review and approval by Venture37.
• Prepare a draft final evaluation report, addressing the objectives and questions of the evaluation outlined above. The consultant should provide Venture37 the opportunity to reflect on the evaluation at least one week prior to handing over the final document.
• Develop a PowerPoint presentation of evaluation findings, present and submit to Venture37 and stakeholders.
• Prepare a final evaluation report that complies with the RFA and incorporates revisions based on Venture37 feedback on the draft report.
• Prepare and submit data sets and transcripts/notes with relevant documentation to Venture37.

Qualifications for Consultant

• Minimum Bachelor’s Degree in economics, statistics, or a related field 
• 5+ years of experience in qualitative research design and implementation in the development sector in Lebanon, ideally as part of a MEL work for an international project 
• Strong experience and skills facilitating group workshops and discussions. 
• Strong experience and skills in conducting research and data analysis, particularly systematic analysis of qualitative data. 
• Specific experience in conducting some or all the following- literature reviews, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, stakeholder workshops. 
• Strong experience and skills in writing reports in English 
• Fluency in both written and spoken English and Arabic 
• Computer literacy and competency in use of Microsoft Office software. 
• Highly developed conceptual, analytical, and innovative problem-solving ability. 
• Ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor tasks. 
• Ability to independently and proactively work as a team member with minimum day-to-day oversight.