Request for Applications for Project Evaluation Consultant (Local Posting) *Deadline Extended*

Background: For 100 years, the Near East Foundation (NEF) has worked to build more sustainable, prosperous, and inclusive communities in the Middle East, Caucasus, and Africa through education, governance, and economic development initiatives. Working through a network of country offices and local partners, NEF currently has approximately 250 staff members – almost all nationals – and programs in ten countries: Armenia, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Mali, Morocco, Palestine, Sudan, South Sudan, and Syria. Its programs are organized around three themes: Stabilization and Peacebuilding, Climate-resilient Development, and Inclusive Economic Development. 

Project Overview:  The Reducing the Vulnerability of Syrian Refugees and Lebanese in Lebanon IV project (from September 2020 till September 2021), implemented in 4 areas (Tripoli, Halba, Bekaa, and Beirut/Kentari/Mount Lebanon) aims to reduce household economic vulnerability and reliance on harmful coping strategies by increasing access & knowledge to livelihoods and protection information and providing business skills on how to start and manage income generating activities. 

Kindly refer to Annex 1 at the end of this document for project related details 

Assignment:  NEF Lebanon office is looking to select a consultant to evaluate its US BPRM funded project. The assignment is expected to be completed within a minimum of 20 working days divided over a period of 4 months, starting the first week of September 2021. The primary objective of this evaluation is to gauge performances and results of the project thus far on partners, target communities and beneficiaries, and to provide clear evidence of the project’s relevancy, efficiency, efficacy, impact, and sustainability to enable NEF to compile lessons learned, trends and recommendations.

Expected Outputs/Deliverables of the Consultancy: Under the supervision of the Country Representative, and with support from the Senior Project Coordinator and M&E Officer, the Consultant will be required to deliver the following outputs: 

• A solid inception report including some preliminary analysis following key project documentation review, the methodology proposed including the data collection tools, and a detailed workplan. The draft of inception report is expected no later than 10 days after the start of the evaluation for review by NEF Lebanon before finalization by the consultant.
• A solid draft report in English (qualitative and quantitative) detailing the methodology, analysis and key findings by indicators of performance, evaluation criteria and evaluative questions, lessons learned and in-depth recommendations that will inform the new phase of the project (2021-2022) and future programming, submitted for review and comments to NEF by November 1, 2021 with the possibility of having up to 3 rounds of reviews. Collected quantitative and qualitative data and analysis should be annexed.  
• A 4-hour presentation/debriefing on the report, highlighting key results, lessons learned and recommendations to key NEF staff after November 15, 2021.  
• A final version of the evaluation report by December 10, 2021. The report will be written in English and submitted electronically in a MS – Word document. The consultant is responsible for proofreading the final report. The report should consist of: 
  • Table of contents, list of acronyms, abbreviations and list of tables and charts; 
  • Executive summary of key findings, lessons learned and recommendations; 
  • Project background information and context analysis presented per key evaluation criteria with a brief description; 
  • Evaluation methodology with clear explanation of data collection approach, sampling and limitations, participants’ selection and data analysis approach; 
  • Research findings, analysis, with associated data presented, where appropriate in clear graphs or charts. Info-graphics in 1-2 pages highly recommended. The findings can include subsections for each research criteria; 
  • Conclusion, including recommendations for current and future project implementation. The recommendations should be framed according to each evaluation criteria (impact, relevancy, efficacy, efficiency, and sustainability). 
• Along with the report, submissions should include the soft and hard copies such as handwritten and electronic transcripts of data collection, hard copies of survey questionnaires, lists of participants etc. 
• The consultant shall prepare a brief workplan. The workplan should set out the consultant’s approach for conducting research activities for conducting the assessment. The period of consultancy should not exceed 20 working days, starting the with the day the agreement is signed.

Deadlines:

• Contractual Starting Date: September 1, 2021
• Consultant Final Inception Report: September 17, 2021
• Deadline for data collection phase: October 20, 2021
• Deadline for the draft report: November 1, 2021
• Deadline for the presentation/debriefing of the draft report: November 15, 2021
• Deadline for the final deliverables: December 10, 2021

Tasks will require the following:  In order to complete this assignment, it is envisioned that the consultant will undertake the following actions: 

• Provide draft of expected deliverables to NEF for review before finalization by the consultant.
• Reviewing relevant project materials such as: proposal, SoPs, available databases (including Vulnerability Assessments, Business Development Trainings, Vocational Trainings, Capacity Building, Coaching and Networking), workflow charts, training materials and curriculums, and quarterly reports;
• Conducting one-on-one meetings/surveys with NEF project staff; 
• Engage NEF’s implementing partners and other identified stakeholders in field sites; 
• Conduct Focus Group Discussions in field sites with project stakeholders and beneficiaries. 

NEF will be responsible for: 

• Provision of project documents for contextual background; proposal, SoPs, available databases (including Vulnerability Assessments, Business Development Trainings, Vocational Trainings, Capacity Building, Coaching and Networking), workflow charts, training materials and curriculums, and quarterly reports.
• Provision of documents to introduce systems and standard operating procedures. 
• Provision of curriculum and materials including PPTs, handouts, booklets etc. 
• Logistics and transportation for the days of field work (including the FGDs) when applicable.
• Review and approval of deliverables submitted by the consultant.
• The consultant is expected to use his/her own laptop and phone.

Payment Method:

The payment will be made as follows: 35% upon contract signature, 50% on submission of the draft report and 15% on approval of the final report. NEF will not be responsible for any further expenses incurred by the consultant during the consultancy visits and for any loss and/or damage to him/her.

Skills, experience and qualifications required: 

• University degree in relevant field; 
• Proven capability and experience in conducting project/program evaluations (preferably on US funded projects and similar projects); 
• Should have a clear vision for how to approach the project subjects and be able to build a trust and rapport with the subjects and communities being profiled; 
• Experience in the livelihoods and protection sectors in Lebanon, and in evaluating related programs in these sectors; 
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in conducting participative evaluations and impact assessments; 
• Experience in qualitative and quantitative data collection techniques including conducting focus group discussion;  
• Familiarity with the Lebanon Crisis Response Plan, as it pertains to Livelihoods, and Protection sectors in particular;  
• Familiarity with the socio-cultural context of Middle East and the social, cultural, political and religious sensitivities relevant to the Syria crisis; 
• Native Arabic speaker; 
• Excellent writing and communication skills in Arabic and English; 
• Availability and willingness to travel to various areas in Lebanon during weekdays; and, 
• Ability to work under strict and demanding timelines. 

Salary maximum $10,000 USD

Annex 1: Reducing the Vulnerability of Syrian Refugees and Lebanese in Lebanon IV

NEF assists vulnerable individuals, including at least 50% Syrian refugees, 40% vulnerable Lebanese from host communities and 10% other people of concern (PoC) including Iraqis, PRL and PRS. Beneficiaries include at least 70% women, and prioritization is given to persons with disabilities (PWD), beneficiaries from female headed households (FHH) and households (HH) without earners.

Project’s main objectives:

Objective #1: 3 CBOs improve capacity to identify and support 3,990 individuals with social and financial resources and with referral services to build resilience and livelihoods.

Objective #2: 1,590 Syrian refugees, other POC, and vulnerable Lebanese have improved capacities to develop market-linked IGAs and MSMEs.

Project’s main outcomes:

Outcome #1: 3 CBOs with increased capacity to support the sustainability, expansion, and replication of Siraj services; ‎

‎Outcome #2: 3,990 individuals with increased access to tailored livelihood support and social/referral services ‎at Siraj Centers.‎

Project Cycle: 

1. Conduct vulnerability assessments to identify eligible program participants 
2. Select eligible participants from the vulnerability assessments (80%) to participate in NEF’s Protection Integrated Business Development Trainings 
3. Select eligible training participants (86%) to receive cash grants to start their home-based businesses and MSMEs after NEF’s Technical team reviews the submitted business plans at the end of the training 
4. Conduct coaching, networking and close follow ups on granted beneficiaries to ensure they receive the needed support and are able to establish their businesses 
5. Provide vocational training to 15% of participants who are in need of additional support
6. Provide access to services and referrals to beneficiaries throughout the project cycle